(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.


Monday, June 22, 2015

DOST-ICT to hold Multi-Stakeholders ICT Forum

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) - The Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be holding the Multi-Stakeholders ICT Forum on June 26, 2015 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City.

According to DOST-ICTO cluster director Eva May C. Dela Rosa, the said affair will be graced by Assistant Secretary Beatrice “Bettina” Quimson and other officers from the Field Operations Office.

The DOST-ICTO will roll-out its projects such as the TECH4ED Program, TV White Space (for the last mile connectivity for areas with no internet signal), and the Free Public WiFi.

“With this activity, we aimed to formulate plans and programs on how we could cascade these projects effectively to our constituents especially in the barangay level,” bared Dela Rosa.

For more information, the ICT Agusan del Norte provincial office can be reached at telephone number (085) 225-9264. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


AgNor guv bares 2014 accomplishments

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba bared significant accomplishments of her administration during her second State of the Province Address (SOPA) held last June 17 at the Provincial Covered Court, this city.

Governor Matba reported that in 2014, a total of 358 hectares were distributed to 252 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the province and a total of 6,419 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries were trained in various livelihood and income generating activities.

It was also learned that to ensure food sustainability, the province had established a buffer stocks for rice by importing 13,968 bags in 2014.

The province additionally bagged the Gawad Saka Award in 2014 for its outstanding performance that manifests successful outcome of the programs and services of the government in sustaining food security and nation building.

Last year, Agusan del Norte spearheaded and supervised the implementation of 36 different infra projects worth P238 million. A project worth P43 million was constructed along the Agusan-Bukidnon road beginning at Calayagon, Buenavista and stretching 2.86 kms towards Guinabsan section of the Buenavista-Bunaguit Road.

She also relayed that the province continued to energize the farthest communities and have connected an additional 381 households in 22 barangays.

Moreover, the lady governor said that a total of 7,500 copies of AgNor Bulletin, the official newsletter of the province, were distributed weekly to empower the constituency.

 "The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) also contributed largely to our information drive. Likewise, the PAGASA ably provided the province with up to date information of weather observations," added Matba.

In terms of local legislation, a total of 29 ordinances were enacted and 321 resolutions covering areas on governance, administration, social development, economic development and environmental management were passed.

Matba’s leadership had also targeted strategic action areas in ensuring that the thrusts of protecting and rehabilitating the environment are pursued. These include: Mangrove reforestation in Carmen, Cabadbaran & Buenavista; Provincewide riverbank stabilization; Province-wide reforestation; and construction of climate change resilient infra facilities.

The SOPA was attended by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, regional offices’ executives, local mayors, PNP officials, government employees and constituents. (JPG/DJA/NCLM/PIACaraga)


DFA inaugurates Butuan consular office

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Passport application and renewal and other services of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will now be more accessible and comfortable at the agency’s new home.

The DFA-Butuan Regional Consular Office formally inaugurated on Sunday its new office at Robinsons Place, this city.

"We are proud to say that we will be serving more people in a convenient way. It is hoped that this public-private partnership relationship will continue to prosper in the years to come for a more developed region and country as a whole," said DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Rafael Seguis.

The DFA Butuan is the 13th Regional Consular Office to transfer to the mall under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program of the government and will provide world class consular services to the city and the five provinces of the region—Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

"This is a fulfillment of our dreams to bring in one roof the satellite offices of key agencies. We are truly glad that this has been a step to achieve our common goal which to excellently serve our Filipino people," said Robinsons Land Corporation operations director for Luzon Irving Wu.

The establishment of the Regional Consular Office in the city was in response to the clamor of the people of Caraga region to provide passport services saving them travel expenses and the burdensome trip to Cagayan de Oro or Davao City. Applicants from the region need not travel anymore for more than 300 kilometers to these cities to apply for passport since they can now apply in Butuan, which is the center of commerce in the region.

