(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.


Thursday, June 16, 2016

MARINA Caraga to hold Seafarers’ Day in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 16 (PIA) – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Caraga will be holding this year’s Seafarers’ Day celebration on June 25 at the Robinsons Place, this city.

According to MARINA Caraga regional director Engr. Emmanuel Carpio, said celebration will be conducted first time in the city since it has been celebrated in Surigao City, where their regional office is situated.

“This activity will be attended by our Maritime students, seafarers and other government and private partners in the industry. As a way of acknowledging their social and economic contribution, we would like to offer them this celebration,” expressed Carpio.

For more information, the MARINA regional office can be reached at telephone number: (085) 816-2573. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DTI conducts product development training in Surigao Norte town

By Lyza D. Trapal

CLAVER, Surigao del Norte, June 16 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial office in partnership with the Taganito Mining Corporation (TMC) and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Claver conducted recently a two-day Product Development Training cum Packaging and Labeling Training Workshop held at the TMC Training Center, Barangay Taganito, this town.

The event aims to enhance the existing knowledge of the women producers of the said barangay by inculcating to them the entrepreneurship and marketing aspects (packaging and labeling) in their existing food processing activities.

The two-day activity benefited 20 members and officers of Root Crops Producers of Urbiztondo who are currently engaged in processing some rootcrops called “Kakanin” sold at TMC and schools canteen.

The first day of the training was allocated for short lectures on entrepreneurial awareness of which the Personal Entrepreneurial Competency level of the participants were assessed/measured and the skills training on Cassava Chippy and Dried Cassava Grates processing /making.

The training outputs paved the way for the kicking off of the packaging and labeling training on the second day.

Expected outputs of the skills training are cassava chippy and the dried cassava grates but due to the eagerness and enthusiast of the participants to learn new product line, they were able to produce jolly roll using dried cassava grates with the assistance of the trainer Vilmore Aliguay.

On the other hand, the packaging and labeling training encouraged the participants to create and innovate their own package and labels for their cassava chippy and jolly rolls. The expertise of the trainer, Mhea Villacartos, a freelance designer complemented by the enthusiasm and eagerness of the participants paved way for the creation of various packaging sizes and designs (cellophane and boxes).

In the end, the new entrepreneurs were able to produce complete package of two new products lines from rootcrops specifically the cassava – cassava chippy and cassava jolly roll which are made available not only to TMC personnel guests but also to LGU guests, as well.

Before the training ended, the chairperson of the Rootcrops Producers of Urbiztondo, Carolina P. Esteban, expresses her heartfelt thanks to TMC, DTI and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Claver for the convergence effort of helping them augment their income and hoped that the said project will be sustained and will provide them with additional earnings for their respective families. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Surigao Norte guv supports Duterte's view on mining

By John Glenn Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 16 (PIA) - Governor Sol F. Matugas recently clarified that she supports the stand of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte against irresponsible mining.

Gov. Matugas also said that she is strictly enforcing applicable rules and pertinent regulations to make sure that mining companies comply with official policies.

It can be recalled that on June 4, President-elect Duterte told the big mining companies, particularly in Surigao del Norte, to stop destroying the environment.

"I am for responsible mining. I believe in caring for the environment. That is why at the end of this month we are opening a coastal resource center in Hayangabon, Claver," said Governor Matugas.

She added that even big mining companies at present are required to observe with the terms and conditions of their existence, to make sure that they do the best practices in terms of making sure that reforestation and tree-planting activities are completed.

Surigao del Norte is one of the major sources of gold, nickel and minerals. Gov. Matugas said she is doing all her best to regulate mining and see to it that the environment is taken care of.

"No new mining permits will be issued and those existing mining companies like Hinatuan Mining Company, Taganito HPAL, and others must comply with the strict environmental laws of the land," she added. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


DTI SurSur hosts 2016 CMCI roadshow

By Sarah P. Estrada

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 16 (PIA) – A total of 70 representatives from 18 of the 19 local government units (LGUs) in Surigao del Sur attended the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Roadshow hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Sur held recently at the Grand Ballroom of Villa Maria Luisa Hotel, this city.

Composed of mayors, vice mayors, sangguniang bayan members, planning and development coordinators, municipal engineers, local economic and investment promotion officer designates, business permit and licensing system officer designates and staff of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and DTI, the participants were presented with an analysis of the 2015 CMCI results.  A discussion was also made to unlock difficulty in complying with the 2016 CMCI Data Capture Form and to appreciate the 2016 Seal for Good Local Governance criteria.

 “LGUs should strive to be more competitive as this increases their chances to qualify for DILG’s Seal for Good Local Governance and Infrastructure projects like bridges and roads,” emphasized DILG provincial director Pedrito Alacaba.

Alacaba’s words did not fall on deaf ears because last April 30, 2016 there was a 100 percent submission of LGUs of their duly accomplished 2016 CMCI Data Capture Forms, including annexes and other supporting documents. (DTI-SurSur/PIA-Surigao del Sur)