(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


PIA News Service - Thursday, December 20, 2012

Remote barangays in seven municipalities in Agusan del Sur get access to safe drinking water

By David M. Suyao & Edwin S. Fuentes

 AGUSAN DEL SUR, Dec. 20 (PIA) - Nineteen remote barangays from seven municipalities in Agusan del Sur now have access to safe drinking water after separate simple turn- over rites were held in various barangays early this month.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Allan Santiago, team leader of the project called Tubig Imnunon Natong Agusanon (TINA) said the upgraded bio-sand water filter facility is the best means in addressing the sad plight of residents in outskirt villages who get water from open sources that pose health hazards being prone to water–borne diseases.

Engineer Pamela D. Yucosing, Agusan del Sur provincial engineer, said prior to the project implementation, their office conducts capability training to teach beneficiaries of their responsibilities to sustain the project.

“Before the project turn-over, villagers have to contend with drinking water from unsafe sources like, spring, rain collectors, deep well (locally known as atabay) and wells they dug near their homes, while others trek kilometers just to fetch water for their daily use”, Yucosing said.
Each bio-sand water filter facility costs P140,000. For this year, the provincial government has budgeted 2.9 million for the project.

The barangays which received the said facility are Mapaga, Lacaridad, Napo, New Maug, and Purok 5 of Patin-ay, all in Prosperidad town for District 1. For District 2, Barangay 1, Borbon, Rizal, and Tagapua of San Francisco; Tagbayagan, Maligaya, San Roque, and Manat in Trento; Mambalili and Poblacion of Bunawan; Aurora and Tapas of Sta. Josefa; Panagangan and Sagunto of La Paz and Buena Gracia of Talacogon.

Recipients expressed their gratitude to the TINA project as it answered their long time need for stable potable water supply. They committed to eagerly look after the facility to ensure its sustainability.

Yucosing said, by order of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza, next year’s project allocation is P3.5 million to be sourced out from the 20% Provincial Development Fund. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Police Regional Office XIII opts for a gunless yuletide

By Noel B. Najarro

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) – The Police Regional Office XIII officers and personnel had the barrel tips of their service firearms taped and signed by their top officials to assure that these will not be indiscriminately fired during the celebrations of Christmas and New Year in ceremonial rites early this morning at the parade grounds of the police regional headquarters here.

“The ceremonial sealing-off of our service firearms is a compliance to a directive from Camp Crame to avoid firing our guns indiscriminately during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations,” Police Regional Office XIII Deputy Regional Director for Administration (DRDA) Mario O. Soriano said during the post-ceremony interview.

Soriano is leading the activity in place of Caraga PNP Regional Director CSupt. Carmelo Valmoria, who is now in Camp Crame attending yesterday’s turn-over of the CPNP post.

Soriano said that violation to the directive from Crame may be meted with a dismissal from police service, “especially when it will hit somebody.” The official warned that the velocity of a bullet fired upwards has the same velocity going down which will mean it will still be potentially fatal.

 Soriano mentioned however during the interview, that despite the recent directive from Crame of a “gunless” yuletide and new year celebrations, and even with the declaration of a Chistmas truce with the communist rebels, the police force in the region is vigilant, ready and capable of responding to any eventuality which may tend to disturb the peacefulness of the region. He said that these measures will not hamper them in any way to effect their normal functions as law enforcers.

 “We just want to assure everyone here in the region a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year,” Soriano said. (PIA-Cagara)


International NGO helps typhoon Pablo victims in Agusan Sur

By David M. Suyao & Melody E. de Vera

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 20 - An international non-government organization (NGO) will help typhoon Pablo victims of the two most affected municipalities in Agusan del Sur.

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council office (PDRRMC), Save the Children Foundation will provide water system to barangays Awao, Sayon and Angas in Sta. Josefa town and Sinobong, Candiis, Sta. Emelia and Del Monte in Veruela in response to the need of potable water by the residents of the two municipalities where no one was spared by the typhoon.

