(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, August 20, 2015

MARINA 13 to open extension office in Butuan City

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 20 (PIA) - The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Office XIII will expand its services in Caraga region with the opening of its extension office on August 26, 2105 in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.

MARINA Regional Office XIII supervisor in-charge Maria Roselyn P. Castaño said that part of its opening activity is the one-day processing of seafarers identification record book (SIRB), domestic certificate of competency (D-COC), and seafarers identification book (SIB).

"There will also be an scheduled examination for certificate of marine profession (CMP) for deck officers such as major patron, minor patron, boat captain 3, and boat captain 2, and engine officers such as marine diesel mechanic 2, and marine diesel mechanic 1 during the said opening," she said.

Castaño advised those interested applicants to submit their application before August 26, 2015 at MARINA Regional Office XIII located at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) compound, this city. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


SurSur guv cites gains in SOPA

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 20 (PIA) – Summing up the feat his administration has achieved for the past year 2014, Governor Johnny Pimentel cited “UNITY IN GOVERNANCE” in a 27-page State of the Province Address (SOPA) as the “operating guide” that brought Surigao del Sur to its current pedestal.

He bared before the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan members assembled on Monday during its 102nd Regular Session at the Capitol Seminar Hall joined in by the cross section of the society that becoming “more closely-knit in the face of challenges and adversities…has been the key to our strength and adherence to the principles of good governance that has become the laid foundation for our progress.”

In his discourse, Pimentel pointed out seven significant areas of triumph—Food Sufficient Province; Enhanced Small and Medium Enterprise Livelihood Activities; Expanded Health, Social Services and Education;  Wider Infrastructure Projects Implementation; Promoting Peace for Surigao del Sur; Environmental Protection, Conservation and Wise Utilization; and, Efficient Tax Collection—where his administration had posted a significant leap, citing the reduction of poverty incidence and the maintenance as well as improvement of ecology as the two most important developmental objectives.

“Allow me to present my humble accomplishments last year that I earnestly believed have contributed to sustain Surigao del Sur as a vibrant province constantly moving forward to desired progress and growth capable of confronting challenges even in trying times guided and embraced by a competitive and responsible leadership,” he stressed.

Among the seven areas mentioned, three of which—Food Sufficient Province; Expanded Health, Social Services and Education; as well as Wider Infrastructure Projects Implementation—have been lengthily presented.

On Food Sufficiency Province, Pimentel made mention of the “Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever’s Award” given by the Department of Agriculture (DA) that the province had bagged in 2012 along with other nine others in the league due to numerous achievements.

He said that “Production area increased by 4 percent or 421.56 hectares for irrigated and by 25 percent or 2,768 hectares for rainfed which translated to a total increase of 11,640.42 metric tons of palay harvested in 2011; Yield also increased by 1.4 percent in irrigated and 1.6 percent in rainfed areas; and, Posted 85 percent self-sufficiency in rice in 2013, a dramatic increase from 72 percent level in 2010.”

“Despite natural calamties, which thinly spread-out limited resources to various areas of concern, the agriculture sector in our province remained steadfast and posted significant gains in 2014,” Pimentel remarked.

Under Health, Social Services and Education, the governor stressed “I lead the bureaucracy in undertaking effective, responsible and appropriate social services.  These are strong and continuing programs on health and nutrition, social welfare and education.”

He then cited “Alay ng Probinsiya Scholarship Program” allotted with P2 million; Jobs through Tech-Voc Program (JTP) with TESDA; full implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); and Health support and sponsorship programs.

On “Wider Infrastructure Projects Implementation,” Pimentel had recited in particular a litany of priority projects implemented aside from regular rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and bridges amounting to a total of P105.844 million on provincial funded projects.

Before embarking on a more than an hour and 15 minutes delivery of his SOPA, he first expressed deep gratitude to the key political leaders in the province and everybody else including employees of all National Government Agencies (NGAs) for what he described as “consistent support for the realization of numerous government projects and programs that have benefited our people and sustained our developmental efforts for our beloved province of Surigao del Sur.”


In closing, Pimentel, speaking in local dialect, urged his fellow leaders to continue the valuable sense of unity that empowers them to generate more projects that are essential to the people now and in the coming future. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)