(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, June 30, 2014

CEB launches direct flight to Tandag

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 30 (PIA) – The Cebu Pacific (CEB) launched launch on Monday its direct flight from Cebu to Tandag City, the capital of Surigao del Sur. Tandag is the airline's 34th domestic destination.

Accordingly, the new route utilizes a 72-seat ATR aircraft that will depart Cebu at 11:10 a.m. and will be arriving in Tandag at 12:15 p.m. The return flight will depart at 12:35 p.m., and will be arriving back in Cebu at 1:40 p.m.

Tandag City Tourism Officer Florence Abis said the service will operate thrice a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DAR holds Farmer’s Congress in Dinagat Islands

By Ma. Jane Mayola

DINAGAT ISLANDS, June 30 (PIA) - In line with the 26th Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) anniversary celebration, the Department of Agrarian Reform Dinagat Islands Prov’l Office conducted a one-day Farmer’s Congress held recently at Aurelio Gym, San Jose, this province.

The activity was aimed to update the farmers on the latest status of the farming industry and to upgrade their knowledge on modern farming techniques.

During the event, Dinagat Islands chief agrarian reform program officer Milagrosa B. Bulawan presented the milestone of the Special Agrarian Reform Community (SPARC) in the province.

According to Bulawan, the SPARC received more than P500 million worth of DAR Foreign Assisted Projects for Rural Developments that included the road network, warehouse, solar dryer, school buildings, health center, water system and among others.

It can be recalled that the entire Dinagat Islands was launched as a SPAR Community by DAR in 1993 covering 100 barangays, the springboard in converting some mineral reserved area into agricultural area of the province. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)


Feature: Bridging one’s dream

By Catherine M. Nami and Stella Maris Barlisan

 “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do” - Pope John XXIII.

Leomie Cabarrubias, is a 25 years old woman from barangay Tagubay, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, she has been through a lot and in many times she failed but she never losses hope that one day she will reach her dream.

Leomie is the 4th child among the 9 siblings of Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Cubarrubias. She loves to learn and she is a woman full of dreams and ambition. “When I was still in high school, I always wanted to be an Agriculturist because I am always fond of planting,” Leomie confessed.

Her parents work in a farm which they leased. They planted it with Falcata tree, corn and root crops. Considering the number of members in their family, their parent’s income cannot suffice their daily expenditures. Leomie’s parents cannot afford to send them all to college. In fact, Leomie stopped going to high school for four years to help her parents in toiling the farm that made her finished high school at the age of 20.

“As much as I wanted to proceed to college but our situation was difficult,” shared Leomie with a sad voice.

But Leomie’s hope never falter. After she graduated from high school in 2006, she ventured to Manila in order to work hoping that she can save money to continue her studies. Leomie landed a job as a house maid for four years but unfortunately, failed to save money because she sent her salary back home to support her family.

Because of the meager income that she earned she quit from being a house maid and opted to work as a saleslady in one of the malls in Manila. After five months, not able to withstand the frantic schedule in the said city, she resigned and moved to Cavite. She worked as a vegetable and fish vender in the market owned by her relatives.

“Though I no longer have to spend money from my own pocket to pay for my board and lodging because I am staying in my relative’s house, still my income is not enough to save for college,” she admitted.

Driven with so much eagerness and determination to help her family, Leomie applied as lady guard in Win Ace agency in Quezon City and was luckily accepted. Despite of all the hardships she had been through, still she’s instigated to reach her dream that is to continue her studies and become an agriculturist someday.

“If you believe in yourself and in your dreams, life will help you reach it,” Leomie pounded on this.

One day, her mother rang her over the phone and told her about the SGP-PA (Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation) scholarship program for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

SGP-PA aims to contribute to the National Government’s thrusts in effectively addressing poverty alleviation by increasing number of graduates in higher education among poor households and to get these graduates employed in high-value added occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and contribute to national development. Her family, being an active beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, she was chosen as one among 4,041 potential beneficiaries of the said program.

Upon hearing the news, she immediately filed for resignation from her agency even when the city link explained to her that she still needs to undergo initial interview and examination. All she wants is to take the opportunity because it only knocks once. “I could not let this opportunity go without even trying, when my mother and the city link told me about it, I am already sure that I will pass the interview and the exam, I am already claiming the success,” she professed. 

Leomie almost failed to reach the deadline for the registration and initial interview as one of the basic requirements to avail the program since she still needs to travel from Manila to Bayugan City. Her mother needed to borrow money from their neighbor so that she can pay the ticket for her flight back home.

Leomie has good scholastic records, and so she was recommended to take the entrance examination in which she passed together with the interview. No words can explain the feeling she felt that time.

Leomie’s family was so elated and was proud of her. Her family is currently an active member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Being a scholar of SGP-PA, her parents are very much thankful because they will no longer worry for her daily expenses and allowance while she is in school. Loume’s parents and sibling have always been supportive with her. They always call her and extend their motivation and encouragement, the things they can only afford to give.

