(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting 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 Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Monday, October 20, 2014

Caraga NNC to hold 2-day planning workshop, mobilization of nutrition advocates

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 20 (PIA) – To intensify programs and advocacy in addressing malnutrition in Caraga region, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) will be holding a Two-Day Mobilization of Caraga Nutrition Advocates and Planning Workshop on November 4-5, 2014 at Balanghai Hotel, this city.

According to Department of Health (DOH) Caraga regional director Minerva Molon, the purpose of said activity is to muster potential nutrition advocates in the region for nutrition information dissemination integrating in their existing communication network.

“This workshop will be conducted to determine future activities where nutrition campaign can be integrated. The target participants are the local nutrition officers, information officers, regional nutrition network and representatives from the media group,” Molon disclosed.

Molon also revealed that the problem of malnutrition is still prevalent nationwide in the form of undernutrition, overnutrition and specific micronutrient deficiencies affecting a significant number of population group. “The effects of malnutrition are devastating not only to the affected population group but to the socio-economic development of the country as a whole,” she emphasized.

Molon further enumerated that the causes of malnutrition can be attributed to immediate factors due to inadequate food intake and the presence of infections and illnesses.

“The underlying causes of malnutrition may vary as well depending on the socio-economic background of the family, child care practices, environmental sanitation, status and accessibility of food production, access to health facilities and services and educational background of the parents of malnourished children or caregiver. Illiteracy and poor access to nutrition information may also be one of the factors affecting malnutrition wherein basic nutrition information, updates and nutrition interventions are not adequately disseminated to affected population group and the general public due to limited access to information which can be manifested by limited information dissemination and poor nutrition advocacy,” Molon added.

The NNC, as mandated by law, is the country's highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition. The functions and multisectoral composition of the NNC are replicated at subnational levels. Regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay nutrition committees are organized to manage and coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of local hunger-mitigation and nutrition action plan as a component of the local development  plan. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


2014 elected young provincial officials 'take over' AgSur governance

By David M. Suyao

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 20 (PIA) - Some 50 youth leaders from all over the province took over the reign of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur today as mandated under Article 4, section 46 of Ordinance No. 16, series of 2002 of the Agusan del Sur Children’s Code which states that “every third Monday of October of every year as children’s day of governance/ administration.”

Today, a young lady from Bayugan City named Princess Mae Rivera took over the seat of Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza as governor while Nino John Honteveros from Trento became the presiding officer of today’s Sangguaniang Panlalawigan session and the vice governor, replacing Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. The 15 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from District I and District II, including the chiefs of offices of all the departments and divisions in the provincial government who only became guides of the young officials for one day were replaced.  

As main sponsor of the Monday flag raising ceremony held at the Naliyagan Cultural Center today, the elected and appointed young provincial officials and chiefs of offices with all the participants of the two-day children’s congress held from October 18-19 were introduced to all who attended the flag raising ceremony, from the national and local government offices.

Vice Gov.Cane, who delivered the message of Gov. Plaza, said children in Agusan del Sur are very lucky to be given the chance to explore the world now occupied by the government leaders. Cane added that since the year 2007 when the provincial government, thru a resolution that he passed, granted scholarship to poor but deserving students, all students who compete in the national and foreign competitions were also given resources and financial support by the government of Agusan del Sur.

“That is why, we, the youth of Agusan del Sur, always do our bests when we compete abroad in order to bring the honor back to our,” little Gov. Princess Mae Rivera said.

Cane said, this program of the provincial government will also help develop the potentials of the youths to the fullest. Cane added this is one way children can gain self-confidence and with dignity in facing problems that they may encounter in the future. It will also help the youths in discovering where their strengths lie, and to encourage them to pursue those avenues. Cane added that knowing that everyone has his strengths and weaknesses, this program would show that leadership is working to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

“Children’s governance will let the youths experience something new in dealing with different people with different personalities, while working together in order to achieve one common goal, and that is development.  It helps the children realize how important they are in the society even as young as they are, and they can do positive changes that will help the community they live in. Above all, we believe that children are the key to change the world,” Cane said.

After the flag raising ceremony and program, the youth leaders were guided to their respective assignments to execute and perform their duties and responsibilities according to the mandate of the office. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Caraga grabs major awards on National Search for Corn Quality Achievers

By Aurelius P. Arais

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 20 (PIA) - For the second year of staging the National Search for Quality Corn Achievers Awards, Caraga Region grabbed once again various major awards for this year.

These achievements affirmed the positive outcome of the close collaboration among stakeholders of the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program.

Major criteria of the Search focused on quality of the corn produced, yield and areas planted with corn.

After thorough evaluation of the National Technical Search Committee, Caraga Region bagged the following awards:

Outstanding Province - Agusan del Norte
                                           Agusan del Sur
Outstanding Provincial Corn Coordinator - Oscar S. Tuyor
                                                                               Perla C. Galaura
Outstanding Municipality - Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
Outstanding Municipal Agriculturist - Jose Zaldy S. Manug of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
Outstanding Municipal Corn Coordinator - Jovie R. Ego-ugan of Espranza, Agusan del Sur
Outstanding Agricultural Extension Worker - Eduardo S. Vecina, Butuan City
                                                                                  - Nelson L. Dulayba, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte
                                                                                  - Ismael S. Saguran, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur

Added category for this year is the Outstanding Regional Corn Team which was clinched by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 13.

