(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.


Monday, November 2, 2015

DPWH bares ill-effect of mass evacuation on construction industry in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 2 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) First Congressional District Office here bared the ill-effects of mass evacuation on the construction industry.

About 2,675 evacuees have chosen to stay in the meantime at Surigao del Sur Sports Center since they fled their homes at Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town on September 1.

District Engineer (DE) Joseph Calderon said some projects of the DPWH here might not be completed as planned since concerned contractors had found a valid excuse to do so, citing peace and order problem in the area.

The DPWH district chief admitted some truth to the complaints as they themselves could not start the preliminary detailed engineering activities for the planned construction of the P40 million concrete bridge at Sitio Magkahunao, Barangay Buhisan in San Agustin town, 64.36 kilometers south, this city.

DE Calderon claimed apprehension to send his men to do the initial work in the area because of lingering insurgency problem.

He expressed belief that the lumad mass evacuation was insurgency-related.

Meanwhile, Calderon said that, as usual, his office had been used to putting up motorists’ assistance centers along the national highway here for the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

“Our primary purpose is to ensure that the national highway is passable all times,” he stressed.

The DPWH district chief added that three assistance centers would be set up somewhere in the towns Lianga, Barangay Gamut, Tago, and in Carrascal. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


SurSur DRRMO confirms “acceptance culture” in disaster-prone areas

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Nov. 2 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) here has confirmed that people in disaster-prone areas are already used to living with either natural or manmade calamities.

Abel De Guzman, PDRRMO executive officer, explained that concerned communities had already identified “hazard specifics,” which out of these, a contingency plan adaptable on the ground had been devised.

During calamities and disasters, whatever, local government units (LGUs) through their respective DRRMOs are normally on the frontline to ease off the burden while the PDRRMO, which is the umbrella organization, functions as overseer and consolidator.

De Guzman said right now the province had been faced with a manmade disaster, citing the mass evacuation of some 3,000 individuals taking shelter at the Surigao del Sur Sports Center, in particular, as an offshoot of the murder of three lumads in Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, Barangay Diatagon, Lianga town on September 1. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Surigao Norte heightens security plan for holiday season

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Nov. 2 (PIA) - The provincial government here headed by Governor Sol F. Matugas recently conducted a consultative and coordination meeting in relation to the upcoming holiday season together with the members of the security and police force on October 29, 2015.

In her message, Gov. Matugas said the rumors on terrorists aiming to foment and sow chaos and mayhem in the province especially Siargao Island in time for the holiday season, must be looked into and fully investigated by the intelligence operatives.

“Let us not leave any stone unturned. It is better to keep our eyes open and remain on the look-out than be overwhelmed by anxiety. As the old saying goes, better safe than sorry. Be with me in this mission to guard our province from evil attempts to undermine our shared efforts for the progress of the Surigaonon community. Our journey toward a law-abiding and peace-loving society is our honest drive toward ‘Marajaw Surigao.’ We cannot tolerate any group who seek to destroy the foundations that we shape together,” said Matugas.


The meeting was attended by representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, provincial and city civil security unit, and other concerned agencies. (SDR/PGO-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)