(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).


Monday, April 6, 2015

DepEd Butuan City Division elects new PESPA officers

By Dr. Jonas H. Jomonong

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 6 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Butuan City Division has recently elected the new sets of Philippine Elementary Schools Principal Association (PESPA) Butuan City Chapter during the 9th Division Management Committee (MANCOM) Conference held at the Division Training Center, here.          

Dr. Alejandro P. Macadatar, Principal-II of Butuan Central Elementary School was elected as the new president with Dr. Luisito G. Pero, Head Teacher-III of Don Francisco Elementary School as his vice-president.

On the other hand, Joseph Ampong, Principal-I of Anticala Elementary School was elected as the association’s secretary and Ma. Ligaya A. Joyo, Principal-II of Pedro D. Duncano Elementary School as treasurer. Felix Acebu, Principal-I of Amparo Central Elementary School was elected as the auditor; Remedios Hinampas, principal-II of Ong Yui Central Elementary School was elected as P.I.O. while Dr. Jonas H. Jomonong, Principal-I of Bit-os Elementary School as business manager.          

PESPA is committed to promote culture of excellence in its basic task of educating the Filipino child.

Furthermore, its mission is to develop in every school head the value of commitment, integrity, and dedication as school managers.  To advocate the interest and promote the welfare of the elementary school principals is the association’s mantra.  (DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


36IB seeks public support in condemning NPA on habitual use of landmine in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, April 6 (PIA) – The 36th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Anastacio Suaybaguio, Jr. under the 401st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) has urged the people of Surigao del Sur to join them in condemning the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in what it called a habitual use of landmine in furthering their cause.

Capt. Al Anthony Pueblas, battalion civil military operations (CMO) officer, aired anew their grievances last week while mourning for the death of their two fellow soldiers, a civilian, and the wounding of six others, one of whom, another plain citizen.

The ambush took place at around 9:00 p.m. on April 1, Holy Wednesday, somewhere in the vicinity of Sitio Ban-as, Barangay Mahayag, San Miguel town, 31 kilometers south, this city, he said.

Pueblas did not give much detail but said elements of the 41st Division Reconnaissance Company and the 4th Field Artillery Battalion were waylaid by NPA rebels while passing along the road in the place mentioned on board four army trucks.

The CMO officer stressed that NPA rebels indeed do not mind whether it is Holy Week as long as they get an opportunity.

Pueblas claimed what happened was another violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

Meanwhile, he said that the entire battalion has expressed sympathy especially for the bereaved family of all the victims, most particularly the civilian. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DTI advises consumers to test the product before buying

By Rodrigo R. Matabaran

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Apr. 6 (PIA) – It is advisable that buyers must be able to test and be sure of the functionality of the item they will purchase before paying for it, especially on electronic gadgets and appliances.

Being sure that the products will serve its intended purpose is what consumers must do before spending their hard earned money.

This is what Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan most often stressed as he discussed issues concerning consumer welfare.

This must be done specially or customers whose residence is a distant away from the commercial centers, such as those residing in island towns and barangays.

At this time that the local market is flooded with various consumer products and electronic gadgets, consumers has to take precautionary measures while doing purchasing transactions.

For persons not very familiar of some technical specifications of a particular gadget, it would be better to bring along someone who does that can help in choosing the product they need from among different brands.

This is to ensure that the quality of the product they are paying for is worthy of the amount paid. In buying cellphones, DTI Consumer Welfare Desk Officer Josephine D. Gabutin advised consumers to look for mobile phones that passed the quality standards of the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC).

The mark of NTC quality standards usually reflected at the side part of this cellphone logo of NTC that can easily be seen when battery is taken out.

While for other products like electrical appliances, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc, the product quality mark or stickers of the Bureau of Products Standards is usually placed on these items or in packaging. For imported products, Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker is placed instead.

For more information on product standards related information and consumer education concerns, interested parties can visit the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the 2nd Floor, Simtoco Building, Burgos Street, this city or contact at telephone number 826-6129. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


NIA continues to expand irrigation services in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, April 6 (PIA) – The Provincial Irrigation Management Office (PIMO) in Surigao del Sur under the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) continues to address the need for irrigation service expansion in the entire province.

Engr. Dexter Sablaon, PIMO acting division manager, bared in his latest monthly progress report the status of all irrigation projects for the last three years since CY 2012.

A sum total of P1,227,037,362.52 has been poured in Surigao del Sur for the particular period mentioned up to 2014, he said.

Sablaon broke down the projects in annual amount as of recent from the previous years together with their corresponding physical and financial accomplishments, to wit:

For CY 2014 projects with a total project cost of P184,854,000,  physical and financial accomplishments have been posted at 60.06 percent and 48.77 percent, respectively; CY 2013 projects with a total cost of P337,640,000, physical and financial accomplishments have been listed at 91.22 percent and 63.38 percent, respectively; while CY 2012 projects with a total cost of P704,543,362.52, physical and financial accomplishments have been entered at 77.24 percent and 67.30 percent, respectively.

