(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 10 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 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 rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Monday, October 21, 2013

IPs celebrate 16th IPRA anniversary

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 21 (PIA) – The office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the agency responsible for addressing issues regarding and concerns of the country's indigenous peoples (IP) will lead in the celebration of the 16th Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) anniversary.

Atty. Elsie A. Alejandro, officer-in-charge of NCIP Caraga said, that the month of October is considered as month of the IPs. IPs from the different areas of Caraga region will gather for the celebration.

To raise IPRA and IP awareness of the community, there will be a series of activities lined up on October 24 to 25 to be held at the Agusan del Norte provincial capitol covered court in Butuan City, these include: different cultural presentations, quiz bowl to be participated by the NCIP’s Educational Assistance Program (EAP) Grantees and a poster making contest which is open to all students in the region with ages 12 to 15.

“This years’ celebration commemorates the 16th year of the enactment of the IPRA with the theme Nurturing Ancestral Domain Culture,” Alejandro said.

The celebration will be opened with a parade and the IPs ritual on Thursday and a solidarity and awarding ceremony will be held on Friday. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Youth leaders in Agsur took over provincial governance

By David M. Suyao

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 21 (PIA) - Some 50 youth leaders from all over the province on Monday took over the reign of the provincial government.

The event is the result of the two-day Children’s Congress that started October 19-20, 2013 where these young provincial officials and young chiefs of offices were elected and appointed respectively. Under Article 4, section 46 of Ordinance No. 16, series of 2002  of the Agusan del Sur Children’s Code, children’s day of governance/ administration is celebrated every third Monday of October of every year.

Raymond Loreto from San Francisco took over the seat of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza as governor while Joey Pagar from Bayugan City became the presiding officer and the vice governor, replacing Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. The 15 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan who were having their session today were also replaced, including the chiefs of offices of all the departments in the provincial government who act as guide for the young officials for one day.   

During the flag raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol, these elected and appointed young provincial officials and chiefs of offices were introduced with all the participants of the two-day children’s congress as they sponsor the flag raising ceremony.

In his message, young Gov. Loreto said, children in Agusan del Sur are very lucky to be given the chance to explore the world of government leaders. Loreto added that aside from the scholarship that the provincial government is granting to deserving students, they are also lucky that only in Agusan del Sur that the youth are given resources and financial support by the provincial government when they travel to other places during competitions.

“That is why, we, the youths of Agusan del Sur, always do our bests to bring the honor back to our province when we compete in other places,” little Gov. Loreto said.

In his message, Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. said, this program of the provincial government will help develop the potentials of the youths to the fullest. VG Cane said this is one way they can gain self-confidence and with dignity in facing problems that they may encounter in the future. It will also help the youths in discovering where their strengths lie, and to encourage them to pursue those avenues. Knowing that everyone has his strengths and weaknesses, this program would show that leadership is working to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

“Children’s Governance will let the youths experience something new in dealing with different people with different personalities, while working together in order to achieve one common goal, and that is development.  It helps the children realize how important they are in the society even as young as they are, and they can do positive changes that will help the community they live in. Above all, we believe that children are the key to change the world,” Vice Gov. Satiago Cane Jr. said.

After the flag raising ceremony and program, the youths leaders were guided to their respective assignments to execute and perform their duties and responsibilities according to the mandate of the office. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


NGO completes implementation of projects in Caraga

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 21 (PIA) - Fundacion Intered, a Spanish international non-government organization working in Caraga region, in support of the Spanish government’s Agencia EspaΓ±ola Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), has finally formalized the completion of Convenio 07-C01-031 implementation during the Formal Closure and Turn Over Ceremony held on Thursday, Oct. 17 in one of the convention centers, this city.

Convenio 07-C01-031, a project entitled “Integral and sustainable development of rural communities in Bicol and Caraga region with special focus on women, through the articulation and strengthening of  the productive and social structures, through community participation, Philippines,” is being implemented in 18 rural communities in nine municialities in Caraga region.

