(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of 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.


Friday, June 26, 2015



Phil. Red Cross Butuan City-AgNor Chapter reports May 2015 accomplishments

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 26 (PIA) - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter convened its board of directors and representatives from government agencies for a meeting held on Thursday at Balanghai Hotel, this city. The different committees reported its accomplishments for the month of May 2015.

The committee on Disaster Management Services bared that for the month of May 2015, the local chapter was able to undertake the following activities: 1) attended the Search for GAWAD Kalasag 2015 evaluation in different municipalities in Agusan del Norte; 2) conducted one class on Basic Disaster Management Training Course with 25 graduates from Agusan National High School (ANHS) Elite Senior Red Cross Youth (SRYC) and Safety Services Volunteers; and 3) continued monitoring with regards to the weather condition affecting the province and different barangays are receiving updates from Red Cross.

The Blood Services Committee revealed that in the same month, the local chapter has collected a total of 549 units of blood including those acquired from bloodletting activities.

It was also learned from the Health Services Committee that for the month of May 2015, the local chapter has oriented 86 participants from the Red Cross 143 Program.

The local chapter was also able to undertake the following activities for the Red Cross Youth Services/Volunteer Services: 1) sent five participants for the Youth Instructors Training Course held at Iligan City Red Cross Chapter and all five participants graduated from the training and are now certified Red Cross Youth Instructors; 2) celebrated the 153rd World Red Cross Day in Butuan City; and 3) oriented 86 participants for the Red Cross 143 coming from Life Bank Foundation members and all are now new members for Red Cross 143.

Meanwhile, among its upcoming activities for this year include the holding of the 14th Chapter-wide Red Cross Youth Camp on October 2-4, 2015 at the Caraga State University (CSU) Cabadbaran City Campus. Accordingly, the number of registrants for the said activity is increasing.

Also, a Million Volunteer Run 3 in the city on December 13, 2015, 6:00 a.m. Registration fee is P400.00/participant and will receive singlet, wrist band and certificate. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Disciplined spending, maximized personnel utilization key to Naliyagan Festival's success says AgSur guv

By David M. Suyao

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur,  June 26 (PIA) – Governor Adolph Edward Plaza said disciplined spending of resources and maximized utilization of personnel were the key to the successful celebration of the Naliyagan Festival this year.

Unlike the previous celebrations, this year’s preparation of the Naliyagan Festival was done purely by the provincial chiefs of offices as ordered by Gov. Plaza as they (chiefs of offices) organized themselves into different working committees depending upon their line of functions in discharging their duties and responsibilities as employees of the provincial capitol.

“Like for example in the preparation of the Naliyagan Trade, Service and Entertainment Center, the Naliyagan Stakeholders Association, Inc. (NSAI) has assigned Dr. Rodel Maglungsod of the Provincial Economic Enterprise and Development Office (PEEDO) with Engr. Cynthia Lumanda of the Provincial Planning and Development Office. The Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) Local Governance Best Practices was shouldered by the Provincial Chiefs of Offices Club (PCOC) provincial level, the 'Aduw tu mgu Tribung Agusanon' a reportoire of native song and dances by Dr. Evelyn Nada of the Philippine Normal University and many other committees,” Gov. Plaza said.

Aside from assigning the chiefs of offices to different committees, Gov. Plaza said they were also made in-charge of the day to day activities.

“For around five years now of celebrating the Naliyagan Festival, we did not invite any dignitaries and political leaders from the national level because of financial constraints. The Commission on Audit (COA) is very tight on the COA rules and regulations but thanks to COA because we have spent less," Gov. Plaza said.

"For the working committees, we did not hire expert organizers but instead, I ask the NSAI to maximize the utilization of personnel depending upon their skills and talents and there they are, working to the best of their ability and skills, resulting to a successful Naliyagan Festival celebration,” he added. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


19th Kaliguan Festival kicks off in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 26 (PIA) – The 19th Kaliguan Festival being held at Cagwait White Beach in Cagwait town, 34.5 kilometers south, this city, has already kicked off on June 24 with the usual grand opening ceremonies.

Set for four days until June 27 in honor of St. John the Baptist, more activities are yet to unfold including various competitions like sand art, tug-of war, pinoy games, and Perlas ng Kaliguan 2015 beauty pageant.

Also, several rock bands are lined up to entertain tourists, guests and locals on a nightly basis dubbed as “Rocklakan” until the wee hours of the morning, based on the program schedule.

Rocklakan is coined word for rock music and “laklak,” a pinoy term for drinking spree, since one of the beer giants in the country acts as one of the festival’s sponsors.

With the theme “One Beach, One Dance, One GREAT Cagwait,” this tourism hub at the central part of the province has continued to surprise and attract many due to its fine white sand aside from amiable inhabitants headed by Mayor Lilian Lozada.

It will culminate with “Sayaw sa Kaliguan” on June 27, featuring more “dancing activities.”

Kaliguan Festival has started way back in June 1996. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


AgNor solon prohibits allowances to COA personnel

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, June 26 (PIA) - Cong. Erlpe John M. Amante of the second district of Agusan del Norte wants to prohibit government entities to allocate funds for the additional compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments to the officials and personnel of the Commission on Audit (COA) stationed in or assigned in different government agencies.

