(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).


Friday, August 15, 2014

Caraga RDC to hold Training Workshop on Design, Production & Evaluation of Print Communication Materials to IOs

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga as the secretariat of the Regional Development Council (RDC) will be holding a Training-Workshop on Design, Production, and Evaluation of Print Communication Materials on August 26-29, 2014 at the Nasipit Hall, Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, this city.

According to NEDA-Caraga regional director Mylah Faye Aurora CariΓ±o, participants of this training-workshop are the information officers and public relations officers of government agencies.

CariΓ±o bared that the RDC is currently implementing the Communication Plan (ComPlan) for the Revised Caraga Regional Development Plan 2013-2016. One of the strategies identified in the ComPlan is to establish linkage with the association of information officers (IOs), which will serve as the regional arm in promoting, popularizing and effectively communicating the Plan to program implementers, non-government organizations, private sector and the general public.

“In order to strengthen the capacities of the information officers, the conduct of capability building interventions is also given priority in the Communication Plan. Hence, the Caraga RDC in cooperation with the Republic of Germany through the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will conduct this activity, which is free of charge,” relayed CariΓ±o.

Participants are required to bring their own laptops installed with MS Publisher 2007 and a DSLR camera.  

It was learned that the Day-1 of said training will focus on visual and graphic design, and photo journalism. Participants on Day-2 will undergo editing photoshop while Day-3 will focus on publications design on poster, leaflets, brochures, newsletters and magazines. Day-4 will be the presentation of the participants' outputs and closing ceremony. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Govt agencies to celebrate 2014 Natl Filipino Family Week

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Government agencies with partner stakeholders will be celebrating this year’s National Filipino Family Week on Sept. 22-30.

During the recently held meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee for Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga, the member-agencies discussed and set activities for the weeklong celebration.

Among of these activities include the: 1) Orientation on Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act and the Organization of Solo Parents in the regional level; 2) Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino; 3) Mass Wedding; 4) Binyagang Bayan with free birth registration; 5) Search for Best Family Portrait; and 6) Regional Parents Education Congress.

“The members of the RIAC-FF from the different provinces of the region will participate in these activities and will hold other activities related to this celebration in their respective areas. We’ll surely have a family bonding,” emphasized Aldie Mae Andoy, focal person for RIAC-FF and Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) from DSWD.

Presidential Proclamation No. 60 dated September 28, 1992 and Executive Order No. 241 dated June 9, 1995, declared the observance of the National Filipino Family Week on the last week of September and every year thereafter.

It is aimed to strengthen family unity and relationships through meaningful celebration and promotion of Filipino values. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


CSC-COMEX system launched in Caraga region

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – Civil Service Commission (CSC) Caraga has finally launched the Computerized Examination (COMEX) System here on Thursday and anyone interested to get a Civil Service Eligibility can now apply online.

The CSC-COMEX is designed and developed to unite all previous stand-alone examination process into a single, automated examination system.

Basically, CSC-COMEX is a replacement of then Computer-Aided Test (CAT). “With CSC-COMEX, we are actually giving people the option of how they want to undergo the test depending on their personal preference, either in written or though COMEX. They can get the advantage of faster and easier process in this innovative system,” bared CSC commissioner Robert Martinez in a press conference.

Martinez said that CSC-COMEX works on five modules: 1st: Examination Account Registration (EAR); 2nd: Examination Slot Reservation (ESR); 3rd: Examination Slot Confirmation (ESC); 4th: Actual Test Program (ATP); & 5th: Test Result Processing (TRP).

The CSC-COMEX examination will be conducted quarterly and examinees with consecutive failed results may opt to retake provided that he or she have taken the same level of exam within the last three months, announced Martinez.

Meanwhile, CSC Caraga regional director Resurreccion Pueyo said that while others are hesitant to the savvy way of taking an eligibility examination, COMEX system proves to be simple and user-friendly. “It is an integration of modern facilities with secured data storage and is tamper-proof,” assured Pueyo.

CSC Examination, Recruitment and Placement Officer (ERPO) director Fernando Porio explained that the sets of testing materials are pre-tested. He said, examinees get a mixed of easy, moderate and difficult levels of questions in the test questionnaire and that they follow a particular test specification.

At CSC-Caraga testing center, there are 20 computer units available for the CSC-COMEX exam. P600 will be charged for the examination fee and P80 for photo generation, a total of P680.

