(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, June 22, 2016


NEDA exec optimistic for ‘Ambisyon Natin 2040’ program to continue in next admin

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – In the Regional Development Council (RDC) Caraga meeting here held on Wednesday, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) central office - development information staff director Nerrisa Esguerra expressed her optimism that the new administration led by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will adopt and support their ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’ Program.

Esguerra explained that the ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’ represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country for the next 25 years. It describes the kind of life that people want to live, as well as how the country will look like by 2040. As such, it will serve as an anchor for development planning across at least four administrations.

“We know that development is a long-term process. It takes many years, even decades, for a country to reach a higher level of development so as to significantly raise living standards and, subsequently, eradicate poverty. But because of the current political system, government planning has traditionally been bound by the six-year term of a presidency. This has often led to discontinuity of even good policies and programs. Thus, stakeholders have been clamoring for a long-term development plan that will ensure sustainability and continuity of good policies, programs, and projects beyond the term a political administration,” relayed Esguerra.

The said director also emphasized that the incoming NEDA director-general Ernesto Pernia and other officials were already informed about the program and have expressed interest in fulfilling the vision.

She further disclosed that crafting the ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’ was a result of a consultative process. According to her, an Advisory Committee composed of representatives from the government, private sector, the academe, and civil society guided the overall implementation of the visioning exercise. “Experts from different fields of development were also consulted, especially on the thematic technical papers. Guided by the Advisory Committee, NEDA led the development of the project’s various components, including public consultations through focus group discussions, national survey, technical studies, and communication and advocacy,” she recalled.

Dir. Esguerra is also encouraging the public to use ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’ as a topic for discourse and study in the academe, basis for goal-setting of projects and programs in our communities, among others.

“The public is also free to use (without major alterations) the visual materials and information posted on the AmBisyon Natin 2040 website and Facebook page. We are also open to talk about AmBisyon Natin 2040 in relevant external events and gatherings. There will be a string of public events in the coming months where the public is invited to join,” she said.

Meanwhile, NEDA Caraga regional director Mylah Faye Aurora Carino revealed that in line with the said program, series of information caravan will be conducted in the different provinces of the region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Top DENR-13 officers take 2-day orientation on foreign-assisted projects

By Herzon Gallego

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga regional director Nonito M. Tamayo and his senior officers, including the PENR officers, CENR officers, and division chiefs attended a two-day orientation about Foreign-Assisted and Special Project (FASP) held at Amontay Beach Resort in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte to familiarize themselves with its operation and management system in the region.

There are 26 on-going FASPs nationwide with a total cost of US$ 466.38 million (P21.4 billion) implemented since 2007 until 2022. Eight of these projects are active in Caraga Region.

These projects are (1) the Philippine Climate Change Adaptation Project (PhilCCAP) with a total grant amount of US $ 4,970,000, which is a pilot project with the objective of developing and demonstrating approaches that would enable targeted communities to adapt to the potential impacts of climate variability and change; (2) Strengthening National System to Improve Governance and Management of Indigenous People and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories (Philippine ICCA Project) with a total grant amount of US$ 1,890,000. This project strengthens the conservation, protection, and management of key biodiversity sites in the Philippines by institutionalizing IPs and local communities conserved areas and territories as a sustainable addition to the National Protected Area estate; (3) Integrated Persistent Organic Pollutants Management Project (IPOPs Management Project) with a total grant amount of US$ 26,670,000 by the World Bank/Global Environment Facility (WB-GEF); (4) Philippine Solid Waste Management Sector Project (PSWMSP) with a grant amount of US $ 3,000,000 by the Asian Development Bank. This project will improve efficiency and reliability of delivery of Solid Waste Management services to residents in the recipient local government units which include construction of sanitary landfill and Material Recovery Facility (MRF), purchase of garbage collection trucks, MRF waste bins and equipments among others; (5) Program on Forest Study on "The Role of Forest in Reducing Poverty and Enhancing Climate Resilience" (PROFOR) with a total grant amount of US$ 300,000 by the World Bank.

This is a study of the DENR with the objective to enhance understanding of how forest and the ecosystem services contribute and mutually reinforce both poverty reduction and resilience in the Philippines; (6) Scaling up Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asis (SDS-SEA) with a total grant amount of US$ 167,909,459 by the UNDP-GEF, Partner Countries and NGOs.