She also shared that there were times during her first year in college when the first semester allowance got delayed, and she has nothing left in her pocket. She tried to find other means to sustain her immediate needs without asking assistance from her family. “In order to feed myself I accepted laundry job from my instructors/professors and board mates, I was never ashamed of it because what I did was something decent, I did not stole from anybody just to have money,” said Leomie.

Some of the people dream of success while others wake up and work hard in it. In the case of Loume, she did it both. Leomie believes that what James Willam said, one of the most influential philosophers, “Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out from you.”

Leomie is now currently a 3rd year full load student in the University of South Eastern Philippines (USEP) in Tagum City, Compostela Valley Province as an agriculture student major in crop science.

Bearing a positive outlook in life, determination, perseverance and hard work, no doubt that she will definitely achieve what she dreams that is to gain a degree, uplift her family out of poverty and to render back service to the government……. the bridge to her success. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)


Feature: A Global Teacher

By Dr. Maria Dinah D. Abalos

Who is a global teacher? Is he the one who comes to school and teaches the skills? Or the one who teaches the pupils?

In today’s world where almost everything can be done at the tip of a finger with technology, where learners are also adept to technology where learning is fast and quick, what the schools need is a global teacher. A teacher, who facilitates, motivates guides and encourages every learner to become the best they can be -- not simply teach.

The K to 12 curriculum has been sought as a powerful tool to address poverty, unemployment and underemployment. No less than Pres. Noynoy Aquino firmly believed that said curriculum is very timely and would surely make every graduate an expedient member of the society. Being part of DepEd organization, the biggest bureaucracy of the country therefore, is a privilege for every Filipino licensed teacher to teach and implement the K-12 curriculum. So as the saying goes, “Be proud you are a teacher, the success of K-12 depends on you.”

In line with the Teacher Strengths and Needs Analysis and Individual Personal and Professional Development Plan (TSNA – IPPD), teachers need to identify their needs and find solutions to these needs. By so doing, all teachers are aware of their weaknesses and strengths; thereby allowing them to consider all means to improve his/her ways of teaching. Gone are the days when teachers are coming to school equipped with lesson plans and teach, fill in the DTR and leave after teaching.

A global teacher is an empowered teacher. He/she is given the authority to do and give his/her best to effect learning to the children inside the classroom. One of the best actions that a teacher could do is to submit himself to capability - building and empowerment. This is perhaps the main reason that several government and non-government organizations offered various training - workshops and seminars to capacitate the teachers. In the same manner, the K-12 BEC requires much capacity-building for teachers.

In the K-12 implementation, it is really a mandate that teachers must undergo training before he/she can teach Grades I-III and Grades 7-9. This is for them to be equipped with the necessary skills and strategies in teaching variety of learners in the 21st century.

In order to produce holistically developed 21st century skilled learners, we also need effective and efficient globally competitive teachers. (EPS-I DepEd, Butuan City/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Lathalain: Mga Pinoy, kulang sa protina

By Josefina T. Gonzales

MANILA, June 30 - Alam nyo ba na ang pamilyang Pinoy ay kulang sa protina?

Ito ay ayon sa 2008 National Nutrition Survey na isinagawa ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of Science & Technology (FNRI-DOST).

Ang kakulangan sa protina ay ayon sa Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) na 80 porsiyento ng Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI) para sa protina.

Ang protina ay kailangan ng katawan para sa pagbuo ng mga muscles at body tissues. Bukod dito, ang protina ay tinaguriang karpintero ng ating katawan. Ito ay sa dahilang tagapagbuo at nagkukumpuni ito ng mga himaymay ng ating kalamnan.

Ayon sa pang-apat na mensahe ng Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos,” Kumain ng isda, karne itlog, mga butong gulay o nuts tulad ng mani, kasuy at iba pang kauri nito. Ito ay para sa paglaki at pag-saayos ng mga nasirang himaymay o body tissues.”

Ugaliin nating isama ang mga pagkaing sagana sa protina sa araw - araw na lutuin.

Ang impormasyon na ito ay hatid ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute ng Department of Science and Technology o FNRI-DOST. Para sa karadagdagan impormasyon at kaalaman sa pagkain at nutrisyon sumulat o tumawag kay: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director ng FNRI- DOST. General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City o sa kanyang E-mail address: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph o sa telepono bilang 837-2934 and 827-3164, Maari ring bisitahin ang aming website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph (FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)


Lathalain: Ang mga makabagong eba

By Dr. Maria Dinah D. Abalos

MANILA, June 30 - Di natin maisan-tabi ang katunayang bahagi na ng ating kasaysayan ang papel na ginampanan ng mga kababaihan. Anu’t – ano pa man ay binasi sa kakahayan ng mga babae ang maaari nilang maging katayuan sa komunidad, pamamahay at estado.

