(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 10 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, October 17, 2014

Butuan Habitat for Humanity celebrates World Habitat Day 2014

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – As the Habitat for Humanity celebrated the World Habitat Day on Saturday, a worldwide event that aims to make a call for new and innovative programs, policies and systems that would make the world a decent place to live for all walks of life regardless of race and religion, the Butuan Habitat for Humanity (BHFH) volunteers, facilitators and beneficiaries gathered at the site in Brgy. Loyola, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur where construction of houses is currently ongoing.

“In Hinatuan HFH project alone, there is a total of 320 recipients (280 in Brgy. Loyola and 40 in Brgy. Talisay). It is funded by San Miguel Foundation under the disaster response program of Habitat for Humanity.” said Habitat for Humanity head of regional operations in Davao and Caraga, Atty. Abdussador Sawadjaan, Jr.

Habitat housing program is categorized into two. Affordable but durable houses can be availed through HFH’s regular housing program and those intended for victims of calamity is granted under the disaster response housing program.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries shared their joy in observance of the celebration. They kept building their houses during the day with the voluntary participation of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga personnel who also valued the responsibility to shape the future of this community.

Joining also during the celebration, PIA Caraga regional director expressed his appreciation to the donors and facilitators for their earnest efforts to complete the project. “Human settlement and home ownership is vital in human existence. So even at the least that we can do for others to improve their situation will create an impact of economic and social stability, safe and secured neighborhood as well,” he said.   

Every HFH housing project is executed through a spirit of communal unity and cooperation called “Bayanihan” with participation from different local government officials and staff who provide transport for hauling of materials; provide space and security for the main warehouse in the designated area, and assist in the verification of beneficiaries. The beneficiaries themselves shared “sweat equity” in the construction of the house.

“Habitat for Humanity promotes access to stable and sturdy shelters which every family can call it a home. We call for more support from stakeholders to help us achieve the goal of providing adequate shelter and transforming lives of the marginalized sector,” bared BHFH president Eufroceles Udarbe.

On the 24th of October this year, 51 houses are scheduled to be turned-over to beneficiaries while construction of other units is still underway.

World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986. Each year, different themes promote the various UN-Habitat focal areas such as inclusive housing and social services; a safe and healthy living environment for all; safe and clean drinking water and sanitation; healthy air quality; job creation; improved urban planning and slum upgrading; and better waste management. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


51 Habitat for Humanity houses ready for turn-over to beneficiaries

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – The Butuan Habitat for Humanity is set to officially turn-over to the beneficiaries the 51 newly built houses situated in Brgy. Loyola, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on October 24, 2014.

Sensible on the shelter needs of the lowly masses, Habitat for Humanity started pooling resources and has successfully won over the support of San Miguel Foundation to fund the 240 houses.

Habitat for Humanity head of regional operations in Davao and Caraga, Atty. Abdussador Sawadjaan, Jr. recalled that the original project was supposed to allow beneficiaries living in coastal areas to bring the materials from their disassembled house, utilize them, and rebuild a house with better foundation.

“But the situation in Hinatuan is very encouraging since the local government unit has been cooperative with HFH by providing equipment, building permits and resolutions. So it turned-out to be a way better project where new materials were made available to the beneficiaries,” bared Sawadjaan.”

Sawadjaan disclosed that Habitat housing units are designed in a manner that suits with the weather and location where they will be erected. He further emphasized durability, thus, “technology requires us to use steel frames/bars, a combination of chemically treated bamboo slats (lipak) and hollow blocks/concrete materials, and G.I. sheets for roofing,” he added.

Every HFH housing project is executed through a spirit of communal unity and cooperation called “Bayanihan” with participation from different local government officials and staff who provide transport for hauling of materials; provide space and security for the main warehouse in the designated area, and assist in the verification of beneficiaries. The beneficiaries themselves shared “sweat equity” in the construction of the house.

“Another group of partner is the Brgy. Loyola Dream Housing Cooperative which is instrumental in organizing people especially in motivating beneficiaries to do their part. Habitat for Humanity as implementing partner and facilitator ensures that mandates such as safe and healthy living environment is available for all,” mentioned Sawadjaan.

To date, the construction of other units is still in progress and is expected to be completed before this year ends. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Beneficiaries perceive brighter future in Habitat for Humanity villages

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 17 (PIA) – The beneficiaries of the Butuan Habitat for Humanity housing projects in Barangays Loyola and Talisay in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur bared in particular that their access to decent shelter gave them the hope to coexist through an improved way of living and by worrying no more the obstacle of dealing housing crisis.

Former barangay captain Leonor Dinagay, a beneficiary and resident of Brgy Loyola said that he personally appealed to the local government of Hinatuan that the community living in coastal area be relocated at a safer and higher ground.

“We were thankful that they have addressed our concern. By then, the Butuan Habitat for Humanity (BHFH) began facilitating and constructing the ‘starter shelters’ that basically include building of structure’s foundation, four concrete columns and flooring,” described Dinagay.

There are 320 recipients (280 in Brgy. Loyola and 40 in Brgy. Talisay) of the housing project funded by San Miguel Foundation under the disaster response program of Habitat for Humanity.

“Aside from donors and local government officials, another group of partner is the Brgy. Loyola Dream Housing Cooperative which is instrumental in organizing people especially in motivating beneficiaries to do their part. Habitat for Humanity as implementing partner and facilitator ensures that mandates such as safe and healthy living environment is available for all,” mentioned Habitat for Humanity head of regional operations in Davao and Caraga, Atty. Abdussador Sawadjaan, Jr.

