(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.


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Surigao del Norte wins Best Saludo in 17th CRAM

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Feb 25 (PIA) – The Surigao del Norte athletic delegation was declared first prize winner of the best "Saludo" performance during the marching/parade in the 17th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet held in Tandag City. They received P30,000 cash prize.

The athletic delegation from Bislig City was proclaimed second with P20,000 cash prize while Surigao City was named third place winner with P10,000 cash prize.

The 12 delegations coming from the divisions of the cities of Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Tandag, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands and Siargao will be competing in at least 29 various sporting events.

Proclamation for the next overall champion will be announced by Department of Education Caraga regional director Atty. Alberto Escobarte during the culmination day on Feb. 27. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Agusan del Sur mainstreams peace and development thru planning workshop

By David M. Suyao

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Feb.  25 (PIA) - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) conducted a two-day planning workshop in order to mainstream peace and development in the province.

In his opening statement, Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza said, he is grateful that DILG and OPAPP came up with the activity that will empower all stakeholders of peace and development in the province do their share according to their respective mandates. Gov. Plaza also encourages the participants of the planning workshop to actively participate and share their bright ideas in order to come up with an effective outcome.

“I said “outcome” because I am expecting that this activity will gain results not only on the table but in actual practice. I am also hoping that this activity will make a difference on the peace and order situation in the province,” Gov. Plaza said.

As guiding points of the workshop, DILG Agusan del Sur Director Arlene Ann Sanchez discussed women’s rights and convention, the rights of children, rights of indigenous peoples, localization of the Magna Carta for women, violence against women and children (VAWC) act, Republic Act 7610 or the “Anti-child abuse act and other referral systems."

“This Local Peace and Development Assessment and Planning Workshop that we conduct today primarily aims to promote peace and development in the local government units (LGUs) by defining the LGUs’ role in peace building, which means more than reducing crime and danger and giving weight in development and peace; mainstreaming human security and conflict sensitivity in local governance and government partners. All these are expected to result to conflict prevention and peace building,” Dir. Sanchez said. 

According to Dir. Sanchez, human security can be mainstreamed when supported by legislation and be understood by all stakeholders of the prevailing issues.

“I am therefore challenging this group to make this planning workshop on peace and development become our share in the government’s efforts in acquiring the elusive genuine and lasting peace,” Gov. Plaza said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


AgNor local peace, devt assessment & planning set

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - A Local Peace and Development Assessment and Planning Workshop for the province of Agusan del Norte will be held on Feb. 26-27 here.

According to Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba, the two-day workshop is jointly organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)  in line with the Mainstreaming Peace and Development in Local Governance Project (MPDLGP).

The workshop aims to be updated on the status of the Peace Process with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front  (CPP/NPA/NDF) and to revisit and update the existing conflict analysis of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) province and locate it within the broad frame of the peace process, said Gov. Matba.

The workshop will help identify gaps and peacebuilding needs based on the conflict analysis as well as resources to address these gaps. This will include a validation of previously identified interventions that remain unfunded; and to propose enhancements to the existing PAMANA implementing structures and processes, Matba added.

Also, Gov. Matba bared that the activity is envisioned to integrate the Peace and Development Agenda within the Provincial Peace and Order Council’s (PPOC’s) Integrated Area Community and Public Safety Plan (IACPSP) or Peace and Order and Public Safety (POPS) Plan. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


LMDA bares 2013 BPP accomplishments

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - The Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) unveiled its Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP) accomplishments for the year 2013 during the 6th Expanded Technical Working Group meeting held recently at Gateway Hotel, this city.

LMDA-BPP Project Coordinator Omar C. Barillo reported that under the Biodiversity Mainstreaming of the comprehensive land use planning (CLUP), all local government units under the BPP project have already undergone necessary trainings/workshops and seven out of eight LGUs have already a biodiversity responsive CLUPs. "The municipality of Tubod, Surigao del Norte is currently on its 3rd phase of the training process of the biodiversity mainstreaming in the comprehensive development plan (CDP), and local project site committee (LPSC) or also known as technical working group (TWG) of LMDA is operational," Barillo said.

