(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.


Thursday, July 31, 2014

CRCHRMI, CSC to hold 11th Annual Convention of Caraga HR Managers

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 31, 2014 (PIA) – The Caraga Regional Council of Human Resource Managers, Incorporated (CRCHRMI), in partnership with Civil Service Commission (CSC) Caraga will be holding the 11th Annual Convention with the theme, “Caraga HR Managers: Leading the Region’s Human and Vast Natural Resources Strategic Management,” on August 6-8, 2014 at the PDI Convention Center, Barangay Cuarenta, San Jose in the Province of Dinagat Islands.

“It will be co-hosted by the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands in collaboration with the Dinagat Islands Council of Human Practitioners, Incorporated (DICHRPI). We have invited Honorable CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III to be the guest of honor and speaker and several other dignified personalities who can help propel the region from being the second poorest region in the country today,” disclosed Elvis Dela Merced, PHRMO/11th CRCHRMI Convention Director.

Dela Merced further said that the said convention is aimed to bolster their commitment for a strategic development and management of human resource in this part of the country.

“A registration fee of P3,000.00 will be collected from each participant to offshoot activity expenses excluding hotel/room accommodation,” Dela Merced added.

The CRCHRMI is an organization of Human Resource Practitioners and Administrative Officers of the national government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations, and local government units of Caraga region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Surigao Norte to conduct video maaking contest

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, July 31 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) of Surigao del Norte in coordination with various PDRRMC member-agencies is set to conduct a video making contest on August 1, 2014 to be held at the Provincial Cultural Center for Children (Mini Theater), Provincial Sports Complex, this city.

The activity aims to provide creative avenues for citizens to channel their participation in response to disaster risk reduction and management, and to establish linkage or network of Citizen Patrollers to assist the council in the generation and dissemination of the situational reports before, during, and after disasters.

The contest is open to all secondary and college students within the province.

The activity is also in line with the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration, this whole month of July under Presidential Executive Order No. 137 series of 1999, which enjoins all sector to observe and implement activities catering to strengthen awareness and response of citizens on disaster preparedness. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Forum on youth study slated

By May Ann O. Escobal

BUTUAN CITY, July 31 – Recent study result of young people’s sexuality and health will be presented in a multi-sectoral gathering on Friday, August 1, this city.

The Commission on Population (PopCom)-Caraga will facilitate a dissemination forum on the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFSS 4) which revealed the reproductive behavior of the youth aged 15-24 in the country, including Caraga Region. The result will be presented by the representatives of the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI).

It was learned that the 2013 YAFSS is the 4th series which contains the same basic data gathered in previous rounds. However, YAFSS 4 has expanded in range of topics as well as added new questions to previously existing topics.

PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander A. Makinano said that this recent study has a new topic on health and lifestyle including a short depression scale and the topic on media has also been expanded to include the new forms of communication technologies that were not yet well-developed in 2002 such as social media, cellphone use and cyberbullying.

RD Makinano also emphasized the significance of the said study for it will identify the high risk factors affecting the fertility behavior of the Filipino youth on early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and childbearing. “PopCom commits to partner with youth allies to help adolescents and youth avoid risky sexual and non-sexual behaviors,” added Makinano.

The Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) Study is series of national surveys on the Filipino youth ages 15-24 years old conducted since 1982 by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation. YAFSS is one of the primary sources of information on sexual and non-sexual risk behaviors at the national and regional levels which covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to young people.

YAFSS 4 is funded by the Australian government through the UNFPA and the Department of Health – Philippines Council for Philippine Health Research and Development.

This forum will be attended by the leaders and representatives coming from the different sectors of the society. (PopCom-13/PIA-Caraga)


DILG-13 engages community mobilizers to support GPB

By Bryan F. Edulzura

BUTUAN CITY, July 31 - The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 13 (DILG-13) has engaged four Community Mobilizers (CM) to assist Local Government Units, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and communities in the crafting of Local Poverty Reduction Plans (LPRAP) under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GBP).  Started in 2012, the GPB has put premium on people participation in local budgeting process and local governance.

“Ako nalipay na ang mga katawhan,  aduna nay kahigayunan nga muapil ug makig lambigit sa pag suta sa mga proyektong pangkalambuan (I am happy that the poor are given opportunity to participated in identifying development projects),”  said Jose T. Orapa,  46 years old,  Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program (SALINTUBIG) water project beneficiary in Barangay  Libertad, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

These community mobilizers, from varied background, are seasoned community organizers and have been engaged to work with several local and international development organizations.  Mary Ann Ochavillo, former employee of Tago, Surigao el Sur is passionate about working in the community.  “The fulfillment is different when at the end of the day, you knew that your efforts has improved the plight of the poor,” she said. 

Roseller Espere, a community leader and a pastor likes to work in the community as a vocation and an opportunity to empower people.

“GPB is not a business-as-usual program, so we consider the character, values and attitudes in choosing community mobilizers,” DILG-13 RD Lilibeth Famacion said.  “We wanted that their characters are unassailable, and they could aptly represent the values and attitude of a good public servant,” she continued.