Sa loob ng napakaraming taon, ang mga babae ay limitado lamang ang pwedeng gawin. Di sila nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral sa kolehiyo sa paniniwalang bubuhayin din lamang sila ng kanilang  mga asawa. Di makaboto, hanggang gawaing-bahay lang, di makapagdesisyon at walang boses sa anumang diskusyon,  ay iilan lamang sa mga bagay na wala sa mga kababaihan noon.

Noong araw sila ay pinapakain lang, nag-alaga ng mga bata, labada at sunud-sunoran sa kanilang mga asawa. Sila ay di gaanong nabigyan ng pansin na may higit pa silang magagawa sa bayan, pamayanan at pamilya at may kakayahang baguhin ang kanilang pamumuhay.

Ngayon ay ibang-iba na ang mga babae. Ito’y marahil sa mga ipinasang batas upang maitaas ang antas at kikilanin ang pwede nilang maiambag sa makabagong panahon. Ang Gender And Development (GAD) na isang uri ng programang naghihikayat sa lahat na bigyang halaga ang mga babae. Kinikilala rin ang kanilang maitulong sa pag-unlad ng bayan, paglinang ng kultura at pag-angat ng kaledad ng buhay.

Sa pagkakataong ito, tayong mga Pilipino ay isinasabuhay ang malaking parte ng makabagong Eba sa pagkamit ng mga mithiin, mga ambisyon, pagtulong sa pag-unlad, papel na maaari nilang gampanan at higit sa lahat hindi lang sila pampamilya kundi pang- isports, pangpulitika, pangtrabaho, pangpatimpalak at pangdesisyon.

Alam ba ninyo na marami na ngayon sa ating pamayanan ang mga kababaihan ang naging katuwang ng kani-kanilang asawa sa paghubog ng kanilang mga anak, nagtatrabaho at nagiging lider? Sa Metro Manila at kahit sa mga probinsya, ako’y manghang-mangha dahil maraming mga babaeng konduktor, traffic officers, pulis, drayber, sundalo, alkalde, gobernador at marami pang iba.

May mga opisina rin na karamihan sa mga manggagawa ay mga babae tulad ng mga guro, nars, pulis, pagawaan at iba pa.

Ngayon ay kaya nating sabihin na nagbago na ang paningin natin sa mga babae. Sila’y katuwang na natin at minsan nga ay nalagpasan pa ang pwedeng gawin ng mga lalaki.

Kaya’t panahon na para ating tanggapin ang katotohanang pantay-pantay ang babae at lalaki sa anumang larangan at sa anumang pagkakataon. Tayo na rin ang tutulong upang lubusang malaman ng iba ang adhikain nating magkaroon ng ugaling di manglamang sa kakayahan ng iba - - babae man o lalaki. (EPS-I DepEd, Butuan City/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Tagalog News: Paghahanda ng bansa sa sakuna mas mataas kaysa karaniwan

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 30 (PIA) - Ang paghahanda ng bansa sa sakuna ay mas mataas kaysa karaniwan, ito’y sinabi ng isang opisyal ng Palasyo noong Linggo.

Sa reaksyon ni Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr sa ang isang ulat mula sa United Nations na nagbibigay ng grado sa Pilipinas sa pagitan ng 6 at 7, kung saan 10 ang pinakamataas.

“Siguro naman maituturing na rin na above average kahit na sabihing sixth or seventh. Ibig sabihin, hindi naman po tayo naging malamya sa ating pagtugon sa mga hamon na ‘yan,” sabi ni Coloma sa isang pakipanayam sa pamamagitan ng radyo dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Ang representante ni UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon na si Margareta Wahlston gumawa ng pag-aaral tungkol sa kapabilidad ng Pilipinas.

Ang Pilipinas ay matatagpuan sa Pacific ring of fire kung saan karamihan sa mga bulkan ay aktibo; ito ay nasa typhoon belt  din kung saan karaniwang may 20 bagyo na dumadaan taon-taon at ito ay may fault lines din na dahilan ng lindol.

Sabi ni Coloma na ang pamahalaan ay patuloy na gumagawa ng paghahanda at pagsasanay ng publiko kung papano ihanda ang kanilang sarili sa panahon ng sakuna.

“Matibay po ang paninindigan ng ating Pangulo na ang kinakailangan nating itatag ay ‘yung mga disaster resilient communities. Hindi na dapat maulit ‘yung itinuturing niyang vicious cycle of destruction and reconstruction. Dapat ay matigil na ang aspeto ng destruction sa pamamagitan ng pagtatag ng mga mas matibay na komunidad,” dagdag pa niya.

Sa Metro Manila, ang Metro Manila Development Authority ay palaging nagsasagawa ng pagsasanay kung ano ang gagawin kapag may lindol.

“Iba na po kasi ang maging handa para kapag dumating ang panahon—huwag naman sanang pahintulutan ng Poong Maykapal—ay mas mataas na po ang antas ng kahandaan ng mga mamamayan,” sabi ni Coloma. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)