(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.


Friday, January 29, 2016



Butuan hosts multi-sectoral forum on West PH Sea issue

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) held an information drive through a Multi-Sectoral Forum on West Philipppne Sea (WPS) Issue here on Tuesday.

The more than 150 participants are composed of farmers and fisherfolks, heads and representatives from the national government agencies, academe, media, local government units, business and religious sectors.

In his welcome message, PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga stressed that the discussion on the West Phil. Sea is so important for Filipinos to protect their interest and rights when it comes to the maritime rights of the country. “So, as participants in this forum, you will serve a function as immediate multipliers by cascading the information to the communities by keeping them informed about the issue on West Philippine Sea and the interventions made by the government,” Caga said.

Meanwhile, during a presentation of the rationale of the forum, PIA Caraga administrative officer and Surigao del Norte information center manager Venus Garcia also emphasized that the participation of the stakeholders plays a vital role in manifesting the same wave of patriotism. Garcia added that the WPS concern is not a battle resorting by force but a battle in claiming the Filipinos’ legitimate territorial rights. “Let us rally together to support the government’s undertakings on this issue. It is incumbent upon each of us to do our share,” she said.

As pointed out by guest speaker and DFA's senior assistant of the undersecretary for policy Ma. Teresa Almojuela, “the country has legitimate right on the West Phil. Sea as enshrined in the International Law, and that China is claiming what is ours, thus, the Filipinos should defend what is rightfully ours.”

Almojuela relayed that according to surveys, nine out of 10 Filipinos support the claim of the Philippine government on West Phil. Sea. “Our actions are based and are consistent with the rule of law. We hope for positive results and we are near to completion. Let's keep talking about this and keep the stakeholders in engaging into this undertakings," Almojuela added.

“To secure peace and security, the government implements a whole of a nation approach, and our country projects a credible defense posture. The security clusters continuously engage on briefings and meetings to come up with better assessment and resolutions regarding the dispute,” explained Almojuela.

Meanwhile, staff director of the PIA program management division Emelyn Libunao expressed that, "as a Filipino, each of us must engage and participate in delivering the message that we are determined to claim and defend what is legitimately ours by disseminating our acquired information especially on matters of the West Philippine Sea Issue."

Also, Libunao underscored during the open forum that the country is anchoring in the guiding principle of respect to the primacy of the rule of law. “Waging war is not our end option, we want to help our fellow Filipinos understand that we are determined to defend what is legitimately ours,” she remarked.

Participants heard the message of Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma through an audio-visual presentation emphasizing the vital role of communicators in the different communities especially in upholding the Filipinos’ legitimate rights towards the West Philippine Sea.

The multi-sectoral forum is one of the key activities of the information dissemination campaign targeting professionals down to the grassroot level. (JPG/DJA/VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Youth joins West Philippine Sea forum in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) - More than 200 students and campus youth leaders from different colleges and universities attended the Campus Forum on West Philippine Sea (WPS) Issue on Wednesday at Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU), this city.

The forum, organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the civil military operations (CMO) battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (PA), aims to raise awareness among the youth regarding the WPS issues and concerns and elicit the desired attitude toward and support for the Philippine position and initiatives in resolving the dispute.

“Everybody knows that China values its image in global arena to sustain its status in the region that’s why we are trying to engage with our other friend nations in order for us to attain our goal in advancing the country’s national interests in its territorial claims and exercise of its rights at its Exclusive Economic Zone,” enunciated Ma. Teresa Almojuela, guest speaker and DFA's senior assistant of the undersecretary for policy.

Almojuela discussed further that the web of relationship with other nations is important to have inclusive rules-based security level. And it encompasses arbitration as a way to resolve dispute. “The United States of America is helping the Philippines through enhanced defense cooperation agreement to strengthen alliance including disaster relief in a broader scope. We are clearly establishing a strong platform of engagement with the U.S.,” she added.

As the forum seeks for youth involvement, Lt Col Arlino Sendaidiego, International Relations Officer, 4ID, PA also mentioned in his message that in upholding the national interest, which includes the economy, the young people of today must take part in protecting and defending the areas under our jurisdiction by supporting the Philippine government’s approach to resolve the dispute.

