(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 19 March 2024) Easterlies affecting 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. Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast to North will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Wednesday, May 25, 2016



DTI Caraga facilitates 'Buy Caraga By Caraga' trade fair and exhibit

By Irene L. Macheca

BUTUAN CITY, May 25 (PIA) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Caraga once again facilitated the conduct of “Buy Caraga By Caraga” at Robinsons Place Butuan on May 11-13, 2016 to showcase the region’s best products.  “Caraga does it Best” is this year’s theme.  Truly, Caraga’s local products have gone a long way.

Sales performance for three days hit P3.2 Million, a significant increase over last year’s performance of P1.2 Million.  Most of the products that sells good were the processed food.  At least 20 producers from the different parts of the region participated.  “Balikbayans” on vacation were among the buyers.  Irenea R. Hitgano of Hillsview Food Products said that summer is indeed the best time for the Buy Caraga By Caraga Trade Fair and Exhibit.  She is happy with her sales and she can’t wait for the 2017 edition.

With this year’s good sales performance, DTI Caraga regional director Brielgo O. Pagaran vowed to double the Department’s efforts in product development. DTI Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado also committed to give more support for the development of Caraga’s products.

In partnership with Gifts, Decors and Housewares (GDH) Entrepreneurs Inc., and CREATE Food Inc., this regional trade fair and exhibit exclusive for Caraga will continue as an annual event in the region.   (DTI-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


AFP, PNP gear up for “Brigada Eskwela” in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 25 (PIA) – Both army and police here have assured to be sending their respective contingents during the conduct of Brigada Eskwela to be spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd) on May 30 to June 4.

Capt. Regie Go, civil military operations (CMO) officer of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) under Col. Isidro Purisima, said that an instruction in this regard had already been received from higher headquarters, adding that coordination with concerned officials of DepEd had likewise been made at their level.

The CMO officer pointed out that DepEd had likewise been requested to provide specifics in order for them to know how to go about their task, citing limited resources.

He particularly underscored the schedule of the kick-off ceremony apart from the “specific service” the army could render.

Capt. Go indicated that their partnership with DepEd in the annual conduct of Brigada Eskwela had started a long time, linking this to their Bayanihan Team Activity (BTA).

In a separate interview, P/Chief Insp. Noel Naranjo, Police Community Relations branch head at the Police Provincial Office (PPO) confirmed sending a message regarding “Operational Guidelines and Procedures” on “Ligtas Balik Eskwela” to all lower units.

He said that P/SSupt. Romaldo Bayting, acting PNP provincial director, had taken the cue of his action from the earlier memorandum coming from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13.

Compliance included the submission of the respective implementation plans (IMPLANS), it was stressed. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


BFP steps up inspection of classrooms, boarding houses, dormitories for school opening in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 25 (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), this city, headed by F/Insp. Kenneth Van De los Reyes, has intensified efforts to inspect school buildings, boarding houses as well as dormitories to make sure that all are fire safety compliant.

Set to accomplish the mission in June, the city fire chief said that such fire safety inspection being conducted had been underway since kicking off early this month.

A memorandum to this effect had been issued to be carried out nationwide, SFO2 Rogelio Secarro, BFP provincial operations chief, said in a separate interview.

To make sure about compliance, an “after activity report” would be required to be submitted to their office headed by F/Insp. Rowella Dinolan, provincial fire marshall, he confirmed.

Meanwhile, F/Insp. De los Reyes remarked that “So far, only minor violations of the Fire Code were noted,” citing about compliance to requirements of fire extinguishers, exits, automatic fire sprinkler system and building permits.

Besides, the city fire chief wanted to seek cooperation of the Department of Education (DepEd) in his area of responsibility (AOR) to observe quarterly fire drill on a regular basis according to the existing rules and regulations.

On related developments, De los Reyes admitted seeing lack of fire hydrants especially in the business district considering that Tandag City had been continuously booming, saying that it had to be part of the “social responsibility” of any water distribution utility, which in this case, under Tandag Water District (TWD).

The city fire chief however quickly added being unsure whether funding for the purchase and installation of such fire hydrants had to be shared between the concerned local government unit (LGU) or to be shouldered alone by the servicing water distribution utility existing in the area. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DPWH implements 3B road maintenance along Daang Maharlika

BUTUAN CITY, May 25 (PIA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is all laid out to exploit more than P3 billion for five years or 1,800 calendar days for asset preservation and maintenance of the Daang Maharlika which stretches from Lipata, Surigao City in Surigao del Norte to Boundary Agusan del Norte Section in Caraga Region.