It adopts a Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD) Approach as its overall framework in conducting programs in rural communities.

“There are five major components that are being implemented with concrete interventions. These are community organizing and local governance, productivity systems development, environmental nurturance, education service, and health care,” said Arlene V. Garcia, Caraga regional coordinator of Fundacion Intered.

Among the many successful undertakings of the Convenio are the creation and strengthening of 19 functional People’s Organization in Caraga region with various development projects and community involvement and affiliations, especially women’s participation; making and enhancement of barangay annual investment plans; creation of technical working groups in each barangay; construction and repair of schools; and construction of barangay health centers.

“Since its official start on April 24, 2008, it organized a series of sustainable agriculture trainings leading to the creation of farmer technicians and farmer co-operators who are practicing sustainable agriculture technology in each barangay,” declared Garcia.

The occasion was graced by His Excellency Jorge Manuel Domecq Fernandez, Spanish ambassador to the Philippines; Vicente Selles Zaragozi, general coordinator of the Spanish Cooperation in the Philippines; and Maria del Mar Palacios Cordoba, Intered executive director.

Messages of welcome and gratitude were also conveyed by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. and Agusan del Norte Provincial Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Matba.

The testimonies imparted by the People’s Organizations and barangay local government units representatives were very significant as they underscored the social, economic, and ecological development that they achieved through the implementation of Convenio 07-C01-031. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Spanish Ambassador visits Carmen AECID Project

By Mary Christine Anthonette M. Salise-Punzalan
        
NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte, Oct. 21 (PIA) - His Excellency Jorge Domecq Fernandez, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines, together with Mr. Vicente Selles Zaragozi, AECID General Coordinator, and Ms. Cristina Garcia, AECID Program Manager for Good Governance paid a visit to the Mango Processing Plant at the Municipality of Carmen, Agusan del Norte on October 17, 2013.

The purpose of the said visit was to check the operations of the processing plant sponsored by Agencia Espanola Cooperacion Para el Desarollo (AECID).

Carmen Municipal Mayor Ramon M. Calo thanked the Spanish Government for providing the municipality with a grant which paves the way for the LGU’s major product- Carmen mango, more known as the processing plant produce variety of mango products like mango puree, mango juice and dried mangoes.
Mayor Calo said that the processing plant will help the municipality generate income and will create employment opportunities should the said plant’s operations be more stabilized.

Amb. Fernandez said that the AECID Mango Processing Plant is a very good project and he is hopeful that it will soon have its expansion as it is indeed income-generating.

DILG assistant regional director Donald A. Seronay along with the Sangguniang Bayan Members of the municipality also graced the said occasion. (NCLM/DILG-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Surigao Norte spearheads dialogue with mining companies

By Mary Jul Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Oct. 21 (PIA) – The provincial government of Surigao del Norte spearheaded a dialogue with mining companies held recently in Gateway Hotel, this city.

Governor Sol F. Matugas led the consultation together with Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Caraga regional director Roger de Dios and TESDA Surigao del Norte provincial director Liza Budtan.

During the said dialogue, Provincial Planning and Development Officer in Charge Ivonnie B. Dumadag presented the priority projects for 2014 while Provincial Manpower Training Center Officer Emilio Pantejo discussed the updates of the Provincial Training Center. Also, Provincial Treasurer Fe Martinez explained the collectibles Occupational Fees from mining companies and other tax obligations.

Supports and contributions of the mining industries to the province's economic development and HEALS (Health, Education, Agri-Aquaculture, Livelihood and Social Services/Security) agenda were also discussed during the dialogue.

Officials and representatives from Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation; Taganito Mining Corporation; Greenstone Mining Corp.; Pacific Cement Phil. Inc.; Adnama Mining Resource Inc.; Platinum Group Metals Corp.; Philex Mining Corp.; Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp. Inc.; Hinatuan Mining Corp.; Manila Mining Corp.; Shenzhou Mining Group Corp.; Shuley Mine Inc.; and Wellaby Corporation participated the event. (SDR/PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)