(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, April 16, 2013



FSUU Policy Center reveals findings of its 3rd phase Opinion Poll Survey

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) – The Father Saturnino Urios University Policy Center (FSUUPC) revealed the results of the third phase of a four-series May 2013 Opinion Poll Survey culled last April 1-7, 2013 from the 1,833 new set of respondents taken from the 86 barangays of this city.

According to FSUUPC Director Atty. Josefe Sorrera-Ty, like the two surveys conducted last January 23-30, 2013 and March 7-15, 2013, it employed the proportional sampling method to gather data from registered voters of Butuan City.

“The respondents from each barangay were purposively chosen to represent age classification: Youth (18-30 years old), Adult (31-59 years old), and Seniors (60 years old and above). The respondents represent 1% of the total registered voters in the city of Butuan with a 10% margin of error in the sample size,” Ty explained.

Based on the results of its third phase Opinion Poll Survey, the most preferred candidate for the congressional seat is Atty. Lawrence Fortun with 43.15%, followed by Roan Libarios with 21.55% while undecided voters now at 35.30%.

“The youth showed a higher preference for Fortun, while the senior group has the highest percentage of undecided voters. The increased rating of Fortun from the previous survey to that of the current one is significant from the youth and the adult groups. The decrease in the ratings of Libarios is also significant across age levels,” said Dr. Mary Joy Miller, one of the researchers.

For the mayoralty position, incumbent Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr is on the lead with 34.92% over incumbent Cong. Jose Aquino II at 34.37% and the undecided voters at 30.44%. “It appears that the increase of Amante is taken from the undecided voters. Amante got highest preference from the adults, while Aquino had much of his share from the youth group. As of this 3rd survey, Amante and Aquino are statistically tied,” added Miller.

Miller further bared that since its first phase of a four-series opinion poll survey that started in January hitherto, at the vice mayoralty level, Josephine Salise leads the race with 18.93%, 22.03%, and 21.71% respectively. Getting closer to her is Angelo Calo who gained the following percentages attribution of 15.31%, 17.08%, and 21.28% respectively. The adults gave much of their approval to Salise, while the youth gave theirs to Calo. Salise and Calo, as of this survey are statistically tied.

The top 10 candidates for councilor position for those respondents who have decided in this third phase opinion poll survey are the following percentages attributed for each: Erwin Dano - 49.02%, Ryan Culima - 45. 20%, Ramon Carampatana - 39.86%, Jaime Cembrano - 20.09%, Samuel Amante - 25.80%, Salvador Calo - 25.09%, Derek Plaza - 22.51%, Ferdinand Nalcot - 20.55%, Atty. Rema Burdeos - 19.31, and Audie Bernabe - 19.13%. 9 out of 10 of the candidates for councilor who made it to the top 10 in the previous survey remained to be the preferred councilors although some of the candidates changed ranks in the order of preference.

It was also learned that the results revealed that 98% of the respondents will cast their votes in the May 2013 elections.

“With voters’ education by the different sectors of the community like the academe, Commission on Elections, and some non-governmental organizations, as well as the start of the local campaigns, there exists a significant drop of the number of undecided voters across all elective positions from January and March surveys to April survey,” Miller emphasized.

The FSUUPC withhold the details of the next schedule of its fourth and last series of survey to avoid intervention of other parties. Meanwhile, another press conference will be conducted right after the findings and analyses of the final survey will be consolidated and ready for release. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Reg’l Dev’t Council in Caraga to conduct reg’l consultation on PDP

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) – The Regional Development Council (RDC) Caraga will be conducting a regional consultation on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) on April 25. The consultation will cover midterm update and revalidation of the results matrix.

The consultation will be held at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.

Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas said the activity is aimed at promoting wider ownership of the plan and ensuring that regional aspects of the national development agenda are reflected in the updated plan documents.

The members of the National Planning Committees (NPCs) will present the national priorities and engage in a dialogue with the regional stakeholders to generate and/or validate strategic development areas and contributions of the region for incorporation in the updated PDP, Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Caraga said.

The Regional Planning Committee here will also discuss thoroughly the issues and concerns relative to Good Governance, Peace, Justice and Security in the region.

Cochingco recalled that President Aquino through Memorandum Circular No. 43, dated February 4, 2013 directed the updating of the PDP, its companion document of the Public Investment Program (PIP), and the revalidation of the Results Matrix (RM).

“The NEDA as the social and economic development planning agency of the country, organized inter-agency planning committees to facilitate the updating of said documents to cover the remaining period of the Aquino administration,” said Cochingco.

Cochingco further said that in compliance with the Memorandum Circular No. 43, the guidelines for the updating of the PDP and PIP and the Revalidation of the RM was issued by NEDA Secretary.