This project represents the "transformation phase" of a series of GEF support, culminating on the sustainability of the PENSEA as a regional coordinating mechanism for the implementation of SDS-SEA; (7) Strengthening the Marine Protected Area System to conserve Marine Key Biodiversity Areas ( MKBA) with a total grant amount of US$ 8,000,000 by the UNDP-GEF; (8) Partnership for Biodiversity Conservation: Mainstreaming in Local Agricultural Landscapes, or Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP) with a total grant amount of Php 691,606,338.43.

This project will directly address barriers through an integrated approach aimed at strengthening enabling policies at the national level; enhancing capacities of LGUs, and demonstration in selected pilot sites.

According to Roberto Oliveros, assistant regional director for Technical Services, "The extent and nature of involvement of the regional office in the implementation of these Foreign-Assisted Projects require strong coordination between the DENR and the FASPO."

The two-day orientation also discussed and clarified the different types of Overseas Development Assistance Project and the distribution of different DENR-FASPs nationwide; the process and procedures in the Project Management Cycle vis-à-vis; the role of FASP office; the project preparation and packaging as initiated by field offices in close coordination with the FASP; and Well-Coordinated field implementation, monitoring and evaluation. (DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


AgNor farmer-groups honored during CARP anniversary

By Gil E. Miranda

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) - Three Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) in the province of Agusan del Norte were honored for their outstanding performance in the implementation of the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) as Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)  celebrates its 28th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) held recently at Robinsons Place, this city.

The conferment of the award was led by DAR Caraga regional director Julita A. Ragandang with DAR Agusan del Norte Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega to the ARBOs that include Baleguian Organic Farmers’ Irrigators Association (BOFIA), Maong Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative, (MAFCO) and Taguibo Integrated Pest Management Irrigators’ Association (TIPMA).

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Andre B. Atega congratulates the ARBOs for this year’s excellent performance in the implementation of the APCP.

APCP is a financing program being implemented by the DAR, Department of Agriculture and Land Bank of the Philippines to provide credit including development assistance and marketing support to improve the farmers in developing the CARP awarded farmlands. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DAR honors outstanding Surigao Norte ARBOs

By Daryll Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 (PIA) - Nine agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in Surigao del Norte were honored recently for their outstanding performance in the implementation of the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The recognition was part of the kick-off celebration of the 28 years of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on June 14, 2016 held at Robinsons Place, Butuan City.

The outstanding ARBOs were San Pedro Rural Workers Association of Brgy. San Pedro, Alegria; Esperanza Farmers Credit Cooperative of Brgy. Esperanza, Del Carmen; Trinidad Farmers Credit Cooperative of Brgy. Trinidad, Surigao City; Cantapoy Farmers and Fisherman Credit Cooperative of Brgy. Cantapoy, Malimono; Honrado Farmers Credit Cooperative of Brgy. Honrado, San Francisco; Himamaug Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative of Brgy. Himamaug, Taganaan; Ima Women-Initiated Community Association of Brgy. Ima, Sison; Union Agro-Agri Credit Organization of Brgy. Union, Dapa; and Mabini Farmers Agra Credit Cooperative of Brgy. Mabini, Surigao City.

The ARBO borrowers were recognized for their performance based on the criteria of approved loan and accumulated loan availment since the ARBOs were granted of the APCP loans with the Landbank of the Philippines. These APCP loans were granted to ARBOs starting in 2014.

Moreover, the San Pedro Rural Workers Association of Brgy. San Pedro in Alegria was also hailed as the Best ARBO in Surigao del Norte for their highest performance compared to other ARBOs in Surigao del Norte per set criteria and standard of the Landbank of the Philippines. (DAR-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Caraga Region joins nationwide simultaneous Earthquake Drill 2016

By April Rose Anne Y. Sanchez

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – An estimated of 3,500 Caraganons participated in the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on June 22 at 9:00 in the morning.

The nationwide drill dubbed as “PAGYANIG 2016” measured the nation’s readiness whenever an earthquake strikes.

The ceremonial site of Caraga Region is the Butuan City School of Arts and Trade (BCSAT) where a total of 1,852 students, teachers and administrative personnel participated in the drill.

Likewise, regional government agencies and private establishments participated in the nationwide drill. Provinces in the region have also identified their respective ceremonial sites.

The official tally of the drill participants in the region shall be released once official reports from participating stakeholders have been submitted to the Office of Civil Defense - Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-RDRRMC) Operations Center.

The drill was led by the OCD Caraga Region together with City DRRMO, which served as evaluators.

This tested the readiness and level of preparedness of Caraga in efficiently and effectively responding to high magnitude earthquake. Likewise, gaps, issues and lessons learned were identified during the drill. The exercise improves the ability and capacity of the region to respond to and recover from earthquake.