Barillo said, under the trans-boundary integrated planning, six workshops were conducted and the activity output is the updated and enhanced LMDA Environmental Management Plan (EMP), drafted one resolution for LGU adopting and approving the trans-boundary plan and one resolution adopted to support and participate in the said project.

"We have documented one Lake Mainit-Unified Fishery Ordinance implementation. We have also drafted one resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and around 30 printed tarpaulins are now ready for installation in the strategic areas by the first quarter of 2014," said Barillo.

Barillo also reported that the two local conservation areas, which are delineated and declared as local conservation sites are now being lobbied with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan for deliberation.

"We have completed two biodiversity assessment trainings in Agusan del Norte and subsequently the Surigao del Norte municipalities, documented and conducted Conservation Awareness Campaign in eight elementary schools and two secondary schools in Mainit," he added. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Tandag City bounces Agusan del Norte, 2-0

By Jezreel Andre Yparraguirre

TANDAG CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - A well-prepared Tandag City jousts the resilient Agusan del Norte in a 2-0 win volleyball match during the 4th Game Monday, February 24, 2014 at the Surigao del Sur Sports center for the 14th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet.

In the early first set, Tandag’s aces Reymart Martinez and Ryenante Palma deliver each strike with power and precision, and Agnor’s Arnel dela Peña and Rafe Sambayo tiring up with a great start of 15-13.

The match gets intense when the Agnor reds pull off their hidden strength with Christopher Sang-an leading the way– and Martinez still defending in an equal force of 24-23.

A failed drop shot attempt by Agnor placed the set 25-23 in advantage for the Tandag City side.

The second set flares with dela Peña’s serving strength, and Tandag’s Roy Capon finding ways to outsmart them.

Agusan Norte’s Coach Randy Illustrisimo sends in Sang-an for dela Peña hoping for a better score line, but defensive Charlie Pertinez latches their side in the lead. This time though, the crowd goes wild with every successive point from 14-14 to 24-23.

A game-changing right-hand reach by team captain Rey Quezon again makes the game 25-23, ending it with a 2-0 win by the Tandag City delegation.

Commending on the rather “sloppy” game, Martinez insisted on a better game next time teamwork and cooperation in their minds. They thanked God, their parents and team Coach Rodel Elpa of their gain in winning this neck-to-neck battle. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Billeting schools welcome CRAM delegations with fun, dances

By Nerissa Espinosa

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Feb. 25 (PIA) - The 13 billeting schools for the 17th Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM) hosted Monday night a 'Welcome Socials' for their visitors from different cities and provinces of the region.

It was a night of fun and entertainment for all after a tiring day of sports competition. Each identified billeting school together with its school head and teachers is tasked to prepare food and entertainment as well as ensure that everyone will enjoy. There were surprise presentations from teachers and students with visitors dancing the night away.

Surigao del Sur Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Teofila Cabatuan together with Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel also joined the evening activity being the host division and city of this athletic meet. They went around to the different billeting quarters to show support to the teachers who labored so much just to be sure that every athletic delegation will have a comfortable stay here.

It was also learned that the provincial government allocated P20,000 for each billeting schools for their Welcome Socials. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Feature: PNoy Bayanihan Project: A commitment to transform lives of schoolchildren in Caraga

By Robert E. Roperos

It was on February 3, 2012 when the PNoy Bayanihan project was launched in Caraga Region. No less than chief executives and top officials of the four agencies involved in the project came to Butuan City for the event.

Sec. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Bro. Armin Luistro of the Department of Education (DepEd), Asec. Michelle Go of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and former PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr. personally turned-over the armchairs to local officials of the region. Schools in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur were among the first batch of beneficiaries.

Butuan City recipient-beneficiaries of the armchairs were the pupils and students of the BCES good for 1,900 units; ANHS, 2,000 units; Butuan City School of Arts and Trades, 800 units; Libertad Central Elementary School, 186 units; La Trinidad Elementary School, 450 units; Villa Kananga Elementary School, 260 units; San Vicente Elementary School, 350 units; Kinamlutan Integrated School, 50 units; and Ong Yiu Elementary School, 100 units.

After a couple of years, the project has eventually changed the lives of majority of schoolchildren in Caraga as more schools were able to receive armchairs and are now being used in their respective classrooms.