Contained in the Planning Guidelines are the national planning agenda, planning framework, organizational set-up, and the process of the updating the PDP.

The RDC-Caraga is chaired by Matugas and vice-chaired by Cochingco. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


NPA attacks govt troops, abducts civilians in Tagbina town

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

SURIGAO DEL SUR, April 16 (PIA) – A Cafgu member under the 23rd Infantry Batallion based in Tagbina town here was reportedly wounded by suspected New People's Army rebels around 9:45 a.m. on Sunday.

In a press statement, the military said an undetermined number of NPA believed to be under Guerilla Front 14 of Northeastern Mindanao were responsible for the attack. Firefight ensued and lasted for about 20 minutes. The victim was hit in the stomach and immediately brought to Andres Soriano Memorial Hospital in Mangagoy, Bislig City for medical treatment.

The rebels also allegedly abducted three members of CAFGUs and three civilians while withdrawing from the area.

Prior to the incident, 75IB CMO Officer Jolito Borces said in a statement that some concerned citizens reported the presence of the identified individuals who were conducting extortion activities in the area.

The Police Provincial Office here confirmed the incident. As of this writing, the abducted civilians and Cafgu members are still in the hands of the rebels while the local government is conducting measures for negotiations and safety release of the victims. (NGBT, with reports from the CMO-75IB, PA/PIA Surigao del Sur)


DOLE conducts Family Welfare program enhancement workshop

BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga in cooperation with the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) conducted the “Enhancement Workshop on Family Welfare Program” recently in Tandag, Surigao del Sur.

DOLE Caraga regional director Ofelia M. Domingo said they invited Family Welfare Program managers from BWSC, Robert Cudal and Celia N. Javier along with the Caraga Family Welfare Council, Inc. focal persons to present an in-depth description of the said program.

Director Domingo said, a total of 26 participants from different companies of the province of Surigao del Sur joined the two-day workshop to include: SURSECO I, SURSECO II, Mining and Development, SUMIFRU, Maharlika Labor Service Cooperative, Marc Ventures Mining and Development Corporation, STANLICO - A, DOLE – Stanfilco, VTP Construction and Mining Inc., CTP and Mining Corporation and St. Therese College).

In her message, Director Domingo said, “Kung maganda ang pundasyon ng pamilya, maganda rin ang produksyon ng kumpanya (If the foundation of the family is strong, company’s production is also good)."

The workshop focused on the 10 dimensions of the Family Welfare Program (FWP) mainly: Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood; Nutrition; Education/Gender Equality; Sports and Leisure; Transportation; Income Generation/Livelihood/Cooperative; Medical Health Care; Spirituality or Value Formation; Housing and; Environment Protection, Hygiene and Sanitation.

Family Welfare Program seeks to prevent industrial disputes and promotes a productive and conducive workplace for the benefit of both the worker and the employer. (NCLM/DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)


Buenavista’s Lupong Tagapamayapa to represent Caraga in the Nat’l Lupon Awards

By Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise-Punzalan

BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) – Barangay Macalang, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte bested other nominees to the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award (LTIA) Regional level as it was declared by the LTIA Regional Awards Committee (RAC) Region XIII as the Regional winner for the 1st to 3rd Class Municipality Category.

The said Lupon will represent not only the Province of Agusan del Norte but the whole of Caraga Region as well to the National Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award as it competes with other contestants from the different barangays of the country coming from the 1st to 3rd Class Municipality.

This is the first time for Barangay Macalang to compete for the LTIA and the Lupon Members of the said barangay are hopeful to be recognized at the national level.

On the other hand, the Lupong Tagapamayapa of Barangay Poblacion, Carmen, Agusan del Norte has also been declared 1st Runner-Up to the Regional LTIA, next to Barangay Poblacion, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte.

The LTIA is an annual award given to outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa to encourage Lupon members to do better in their performance in handling disputes at the barangay level. It recognizes the efforts of the Lupon members who promote the importance of barangay justice system to maintain peace and order and to prevent congestion of cases in courts. (DILG-Agusan del Norte Correspondent/PIA-Caraga)


DILG 13 confers awards to Butuan City

By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa

BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 13 (CARAGA) confers awards to the city government of Butuan for being the regional winner of the Local Legislative Award (LLA) in the highly-urbanized cities category and with Brgy. San Vicente as regional winner for the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards (LTIA).

The awarding was made after the delivery of the State of the City Address (SOCA) of Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. at City Hall Grounds on April 11, 2013 this city.

Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. and Vice Mayor Lawrence Fortun here received the plaque for the Local Legislative Award while Punong Barangay Raul C. Carampatana of Brgy. San Vicente received the plaque and a cash prize worth PhP 300,000.00 together with the barangay officials. The plaques and the cash prize was handed by DILG Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion with the assistance of DILG City Director Romeo A. Solis.