At present, the provincial government through the assistance of the Bureau of Fire Protection is rationing drinking water to ravaged areas.

These two towns, including Trento and Bunawan were the worst hit by typhoon Pablo leaving intense damages on properties, agriculture and infrastructure affecting thousands of residents.

As reaction to the kindness of the NGO, Governor Adolph Edward Plaza organized and directed a technical working group (TWG) comprised of personnel from the Provincial Engineering Office, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Agusan del Sur Enonomic Research and Business Assistance Center and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to provide support to the needs by the NGO during the course of the installation of the water system.

According to the latest Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council report released on December 15, a total of 13,049 persons in Sta. Josefa and 16,770 persons in Veruela are still living in temporary shelters using tents after their houses were totally wrecked by the typhoon.

As of this posting, Oplan Pablo operation center volunteers are still packing food stuffs and relief goods for distribution in the affected areas. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)
                   

PET/CT Scan donated to Butuan City

By Junesther Jean S. Iway

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- The World Medical Relief, Inc., through its president and chief executive officer George V. Samson recently turned-over the pacemakers and the Positron emission tomography - computed tomography otherwise known as the PET/CT Scan to the city government of Butuan headed by Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., and Vice Mayor Law Fortun through Dr. Josephine Chua, the officer-in-charge/hospital director of the Butuan Medical Center (BMC).

The said medical equipment is a small device that is placed in the chest or abdomen to initially help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.

On the other hand, the PET/CT Scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning through providing images that pinpoint the location of abnormal metabolic activity within the body.

PET and PET/CT scans are performed to:
• detect cancer;
• determine whether a cancer has spread in the body;
• assess the effectiveness of a treatment plan, such as cancer therapy;
• determine if a cancer has returned after treatment;
• determine blood flow to the heart muscle;
• determine the effects of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, on areas of the heart;
• identify areas of the heart muscle that would benefit from a procedure such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery (in combination with a myocardial perfusion scan);
• evaluate brain abnormalities, such as tumors, memory disorders and seizures and other central nervous system disorders; and
• to map normal human brain and heart function. (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pet)

The World Medical Relief, Inc., is a private not-for-profit organization operating exclusively for charitable purposes in helping the poor, the sick and the elderly or the medically-underserved through collecting and distributing medicines, medical equipment, medical supplies, and related materials.

Butuan City was selected by the World Medical relief as a beneficiary of the medical donation mainly to help the it address the medical and health care concerns of its constituents especially those patients who are financially incapable of supporting their own medical needs.

For his part, Fortun thanked the World Medical Relief, Inc. for its donation. He said that the said equipment is a big help to the people of Butuan and address the growing medical needs of the city. Fortun also lauded the effort of Mayor Amante who is a doctor by profession who has put forward the health services as one of his priority project. (Vice Mayor’s Office/LGU-Butuan/PIA-Caraga)


30IB, Phil. Red Cross hold bloodletting activity

By Capt. Steve L. Mangabat

SURIGAO CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) -- The 30th Infantry "Python" Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross, has conducted a bloodletting activity at the 30IB Headquarters, Sta. Cruz, Placer, Surigao del Norte.

The bloodletting activity is in line with this year’s celebration of the 77th Founding Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on December 21, 2012 with the theme, “Bayanihan at kahandaan: Tuwid na daan tungo sa kapayapaan.”

A total of 12,600 cc of different blood type have collective from 28 blood donors.

Prsonnel of the 1503rd Community Defense Center, 15RCDG, Phil. Army 23rd Infantry Batallion and CAFGUs participated in the event. (SDR/CMO-30IB/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
                   

Tagalog news: Ayon sa Pangulo ang nagkakaisang sambayanang Filipino ang nagpapadali ng kanyang trabaho

Ni Danilo S. Makiling

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Dis. 19 (PIA) -- Sinabi ng Pangulo kamakailan na ang nagkakaisang sambayanang Filipino ang nagpapadali ng kanyang mga tungkulin.