Ceremonial ribbon cutting immediately followed after the short program. It was led by DFA and LGU officials and was witnessed by the regional offices’ directors, business sector, academe and media partners. (JPG/DJA/VLG/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Agnor inks MOA with PCIC

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – With the aim to ensure the development of the agriculture sector of the lone city and municipalities of the province of Agusan del Norte, the province represented by its governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) on June 16 here.

The coverage of the MOA includes the insurance of the agri-fishery projects and programs of the province.

Governor Matba believes that there is a need to insure all the agri-fishery projects and programs of the province. “In order to protect the farmers and fishermen from the harmful effects of climate change and other natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, drought, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as well as plant diseases and pest infestations, thus this agreement was crafted,” governor Matba said.

“The province of Agusan del Norte will shoulder the 100 percent of the total premium cost of selected marginalized farmers and fisher folks subject to the eligibility requirements,” governor Matba added.

The agreement was signed by governor Matba, PCIC board of director chairman Dioscoro A. Granada, and being witnessed by Agusan del Norte and PCIC heads.

During the signing of agreement, Atty. Rosa M. Gatinao, regional manager of PCIC region 10 turned-over a cheque amounting to P12,108,432 to governor Matba. The amount covers insurance claims of the 889 farmers/livestock farmers covering a total of 1,485.14 hectares of the province.

PCIC is a government-owned and controlled corporation, existing under and virtue of Presidential Decree (PD) 1467, as amended by Republic Act 8175 to provide insurance cover to rice, corn, high value commercial crops, livestock, fisheries, non-crop agricultural assets and the lives and limbs of the farmers and fisher folks.

PCIC is also mandated to provide and has been providing insurance protection to all agricultural and fishery programs of the government including its farmers and fishermen for loss and damages due to plant pest, diseases and pest infestations and the impact of weather and climate change. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Malaysia invites Surigao Norte to global cruise tourism conference 2015

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 (PIA) - With the theme, “Stretching the Boundaries of Cruise Tourism,” the provincial government of Surigao del Norte was invited to attend the 2nd Edition of Global Cruise Tourism Conference and Exhibition (GCTCE 2015) which will take center-stage in Malaysia from August 7 to 10, this year.

As a result of the market encounter in the World Travel Mart in London, England last November 2014, Provincial Tourism in-charge Arturo Cruje said that the province is among the list of potential cruise tourism destinations in the country.

Early this year, a cruise ship with a capacity of almost 300 passengers visited Siargao, more particularly the Bucas Grande Islands and the municipality of General Luna which is home to World Surfing Cup, International Beach Volleyball and International Women’s Surfing Competition.

This is in line with the thrust of Governor Sol Matugas to explore new market niche for the local tourism industry. The governor, according to Cruje, stressed the potentials of the river and mangrove systems for cruise tourism which is an ecosystem activity.

Cruje added that the World Tourism Organization (WTO) reported that the cruise tourism is a fast growing market niche in the global travel industry.

Cruising is gaining momentum in terms of holiday vacation choices, and more cruise liners are taking precedence in ASEAN terminals to put up with this niche sector, he said. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Mindanawon tops ADB project management training in Malaysia

DAVAO CITY, June 22 (PIA) - A Philippine representative was cited for excellent performance in the “Regional Training on Project Management” for BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT held recently at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia.

Gemma Dagaas, development management officer IV of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), received special recognition for ‘Best Project Proposal’ along with her five team members who presented during the training conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Advancing Regional Cooperation and Integration through the BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT.

BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, while IMT-GT stands for Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Area. The two sub-regional groupings were formed with the goals of promoting trade, investment, and tourism in less-developed states and provinces.

Dagaas and her team members from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia presented the project proposal entitled “BIMP-EAGA E-Commerce Business Project,” aimed to create a conducive business environment that attracts and promotes trade, investment, and entrepreneurship. The proposal also highlights the crucial role of online businesses in promoting cross-cutting projects that will improve the quality of life and narrow digital divide among entrepreneurs in the economic sub-grouping.