The drill was officially terminated at 12:00 p.m. (OCD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


SurSur army chief: Insurgency still lingers in some areas of province

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 22 (PIA) – Col. Isidro Purisima, commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA), this province, admitted that insurgency problems had continued to thrive but only in some areas here.

The government’s campaign to purge the province of rebels had already gained broad support from the public, he stressed.

On June 10, the army brigade here held an Area Clearing Validation (ACV) with Gov. Johnny Pimentel and Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, respective chairs of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), this province, and Area Clearing Validation Board (ACVB) of the army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) aimed at assessing the insurgency situation.

During the occasion, all four battalion commanders of the 402nd Infantry Brigade under Col. Purisima were in attendance together with the mayors or their alter egos.

In a recent interview, Purisima said that the lawless armed groups (LAG), referring to the New People’s Army (NPA), had still managed to have their presence felt.

This occurred on June 15 when a container van loaded with banana products owned by the DOLE Philippines was set on fire at the national highway of Barangay Amaga in Barobo town, 105 kilometers south, this city.

It was learned however that, together with the police, the counteraction made by government troopers was pinned on the company’s vicinity instead.

Col. Purisima had issued a statement condemning the violent act, urging the public to do the same.  Such incident was already carried out twice in a row in the same town this year.

The brigade commander said that schoolchildren who happened to witness the burning incident made by some 15 lawless elements, according to P/CInsp. Dominador Plaza, the town’s chief of police (COP), were even threatened that something bad was going to be done.

Companies here which do not yield to the rebels’ way of extorting money, had incurred heavy losses, reports indicated.

Col. Purisima had expressed hope that the incoming Duterte administration would put an end to the lingering problem on insurgency in the country. (Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Tagalog News: Opisyal ng NEDA positibo na susuportahan ng bagong administration ang 'AmBisyon Natin 2040'

Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 22 (PIA) - Positibo at naniniwala si director Nerrisa Esguerra ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) - central office na susuportahan at ipagpapatuloy ng bagong administrasyon sa pamumuno ni President-elect Rodrigo Duterte ang nasimulang 'AmBisyon Natin 2040' ng nasabing ahensya.

Sa ginanap na Regional Development Council (RDC) Caraga meeting dito sa lungsod, sinabi ni director Esguerra na napaabot na umano nila sa bagong uupong director general at iba pang bagong opisyales ng NEDA ang tungkol sa programang eto.

Ibinahagi rin ni director Esguerra na ang ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’ ay isang long-term vision at aspirations ng mga Pilipino para sa kanilang sarili at kanilang pananaw sa bansa sa susunod pang 25 taon.

Pinapakita anya dito kung anong uri ng buhay ang gustong makamtan ng mga pinoy pati na rin umano ang posibleng kalagayan ng bansa sa taong 2040.

Nananawagan din si director Esguerra sa publiko na suportahan ang layunin ng ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’. Magagamit din anya ng publiko ang mga Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials ng nasabing programa sa pag-aaral para sa academe sector at maaari ring maging basehan sa anumang goal-setting para sa mga proyekto at programang makakabuti sa komunidad.

Ayon naman kay NEDA Caraga regional director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, na may gaganapin silang information caravan sa ibat-ibang probinsya sa rehiyon upang mapalaganap pa ang adbokasiya ng ahensiya patungkol dito. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Media nagtipon-tipon sa isang camaraderie sa lungsod ng Butuan

Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 22 (PIA) - Nagtipon-tipon ang mga media sa isang camaraderie night event kasama ang convenor ng Caraga Conference for Peace and Development at Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, opisyales ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) na ginanap dito sa lungsod.

Sa kanyang mensahe, binigyang diin ni Bishop Pueblos ang tungkulin at responsibilidad ng media sa paglalahad ng mga makatotohanang balita sa publiko. Ayon kay Bishop Pueblos, ang media ay hindi lamang naghahatid ng balita sa araw-araw kundi tumutulong rin sa mga tao na makabuo nang mabuti at nararapat na desisyon sa kanilang buhay.

Ayon naman kay PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga maging sensitibo rin dapat ang media sa mga balitang inihahatid sa publiko. May mga sensitibong issues umanong dapat mas pagtuonan ng pansin na may pangkalahatang interest.

Samantala, ipinahayag din ni Major General Benjamin Madrigal, commander ng 4th Infantry Division ng Philippine Army ang kanyang pasasalamat sa patuloy na suporta ng media sa kanilang mga aktibidades, maging sa kanilang adbokasiya tungo sa kapayapaan.

Isa anya itong badge of honor na makasama ang media sa paghahatid nang tama, makabuluhan at napapanahon na mga balita sa publiko.

