(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.


Thursday, July 9, 2015

MCI donates computer equipment for AFEBS Network

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Melekon Contractors Incorporated (MCI), whose major project is the construction of the 25MW Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant situated in the municipality of Jabonga in Agusan del Norte, extended support to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga for the purchase of one unit desktop computer for the Advanced Froward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS), a broadcast communication specially designed for emergency response.

MCI president Teodoro Reyes, represented by security consultant Retired Col Ephraim Oropel personally turned-over the donation to PIA thru regional director Abner Caga.

The turned-over was also witnessed by PIA-Caraga deputy regional director Fryan Abkilan and Eliezer Imus, a private individual.

“This is just an initial assistance, we hope that this will be of great help to the agency in its information dissemination especially during emergency response. We believe in your capacity as the information arm of the government here in Caraga region. This is just an initial of our assistance to the agency and there is more to come,” articulated Oropel.

Dir. Caga also expressed his thanks and gratitude to MCI for its support and willingness to help the agency in putting substance to its thrusts and mandate. “Big thanks to our partners from MCI. This is a good start of our good and strengthened partnership,” he said.

MCI is a 100 percent Filipino owned construction company whose capabilities include power generation, underground construction, mining, dredging, reclamation, and other civil engineering works.

With its founders having more than 20 years of experience, Melekon demonstrates extensive knowledge and expertise in project development, project management, turnkey delivery and operations and maintenance. Recognizing the trend in potential projects in the Philippines, Melekon anticipates a demand in firms with capabilities in underground construction and tunneling works. With a team of industry leaders coupled with a fleet of state-of-the-art underground heavy equipment, Melekon is geared to be at the forefront of this highly specialized field of construction. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DTI-Caraga promotes ‘Go Negosyo’ Program

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – In time with this year’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) week celebration from July 6-13, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga promotes its ‘Go Negosyo’ Program to the public especially those who are interested to put up business.

“The Go Negosyo is established pursuant to Republic Act No. 10644 otherwise known as 'Go Negosyo Act,' which seeks to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises to create more job opportunities in the country. It was signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III on July 15, 2014. The DTI has issued Department Administrative Order No. 14-5 series 2014: Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act NO. 10644,” disclosed DTI-Agusan del Norte OIC provincial director Gay Tidalgo.

Tidalgo relayed that the MSME Development (MSMED) Council shall encourage public-private partnerships in the establishment and management of Negosyo Centers. Coordination and collaboration with local government units and other agencies and organizations are imperative to avoid duplication and to foster coordinated action.

Also, when asked if an existing MSME Center or Business Assistance Center can operate as a Negosyo Center, Tidalgo clarified that “Yes, existing Centers may continue to operate as Negosyo Centers subject to the provisions of the ‘Go Negosyo Act’ and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.”

As to who will supervise and man the centers, Tidalgo bared that the MSMED Council, thru the DTI is the coordinating and supervising body for all agencies involved in the establishment and operation of Negosyo Centers. It shall perform oversight functions and shall assign personnel to fulfill the functions of the Negosyo Centers.

“The Negosyo Centers will be responsible for promoting ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction. The Centers shall have the following functions: Business Registration Assistance; Business Advisory Services; Business Information and Advocacy; and Monitoring and Evaluation,” added Tidalgo.

It was also learned that any person, natural or juridical, having the qualifications as defined in Section 3 a) of the Republic Act No. 9178 may avail of the service. It refers to any business entity or enterprise engaged in the production, processing or manufacturing of products or commodities, including agro-processing, trading and services, whose total assets including those arising from loans but exclusive of the land on which the particular business entity’s office, plant and equipment are situated, shall not be more than P3,000,000.00. The above definition shall be subject to review and upward adjustment by the SMED Council, as mandated under Republic Act No. 6977, as amended by Republic Act No. 8289. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DOH Caraga to conduct National Deworming Day

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga will conduct the National School Deworming Day (NSDD) to all public schools region-wide this July 29.

According to Faith Opada of DOH-Caraga, the region targets to deworm around 465,234 school-aged children.

Butuan Central Elem. School will serve as the regional venue for the grand launching to be attended by the key officials from the DOH – central office, Department of Education (DepEd) central office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government units as well as other stakeholders. But there will be mini launching in different divisions in Caraga, it was learned.

