(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 13 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).


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Regl Launching of the Visit Philippines 2015 set in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) will be holding the Regional Launching of the Visit Philippines 2015 or VP 2015 on November 26, 2014 at Big Daddy’s Convention Center, this city.

According to Leticia Tan, DOT-Caraga regional director, this is among DOT’s sustained efforts to further boost the tourism industry in the region through tourism promotions.

“Specifically, the activity aims to: 1) freshen up the promotional campaign of DOT’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”; 2) conduct massive local tourism promotions to re-create the image of Mindanao as fun destination; and 3) advocate prid of place among Caraganons through showcase of destinations, as cultural dances and songs,” disclosed Tan.

It was also learned that after the launching, the press conference will follow with no less than Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III at the same venue.

To promote Visit Philippines Year 2015, the DoT's Website was redesigned, redirecting its home page to the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" Website (www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com), which was upgraded to include more features to assist potential tourists, travel agencies and event organizers.

DOT has developed a microsite inside the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" Web site to serve as directory to everything the Philippines has to offer. Event organizers, tour agencies, companies and individuals can register and promote their activities to an international audience at www.phl2015.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Law Fortun debate championship, on its 7th year

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 (PIA) – With the aim to promote and nurture the culture of debate among the youth in Caraga region, the largest gathering of high school and college students to discourse on contemporary issues affecting our locality, country and the global community dubbed as the Caraga Parliamentary Debate Championship: Law Fortun Cup (CPDC: LFC) will hold its 7th year of debate championship here on December 5 to 7.

Now on its 7th leg, the CPDC continues to serve as a platform of spreading debate advocacy in the region, confronting valid issues and emerging concerns of the polity, said Ian Sabado of the 7th CPDC: LFC Secretariat.

“We are expecting 50 teams composed of three members from all over the region to participate in this year’s debate, the team comprised of High School and College students, Sabado said.

This year’s edition according to Sabado is more challenging as the competition takes another group of old and new debate teams in the region to participate in the competition, provide their perspectives on issues and experience the rigor of debate once more.

“In the wake of many and daunting challenges on public accountability and environmental challenges faced anew by the human polity, the organizers deemed it not only necessary, but fitting as well to focus on issues knitted with good governance, sustainability, and resilience,” Sabado added.

The participating students can have an effective platform to discuss local, national and international issues and solutions.

Last year’s episode was participated in by more than 40 teams from both tertiary and high schools in the region. Declared winners were Father Saturnino Urios University (college level) and Bayugan National Comprehensive High School (high school category).

"As a mental sport, debate promotes sportsmanship and camaraderie among the youth. It offers them an ideal way to settle differences in opinion and ideas in a peaceful yet challenging manner. The potential of the youth and their contributions in the future are being recognized. These can only be unleashed when they are empowered through thought-provoking interface of minds," reiterated Sabado.

The CPDC: LFC is an integral component of the youth development and extension program of the office of Congressman Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun of the First District of Agusan del Norte.

The conduct of the event is in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the region. It will be at the Agusan National High School (ANHS), A. D. Curato Street, this city. (NLM/PIA-Caraga)


Surigao City Local Civil Registry bares 3rd quarter accomplishments report

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Nov. 20 (PIA) – The office of the Surigao City Local Civil Registry unveiled its third quarter accomplishments report from July to October this year during the Monday Flag Raising Ceremony held in front of the City Hall Building, this city.

Acting Civil Registrar Rosalia Morales reported that from July to October they have recorded a total of 2, 451 for live births, 549 for death registry, 262 marriage contract, 15 registered court, 45 for legitimate, 21 acknowledgement/ admission of paternity, 1,092 for Republic Act 9255, seven for legal capacity, and collected a total income of P590,064.00 pesos.

Morales lauded the support and efforts of all the staff and personnel of the local registry office for without them the office will not be able to achieve its target accomplishments. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


DSWD Caraga builds up monitoring, evaluation system for KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP operations

By Eunice G. Montaos

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga conducted on November 17-18, 2014 at Amontay Beach Resort, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte a training for municipal database encoders and area coordinators about the my Structured Query Language (mySQL) database system used by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP).