This project is dubbed as “Hybrid Long Term Performance Based Maintenance Contract (LTPBM), PBM-4 Maharlika Highway Surigao (Lipata) – Boundary Agusan del Norte Section (K1113+500 – K1237+000) Asset Preservation Contract – Preventive Maintenance (APC-PM) Component, JICA L/A No. PH-P247” which contract cost is P3,321,551,974.95 to be exact.

It started in October last year and expected to expire on September 2020.

A total of 123.5 kilometers is covered in this contract implemented under performance-based maintenance (PBM), which is a new concept of road asset preservation designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of road maintenance operations that ensures all physical conditions of the road, is adequate for the need of road users over the entire period of the contract, and compliant to required service levels.

According to DPWH Assistant Secretary Dimas S. Soguilon, who recently visited the region on February 2, 2016 to conduct ocular inspection on operations for the said project, “this concept is a type of contract that significantly expands the role of the contractor, from simple execution of works to the management and preservation of road assets.”

The project is currently implemented by DPWH-Unified Project Management Office (UPMO), but periodically submits report to DPWH-Regional Office 13.  Also, a team is created by virtue of D.O. 76, series of 2016 to monitor and check compliance of the contractor to the levels of service under the maintenance portion of their contract which consists of Representatives from:  the Maintenance Section of the District concerned, Maintenance Division of the Regional Office concerned, Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) RUPP, Road Cluster I, JRUPP Consultants; and Bureau of Maintenance.

UPMO Project Engr. Emigio L. De Leon discussed in details the background of the Hybrid LTPBM Contract during the Regional Coordination Conference held at Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

“The major item for this project is asphalt overlay which is equivalent to more than 67% of the total contract cost,” he said.

Program of works for the project includes rehabilitation and minor improvement to maintainable standards of existing pavement, shoulder reformation, cross-fall reinstatement, road safety related improvement, cross drainage improvement work and bridge structure maintenance work.

Performance based works are also included such as maintenance of the carriageway by preventive maintenance work using asphalt concrete overlay with 50 mm – 75 mm thickness, as well as roadside maintenance including drainage and vegetation.

He also informed that twin bridge known as Paypay Bridge in Brgy. Poblacion of Santiago, Agusan del Norte will be reconstructed into four lanes as included in the contract during the initial 18 months of contract period; but the design for the bridge was currently on the process of finalization.

As of April 2015, 2016, the project’s actual rate of accomplishment is at 28.0% and currently expended P933,488,207.52 for 187 calendar days that have elapsed.

This project became feasible from JICA Loan Agreement No. PH-P247 as the fund source. (DPWH/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Labi ng namayapang Agusan del Sur peace negotiator Josefina Bajade, inilibing na

Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Mayo 25 (PIA) - Inihatid na sa huling hantungan ang labi ng pinatay na peace negotiator sa Agusan del Sur at retired Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) na si Josefina Bajade noong myerkules sa San Lorenzo Ruiz Memorial Garden, San francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Maagang nagsidatingan sa Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish ang mga kaibigan, pamilya at supporters ni Josefina Bajade o nanay Nic-Nic kung tawagin ng mga nakakakilala sa kanya para sa kanyang necrology service. Nagbigay rin ng mga mensahe ang malalapit na kapamilya at kaibigan ni nanay Nic-Nic.

Ayon kay Ian Louie Bajade, anak ni Josefina Bajade, wala silang nakitang matinding dahilan o kasalanan ng kanilang ina laban sa New Peoples Army (NPA) kaya ito pinatay. “Wala kaming nakitang dahilan upang patayin nila (NPA) ang aming ina. Sa pagkakaalam namin, marami nang natulungan ang aming ina sa kanyang ilang taong paninilbihan sa gobyerno. Walang pinipiling tao ang aming ina, kung sino yung humihingi ng tulong niya, hindi siya nagdadalawang isip na tumulong,” sabi niya.    

Dagdag pa niya, karumal-dumal ang ginawang pagpatay ng mga kasapi ng NPA sa kanyang anim-naput apat na taong gulang na ina na may karamdaman.

Nananawagan din siya na tulongan ang kanyang pamilya na makamit ang hustisya para sa kanyang ina na naging aktibo noon sa kanyang pagiging peace negotiator sa probinsya.

Samantala, nagpahayag din ng kanilang sentimiyento at pagdadalamhati ang ilang mga leaders ng indigenous peoples sa pagkamatay ni Josefina Bajade. Hangad anya nila na mapanagot at makulong ang mga responsable sa pagpatay kay nanay Nic-Nic at pinaaalahanan ang publiko na lalong maging maingat sa kanilang komunidad at iwasang maimpluwensyahan ng mga karumal-dumal na gawain ng mga NPA. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)