(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 13 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).


Friday, June 27, 2014

Surigao Norte guv takes oath as RDC-Caraga chair

By Venus L. Garcia

SURIGAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) – Surigao del Norte governor Sol F. Matugas officially took her oath as the Regional Development Council (RDC) chairperson of Caraga region on Thursday, June 26 at the Provincial Convention Center, this city. She will take the lead in the council for the period May 16, 2014 to June 30, 2016 in effect of her reappointment as authorized by President Benigno Aquino III.

Regional directors of government agencies, local chief executives, officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), and representatives from the private sector were in attendance during the oathtaking ceremony.

In her acceptance speech, Gov. Matugas expressed her gratitude to the board members and partners in government service and allies for their incessant support in bringing development in the region.

“We conquered because of unity and interest to advance the region. For servant leaders, good is not enough so let’s keep striving for excellence,” remarked Matugas.

She also emphasized that demand-driven, empowering and liberating education and enhancement of human resources are necessities in pursuing progress.

Meanwhile, the 79th RDC Meeting immediately started after swearing of the lady governor. The participants have witnessed the RDC Platform of Action for 2014-2016 through an audio-visual presentation.

The following eight RDC-Caraga themes were likewise presented: Accelerating infrastructure development as the backbone of Caraga region’s inclusive growth and poverty reduction; Transparent and responsive governance: Restores and builds public confidence and promotes economic development; Building the resilience of Caraga’s communities through disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; Improving the productivity and competitiveness of agriculture and fisheries of food security and resiliency; Diversified competitive and productive industry and services sectors for sustained economic development and inclusive growth; Capacitated, empowered and globally competitive Caraganons in this increasingly complex and modern world; A peaceful, orderly and stable Caraga: The key to combating chronic and inter-generational poverty and sustaining economic growth; and Conservation, protection and responsible utilization of natural resources for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

The development administration, economic, social, and infrastructure development committees under RDC-Caraga also gave updates and situational reports.

Matugas bared that Caraga is out of the poorest and poverty incidence have declined. “But that is only good. We need to do great. The RDC must double its effort to become great," she said.

As proudly claimed by Gov. Matugas, Caraga is a region of great potentials. “We have to lay down our directions and stand for positive reforms. As we ascend and traverse the road to a prosperous Caraga, let us think big,” she said. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Gov Matugas assures unfaltering commitment, dedication on her 2nd term as RDC chair

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, June 27 (PIA) – The chairperson of the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC), Surigao del Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas on her second term, assured her unfaltering commitment and dedication for continuing inclusive growth and development of Caraga during the 79th Regional Development Council Full Meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2014 held at Provincial Convention Center, this city.

Just recently Governor Matugas was re-appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, as the chairperson of the Caraga RDC, a highest policy making body in the region.

In her message, Matugas said that she will remain bold in her advocacies, clear in her direction and courageous in the face of daunting challenges.

“I will stand for reforms that will benefit the people of Caraga particularly the poor and the marginalized and I exhort all the members of this council to do the same as we continue our quest to becoming the Fishery Agri-Forestry, Mining and Ecotourism (FAME) Center of the country,” Matugas said.

Matugas then laid down the RDC’s direction for the next two years and its RDC Platform of Action for the year 2014-2016 that will serve as guide for the council towards a great Caraga.

She also encouraged everyone to dream big and think big on what the council can do for all Caraganons and what Caraga can become as a region of vast potentials.

“We are the leaders of this region and it is our responsibility to bring into fruition a development that is high and sustainable, generates mass employment that draws the majority of our people into the economic and social mainstream and facilitates the reduction of poverty. Together let us rise up to challenge of surpassing our current gains and paving the way for a great Caraga Region,” she added.