As mentioned by Porio, CSC-COMEX can cater around 50,000 examinees per year in the entire country when fully operationalized. “As of this time, there are five remaining regions that have yet to formally introduce CSC-COMEX. These are regions III, XI, IX, NCR and ARMM,” he said.

Applicants shall create a user account in the COMEX website www.comex.csc.gov.ph/user. For further queries, you may contact CSC Caraga COMEX in-charge at telefax (085) 815-9459; 815-3370; 342-6089; 225-6097; or email at cscaraga@philcom.ph. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Comelec installs new office chief in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Surigao del Sur has now installed a full-fledged Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) after so long a time.

According to Atty. Ernie Palanan, he was appointed on July 28, but only held his first day in office on August 12 due to important matters that have yet to be settled in his previous assignment in Butuan City, being the former city election officer (EO).

He also clarified that his first day as PES was set for the “partial turn-over” of things from his predecessor—referring to Alma Acosta, who was at the helm for almost two decades in an acting capacity.

Meanwhile, Palanan stressed that the final turn-over will take place on August 21. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Intense crime-busting effort triggers crime volume to rise in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The rise in crime volume in Surigao del Sur for the seven-month period from January to July 2014 was attributed “to the intensified/stepped-up police operations against violators of Special Laws.”

In a report on August 12 at the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting chaired by Governor Johnny Pimentel, the Police Provincial Office (PPO) led by Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Provincial Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero through P/Insp. Alex Luna, Chief, Provincial Police Strategic Management Unit (PPSMU), claimed in their “assessment” that “there has been a notable increase of the Total Crime Volume for the period covering January to July 2014 as compared to the same period of CY 2013.”

In spite of the situation, he stressed that “the peace and order in the province is generally peaceful.”

The PPO, during the said meeting, has presented eight topics on its “Updates On Criminality and Law Enforcement,” namely:  I - General Situation;  II – Crime Statistics; III – Accomplishment on Special Laws; IV – Significant Accomplishments; V – Current Programs, Projects, & Activities; VI – Issues and Special Concerns; VII – Assessment; and, VIII – Recommendations.

Meanwhile, in order “to ensure the security and safety of the Surigaonons and to enhance economic development in the province,” the PPO has come up with four recommendations by means of  “institutionalization of the Local Anti-Criminality Action Plan (LACAP); observance of strengthened coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts in both Internal Security Operations (ISO) and intelligence operations at all times; intensification of the conduct of police operations within the area of responsibility (AOR) through sustained police presence/patrols in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) and active partnership with the community; and, ‘commitment’ to continue to formulate and implement programs, projects, and activities.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


AgNor solon calls for nationwide probe on DOH’s reported lapse to enforce RA 8344; urged DOH Caraga to act with haste on BDH incident

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) - Rep. Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun (First District, Agusan del Norte) filed House Resolution No. 1379 directing an investigation on the reported failure of the Department of Health (DOH) to strictly implement, monitor and ensure compliance by Hospitals of Republic Act (RA) 8344, or the act prohibiting hospitals from refusing to administer appropriate initial medical treatment, and forbidding any hospital officer to "request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment."

Section 1 of RA 8344 reads: "In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any proprietor, president, director, manager or any other officer, and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment of a patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to refuse to administer medical treatment and support as dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent death or permanent disability..."

Since last week, netizens volunteered sentiments over post on Facebook of a certain Tutz Salarda-Chan and she shared grief with the passing of her daughter 'Yanna'. Story of Yanna spread like a wildfire as both national and local dailies started to catch her sad fate.

Jannary "Yanna" Chan, a critically-ill 10 year old child, succumbed to a heart ailment in the early hours July 16, 2014, after Butuan Doctors Hospital in Butuan City reportedly denied her admission for medical treatment due to insufficient money to pay for the hospital's pre-admission required deposit of P30,000.00. Yanna accompanied by her mother, came all the way from San Francisco Doctors Hospital on board an ambulance with complete medical certificate and referral documents. Despite the presentation of said documents, the critical situation of the child and the entreaty of the parents, hospital personnel refused admission, forcing the family to look for another hospital in Davao City - that required another few hours of travel and on their way thereto, the child perished.