This move is embodied in House Bill No. 5352 passed recently in the House of Representatives.

Under the said bill, it shall be unlawful and illegal for the officials and personnel of the COA, especially those who are stationed in or assigned in the government entities including government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions or local government units to receive all forms of additional compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments for their services rendered in performing their official functions, except those compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments directly paid by the COA out of its annual budget and appropriations.

It is also unlawful and illegal for any government entities including government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions or local government units to allocate funds from their respective funds from their respective office budget and appropriations, for the additional compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments for the services rendered by the resident COA Auditors and their personnel in performing their official functions.

The bill also provided that any official or personnel of the COA found to be violating the said act shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment of six months and one day to 12 years, perpetual disqualification from public office and shall refund all those previously received additional compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments.

Further, any officer of the government entities including government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions or local government units who caused the release of any additional compensation, allowances, honoraria, bonuses and other emoluments to the officials and personnel of the COA shall, upon conviction, be punished with imprisonment of six months and one day to 12 years and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Cong. Amante said that through this measure, “we can truly preserve the independence, morality and integrity of the Commission on Audit and the people are assured that there are concrete safeguards in the government spending of public funds.” (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


AgNor guv inks MOA with PCIC for agri-fishery insurance protection

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, June 26 (PIA) – Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell “Angel” M. Amante-Matba recently signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for the implementation of the Comprehensive Insurance Protection for agri-fishery projects and programs of the province of Agusan del Norte.

Present during the MOA at the Provincial Governor’s Office Conference Room were representatives of the PCIC led by Antonio S. Uy, Vice President of the Corporate Business Affairs Group of PCIC, Director Dioscoro A. Granada, PCIC Chair of the Board of Directors and Atty. Rosa M. Gatinao, Regional Manager of PCIC -10 who also gave their respective messages.

"The province is committed to help and protect our farmers, and I've considered this MOA signing as the start of our long-term partnership in helping our farmers cope with the losses incurred during calamities," Gov. Matba said.

The provincial government allocated P500,000.00 to be taken from the five percent Local Risk Reduction Management Fund (LRRMF) and said amount shall be divided into four, P125,000.00 each for corn, rice, livestock and fishery products.

For this year, the pilot municipalities that can avail of the agricultural insurance protection are the municipalities identified as flood-prone areas, namely: Las Nieves, RTR, Magallanes, Jabonga and Buenavista, and the following year, municipalities of Carmen, Nasipit, Tubay, Santiago, Kitcharao and city of Cabadbaran can avail of the same.

Uy urged the provinical officials to support the farmers from the effects of natural calamities by helping them insure their crops.

Atty. Gatinao also said that their agency can extend support to farmers through the agricultural insurance protection program of the agency. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DAR Surigao Norte gives P1.8M service facilities to agrarian orgs

By Daryll M. Tumbaga & Merlita D. Aranas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 26 (PIA) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Surigao del Norte turned-over recently common service facilities (CSFs) to its five assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in line with the 27th anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform (CARP) Program.

The said CSFs turn-over is through the agency's Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCESS) program.

The CSFs have a combined total amount of Php1,851,102.28.

The five assisted ARBOs were the Himamaug Agra Credit Organization that received three units of rice thresher and one unit of power tiller cultivator; Tubod Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative received two units of rice thresher; Esperanza Farmers Credit Cooperative received two units of reaper; Budlingin Rural Workers Association received one unit of power tiller cultivator; all of the province of Surigao del Norte, and the Luna Agra Manufacturing Producers Cooperative of the province of Dinagat Islands that received one unit of rice thresher. (SDR/DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


RPOC 13 en route to Caraga roadmap for peace completion

By Archie Rose G. Vasquez

BUTUAN CITY, June 26 (PIA) - The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in partnership with GIZ-Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management (COSERAM) facilitated the finalization of the Caraga Roadmap for Peace last June 19, 2015 at Samping Avenue, this city.  The activity was graced by the selected members of the RPOC, Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Secretariat and Focal Persons, partners National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), as well as private sector representatives.

The activity aims to present the enhanced inputs of the Caraga Roadmap for Peace results matrix and operational plan, generate final comments on the enhanced inputs, and finalize the consolidated operational plan per Peace Building Development Needs (PBDNs).

The Caraga Roadmap for Peace will clearly define the direction for RPOC towards peace and order in the region. The strategic plan which is also known as the “roadmap for peace” will provide a blueprint of RPOC activities that will ensure attainment of the RPOC goals and objectives. Basically, the roadmap for peace intends to address the four common factors (conflict lines) that affect the peace situation in the region: criminality, insurgency, indigenous people and resource-based issues.

The exchange of comments and views with other institutions provided an avenue for the identification of strategic and comprehensive plan which did not only encourage active participation and partnership towards the attainment of RPOC goals but also build up capacity development among the working group. It also strengthens the commitment of the participating agencies and organizations as key players in the delivery of relevant roles geared towards the successful implementation of the Roadmap for peace.

The final consolidated operational plan of the Caraga Roadmap for Peace generated from this activity will be presented to the council chaired by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. on July for adoption. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)