This capability-building activity is facilitated by the monitoring and evaluation (M and E) unit of KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP, and is participated by the municipal database encoders, area coordinators, community development officers, and some staff of the Regional Project Management Office (RPMO).

“The participants of this training are program implementers who are responsible in data entry, quality assurance, and processing,” said Edward John Ty, M and E specialist.

Ty also shared that the said training is primarily conducted to orient the participants on the Program’s information management system, and to enhance their skills in using the MySQL database.

DSWD-XIII Regional Director Minda Brigoli stated during her welcome message that the expansion of the Kalahi-CIDSS project into a national program entailed an increase of covered municipalities, and demanded an amplified monitoring and evaluation system.

“To meet these demands, the M and E unit of the KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP continues to develop new activity forms, tools, and database system to record, process, and report the Program’s gains and successes,” disclosed Brigoli.

It was also reported that the said training is of three batches since the Program covers 46 municipalities in Caraga for 2014 implementation.

The activity in Amontay which is the first batch is joined in by 16 municipalities namely RTR, Jabonga, Las Nieves, Veruela, Sta. Josefa, San Francisco (AdS), Barobo, Lingig, Hinatuan, Buenavista, Santiago, Cagwait, Lianga, Marihatag, and Bayabas.

The next two batches of trainings will be done in Surigao City within this month.

KALAHI CIDSS- NCDDP is the expansion into a national scale of operations of the community-driven development (CDD) approach, which was tried and proven effective by the Kalahi-CIDSS project. The CDD strategy puts power back in the hands of the people by giving them the opportunity to make informed decisions on locally identified options for development and manage resources to implement sub-projects that address needs identified by communities themselves. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)


Dinagat Islands conducts 8th Provincial Cooperative Assembly

By Ma. Jane Mayola

SAN JOSE-Dinagat Islands, Nov. 20 (PIA) – The provincial government of Dinagat Islands through the Provincial Cooperative Development Office joined the National Cooperative Month celebration with the conduct of 8th Provincial Cooperative Assembly held recently at the Aurelio Multi-Purpose Building, San Jose, this province.

The activity is anchored on this year’s theme, “Kooperatiba: Maasahan sa Pagsulong ng Kabuhayan at Kapayapaan ng Bayan.”

In his opening message, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) Caraga regional director Genaro Pogata Jr. said that Dinagat Islands has specifically contributed much to cooperative developments in Caraga region.

He also shared the story behind the success of the province in Gawad Parangal 2014 being the third place and best performing cooperative in the Philippines.

"Dinagat Islands PCDO is the first in Mindanao who qualified in Coop National Finals. We have more than 80 provinces throughout the country and being number 3 is a big thing." Pogata said.

The activity was graced by Dinagat Islands Vice Governor Benglen B. Ecleo together with the officials and members from the different cooperatives all over the province. (SDR, PIA-Dinagat Islands/PIO-Dinagat Islands)


Tagalog News: Roxas, bibisita sa Butuan City upang suriin ang problema ng pagbaha

BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 20 (PIA) - Nakatakdang bumisita bukas si Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas sa lungsod ng Butuan, Agusan del Norte upang makipagpulong sa mga kawani ng lokal pamahalaan ukol sa mga maaaring gawin ng mga mamamayan bilang paghahanda at solusyon sa taunang pagbaha sa lalawigan.

Tinutukoy na dahilan nito ang panahon ng tag-ulan na sumasapit tuwing Enero at tumatagal hanggang Marso.

Tatalakayin din ng kalihim at ng mga lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan ang kahalagahan ng disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) sa antas na lokal, na naglalayong gawing "laging handa" hindi lamang ang mga mayor at barangay captain, kundi maging ang ordinaryong mamamayan.

Kamakailan lamang, bumisita rin si Sec. Roxas sa iba't ibang lugar sa Kabisayaan bilang paggunita sa unang anibersaryo ng pananalanta ng
bagyong Yolanda, kung saan pinaalalahanan niya ang bawat pinuno na sila ang mga "first responder."

Ayon sa kalihim, hindi lamang ang national government ang may tungkuling pangalagaan ang mga mamamayan sa panahon ng sakuna, kundi maging ang lokal na pamahalaan, bilang pagpapatunay sa "whole of government approach" na inilalayon ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. (DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)