"Prior to this incident involving the death of Yanna Chan, there have been earlier accounts and reports of hospital and medical clinics rejecting or refusing to administer medical treatment and support on account of their inability to pay the required deposit or downpayment", Fortun in his explanatory note. Parallel to filing of HR 1379, the solon also wrote the DOH Caraga to immediately conduct an inquiry on the alleged refusal of Butuan Doctors Hospital to admit Yanna. In his letter, Fortun aptly wrote: "I respectfully urge you to act on this concern with haste and urgency as part of the mandate of the Department to monitor and enforce the provisions of the law (RA 8344)." (LAWig Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Surigao Norte town receives fund for water hyacinth handicraft training

By Rodrigo R. Matabaran

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 15 (PIA) - The local government unit of Mainit recently received a Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) fund allocation amounting to P60,000 for the conduct of skills training on water hyacinth handicrafts making during the ceremonial turn-over held at the Mainit Municipal Hall, Mainit town, this province.

The water hyacinth handicrafts making project will be implemented by the Women Organizations in the barangays of Tagbuyawan, Mansayao and Tapian, all in Mainit, Surigao del Norte.

The gathering of water hyacinth in the Lake Mainit for productive purposes will at least reduce pollution and help prevent clogging of waterways on the lakeshore and its tributaries, it was learned.

In his message, Mainit Mayor Ramon B. Mondano hoped that the little amount will go a long way in enhancing capabilities of the beneficiaries in concerned barangays to engage in productive livelihood projects as he expressed his thanks to the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI's) management for the support.

On the part of DTI, Provincial Director Celestino L. Negapatan assured to provide needed technical and other micro-enterprise development support to the proponent during their project implementation. (SDR/Information Officer-DTI/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


SurSur may host 2015 Caraga Regional Athletic Meet

By Greg Tataro, Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – For two consecutive periods, the province of Surigao del Sur may possibly play host to the next Caraga Regional Athletic Meet (CRAM)—the 18th year by 2015.

Early this week, Governor Johnny Pimentel said that a meeting is set with the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office on August 15, adding that the purpose is to request the province for the possible hosting.

“Accordingly, way mo-host na lain (Nobody is going to play host) he said in the local dialect," Pimentel said.

Gov. Pimentel went on saying, “Nakita man nila madayaw an ato pag-host (They have seen how good we were during our hosting)."

Meanwhile, he hinted that he is amenable to the idea, “Ok ra man ‘sab sa ako kon mo-host kita.  Again, kinahanglan mo-trabaho na isab (It’s just okay for me to play host. But, then, again, we need to work)."

However, last Monday, the governor had already held a meeting with Surigao del Sur Schools Division Superintendent Teofila Cabatuan, indicating during the time he broke the news that this is some sort of preliminaries.

When Cabatuan was asked about what happened during the meeting, she replied that it was just an assessment of this year’s hosting of the province about the 17th CRAM.

Also, when asked to comment on the possible hosting as signified by the governor, she expressed gladness that Gov. Pimentel had already shown interest.

Likewise, Cabatuan confirmed that a meeting of the Regional Sports Board on August 15 to thresh out the matter is already set. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Intense crime-busting effort triggers crime volume to rise in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) – The rise in crime volume in Surigao del Sur for the seven-month period from January to July 2014 was attributed “to the intensified/stepped-up police operations against violators of Special Laws.”

In a report on August 12 at the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting chaired by Governor Johnny Pimentel, the Police Provincial Office (PPO) led by Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Provincial Director P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero through P/Insp. Alex Luna, Chief, Provincial Police Strategic Management Unit (PPSMU), claimed in their “assessment” that “there has been a notable increase of the Total Crime Volume for the period covering January to July 2014 as compared to the same period of CY 2013.”

In spite of the situation, he stressed that “the peace and order in the province is generally peaceful.”

The PPO, during the said meeting, has presented eight topics on its “Updates On Criminality and Law Enforcement,” namely:  I - General Situation;  II – Crime Statistics; III – Accomplishment on Special Laws; IV – Significant Accomplishments; V – Current Programs, Projects, & Activities; VI – Issues and Special Concerns; VII – Assessment; and, VIII – Recommendations.

Meanwhile, in order “to ensure the security and safety of the Surigaonons and to enhance economic development in the province,” the PPO has come up with four recommendations by means of  “institutionalization of the Local Anti-Criminality Action Plan (LACAP); observance of strengthened coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts in both Internal Security Operations (ISO) and intelligence operations at all times; intensification of the conduct of police operations within the area of responsibility (AOR) through sustained police presence/patrols in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) and active partnership with the community; and, ‘commitment’ to continue to formulate and implement programs, projects, and activities.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DAR SurSur to train agrarian coops on basic accounting

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, August 15 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Surigao del Sur will spearhead a week-long training on Basic Accounting for Non-Accountants to the 22 assisted cooperatives of the province on August 18 – 23, 2014.

