(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, August 1, 2013

Caraga RDRRMC awards winners of Gawad KALASAG Search 2013

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, August 1 (PIA) -- As a culmination activity for this year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) celebration, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chaired by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga Regional Director Liza Mazo conducted on Wednesday the Regional Awarding of Gawad KALASAG 2013 at the LJ Mega Convention Hall, St. Joseph Subdivision, this city.

Gawad KALASAG stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan or Fight for Calamity and Accidents, Self Excellence for safety. It is an Annual Search for Excellence in DRRM and Humanitarian Assistance.

Dir. Mazo emphasized that Caraga have achieved significant milestones in the field of DRRM compared to our ASEAN neighbors. "However, to effectively ensure the sustainability of our government programs on DRRM, we need to do more," she said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Regional Director Lilibeth Famacion, RDRRMC-Caraga Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness/Regional Selection Committee chair for Gawad KALASAG 2013, recognized the concerted efforts of all local government units and partner stakeholders in Caraga region as they continue to advocate prevention, mitigation and preparedness among people to achieve zero casualty in any eventualities such as during disaster/calamity.

Together with Dir. Famacion and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director Dominga Mallonga, vice chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Dir. Mazo awarded the Best PDRRMC (Provincial Category) to Surigao del Norte as 1st placer; Dinagat Islands - 2nd placer; and Surigao del Sur - 3rd placer. For the Highly-Urbanized City Category, the Best CDRRMC is given to Butuan City (lone winner).

For the Civil Society Organization Category, the Sibog Katawhan Alang sa Paglambo (SIKAP) Inc. received the award from the council.

The Agusan National High School - DRRM Committee of Butuan City received the award for being the Best Heroic Act on Humanitarian Assistance Category while the said school is also awarded the Best School DRRM (school category).

For the Volunteer Organization Category, the Rescue and Emergency Service Provider on Disaster (RESPOND), Inc. received the award.

Mazo further revealed that the awarding marked the commencement of the month-long observance of the NDCM for 2013. "Since August of 2009, by virtue of Executive Order No. 137, the whole month of July of every year was declared as NDCM to be collectively observed by all Filipinos and other nationals throughout the country through a month-long conduct of activities which have impact in reducing disaster risks," she said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Butuan crowns 2013 Nutrition King & Queen

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug 1 (PIA) -- As a culmination activity of this year's Nutrition Month celebration with the theme "Gutom at Malnutrisyon, Sama-sama Nating Wakasan," the Butuan City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) - Day Care Center conducted on Thursday the Coronation of Nutrition King and Queen 2013.

Fe Labitad, day care in-charge, said they are doing their best to help parents enhance the skills and talents of their children and inculcate good character traits so these children will grow responsible, smart, and God-fearing.

Jocelyn Loquite, CSWD Operations chief representing Aldeberan Mordeno, CSWD officer, said that children should be treated well and be given proper nutrition so they will grow happy and healthy. "These children are the hope of our future, so let's take good care of them," she said.

Also, Butuan City Councilor Rema Burdeos said parents and teachers should not prevent children from playing since it is a serious business to children while they also do things in school that will enhance their mental skills. "We should also continue to discipline these children so they'll know better what's wrong and what's right as they grow," she said.

Also, the "yaya" or nannies of schoolchildren at the Day Care Center also participated in the coronation and presented a dance number. Yayas also guide their wards and help them in their school activities.

Crowned as Nutrition King is Kobe J. Ninofranco and Rauline Andrea Marie P. Sabandal as Nutrition Queen, while Maxene M. Kobayashi as Ms. Day Care Child 2013.

Along with the coronation, the new set of elected officers composed of parents also took their oaths administered by Councilor Ferdinand Nalcot.

The parents expressed commitment to do their responsibilities for the development of the day care center that will benefit the children. The activity is anchored on the theme "Community of Effort is the key to Success." (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


OWWA-Caraga launches Mobile Information Technology training

By Ritchel M. Molero

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 1 (PIA) -- Families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including OFWs on leave will now have the opportunity to learn basic computer skills and Information Technology Training right in their communities as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-RWO 13) has started offering the Tulay Program on-site.

The program aims to give OFWs access to both technology and technology training in the hope that this will give them the skills to find better employment opportunities as well as help bridge the physical divide between the workers and their families in the Philippines.

In Caraga, the week-long Mobile Information Technology Training kicked-off on July 22-26 in Brgy. Cuevas Trento, Agusan del Sur at the internet café and residence of Editha Granada, president of the Cuevas OFW Family Circle. Mrs. Granada offered the venue for free.