The 79th RDC full council meeting was attended by representatives of different provinces, municipalities and offices of the region. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Tandag City vice mayor brags feat of local council

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, June 27 (PIA) – Backed up with a total of 223 resolutions and 54 ordinances passed and approved, aside from a total of 101 committee hearings and meetings conducted, Tandag City Vice Mayor  Ruel Momo took pride in delivering his 20-page “Legislative Report” on Monday during the occasion of the 7th Charter Day celebration of this city held at the public gymnasium.

However, he admitted that being at the helm of the current crop of the now trimmed 11-member Sangguniang Panlungsod has not been an easy task.

Last year, the council has still had the representation from the youth sector—in the person of former Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) president Deivon Jeiv Mozar—whose membership has already ceased in December, Momo clarified.

Meanwhile, the vice mayor described their branch as a “working sanggunian” as it is “always in coalition with the programs of the local chief executive” whose aim is to become “a more progressive and industrialized city.”

Also, before a crowd comprised of national and local officials down to the barangay level, people from academe, business and religious sectors, as well as the general public, Momo introduced the regular and ex-officio members of the sanggunian, naming in particular order Christopher Pimentel; Denis Tan; Hyna Jean Boniao; Valerio Montesclaros, Jr.; Imelda Falcon; Bernardo Urbiztondo, Jr.; Andrei Andresan; Rey-vic Geli; Alfredo Cantalejo; Seldio Pilonggo; and Ma. Lourdes Kharin Momo, the remaining ex-officio member, being the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay.

In addition, to highlight the accomplishments of the collegial body, he cited, among others, several select legislations that are considered “necessities” to the call of times. Primarily, Ordinance No. 23 s of 2013—Implementing force evacuation as resort when a disaster or emergency has been declared in the city and providing penalties therefore and for other purposes; and Resolution No. 115 s of 2013—Authorizing the City Mayor Roxanne C. Pimentel to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Internal Peace and Security Plan with the AFP represented by the 36th Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer LTC Anastacio L. Suaybaguio, Jr., Local Government Unit (LGU), the Barangay Governments of the City of Tandag represented by their respective Punong Barangay and the Department of Education (DepEd) represented by Dr. Teofila G. Cabatuan.

But before the vice mayor ended with an expression of gratitude, he added that his office has always continued to provide emergency health assistance for the needy constituents. (NGBT/Radyong Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DTI promotes SSF availment in Dinagat Islands

By Elmer A. General

SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands, June 27 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry-Province of Dinagat Islands Field Office (DTI-PDI) continues to promote the agency’s flagship program Shared Service Facility (SSF) with the conduct of a consultative meeting held recently at the municipality of Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands.

This is the second SSF promotional activity conducted by DTI-PDI since January of this year when the DTI field office was set up in the province.

The SSF Program primarily seeks to address the gaps and bottlenecks in the business activity of cooperatives or associations of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing the needed equipment/s, machinery, tools and other implements, things which the cooperatives or associations are otherwise hard-pressed to obtain or procure on its own.

The agency has allocated P10.9M under the SSF Program for the province in 2014. To date, DTI-PDI has submitted a total of twelve (12) SSF project proposals amounting to approximately P7.9M for approval at the regional level.

The activity was conducted in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) municipal office and LGU-Libjo through its municipal agriculture office. It was attended by the officers and members of one farmers’ cooperative and 14 farmers’ associations in the municipality.  The whole province has been designated as a Special Program for Agrarian Reform Communities (SPARC) which effectively placed the province under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

During the said forum, Elmer A. General, DTI-PDI CARP Coordinator encouraged the participants to avail of the program in order to improve their productivity with the DTI acquiring appropriate equipment/s, machineries, tools and other implements for them. He also emphasized that the provision of equipmentunder the SSF program is basically for free, save some conditions and undertakings.

Some of the participants expressed interest to avail of the SSF program for the production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and coco sugar.  However, they requested assistance in the preparation of project proposals and if the LGU can provide support for the establishment of a facility that will house the SSF equipment.

