(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 11 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 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 partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Friday, August 7, 2015

DOH-Caraga leads national family planning month celeb in the region

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga Regional Office is commemorating the National Family Planning Month this August to address the needs of every Filipino by helping them plan their families.

The family planning (FP) program of the department aims to provide information and services to couples who are in their reproductive age for them to make better and responsible decisions deemed appropriate and necessary for their needs.

“Increasing and sustaining the use of modern contraceptive methods among men and women of reproductive age will empower each to plan for a better quality of life with the long term benefit of greater family savings,” said DOH-Caraga regional director Dr. Jose Llacuna, Jr.

Llacuna also emphasized that the celebration also centers on the attainment of a better quality of life for the mother, the father, and the family as a whole.

This year’s theme is “Kapag planado, Panalo!,” which promotes the use of family planning methods and choices through advocacy activities closely coordinated with government agencies, NGOs, academic, religious and other sectors; to reduce the health related risks women and children face due to short birth intervals and too frequent pregnancies and childbirth; and reduce the teenage pregnancies incidents.

“Family planning is discussed in a broader context of reproductive, sexual health, and reproductive rights. For mothers specifically, we try our best to increase our efforts in advocating Family Planning methods by increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR), thus substantially prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce number of abortions, and lower the incidence of death and disability related to complications of pregnancy and childbirth,” Llacuna added.

The month long celebration is covered by the capital cities in the three provinces of the region.

Activities will include identification of possible FP acceptors, FP service provision through counselinmg and recommending of different method, and addressing rumors and misconceptions. (DJA/PIA-Caraga)


News Feature: DTI advises consumers, read and study product labels

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 7 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) advises consumers to read and study product labels before making a purchase of consumer products.

There is a need to look into the ingredients and chemical compositions among others, if these are safe for their personal and family use, especially if they have allergies to certain elements.

It would be better for the buying public to avoid product without adequate labels and those written in languages they don’t understand like some imported products.

Labeling is a powerful marketing tool in convincing consumers to buy products. Therefore, responsible business owners are making the label information clear and relevant to the needs of consumers.

Labeling, clearly, is indispensable to consumers in the exercise of their rights to information and choice, and to business enabling them to cater to their market’s needs and to promote their products well.

But, labeling has a far more important function than merely contributing to sales; it is a double edged sword with the equal ability to misinform as much as it can provide the right information.

According to a Global Online Consumer Opinion Survey conducted by AC Nielsen in 2005, which polled 21,261 respondents form 38 countries form the Asia pacific, North and Latin Americas, Africa, and Europe, half of consumers worldwide only partially understand the nutritional labels on food packaging.

Yet, in spite of this partial understanding, 20 percent of consumers would always check labels while 40 percent of consumers worldwide would check the labels when buying a product for the first time, the Philippines coming out among the top 10 countries whose consumers would do so.

The study also showed that nearly 30 percent read the labels whenever they would buy certain food types. Consumers were most likely to check for fat, calories, and sugar content, as well as preservatives, coloring and additives.

While 21,000 survey respondents would hardly be a representative sampling of the world’s billions of consumers, the study does say something important to businesses and consumers are looking for adequate information to guide them during purchase and product information labels and packaging is becoming a key factor in determining whether a product will be bought or not. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


PSA Caraga launches 2015 POPCEN; enumeration kicks off on August 10

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 7 (PIA) - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Caraga, together with the Regional Census Coordinating Board (RCCB) and the tri-media partners, held the 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN) launching and press conference at the Robinsons Place Butuan Main Atrium on August 3, 2015. The event aims to raise awareness and publicity on the conduct of the POPCEN 2015.

The POPCEN 2015, which is a complete enumeration of households in the country, is designed primarily to take an inventory of the entire population of the Philippines. It also collects information about basic characteristics of the population such as age, sex, marital status, religious affiliation, and highest grade/year completed.  It is a source of data on the size, distribution, and composition of the population for different geographic units, that is, at the national up to barangay level. These information are vital in making rational plans and programs towards national and local development.

The enumeration units for the POPCEN 2015 are households, housing units, and institutional living quarters (ILQs).   All households and ILQs in all barangays throughout the country will be enumerated to gather information about their members.  All Filipinos residing in Philippine embassies, missions, and consulates abroad will also be enumerated.

August 1, 2015 is the reference date for the POPCEN 2015.  This means that all persons to be enumerated as members of a household or as residents of an institutional living quarter will be as of 12:01 am, August 1, 2015.

Enumeration is on August 10 to September 6, 2015 in most provinces and may be extended until end of September 2015 in big cities. Enumerators wearing official POPCEN 2015 IDs will visit and interview every household to ask basic information about its members, such as age, sex, marital status, education, and usual occupation, if any. The interview will take about 15 to 30 minutes for each household. PSA Field Staff Supervisors will also visit the households to assure the accuracy of the data collected and to ensure the complete coverage of an area. The PSA calls for all to cooperate and provide truthful answers to census questions. Everyone is expected of their full support in this undertaking.

