(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).


BIR Caraga to kick-off 2014 campaign on paying taxes right

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 7 (PIA) – In accordance with the 2014 nationwide tax campaign to raise at least P1.46 trillion before the end of the year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 17 (RR17) - Caraga will kick-off on the 14th of this month its crusade on right payment of taxes.

Government employees, local stakeholders and professionals are enjoined to attend the 3K Fun Run activity dubbed as Run After Tax Evaders at 7:00 a.m. and assemble at BIR regional office grounds, J. Rosales Avenue, this city.

This year’s campaign theme is “I love the Philippines, I pay my taxes right. It’s as easy as register, file and pay.” A reminder to pay taxes accurately imposed upon a taxpayer by a state and an appeal for taxpayers to file their tax returns early and avoid penalties, not to mention the inconvenience, for late filing, said BIR RR17 regional director Norberto Vitug.

In the afternoon of the same day will be the Tax Campaign Kick-Off Program and a briefing on the new BIR forms for the filing and payment of 2013 Income Tax Returns (ITR) at Almont Hotel and Inland Resort convention room.

For confirmation and queries, BIR Taxpayers Assistance Unit can be reached at 341-7192. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


CSC to hold 2-Day HR Symposium in Cebu

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 7 (PIA) – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) in partnership with the Government of Australia through the Philippines-Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) will hold this year’s Human Resource (HR) Symposium on April 24-25, 2014 with the theme, “Gearing Towards ASEAN Integration through Strategic HR” to be held at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.

“This year’s symposium highlights the value of HR in good governance and effective public service delivery,” said CSC chairman Francisco T. Duque, in his invitation letter to all government agencies.

Duque recalled that the first symposium was held on July 17-18, 2013 in Cebu City which was anchored on the theme “Performance Management in the Philippines: Strategies and Breakthroughs.

“With its vision of becoming Asia’s leading center of excellence in strategic HR by 2015, the CSC shares the Philippines’ commitment as an active member of the ASEAN community in achieving ASEAN Integration by 2015,” bared Duque.

It was also learned that participants of said symposium will have to pay the registration of P7,000.00 each, which include handbooks on the four HR Systems, training kits, meals and certificate of participation for 16 hours managerial training. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Tribal chieftains gather for peace, development in AgSur town

By David M. Suyao

LORETO, Agusan del Sur, Mar. 7 (PIA) – Hundreds of tribal chieftains from different villages of Loreto and other towns in the province including some parts of Compostela Valley gathered at the Loreto municipal covered court on invitation of Datu Malampuson Mayor Dario Otaza for an Indigenous People (IP) Peace and Development conference Thursday, March 6, 2014.

The two-day conference is well attended by the Agusan del Sur provincial officials and Loreto municipal tribal chieftains, according to Datu Marcus Gonzales Jr.

Lt. Col. Rolando Dumawa, commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion which is currently conducting community organizing for peace and development in the entire town of Loreto together with Col. Dar, Deputy Brigade Commander of the 401st Brigade were also present during the conference to show support in the conduct of the activity.

“The 26th Infantry Battalion supports all efforts of the local government to empower our Indigenous People Republic Act of the IPRA Law,” Lt. Col. Dumawa said.

The conference discussed the peace and order situation, awarding of livelihood programs to former rebels, ancestral domain livelihood and economic sustainability of the IPs, utilization of forest products and forest industry economic cluster of Loreto.

“The 401st Brigade of the Philippine Army will strengthen the collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and the IPMR of the whole province of Agusan del Sur to be the leading partner in attaining sustainable peace and order of the indigenous cultural communities,” Col. Dar said. (DMS/26th IB CMO/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Mandatory appointment of Tourism Officers in LGUs sought

By Aimee B. Sienes-Sajor

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Mar. 7 (PIA) - A new House Bill No. 3734 is being filed in congress providing for mandatory appointment of tourism officers in provinces and cities and optional appointment in municipalities.