As a recipient of the DILG – Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) Program, Butuan City also received a check worth PhP 4,874,000.00 for the construction of potable water system at Brgy. Tungao. This project aims to provide safe and potable water to waterless communities.

The Local Legislative Award is an award that accords official recognition to a Sangguniang Panlungsod or to a Sangguniang Bayan that excels in the enactment of ordinance or resolutions that ultimately contribute to the attainment of desirable socio-economic and environmental outcomes. On the other hand,

The Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards was established since 1997 as a means to institutionalize a system of granting economic benefits and other incentives to the Lupong Tagapamayapa that demonstrates exemplary performance in settling disputes at the grassroots level. (RER/DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog news: Masinsinang minomonitor ng pamahalaan ang mga pangyayari sa Korea Peninsula ayon sa palasyo

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Abril 16 (PIA) -- Patuloy na minomonitor ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ang mga kaganapan sa Korean Peninsula partikular na ang plano ng North Korea para sa kanilang paglulunsad ng missile, ayon sa Malakanang noong Martes.

Sa ginanap na press conference sa Malacañang, sinabi ni Secretary Raicky Carandang ng Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) na naalarma ang palasyo sa panong paglulunsad ng missile.

“Kami ay nababahala sa mapanghamong aksyon na ginagawa ng North Korea pero ang aming pangunahing prayoridad ay seguruhing ligtas ang mga Pilipino na humigit kumulang ay 40,000 at gagawin namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya para mailayo sila sa kapahamakan,” ayon kay Carandang.

Masugid naming minomonitor ang situwasyon. Ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ay nakipagugnayan sa ating mga kasamahan at sa mga bansang sangkot dto gaya ng Hapon at South Korea,” dagdag pa ni Carandang.

Masusing sinusundan din ng pamahalaan ang mga pag-uusap ng iba’t ibang estado kung papano resolbahin ang sitwasyon sa North Korea, sabi ni Carandang.

Pero sinabi rin ng opisyal ng Malacañang na dahil maliit na bansa lamang ang Pilipinas, ay wala sa posisyon na makapang impluwensya sa kahihinatnan ng pag-uusap.

Ang pinakamabuting magagawa natin sa panahong ito ay suportahan ang ating mga kaalyado na sinusubukang mapabuti ang sitwasyon at masigurong ang mga Pilipinong naninirahan doon ay mabigyan ng tulong na kanilang pangangailangan sakali mang lumala ang sitwasyon,” sabi ni Carandang.

Siniguro rin ni Carandang na handa ang pamahalaan sa gagawin kung sakaling lumala ang karahasan sa rehiyon pero itinangging sabihin ang detalye ng mga hakbang dahil ito ay maselan.

Noong isang linggo, sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino na ang pamahalaan ay handa sa ano mang emerhensiya at ang DFA ay nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga kuponan ng mga Pilipino sa South Korea para masiguro na sila ay nakahanda na lumisan kung kinakailangan.

Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas ay may magaling na logistical capability para ilabas ang mga Pilipino sa South Korea kung sakaling magsimula ang giyera.

Ang mga militar ng Amerika ay masusi ring nakabantay sa silangang baybayin ng Korean Peninsula kung saan pinaniniwalaang nakahanda nang ilunsad g mobile ballistic missile ng North Korea para ilunsad.

Sinabi rin ng Hapon na nai-deploy na ang pangdepensang sistema na missile na nakapalibot sa Tokyo para protektahan ang kanilang sangkatauhan laban sa ilulunsad na missile ng North Korea. (RER/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Cebuano news: Malakanyang miingon nga pabilin ang suporta sa mga Filipino kang Donaire luyo sa kapildihan

Ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

MANILA, Abril 16 (PIA) – Ang Malakanyang miingon kagahapon adlaw’ng Domingo nga ang Filipino Boxer Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire magpabilin ang suporta ug pagdayeg gikan sa mga katawhang Pilipino luyo sa kapildihan batok kang Cuban Pugilist Guillermo Rigondeaux sa ilahang super bantamweight nga panagsangka nga gipahigayon sa New York City Sabado sa gabii.

Sa usa ka pamahayag nga gibasa sa usa ka estayunan nga gipadumala sa gobyerno ang dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, si Deputy Presidential Abegail Valte miingon nga luyo sa kapakyasan, ang tanang Pilipino sa nasud mahimo sa pagdahom kang Donaire sa pagbangon ug usab ug mosilbi nga inspirasyon ngadto sa milyones ka mga Pilipino ug mga misuporta.

