(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 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).


Agusan Sur identifies 12 shared service facilities

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 5 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry –Agusan del Sur Provincial Office (DTI-ADS) together with qualified proponents, has identified 12 processing equipment packages to be distributed this year under the agency’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project.

The facilities will be utilized for meat fabrication, handicrafts making, water hyacinth processing, kaong vinegar production, black rice packaging and tricycle operators’ servicing.

The SSF Project aims to improve the quality and productivity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by addressing the gaps and bottlenecks in the different business activities or value chain of priority industry groups or clusters through the provision of processing machines/equipment.  The latter will be for the common use of the MSMEs within the said industry groups.

Organized groups such as associations, cooperatives and local government units working for the development and growth of industry clusters are eligible to receive and manage the SSF for their members or other MSME users.

In 2013, DTI-ADS turned-over five equipment packages amounting to P2,089,950 to the following organizations and industry clusters, namely - KAAGAP Development Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Coco-coir Geonets), Organic Farmers Association of Poblacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur (Organics/Organic Inputs), San Martin Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Abaca), RAM Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Coco/Kaong Sugar) and JCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Coco Coir).

Organizations interested to avail of processing equipment under the DTI-SSF are encouraged to visit the DTI office in their respective provinces.  DTI-ADS may be reached at tel/fax 085-343-7100 or email at dti_ads@yahoo.com. (DTI/PIA-Caraga)


152 agrarian-farmers get land titles

By Gil E. Miranda

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) – A total of 152 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) received their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this province distributed covering 203 hectares of agricultural lands in Barangay Consorcia, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte on February 27.

In a ceremony, Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba of the province of Agusan del Norte led the distribution, together with  Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO-II) Andre B. Atega; Mun. Mayor Avelina Rosales of Las Nieves; Manuelito C. Suan, who represented 1st District Representative Law Fortun and Consorcia Barangay Captain Roque Jamora.

Governor Matba praised DAR for a deep concern on land distribution as well as other interventions that benefitted the farmers.

“I am proud to say that the DAR in Agusan del Norte under  the management of PARPO II Andre B. Atega is dedicated in their tasks at improving the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries,” Governor Matba said.

Las Nieves Mayor Avelina S. Rosales lauded DAR’s commitment on land distribution to help the farmers own the land they have been tilled especially in her municipality.

On the other hand, PARPO II Andre B. Atega congratulated the farmer-beneficiaries and encouraged them to take care and work hard to progressively develop the land they now owned.

A 65 year-old Elicima F. Lasco, a farmer-beneficiary of  two-hectare rice land said in a tearful-eyed  after receiving her CLOA, “after several years of waiting, we finally received our title and we owed this to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its program on land distribution.”  (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


BFP AgSur intensifies campaign vs fire incidents

By Melody E. de Vera

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Mar. 5 (PIA) - In line with this year’s theme: “Isulong ang Kaunlaran, Sunog ay Iwasan, Kaalaman at Pag-iingat ang kailangan,” the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) intensifies its campaign against fire incidents in the province in observance with the nationwide Fire Prevention Month in the month of March of every year.

According to Inspector Danilo Castor, acting Provincial Fire Marshall of BFP-Agusan del Sur, their office recorded 132 percent increase of fire incidents on 2013 where 43 cases with 7 casualties and P14-million pesos total damaged compared on year 2012 where only 26 cases of fire incidents recorded and P10-million worth of total damages.

He said, the main cause is the faulty electrical wiring and to avoid fire incidents, BFP reminded everyone to unplug electrical appliances when not in use. Castor added that aside from  avoiding fire incidents, we can save money and energy.

To ignite awareness to the people, BFP-Agusan del Sur has lined-up activities such as Fire Fighting Training on Mach 10-14 to be participated by the members of   Search and Rescue Agusan Sur (SARAS); Refreshing course to be participated by 2 batches of SARAS team on March 20-21; Fire Drill to be conducted in all the municipalities provincewide and; Fire Brigade Training in all barangays.

Other activities lined-up for the hottest month as mandated by the National Government are: Drawing Contest for Elementary category, Poster Making Contest for secondary category, Photo contest that is open to all, Essay Writing Contest and Painting contest for secondary schools, Quiz bee and Pre-Olympics for Barangay Fire Brigades.

BFP Agusan del Sur opened the celebration of National Fire Prevention Month by a Walk for a Fire Free in every municipality along with the fire fighters and non-government organizations.

The BFP is also continuously conducting its regular inspection specially to residential areas and establishments.  (PPIO-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


PopCom sponsors RH forum

By Angie Balen-Antonio

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) - The Commission on Population (PopCom) in coordination with the Regional Development Council-Gender and Development Committee (RDC-GADCC) will sponsor a Forum on Republic Act 10354 or known as Responsible Parenthood – Reproductive Health Act of 2012 on March 7, 2014 in this city.

The forum is timely as the whole nations  celebrates the Women’s Month this March with the theme, “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong!”

PopCom Executive Director, Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III will talk on the updates of the law which has been a contentious issue between the church and the government.

Participants to this forum are various stakeholders and partners from the different regional line agencies.