“Magiging madali po sa akin ang aking mga tungkulin kung tayo ay nagkakaisa kahit ano man po ang ating kinakaharap. May mga problema po na nakakaapekto sa sanlibutan kung saan hindi po tayo nahihiwalay dito, at tayo, bilang sambayanan, tayo po ay humahakbang pasulong bilang isa, at ito po ay nakakatulong,” ayon sa Pangulo nang siya ay tinanong sa kanyang mga ina-asahan sa kapaskuhan kasabay ng Christmas Party ng Bulong Pulungan sa lungsod ng Pasay.

“Yan lang po ang pinaka personal na aking makukuha sa ngayon. Gusto kong magkaroon ng realistic objectives--realistic at obtainable na objectives,” aniya.

Binanggit din ng Pangulo ang RH Bill debates, isang nahahating isyu na naipasa na sa pangatlong pagbasa ng kongreso.

Bagaman napaka init ng debate hinggil sa RH bill, sinabi ng Pangulo na ang mga taong nagkakaiba ng opinyon ay hindi po kailangan na magturingan na magkaaway, paglilinaw na wala pong kaaway sa bansa dahil sa mga ganitong klase ng isyu.

“Kung ito po ay maging batas, tayo po ay magmove on para gawin to… para po siguruhin na ang lahat ng positibong attributes ng batas ay mangyayari,” ayon sa Pangulo.

“Sa pagitan po ng mga Filipino, hindi po kailangan na i-treat po natin ang bawat isa na kaaway, pero mga tao po na nagkaisa sa pamamagitan ng napakaraming paraan, at nabibilang din tayo sa iisang lahi, ito po ay kailangan na maging tugon sa mga nangangailangan, hindi lang po sa mga naging biktima ng bagyo kundi pati na rin po sa bawat isa sa atin at sa iba't ibang problema na kinakaharap ng ating bansa.”

Ang RH bill ay hindi po isang labanan na may natatalo at may nananalo, idinagdag din ng Pangulo na ito ay labanan kung saan ang bansa ang benepisyaryo, lalo na ang mga kababaihan at kabataan.

“Kailangan po natin na magtrabaho upang siguruhin na ang bawat isa ay committed sa pagsasakatuparan nito,” ayon sa Pangulo. (NCLM/DSM/PIA-Caraga)


Surigaonon news: Mokabat P50,000 ihatag nan City Agriculture Office isip seed capital sa 4-H Club

Ni Annette P. Villaces

SURIGAO CITY, Dis. 20 (PIA) -- Mokabat sa P50,000 ka pesos an ipan-apud-apod nan buhatan sa City Agriculture sa pakigtambayayong sa buhatan nan Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Caraga, ngadto sa mga miyembro nan Heart, Head, Hands, and Health Club (4-H Club) kagahapon Disyembre 18, 2012 didto sa HVCC Processing Center, Km. 2, Brgy. Luna, ning syudad.

An amo na kantidad gigahin isip capital aron ipalit og mga seedling o liso nga amoy ipananom sa mga miyembro nan 4-H Club na gikan sa Barangay, Sukailang, Nabago, Cagniog ug Mat-i.

An amo na kalihukan haom sa programa na Strategic Agri-Fishery and Livestock Development Program nan syudad ubos sa administrasyon ni Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas. (SDR/City PIO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano news: 2013 General Appropriations Act gipirmahan ni Pangulong Aquino

Ni Susil D. Ragas

 SURIGAO CITY, Dis. 20 (PIA) – Gipirmahan na ni Pangulong Aquino ang mokabat P2.006-trilyon nga 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA) kagahapon.

