(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 - Tuesday, February 19, 2013



Reg'l Dev't Council spearheads Caraga’s 18th Anniversary celeb

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) is spearheading the annual commemoration of the establishment of Caraga.

Caraga Region was created on February 23, 1995 through Republic Act 7901. This year, residents are celebrating its 18th anniversary with the theme “Celebrating the Indigenous Peoples’ Culture in Caraga.”

The theme for this year highlights the rich culture and tradition of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in Caraga while promoting the protection of the rights and well-being of the IPs due them with regards to their customs, beliefs, and institutions as espoused in Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act.

RDC Chairperson and Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas said that a calendar of activities has been drawn for this year’s month-long celebration.

“Apart from the agency-led activities, the RDC in partnership with the various regional line agencies and local government units has organized a series of activities on February 22, 2013 as the highlights of the celebration,” said Matugas.

The celebration will start with a parade from the city hall going to Agusan del Norte Provincial Covered Court, this city, where the thanksgiving mass and program will also be held.

Matugas added that one of the highlights of the day’s activities is the Cultural Show at 4 p.m. at the Las Nieves Hall, Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort here.

“During this event, traditional dances and songs of the Indigenous Peoples will be featured. We will also recognize outgoing and retiring regional directors for their dedicated service and invaluable contributions to the development of Caraga,” explained Matugas.

It was also learned that the Caraga anniversary celebration is also in time with the launching of the National Year of the Rice 2013 to be spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture.

Along with it is the conduct of the following activities: Press Conference, Exhibit of Agri-Products, Quiz Show, Poster-making Contest, and Farmers’ Forum. Each will be held in different venues of this city.

The RDC also hoped for the full support and participation of the Caraganons for this celebration. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Tago River overflows, submerges barangays in Surigao del Sur

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Tago River overflowed Tuesday morning, submerging the interior municipality of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur and also some barangays in Tago town.

According to the Miguel local Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) officer Charles Suhian, the river overflowed around 9 a.m. today, affecting more than five barangays in the area including Barangay Poblacion.

Meanwhile, according to the press statement of the local DRRMC of Bislig, Tandag, Carmen, and San Miguel, classes were suspended from pre-school to elementary level early today after the whole province experiencing moderate to heavy rainfall since yesterday. Pagasa said that the Low Pressure Area (LPA) had developed to a tropical depression, Crising, early last night.

Roads and bridges along Tandag bound to northern and southern part boundaries of the DPWH 1st District Engineering Office were reportedly passable as of 10:30 a.m., today, according to DPWH Information Officer Jo Moselina. (NGBT/PIA-Surgiao del Sur)


DAR-Caraga turns over road project to RT Romualdez town

By Joie L. Ceballos

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Caraga handed over to the local government unit of Remedios T Romualdez (RTR) the completed NRJ Poblacion II to San Antonio farm-to-market road on February 15.

The P27.9 million road rehabilitation/concreting project stretches to 6.5 kilometers and traverses three barangays namely Poblacion II, Balangbalang, and San Antonio, all of RTR, Agusan Norte.

During the turn-over ceremony, Mayor Nilo Soliva expressed gratitude to DAR not only for the road project but also for the many projects it showered to the municipality. He further encouraged the residents to be watchdogs of the project to make it stay longer.

In his message, DAR Regional Director Faisar Mambuay asked the local government to allocate funds for its maintenance so that the project will be of use to its maximum potential. He said, “The project will ease the travel of both people and products.”

The project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways which was represented by Engr. Salvador Montil during the turn-over ceremony.

The project is under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP-III) of DAR. (NCLM/DAR-13/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


PDEA-Caraga arrests drug personality in Agusan del Sur

By Erwin Ogario

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 -- At about 6:30 p.m. on February 15, joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga and Sta. Josefa Municipal Police Station conducted a buy-bust operation and implementation of search warrant issued by Judge Eduardo S. Casals, Regional Trial Court, dated February 13 at Purok-1, Poblacion, Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur that resulted to the arrest of its suspect, a target-listed drug personality in Agusan del Sur.

It also resulted to the confiscation/seizure of suspected shabu contained in one heat sealed transparent plastic sachet bought during buy-bust, 14 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets recovered during the implementation of Search Warrant and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Confiscated drug evidences were submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory Regional Office 13, Butuan City for laboratory examination.

The suspect, who was found positive for use of shabu, is presently detained at PDEA-Caraga Regional Office detention cell here while cases for violation of Sec. 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Sec. 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Sec. 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II, RA 9165 are being prepared for filing in court. (PDEA-13/PIA-Caraga)


Army lectures youth of role in peace and development in Tubod, Alegria

SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 19 -- The Speakers Bureau Team of the 30th Infantry (Python) Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army conducted recently a series of symposium to high school students of Tubod National High School, Timamana National High School and Alegria National High School, Surigao del Norte.

The symposium focused on the roles and responsibilities of youth in peace and development; it also included lectures and interactive discussion on leadership development, moral values enhancement, interpersonal communication, drug prevention and security awareness.

The Speakers’ Bureau likewise introduced the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines called “Bayanihan” as part of the effort to let the audience understand the current thrust of the Army in winning the peace, instead of winning the war against insurgency.

The activity also gave the Speakers’ Bureau Team an opportunity to invite the 4th year high school students to take the scheduled Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination this coming August 25, 2013 and become one of the cadets of Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City.

In his message, 30th IB, PA Civil Military Operations Officer Capt. Steve Mangabat said that the school symposium is a continuing program of the 30th Infantry Battalion Civil-Military Operation focusing on the youth, which is one of the most important and dynamic sector of the society.

He also said that youth are catalysts of social transformation as they have high ideals, they are dynamic, and they have untainted social perceptions. It is to this effect that all stakeholders that are concerned with youth development should make it a personal commitment to be “youth keepers” by mentoring the youth away from wickedness and wrongdoings.

All stakeholders should guide the youth to become more disciplined and responsible, and encourage them to participate in community peace and development activities that will truly benefit the schools and communities where they belong, Mangabat added.

Around 620 high school students participated during the said event headed by the 30th IB Phil. Army headed by Capt. Steve L. Mangabat and PA Charlie Company Commanding Officer 1LT Benjamin T. Depay in cooperation with Alegria Municipal Police Station led by PSI Richelu B. Alucila, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development led by Municipal Officer Norberta Sepria. (SDR/CMO-30IB, PA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano news: Special Envoy sa Kuwait miduaw sa Malakanyang

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Peb. 19 (PIA) -- Gidawat ni Presidente Aquino didto sa Malakanyang ang miduaw nga si Dr. Yousef Al Ebraheem ang special envoy sa Amir of Kuwait kagahapon.

Si Dr. Yousef Al Ebraheem uban ni Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Philippines Waleed Ahmad Al-Kandari, miduaw didto sa Malakanyang og gidawat sa Pangulo pinaagi sa simple nga seremonya didto sa Music Room sa Malacanang Palace.

Didto usab sila Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario ug Assistant Secretary Petronilla Garcia sa Department of Foreign Affairs.

Gitumong ang maong panagtagbo aron dugang pang mapalig-on ang maayong relasyon sa Estado sa Kuwait og sa Pilipinas.

Ang Estado sa Kuwait maoy nag-unang tigpamuhunan og partner sa kalamboan sa nasod. Ang Pilipinas miabli sa Philippine Trade and Investment Center didto sa Kuwait City niadtong tuig 2009 aron mapakusgan ang ekonomikanhong kooperasyon ug maasisteran ang pipila ka mga matching conferences tali sa mga negosyanteng Filipino ug negosyanteng Kuwaiti. (RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)