(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 25 July 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 135 km West Southwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro (13.1°N, 120.0°E). Meanwhile, another LPA was estimated based on all available data at 880 km East of Eastern Visayas (11.1°N, 133.8°E). 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 cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Southwest Monsoon. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 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—‘: Light to Moderate winds coming from Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Tuesday, July 14, 2015

ASELCO determined to accomplish PNoy’s BLEP, SEP targets in AgSur

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, July 14 (PIA) - The Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ASELCO) is determined to energize sitios, puroks and barangays in the province of Agusan del Sur as it races with time before the conclusion of subsidized electrification programs of the Aquino Administration come 2016.

The coop aims to energize for this year alone a total of 173 sitios and puroks and seven barangays to benefit 6,744 households. The thought of accomplishing this target in a year is in itself overwhelming added with the geographic and transportation condition of reaching the areas, it is even more daunting.

“Can we do it?” ASELCO’s General Manager, Engr. Emmanuel B. Galarse posed a challenging question to the barangay officials, sitio leaders and contractors during the 2015 Batch 1 Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) and Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP) Coordination Meeting recently. “Yes, we can with all your help. Yes, we can with everybody working together. ASELCO can only do so much but your assistance is of the utmost importance,” he answered with utmost certainty.

ASELCO’s strong partnership with the local government of Agusan del Sur and good rapport with project Contractors and Suppliers made the coop stand out in the implementation of SEP and BLEP. Testaments to this are the Sunshine Electric Cooperative (EC) Awards given by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in 2013 for being the top implementer of SEP and BLEP. Recently, news reached the coop that NEA has ranked ASELCO as one of the top 5 implementers for calendar year 2014. Since 2011, ASELCO has already energized 563 sitios and puroks and enhanced electrical line connections in 43 barangays. ASELCO’s distribution lines now reach the remote mountain villages in the municipality of Sibagat and the flood-prone plains of Sabang Adgawan and Sabang Gibong in the Agusan Marsh.

Moreover, line construction for the 2015 SEP and BLEP beneficiaries is on-going. First batch beneficiaries are expected to be completed by the end of the month.

BLEP and SEP was launched by the Aquino Administration in its pursuit for inclusive national development in 2011 and 2012, respectively. These programs enable electric cooperatives like ASELCO to extend its distribution lines to previously unviable areas through the financial support from the government.

This year’s project is worth P 258,531,225.09 of government subsidy. (ASELCO/PIA-Caraga)


SurSur health officials bare consolidated report on mass poisoning; suspects face inquest proceeding

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 14 (PIA) – A consolidated report by health officials in Surigao del Sur bared a total of 1,198 individuals, mostly elementary pupils, high school and college students from public schools, who have been rushed to different hospitals and clinics, public and private, district-wide on Friday, last week, due to ingestion of durian, mango, and mangosteen candies.

According to Dr. Algerico Irizari, provincial health chief here during the press conference last Saturday afternoon,  the number of patients accounted for only represents those who sought medical treatment after manifesting symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain.

In Adela Serra-Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC), this city, the number of victims who came for medical attention reached up to 213, the most number of victims, among all medical facilities in the entire province.

Tomasito “Dongay” Pareja, assistant provincial administrator, who presided over the press conference on behalf of Governor Johnny Pimentel, described the incident as “chaotic.”

Since 10 a.m. on that unfortunate Friday, all roads leading to ASTMMC, the biggest hospital here, had been jam-packed with all types of vehicles, public and private, including that of the army and police, aside from ambulances.

Siren had been continuously wailing, attracting anybody’s attention that indeed there was an emergency situation going on.

Meanwhile, two separate inquest proceedings, respectively, conducted by Atty. Constantino Cravajales, assistant provincial prosecutor, against five suspects apprehended in Cagwait and Atty. Benjamin Uy, Tandag City Prosecutor’s Office, have been held Monday morning.

On the part of Constantino, who made the inquest proceeding against five suspect apprehended in Cagwait said charges of “Physical Injury in relation to RA 10611 otherwise known as Food Security Act of 2013;  RA 7394 or The Consumer Act of the Philippines, and;  Physical Injury in relation to 7610” are set to be filed at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here.

They were identified as Junnit Teriote y Martinez, John Dequilla y Oben, Joel Paja y Alferez, Richard Rivera, Jr. y Lawag, and Martinez Bocaycay y Sawit.

