(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, October 1, 2015

SurSur gets P145M for road to Andap Valley concreting project

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 1 (PIA) – The province of Surigao del Sur has received the “first tranche payment of the ‘Road Opening and Concreting from Janipaan to Andap Valley FMR’ under the PAMANA Project in the amount of Php 145,000,000.00” on September 28, 2015.

The occasion took place at the municipal gym of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur during the visit of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala who was the honored guest for the Farmers’ Forum and inauguration of the Rice Processing Center III (RPC III) in Barangay Pisaan.

Efren Rivas, provincial administrator here, attended the event in lieu of Governor Johnny Pimentel.

The said farm-to-market road would pass through the hinterlands of both San Agustin and Marihatag towns, the administrator bared.

Alcala also went to Trento town in the same province for the inauguration of RPC II and the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) on that day. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


SurSur all set for Coop Month celebration

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 1 (PIA) – The province of Surigao del Sur is all geared up for the Cooperative Month celebration this October 2015.

With the theme “Kooperatiba: Ika-100 Taong Pagpupugay, Tulay sa Maunlad na Buhay,” various activities would be carried out in all two cities and 17 municipalities, this province, according to Angeles “Nik-Nik” Canda, provincial cooperative officer-designate.

For the first day of the month, hanging of streamers would signal the opening of the month-long celebration province-wide, the provincial coop chief said.

Meanwhile, Lorna Novo, Tandag City cooperative officer, had already sent a letter of invitation to all concerned for the scheduled City Cooperative Development Council (CCDC) quarterly meeting at the Season’s Park Apartelle here at 2:00 p.m. on October 6, 2015.

“Election of CCDC 2016 Officers; Last quarter planning; and Stategic Planning for 2016” were the agenda cited.

In addition, she likewise encouraged fellow coop enthusiasts to attend the culmination rites of Cooperative Centennial Celebration and Cooperative Expo at the Philippine Trade Center in Pasay City on October 20-23, 2015 as well as the 5th Philippine Cooperative Teamshop at La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Malaya, Aklan on November 12-14, 2015. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DA chief turns over P317 Million worth aggie projects in Caraga

By Fretcher Magatao

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) - Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala turns over a total of P317 Million worth of agriculture projects in Caraga Region last Monday, September 28, in the province of Agusan del Sur.

This is during the inauguration of the two AgriPinoy Rice Processing Centers (RPC) situated in the municipalities of San Francisco and Trento in Agusan del Sur.

The AgriPinoy RPC III in Pisaan, San Francisco amounting to PhP 37,292,410 was finally turned over to Agus Pinoy Producers Cooperative (APCO).  Led by the Sec. Alcala, the inauguration displays a fulfillment of the farmers’ vision of having a processing center in the locality.

“This has been a dream and now a reality. We are glad that we could partner with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in serving the farmers of Agusan del Sur and Caraga as a whole,” said Agus Pinoy chairman Jimmy Geronimo.

RPC III covers all areas in Caraga that produce rice but specifically concentrated in the municipalities of Agusan del Sur such as San Francisco, Rosario, Prosperidad, Talacogon, La Paz, San Luis, Esperanza, Bunawan and Bayugan City.

“The governor’s support for agriculture is 100 percent. The Provincial LGU is grateful that the rice produced in the province will now be processed in Agusan del Sur,” said Provincial Agriculturist Jessica Unson.

A farmers’ forum, turnover of farm equipment and provision of seeds to farmer cooperatives and individuals succeeded after the inauguration. The forum gave an avenue to answer queries and personally ask the secretary of the plans and programs of the department for the farmers in the province.  Raffle of livestock products highlighted the occasion.

Another Agri Pinoy RPC was also inaugurated and turned over to First Trento Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FTCMPC) in Trento, Agusan del Sur. The establishment of RPC II amounting to PhP 17,000,000 will cover 10,000 hectares of rice and corn areas in the municipalities of Trento, Sta. Josefa, Veruela, Bunawan and Loreto.