PopCom regional director Alexander A. Makinano  said that  the forum  is  a good venue for the  sectoral groups to have a deeper understanding and appreciation on the different provisions of the RP - RH law,   updates on the  Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR),  and its current status.

Makinano  pointed-out that said law,  once  fully implemented  will protect  the health and lives of mothers  and  their children through full access to quality  services and information on reproductive health,  and would ensures  hiring and training of a skilled health professionals.

Other than this forum, various activities for the Women’s Month have been lined-up by the RDC-GADCC to give honor to the strong and resilient “Juanas” who brought inspiring changes not only to their family but throughout the country and the whole world. (PopCom-13/PIA-Caraga)


DAR Caraga targets 23,000 hectares for 2014 land distribution

By Joie L. Ceballos

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 5 (PIA) - A total of 23,000 hectares of agricultural land is targeted for distribution in 2014, said Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regional director Faisar Mambuay after the recently concluded Target-Setting Workshop.

Mambuay said that this is a record-breaking target being the highest since 1996. He further expressed confidence to deliver the target by the end of the year making more than 7,600 farmers become landowners.

In 2013, DAR Caraga ranked second in the national tally for the highest accomplishment in percentage with its 14,105 hectares accomplishment or 147 percent against its 9,588 hectares annual target, for which Mambuay thanked DARs partners in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“We are doing all best efforts to make land distribution meaningful in the region,” said Mambuay.

He, further said that this is in support to the call of the president and Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes to finish land acquisition and distribution before the end of the PNoy administration.

Mambuay also assured CARP advocates that acquisition and distribution of lands will continue beyond June 30, 2014. He cited section 30 of Republic Act 9700 or the Carper law that land acquisition and distribution may proceed for landholdings with pending proceedings even beyond June 2014 and explained further that this opinion is already being concurred by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Before June of this year, DAR Caraga is set to send out 646 notices of coverage covering 3,240 hectares under the Phase 3B, in addition to the 1478 notices covering 8637 hectares earlier sent.

He calls on the public’s participation by informing DAR of any known landholdings over 5 hectares which has not been sent with notice for the office to act the soonest possible time. (DAR-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Repormang panlupa tuloy-tuloy kahit tapos na ang CARPER, sabi ng Palasyo

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Marso 5 (PIA) - Sineguro ng Palasyo noong Martes na ang repormang panlupa sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) ay patuloy kahit pagkatapos ng petsa nito.

May ibang grupo sa repormang panlupa na nagtatanong sa kalagayan ng implementasyon ng CARPER na nakatakdang matapos sa darating na Hunyo.

Pero sa isang panayam sa media noong Martes sa Malakanyang, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. na ang repormang panlupa ay magpapatuloy kahit sa kanyang petsa ng pagtapos lalo na ang mga nagmay-ari ng lupa na hindi nakatanggap ng abiso ng pagtatapos.

“At kapag meron ka nang notice of coverage, ‘yan ‘yung sinasabi nilang subject to proceedings. At sabi ni Secretary de los Reyes, kapag subject to proceedings, hindi ka naman made-deadline ng June 30,” paliwanag ni Sec. Coloma.

“Puwede namang ipagpatuloy ‘yung usapin hanggang beyond June 30 hangga’t maresolba ‘yung isyu. Kaya sa aspetong ‘yan, sinasabi niyang hindi dapat mag-alala ‘yung meron pang mga nakabinbin na usapin at ‘yung hindi pa nabibigyan ng notice of coverage.” Dagdag pa ni Sec. Coloma.

Tukoy sa sinabi ni Agrarian Reform Secretary de los Reyes, sinabi ni Coloma na sa ilalim na kasalukuyang batas – ang Akta Republika 9700, Section 30, ay nagsasaad “ang pagkamit at pagpamahagi ng lupa ay maaring patuloy para sa land holdings na may nakabinbin na pamalakad kahit pagkatapos ng Hunyo 2014.”

Sa ilalim ng interpretasyon ng DAR, sa usapan sa CARPER ay maaring magpatuloy kahit pagkatapos ng pagtapos nito, sabi ni Coloma.

Sa mga taong may katanungan tungkol sa CARP at CARPER na isyu ay maaring makipag-ugnayan sa DAR na palaging handa na tumulong sa publiko.

Hinggil sa pagtulong sa mga benepisaryo ng repormang panlupa, sinabi ni Coloma na ang DAR ay bumuo ng dedikadong grupo na magtutuon sa serbisyong pagsuporta. Ang grupong ito ay nakipag-ugnayan sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan tulad ng Lank of the Philippines at Cooperatives Development Autority para tumulong sa mga benepisaryo na magtatayo ng kanilang kooperatiba.

“Ito ngang taong 2014, lumalahok ang ating bansa doon sa International Year of the Family Farm. Ibig sabihin, ini-encourage talaga ang pagpapalago at pagkakaroon ng family farms para mas marami pang Pilipino ang lumahok sa pagsasaka,” sabi niya.

Sinabi ng Department of Agriculture na ang karaniwang edad ng magsasakang Pilipino ay 55 o higit pa kaya kinakailangang palawakin pa ang pundasyon ng mga magsasaka sa bansa kasama na iyung mga grupo ng mas bata, sabi ni Coloma. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)