Atty. Uy confirmed that he also personally conducted the inquest proceeding against the two suspects nabbed in the city.

In Tandag, the suspects were identified by police as Genelyn Dorgas Pasa and Henryto Bitco Amoguis.

Moreover, the police force here under P/SSupt. Narciso Verdadero, provincial director, identified 13 suspects, but clarified only eight have been in police custody, five are still at large. However, as of latest development, the alleged suspect caught in Tagbina town, identified as Richard Briones y Artes, was freed after police interrogation due to lack of evidence according to SPO1 Nel Rillon, one of the investigators at the Police Provincial Office (PPO).

On related developments, results of the laboratory test for the “candy samples” confiscated will come out after five to seven days, authorities said. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tadag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


SurSur Parole and Probation Office to mark 39th anniversary celebration

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 14 (PIA) – The Parole and Probation Office here is set to celebrate their 39th Anniversary with special moments.

Weeklong activities are already lined up on July 18-24, according to Editha Lemosionero, chief probation and parole officer.

A Thanksgiving Mass at 6:00 a.m. at the City Cathedral will mark the opening of the event, it was learned.

With the theme “DOJ-PPA @ 39: Sustaining Its Dynamism Towards the Effective Interplay of Environmental and Societal Change,” the highlights for Sportsfest and Laro ng Lahi include basketball, volleyball, sack race, takyang, patintero, luksong tinik, and free haircut between 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the city gymnasium on July 22-23.

Meanwhile, Lemosionero said that their office has a total of 55 probationers and 56 parolees aside from five new pending applicants.

The celebration will culminate at the PPA Regional Office in Butuan City on July 23-24. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tadag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Shared service facilities boosting micro entrepreneurs in Surigao del Norte

By Rodrigo Matabaran

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 14 (PIA) – A total of nine facilities set up by the Department of Trade and Industry-Surigao del Norte Provincial Office (DTI-SDN) under the agency’s Shared Service Facilities (SSF) have been benefitting micro entrepreneurs under their proponent organizations across the province of Surigao del Norte since 2014.

“With such equipment and facility, these micro entrepreneurs are able to increase their income through improved production and increased production capacity,” said DTI provincial director Celestino Negapatan as he recounted that a team of SSF project evaluators have visited the province last June 2015 to look into the actual status of utilization of the processing equipment to its intended beneficiaries.

The projects worth over P5 million went to community-based organizations.

Among the community-based recipients are women organizations: the Kababayen-an sa Panatao Producers Cooperative on their Virgin Coconut Oil Production project (Barangay Panatao, Claver), Mayag Women’s Association on their Coco Sap Sweetener Processing project(Barangay Mayag, Sison) and Samahan ng mga Kababaihan with their Cassava Fritters Processing project (Barangay Cancohoy, Del Carmen).  The latter was the latest to receive their equipment which was delivered last June 17-19, 2015.

Two recipients are from the municipality of Malimono namely, the Tinago Eagles Fisherfolks and Farmers Association (TEFFA) on their Bamboo Slat Production project (Barangay Tinago, Malimono) and the Malimono Farmers Consumers Cooperative with their Coco Sap Sweetener Processing project (Barangay Cayawan, Malimono).

Four other farmer-groups also received equipment under the SSF program; Esperanza Farmers Credit and Consumers Organization with their CamoteMoledo Processing project (Esperanza, Del Carmen), Claver Coconut Famers Multi-Purpose Cooperative with their Geo-Net Production Project (Barangay Daywan, Claver), Trinidad Farmers Agra Multi-Purpose Cooperative for its Calamay Production project (Barangay Trinidad, Surigao City) and the Local Government of Alegria to support farmers beneficiaries on their Bamboo Slat Production. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga launches 1st municipal negosyo center

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, July 14 (PIA) - Described as “the most open and transparent” Negosyo Center (NC) in the region or the country so far for its floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the NC in this municipality formally opened on June 29, 2015.

It is also the 1st municipal NC launched in the Caraga Region.

Mayor Jenny de Asis of the municipality of San Francisco said everyone is happy with the enactment of the Go Negosyo Law which made the setting up of the center in their area possible.  “San Francisco is the most competitive municipality in 2013 and we are proud of that.  Having the first municipal NC in the region is another feat.” She asked the representative of Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino – Luke Buniel  to relay the LGU’s thanks to the senator.