In response, municipal agriculturist Mario Coles said that their office is willing to assist in identifying possible SSF projects in the municipality, in preparing relevant project proposals and when necessary, in providing support for the establishment of facility for the SSF equipment.

He also thanked DTI-PDI for extending its services to the relatively far-flung municipality of Libjo and looks forward to more partnerships in the coming years. (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


DTI promotes rubber production in Libjo

By Elmer A. General

SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands, June 27 (PIA) - A business opportunity seminar on rubber production was conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry-Province of Dinagat Islands Field Office (DTI-PDI) at the Municipal Agriculture Office, Libjo, Province of Dinagat islands (PDI), recently.

The seminar was conducted to introduce rubber as an additional source of livelihood for the farmers in the municipality.

Mario Coles, Libjo’s municipal agriculturist, gave the welcome message and he stated that the current number of rubber trees in the municipality is insignificant in terms of productivity.  Given the current demand of rubber in the domestic market, the potential of adopting this high-value agricultural crop in the municipality has not been ruled out by the local officials.

Ephraim ReΓ±os, DTI-Caraga Regional Office’s focal person on rubber and the resource person for the seminar, expounded on this by citing the high industrial demand for natural rubber, the status of the rubber industry in the country and an overview of the potential income generation from the same.

One participant asked during the open forum as to where they could get suitable rubber clones as planting materials.  Another participant expressed their need for additional trainings for the cultivation of rubber trees, tapping for rubber latex and other production-related activities.

Coles said in response that the provincial agriculture office is now looking into establishing a bud wood garden in the province for growing out suitable “rubber clones” as planting materials should suitable planting areas are duly identified.

ReΓ±os also said that the agency is ready to offer technical assistance to those who will engage in rubber production. He also pointed out that the farmers of Libjo should start investing in high value crops such as rubber without necessarily forsaking staple crops. This can be done through intercropping with staple agricultural crops.

He added further that the cultivation of rubber tree particularly in areas previously ravaged by mining activities, kaingin and illegal logging has a two-fold impact; higher income for the farmers as well the restoration of the natural environment.

The activity was conducted by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Unit of DTI-PDI.  (DTI-13/PIA-Caraga)


AgNor conducts mass dog castration

BUTUAN CITY, June 27 (PIA) - As part of its continued effort to control and eliminate rabies, the provincial government of Agusan del Norte through the Provincial Veterinary Office conducted a series of mass dog castration across the province.

Started in the second week of May, the Provincial Dog Neutering Team (PDNT) had already castrated 96 dogs in the different barangays of the municipalities of Carmen, Nasipit, Buenavista, Magallanes and Tubay. Municipal livestock technicians and student-interns from Central Mindanao University (CMU) and Caraga State University (CSU) also took part in the said activity.

“Having a neutered dog is an advantage. It is not a nuisance compared to intact dogs which during heat season will seek out the female dogs wandering the streets,” Dr. Belen M. Aruelo, the Provincial Veterinarian conferred.

“We are targeting an annual 10 percent healthy reduction of dog population in the province for a period of five years,” Dr. Joseph Dargantes, the Provincial Animal Rabies Coordinator stated.

Dr. Dargantes stressed that lesser dog population equates to lesser human dog bite incidence and lesser likelihood of Rabies infection. Castrating male dogs unintended for breeding will significantly contribute in preventing unwanted dog street pregnancies, he further added.

Presently, the total dog population in the province numbers about 15,000 heads.

“I like my dog to be castrated. It is healthier and would not roam around," Manong Amado of Sitio Tinago of the municipality of Buenavista affirmed. He was among the 20 dog owners who made their queue waiting for their turn to have their dog castrated.

By year 2015 and onwards, the PDNT plans to conduct quick spaying among female dogs in the province. This surgical method entails a more complicated procedure but has a more significant impact for dog population reduction.

The province through governor Matba, has been very keen in the drive against rabies in the province. The governor has been pushing the implementation of dog leashing and dog impounding of stray dogs in the province. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)