(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.


Monday, May 26, 2014

PRC AgNor-Butuan to hold 9th Biennial Chapter Assembly

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) – In time with the 65th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Norte-Butuan City (PRC AgNor-Butuan) Chapter, its 9th Biennial Chapter Assembly will also be held at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center on July 23, 2014, this city.

This year’s theme is “Red Cross 143: United Strong, Everywhere Against All Formidable Challenges.”

The assembly will be a venue to elect nine members of the Board of Directors to succeed elected members whose terms will be expiring on July this year.

Chairperson on Nomination and Election Committee Renato Jose Villanueva said the nomination is open for those who have the willingness to serve and commitment to work with the local chapter on a voluntary capacity.

There will be an orientation of nominees on the 16th of July.

Also, the Chapter will conduct a Search for Ms. Red Cross 2014 for which candidates can share to public the PRC’s programs, project and services.

For the first phase of the competition, canvassing of votes is scheduled on the months of May, June and July while the second phase will be the Beauty and the Brain Competition on July 19, 2014.

The chosen winner of this competition will also represent the chapter during the conduct of “Ms. Red Cross Mindanao” to be held in Zamboanga City come November 2014.

The board of directors of PRC Agnor-Butuan encouraged more support from its members, volunteers and communities and made every effort to strengthen the volunteers' commitment to the Red Cross’ humanitarian services.

“For a more responsive Red Cross in the province of Agusan del Norte and the city of Butuan, let us be together in achieving PRC’s goals,” said Villanueva. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


DPWH in SurSur does job for 'Balik Eskwela'

By Greg Tataro

TANDAG CITY, May 26 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st Engineering District Office in Surigao del Sur headed by District Engineer (DE) Alipio Grana has already done with the preparations and commitments in connection with the Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) for School Year 2014-2015.

According to Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Asst. District Engr. Ruel Bantogan, everything has already been complied with in line with the memorandum issued by Usec. Alfredo Tolentino to all regional directors and concerned district engineers as well as the subsequent order coming from the Office of the Regional Director in Caraga.

Engr. Bantugan confirmed that the activities undertaken include repainting of pedestrian lanes, de-clogging of canals, and making of vegetation control projects in various places near school zones.

An accomplishment report was already submitted along with “pictures,” he stressed.

However, DE Eulogio Milla of the 2nd Engineering District, for his part, said that they are still “in the thick of things” doing the same.

He stressed that while they are already nearing completion with their preparations and commitments on school zones along the national highways, requests are likewise coming from those schools in the hinterlands.

Milla vowed that these requests will have to be entertained and accommodated all the same. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DSWD to extend age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children

By Stella Maris Barlisan

BUTUAN CITY, May 26 (PIA) - The government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program also known as the Conditional Cast Transfer (CCT) that is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to all registered Pantawid Pamilya households this June 2014.

Previously, Pantawid Pamilya covers only households with children aged 0-14 years old. With the extended age coverage, the program will extend the age coverage of Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries to 15-18 years old or finishes high school whichever comes first.

The expansion of age coverage will allow Pantawid children to finish high school especially those who are under the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

The Department believes that a child will have better opportunities if he or she graduated high school compared to those who only finish elementary.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the flagship poverty reduction programs of the government.  The program provides cash grants to beneficiaries provided that they will comply with the set conditionalities of the program.

At present, DSWD Caraga has 158,571 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries benefiting from the program.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the flagship programs of the government in reducing poverty in the country.

The Pantawid Pamilya aims to keep children in school, its beneficiaries healthy and family especially the parents intact. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)


Feature: The perks of a community volunteer

By Annabella Madelo & Eunice G. Montaos

KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte, May 26 (PIA) - Volunteerism is a popular word that not everybody appreciates; for it entails selflessness, sacrifice, and even heroism (as other skeptics describe it).

The trend of this generation is that you will be materially paid for the service that you extend. In the other flip of the coin, though works that were done deserve to be remunerated, however, in the realm of volunteerism, there is no room for one to expect monetary gain; the word is defined otherwise.

In spite of all these liabilities we may enumerate of being a volunteer, why is it that there are still people who actively engage in such activities? Samuel R. Silong, 45, a simple resident of Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, shares his piece of what may be the answers to this question.

Samuel is the president of the MAFIA. Don’t be misled, he’s definitely not an assassin. MAFIA is an acronym for Marginalized Fisherfolks Association. They don’t hunt people, they catch fishes for a living since they are residing in a coastal area.

A responsible father to his three children, and a loving husband to his wife, Cecelia, Samuel is just a simple man who only dreams of a happy life with his family. As he stated, as long as he can provide to the needs of his household and he maintains his good relationship with his neighbors, he couldn’t ask for more in life.

Samuel admitted that Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi- CIDSS), in its first entry to their barangay, sure had caught his interest. Though he was only planning to participate, however, to his surprise, his fellowmen nominated and elected him as the Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSPMC) chairperson. He thought that they just considered the position as an extension of his current title held at MAFIA.