“Napakyas man si Nonito Donaire, Jr., nga mausa ang WBO ug ang WBA super bantamweight nga titulo batok kang Guillermo Rigondeaux sa ilahang panagsangka didto sa Radio City Music Hall, New York City, wala pa gihapon musab ang suporta sa mga katawhang sa atoang “Filipino Flash”, (“Nabigo man si Nonito Donaire Jr. na mapag-isa ang WBO at WBA super bantamweight title laban kay Guillermo Rigondeaux sa kanilang bakbakan sa Radio City Music Hall, New York City, hindi pa rin natitinag ang suporta ng sambayanan sa ating Filipino Flash,”) sulti ni Valte.

“Wala man niya makuha ang iyahang tumong sa maong away, gituohan sa tibook nasud nga mobangon pag- usab ug mopatindog sa Boxing Writers Association of America 2012 Fighter of the Year aron mosilbi nga inspirasyon sa milyones ka mga Pilipino ug sa mga misuporta niini,”( “Hindi man niya nakamit ang kaniyang pakay sa labang ito, nananalig ang buong bansa sa muling pagbangon at pagtindig ng Boxing Writers Association of America 2012 Fighter of the Year upang magsilbing inspirasyon sa milyun-milyon niyang mga kababayan at tagasuporta,” ) dugang pa niya.

Si Donaire, kinsa nga misangka sa boxing batok kang Rigondeaux milahutay hagtod 12-rounds, ug napilde pinaage sa “unanimous” nga desisyon. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Cebuano News: Gobyerno andam motabang pagpabalik sa mga Filipino gikan sa Saudi Arabia

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Abril 16 (PIA) -- Gipasalig sa Malakanyang niadtong Sabado nga kanunay kining andam mohatag og tabang ngadto sa mga Filipino nga atoa sa Saudi Arabia labi na gyud kadtong dili mga legal nga gusto ng mopauli balik dinhi sa Pilipinas.

Adunay mokabat 7,000 ka mga tranbahanteng Filipino ang gusto na mopauli gikan sa Saudi Arabia human gimando ni King Abdullah ang tulo ka bulan nga pagdelatar sa pagpangdakop sa mga illegal ug overstaying nga mga langyaw didto sa maong nasod aron paghatag kanila ug higayon nga hikayon ang ilang mga papeles.

Sumala ni Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte nga ang embahada sa nasod didto sa Middle Eastern country mihatag og tabang ngadto sa mga gusto nga mopauli.

Sumala pa niya nga ang iyang buhatan nakadawat og sulat niadtong niaging semana gikan sa tuloka mga Filipino nga gusto ng mopauli sa Pilipinas ug kini sila ila ng gidoso ngadto sa embahada sa Pilipinas didto sa Jeddah, Saudi Arabia nga maoy molihok sa pagpabalik kanila dinhi sa Pilipinas.

Matud sa Migrante, mokabat sa 7,000 ang mipirma alang sa pagpabalik apan gilauman nga motaas pa ang maong ihap tungod kay adunay mokabat 20,000 ang gikonsederar nga walay mga papeles sa kinatibuk-ang 1.5 milyon nga mga Filipino didto sa Saudi Arabia.

Ang madakpan nga walay mga papeles pwedeng mapreso, madeport ug dili na pwedeng makabalik pagsulod sa Saudi Arabia. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano news: President Aquino nasaksihan ang gilunsad nga demo run sa DOST automated guideway transit niadtong Lunes

Ni Hannah Cheen P. Osin

BUTUAN CITY, Abril 16 (PIA) -- Gisaksihan mismo ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang gilusad nga demo run sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST) nga automated guideway transit (AGT) aron palambuon ang nangaraan na nga University of the Philippines campus sa Diliman, Quezon City niadtong lunes.

Ang flagship project sa DOST nga gipangunahan ni Secretary Mario Montejo kauban niini ang U.P., ang AGT nga usa sa daku nga commuter rail train system nga mamahimong masakyan og 60 ka mga pasahero gikan sa lain-laing estasyon kontra sa ubang dakung sakyanan sa laing nasud ug ang rail transit system sa Metro Manila.

Ang pinakaunang imbensyon sa Pilipinas nga gigamitan og elektrisidad aron kini maka-operate, ang AGT nakita nga usa sa malangturon nga sulusyon sa trapiko ug ang pagtaas sa polusyon sa Metro Manila.

Ang kasamtangan nga train usa ka linaw na bersyon sa intended final product-a “driverless” people mover, pan daku ug full-sized nga bersiyon ang itukod sa dali nga panahon, base sa rekomindasyon sa U.P. Diliman nga gila-umang ipahimutang taliwala ni’ng kasamtangang tuig.

Kauban sa Pangulo si Montejo, uban usab ang kalihim sa Transportasyon nga si Joseph Abaya, UP President Alfredo Pascual, ug Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. (RER/PIA-Caraga)