(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.


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

NNC-Caraga to organize Bantay Asin Task Force

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, July 22 (PIA) – The National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Caraga in coordination with the Department of Health - Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) will organize the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) to address iodine-related health issues on Friday here.

According to DOH Caraga regional director Jose Llacuna, Jr., the disturbing urinary iodine excretion (UIE) levels based on moderate to severe cases of children aged 6-12 years, pregnant and lactating mothers as reported in the 2008 and 2013 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) only indicates that a Bantay Asin Task Force should be initiated at the regional level.

The organization aims establish a level of coordination between relevant government agencies, local governments, salt industry representatives, and civil society groups to monitor the salt supply at the regional, provincial, and municipal levels.

It is also an effort to support the program initiatives under the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP) in the effective implementation of Republic Act No. 8172  (An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide) or the ASIN Law. RBATF was a strategy used in Regions 2 and 8 to combat Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), it was learned. (DJMA/PIA-Caraga)


DA honors 2015 Outstanding Rural Woman from Caraga

By Rhea C. Abao

BUTUAN CITY, July 22 (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) once again pave the way for the 2015 Outstanding Rural Women in the country last June 19, 2015 held at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

Among the nations top 6 outstanding rural women is Caraga region’s pride Ms. Nelly Seletaria-Arangali.  A 66 year-old housewife from Barangay Kinamlutan, this city who grabbed the second place. Aside from the honor she received from the national office she received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize worth P75,000.

The 2015 DA search for Outstanding Rural Women is part of the DA’s Gender and Development (GAD) annual activities that is geared towards gender equality and the empowerment of women.

It aims to give due recognition to rural women who have showed excellence in their field of endeavor and have made outstanding accomplishments in developing the agriculture and fishery sectors and made significant impacts in the lives of the people in the rural areas.

“Department of Agriculture recognizes the important role of women in the development of agriculture sector in the country. According to the National Statistics Office, 3.2 million women are into agriculture which is actually 21 percent of the country’s agricultural labor force, in achieving food security and stabilizing rural economy,” said DA undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Arangali’s willingness to learn plus her passion for the things she is doing gave way for her to excel in the field of agriculture. In her patience to transform her farm from inorganic to a promising sustainable diversified organic farm is a manifestation of her dedication for agriculture.

Her farm also serves as a show window for organic technologies and became an instrument that encourages more farmers to engage in organic farm enterprise for it has shown to lower farm production costs.

“I thank the Department of Agriculture for giving me this award and recognition. The agriculture office intervention through the provision from inputs up to the new technologies is the key to my success. I also acknowledge the support of the City Agriculture Office of Butuan who also gave their technical assistance for the improvement on my farm. I have seen that in agriculture we can make a difference in our community,” said Arangali.

“DA will continue to support women because women empowerment means a better Philippine economy and better lives for every Filipino,” said DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Army’s 36IB in SurSur to mark 41st founding anniversary

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 22 (PIA) – The 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36IB) under the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) has started to lay the groundwork for its upcoming 41st Founding Anniversary celebration on August 1, 2015.

A series of activities lined-up for the special occasion has been bared in his invitation letter to Governor Johnny Pimentel dated 06 July 2015 by no less than Lt. Col. Anastacio Suaybaguio, Jr., 36IB commanding officer, whose headquarters is located at Dayoan, Tago, this province.

“Mass Feeding, Coastal Clean-up, Libreng Serbisyo with Technical Education and Skills Developmet Authority (TESDA), Fun Run and Sports Festival,” have been cited as among the major ones.

The military officer also pointed out that holding such an affair is not only an opportunity for them to get together with “former Valorians, especially former Commanders” but also a rare occasion where they can “pay tribute to heroes and fallen comrades who in their different acts of heroism serve as the pride and inspiration of the battalion.”

Earlier, Suaybaguio took pride of the numerous tasks the unit was able to accomplish “thru collaborative efforts with the local government units, line agencies, Surigao del Sur - Police Provincial Office and the private sector” here, citing Bayanihan Team Activities deployment, Youth Leadership Summits, Disaster Relief Operations, and Security Operations, among others. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Feature: KaGabay Program changes the life of a PWRD in Caraga

By Olga Virginia A. Demata

A vehicular accident in Lunao, Gingoog City resulted to the permanent and total disability of Kris L. Salga, an office encoder of Fresh Fruits Ingredients Inc. (FFII) in Medina, Misamis Oriental.

In the early morning of February 22, 2012, Salga was leaving for work when a dump truck swept down the public transportation she was riding. This caused the vehicle to fall on a short cliff. After spending two months in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro, she was forced to go home since her family had no more money to pay the hospital bills. The accident left the sole breadwinner of a very poor family with a brain injury, difficulty in speaking, and inability to walk by herself.

On June 10, 2014, the Caraga Regional Extension Unit of the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) reached out to Salga and offered her free physical therapy, with transportation and meal allowance under the Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang May Kapansanan or KaGabay Program.

After a few months, Salga made a lot of progress. Her speech has progressed well; she can walk on her own; and do several household chores. With several PT sessions on the way, her family is hoping for full recovery in no time.

“We could not believe that Kris will be able to walk on her own again. We are so thankful to ECC for all the assistance it has provided. We never thought Kris will be better again,” Rosario Salga, mother of Kris said.

“The Katulong at Gabay ng Manggagawang May Kapansanan or KaGabay is a part of the rehabilitation services offered by the ECC for workers with disabilities, as a result of work-connected sickness or injury. Through the KaGabay Program, qualified workers with work-connected disabilities are evaluated and referred to various institutions for appropriate rehabilitation services which includes physical restoration, or the provision of physical and occupational therapy, prosthesis, and assistive devices, and livelihood or vocational training to help persons with work-related disabilities (PWRDs) achieve functional independence and become economically productive as they enter the mainstream,” ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said. (ECC/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Livestock ug poultry dispersal program turn-over ceremony malampusong gipahigayon

Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Hulyo 22 (PIA) –Malampuson nga gipahigayon ang livestock ug poultry dispersal program turn over ceremony kagahapon sa buntag, Hulyo 21, 2015 didto sa Capitol Complex ning dakbayan,

Ang maong turn over ceremony gipasiugdahan sa Provincial Veterinary Office sa pagpangulo ni Dr. Life Sheila Laugo ug sa pagtambayayong sa Department of Agriculture Caraga region pinaagi ni regional director Edna Mabeza.

Mitambong sa maong okasyon si Gobernador  Sol F. Matugas, Vice Gov. Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr,  Board Member Leonila Gorgolon, Mamerto Galanida, Cesar Bagundol, Margarito Longgos, Dapa Mayor Yullie Ruaya, General Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon, mga benepisyaryo, municipal agriculturists ug mga kapitan nga benepisyaryo sa maong programa.

Adunay 15 kabook nga carabao ang gipang apod-apod tag usa para sa munisipyo sa General Luna, Dapa, Socorro, San Benito, Del Carmen ug tagduha ka carabao sa munisipyo sa Claver, Mainit, Gigaquit, Malimono ug Alegria.

Adunay 26 kabook ka mga hybrid nga kanding og unom niini para sa Mainit, lima sa Alegria, lima sa Claver, lima sa Gigaquit ug lima usab sa Malimono.

Samtang ang native chicken adunay 15 kabook  para sa Alegria ug sa swine (baboy) adunay lima para sa mga hog raisers association sa Sison, Malimono, General Luna ug Socorro.

Ang maong programa nagsuporta sa Food Sufficiency Program sa gobernador ug sa pagpadaghan sa animal production sa probinsya. (SDR/PIC-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)