Patuloy din umano ang kanilang ginagawang koordinasyon sa media at sa ibat-ibang sektor upang mapanatili ang kaayusan at kapayapaan sa rehiyon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Mga kawani sa BJMP Caraga gipailawom sa random drug test

Ni JO2 Orlando V Montalban

BUTUAN CITY, Hunyo 22 (PIA) - Sa mando sa Regional Director SSupt. Ester G Pepito, uban sa pag-abag sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Caraga, gipailawon sa random drug test ang mga jail officers nga nadestino sa Caraga Regional Office apil na ang tanang mga wardens nga nadestino sa mga bilanggoan nga sakop sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Caraga, niadtong Martes, Hunyo 21, atol sa gihimo nga Values Formation Seminar.

Gihimo ang maong test agig suporta sa anti-illegal drugs campaign sa incoming administration og aron pud matino kun aduna bay mga gumagamit sa illegal nga droga sa han-ay sa mga jail officers sa rehiyon sa Caraga.

Nikabat sa 60 ka mga empleyado ang napailalom sa maong drug test og ang resulta masuta human sa 15 ka adlaw.

Kahinumduman nga sa gihimong drug test niadtong bulan sa Enero niining tuiga, nagnegatibo ang 46 ka mga jail officers sa nadestino sa mao gihapong opisina. (BJMP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: P5 milyon nga coastal resource management center sa Surigao Norte gi-inagurahan na

Ni Mary Jul Escalante

CLAVER, Surigao del Norte, Hunyo 22 (PIA) – Ang Coastal Resource Management Center sa Hayanggabon, Claver ning probinsya malampusong gibindisyunan, gi-inagurahan ug giturn-over niadtog Hunyo 21, 2016.

Ang maong pasilidad kantidad P5 milyones gikan sa Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation pinaagi sa ilang Social Development Management Program (SDMP) diin kabahin kini sa ilang adbokasiya sa responsible nga pagmina.

Mitambong sa maong okasyon si Gobernador Sol F. Matugas, Congressman Francisco T. Matugas, Bise Gobernador Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr., Claver Mayor Eddie Gokiangkee ug mga representante sa THPAL  nga mao sila Plant Manager Munekazu Kawata, Admin Manager Yohei Iwaki ug Acting Civil Manager Makoto Takashi, mga katawhan sa brgy. Hayanggabon ug uban pang mga dinapit nga bisita.

Sa iyang mensahe, si Gobernador Matugas nalipayay og dako tungod kay natuman na gayod ang damgo sa probinsya nga makabaton sa maong pasilidad ug dako usab ang iyang pasalamat sa tabang ug suporta sa THPAL diin maoy intrumento aron matuman an maong damgo.

Matud pa ni Gobernador Matugas ang maong building gamiton alang sa pagtoon ug pagresearch alang sa pagproteher sa mga coastal areas ug pag showcase sa mga kaayuhan sa probinsya nga maoy ikapakita sa mga turista nga mobisita dinhi sa probinsya.

Samtang sa iyang kabahin malipayon ug mapasalamaton gayod si Hayanggabon Punong Brgy. Rito Placencia sa maong pasilidad nga nahimutang sa ilang barangay diin kini nahimo pinaagi sa inisyatiba sa gobernador ug sa pundo sa THPAL. (PGO-PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Vet Quarantine checkpoints ibutang sa lalawigan

Ni Jay Vincent V. Demain

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Pinaagi sa usa ka ordinansa, butangan na og veterinary quarantine checkpoints ang nagkalain-laing lugar sa probinsya aron mapugngan ang pagsulod o pagawas sa bisan unsang sakit gikan sa hayop.

Basi sa Provincial Ordinance No. 413-2016 nga gipangamahanan ni Provincial Board Member Rey G. Jamboy, ang tsirman sa Committee on Health and Nutrition, butangan og checkpoints ang mga entry ug exit  points sa probinsya sama sa Carmen, Kitcharao, Nasipit port ug bisan pa man sa airport sa Bancasi ug Tungao ning dakbayan.

Responsibilidad sa veterinary quarantine officer nga magdumala sa checkpoints nga maghimog inspeksyon sa mga hayop nga mosulod ug mogawas sa probinsya sa tuyo nga dili makasulod ang unsa mang klasing sakit gikan sa hayop lakip na ang gitawag nga by-products niini.

Gitagaan silag gahom nga mopatay sa mga hayop nga mapamatud-ang adunay sakit ug pagdumili sa pagsulod o paggawas niini kon kini gidala sa iligal nga pamaagi. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)