(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, December 7, 2015

Tandag water firm assures ample supply

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 7 (PIA) – The management of Tandag Water District (TWD) has made sure the delivery of better services and ample water supply to its concessionaires amid the rise of three big business establishments here.

Annie Ty, TWD general manager, said measures had been put in place in order to address the dwindling water supply vis-à-vis the increasing active water dependents that are now close to 7,000.

During the latter part of November, Prince and Gaisano Malls had just opened up business in the city, thereby raising the probability of frequent water interruptions due to possible shortage of supply especially during periods of less rainfall.  Jollibee Foods, Inc. is expected to follow soon, it was learned.

However, Ty said, more drilling works for water sources would be underway to catch up with the need for water supply, citing the ongoing jobs in two barangays—Quezon and Rosario.

Meanwhile, the lady manager added that a lot of technical problems had already been dealt with successfully since her assumption to office in May, this year. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


New AFP Eastmincom chief pays “unit visit” to SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 7 (PIA) – The newly-installed commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) MGen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero has paid a “unit visit” at the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) here on Tuesday, December 1.

According to Capt. Regie Go, brigade civil military operations (CMO) officer, the activity was part of the routine of the new Eastmincom chief, who earlier came all the way from 401st Infantry Brigade for the same purpose in Agusan del Sur.

“It was so brief,” the CMO officer said, citing the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at 11:50 a.m. and the estimated time of departure (ETD) at 1:30 p.m.

What transpired after the foyer honors led by brigade commander Col. Isidro Purisima were only  “Photo Ops, Lunch with Officers, Information Briefing, Talk to Men, and Giving of Memento,” it was learned.

Guerrero replaced Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad in a Change of Command and Testimonial Review with Retirement Ceremony held at Camp Panacan, Davao City on November 21. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Forum for pregnant teens slated

By Angie Balen- Antonio

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 7 (PIA) - The Commission on Population (PopCom) has partnered with the local health offices in the conduct of Buntis Congress for Pregnant Teens on December 16 in one of the hotels in this city.

The Buntis Congress is a fitting intervention considering that Caraga Region has an increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy.  It aims to increase the knowledge of the soon-to-be-mothers on the importance of having monthly check-ups to reduce child and maternal mortality; and risks of having closed-space births and too many children at a very young age.

According to PopCom Caraga regional director Alexander Makinano participants who will be identified by the city and provincial health offices of Butuan and Agusan del Norte, shall be pregnant teens belonging to age group 15-24 years old.

Furthermore, there will be a Search for Healthy Preggy to highlight the affair.  Candidates will compete on gown, casual wear, talent and interview portions.

Makinano also disclosed that the congress will help nurture future young mothers with knowledge they need during and after the pregnancy.

He added that it is a good venue for education and share accurate information about responsible parenting and family planning. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


SurSur PhilHealth:  No transactions yet on HIV/AIDS  

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 7 (PIA) - Despite the increasing cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the PhilHealth office here has yet to encounter transactions of this nature.

According to Christlen Grefalde, PhilHealth OIC-designate, this city, in case a carrier of HIV/AIDS will approach their office, such will be done in highly confidential manner.

Besides, a DOH-designated treatment hub for HIV/AIDS patients has still to be established here, she bared.

HIV/AIDS had been compensable under PhilHealth effective October 1, 2010, it was learned.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Team (PHT) office, this province, admitted data on HIV/AIDS cases had to be updated.

Glindel Salilin, PHT in-charge on the matter, said what was in her possession earlier was the same old June 2015 “Caraga HIV-AIDS Updates.”

Based on that, Surigao del Sur had seven HIV/AIDS cases for the period January-June, this year, with the following breakdown:  Bislig City – two; Tandag City, Hinatuan, Barobo, Lingig and Tagbina had one each apiece.

“In June 2015, there were 9 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry,” the Caraga HIV-AIDS Updates disclosed.

“With the 36 existing cases from May 2015 for Caraga Region,” plus the nine newly recorded cases in June, DOH had already posted a total of 45 cases in the region, the same report stated.