It can be noted that for the past years, school and DepEd officials said that one of the major problems that school administrators are facing is the shortage of classrooms and armchairs, evidence of which are the classes that are conducted in the schools’ open areas where students are just standing or sitting at the ground while others are just sitting with a partner on a chair. School teachers said this situation affects the learning of students since they are not comfortable while the lectures are conducted.

In one of the turnover ceremonies of the armchairs, DepEd-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Alberto Escobarte was quoted, saying that the 40,134 armchairs produced by TESDA have cut the shortage of armchairs in the region.

For Kate Russel Militante of the Science and Technology Education Center of Butuan Central Elementary School (BCES), the new armchair that she is using now has given her the opportunity to listen to her teachers comfortably during lectures. She said she is now enjoying her armchair especially that when she first enrolled in the school during her first grade up to the third quarter of the school year on her fifth grade, she endured the chairs that she used which she shared with others to the plastic chairs which easily break until her PNoy Bayanihan armchair was delivered into her classroom.

Kate added that her armchair has helped her to a much better performance in school, giving her more concentration on school works. With her own chair, she is now more focused on the discussion of her teachers because she sits on it alone and doesn’t have to squeeze herself in just to accommodate other pupil.

For BCES that has more than 2,000 usable armchairs and school desks, Rey Collado, the school’s principal said this is not enough for some 5,000 enrolled pupils who attend the class sessions. The school is conducting two class sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Collado added that their school chairs were over 10 years old and were always being repaired. The official admitted that being one of the biggest public elementary schools in Caraga region, the school is perennially faced with the difficulty of accommodating its ever increasing number of enrollees, especially that the K to 12 Curriculum of DepEd is taking place already.

Also, Peter Esterioso, former principal of Agusan National High School said with the 2,000 armchairs they received in February 2012 launching, students no longer have to endure sitting on wooden benches for hours. Before the new armchairs were delivered to their school, at least two students share a school bench in every classroom, and the limited elbow space makes them uncomfortable. “This Project would really be heaven sent for our students here, numbering about 9,037,” Esterioso said.

Meanwhile, school officials of the production site – the Agusan del Sur School of Arts and Trades (ASSAT) reported that as of December 31, 2013, a total of 45,876 armchairs were already produced. Out of this figure, 40,134 were already delivered to different DepEd schools in the region. The remaining 5,742 are now ready for delivery.

TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Florencio F. Sunico, Jr. said aside from resolving armchair shortage, ASSAT has also opened new training opportunities for those involved in the production. As of December 2013, Dir. Sunico said there are two trainees who have completed the training. However, they are not assessed yet since the accreditation of the school as an assessment center in Furniture Making (Finishing) NC II is still on the process.

Armchairs for Surigaonon pupils

In 2012, a total of 27,353 armchairs were produced and distributed to different DepEd schools in the region. Adding to this figure, on September 9, 2013, TESDA officials have turned-over some 4,500 armchairs in Surigao del Sur in a ceremony held at the Provincial Social Hall, Tandag City.

Dir. Sunico underscored the collaborative efforts of the public and private agencies and organizations in the realization of the project. He also acknowledged the support extended by the provincial and municipal local government units by utilizing their local resources in mobilizing the chairs from the production site in Agusan del Sur to Surigao del Sur.

The official said the project will benefit schoolchildren in the province who are the future leaders not only of the province and the region, but the whole nation as well. “The real beneficiaries of this project are our schoolchildren who are the future leaders of our nation,” Sunico said.

Sunico further stressed like the other projects implemented by all government agencies, the PNoy Bayanihan project is a triumph of convergence since different sectors of society are involved from planning until its implementation. “… and with the success of its implementation, we are all victorious,” he added.

For her part, Surigao del Sur Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Teofila Cabatuan expressed her gratitude for this noble project of the national government. She added because of the additional armchairs, schoolchildren in the aforementioned schools will experience conducive learning as they will be comfortable sitting in their armchairs while listening to their class discussions.

According to TESDA-Surigao del Sur Provincial Office, among the schools that were benefitted from the project include Tandag Central Elementary School, Carmen Integrated School and Mahanahon Elementary School.