Intended to enhance capabilities of key secretariat personnel of the sub-regional groupings, the training was undertaken by ADB in partnership with the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (FC) and the Center for IMT-GT Sub-regional Cooperation (CIMT).

Two dozen trainees from five participating countries were grouped into multi-country learning teams to facilitate participatory learning and encourage cross-cultural exchange.  It was an exercise of convergence between the southeast ASEAN nations as they flex their muscles in anticipation of the wider regional economic integration in Southeast Asia.

“It is a microcosm of what the subregions are working to achieve—regional cooperation to participate and benefit from the larger ASEAN Economic Community,” said Dagaas of the training.

As the Philippine Coordinating Office for the BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE) covering Mindanao and Palawan, MinDA sent Dagaas as its trainee.  She was joined by Marilou Laguting, chief of staff and supervising trade and industry development specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry Region XI.

The training was participated in by officials and members of sub-regions’ cluster and working groups, staff of BIMP-EAGA FC and CIMT, and representatives from education or training institutions expected to organize national training programs.

As development partner and adviser to the sub-regions since 1996, ADB supports ASEAN activities and provides technical assistance to help sub-regions align their priorities with the ASEAN agenda.

“This training sharpens our competencies in design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of projects, enabling us to come up with efficiently designed and implemented projects critical in ASEAN community building,” said Dagaas.

These skills will enable the BIMP-EAGA and IMT GT secretariats to translate sub-regional strategies, roadmaps, and plans into concrete and realistic projects that will enable it to benefit from the wider regional integration.

The convergence also established a network of project management professionals in the sub-regions and equipped the secretariat to facilitate the development of good project proposals for resource mobilization and help stakeholders in project management. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Palasyo pinapayapa ang takot ng publiko sa impeksyon na dala ng MERS-CoV

Ni David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Hunyo 22 (PIA) - Nagbigay ng kasegurohan ang Palasyo noong Sabado na mayroong sapat na mga hakbang para tugunan ang banta na dala ng MERS coronavirus lalo na pagkatapos ng isang kaso na naiulat sa Thailand, isang kalapit nating bansa.

“Sa bahagi naman po ng ating pamahalaan, ganap ang ating kahandaan na labanan ang banta ng MERS coronavirus,” sabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr  sa isang panayam sa dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Sinabi ni Coloma na ang pamahalaan ay nagsimula ng masigasig na kampanya sa Middle East, kung saan nagsimula ang MERS-CoV at pinagpaliwanagan ang mga Pilipino doon na ang trabaho ay kaugnay sa pangkalusugan kaugnay ng protocol sa pagkontrol ng impeksyon para maiwasan ang mahawaan ng MERS-CoV.

“Dito naman po sa atin ay mahigpit na ipinatutupad ang mga quarantine procedure,” sabi niya.

“Dapat po pagdating sa airport ay nagdedeklara hinggil dito para mapadali ang tinatawag na contact tracing,” dagdag pa ni Coloma.

Ang mga otoridad ng pangkalusugan ay nagsasagawa rin ng thermal na pagsusuri sa mga paliparan para tiktikan ang mga pasahero na mula sa ibang bansa na maaring magdala ng naturang sakit, sabi niya.

“Wala pong dapat ipangamba ang ating mga mamamayan dahil puspusan po ang pag-iingat at pagsisikap ng Department of Health na labanan at pigilin ang pagdating ng MERS coronavirus sa ating bansa,” sabi ni Coloma.

Sinabi ng opisyal ng Palasyo na kahit mayroong mga ulat ng impeksyon sa Thailand at South Korea, ang pamahalaan ay hindi nagpalabas ng payo ng paglalakbay sa mga bansang iyon.

Bago ang mga ulat ng impeksyon sa Thailand. Pumatay ang MERS-CoV ng maraming tao sa South Korea, lalo na ang mga matatanda. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)