Aside from deworming activity, other activities to be conducted during the event include feeding program and toothbrushing.

“The DOH in partnership with the DepEd and DILG seeks to increase and scale-up the mass drug administration (MDA) coverage for school-aged children, to facilitate and ensure timely reporting of deworming intervention and to promote partnership in all levels in the implementation of the program,” said regional health information officer Cheryl Mary Plaza.

“DOH staff health workers from all health centers and hospital of the Local Government Units nationwide are also requested to provide assistance in deworming children in their jurisdiction. This program shall also be replicated yearly,” Plaza added.

Dr. Ernesto Pareja of DOH Caraga also bared that the DOH will conduct the NSDD Round 2 on January 2016 throughout the country.

NSDD is a nationwide effort targeting 5 to 12 years old (Kindergarten to Grade VI) children enrolled in public schools. It shall be done simultaneously in all public schools from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. nationwide. (DJA/PIA- Caraga)


Stakeholders affirm commitment to NSDD

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – Representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), city and provincial health offices affirmed their commitment to support the National School Deworming Day (NSDD) of the Department of Health (DOH) on July 29 here.

NSDD shall be implemented through the collaboration of the different units in all levels, it was learned. These units shall include representation from health and education sectors, other government agencies, and local government units.

The different DepEd divisions and district offices committed that they will help by coordinating with the local government units in all phases of NSDD implementations, consolidate reports and submit to the DepEd regional office and supervise the conduct of NSDD.

They will also orient and coordinate with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and administer the deworming drug supervised by a health worker.

Meantime, the DILG will coordinate with the local partners and potential donors, disseminate materials for NSDD implementation and support the DepEd divisions and district offices. The agency had also issued Memorandum Circular No. 2015-66 urging provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and barangay captains to support the NSDD.

While the provincial and city health offices will coordinate with the local partners, monitor the delivery of drugs and supplies and support to the DepEd divisions and district offices on the implementation of NSDD.

The deworming acticity is also part of the “Oplan Goodbye Bulate para maging malusog at masigla ang inyong mga anak,” project of DOH, DILG and DepEd. (DJA/PIA-Caraga)


DA-MRDP turns-over Caraga's first rubber processing facility

By Aurelius P. Arais

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, July 9 (PIA) – Undoubtedly the province of Agusan del Sur is the rubber capital in Caraga Region but who knows it might become the rubber capital in Mindanao in the near future.

It’s a vision that was realized with the concerted effort of various government agencies.

Last July 7, 2015, a P26.5 million worth of Crumb Rubber Processing Facility was inaugurated and turned-over to the Farmers Alternative Self-Reliance Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FARSMCO) in Brgy. San Vicente, this municipality.

The said multi-million project was funded by the Department of Agriculture - Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) with counterpart from the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and local government unit of Prosperidad as well as from coop recipient.

Gracing the occasion were DA Caraga regional director Edna Mabeza; community development specialist Samson Mate of MRDP Program Support Office, governor Adolph Edward Plaza, 1st district representative Valentina Plaza, mayor Albin Magdamit and other local officials as well as residents in the area.

Mabeza said that the establishment of the said facility is a manifestation that DA is now embarking on total support to farmers to uplift their economic conditions.

“Ang panglangtaw karon sa Department of Agriculture wala na ta nag-concetrate sa production, naglantaw na ta from production to processing unya marketing (The vision now of the Department of Agriculture is not merely on production, but from production to processing then marketing)," she said.

She also appealed to the recipient to utilize the facility to come up with quality crumb rubber to make it competitive to other parts of Mindanao producing the same.

Meanwhile, Governor Plaza said that the rubber processing facility is a big boost to its flagship program called Upland Sustainable Agro-forestry Development (USAD) in which planting of rubber is one of the priorities.

“We had established our own bud wood garden to have quality planting materials for our rubber planters in the province to accelerate our program,” he said.

Arnaldo Silverio, FARSMCO chairman said that the facility is a big help for their cooperative and vowed to take care the facility entrusted to them.

“Katumanan gyud ni sa among mga damgo, dako gyud ni ug ikatabang sa among panginabuhian (It’s a dream come true, it is a great help for our livelihood)," he said.

It was learned that the Rubber Processing Facility has a daily capacity of 10 metric tons to produce crumb rubber.

