(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.


Friday, February 28, 2014

Habitat for Humanity, LGU-Butuan to build houses for low-income gov’t workers



By Jennifer P. Gaitano



BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 28 (PIA) - Habitat for Humanity Philippines through Program Manager for Davao and Caraga region Atty. Abdussabor Sawadjaan Jr, together with Resource Development Manager Dolly Santos-Serranillo and Butuan City government through Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. have agreed to build houses for the low-income government workers which include the public teachers, during its meeting on Wednesday held in one of the convention centers here.

"We prefer to have a joint development project on socialized housing with the land owners instead of purchasing a land, to cut down procedures and the cost," suggested Sawadjaan to the mayor.

Sawadjaan added that the Habitat is establishing partnership with real estate developers and financing institutions in building houses for those who do not have a house but are willing to pay the monthly due.

“Habitat provides houses to the Filipino people but only to those who are also willing to pay the monthly amortization.  This is to allow us also to help more people by providing them decent houses. That's the Habitat way," explained Sawadjaan.

Citing the incident in eastern Visayas where most of the houses even those cemented ones were destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda, Amante raised that houses to be built for its beneficiaries in the city should really be safe and disaster-resilient.

"The low-income government employees and teachers who are also PAGIBIG members will be the first target beneficiaries of this housing project with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines," said Amante.

Sawadjaan also emphasized that another housing project with the poorest of the poor as beneficiaries will follow. "Our next target beneficiaries for a housing project will be the poorest of the poor but are PAGIBIG members who pay the minimum monthly premium," he remarked.

"As our next step after this meeting, I will be calling a meeting also with the housing board members of Habitat and we will submit proposal for the housing project intended for Butuan City. Later, the Habitat and LGU-Butuan will sign a Memorandum of Agreement with mayor Amante," bared Sawadjaan.

Meanwhile, Engr. Levita Grana, City Housing and Development Office chief discussed with the Habitat officials the areas in the city that best suit for the housing project for the Butuanons. She also discussed the guidelines and procedures on how they will go about it. “Barangays Dumalagan, Mahay, and Pagatpatan are just among of our target areas where we can build houses for the beneficiaries,” she said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Butuan City tops regional sports meet



By Nida Grace P. Barcena



TANDAG CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA) – The Butuan City delegation was adjudged overall champion in the recently concluded 17th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) here.

Butuan City athletes garnered 90 gold medals over 12 other competing delegations that competed the five-day event.

CRAM is composed of the delegation from Siargao Islands, provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur Islands, and cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan, and Tandag.

Other winners are Surigao City delegation as second placer with 42 gold medals, Agusan del Norte as third placer with 38 gold medals, Surigao del Norte as fourth placer with 37 gold medals and Agusan del Sur as fifth placer with 31 gold medals.

Surigao del Sur delegation, the host division was ranked six with 30 gold medals.

Dinagat Islands garnered 17 gold medals (7th place), Cabadbaran City with 16 gold medals (8th place), Siargao with 11 gold medals (9th place), Bayugan City with 8 gold medals (10th place), Bislig City with 6 gold medals (11th place) and Tandag City with 5 gold medals (12th place).

The winners will represent Caraga Region for the Palarong Pambansa known as Palaro 2014 on May, this year. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Tandag Women’s Month celeb kicks-off Mar 1



By Nida Grace P. Barcena



SURIGAO DEL SUR, February 28 (PIA) – The Women's month celebration in Tandag City will kick-off with a fun run dubbed as “Hinay na Dagan Para sa kaBabayen-an” on Saturday, March 1.

With the team: “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Nati sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong,” City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel will lead the activity around 5:30am, Saturday from Tandag City Plaza going to Vicente L. Pimentel Sr. Boulevard.

The Hataw exercise will then follow at the City Boulevard. Free arozcaldo will also be served to all the participants.

Other activities lined-up for the month-long celebration include Women’s Congress on March 8 in time with the International Women’s Day, KALANDRAKAS and the Bingo Socials in collaboration with the other government agencies and stakeholders. The said activities will be held in Tandag City Gymnasium. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


LGU Butuan prepares for Women’s Month celeb



By Diana Generalao



BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 28 (PIA) - The local government here is already finalizing its plans for the upcoming Women’s Month Celebration on March. This, as the members of the Gender and Development Coordinating Council (GADCC) convened at the City Mayor’s Conference Room 2 in the afternoon of Feb. 17, 2014.

Chaired by the City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and co-chaired by SP Member and Chairman on the Committee on Women, Children and Family Concerns Rema E. Burdeos, this year’s celebration will launch new activities that will focus on the theme, “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong!”