With this available data for the period January-June 2015, HIV/AIDS cases in Caraga had alarmingly increased at 105 percent as compared to the same period of last year. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/ PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Pandanon-Dinabucan provincial road to be upgraded

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 7 (PIA) - The provincial government of Agusan del Norte allocated an amount of P7,000,000.00 for the upgrading of the Pandanon-Dinabucan Provincial Road in the city of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte.

The said amount is an incentive under the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The PCF is an incentive fund for local government units (LGUs) in the form of counterpart funding to support the implementation of the high-impact capital investment projects listed in their respective Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

The province of Agusan del Norte is an awardee of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) that entitles it to the PCF in the amount of P7M to upgrade the Pandanon-Dinabucan Provincial Road.

To fast track the implementation of the said project, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte authorized Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DILG represented by Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion.

Sanggunian Resolution No. 320-2015 authorizing Gov. Amante-Matba was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through the effort of Provincial Board Member Rodulfo A. Pitogo. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DTI holds online biz registration training in Surigao Norte town

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Dec. 7 (PIA) - To help Siargao Island-based entrepreneurs, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here recently conducted a training on Online Business Registration for their Business Licensing Office (BPLO) staff and municipal employees held at Dapa Municipal Hall in Dapa, this province.

The activity is one of deliverables in the implementation of Online Business Registration project of the municipality of Dapa in coordination with DTI under the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) program.

The project is now fully operational that will enable the processing of DTI Business Name registration certificate right at the municipal Hall of Dapa.

This would mean substantial savings for business owners who usually travel to the city to have their business name registered at the DTI Provincial Office.

The training was conducted by DTI Business Registration Officer Fame Fazon.

Owners of single proprietorship business establishments in the municipalities of Siargao can also avail of this business name registration service that will be offered by its municipal government.

A minimal service fee in addition to the regular business registration fee charged by DTI will be collected to defray operating cost of the municipal government in extending the said service to the local business community.

This initiative is along the effort to improve development services by streamlining business registration mechanism.

DTI provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan appreciated the effort of Dapa LGU in the implementation of the said project to help the local business community of Siargao Island.

Dapa mayor Yulie Y. Ruaya on her part was thankful to the DTI management for the financial and technical support extended in implementing the said project. (SDR/DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


200 Caraga bikers join 1st 'Bike for Health'

By Cpt. Jasper Gacayan

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Dec. 7 (PIA) - Almost 200 bikers from different walks of life in Caraga Region participated in the 1st Fun Ride 2015 dubbed as “Bike for Health” launched by the 401st Unity Brigade, Philippine Army in cooperation with Caraga Ham Volunteers Amateur Inc (CHAMVA, INC) in Butuan City on December 5.

The activity started at dawn in which the bikers were challenged with an estimated route distance of 60 kms from Butuan City to the town of Carmen, Agusan del Norte and back.

Aside from biking, the army offered an open house to all the participants displaying its crew-served weapons, essential equipment, Simba armored personnel carrier followed by the Static Display and Demonstration of the Special Forces Team and culminated with the army’s traditional boodle fight.

“To all the participants, I am grateful to everyone for joining this event, this will be a good start of a lasting partnership in our quest for genuine peace in Caraga Region,” said 401st commander Col. Alexander Macario. (401st Brigade CMO Officer/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Campaign to End-VAW gisaulog sa Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, Dis. 7 (PIA) - Gisugdan niadtong November 25, 2015 ang pagselebrar sa 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) nga gitambungan sa nagkalain laing mga kawani sa goberno, nga gipangunahan sa Regional Development Council-Gender &Development Coordinating Committee (RDC-GADCC) Caraga ug Men Oppose to Violence Everywhere (MOVE), sa tema nga: “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty! Gains and Ways Forwards”.

Ang maong aktibidad gisugdan sa usa ka funwalk gikan sa Guingona park paingon sa capitol covered court ning dakbayan. Ang uban mga kalalakinhan nga niapil sa maong fun walk nagsuot og high-heeled shoes aron ilang ipakita ang ilang suporta sa mga kababayen-an, aron ilang masabtan kung unsa ang sakripisyo nga naagian sa mga kababayenhan.

Human sa funwalk anaay gihimo nga programa nga diin si Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo maoy ni congratulate ug ni welcome sa tanan nga niapil sa maong kalihokan nga gikan sa nagkalain laing mga ahensya sa goberno nga miduyog sa maong kalihokan. (JOMellejor, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)