(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting 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. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

PRC Agusan del Sur chapter bares accomplishments on CBMNH special project

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Oct. 8 (PIA) - Chosen as the recipient of a special project of the Netherlands Red Cross, the Philippine Red Cross Agusan del Sur Chapter (PRC-AdS) has piloted three barangays in Agusan del Sur to become recipients of the project called the Community Based Maternal and Neonatal Health (CBMNH).

The main goal of this project according to PRC-AdS report to the Board of Directors, is to build a community resilience that will show evidence and demonstrate impact of the contribution of the PRC-AdS in partnership with Netherlands Red Cross to the Midterm Development Goal (MDG 4) or the reduction of child mortality and the MDG 5 or the improved Maternal Health in the year 2015.

The tree chosen pilot barangays are Nueva Era and San Marcos in Bunawan and Langag in Esperanza. While timeliness is essential, OIC Administrator Darwina Ligan said, the May 2013 election was one factor that caused the delay in the implementation of the project thus, accomplishments mostly focused on recruitment of volunteers and organizing.

“For the whole year, accomplishments on the implementation of CBMNH includes orientations at the national and local levels, recruitment and trainings of community health volunteers (CHV), conduct of knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) assessment, some trainings, health profiling, simultaneous health education, CHV kit distribution and development of disaster and community health plan. The highlight of last year’s accomplishment was the conveyance of Memorandum of Understanding to the parties involved,” Ligan added.

According to Chapter Project Officer May Angeli de la Cruz, the first quarter of 2014  was full, coping up the delay of last year’s implementation.

“The first quarter of 2014 highlights of the project review and planning workshop involving the key health officials of the municipalities of Bunawan and Esperanza and the three pilot barangays from the two municipalties. The 2014 plan of works was also formulated based on the 2013 accomplishments. The first three trainings conducted designed to improve the knowledge of the CHVs focused on three behavioral change mainly Safe Motherhood, Newborn care and immunization,” de la Cruz said.

The project officer also promised to provide the members of the board of directors of PRC-AdS with update of accomplishment until the end of the second quarter on the next meeting. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


PSA prepares for the conduct of October LFS, 2014 survey on Overseas Filipinos

By Villa S. Bayotas

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA) - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Caraga will conduct the October 2014 Labor Force Survey together with the 2014 Survey on Overseas Filipinos from October 8 to 31, 2014. The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by the PSA to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.

The LFS aims to provide a quantitative framework for the preparations of plans and formulation of policies affecting the labor market. Specifically, the LFS is designed to collect information on the following:

·       Distribution of household population 15 years old and over, by employment status, by sex, and age group;

·       Distribution of employed persons by major occupation group, major industry group, class of worker, number of hours worked, highest grade completed, nature of employment, and by sex;

·       Distribution of underemployed persons by total hours worked, major occupation group, class of worker, and by sex; and

·       Distribution of unemployed persons by age group, highest grade completed, by number of weeks looking for work, job search method, and by sex.

The 2014 Survey on Overseas Filipinos (SOF) will also be undertaken as a rider to the LFS, this is a nationwide sample survey that seeks to gather information on Filipino citizens who left for abroad during the last five years.

The SOF aims to provide data on overseas Filipinos particularly the OCWs and their contribution to the economy. Specifically, the survey hast the following objectives:
a.    To obtain national estimates on the number of overseas Filipinos including overseas workers and their socio-economic characteristics; and
b.    To provide estimates on the amount of cash and in kind transfer received by the families and mode of remittances.

For purposes of the survey, only those family members who traveled outside of the Philippines within the period October 2009 to September 2014 for any reasons are included.

The October 2014 LFS covers about 50,000 sample households nationwide.  This sample size will allow the generation of reliable estimates of indicators of employment and the number of overseas Filipinos at the regional level.

In Caraga, PSA Field Staff and selected trained Statistical Researchers will do a comprehensive door-to-door interview to the sample households during enumeration period. The information collected shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of RA 10625. (PSA-13/PIA-Caraga)


DepEd shows concern over rising incidence of school building fire in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA) – Schools Division Superintendent Teofila Cabatuan has expressed concern over the fire incident that burned down a public school building anew in Surigao del Sur—this time, in San Agustin town, once again, over 64 kilometers south of this city.

Last year, she recalled that Salvacion Elementary School in the same locality had met the same fate, but said new classrooms had already been built.

Cabatuan confirmed that the October 3 fire incident was already the third in a row to hit a school building in a matter of four months here this year—Barobo Central Elementary School—a public school; and Andres Soriano College—a private institution.  Both got burned in July.

Meanwhile, to initially address the problem, students have to hold their classes temporarily in “makeshift” classrooms, the DepEd chief stressed.

Also, Cabatuan said that both the DepEd regional and central offices have already been informed of the matter.

It was learned from the responding Lianga Central Fire Station under Fire Officer 3 (FO3) Rolando Daano, officer-in-charge (OIC) fire marshall, which came out with the “Spot Investigation Report,” that the incident took place at around 8:00 p.m. at Salvacion National High School, gutting one school building comprised of seven rooms, placing the damage at P3.5 million.

SFO1 Roger Secarro, Operations Section chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Office headed by Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Provincial Fire Marshall Insp. Rowella Dinolan, said that they have yet to find out the cause of the fire pending receipt of the final/complete report.

The spot report likewise acknowledged three more BFP stations’ crews that made it to the fire scene—Cagwait, Barobo, and Tagbina—to help put out the blaze that lasted for about two hours. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


AgNor solon named 'Outstanding Filipino Achiever in Public Service'

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA) -  Marking a priceless milestone as a public servant, Agusan del Norte representative Erlpe John “Ping” M. Amante was awarded 2014 Outstanding Filipino Achiever in Public Service by the Golden Globe Awards for Business Excellence last September 27, 2014 at Manila Hotel, Manila.

Through this award, Rep. Amante joins the ranks of respected Filipinos recognized to have exceptional achievements in various crafts and fields, as well as top-notch companies from all over the country that have exemplified excellence in business and marketing.

Amante was cited for being one of the most prolific neophyte lawmakers having filed 28 house bills and resolutions and co-authored 25 in less than a year. He was also noted for his active role as vice chairperson in the Committee on Natural Resources in Congress where he strongly lobbied for the mandatory domestic processing of mineral ores in the Philippines to ensure that Filipinos are able to maximize the benefits from our precious yet finite resources. His principled stand on the issue has earned him respect and support from different international media outfits and business analysts.

His efforts in improving accessibility and quality of education in Agusan del Norte during his stint as governor were also highly commended. Placing great importance in education, Amante back then focused on distributing textbooks to all public elementary and secondary schools in the province and opening study grants to indigent college students. His administration also strengthened its campaign to fight poverty through various job generation programs. This led to the significant drop in poverty incidence among families from a high of 38.7% in 2006 to 27.7% in 2012 – making Agusan del Norte the most improved among the Caraga provinces.

More than a personal triumph, the award embodies the overall transformation of governance in Agusan del Norte.

Rep. Amante has pledged to continue this; and with the support of all Agusanons, no doubt the province will be able to reach greater heights. (PIA-Agusan del Norte)