The activity was also graced by Surigao del Sur 1st District Cong. Philip Pichay; Gov. Johnny Pimentel; Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Caraga Regional Director Atty. Johnson Cañete; TESDA-Surigao del Sur Provincial Director Rey Cueva; Supervising TESDA Specialist Allan Millan; Tandag City General Services Officer Aldy Novo; Col Gregory Cayetano, Commanding Officer of the 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade; Lt Col Ricardo Leonardo of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Lt Col Anastacio Suaybaguio of the 36th IB; and Lt Col Noman Alcovindas of the 75th IB.

A smile of hope for Agusanon schoolchildren

Schoolchildren in the northern part of Agusan have all the reasons to smile. Some 16 elementary and high schools in the division of Cabadbaran City have received a total of 3,376 armchairs from TESDA-Caraga. Cabadbaran is the capital city of Agusan del Norte.

In a ceremony held on October 8, 2014 at Cabadbaran South Central Elementary School (CASOCES), Dir. Sunico led the turnover of armchairs to DepEd City Schools Division and local officials led by Mayor Dale Corvera.

Dr. Sunico, in his speech said this is part of the PNoy Bayanihan Project where illegally-cut logs in the region confiscated by DENR were processed and made into armchairs and desks, addressing the armchairs shortage of public elementary and high schools in the region.

“This is another noble project of the Aquino Administration initiated by TESDA, DENR and PAGCOR to ensure that elementary pupils and high school students in DepEd schools will be comfortable as they spend their education in their respective schools,” Dir. Sunico said.

Meanwhile, Cabadbaran City Schools Division Superintendent and concurrent DepEd-Caraga OIC Assistant Regional Director Dr. Rebecca Delapuz, in her speech acknowledged TESDA, DENR and PAGCOR for choosing their division as one of the recipients of the project in the region.

The official said this is another laudable project of the national government in providing quality education to schoolchildren not only in their division but as well as in other divisions in Caraga Region.

“While we are advocating Education for All by 2016, our government has see to it that this will be achieved by providing facilities for the comfort of our schoolchildren… Thanks to TESDA, DENR and PAGCOR,” Delapuz said.

Of the total number of armchairs turned-over, North Cabadbaran Central Elem. School received 841, Caasinan Elem. School received 117, while Kauswagan Elem. School received 43 armchairs.

To complete the list, Bay-ang Elem. School received 54 armchairs, Comagascas Elem. School – 162; Del Pilar Elem. School – 251; Pirada Elem. School – 173; Putting Bato Elem. School – 286; Cabinet Elem. School – 144; Calibunan Elem. School – 226; La Union Elem. School – 198; Sanghan Elem. School – 70; Cabadbaran City National High School – 391; Alfonso Dagani Elem. School – 74; Calamba Elem. School – 69; and Cabadbaran South Central Elem. School (CASOCES) with 277 armchairs.

Power of Convergence

With the convergence of government agencies, the directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III to provide infrastructure assistance to DepEd schools in the country was carried out.

DENR donates confiscated logs, lumber and other forest products without pending cases in court, or in any other tribunal or offices.

The department is also responsible for the hauling and delivery of confiscated logs and lumber to the TESDA production sites from their current locations; providing the necessary trucks or motor vehicles, equipment and escorts considering that some of the subject logs and lumber are stockpiled in areas with peace and order problems.

The DENR also links the registered suppliers of wood to ensure adequate and sustained supply of legally sourced logs and lumber needed for the production sites. Likewise, the agency provides technical assistance to TESDA for the proper implementation of the intended activities. The agency will also monitor all the activities leading to the successful implementation and turn-over of the confiscated logs, lumber, and other forest products to TESDA; and taps other government agencies and institutions to address the other logistical requirements of the project, such as but not limited to the Department of National Defense.

The DepEd on the other hand, pays for every chair, table, fixture and furniture produced by each of the 10 production areas in accordance with the price agreed upon and between DepEd and TESDA, which shall not be higher than the average purchase price of DepEd for the past two years. The education department provides the detailed design, specification, volume and other requirements needed for the fabrication of school furniture. DepEd also facilitates the delivery of the school furniture to specific schools by providing the list of recipients and the necessary administrative support.