Congressman Erlpe John M. Amante of the second district of Agusan del Norte, author of the said bill, pushed for its approval in the House of Representatives.

With this proposal, Sections 443 (b) and 454 (a) of the Local Government Code of 1991 will be amended to include the mandatory appointment of tourism officers in provinces and cities and optional appointment in municipalities.

In support of the State’s policy of developing responsible and sustainable tourism that ensures full enjoyment of benefits by host communities, Cong. Amante said that professional and qualified tourism officers must be appointed in every local government units (LGU) to enhance their competence and capacity to plan, manage and oversee local tourism development.

Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as The Tourism Act of 2009, lays the creation of a permanent item for a tourism officer in every province, city and municipality. However, this is only mandated to areas described loosely as having a significant tourism industry, as provided in Section 125 of the said act.

Cong. Amante emphasized that his bill shall set a clear directive on the appointment of tourism officers in LGUs, at least at the provincial and city levels, with the confidence that tourism must certainly exist in these jurisdictions, may it be hosting attractions, sports/medical/wellness facilities, and venues for meetings, incentives, conventions and events/exhibits or by being key tourist centers.

This is in adherence to the State’s policy of providing for a local government position that will be responsible for and accountable to the development of the tourism industry whereby it is harnessed as an engine of sustainable socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment and appointment. (LGU-Agusan del Note/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Mindanao power body responds to supply shortfall

DAVAO CITY, Mar. 7 (PIA) - A power monitoring body created to initiate immediate and long term steps to address the power situation in Mindanao has recommended quick measures to bridge power supply deficit resulting from the unscheduled shutdown of 210MW Steag coal-fired power plant.

In a meeting called last Friday to assess the situation and determine the cause of the February 27 island-wide blackout, the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) sought the immediate dispatch of capacities from embedded generators of distribution utilities, including newly-installed modular gensets of several electric cooperatives.

 “We find it viable to quickly resolve the supply deficit by tapping what is already available in the system, as measures are being exerted to restore affected power plants back online,” says Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which also heads the MPMC.

The MPMC had asked private distribution utilities (DUs) to run its embedded capacities such as diesel generators, even as it requested the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to judiciously accelerate provisional approval of pending rate applications for modular gensets that have already been installed.

It also asked DUs and electric cooperatives distribution to urge large commercial establishments and industries to implement demand-side management measures such as adjustment of operating schedules for processing and manufacturing plants and to opt-in for Interruptible Load Program (ILP), a mechanism where large establishments such as malls and factories run their generator sets instead of tapping from the grid and are allowed to recover cost.

Antonino stressed that the recent system downtime affecting large capacities should be immediately resolved, in light of the approaching onset of summer months when Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power complex would be expected to have reduced output.

 “I understand that the cause of the problem that triggered series of plant trip-offs is still being determined, but such assessment should be done quickly so that corrective actions are put in place to prevent recurrence,” Antonino said.

The Mindanao system-wide blackout happened at dawn of February 27 when a series power plant trip-offs or automatic shutdown triggered a system-wide blackout across the entire Mindanao grid. According to initial findings of the Department of Energy (DOE), a malfunction of Agus 1 hydropower plant unit set-off automatic shutdown that cascaded to several other power plants that put offline around 1200MW supply to the Mindanao grid.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has restored stability by noontime of same day, with the system blackout regarded as technical in nature. However, despite system restoration, the 210MW Steag coal-fired power plant remained offline after its plant units 1 and 2 sustained damage to its turbine generating sets.

Steag is still assessing the extent of damage and expects to provide timeline for resumption of plant operations once assessment is completed. Initial technical evaluation indicates Steag may need a substantial amount of time to restore 2 plant units back online.