Sendaidiego also stressed, "Now is the appropriate time to rekindle a dose of patriotism. Patriotism literally means an expression of love and pride for our native land, and for us Filipinos, it is also seen as an act of defending what is truly and legally ours - the West Philippine Sea."

“With your presence and involvement in today’s activity, you are actually taking a step ahead in participating to nation building as we aim to gain a strategic advantage in pursuit of resolving the West Philippine Sea dispute. Let us join hand-in-hand in facing a great deal of challenge in safeguarding our territorial integrity and sovereignty through a peaceful and diplomatic approach to settling the West Philippine Sea dispute rather than sit and be complacent about the issue,” emphasized Sendaidiego.

Meanwhile, Lyndon Buque, director of Human Resource Management & Development of (FSUU) also expressed that the institution is one with the Philippine government in its claim with its legitimate rights. FSUU provided the venue for the campus forum as a support to the WPS advocacy campaign. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


DAR Surigao Norte gears up for 2016 targets on support services

By Daryll M. Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Jan. 29 (PIA) - The Technical Advisory Support Services (TASS) of the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Norte (DAR-SDN) conducted recently its 2016 target setting and planning workshop on January 18-19, 2016 at DAR-SDN Conference Room, this city.

Several strategies and plans were identified and laid out to accomplish the organizational goals given to the division.

The provincial targets include both the Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands provinces.

TASS is expected to reach 18,528 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to undergo different trainings to increase their productivity and income and thus reach an improved quality of life.

Out of 18,528 ARBs, some 1,140 are targeted to become members of the agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) because only through these ARBOs that these ARBs can access our government support services.

On the other hand, TASS is also tasked to assess and capacitate 150 of its assisted ARBOs and provide them the necessary support services to make their organizations grow and enhance the economic well-being of its members.

The activity was spearheaded and facilitated by Ma. Elizabeth L. De Guzman, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I. (DAR-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: 2 ka adlaw nga planning workshop for women micro-enterpreneurs gipahigayon

Ni Mary Jul Esclante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Enero 29 (PIA) - Duha ka adlaw nga Planning Workshop on Shaping Progress for Women Microentrepreneurs gipahigayon kagahapon niadtong Enero 26 ug 27, 2016 didto sa Go Negosyo Center, Capitol Compound, ning dakbayan.

Mitambong sa maong workshop si Gobernador Sol F. Matugas, Bise Gobernador Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr, Kongresista Francisco Matugas mga board members sama nila Melva Garcia, Regina Alaan, Leonila Gorgolon, Simeon Vicente Castrence, Mamerto Galanida, Marnito Longos, Victor Borja, mga federated presidents sa nagkadaiyang women's organizations sa 21 ka mga munisipyo ning probinsya ug uban pa.

Mihatag ug mensahe ang mga board members mahitungod sa ilang suporta sa micro-entrepreneurship initiatives sa probinsya nga gipanghingusgan ni Gob. Matugas alang sa kalambuan sa mga kababainhan sa lalawigan.

Sa iyang mensahe gisaysay sa gobernador ang mga inherent power of women nga makaimpluwensya sama sa mga babaye sa bibliya nga sila Herudias, Jesebel, Delilah ug uban pa.

Naghisgot usab ang gobernador sa umaabot nga Community Praise and Worship sa mga kababainhan tungod kay ang mga kababainhan mao ang prayer warriors.

Dugang pa sa gobernador nga maayong ibalik ang mga karaan nga mga tradisyon sa mga kababainhan sama sa pagborda diin kini makatabang usab sa pagnegosyo diin ang probinsya mohatag og Kapital pinaagi sa kooperatiba para mapalambo ang entrepreneurial skills sa mga kababainhan.

Sa iyang bahin si Department of Labor and Emplyment (DOLE) provincial director Herminihildo Daytoc mipasabot sa informal sectors accreditation ug pag access sa mga programa ug serbisyo sa DOLE.

Samtang si Romy Ecoben sa TESDA mipasabot usab sa mga programa ug serbisyo sa Techincal Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) ug ang women empowerment pinaagi sa entrepreneurship.

Atol sa maong kalihukan ang representante sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) mipasabotusb mahitungod sa pag access sa mga programa ug serbisyo sa DTI. (SDR/PGO-PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)