When asked about livelihood programs for the Habitat communities, Sawadjaan assured that a 3,000 sq.m. functional garden is ready for them to till and eventually yield vegetable produce.

Bonifacia Bughaw, vice president of Brgy. Loyola Dream Housing Cooperative expressed her gratitude to the stakeholders. “The members of our cooperative were grateful for the support given to us by BHFH. They truly understand our needs and right for a safe and secure place of dwelling. I hope that more members can avail and benefit from this project,” she said.

Meanwhile, the construction of 40 Habitat units situated at Brgy. Talisay is also on-going. Its former barangay captain, Ruel Villanueva who also manages the activities of his fellow beneficiaries disclosed that relocating them at upper Brgy. Talisay is practically ideal to avoid the harmful threats when they continue to stay at the disaster prone areas of the town.

The Habitat village in Brgy. Talisay already has a birthing clinic and a multi-purpose center donated by Angelo King Foundation, Inc. A water reservoir was also installed for public use once the units are turned-over to the beneficiaries.

Yolanda Espejo, chairperson of the Upper Talisay Housing Cooperative bared that 28 units are underway in addition to the 40 units. “This is really a great opportunity for us to own a decent, durable and affordable house. As members of the cooperative, we agreed to collect a monthly due in the amount of P50 for maintenance expenses,” she added.

By going through the tedious process of acquiring the land and necessary documents, Butuan Habitat for Humanity president Eufroceles Udarbe conveyed that “building these houses gives a message of how difficult it is to acquire a unit but with the essence of team spirit and genuine concern towards our fellowmen anything can be done to help address the inequalities and reduce poverty.”

Benevolent donors who wishes to selflessly contribute are advised to contact Butuan Habitat for Humanity at telephone no. (085) 342-0903 or visit their office at Midtown Arcade, Ochoa Avenue corner J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


DA Caraga opens Banana Tissue Culture in Agusan del Sur

By Aurelius P. Arais

TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 17 (PIA) - Banana industry in the province of Agusan del Sur is seen to further boom with the opening of the new banana tissue culture laboratory in the municipality.

This after the blessing of the banana tissue culture laboratory located inside the compound of the Research and Experiment Station (RES) of the Department of Agriculture in Del Monte, Talacogon on Wednesday.

The laboratory is a project of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), one of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) banner programs. DA-Del Monte RES under its chief Manuel Dormiendo will operate the P2.1 Million worth laboratory.

Talacogon Municipal Agriculturist Maresyl Caparoso lauded the inauguration of the said laboratory and looks forward for more banana projects to be undertaken in their area.

“Since the lab is within our municipality, we can easily access any project regarding banana production for our farmers”, Caparoso said.

However, Dormiendo said that availing the tissue-cultured banana planting materials will be on proposal basis hence its services is not only exclusive for Agusan del Sur but for the whole region.

Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory will mass-produce quality banana planting materials specifically Cardava variety to be distributed to identified recipients.

Banana is the second high value crops produced in Talacogon planted in 900 hectares by more than 600 farmers. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)


PCIC brings good news to farmers

By Japhet C. Sugian

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 17 (PIA) - “We are bringing the good news to your province”, said Antonio S. Uy III, Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) as he approached Governor Johnny T. Pimentel during his courtesy call recently at Provincial Governor’s Office, Capitol Hills, Telaje here.

AVP Uy, introduced to the governor the subsidy program of PCIC amounting to P1,183,177,000 appropriated herein as subsidy for the PCIC and shall be used exclusively for the full cost of insurance premiums of subsistence farmers and fisherfolks for any of the following types of insurance; crop, livelihood, fisheries, non-crop agricultural asset, provided that the PCIC shall ensure that the said subsistence farmers and fisherfolks are registered under Registry System on Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and are not receiving any other subsidy for the foregoing types of insurance from the local government.

According to AVP Uy, there were 95,000 farmers and fisherfolks registered in the data bank of RSBSA of PCIC in the province of Surigao del Sur. It means lot of them will be benefitted with this subsidy program.

“Insurance for free? That’s a real good news”, Governor Pimentel uttered. “The province of Surigao del Sur is prone to typhoons and other calamities, therefore, it is an ideal approach if their crops, livestock, etc. will be insured”, he added.

Marcos M. Quico, Provincial Agriculturist (PA) also commended and willing to adhere such requirements and assistance to PCIC if they need support in any matters involving the program.

He added that, Crops Division in the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist already prepared a complete listing of these identified farmers and ready for validation.

With governor Pimentel’s marching order, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist headed Quico, will promptly validate and submit the listing before end of the year for possible funding accommodation from PCIC.

The governor also urged PA Quico to coordinate with the Municipal Agriculturist to hasten up the process.

There were two provinces tapped by PCIC regarding the program, Agusan del Sur is the other one in which around 105,000 farmers and fisherfolks listed in RSBSA. These two provinces were having the most number of registered possible beneficiaries, emphasized by Manuel Cortina, PCIC staff assigned to handle these two provinces. He also added, that it is also allowed having multiple insurances for farmers with multiple commodity, no limitations as long as it follows with the rules and guidelines.

At exactly 5:00 in the afternoon, AVP Uy and company departed the province with great expectations to meet the target before December 31, 2014 as date of deadline for the submission of the aforementioned farmers and fisherfolks listing. (PAO-Surgiao del Sur/PIA-Caraga)