(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: 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 ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Tuesday, January 19, 2016


SurSur declared as “Conflict Manageable and Development Ready” province


By Greg Tataro Jr.



TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 19 (PIA) – Surigao del Sur has been declared “Conflict Manageable and Development Ready” province during the First Quarter Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting held at the headquarters of the 36th Infantry Battalion at Barangay Dayoan, Tago town, this province on January 15, 2016.

Governor Johnny Pimentel, PPOC chair, who was presiding over the entire proceeding, banged the gavel to mark the unprecedented declaration as the meeting was nearly coming to an end.

 “So the resolution, if there is no objection, is unanimously seconded and hereby approved declaring the province as ready for investment and conflict manageable,” the governor stressed.

This was on motion of Board Member Henrich Pimentel, Peace and Order Council member and chair of the Peace and Order Committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, taking the cue from the proposal of Col. Isidro Purisima, 402nd Infantry Brigade commander, after the latter concluded his “Updates on Peace and Security” report by posing a question to the body whether Surigao del Sur, his area of responsibility (AOR), was indeed “Conflict Manageable and Development ready?”

But right after the report of Purisima, the governor had already made his compliment, saying “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 402nd Brigade and the attached battalions for a big accomplishment.”

Beforehand, the brigade chief pointed out “six conditions” before coming up with the move, citing “Civilian authorities take responsibility in issues on peace, security and development; Security condition is conducive for business and investment to flourish; Effective control of armed violence; Peace and Order Council (POC) effectively working, functioning and operational; LGU and PNP effectively addressing the local criminality problem; and Security situation paves way of the entry of investors and infrastructure development projects.”

In addition, Governor Pimentel acknowledged the fact that the army was instrumental in successfully thwarting the holding of the New People’s Army (NPA) of the 47th founding anniversary celebration of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) here in the province.

“For the first time in 15 years, the holding of the anniversary of the NPA was cancelled because of their efforts.  We have observed that Surigao del Sur has been a favorite place wherein they would like to conduct their anniversaries. But for the first time in how many years they were able to prevent the holding of the anniversary.  This is already a big accomplishment and I believe a big blow to the propaganda of the New People’s Army,” the governor remarked.” (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


News Feature: DA-PRDP supports the boost of rubber industry



By Fretcher Magatao

The establishment of improved rubber enterprises in Butuan City would lead to its optimum potential for profit among rubber farmers and manufacturers throughout Caraga.

The Regional Project Coordination Office–13 (RPCO-13) in coordination with the Mindanao Project Support Office I-REAP Team evaluated the business plan and project proposal worth 39 million for the city's rubber industry proposed by Km. 7 Farmers Producers Cooperative at Barangay Tungao.

“The city government of Butuan is aware of the potentials in developing the local rubber industry as strategy of developing its idle land resources and at the same time providing better livelihood opportunities to the farmers," said City Agriculturist Alberto Buca who leads the Butuan City team in facilitating the approval of the proposal.

Buca elaborated the huge domestic demand of natural rubber as raw materials for slippers, mattresses, tires and laboratory supplies which the country imports 82 percent from Thailand and Indonesia for its demand for production.

Km. 7 Farmers Producers Cooperative is an established farmers’ organization engaged in diversified farming activities; but rubber seedling production and selling cup lumps have been the organization’s leading lucrative source of income.

Butuan has growing number of hectares planted with rubber. “We have already covered more than a thousand hectares of rubber trees and have helped around 250 farmers in Butuan alone,” said General Manager Nilo Calipayan with the desire of influencing other farmers throughout Caraga to duplicate the organization’s farming practices.

To take part of the great challenge among the rubber industry associations and manufacturers in the Philippines, the LGU and proponent cooperative seek funding assistance from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) towards the promotion and development of the local rubber industry along the value chain development approach.

In its commitment to support the farmers for increase in production and income, the DA through PRDP I-REAP provides intervention for active farmers’ associations. "All interventions that are to be provided should address the weaknesses observed in the local rubber industry," said DA Caraga regional director Edna Mabeza.

The assessment and deliberation of the proposal brought a clear picture of the industry’s benefits if the project be implemented. "As seen in the plan, the proposal for the improvement of the local rubber industry would meet the gaps and constraints from production through maintenance which depicts the sustainability of the project," PSO I-REAP Component Head Basila Siago said.

The realization of the intervention would quickly achieve the full attainment of the rubber industry's productivity which would create a significant increase on the farmers' income. The enterprise will also provide additional livelihood and generate job opportunities for women tappers and across sectors including the indigenous people in the community and the surrounding barangays.

The project would create components such as budded rubber seedlings production; provision of production inputs and tools through Plant Now Pay Later scheme; and consolidation of rubber cup lump, quality production and marketing. (DA-13/PIA-Caraga)