(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 165 km West Northwest of Coron, Palawan (12.3N, 118.7E) It is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 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 ITCZ. 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—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to West will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

DENR-13 chief highlights vital role of IOs in CCA advocacy

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 16 (PIA) – “Being information officers, you possess skills in communication which is an effective tool in bringing down the needed information especially on our climate change advocacy to the people living in the uplands, hinterland barangays and folk living along the seashores and beaches.”

This was the statement of regional director Nonito Tamayo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga during the Regional Information Officers’ Summit on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation advocacy held on Wednesday at Dottie’s Place Hotel, this city.

“Let me congratulate director Abner Caga and his entire staff of the Philippine Information Agency for holding this event. This gathering of information officers from the different local government units and non-government organizations is important and timely. The so-called “digital media” powered by the best technology we can get may be vital in our advocacy campaign on climate change, yet, its range is limited and can only reach certain areas living a wide section of our population in the rural areas deprived of  vital information on Climate Change.  The information officers could fill this gap where they can effectively carry the load of the important information to the people remote places,” expressed Tamayo.

Tamayo also relayed that Secretary Ramon JP Paje has emphasized the immense contribution of environmental advocacy on safety and readiness of the population against disasters noting that the Philippines is ranked third in the World Risk Index for 2013 on “hazard proneness and vulnerabilities.”

“We owe it to factors like dwindling natural resources, inadequate basic infrastructure and systems to cope with, during disasters and emergencies and many of our fellow citizens exposed to physical hazards,” he quoted.

Tamayo further stressed that mitigating the effects of climate change is not only the main responsibility of the government but also the responsibility of each individuals. “This is now the new normal that is why we should always be ready and prepared and should know what to do in times of disasters so we can be saved and be able to save others,” he said.

Said summit is initiated by PIA and DENR-Caraga, and sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). Partners from the private sector such as Mary Kay, PLDT-Philcom and Bayan Telecommunications also contributed to the activity. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DENR Caraga bares environmental challenges; provides interventions

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 16 (PIA) – In time with the Regional Information Officers’ Summit on Climate Change advocacy on Wednesday held in one of the local convention centers here, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga through regional director Nonito Tamayo reiterated the environmental challenges and bared its interventions to cope with it. 

“The DENR has just concluded the Environment Month with the theme, 'Raise your voice, not the sea level' which is also the motif of the United Nations General Assembly for 2014 as the Year of Small Islands Developing States and the World Environment Day on June 5, to acknowledge the contribution of this group of countries and territories made in the world.  These small islands are home to vibrant and distinct cultures and heritage as well as to rich ecosystems, bio-diversity and dazzling landscapes,” Tamayo relayed.

Tamayo added that these small islands face with many environmental challenges brought about by Climate Change. Rising ocean level is threatening to wipe out if not reduce small islands into smaller pieces of lands. Melting ice and the expansion of the oceans due to global warming are the causes of sea level rise.

“The Philippines is an archipelago with 7,107 islands and our small islands are at high risk from rising seas particularly those barangays in the low lying areas. We have experienced floods in Butuan City and other river towns in Caraga Region in January when Agusan river swelled after 10-days continuous rain,” recalled Tamayo. 

The recent destructive typhoon that almost leveled to the ground the city of Tacloban, Leyte and other provinces of Samar is just an introduction of what extreme weather condition is.

“To cope with what we have lost during calamities, the government continues to strive in implementing environmental programs that could revive the environment, as well as help people do initiatives as their contribution by letting them participate in the tree planting, clean-up and other related activities,” emphasized Tamayo.  

Also, speaking before the 200 information officers from different provinces of the region, Tamayo stressed that people should know that this is the new normal – Climate Change. “We should learn to adapt Climate Change, environmental challenges as this is now the new normal. Let us take good care of our environment as taking care of it is tantamount to saving our lives from calamities/disaster. Let’s mitigate its effects... We always want a clean and green environment to live in,” he said.  

The said event was conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga and DENR-Caraga. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


People’s orgs of Sison town receive GPB funds for enterprise devt projects

By Ma. Theresa Z. Calang

SURIGAO CITY, July 16 (PIA) – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte Provincial Director Celestino L. Negapatan turned over to the municipality of Sison four Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) checks totaling P807,500 for the municipality’s four enterprise development projects.

A coco sugar processing project will be implemented costing P237,500 including the establishment of a mini processing plant which will benefit 80 farmers of Barangays Gacepan and Mayag.

Payaw, a native root crop similar to gabi, will be processed into payaw chips by 124 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of Barangays Lower Patag, Upper Patag and San Isidro. The project costs P142,500.

A similar amount was released for a mushroom processing project which will benefit 40 women-beneficiaries of Barangay San Pedro. Mushrooms will be processed by drying and turning them into powder.

ARBs of Barangays Ima Upper and Lower Patag will be implementing a lemon grass (tanglad) processing project where oil extracts will be packaged and sold as a health supplement.

The projects will be complemented with the conduct of relevant skills trainings, financial literacy training, procurement of relevant equipment and marketing assistance including product labeling and packaging.

The municipal government has organized a team that will facilitate the implementation of the projects and will also provide a local counterpart fund equivalent to five percent (5%) of the project costs as stipulated in the Work and Financial Plan of each project.

Negapatan stated that DTI will be extending support services to the beneficiaries in the course of their project establishment and implementation.  He hoped that project proponents will be able to effectively manage their respective projects and when they are ready to expand, they can also avail of other enterprise development programs of DTI and other national government agencies. (DTI/PIA-Caraga)