(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 14 April 2024) Easterlies affecting the country. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: 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 rain showers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


PIA News Service - Wednesday, September 18, 2013

DSWD-13 spearheads 2013 Family Week celeb

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - The Department of the Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga is spearheading the celebration of this year’s National Filipino Week celebration on September 20-27.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, “Unity Across Generations: A Strong Family, A Strong Society. The Filipino translation is Nagkakaisang Henerasyon: Matatag Na Pamilya, Matatag na Lipunan.”

“The theme aims to bring all social groups, particularly vulnerable groups, and individuals into the political, social, cultural and economic structures of a society so that they can participate in the decision-making process and improve their access to opportunities. On the other hand, intergenerational solidarity relates to reciprocal care, support and exchange of material and non-material resources in families, typically younger and older generations,” said Aldie Mae Andoy, Social Welfare Officer of DSWD-Caraga.

Andoy also said that the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) shall undertake the following activities for the week-long celebration: Radio plugging; Holding of Family Day Program with contests/games and mini-concert depicting family cohesiveness; Search for Talentadong Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries; and the conduct of Regional Parents’ Education Congress through a forum of ERPATs/Father leaders of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program.

Presidential Proclamation No. 60 dated September 28, 1992 and Executive Order No. 241 dated June 9, 1995, declared the observance of the National Filipino Family Week on the last week of September and every year thereafter. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DSWD-Caraga to hold 2013 Reg’l Parents' Education Congress in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - In time with this year's National Filipino Family Week celebration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga will be holding the Regional Parents' Education Congress on September 24 through a forum with the father-leaders of the department's Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Ms. Aldie Mae Andoy, Social Welfare Officer III of DSWD-Caraga, said the objectives of this activity are the following: 1) to strengthen family unity and relationships through promotion of Filipino family values; 2) to enhance and strengthen parenting capabilities of Filipino fathers in performing their tasks and responsibilities on how to handle and manage the behavior of their children especially adolescence stage; and 4) to help fathers develop gender sensitivity and appreciation of partnership with their spouses in promoting and enhancing family life by strengthening a positive and satisfying marital relationship, preventing violence in the home and promoting shared parenthood and planned family size.

Invited speakers of said congress will talk on the spiritual aspect on enhancing family relationship and how to deal and manage the behavior of children especially in adolescence stage.

Andoy further said that other activities for the week-long celebration of the National Filipino Family Week also include the following: Radio plugging in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga and local partner broadcast media; Holding of Family Day Program (including wellness services/hataw exercise and mini-concert) with DSWD employees, persons with disabilities and senior citizens on September 20; and the Search for Talentadong Pantawid Pamilya.

This year's celebration is anchored on the theme "Unity Across Generations: A Strong Family, A Strong Society. The Filipino translation is Nagkakaisang Henerasyon: Matatag Na Pamilya, Matatag na Lipunan." (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga ConsumerNet plans activities for this year's Consumers' Welfare Month

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - The members of the Consumer Network (ConsumerNet) from government agencies and private stakeholders have planned several activities for this year’s Consumers’ Welfare Month celebration in October.

The ConsumerNet is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga headed by Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran.

The celebration will kick-off on October 1 with a motorcade around the city. It will be followed with a short program at the D&V grounds, J.C Aquino Avenue near DTI-Caraga regional office.

A forum on water and electricity will also be held with consumers from different sectors in the city.

Another activity to be held is the Consumer Meet the Press and a regional quizbowl to be participated in by students of several schools.

Other partner stakeholders are also encouraged to initiate their own activities related to the celebration.

Meanwhile, the ConsumerNet will meet again for the finalization of the activities. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DSWD-13 chief lauds efforts of partner stakeholders

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Caraga lauded its partner stakeholders in their efforts and undertakings in initiating and implementating programs and services for the marginalized sectors in the region.