Meanwhile, TESDA retrofits its existing facilities and/or establish new school furniture production facilities in 10 production sites in various parts of the country to be identified jointly with DENR, DepEd and PAGCOR, and conduct training relative thereto.

The authority also assists in the selection and recruitment of production workers to be trained for the school furniture production project together with local government units and people’s organizations within the 10 identified production sites.

TESDA likewise provides access to training facilities, equipment and other utilities for the institutional training and other related activities for the specialized course for production workers for the school furniture production facilities in 10 identified production sites. Further, TESDA provides technical and administrative assistance, apply competency standards, training methodologies, competency assessment instruments and other programs relevant for the successful implementation of the school furniture production project.

The agency further facilitates the design of a customized curriculum to address the specific training needs of the production workers in the school furniture production sites through the expertise available from its various training institutions.

To ensure quality production of armchairs, the agency conducts school furniture production technology training to selected prospective furniture production workers to enhance productivity and adherence to product standards and specifications.

Moreover, TESDA is mandated to ensure that the training program is conducted in accordance with established industry standards and training regulations, as well as with the specific training standards required for the school furniture production.

Likewise, the authority issues Training Certificates to graduates of the furniture production training; facilitate the conduct of competency assessment to the graduates of the training program; provide scholarship assistance to the production workers attending specialized training program in the School Furniture Production Technology; and optimize use of production facilities to produce the required volume of school furniture in accordance with set standards and specifications.

For the part of PAGCOR, the agency is tasked to provide funding up to the amount of P100 Million for the retrofitting of existing TESDA and/or DepEd facilities and/or establishment of new production facilities in 10 sites and its initial operating expenses. They are also mandated to provide such other additional funding as may be required under Track 1 of the Project as may be determined by the Program Steering Committee and as approved by the respective heads of the participating agencies herein. The agency monitors and ensures that the production facilities, equipment and other operational needs are utilized in accordance with the terms of agreement.

TESDA’s continuous commitment

The production of armchair does not end yet. Dir. Sunico said that as long as there are available materials like the confiscated logs which will be donated by DENR, the production team is at all times ready to do carpentry works and produce the needed armchairs that will soon solve the shortage of armchairs in Caraga Region.

This, according to Sunico, will not only help attaining quality basic education in the region, but also links government supported plantation growers with the various suppliers of DepEd’s requirements to hedge against scarcity of raw materials, train and develop workers for the production of school furniture through TESDA, and create livelihood opportunities in the conversion of confiscated logs into school furniture in various production sites.

More importantly, Dir. Sunico said through the PNoy Bayanihan project, TESDA continues to commit in transforming the lives of schoolchildren and mold them to be the future leaders of the country, thus achieving the agency’s vision to be the leading partner in the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class competence and positive work values. (TESDA-13 Promotion and Advocacy Team/PIA-Caraga)


Micronutrient supplement good for lactating mothers

By Celina Ann Z. Javier

MANILA, Feb. 25 (PIA) - Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies from birth until six months because it contains all the nutrients needed by the infant during this critical period.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants from birth to six months and sustaining breastfeeding up to two years of age, while giving appropriate complementary food starting from the sixth month onwards.

However, many mothers do not practice exclusive breastfeeding especially during the first six months for a number of reasons. Some mothers can’t breastfeed because of health problems, like being infected with HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and lymphoma or have inverted nipples.

Other mothers do not breastfeed because of a number of invalid reasons, like being too busy to breastfeed or sometimes because of the pain that comes with breastfeeding. Another common reason is that mothers do not have enough milk because of being underweight or being stressed.

According to the 2011 Updating of Nutritional Status of Filipinos, a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), 1 out of 10 lactating mothers are undernourished.

Lactating mothers are at-risk of being underweight because of increased requirement for nutrients due to the additional need to produce breastmilk without depleting the nutrient in their tissues. Nutrient supplementation is one of the ways for mothers to meet the additional nutritional requirements.

Mr. Michael E. Serafico, Senior Science Research Specialist of the FNRI-DOST, conducted a study to determine the effect of multiple micronutrient supplementation to breastmilk nutrients of lactating mothers.