“Ako man lang ‘tong gidawat kay usa pud sa akong pagtuo nga ako chairman nga duna koy madawdaw ani nga project o duna koy sweldo. Pero pag-ingon man gud nga volunteer wa ko magdahum nga volunteer ra man diay na. (I just accepted it because I thought being a chairman, I will have something to get from the project, more so, a salary. But as told as a volunteer, I didn’t know that a volunteer is literally a volunteer).” Samuel expressed.

“Ang pagtuo man gud nako duna koy maayo ug taas nga position taas pud ang akong sweldo. Pero volunteer ra gyud diay siya (I really thought that in having a higher position, I will also have a higher salary. But eventually a volunteer is a volunteer),” he added.

He said that this anti-poverty project of the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) united the villagers (since there is a demand of a perfect attendance during assemblies) and taught them strange principles. Its processes led them to identify the basic social services that their locality lacked. It made them realize they are in need and they will be tasked to address those.

“Adtong nagsugod ang proyekto, nibiya ko. Gituyo jud nako nga wa ko mag-pasko sa akong pamilya kay aron musibat na ko, biyaan na nako ni. Kay unsa man diay ning sigeg atubang-atubang nako nga volunteer ra man diay ko wala man diay ko sweldo. (During the start of the project, I left our place and fled to Butuan. I intended not to celebrate Christmas with my family so that I can sneak from the responsibility of being a chairman since I can benefit nothing from being a volunteer),” he honestly opened.

“Niadto ko ug Butuan, nanarbaho ko, pero usahay magabie tulisukon ko sa akong kalag. Kay gisangon ni sa akoa, chairman, maoy mudumala sa trabaho, unya akong hawaan. Mao to nga anang bag-ong tuig nibalik ko. (I then worked in Butuan, but every night, my conscience pricks my soul about the responsibility that I had forsaken. I realized that I was trusted to perform the task, I should not leave it unfinished. And so, I returned in San Roque after new year),” he said.

Samuel seriously led the implementation of the one-unit two classroom elementary school building which amounted to Php 1, 552, 228.00. He conducted regular weekly BSPMC meeting and guided his co-volunteers in their respective responsibilities. He was present in the area every day and he did his duty with less technical assistance from the Area Coordinating Team (ACT) and Municipal Coordinating Team (MCT).

He also attended all the trainings that were conducted to assist them (the volunteers) in project implementation. This, as he mentioned, added to his skills. There were things that he previously didn’t know but in his involvement as a community volunteer, he learned new things which were of great use in improving his welfare.

Aware of the crucial role he had, Samuel religiously managed the workers in accordance with the plan and strategized if needed. As an outcome, they completed the sub-project ahead of time without jeopardizing its quality. This amazing effort of the BSPMC chairman was justified by the barangay local government unit (BLGU) officials, the municipal mayor, the vice mayor, the parish priest, and the different stakeholders who visited their sub-project. This made Barangay San Roque famous in their best and outstanding project implementation.

Due to his noteworthy effort and distinguished quality of work, he was hired by Mayor Aristotle E. Montante for the construction of the Oval at Kitcharao Central Elementary School for 12 days in preparation for the athletic meet to be held in the municipality.

At first, he refused since he thought that he couldn’t do it. But Mayor Montante told him, “Nganong dili man nimo makaya? Giunsa man diay nimo kadtong sa Kalahi-CIDSS nga dali raman nimo nahuman (Why do you say you can’t do it? How did you finish the Kalahi-CIDSS project ahead of time)?”

Because of these questions of Mayor Montante, he accepted the task, though deep inside he felt anxious. With the help of his neighbors and members of the MAFIA, as skilled and unskilled workers who were also volunteers of Kalahi-CIDSS, they worked for the OVAL. It was a ‘rain or shine’ endeavor, and, gladly, they completed the implementation prior to the set date of completion.

During the payment of their works, the mayor commented, “ Ingon ka dili nimo makaya, makaya man lagi (You said you cannot do it, and now you did).” He then replied with a smile, feeling overwhelmed because he absolutely proved to the mayor that he made it and seriously worked and very much willing to help for the development of the municipality.

Just recently, Mayor Montante hired him again as a contractor for the clearing of the Municipal Public Market in the amount of Php 49,000 for the construction of a two-storey building in the same site. Again, he managed his group to work on it and completed on time. Because of this series of contracts he engaged with the LGU, most of his neighbors are applying to him as skilled and unskilled workers.

Others even get interested in enlisting to be volunteers for Kalahi-CIDSS because they observed the positive impact of the Project to the people.

With this fringes he finally found in being a volunteer, he was able to support his wife and two daughters who were studying in college and eventually graduated. However, all of these positive happenings in his life, according to him, he pays homage to Kalahi-CIDSS, which accordingly paved way for his skills to be honed and recognized.

