(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, September 10, 2015

OFW entreps undergo EDT for 2B reintegration program

By Jean Pearl I. Millones

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) - As the part of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA's) promotion of socio-economic well-being and improvement of income generating livelihood activities to its members, the office carried out an Entrepreneurship Development Training for the 2-Billion Reintegration Program; a special loan program of OWWA in partnership with the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) intended to support enterprise development among OFWs and their families.

After attending the one-day orientation seminar, which tackled the terms and availment procedures of the program, 39 OFW family entrepreneurs from the different provinces of Caraga completed the required two-day Entrepreneurship Development Training conducted by OWWA with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on September 7-8, 2015 at OWWA Training Hall.

DTI Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Gemma Clarin discussed the modules, which included the making of a business plan, budgeting, basic bookkeeping skills and necessary qualities a successful entrepreneur should possess.

Further, queries and clarifications of the participants concerning the business and necessary requirements in DTI registration were raised and addressed. Business plans created by the participants during the workshop were likewise critiqued and assessed.

Participant Ceasar D. Satilin who is presently engaged in a falcata plantation intends to expand his venture to keep up with the fast growing market. Aside from the opportunity of increasing his finances, he also thanked OWWA for the new learning he acquired from the EDT that would better arm him in his developing business.

Moreover, qualified borrowers can avail of a short-term loan, which can be paid within a year, or a term loan, payable based on the cash flow, but not to exceed seven years inclusive of maximum two years grace period on the capital. The loanable amount, which is 80 percent of the total project cost, ranges from a minimum of P300,000.00 up to a maximum of P2,000,000.00 bears an interest rate of only 7.5 percent per annum fixed for the duration of the loan.

OWWA Caraga Reintegration Program in-charge Jean Mary G. Ronquillo added that aside from the EDT certificate, applicants must also submit the following documentary requirements for verification and endorsement to the partner bank: Biodata; Statement of Assets and Liabilities; Barangay Clearance; Residential sketch; Business/ Project Plan; Certificate of Business Registration from DTI; Mayor’s permit; Income Tax Return for the last three years, if applicable; Latest interim financial statement, if applicable; and Collateral (Land Title or Real Estate)

After endorsing the papers to Landbank, a 60-day verification period shall be expected before the applications are asserted approved or otherwise. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


GSIS to hold stakeholders dialogue in Surigao City

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Sept. 10 (PIA) – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has set a “Stakeholders Dialogue” at the Philippine Gateway Hotel in Surigao City at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on September 25.

Belen Talita, GSIS Surigao City branch manager, told Governor Johnny Pimentel in a letter dated August 27, 2015, that “The dialogue aims to provide an update on the initiatives and reforms undertaken by GSIS, and to foster closer ties between GSIS and its stakeholders.”

In her opening statement of the same letter the GSIS branch chief indicated that “As part of its thrust to promote service responsiveness and transparency, the GSIS Board of Trustees is instituting consultative meetings with its members and pensioners nationwide.”

Talita also informed that the dialogue would be conducted, no less, by “President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara and other GSIS executives.” (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


2,700 evacuees in SurSur receive aid

MANILA, Sept. 10 (PIA) – Around 2,700 people fled their homes in Surigao del Sur, Eastern Mindanao, in the aftermath of armed violence last week. To support them, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provided relief items on September 8.

The displaced families, mostly from Lianga and San Miguel municipalities, took shelter at the provincial sports centre in Tandag City, where they are finding it difficult to meet their basic needs, having had to leave everything behind.

“We abandoned our home out of fear,” said 39-year-old Lita Tejero, a mother of eight, from San Agustin municipality. “Life at the evacuation centre is hard. We rely on aid. The unpredictable weather is also a concern,” she added.

Working closely together, the ICRC and the PRC distributed household items, such as jerrycans, blankets and sleeping mats, and hygiene kits to ease the plight of evacuees. The PRC has also set up a soup kitchen, serving hot meals to evacuees once a day.

“Armed violence often results in the displacement of civilians, including women and children. Away from their homes, they must subsist in fear and uncertainty. We hope that normality will soon return to the areas allowing the displaced families to go back to their homes,” said Timothy Yates, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Mindanao.

The ICRC reminds all parties to the armed violence of the need to respect human life and dignity at all times. Civilians – regardless of their religion, ethnic group, gender or political beliefs – and their property must be spared from the violence.


The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose mandate is to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. It has had an established presence in the Philippines for over 60 years and a permanent presence in Mindanao since 1986. (ICRC/PIA-Caraga)