Sangguniang panlalawigan member Edwin Demegillo, who represented the provincial governor congratulated and praised the municipality of San Francisco. He said the local government unit (LGU) has always been an example of good things being done in the province. He said other municipalities are looking up to San Francisco and so everybody should work together to make the Negosyo Center prosper or else other towns will be discouraged.

Buniel for his part thanked the stakeholders for their collective effort, noting that not all national and local governments work well together.  He said the establishment of Negosyo Centers is among the promises of Senator Aquino- “trabaho, negosyo, edukasyon.”  He expressed his hope for microfinancing institutions to partner with the center to provide financing information and assistance to the NC clients.

DTI-Agusan del Sur provincial director Lolita Dorado also thanked all the stakeholders who gave their support and will continue to contribute to the success of the center.  She explained the Go negosyo Act and discussed the services of the center for existing and would-be entrepreneurs.   The pasalubong corner in the center is also prioritizing San Francisco products for display and marketing.  She also encouraged the micro small and medium enterprise (MSMEs) owners to make use of the services of the center to be able to avail of opportunities like joining the supply chain for companies in the areas – the Gaisano malls, mining firms and others.  “Now your negosyo center is open to serve you,” she said.

Agusan del Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry represented by its President Engr. Freddie Mero reminded those present that the success of the center depends on everyone- not only the DTI, LGU and the chamber.

The LGU-San Francisco Sangguniang Bayan represented in the launch by the SB Secretary Sugano earlier passed a resolution in support of the Negosyo Center.

Guests and participants to the launch included representatives of the market vendors, peoples’ organizations and beneficiary groups of the livelihood programs of other government agencies like DSWD.

They, together with the LGU, chamber and  MSME Development Council Officials  all signed the commitment wall.  A number committed to become mentors or resource persons.

NC-San Francisco also did its first major activity as one of the highlights during the launch.  The business councellors did crowd sourcing of the priority training programs to be conducted in the center through the filled-out checklist of possible topics from among the MSME attendees.

NC-San Francisco is strategically located near the commercial district  and along the national highway. It is housed on a two-story buillding owned by the LGU of San Francisco.  Part of the space is occupied by the Municipal Tourism Office. (DTI-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: 'Drug Education Forum' gipahigayon sa lungsod sa Pilar, San Isidro

Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante

DAKBAYAN SA SURIGAO, Surigao del Norte, Hulyo 14 (PIA) - Unang adlaw sa Drug Education Forum ug Dialogue malampusong gipahigayon niadtong Lunes, Hulyo 13, 2015 didto sa mga lungsod sa Pilar ug San Isidro, Siargao Island, ning probinsya.

Tumong ug tuyo sa maong programa nga masabtan gayod sa tanan ang dautang epekto sa druga ug ang pag-awhag sa tanang katawhan nga maghugpong sa pagsugpo sa maong ginadili nga paggamit sa druga.

Kauban sa lakaw ni gobernador Sol F. Matugas mao si Philippine Drug and Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga regional director Julius Navales uban sa iyang team, uban usab ang team sa Philippine National Police (PNP) nga gipanguluhan ni provincial director Julito M. Diray nga girepresentahan ni PSInsp. Joel Liong, didto usab si Congressman Francisco T. Matugas ug ang team capitol.

Mitambong sa maong tigon mao ang mga opisyales sa lungsod ug barangay, pamilya sa Department of Education (DepEd),  mga estudyante sa highschool, mga BHWs, purok leaders ug uban pa.

Sa samang adlaw usab gipahigayon ang Panambay sa Barangay sa maong mga lungsod diin sa San Isidro nga mokabat sa 219 ang naserbisyohan sa maong panambay diin adunay 92 ka mga senior citizens ang nakapahimulos ug nakatagamtam sa libreng konsultasyon, 65 sa dental, tuli- onse (11), urinalysis-36, rbs-52.

Samtang sa lungsod sa Pilar adunay mokabat sa 182 ang napahimulos sa maong libreng pagpanambay diin 50 ka senior citizens, dental-84 ug tuli –syete.

Sa adlawng Martes, Hulyo 14 gihimo na usab ang maong programa sa lungsod sa Burgos ug Sta. Monica ug sa Miyerkules sa San Benito, ning probinsya. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)