Around 14 former OFWs and OFW dependents comprised the initial beneficiaries of the Mobile Tulay Program. The participants were taught basic information technology (IT) skills. They were given lectures and hands-on training on basic computer fundamentals, applications such as Word, Excel, Spreadsheets and Internet fundamentals.

The next schedule for the Mobile Information Technology Training will be at the Municipal Hall of Trento, Agusan del Sur on August 5-9.

The OFW Family Circle of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur has also requested another training slated on August 12-16. The succeeding schedules shall be announced later.

The OWWA Information Technology Training has so far sewed 2,702 OFWs for the past five years. It was formerly implemented at the Butuan City Office of OWWA Regional Welfare Office-13. (FEA/OWWA-13/PIA-Caraga)


DILG-Pamana Project rehabilitates Tagbina, SurSur road

By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 1 (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion formally turned-over the Pamana (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) project on the rehabilitation and repair of the Barangay Poblacion – Magsaysay – Osmeña – Villaverde farm-to-market road to the municipality of Tagbina, Surigao del Sur on July 26.

Governor Johnny T. Pimentel of of Agusan del Sur accepted the P13.5-million worth farm-to-market road aimed at helping farmers transport their farm products to the nearest economic center and providing an easy road access to residents despite the area being a conflict-affected area.

The 16-kilometer road stretching through barangays Poblacion, Magsaysay, Osmeña, and Villaverde will serve a holistic approach in bringing economic relief in the area which will consequently eliminate armed conflicts and episodes of insurgency.

Famacion challenged the punong barangays (village heads) of the four recipient barangays to formulate a joint resolution to maintain the road network and regulate the use of the road especially during rainy season as heavy trucks frequently traverse the roads.

The formal turn-over ceremony took place at Brgy. Osmeña gymnasium which was synchronized with the release of checks to Tandag City and San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Tandag City received P1.264 million for the rehabilitation of San Isidro – Maticdum – Mabuhay farm-to-market road. On the other hand, the municipality of San Miguel received P16 million for the road opening of Carromata – Bitaugan farm-to-market road.

The punong barangays vowed to maintain the roads as they thanked Governor Pimentel in opening the roads through the Pamana project.

DILG-Pamana projects are designed to bring developmental projects in the conflict-affected areas of Caraga region to address the needs of the community to eliminate conflicts arising from poverty and destitution. (FEA/LGOO II, DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog news: Naglaan ng P12.7 milyon ang DSWD para sa pangmadaliang tulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo sa Mindanao

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 1 (PIA) -- Naglaan ang Department of Social Welfare and Development ng pangmadaliang relief resources na nagkahalaga ng P12.7 milyon para sa mga nasalanta ng baha na tumama sa Mindanao dahil sa malakas na ulan, sabi ng Malakanyang noong Martes, Hulyo 30.

Sa ginawang pagpupulong sa mga mamamahayag sa Malakanyang, sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte na ang DSWD ay nakipagtulungan din sa mga lokal na pamahalaan para sa tulong teknikal at resource augmentation (TARA) na kailangan ng mga biktima.

Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan sa Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat at lungsod ng Cotabato noong nakaraang linggo na siyang naging dahilan ng pagbaha at ang paglikas ng mahigit 50,000 na residente sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan.

“Ang impormasyon na aming nakalap ay nagsasabing lahat ng DSWD teams ay masinsinang nakikipag-ugnayan sa kani kanailang lokal na counterpart para sa kanilang kahilingan sa teknikal na tulong at paghulip ng pangangailangan o ang tinatawag nating TARA,” sabi ni Valte.

Ang DSWD ay naglaan na ng P12.70 milyon na halaga para sa pangmadaliang relief resources na naglalaman ng naka-antabay na pondo, family food packs at iba pang pagkain at mga kagamitan,” dagdag pa ni Valte.

Idiniin din ni Valte na ang pambansang pamahalaan ay kumilos na upang madagdagan pa ang tulong na iniaabot ng DSWD at ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng pakepaketing pagkain para sa mga resident eng mga naapektohang lugar.

“Ang pambansang pamahalaan ay nagbigay ng dagdag na 6,000 food packs para sa DSWD-ARMM (Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao) at inaprubahan na ni Sec. Dinky Soliman ang pag release ng dagdag na 30,000 food packs para sa Maguindanao at Sarangani,” sabi ni Valte. (AMC/DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)