With the said project, no need for rubber planters around the vicinity and neighboring municipalities to bring their produce called cup lump to other regions thereby cutting additional expenses.

They may opt to sell their produce to FARSMCO or just bring it to the facility to be processed into crumb with minimal fee only.

Crumb rubber commands higher buying price of more than two fold for additional income of the rubber planters.

Also, crumb rubber is ready for processing into products such as boots, tires and other rubber related materials. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


74 schoolchildren receive packbags, health kits during education caravan

By Mary Jule E. Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 9 (PIA) - A total of 74 kindergarten pupils from Roberta Quano Memorial Elementary School, Melquiades Cagasan Memorial Elementary School and Canlanipa Elementary School received packbags during the HEALS Plus Victory Forum on July 7, 2015, this city.

The education caravan is a series of schools activities under the HEALS (Health, Education, Agriculture and Aquaculture, Livelihood and Tourism, and Spiritual Enhancement) Plus agenda of the province.

Governor Sol Matugas led the conduct of the education caravan together with some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Team Capitol and department heads.

During the said activity, gov. Matugas also distributed tents to the said schools.

She also turned over financial assistance worth P100,000 to the district office of Canlanipa Elementary School in Brgy. Canlanipa. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


SurSur BIR remains unrelenting to hit 2015 tax goal

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 9 (PIA) – The Revenue District Office (RDO) 106 of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Surigao del Sur has reiterated its resolve “to give their all” just to hit the 2015 tax goal.

Citing the collection target of P745,763,000, Monib Dimakuta, revenue district officer, said his office remains optimistic in spite of the snags met as can be gleaned from the actual collection for the period January-May 2015 plus the partial report on tax collection last June.

The BIR chief bared that for the first five months, this year, a collection of P331,632,462.80 has been posted plus the partial collection of P58,123,263.45 for the month of June or a total of P389,755,726.25 as against the target of P440,209,000, incurring a deficit of P50,453,273.75 or equivalent to 11.46 percent.

On the contrary, Dimakuta pointed out that their performance is not at all so dismal since the end result as compared to the same period of last year posted an increase of 16.95 percent, citing a collection of P333,275,007.36 or an equivalent increase of P56,480,718.89.

In the meantime, he vowed to go after business taxpayers who have failed to settle their obligation to the government. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Regional gawad saka awardee readies for national evaluation

By Japhet C. Sugian

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 9 (PIA) - “I am prepared, and I am ready for any assessment,” this was the statement of Joel Callano, a Regional Gawad Saka awardee for Small Animal Raiser category from Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.

The national evaluation is set on July 20-21, 2015.

During the initial validation at Callano Farm in Barangay Matin-ao, Tagbina, Callano said that he had already applied the appropriate technologies in improving the quality of his farm focusing on small ruminants in close coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist livestock division, Agricultural Training Institute-13, and Department of Agriculture-Caraga.

Last year, Callano was named as the Regional Gawad Saka awardee because of what he had accomplished in his own farm. “As a seafarer turned into a successful farmer, it is never too late,” said Callano.

The local government unit of Tagbina through the Municipal Agriculture Office has committed to support Callano in his endeavor. They have been conducting local assessment on Callano’s farm from time to time to ensure that nothing will be left behind in terms of technology-packaged. (NGBT/OPAG SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


PopCom Caraga to hold forum on population, disaster

BUTUAN CITY, July 9 (PIA) – The Commission on Population (PopCom) - Caraga will hold forum on Friday, July 10, in celebration of the 28th World Population Day with the theme, “Dignity and Protection of Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.”

Women, adolescents, people in the marginalized sector, differently abled persons – are among the groups in the community that are considered susceptible in any displacement made by crises.

PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander A. Makinano underlined the significance of this occasion for it will also focus on the urgency and importance of population trends and related issues as the major concerns that the government should give more attention.

“PopCom urges everyone to protect and help maintain the dignity of these vulnerable individuals by securing their safety and giving them access to sexual and reproductive health care,” Makinano accentuated.