The rice processing center is intended to reduce quality deterioration and post-harvest losses by providing access to efficient drying and milling facilities in currently underserved rice production areas.

Like that of San Francisco, farmers’ forum and turnover of farm equipment to farmer cooperatives and individuals happened after the turnover of RPC. Each farmer received a sack of upland rice seeds. Various agriculture goodies were also raffled and brought home by lucky farmers.

“We will never get tired to be of service to our dear farmers. I am confident that the next time I visit your province, I will see the more of the farmers’ lives improved,” said Alcala.

The establishment of rice processing centers was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), National Food Authority, DA, and the local government units.

In addition, Alcala also inaugurated the newly established Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) in the DA’s Trento Research and Experiment Station amounting to PhP 4.250 Million. RCPC serves as a diagnostic clinic for pests and diseases and shall provide recommendation for its control and management.

“The establishment of the facility will surely help us farmers in knowing the safety measures in pest management” said Alcala to the farmers who attended. “Here we foresee a reduction of pesticide usage, but still achieve optimum crop production,” he added.

RCPC is a hub for surveillance and early warning system for existing and emerging crop pests and diseases as well as promote the usage of biocontrol agents in optimizing production of the region’s major commodities.  The center also provides technical assistance to target clienteles.

“The facilities established in our locality truly demonstrate the support of the DA to the farmers,” said Stanly Perocho, President of Humayan Irrigators Association.

Other projects and interventions turned over during Alcala’s visit are Farm Machineries amounting to P27.880 Million, Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) totaling to P228.879 Million, various raffled agri support amounting to P1.109 Million. (FEA/DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


News Feature: P166.5 Million FMR: A path to lasting peace

By Aurelius P. Arais

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) - Rural infrastructure sparks economic opportunities and will redound to lasting peace and development.

This is how Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna of the Department of Agriculture (DA) described the effort of DA in implementing farm to market roads (FMR) especially in conflict affected areas.

Asec. De Luna visited and led the turnover of three multi-million FMR projects implemented by DA Caraga through the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) last September 29 in Surigao del Sur.

The said projects totaling P166.5 Million includes the concreting of 2.41 kilometers San Roque, Cadanglasan FMR in Sitio Mabog, San Roque, Bislig City connecting boundary of Bunawan amounting P33.3 million; concreting of 5.42 kms. Diatagon Km. 16 (Lianga) connecting Sitio Lagangan, Caras-an - Tago FMR amounting to P66.6 million and road opening and concreting of 5.29 kms. Brgy. Lubo, Cantilan - Brgy. Panikian, Carrascal FMR amounting to P66.6 million.

De Luna said that DA is supporting the point of governance to the five point agenda of the Aquino administration particularly the economic development, justice and lasting peace.

“Solving the problem on peace matters is not merely using firearms but by giving economic opportunities,” said Asec. De Luna.

The completion of the said FMR’s could boost the community’s livelihood within the service areas who are cultivating various agricultural crops such as banana, corn, rice, and rootcrops due to accessibility of transport to the main highways leading to the nearest market.

De Luna pointed out that DA is now ensuring that FMR’s could withstand various weather conditions to last for longer periods for the benefit of the people.

On the other hand, DA Caraga regional director Edna Mabeza urged the residents to avail various DA interventions particularly under the banner programs such as rice, corn, high value crops and organic agriculture to further boost the agricultural sector in the area.

“DA has various projects and services that you can avail by coordinating with your city or municipal agriculture officer so we can extend our services such as planting materials. By the time you have enough produce we can probably put up a processing center,” Mabeza said.

Engr. Merlinda Baure, Surigao del Sur PAMANA focal person representing Governor Johnny Pimentel expressed grateful recognition of the contribution of the Department of Agriculture for the development of the province.


PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or PAMANA is the national government’s convergence program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)