Awarding ceremony will be on November 20, 2014 at Cagayan de Oro City as one of the highlights of the conduct of the 10th Philippine National Corn Congress which runs from November 17-21, 2014.

Outstanding Province will receive P3M worth of projects; Outstanding Municipalities will receive P1M worth of projects while individual category winners will receive cash prizes including trophies and certificates of recognition.

The Caraga delegation will be headed by Acting Director IV Edna Mabeza with Caraga Agri-Pinoy Corn Program Coordinator Abel Wagas together with the respective local government officials. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)


BIR stays hopeful to hit 2014 tax goal in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Oct. 20 (PIA) – The Revenue District Office 106 (RDO 106) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Surigao del Sur remains optimistic in getting the 2014 tax goal of P745,763,000.

Revenue District Officer (RDO) Monib Dimakuta admitted that his office has met snag anew last September by only collecting P54,424,729.20 out of the P76,539,000 tax goal, thereby posting a deficit of P22,114,270.80 or equivalent to 28.89 percent.

However, the BIR chief here pointed out that taking into consideration the cumulative comparative collection for the period from January-September 2014 as to the same period of last year also saved their frustration due to an increase of 11.65 percent in collection or equivalent to P52,458,209.14, citing P502,573,139.40 over P450,114,930.26. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Dinagat Islands PHO to conduct 'Sweet Smile Lakbay Opera'

By Jane Mayola

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Oct. 20 (PIA) - The provincial government here through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) will conduct a medical outreach program dubbed "Sweet Smile Lakbay Opera" on Oct. 23-25, 2014.

The three-day surgical operation activity aims to provide solutions on oral malformations, prevent further damage leading to dental and middle ear problems, to develop speech, and self-esteem of the patients, and most of all to reduce the number of morbidity of children with cleft palate in the province.

According to Provincial Health Coordinator Anna Ababon, the PHO team will bring the patients to Mercy Hospital in Iligan City to join the “Lakbay Opera” since the province does not have enough medical doctors to perform the surgical operations.

Ababon added that the provincial government will shoulder the traveling expenses, food and accommodation, drugs, medicines and multivitamins of the patients and the watchers. (SDR/PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)


Agnor acquires lot for housing relocation site

By Aimee B. Sienes

AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Oct. 20 (PIA) – Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba pushed for the acquisition of a more or less 21,642 square meter lot located at Barangay Libas, in the municipality of Jabonga, this province.

Said lot will be used as housing relocation site of the said municipality.? Governor Matba requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for an authority for her to sign in behalf of the province of Agusan del Norte the Extra-Judicial Partition With Sale of the Intestate Estate of Feliciana Morta Vda. De Monteclaro with her respective heirs concerning a parcel of agricultural land for the housing project and other appurtenant documents.?

The Provincial Appraisal Committee through its Resolution No. 03-2014 adopted the price offered by the heirs at P41.58 per square meter amounting to P900,000.00 as it is much lower than the prevailing price in the locality.?

The said property was already inspected by both the Provincial Appraisal Committee and the National Housing Authority.? Governor Matba ensured that the funding for the acquisition of said lot is already appropriated in the province’s five percent calamity fund, CY 2014 due to the necessity of a relocation site for families affected by calamity.?

Having considered all the basic documentary requirements from the Provincial Assessor’s Office and other concerned agencies being complied with and since the proposed relocation site is in line with the basic services development program of the province on housing and resettlement, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Sanggunian Resolution No. 233-2014 authorized Governor Matba to sign for and in behalf of the province the said documents related to the lot purchase as provided for in section 465 (b) (1) (vi) of the Local Government Code of 1991. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DAR seeks to sustain impressive feat on CARP implementation in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Oct. 20 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office (DARPO) in Surigao del Sur headed by Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Benjamin Mataksil remains firm in its resolve to maintain the record as “donor province” as far as land acquisition and distribution (LAD) is concerned. 

The said agency, which is reputed to be consistent performer in the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), is used to having a slow start.

Proofs to this are updates on five key areas under Major Final Outputs/Programs, Activities, and Projects.

Victor Canda, chief of the Operation Division, sensing anew the slow start, admitted that they are now planning a strategy on how to get the job done for Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD); Survey (Field Works completed); Land Valuation; and Preparation of Land Distribution (LANDIS) sheets, except for Leasehold as 116 percent accomplishment or equivalent to 58.15 out of a 50-hectare target has already been posted as of September 2014.

Based on the latest data, the DARPO here has just gained 24% in LAD; 42% in survey; 2% in land valuation; and 16% in preparation of LANDIS, citing their respective equivalent of 1,138 out of 4,825 hectare-target; 1,412.2950 out of 3,338 hectare-target; 113 out of 4,666 hectare-target; and 78 out of 500 sheet-target.


The operation division chief said they still have to exert more effort in these particular fields of endeavor. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)