Famacion emphasized that engaging these mobilizers further amplifies the voice of the poor and improves people participation.  "It is important that, for the project to sustain, ownership is also lodged in the hands of the beneficiaries. We will never stop implementing reforms in the fight against poverty.  We wanted to replicate more Joses and Marias, whose lives have been positively changed because of this program,”  Famacion said.

The following are the Community Mobilizers engaged per province:

Agusan del Norte     -          Mr. Roseller Espere
Agusan del Sur         -          Mr. Rex Linao
Surigao del Sur         -          Ms. Mary Ann Ochavalle
Dinagat Islands        -          Mr. Buenaventura Maata

As of this writing, DILG-13 is currently recruiting two Community Mobilizers for Surigao del Norte and one more for Surigao del Sur. Interested applicants may send applications to bub_dilgregion13@yahoo.com. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tandag City launches anti-dengue campaign

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, July 31 (PIA) – As an offshoot of the upswing trend of dengue cases in the city, Mayor Roxanne Pimentel is set to spearhead the launching at 9:00 a.m. today of the “Aksiyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD)” at Camp Vicente L. Pimentel, Sr., Purok Upper Pulang Lupa, Barangay Telaje.

The occasion is split into two:  Program Proper and Chemical Application for Dengue Vector Control (Fogging).

However, the “Signing of the Declaration of Commitment on ABKD” by 21 punong-barangays will be the core of the event.

Also, the “Orientation on AntiMos” and the “Orientation on the Conduct of Fogging” are going to follow afterwards, it was learned.

As cited in the program, seven barangays are set for “Ceremonial AntiMos Application” later in the day, namely: Telaje, Dagocdoc, San Agustin Sur, Rosario, Mabua, Bag-ong Lungsod, and Bongtud. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


SurSur BIR chief confident to hit 2014 tax goal

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, July 31 (PIA) – Despite posting a deficit of -0.64 percent or equivalent to P2,151,237.28,  Monib Dimakuta, Revenue District Office 106 (RDO 106) chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Surigao del Sur expressed confidence to hit the 2014 tax goal of P745,763,000.

He pointed out that their flop was mainly caused by the continuing rise in collection goal year after year.

However, Dimakuta stressed that he is not making this snag as an excuse, saying that they have even ranked first in collection among peer groups Caraga-wide.

Admitting that they are left with a lot of work to do, he instead vowed to pursue a more aggressive tax collection effort in order to achieve their target.

The said office bared a collection of P334,113,762.72 as against the goal of P336,265,000 for the period from January to June 2014.

Meanwhile, Francisco Trillo, Assistant Revenue District Officer (ARDO) here, confirmed about the BIR’s accreditation requirements for all importers and customs brokers who were reminded of the deadline to comply until July 31. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


ALS skills training convergence set

By Engr. Norberto B. Dorado

AGUSAN DEL SUR, July 31 (PIA) - The Bayugan National Comprehensive High School (BNCHS) – Alternative Learning System (ALS) recently conducted a skills training convergence.

The activity was realized through the funding support of the city government of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur for the implementation of the Rural Development/Community-Based Training Program (CBTP) approach for the enrollees of this Department of Education (DepEd)-initiated program.

The BNCHS, city government of Bayugan, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)–Agusan del Sur Provincial Office jointly agreed through a Memoradum of Agreement (MOA) to provide skills training to out-of-school youths, teachers, employees, workers and others who wanted to enroll in the weekend classes.

The program has produced 30 graduates in the first batch during the first and second quarters and 110 in the second batch for basic competencies in Baking, Beauty Care, Cookery, Computer Hardware Servicing, Dressmaking, Driving and Welding. Competencies earned will result into obtaining National Certificates (NCs) upon taking and passing the competency assessment.

The theme during the second batch Completion Exercises is “Acquiring skills, improving lives.”

In his speech, city councilor Pedro Alonde, chairman on Committee on Education emphasized that under his committee, the program has obtained a budget increase next year from Php 1.3 million to Php 3 million since they have seen the significant contribution of the program to the economic development of the city.

Also present during the activity are Dr. Wilson C. Calvo, BNCHS Principal, Dr. Minerva T. Albis, OIC-Schools Division Superintendent of Bayugan City, and Dr. Joventino D. Aleta of TESDA Agusan del Sur. (TESDA-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Caraga)


PDI Liga holds 1st Barangay Congress

By Ma. Jane Mayola

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, July 31 (PIA) - The provincial government of Dinagat Islands through the Liga ng mga Barangay-Dinagat Islands chapter in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) recently conducted the 1st Liga ng Barangay Congress and Educational Tour held at Dotties Place in Butuan City.

The activity is anchored on the theme, “Kalimpiyo sa Komunidad, Kaluwasan sa Kalamidad.” 

The said event was graced by the National Liga ng mga Barangay and Regional treasurer Laureano Taya.

Barangay and Regional treasurer Taya, in his speech, emphasized the primary role of being a barangay captain especially during disaster.

During the said activity, speakers from different line agencies discussed relevant topics that involve laws and policies on disaster risk reduction and management, local government code and more.