Among the new activities to be showcased is the women’s association logo-making contest on the second week and the unveiling of the winning logo on the last day of the month-long celebration. Participating in this contest with cash prizes at stake will be women from the different barangays here. The winning logo will then be officially used by the women’s association.

The month-long calendar of activities also consist of Juana Walk for a Change – a fun walk which will commence from the Provincial Capitol to the City Hall grounds, Juana’s Fiesta Caravan – a 3-day fair of various products originally handcrafted by members of the different women’s organizations here, Juana Be Healthy and Beautiful – a whole-day showcase of wellness services for women ranging from free medical and dental check-ups to makeovers to legal consultations, Juana’s Pep Talk – a weekly on-air discussion of women’s rights over participating radio stations, and Juana’s Night – a night of fun specially prepared for the women. (Butuan City PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


LGU to give award to Outstanding Cabadbaranons



By Jay Vincent V. Demain



CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Feb. 28 (PIA) – The city government here is set to give an award to a Cabadbaranon who will excel in his/her field of endeavor.

Under City Ordinance no. 2013-043 authored by Cababaran City councilor Alicia C. Funcion, the award dubbed as “Sulondon nga Cabadbaranon”, will be given to individuals who will bring honor to the city.

To qualify, he/she must be born in the said city, with good moral character, and must excel in his/her field of endeavor.

The chosen field may be in government service, education, health, business or management, agriculture, trade and industry, laws and justice, engineering, science and technology, arts, literature, history and culture, sports and entertainment, mass communication and community service.

Forty Percent (40%) of the criteria will be based on his/her field of specialization. The other 40% will be based in honesty, integrity, justness and accountability in his/her self, in others and in the community. The remaining 20% will be based in his/her 'pagkinabuhing solondon' (exemplary life).

The ordinance, after it was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recommended by Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo, is now for implementation in the said city. (NCLM/LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Davao del Norte benchmarks in Agusan del Sur



By Melody E. de Vera



AGUSAN DEL SUR, Feb. 28 (PIA) - Knowledge and skills are what the provincial government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) shared to its counterparts from Davao del Norte who visited the province for benchmarking recently.

A team headed by Edwin Palero from the Provincial Human Resource and Management Office (PHRMO) of Davao del Norte was warmly welcomed by Provincial Administrator Jesusimo Ronquillo who represented Governor Eddiebong Plaza along with PHRM Officer and concurrent Governor’s office chief-of-staff Josephine Ambongan and other chiefs of offices.

In a courtesy call in his office, Ronquillo expressed his gratitude to the group for their time and effort in visiting the provincial capitol assuring them that PGAS will impart any information that will be useful in their province.

At the Governor’s conference room, the PGAS heads of office presented the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), a system that records information on personnel matters, monitors and updates changes and developments in its profile, management and statistical reports. The system records basic demographic and address data, selection, training and development, capabilities and skills management, compensation planning records and other related data.

HRMIS also provides leave application and computation system that will systematize and automate the manual computation of leave credits and posting of leaves taken on the records of every personnel.

The HRMIS has a total of 16 sub-systems covering all Human Resource Management transactions namely: Plantilla schedule; Notice of Salary Adjustment/ Increment; Job Opportunities, Hiring, Selection and Placement, CSC-enhanced qualification standard, Competency Standard (PDF), Service Contract Monitoring System, Report on Appointment Issued; Personnel Information System; Badge Maker Software/ID Maker; Performance Monitoring & Evaluation System; Service Record Monitoring System;  Leave Monitoring System;  Payroll System (regular and casual personnel); 201 File Manager (Family, Education, Eligibility, Trainings, Voluntary Works, Skills/Membership/Recognition, Character References, Other Declaration, CTC Information).

The system increases productivity of the HR Office by streamlining workflow and eliminating redundant processes. (DILG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Tagalog News: Gulay at prutas dapat kainin araw-araw



Ni Divorah A. Aguila



MANILA, Peb. 28 (PIA) - Isa sa mga pamantayan ng wastong nutrisyon ang pagkain ng gulay at prutas, subalit maraming Pilipino ang hindi nakakakain ng tamang dami ng mga ito.

Sa mga naisagawang pag-aaral at survey ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute o FNRI, napuna na pababa ng pababa ang konsumo ng prutas at gulay ng mga Pilipino, at hindi rin nawawala ang kakulangangan sa micronutrients.  Ang micronutrients na karaniwang makukuha natin sa mga gulay at prutas at tumutulong sa ating katawan upang tayo ay sumigla at makaiwas sa mga sakit.

Kaya naman ipinapayo at itinataguyod ang pagkain ng maraming gulay at prutas upang mapunuan angmga kakulangan sa micronutrients.