At the same time, Sablaon bared the respective status of the Quick Response Fund (QRF) project intended for the repair of the damages brought about by Typhoon Pablo as well as status of the CY 2012 Project Needing Clearance and CY 2012 Variance Projects.

As far as the first QRF item is concerned, which direct cost was posted at P50,000,000, physical accomplishment has been placed already at 100 percent completed while the financial part was indicated at 86.32 percent; also, the other item, which amount was listed at P3,621,000, physical accomplishment was posted at 100 percent completed while corresponding financial side was recorded at 77.51 percent.

On project needing clearance with a direct cost of P23,038,000, physical and financial  accomplishments were respectively posted at 100 percent and 97 percent completed.

On variance projects, which total amount was listed at P41,911,132.81, physical and financial accomplishments have been reported at 43.99 percent and 25.30 percent, respectively.

As to all the current status, further clarifications were provided by the PIMO chief through corresponding remarks on each and every particular project for the information and guidance of all concerned.

The irrigation service area of the PIMO in the entire province has been reported at 14,649 hectares based on the potential irrigable area of 26,778 hectares or equivalent to 54.705 percent, it was learned. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DOLE Caraga grants funds to 288 fisherfolks, farmers in Socorro

By Keith C. Duran and Iris Asis

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 6 (PIA) - Two hundred eighty eight fisherfolks and farmers of Socorro, Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte (SDN) recently received a total of P1,211,273.67 for the implementation of their respective projects.

The Bucas Grande Island is known to be one of the most promising tourist destinations in the region with fishing and farming as the main source of income and the emerging tourism industry.

The island-municipality of Socorro celebrated its 54th Adlaw sa Socorro on February 21, 2015 featuring tourism and livelihood for its residents.

“Where there’s tourism, there’s livelihood,” Keith Duran, SDN Provincial Head said in his message. He also stressed that the financial aid released for the projects is part of the poverty alleviation program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

With the flourishing tourist spots including the Sohoton Cove, DOLE Caraga and the local government unit saw the various opportunities for livelihood projects.

1.) Sta. Cruz Farmers and Fishermen Association, Lobster Production – P112,890; 2.) Sidlak Lanit-ag Aksiyon sa Kababayen-an Association, Squash Production; 3.) Rizal Fishermen Organization, Small Deep Fishing Livelihood Project – P221,533; 4.) Del Pilar Mauswagon Farm Supply Association, Bobo Fishing – P150,480; 5.) Del Pilar Makugihon Fishing Association, Fishing Gear Supplies – P302,168; 6.) Socorronhon Farmers Association, Various Crop Production – P 130,300; Socorro Fishermen & Farmers Association, Community Grocery and Fishing Supplies – P257,452.67.

Projects funded would bring more tourists thereby increasing the number of establishments that would in turn influence the employment growth. (DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)


DENR exec appeals for care of forest

By Eric Herson F. Gallego

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 6 (PIA) – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional director Nonito M. Tamayo has appealed to the people in the upland barangays to exercise care of the forest by doing away with their activities of slash and burn methods of farming to convert forest lands for a variety of purposes with the onset of dry months and the El NiΓ±o phenomenon.

“We can prevent forest fire this summer by avoiding any activity that could trigger fire from withered leaves,” Tamayo said.

He said that uncontrolled fire in the forest can affect the tree seedlings planted in different sites of the National Greening Program (NGP).

The DENR to date, has established 49,999.12 hectares of production and open access timberlands in Caraga Region through the NGP with about 27,745,254 seedlings of indigenous and exotic tree species. “These gains of the NGP which are on the upswing will literally go up in smoke and we want to be sure this won’t happen in forest lands,” he said.

The El NiΓ±o phenomenon which is an abnormal pattern that is caused by the warming of the Pacific area near the equator has been observed by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA). It is expected to last for several months until November this year. El NiΓ±o weather occurs when the normal trade winds weakens (or even reverse) which allows the warm water usually found in the Western Pacific to flow instead towards the east. This warm water displaces the cooler water that’s normally found near the surface of the eastern Pacific region, setting off atmospheric changes that affect weather patterns in many parts of the world.

Tamayo also instructed the PENR and CENR officers to increase their monitoring activities in NGP sites in their respective area of jurisdiction so that the members of the different private organizations that have stake on NGP are properly guided and aware of the abnormal weather pattern. “They should check and ensure availability of sufficient water supply in communities,” he said.


Tamayo said that priority must be given to strict monitoring of protected areas which are considered habitat for endangered species of plants and animals for potential outbreak of forest fires. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)