According to the DOE, the Steag downtime has brought restoration of Mindanao power supply to only about 80 to 85 percent. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Administrasyon manatiling napakahigpit sa anti-corruption na labanan

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Marso 7, 2014 (PIA) - Nangako ang pamahalaan na hindi tatantanan ang pagpatupad ng reporma sa lokal na pamahalaan pati na sa pulis at militar lalo na pagkatapos na ilabas ng Tanggapan ng Ombudsman ang ulat hinggil sa malaking bilang ng kasong korapsyon mula sa mga tanggapang ito.

Sinabi ng Ombudsman na ang nangungunang mga ahensiya na may malaking bilang ng kaso ng korapsyon ay kasama ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na may mahigit 2,000 na kaso, Philippine National Police na may humigit kumulang 1,000 na kaso at ang Armed Forces of the Philippines na ay 200 na kaso.

Sa isang panayam sa media noong Huwebes, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. na angbilang na ito ay hindi kataka-taka dahil sa bilang ng mga lokalidad na nasangkotat ang malaking bilang ng mga indibidual mula sa pulis at militar.

Halimbawa, ang bansa ay may 81 lalawigan na may humigit kumulang 100 na chartered na lunsod dagdag pa rito ang humigit 1,600 na bayan. Ang pulis at militar ay may humigit-kumulang 125,000 na miyembro bawat isa sa kanila.

“Sa pagtingin sa bilang na ito, hindi rin naman kagulat-gulat na doon mag-o-occur ‘yung mas maraming insidente kasi mas maraming tao ang maaaring masangkot sa mga usapin,” sabi ni Coloma.

“Pero ang pinakamahalaga diyan ay ‘yung aksyon ng mga ahensya. Kaya nga isa sa mga haligi ng ating Philippine Development Plan ay ang mabuting pamahalaan.”

Sa level na lokal na pamahalaan, ang pagtulak sa anti-corruption ay patuloy. Sabi ni Coloma, dagdag pa noong panahon ng pamumuno ng nasirang si Secretary Jesse Robredo ng interior and local government, sinubukan niyang pabutihin ang kalidad ng serbisyo ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Kasama sa mga hamon na gustong abutin ni Robredo ay ang pagbigay ng pampasigla sa mga mabubuting pagganap ng mga LGU para mahikayat silang isulong ang reporma, sabi ni Coloma. Sinimulan din ni Robredo ang citizens’ charter na siyang nagpataas ng aninag ng mga transaksyon pababa sa level ng lokal na pamahalaan.

“Lahat naman ng mga institusyon sa pamahalaan ay ginagabayan ‘nung programa ng ating Pangulo na daang matuwid,” sabi ng opisyal ng Palasyo.

“Kaya habang iniuulat na marami ang mga kasong ganyan, kasabay naman diyan ‘yung patuloy ang pagbigay diin ng mabuting pamamahala at ang pagpababa ng korapsyon bilang isa sa limang haligi ng Philippine Development Plan,” dagdag ni Coloma. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Cebuano News: Nasodnong kasaulogan sa kababayen-an gisuportahan

Ni Ronie P. Gerona

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 8 (PIA) - “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong,” kini ang tema sa National Women’s Month Celebration nga gisugdan niadtong Marso 1 hangtod 31 ning bulana.

Ang panggamhanang probinsyal sa Agusan del Norte sa pagpanguna ni Gobernador Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba hugot nga misuporta sa maong kasaulogan. Subay niini, matag adlawng lunes human sa pag-isa sa nasodnong bandila sa Kapitolyo, magpahigayon og hamubo nga programa alayon sa kasaulogan niini.

Si Provincial Board Member Ma. Elizabeth Marie R. Calo isip tsirman sa Committee on Social Welfare and Population Development manguna pag-atender sa mga gitakdang selebrasyon sa kababayen-an sa nagkadaiyang kalungsoran sa Agusan del Norte. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Cebuano News: Palasyo: Gobyerno milihok aron sa pagsiguro sa malungtaron nga suplay sa kuryente, gihangyo ang kooperasyon sa publiko

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Marso 7 (PIA) - Ang gobyerno miingon nga kini mikomiter sa paghatag og malungtaron nga suplay sa kuryente alang sa nasud ug mihangyo sa publiko, power producers ug mga distributors sa paglihok aron sa pagsulbad sa mga kakulangon sa kuryente ilabina sa Mindanao.