The activity was highlighted with the actual visit to Hinatuan Eco Park in Surigao del Sur for their best practices in solid waste management program.

A total of 82 out of 100 barangay captains attended the said activity. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)


Feature: Cultivating the Field of Fashion

By Miko Morelos

She put her faith in this vine, just as her mother did, and it bore her fruit.

For as long as Norma de Lora could recall, the agsam vine, a plant endemic to Surigao del Sur, supported the needs of their brood of nine as her mother made and sold agsam bracelets to supplement the family income.

Today, it isn’t just Norma, 59, who depends on the agsam for some extra cash in the family coffers.

“I buy my raw materials only from the Mamanwa folk because they know the right kind and of vine to pick,” Norma said of the indigenous people living in Surigao del Sur. “My neighbors, on the other hand, weave these into accessories which I buy from them. Running my business this way helps everyone,” she added.

In the past, the vine did not have much use; people picked its leaves for decorations, recounted Norma, Agsam leaves had the quality of plastic and were often used to embellish the stage during an event. The vine was brunt because people thought it was useless.

She couldn’t remember how her mother, who is now in her 80s, learned about the vine’s elastic properties, but what is clear in her memory is that her mother spent hours weaving the vines into bracelets, which fetched a good price at the market.

What sets the agsam bracelets apart from the usual accessories is the peculiar way to use it: the piece has to be submerged first in water for a few minutes so it would loosen enough to slip on one’s wrist. Upon drying, the piece becomes a snug fit. This is known as the wet n’ wear bracelet.

A creeping blessing

Processing the stalk begins by submerging it for a couple of days in mangrove mud, which acts as a natural dye and gives the agsam a nice, earthy tone. The hard part is letting it dry because it should be air-dried but not soaked in direct sunlight.

The drying process usually takes a day or two. When the process is done correctly, the vine achieves maximum elasticity. The dried vines are then handed out to weavers.

Of about 100 houses in barangay Nurcia in Lanuza, at least 90 houses had residents who knew how to weave agsam, giving Norma a sizeable group to engage in business. An expert weaver can make up to 15 bracelets or necklace a day, and one bag every three days. Norma buys these products and sells them for a profit through her business, the De Lara Agsam Novelties.

The town of Lanuza became so renowned for making agsam products that it was named Surigao del Sur’s Crafts Village.

For the past decade, the vine has provided a dependable income source for the de laras. She had a sturdier house built and brought a service vehicle, which she uses for deliveries.

WEAVING SUCCESS

Like many small-town folk, Norma left Nurcia and her mother’s little agsam enterprise when she was young to move to Davao, where she met the man who would become her husband.

In 2002, she decided to go back home, bringing her family to Nurcia. During this time Norma became an agrarian reform beneficiary under the Department of Agrarian Reform’s leasehold scheme and joined the Lanuza Agham Crafts Development Cooperative.

Seeing the potential of agsam products to be a fashion hit in Manila, Norma decided to show off her accessories during the annual Agraryo Trade Fair sponsored by the DAR. She also participated in regional trade fairs where her products gained the market’s attention. “The department was fully supportive of my business. They took care of my accommodations in Manila when I was around for the Agraryo Trade Fair,” Norma said. “For someone who’s just starting out, the assistance I got was a big boost to the venture.”

Her manila sojourns allowed her to touch base with the Department Trade and Industry, which provided further technical support for the enterprise. The DTI certified Norma’s products as having passed the standards set by the agency.

Today, agsam accessories like bracelets, hairclips, cellphone cases, penholders, and other products made by the De Lara Agsam Novelties are found on the shelves of SM’s all-Filipino store, kultura, the Balikbayan Handcraft in Makati City and the CM Bamboo Craft Center in Quezon City. They are also exported to countries like Japan. (DAR/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Pagpalaya sa apat na pulis ay maaring patungo sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng mga rebeldeng komunista - Malakanyang

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hulyo 31 (PIA) - Ikinalulugod ng Palasyo ang pagpalaya sa apat na pulis na binihag ng mga komunistang rebelled sa Surigao del Norte at sinabing ang naganap ay isang “groundbreaking” na pangyayari na maaring patungo sa pagbalik ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng National Democratic Front (NDF).

“Ito ay isang nakakalugod na paglalahad sa parte ng NDF na palayain itong apat na pulis. Umaasa kami na ito ay magiging “groundbreaking” na pangyayari kung saan ang Komunistang Partido ng Pilipinas – National People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) ay tumitingin pasulong na ibalik ang pangkapayapaang  proseso na walang kondisyon,” sabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda noong nagkaroon ng panayam sa media.

Inulit ni Lacierda na ang pamahalaan ay palaging nakahanda na makipagpulong sa kanila.

“Nandoon kami palagi. Umaasa kami na ang ganitong bagay ay umusad papunta sa mesa ng kapayapaan sa parte ng makakaliwa,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang mga pulis, na binihag ng mga rebelde ng ang mga ito ay umatake sa estasyon ng pulis sa Alegria, Surigao del Norte noong Hulyo 10 ay pinalaya ng madaling araw noong Martes sa isang liblib na barangay sa Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)