According to DAR-Surigao Sur information officer Myra Yu, the said training aims to give additional knowledge and enhance capabilities of the cooperative members and officers who are in-charge in the preparation of financial statement and other related transactions.

The training will be divided into two batches to be held separately in Tandag City and the municipality of Barobo. Expected participants are the Treasurers, Bookkeepers and Audit Inventory Committee of the cooperatives. Speakers are from VICTO National Cooperative Federation and Development Center in Cebu City.

Accordingly, this is also one of the requirements during the conduct of Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) Level of Development Assessment (ALDA) in evaluating the maturity and stability of the cooperatives.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Benjamin Mataksil believes that this training will improve the literacy of the cooperative members in handling their financial operations.

It was learned that the said endeavour is part of the various support services in empowering the farmer beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. (NGBT/with report from DAR-SDS IO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DOH Caraga investigates alleged hospital refusal of patient

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) - In response to the alleged incident involving Butuan Doctors Hospital (BDH) which circulated in social media, the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office has already created a Fact-Finding Committee and has conducted initial dialogues with the involved hospital’s administration to probe into the said incident which led to the death of Jannary “Yanna” Chan.

Also, the said office has ordered its Provincial DOH Office to trace the medical history from the hospital where the patient was previously admitted and to hear the side of the child’s family as to their accounts of the incident.

The DOH on Tuesday, August 12, first had accounts of inquiries regarding the alleged admission refusal of BDH in Chan's case from the media.

Verification and validation of the said incident were conducted and on Wednesday, 13 August, and more information were gathered from the hospital.

On Thursday, August 14, the DOH Caraga regional office visited BDH for initial discussions on the matter at hand with the hospital administrator Dr. Maria Chiara Estacio. It was revealed that the administration only knew of the alleged incident at the height of the issue, on August 12, 2014. The administration assured the DOH Caraga Fact-Finding team that an in depth investigation will be done at the soonest time and, that the DOH will be informed of these findings.

Dr. Glenn H. Tiangha, OIC of the Regulation, Licensing and Enforcement Division of the DOH Caraga, reiterated in his interviews with the media that, according to Republic Act 8344, “In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any proprietor, president, director, manager or any other officer, and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment.”

“We have created a Fact-Finding Committee to scrutinize the events relating to the alleged incident. The result or findings of the committee will be submitted to the DOH Central Office, specifically the Bureau of Health Facilities for the appropriate actions to this incident. The general public will be updated in due time,” said DOH Caraga regional director Minerva P. Molon. (DOH-13/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Palasyo: Nasa Kagawaran ng Katarungan ang pag-ases sa pasiya ng korte na ilipat si Palparan sa panlalawigang kulungan

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Agosto 15 (PIA) - Ipinaubaya ng Palasyo sa Kagawaran ng Katarungan (DOJ) ang pagtantiya sa pasiya ng korte na ilipat si dating Army Major General Jovito Plaparan sa Bulacan Provincial Jail, ayon kay Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. noong Huwebes.

“Ipauubaya po natin ‘yan sa ating panel of prosecutors o sa DOJ. Sila naman ang gumagawa ng assessment hinggil sa bagay na ‘yan at tiyak naman na gagawa sila ng kinauukulang manipestasyon hinggil sa bagay na ‘yan, kung inaakala nilang hindi mainam ang pasya ng hukuman,” sabi ni Secretary Coloma sa isang panayam sa media sa Malakanyang.

Sumasagot siya sa tanong kung si Palparan ay hindi nanganganib sa pasilidad ng kulungan ng National Bureau of Investigation kaysa sa kulungan sa Bulacan.

Si Palparan na dating kumander ng 7th Infantry Division ng Philippine Army ay nahuli noong Martes ng umaga, halos magtatlong taon mula ng iniutos ng Malolos Trial Court ang kanyang pagka-aresto dahil sa pagkawala ng dalawang estudyante ng Pamantasan ng Pilipinas noong 2006.

Inakusahan din siya na gumawa ng hindi makatarungang pagpatay ng mga suspetsadong pumapanig sa komunistanong termino ni dating Pangulo Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ang sangay blng. 14 ng Malolos Regional Trial Court noong Miyerkoles ay nag-utos ng kanyang paglipat sa Bulacan Provincial Jail, na siyang nagbigay alam sa abogado ni Palparan para pigilan ang kanyang paglipat dahil sa mataas na panganib ng kanyang seguridad. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)