This is in time for the joint meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Senior Citizens (RIAC-FF), Regional Coordinating and Monitoring Board (RCMB), and Regional Council on Disability Affairs (RCDA) with DSWD.

Regional Director Minda Brigoli said it is a great opportunity to experience working with the stakeholders in the region and be able to witness their dedication and commitment to provide and implement the programs and services for the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other marginalized sectors.

"Definitely, DSWD will support the stakeholders from the government, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and academe who are initiating and implementing programs for the persons with disabilities which include women and children and senior citizens, among others. Collaboration with our partner stakeholders is very important factor in sustaining the services for the marginalized sectors in the community," she said.

"We salute our partner NGOs (non-government organizations) and CVOs (community voluntary organizations) who are legit, and are heartily working for the benefit of these sectors - children, women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. We always want to work harmoniously with them," added Brigoli.

Brigoli also assured the public that the DSWD will continue to do its best to provide the programs and services for these sectors. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DOST to conduct Fiberboard Production Training in Tago

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - The Department of Science and Technology - Provincial Science and Technology Center (DOST-PSTC) in Surigao del Sur is scheduled to conduct a Fiber Production Training on September 24-25 in Tago, Surigao del Sur.

The activity aims to train farmers on the skills and techniques in coco fiber board production and to help them gain additional income and promote economic activity and employment within the community using coconut husk.

The beneficiaries of the training are the members of the Tago Agro-Industrial Development Cooperative and some identified stakeholders.

Experts from the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute will facilitate the training. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Save Mount Mayapay advocacy gains support from FSUU alumni

By Johny S. Natad

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - Members of the Father Saturnino Urios University High School Alumni Association (FSUU-HSAA) have pledged to support the environmental advocacy to save and protect Mount Mayapay.

FSUU-HSAA President Minnie Mary Rose Tiu Dumanhug, in an interview, said the alumni strongly supports the ecological conservation of Butuan’s world and natural heritage, Mount Mayapay.

“We commit ourselves to support the environmental advocacy of PIA-Caraga to save Mount Mayapay. As part of our commitment, we will be organizing a signature campaign in cooperation with other concerned environmental groups,” Dumanhug said.

Dumanhug said the environmental signature campaign, which supposedly started last September 14 during a university celebration, was postponed.

“We will be talking again with alumni officials and other environmental groups to finally set schedules and needed preparations for the environmental signature campaign to save Mount Mayapay soon,” she added.

Meanwhile, a member of FSUU-HSAA and Samahang Magdalo Caraga Regional Coordinator Michael Leo Torralba asserted the urgency to save Mount Mayapay.

"We cannot wait for another devastation like what happened in Ormoc and Legazpi and just let our tears do the talking when the time comes. The status of Mayapay is a clear and eminent danger if quarrying operations as well as other environmental destruction will continue. All these must come to an end and we shall all help campaign for this cause otherwise the destruction will bring us deeper than 6 feet way down under," Torralba said.

Torralba encouraged his fellow alumni and the people of Butuan and Agusan to support the advocacy and act to save Mount Mayapay.

“We, Filipinos must protect Mt. Mayapay - the symbol of the aspirations and dreams for progress and unity of Butuanons and Agusanons who belong to one of the oldest pre-historic communities in the Philippines. The threat of its extinction has been hovering over us, and getting worse over decades of neglect and inaction. Thus, if we want our environment to be preserved and our cultural heritage to be conserved, we should support any well-planned movement to urgently reverse the deterioration of our mountain caused by man’s greed for nature’s wealth that really belongs to the state and to the people,” Torralba said. (JSN/PIA-Caraga)


Agusan Norte solon files bill to protect Mt. Mayapay

By Eldie N. David

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 18 (PIA) - House Bill No. 2900, seeking to establish the Mount Mayapay Natural Park (MMNP) and protect it from further degradation, has been filed in Congress.