In this study, three groups of pregnant mothers were given supplements. The first group was given multiple micronutrient content, the second group with folic acid and iron and the third group with iron only. Breastmilk was collected from the mothers and analyzed for retinol or vitamin A, iron, and zinc.

Based on the results, mothers who received multiple micronutrient had the highest vitamin A, iron, and zinc concentration in their breastmilk, while those who received iron only had the lowest nutrient concentration.

The study suggested giving multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.

Presently, only 14.3 percent of pregnant mothers take multivitamins with iron while 82.2 percent take iron supplements, based on the 2011 Updating Survey by the FNRI-DOST.

This study demonstrated that taking multiple micronutrient supplements can result to quality breastmilk thus giving such to pregnant and lactating mothers is encouraged.
In addition to nutrient supplements, the FNRI-DOST recommends that pregnant and lactating mothers should consume a variety of food to ensure getting enough nutrients.

For more information on food and nutrition contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph, Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)


AgNor solon admits rough ride but hopeful for FOI

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - It may be a rough ride for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill to hurdle the Lower House this 16th Congress, but Agusan del Norte First District Representative Lawrence “Law” Fortun says he is hopeful.

The FOI bill upholds Article 3 Section 7 of the Philippine Constitution, emphasizing that “the right of people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized.” FOI allows full public access to government official records, with few exceptions, i.e. presidential entitlements to communication privilege and other executive official’s entitlements to “deliberative process privilege”. The bill is seen as integral component to the transparency and accountability thrust of the Aquino government.

The neophyte solon manifested his optimism of FOI amidst continuous investigation of plunder cases against Janet Lim Napoles and a handful legislators. Whistle-blowers revealed what appears to be the mother of all scam of the wrongful use of priority development assistance fund (PDAF) funneled through bogus non-government organizations.

While the Senate eyed to finish deliberations and amendments of their FOI version next month, the lower house has yet to consolidate 12 versions of the bill.

In an interview, Fortun admits his support to the bill as part of his advocacy on transparency and good governance, but cognizant of the inherent oppositions of some legislators. The young solon is hopeful that his colleagues in the lower house would fast-track the deliberations on the legislative measure, noting how it remained dormant and suffered excessive delays in the preceding Congress. (LAWig/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Cebuano News: FMA Vision 2020, Nagsugod Na

Ni Lyka Quinto

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA) - “Before 2020, I think we can have the reality of our mission and vision sa Butuan,” mao kini ang pamahayag ni Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. sa iyang mensahe atol sa flag ceremony niadtong Lunes sa buntag, Pebrero 24, 2014 sa City Hall Grounds ning dakbayan.

Giasoy usab ni Mayor Amante nga ang PNP usa sa makusganong nisalmut ug nisanong sa maong vision ingon man ang DepEd. Tungod niini dako ang pagsaludar ni Mayor Amante sa tanang ahensya nga nitamud sa 2020 vision sa Butuan. Tuod man, gihagit ni Mayor Amante ang tanang empleyado sa City Hall nga kon kinsa kadtong maka memorya gilayon sa Mission, Vission ug Core Values sa Butuan muhatag siya ug ganti.

Gipahayag usab ni Mayor Amante ang maayong balita sa tuig 2015 mahitungod sa Asian Integration nga mosulod na kita sa Global Movement. Tungod niini, nagpahigayon ug survey ang Consul sa Department of Agriculture ug Panggamhanan sa US sa rehiyon ug nasuta nga ang South Public Market dinhi ning syudad posible nga mamahimo na unyang venue for Food Terminal ug Cold Storage Facility sa tibuok Caraga.

“This week the Department of Agriculture with the Middle East Government will conduct business forum to conceptualize and match kay magsugod na kita ug export sa atong aqua- marine, livestock, agriculture products from all over Caraga Region to the Middle East,” dugang nga pamahayag ni Mayor Amante.

“Ang atong vision dili lamang kini kay vision lang. Nagsugod na kini mga kaigsuonan. Let’s turn the vision into reality,” pasalig ni Mayor Amante. (CMO-PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)