In the whole duration of the sub-project implementation, Samuel had only thought of their sub-project as what Kalahi-CIDSS is all about. Yet to his amazement, he realized that the classrooms were just like wrappers packaging the real gift of the Project to the community- empowerment and opportunities. Those, for Samuel, are the perks of being a community volunteer. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Ang panggamhanang nasyonal padayon sa pagpundo sa gihimong rehabilitasyon nga apektado sa bagyo sa Visayas

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Mayo 26 (PIA) – Ang Malakanang miingon nga ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) magpadayon sa pagpagawas sa mga pundo alang sa rehabilitasyon sa mga dapit nga gikuso-kuso sa bagyong Yolanda sa miaging tuig.

Kini sumala pa nga sukwahi sa mga pamahayag sa pipila ka mga magbabalaod nga miingon nga sila wala makatagamtam sa bisan unsa nga tabang gikan sa nasyonal nga panggamhanan.

Si Senador Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ang chair sa Senate Committee on sa Local Government, miingon nga ang pundo alang sa mga local nga paggamhanan nga mga naigo sa bagyo ug bisan ang mga apektadong mga pampubliko nga mga eskwelahan, state colleges ug unibersidad, nagpabilin nga wala makadawat.

"Susama usab sa giingon sa DBM, padayon ang pagpang apod-apod sa pondo alang sa mga dapit nga naigo sa bagyong Yolanda (Katulad ho nung sinabi ng DBM, patuloy po ang pag-release ng pondo para doon sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng bagyong Yolanda)," si deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte miingon atol sa pakighinabi kaniya pinaage sa dzRB Radyo ng Bayan niadtong Sabado.

Dugang pa niya nga nga bag-ohay pa lamang siya nakakita sa P32 bilyones tunga tunga sa bulan sa Mayo nga gipagawas sa DBM alang sa post-calamity mga paningkamot.

Sumala pa usab ni Valte nga ang DBM nagpadayon sa paggahin alang sa Department of Health (DOH) sa Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

Ang DBM sumala pa nga ni-reles naglakip sa P2.2 bilyones alang sa National Housing Association, P2.01 bilyones sa DILG alang sa municipal halls, merkado publiko, civic centers, ug estasyonan sa mga kapolisan..

Ang pundo sa kalamidad ubos sa General Appropriations Act gipundohan sa mga inisyatibo sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), siya miingon.

Kalabot sa rehabilitasyon sa mga state universities ug colleges nga apektado sa bagyo, si Valte miingon nga ang Palasyo mo-coordinate sa DBM aron makakuha sa mga datus sa pagpagawas alang sa pagpa-ayo ug rehabilitasyon sa maong estruktura sa mga tulonghaan. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Cebuano News: Ang katawhang Pilipino mao ang tinuod nga mga bayani sa Pilipinas nga kalambuan, nag-ingon ang Malakanyang

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Mayo 26 (PIA) - Ang Malakanyang kagahapon miingon nga ang katawhang Pilipino mao ang mga tinuod nga mga bayani sa Pilipinas nga kalambuan.

“Napakita sa mga katawhang Pilipino ngadto sa mga delegado sa World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) ug sa tibook kalibotan ang kaandam ug dili matarog alang sa paghimo ug malig-on nga balwarte sa pagpalambo nga giduyogan sa tanan kon malahutayon ug ang nahisgutan nga pag-uswag, og ang pagpahimutang isip usa sa mga nag-unang nasud sa ASEAN economic community (Naipakita ng mga mamamayang Pilipino sa mga delegado ng World Economic Forum on East Asia at sa buong mundo ang kanilang kahandaan at katatagan para sa pagiging matibay na balwarte ng pag-unlad na nilalahukan ng lahat o ng sustainable and inclusive growth, at ang pagiging isa sa mga pangunahing bansa ng ASEAN economic community),” sulti pa ni Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., atol sa gipasibyang press briefing pinaage sa dxRB, Radyo ng Bayan.

“Ang katawhang Pilipino mao ang tinoood nga mga bayani sa paglambo sa nasud sa Pilipinas og ang atoang pakigtambayayong pinaage sa diwa sa bayanihan mao ang naghatod sa atoang tanan sa usa ka mas mahapsay nga kaugmaon (Ang mga mamamayang Pilipino ang tunay na mga bayani sa pag-unlad ng bansang Pilipinas, at ang ating pagtaguyod ng diwa ng bayanihan ang maghahatid sa ating lahat sa isang mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan),” dugang pa ni Coloma.


Kahinumduman, ang Pilipinas bag-ohay pa lamang nga midumala sa ika-23 nga World Economic Forum (Mayo 22 - 23), kung diin mao usab ang unang higayon nga gihimo ang maong aktibidad sa usa ka East Asian nga nasud. (NGBT/PND/PIA-Surigao del Sur)