Ang mokabat P2.006 trilyon nga 2013 National Budget nga ginganlan og Empowerement Budget mi-umento ug 10.5 porsyento kumpara sa kasamtangang budget nga P1.816 trilyon.

Sa 2013 nga budget, pinakadako nga parte niini ang gigahin alang sa mga social services sa nasod sama sa Department of Education nga mokabat P232.6 bilyon, ang Department of Social Welfare and Development P56.3 bilyon ug P51.1 bilyon alang sa Department of Health.

Ang nasangpit nga budget namugna uban ang tumong ug tinguha sa paghatag prayoridad ug pondo ngadto sa mga public services nga maghatag og mga trabaho, edukasyon sa mga kabataan, pagseguro nga himsog ang mga katawhan aron sila maaghat pagpartisipar sa mga ekonomikanhong kalihukan. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Ang panggamhanan sa Aquino midayeg sa pagpasa sa Resposible Parenthood Bill

Ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Dis. 20 (PIA) -- Ang administrasyong Aquino midayeg sa mga magbabalaod kalabot sa paglusot sa Resposible Parenthoon Bill, pagpasayon sa mga Pilipino aron mapataas kon mapa-usbaw ang matag pamilya sa pamaagi nga matarong ug paghatag ug gahum, ang opisyal sa Palasyo miingon.

Si Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda mipagawas sa iyahang pamahayag subay sa paglusot sa Rasponsible Parenthood Bill sa ika-tulong pagbasa didto sa Senado ug sa House of the Representatives niadtong Lunes sa gabie.

“Ang paglusot sa Responsible Parenthood Bill sinyas dili lamang sa bag-ong yugto sa atoang adyenda sa “iclusive growth; kana usab sinugdan sa prosesong pag-ayo sa mga kadaut nga madangat hawan sa kanunay sa feisty democracy” ("The passage of the Responsible Parenthood Bill signals not only a new chapter in our agenda of inclusive growth; it also begins a process of healing for the wounds that may have been opened by an often feisty democracy,") sulti ni Lacierda.

Ang administrasyon sa Aquino namahayag sa kumpiyansang positibo ug makahulogan ang kasabutan sa mga nagkadaiyang branch sa gobyerno nga magpadayon, sulti ni Lacierda.

Si Lacierda mibutyag nga ang administrasyon nagpasalamat sa mga magbabalaod kinsa mihimo sa makasaysayanong pagboto niadtong Lunes ug nagmalampuson nga mipalusot sa Responsible Parenthood Bill.

“Kami partikularmente mapasalamaton kang Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzalez; Congressman Edcel Lagman kinsa maoy awtor sa balaod ug maoy nagbantay sa pagpalakat sa sobra na sa dekada; Senator Pia Cayetano, kinsa maoy misagubang sa mga kalisod nga pakigbugno sa senado; ug ang matag magbabalaod kinsa mibotar sa maong pahat, “ ("We are particularly grateful to Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Majority Floor Leader Boyet Gonzales; Congressman Edcel Lagman who authored this bill and shepherded it through for more than a decade; Senator Pia Cayetano, who waged an equally difficult battle in the Senate; and every legislator who voted for this measure,") Sulti ni Lacierda.

“Sila mihimo niana gani tataw --- nga ang mga katawhan karon dunay gobyerno sa ilahang kiliran sa pagbarog kon pagpataas sa ilahang mga pamilya sa pamaagi nga husto ug paghatag ug gahum,” ("They have made it even clearer ---that the people now have the government on their side as they raise their families in a manner that is just and empowered,"), matud pa niya.

"As President Aquino asked, our representatives voted according to conscience. Discussions regarding this bill were heated and did not lack for passionate advocates from either side," Lacierda noted.

Si Lacireda mipahinungod,kadtong mga magbabalaod mipatuman sa ilahang mga obligasyon nga dunay kadungganan sa pagpatigayon ug balaod nga tinuoray nga mihaum sa gikinahanglan sa mga katawhan. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)