Ano ba ang kahalagahan ng regular na pagkain ng gulay?

Ang mga green leafy at yellow vegetables o berdeng madahon at madilaw na gulay ay mayaman sa beta-carotene.  Ang sariwa at katamtamang luto na mga berdeng madahong gulay ay pinagmumulan ng vitamin C, iron, calcium, dietary fiber, folic acid, vitamin E, at ilang phytochemicals.

‘Yun namang ‘di madahong gulay tulad ng okra, sayote, upo, at ampalaya ay nakadaragdag ng dietary fiber, iron at B-complex vitamins.

Kaya mahalaga talaga ang regular na pagkain ng mga gulay dahil nakatutulong ito sa pag-iwas sa vitamin A deficiency disorders o VADD na isa sa mga laganap na uri ng malnutrisyon sa Pilipinas.

Katulad ng gulay, mahalaga ang prutas sa ating diet dahil mayaman ang mga ito sa vitamin C, lalo na ang bayabas, mangga at papaya.  Nakatutulong ang vitamin C upang maiwasan ang scurvy o pagdurugo o pamamaga ng mga gilagid at upang tumibay ang ating resistensiya laban sa impeksyon.

Nagtataglay naman ng beta-carotene ang madilaw na prutas.  Mayaman sa bitamina at mineral ang saging, melon, at pinya.  Meron ding dietary fiber ang mga prutas upang makatulong sa regular na pagdumi.

Tandaan, hindi lang iisang klaseng gulay at prutas ang ating kakainin sa araw-araw.  Mas maraming kulay, mas mainam.

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa pagkain at nutrisyon, lumiham o tumawag kay Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute-DOST, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel. No. 837 2934 or 837 2071 loc. 2287, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Services/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Maaari ka pa ring magpasuso ng eksklusibo kahit nasa trabaho



Ni Divorah V. Aguila



MANILA, Peb. 28 (PIA) - Kadalasang problema ng mga nagtatrabahong nanay ay kung paano magpasuso ng kanilang bagong silang na sanggol sa labas ng tahanan.

Pwede pa rin silang magpasuso habang nasa trabaho sa pamamagitan ng pag-express o pagkolekta ng gatas sa oras na dapat siyang magpasuso.

Ilagay ang gatas sa malinis na lalagyan na may takip at itabi sa refrigerator o freezer, na kadalasan namang mayroon sa mga tanggapan o opisina. Ang inimbak na gatas na ito, ang siyang maaring ibigay sa sanggol tuwing nasa trabaho o nasa labas ang ina. Siguraduhin lamang na nailubog sa mainit na tubig ang inimbak na gatas ng ina bago ibigay sa sanggol upang ang temperatura ng inimbak na gatas na iinumin ng sanggol ay katulad ng temperatura kung ito ay diretsang sususo sa ina.

Maaaring itago sa refrigerator ang kinolektang gatas ng ina hanggang beinte kuwatro oras, at hanggang tatlong buwan naman kung sa freezer itinago.  Wala talagang dahilan upang hindi makapagpasuso ang isang ina ng sarili nyang gatas.

Ang mahalaga lang ay ang paggamit ng malinis na tasa at kutsarita o medicine dropper sa pagbigay ng gatas na ito sa sanggol.

Paano masisiguro ng ina na sapat at tuloy-tuloy ang daloy ng gatas?

Tandaan, higit ang pangangailangan ng mga buntis at nagpapasusuo sa masusustansiyang pagkain dahil dapat nilang tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangang pangnutrisyon pati na rin yung sa baby.

Ang wastong pagkain ng ina sa panahon ng pagpapasuso ay isang paraan upang makasiguro sa sapat na daloy ng gatas.

Dapat ding iwasan ng inang nagpapasuso ang mabahala o mag-alala tungkol sa pagpapasuso.  Sa halip ay isipin na ito’y normal na ginagawa ng isang ina sa kanyang sanggol.  Iwasang matakot o mangamba, mag-alala o mapagod.

Kailangan din ng ina ang tama at kumpletong pagkain, kasama na rin ang sapat na panahon sa pagpapahinga sa araw-araw.  Dapat ding uminom ng sapat na dami ng mga fluids nguni’t mas mainam kung ito’y gatas, sopas, mga juice o tubig.

Regular ding magpasuso, at siguraduhing ubos ang gatas sa bawa’t suso.  Tandaan na ang patuloy na pagpapasuso ang natatanging paraan para matiyak na madami ang gatas ng ina.  

Para sa karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa pagkain at nutrisyon, lumiham o tumawag kay Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute-DOST, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel. No. 837 2934 or 837 2071 loc. 2287, email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Services/PIA-Caraga)