"Sa akong hunahuna unsa ang tataw dinhi mao ang gikinahanglan ang pagtinabangay. Mas daghan ang makab-ot kung magtinabangay parehas ang mga mogamit ug ang mga tigpang-apod-apod, ang generators,” (“I think what is apparent here is that kailangan talaga iyong tulung-tulong. Mas maraming maa-accomplish kung magtutulungan sila both the users and the distributers, the generators,”) sumala pa ni Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. sa usa ka press briefing didto sa Malakanyang kagahapon.

"Kini mao ang usa ka dunay sistema nga problema nga nagkinahanglan og usa ka hinan-ay nga solusyon nga gikan sa tanan nga mga stakeholders," siya miingon.

Sa usa ka pamahayag, si Coloma mitaho sumala pa sa Department of Energy nga ang kasamtangan nga suplay sa Mindanao dunay 1.064 megawatts itandi sa peak demand gibana-bana mokabat sa 1,222 megawatts, nga nagpasabot lamang kini nga adunay kakulangon nga 158 megawatts.

Kini miresulta sa rotating brown-out kasagaran mahitabo sa duha ngadto sa tulo ka oras, gawas sa probinsiya sa Maguindanao nga karon nakasinati og kapin sa 10 ka oras kada adlaw nga pagkawala sa kuryente, siya miingon.

Aron sa pagtubag niini nga makahulip sa kakulangon, ang DOE ug ang power industry mopatuman sa pipila ka mga lakang sama sa paggamit sa mga generator sa mga distribution utilities, pagsagop sa mga interruptible load nga programa nga naglambigit sa mga boluntaryong paggamit sa generator sets sa mga konsumedor; padayon nga pag-ayo ug rehabilitasyon sa mga 210 - megawatt coal STEAG-fired power plant sa Misamis Oriental, ug ang mga pag-ayo ug rehabilitasyon sa kasamtangan nga hydroelectric power plants.

Sulti pa ni Communications Secretary nga ang rehabilitasyon sa mga 210-megawatt TEAG coal-fired power plant sa Misamis Oriental matapos sulod sa duha ngadto sa tulo ka bulan.

Sa susamang panahon, si Coloma miingon nga ang gobyerno hugtanon nga nag-monitor sa nagpadayon nga proyekto nga mopalambo sa suplay sa kuryente sa Mindanao ngadto sa 900 megawatts.

Kini nga mga bag-o nga mga proyekto naglakip sa 200-megawatt coal-fired nga planta sa mga Alsons gruop ug sa mga 300-megawatt Aboitiz owned coal-fired plant, nga parehas  gibanabana nga ma-onlayn sa tuig 2015.

Laing 400 megawatts coal-fired nga planta nga gipanag-iyahan sa Filinvest mahimong operasyonal na sa tuig 2016, siya miingon.

Uban sa gipaabot 500 (MW) sa 2015, ug 400 (MW) sa 2016, ang mga dugang nga enerhiya nga 900 (MW) maoy gituohang makasulbad sa kasamtangan nga gikinahanglan nga gibanabana sa 1,200 (MW).


"Ang DOE nagpadayon sa pagpahigayon sa mga reporma nga ang mga power sector lakip na ang aktibo nga miduso sa 50/50 nga enerhiya taliwala sa tradisyonal ug sa renewable energy uban sa nag-umentong mga nga pribado nga sector nga mga inbestor sa hydroelectric, biomass, solar power," (“The DOE continues to undertake reforms that power sector including actively pursuing a 50/50 energy makes between traditional and renewable energy with increased private sector investments in hydroelectric, biomass, and solar power,” ) dugang pa ni Coloma. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)