Republic Act (RA) No. 10625, also known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013, which was approved on September 12, 2013, states that “the PSA shall be primarily responsible for all national censuses and surveys, sectoral statistics, consolidation of administrative recording system, and compilation of national accounts.” Specifically, Section 6 (b) of this Act mandates the PSA to “prepare and conduct periodic censuses on population, housing, agriculture, fisheries, business, industry, and other sectors of the economy.” The information collected shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of RA 10625. (PSA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Surigao Norte sports fest opens

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 7 (PIA) – Different national line agencies recently took part in the inter-agency Sports Festival 2015 spearheaded by the provincial government on Thursday, August 6, 2015, this city.

By the power vested to her by members of the Provincial Sports Council headed by Atty. Jerry Centro, Provincial Sports Coordinator, provincial governor Sol F. Matugas formally declared the tournament open on top of the ceremonial toss.

In part, those who competed in the field of basketball were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Team Capitol, city government of Surigao, Department of Education (DepEd) Surigao City Division, DepEd Surigao del Norte Division, Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Caraga Regional Hospital (CRH), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Northeastern Mindanao Colleges (NEMCO), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime, and the 30th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army.

For men’s volleyball were DENR, BFAR, DepED Surigao City, PNP, DAR, SMWD, SURNECO, DPWH, CRH and Team Capitol while for women’s volleyball were SURNECO, DENR, city government, Deped Surigao City Division, DepEd Mainland Division, SMWD, PPA, DAR, and SPUS, among others.

“Today, we mark another giant breakthrough in our sincere quest to sustain a sound mind and healthy body. To be emotionally stable, physically fit and spiritually productive, the need to exercise regularly is a must. Hence, we conceptualize this inter-departmental sports fest. Our enthusiasm, dynamism and stamina can be rightly bolstered if we actively take part in any high-flying and fun-filled action," said Gov. Matugas.

She also acknowledges the organizers of the said event and encourages the participants to understand and uphold teamwork, confidence, will-power and resolve to do what is inspiring, fascinating and challenging for a better and healthy lifestyle. (SDR/PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


SurSur DepEd makes way for new ‘contests’ in 2015 Buwan ng Wika celebration

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 7 (PIA) – By taking cognizance of the evolving trend of Filipino language, the Department of Education (DepEd) Division Office here headed by Dr. Marilou Dedumo has made sure to open its doors to new innovations.

Celsa Casa, division public information officer (PIO), bared that aside from the usual events of Balagtasan and Kundiman lined-up for competition during the month-long Buwan ng Wika 2015 celebration, new ones also came to the fore as addition, citing “Paindis-indis Maikling Pelikula” (Movie Trailer) and “Timpalak-talino.”

The PIO confirmed that since August, which is Buwan ng Wika, has just started, contests being undertaken are undeniably still in the school levels.

She agreed that as culmination date on August 28 gets closer, competition will likewise move up the ladder onto district-, cluster-, then division-wide to be held in Cantilan National High School in Cantilan town, 64 kilometers north, this city.

This year’s Buwan ng Wika celebration is anchored on the theme “Filipino: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Cebuano News: 2 ka adlaw nga barangay konsultasyon gipahigayon sa Claver ug Bacuag

Ni Mary Jul E. Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Agosto 7 (PIA) - Duha ka adlaw nga barangay konsultasyon ang malampusong gipahigayon niadtong Agosto 5 didto sa Barangay Sapa, Claver ug kagahapon Agosto 6 sa Barangay Payapag sa Bacuag, ning probinsya.

Atol sa maong kalihukan gihisgutan didto sa barangay Sapa, Claver ang mahitungod sa proyekto nga tulay kantidad 50 milyones ka pesos ug ang water system kantidad usa ka milyon pesos diin ang maong pondo gikan sa PAMANA DILG fund.

Samtang sa brgy. Payapag sa Bacuag, gihisgutan ang proyekto nga road concreting gikan sa brgy. Payapag ngadto na sa sitio Little Baguio kantidad  40 milyones ka pesos ubos gihapon kini sa PAMANA DILG Fund.

Gipasabot usab ngadto sa mga katawhan ang mahitungod sa katuyuan sa maong proyekto, ang mahitungod sa PAMANA ug ang road right of way nga ipatuman.

Ang pangagamhanang sa probinsya gipanghinaot ang pagsinabtanay ug pagtinabangay sa mga lumulupyo aron magmalampuson ang pag implementar sa maong proyekto.

Ang maong kalihukan gipasiugdahan sa provincial technical working group sa proyektong PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan)  nga naglangkob sa buhatan sa Department of Interiro and Local Government (DILG), Provincial Information Center (PIC), Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provl. Engineering Offic (PEO)  ug ang Provincial Assessor's Office (PAO).

Mitambong sa maong kalihukan ang mga lumulupyo ug barangay opisyales sa nasagpit nga duha ka mga barangay sakop ning probinsya. (SDR/PIC-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)