Various representatives from the academe, media, private sectors, non-governmental and government organizations and civil society organizations will be joining the said activity to express full support in safeguarding the rights of the vulnerable ones. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Syudad sa Butuan miturn-over sa mga bag-ong school buildings

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hulyo 9 (PIA) - Dakong kalipay sa mga estudyante, mga magtutudlo, mga opisyales sa barangay, ingon man mga residente sa gipahigayon nga turn-over ceremony sa ilang bag-ong school building ngadto sa Ampayon National High School sa Barangay Ampayon og Alviola Integrated Secondary School sa Barangay Baan niadtong Hulyo 3, 2015 ning dakbayan.

Ang maong mga turn over ceremony gi-boligan sa presensya sa mga dagkong opisyales ning dakbayan nga gipanguluhan ni City Vice Mayor Angelo “Angie” Calo isip representante ni Mayor Ferdinand Amante, City Councilor Ramon Carampatana - Committee on Education, ABC President Nestor Amora, City Councilor Ferdinand Nalcot - Committee on Social Services, mga opisyales sa DepEd nga gipanguluhan ni Supt. Arsenio T. Cornites Jr., Ampayon NHS School head Jocelyn C. Minerva, Punong Brgy. Dennis Felix Gonzaga sa Brgy. Ampayon, Alviola Integrated Secondary School head Anacleta Acain,  district-in-charge Esterlina Bonsay, Punong Brgy. Gemma Tabada sa Brgy. Baan ug ingon man mga opisyales sa GPTA sa duha ka tulunghaan.

Sa iyang mensahe, mipasidungog sa pagdayeg kang Mayor Jun Amante ug City Councilor Carampatana si Vice Mayor “Angie” Calo sa mga proyekto niini nga “Cost efficient.”

“This is my first time in my 24 years in service that the LSB (Local School Board) is founding a school building as a priority. We have achieved the best out of meager resources ug de kalidad pa ang mga materyales,” matud pa ni Calo.

Mipasambit usab ang bise mayor sa maayong balita nga ilang nadawat sa kauluhan nga kompletuhon ang kakulangon sa “school buidlings” ug mga “magtutudlo” kutob 2016 kung diin ang pundo magsumikad gikan sa national budget. “E follow up kini o dili, muabot gayod. 2016 will be another productive year for Butuan City. Ug padayon ang maayong relasyon nato sa DepEd,” dugang pamahayag ni sa bise mayor. (R.Sencil/VMO-PRO)


Cebuano News: Nagkadaiyang mga binhi ug school supplies giapod-apod

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hulyo 9 (PIA) - Mapasalamaton ang nagkada-iyang barangay ug elementary school recipients ning dakbayan nga nidawat sa gipanghatag og giapod-apod nga nagkadaiyang binhi sa gulay sama sa batong, pechay, upland kangkong og okra, og ingon man mga school supplies nga gitunol ni City Vice Mayor Angelo “Angie” Calo ubos sa iyang programa nga Green Butuan Mission.

Ang Green Butuan Mission maoy usa ka behikolo nga nagadala og impormasyon, edukasyon, og mga serbisyo para sa malahutayon nga ekonomikanhong kalambuan, maayong pag-amoma sa atong kinaiyahan, ug sa dekalidad nga kinabuhi subay ug sibo sa pagkab-ot sa panglantaw o Butuan Vision 2020.

Mismo si punong barangay Ceasar Berdera uban sa iyang konseho ang nidawat niini atol sa ilang ika 45th nga “Araw ng Obrero.” Mibati usab ug dakong kalipay ang mga magtutudlo ug estudyante sa mga gipanghatag nga mga binhi ug school supplies sa La Soledad Elementary School, Dulag Elementary School, Brgy. Maibo Elementary School, Brgy. Bugsukan Elementary School, (Old) San Mateo Elementary School, Sitio Calaitan Elementary School, Manila de Bugabus Elementary School ug FT Magno Elementary School, ug padayon gihapon ang pag apod-apod sa uban pang mga barangay sa kasamtangan.

Ang mga binhi sa nagkada-iyang gulay nga naka pakete (packs) maoy suporta sa "Gulayan sa Paaralan” project sa DepEd ngadto sa mga school recipients, ug sa "communal garden" sa mga nagkadaiyang barangay recipients sama sa mga miyembro sa 4Ps, farmer associations, purok organizations ug uban pa.

Ang gipanghatag nga mga school supplies nikabat na ngadto sa 1,800 “school items,” maoy pag-abag sa mga estudyante sa elementary sa ilang panginahanglanon sa pag-eskwela. (R. Sencil/VMO-PRO)