(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 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).


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Power company offers to venture in Agusan del Sur

By David M. Suyao

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 19 (PIA) - Another power company signifies its intention to put up a solar electric generator initially in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur to address the predicted increase on power shortage next year.

The GPower Inc. has written a letter of its intention to Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza on September 15, 2014 presenting its capacity and capability in solar generation that would address part of the power requirements in the province.

According to GPower President Jose Carlos Jr., GPower intends to set up a 5 Mega Watts (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant initially in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur after having subsequent meetings with the ASELCO Board of Directors regarding the GPower intention to propose a solar PV plant to augment the requirements of ASELCO.

“As a modest response to the predicted power shortage increase next year, a 5 MWp Solar Photovoltaic Power Project is being developed by GPower, Inc. to supply a small part of the power distribution utility requirements of ASELCO. GPower will have only one market or customer - ASELCO. All its power production will be committed to ASELCO on a “take and pay” arrangement,” GPower President Jose Carlos said.

According to Carlos, the Solar Power Plant will operate as a distributed, or decentralized electric generation facility. It will be embedded in the local distribution network of ASELCO. The generated electricity will not pass through the high-voltage national transmission grid. This avoids transporting electricity over long distances, which would require energy and reduce the overall efficiency of the system. It also avoids the transmission charge. Thus, the project achieves two other benefits of distributed generation namely: Lower carbon emissions and increased energy security.

“GPower presents a green, renewable, environmentally-friendly project and proposes to be a socially responsible member of its host community. The indicative annual PV production output is equivalent to the reduction of 4,700 metric tons (MT) of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas released to the atmosphere. Integral to its objective of providing clean, reliable electric power for the province, the project aims to be a model in its partnership with the host community and in its role in improving the quality of life and standard of living of the families,” Carlos said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


PhilRice Agusan Celebrates 1st “Brown Rice Day”

By Ginalyn V. Arbutante

RTR, Agusan del Norte, Nov. 19 (PIA) - Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Agusan Experiment Station and Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 successfully celebrated the “Brown Rice Day” on November 14 at the Main Atrium, Robinsons Place in Butuan City.

As part of the month-long rice awareness celebration and with this year’s theme "Be Riceponsible", wherein Filipino people are encourage to be responsible rice consumers or rice eaters by avoiding wastage and starting to mix rice with other staple foods available.

The “Brown Rice Day” showcased the unpolished rice also known as brown rice with its importance and health advantage that people can benefit at the same time driving them to eat brown rice that would definitely take them away from health problems especially with concerns to sugar level.

Part of the advocacy is to raise public awareness and knowledge on what is the true meaning of brown rice.

PhilRice reiterates that brown rice is not a variety. In fact, any rice variety can be made as brown when it is half or unpolished during the milling process. 

The “Brown Rice Day” highlights the ceremonial tasting which was led by the PhilRice administration officer III, Rochelle P. Bondad with the recitation of the “Panatang Makapalay”.

Students from the participating schools joined the rice quiz bee and Jelly Mae Sianosa, 4th year high school student from Agusan Pequeno National High School (APNHS) was declared as the champion who received cash award, certificate and 1kg of brown rice as token.

“Brown rice (BR) is healthier than white rice because of its bran which contains minerals, protein, calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients”, said Retsebeth Laquijon, Nutrition Officer III from the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga who served as the speaker during the event. “It facilitates regular body disposal since it also contains fiber” she added.

Studies show that cancer and diabetes may be diminished by eating brown rice or unpolished rice. It can also reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as hypertension, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia and stroke.

The said event was actively participated in by the high school students and teachers from Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT), Agusan National High School (ANHS), Butuan City School of Arts and Trade (BCSAT), and Agusan Pequeno (AP) National High School. Walk-in customers from Robinsons Mall are also present during the event.

The program starts and ends with a video showing on the Be Riceponsable Campaign as well as the overview of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) Celebration. (PhilRice Agusan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DSWD-13, Winrock International PCCP team up for “Pangkabuhayan- Tulong sa Pagsulong Program” in Caraga

By Eunice G. Montaos

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 19 (PIA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga formalized on November 18 at Almont Hotel and Inland Resort, this city, its partnership for the “Pangkabuhayan-Tulong sa Pagsulong Program” in Caraga with the Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development- Philippine Cold Chain Project (Winrock PCCP).

This was done through a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which contained the provisions of such partnership.

The collaboration is geared towards broadening the resource base of the participants of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) through relevant trainings and workshops, and linking them to public and private institutions that will help expand their livelihood assets.

“This partnership will surely bring about the vision of helping the Poor families in Caraga to come out from the inter-generational cycle of poverty,” said Jim L. Oprecio, Winrock Deputy Chief of Party.

During the event, SLP Regional Project Coordinator Roy R. SerdeΓ±a provided the staff of the new private partner an orientation about the convergence strategy used by the Department, and he also underscored about the shared goals and visions of the DSWD and the Winrock International.

“Our collaboration with the private sector such as the Winrock International is another milestone for the Department. Finally, we do something that we once thought was hard and difficult. But this engagement is for our beneficiaries.“ articulated SerdeΓ±a.

Winrock Chief of Party Daniel J. Gudahl expressed that he looks forward for a good partnership with DSWD.

“May we have a great and continued partnership in solving together the problems of poverty in Caraga,” added Gudahl.

Meanwhile, DSWD-XIII Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli in her message stated that the said MOA signing event is historical since it manifests the concrete arrangement of two parties who are serious in its business of alleviating poverty in the region.

“Our beneficiaries deserve the best efforts from the Government and the private sector. This team up of DSWD and Winrock will surely provide them with opportunities.” disclosed Brigoli.

The Winrock International PCCP is a project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that aims to increase productivity and food safety and expand the market of Caraganons.

The DSWD through the SLP aims to improve the socio-economic status of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program participants through capacity-building trainings and accessing them to programs and services of partners that will increase their productivity and develop their entrepreneurial skills which will provide them a sustainable income source. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)