The bill entitled: An Act Establishing the Mt. Mayapay Natural Park (MMNP) Situated in Butuan City and the Municipality of Buenavista in Agusan del Norte, As Protected Area, Providing for its Management Pursuant to Law, And for Other Purposes was filed by Agusan del Norte first district Rep. Lawrence “Law” Fortun amid several poaching and illegal activities in the esteemed plateau which caused its deterioration.

In his explanatory note, Fortun emphasized that “the bill seeks to conserve and protect the unique biodiversity resources of Mt. Mayapay, a prominent natural landmark in the Caraga Region.” The highland “is a magnificent mountain located East of Butuan City, considered the range’s highest peak with an elevation of 2,214 feet above sea level, with a plateau formation that is the predominant feature of the city’s backdrop.”

The mountain “was a vital watershed in the environs of Butuan City and the Municipality of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte until it was abused by loggers and poachers.”

Fortun further explained in filing the bill that “at present, the ecosystem of Mt. Mayapay has been invaded, assaulted and is now highly endangered, threatening to extinction whatever few remaining endemic flora and fauna thriving in the area. Moreover, experts have expressed alarm that if nothing is done to arrest its continuous degradation, landslides that may claim thousands of lives are not remote given the fact that the mountain lies along the fault line.”

Among the additional reform provisions of the bill include: the inclusion of enumeration of prohibited acts within the natural park to cover quarry, mining, logging, etc.; provision on stiffer penalties for violations of the law; requirement of an act of Congress in the modification of the coverage of the law due to such factors as changing ecological situations or new scientific or archaeological findings; inclusion of a specific provision on the establishment of buffer zones; revision of the definition of tenured migrants and fixing of the other provisions relative thereto to prevent speculators from circumventing the law and legitimizing their illegal occupation; provisions to further strengthen the PAMB and for a transparent, consultative and participatory administration and management of the natural park; provision for the creation of an ExeCom within the PAMB to whom may be delegated some of its powers and functions to ensure consistent, continuous and sustained management and administration since the PAMB meets only quarterly and provision for more security in the utilization of the MMNP fund to prevent misuse and abuse.

Fortun also took note of the people’s sentiments who strongly “voiced out their concerns on the sad state of Mt. Mayapay and the real threat of a forthcoming destruction of lives and properties should its devastation continue. Various sectors have taken initiatives calling for the protection and conservation of this glorious mountain, however, activities contributing to its further deterioration have continued due to the lack of a law that ensures its protection, rehabilitation and conservation.” (FEA/PIA-Caraga)


More than 100 pupils from NAMES, QES elementary school receive school supplies

By PINSP Tessiel R. Moleta

SURIGAO DEL NORTE, Sept. 18 (PIA) - More than 100 pupils received assorted school supplies during the school caravan held recently at the Navarro Memorial Central Elementary School (NAMES) for Muslim Pupils (Madrasah) and Quezon Elementary School (QES) in Barangay Quezon, all in Surigao City.

The activity is line with the 19th annual celebration of National Crime Prevention Week and Peace Month celebration with the theme, “Malasakit Mo ay Kailangan, upang Krimen ay Maiwasan.”

During the activity, the Police Community Relations Office of Surigao City headed by Police Insp. Tessiel R. Moleta also conducted an information drive on crime prevention and Republic Act 9262 or Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC).

In her message, Quezon Elementary School Principal Susan Lipang expressed her gratitude to the donors who made a voluntary commitment to share their blessings and time in providing school supplies to the less privileged but deserving pupils and to the city Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel for a very informative and helpful information drive.

"Such activity is truly an act of heroism, wherein public and private sectors of the society join hands in making a difference to help the pupils to be vigilance at all times and encourage them to study for their future and for the future of our country as well," Lipang said.


The activity was spearheaded by the Surigao City PNP, Fruitful Harvest Ministry, Compassion for the Fatherless and Junior Chamber International - Surigao Wensie. (SDR/Surigao City PNP/PIA-Surigao del Norte)