(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).


Thursday, August 11, 2016


EMB-Caraga to launch ‘Basura Patrol Program’

By  Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 11 (PIA) – In compliance to the stringent implementation of the Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Caraga will launch the Basura Patrol Program on the forthcoming 6th Caraga Regional Ecological Center (CREC) Summit to inform the citizens on the substance of the program.

As a pilot program in Metro Manila in 2013, it will also be introduced in the region with particular emphasis on the penal provision on illegal dumping and is aimed at dealing the adverse impact of improper solid waste management practices in localities. Specific date and venue of launching is yet to be announced soon.

With this, a ‘Basura Patrollers’ will be organized who will adequately serve the function of monitoring, documenting and taking geotagged photos of illegal dumping, open burning activities and littering, among others. They will also see if local government units maintain cleanliness in its respective jurisdictions.

“We have to reinforce methods or strategies that will aid in our direction of keeping our environment cleaner, safer and greener. Ensuring the protection of public health and environment is an utmost concern of everyone,” said EMB-Caraga regional director Wilson Trajero.

The National and Regional Ecology Centers shall give primary considerations of making all the information generated, collected, recorded and stored accessible to the general public and the said information shall include data for solid waste management plans, the national framework, national status report and all other relevant information necessary to implement and ecological waste management programs and projects.

Other stakeholders especially the academe, civic organizations and media sector are urged to help in propagating the program. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


PNVSCA, CHED conduct volunteerism story writing contest

By Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 11 (PIA) – The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) has partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the conduct of a Volunteerism Story Writing Contest.

With the theme “Volunteering for Sustainable Development,” the collaborative activity aims to engage Filipino youth, particularly the National Service Training Program (NSTP) students, in discovering and narrating the diverse experiences and insights of people and organizations who render volunteer service for community empowerment and sustainable development.

Also, the conduct of Volunteerism Story Writing contest is aimed to promote volunteerism both as a way of life and a cross-cutting tool to achieve socio-economic development

Each region will have a winning entry to showcase the volunteering stories in different areas of the country.

For more information of the contest mechanics and entry forms can be found and can be downloaded at PNVSCA’s website at www.pnvcsa.gov.ph and Facebook Page www.facebook.com/innovatcooperateinspire or at CHED’s website at www.ched.gov.ph.

Contestant should submit both printed and electronic copies of entry. The e-copy must be sent by e-mail to info@pnvsca.gov.ph while the printed copy must be enclosed in a brown envelope and sent to Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency located at the Ground Floor, Philippine Sugar Center Building, North avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Interested participants may also contact PNVSCA at info@pnvsca.gov.ph and/or (02) 2777389.

The deadline for the submission of entries is on August 31, 2016. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


TESDA, Surigao Norte town implement barangay scholarship program

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 11 (PIA) – The provincial office of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here in partnership with the local government unit of Sison has recently implemented the barangay scholarship program through a skills training.

TESDA provincial director Allan S. Millan said the training being conducted is in partnership with the local government unit of Sison, aimed to provide skills training opportunities to indigent beneficiaries to equip them with employable skills to make them economically productive.

He bared that 53 self-confessed drug users have availed the program enrolled in the different competencies, namely: 19 in Small Engine and Motorcycle Mechanic, 15 in Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I, and 19 enrolled in Electrical Installation and Maintenance.

Millan further said that enrollees will avail free training and assessment and also received daily allowance from TESDA fund as mandated under Republic Act No. 9509 or the Barangay Pangkabuhayan Act.

TESDA is mandated to implement the Republic Act No. 9509, which establishes livelihood and skills training centers in the fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities to open employment opportunities, combat poverty and improve the quality of life of Filipinos. The budget allocation is included in TESDA’s appropriation in the FY 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the Locally-Funded Project (LFP). (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


MinTVET officials elated over Caraga’s hosting of HRSD confab

By Robert E. Roperos

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 11 – Officials of the Mindanao Technical Vocational Education and Training (MinTVET) are elated over the hosting of the Caraga Association of Technical Vocational Institutions, Inc. (CATVII) and TESDA-Caraga in the 15th Human Resource and Skills Development (HRSD) Conference in the city.

Speaking before the local tri-media during the press conference on August 9, 2016 at the Philippine Gateway Hotel in this city, MinTVET Spokesperson John Franco said the attendance of the 583 delegates from the six regions in Mindanao is an evident of full support to the region’s hosting of the annual event of MinTVET.

Franco specifically discussed that because of the joint efforts of CATVII, the Regional and Provincial Offices, the conduct of activity is smooth as the provincial government also extended their full support to the event.

During the Opening Ceremonies held Tuesday morning, festival drummers from the Surigao State College of Technology (SSCT) welcomed the delegates as they arrived at the venue. The processional marked the opening of the activity where officials of the MinTVET, CATVII and TESDA Mindanao entranced the hall.

Also, performers from the SSCT composed of dancers and singers entertained the delegates with the dances and songs of Surigao. “This is one of a kind experience… The Surigaonons have showcased their talents not only in singing and dancing but as well as in the local compositions where music played during the dances were locally-composed,” said Angela Natividad, MinTVET Spokesperson said.

This year’s conference is anchored on the theme: “Onwards TVET: Changes and Transitions towards 2020.”  (Regional Information Officer, TESDA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Caraga student named national winner in oratorical contest

By Ma. Lourdes P. Apego

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 11 (PIA) - A student from Caraga region landed in the first place in a national oratorical contest sponsored by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to DepEd Caraga Regional Information Officer Elizalde Bernales, student Ena Francesca Cadayona of Caraga Regional High School in Surigao City is the grand prize winner of the oratorical contest along the theme “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo.”

For her win, Cadayona received P15,000 in cash plus trophy.

Meanwhile, Joyce Ken Kei Daquio of Kidapawan City National High School was awarded second place winner while Jona Mocam of Matanao National High School of Region 11 got the third place.

A total of 16 best school orators representing all the regions in the country joined the contest. (Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Manobos perform “Panawagtawag” for their Kalahi-CIDSS funded tribal hall in AgSur

By Marko Davey D. Reyes

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 11 (PIA) - The communities of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur recently performed the "panawagtawag" to bless their efforts in building the first ever Municipal Tribal Hall to be built in Barangay Poblacion costing P1,294,517.

All 32 barangays of said municipality have decided to propose the said sub-project to address the cultural and traditional needs of the 9,756 (3,103 households) Manobos in the municipality. It is funded by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga.

This strong gesture by the people of Prosperidad is an acknowledgment to the fact that communities, regardless of culture, religion, and ethnicity need to co-exist to progress.

The practice of "panawagtawag" or the imploring of the spirits of nature for guidance and blessing is a long-time tradition of the Manobo lumads of Caraga. They believe that there is a harmonious scheme of things and that people and nature co-exist with the interference of spirits/deities, ruled by Magbabaya (supreme deity of the human world).

To ensure the blessings of the spirits/deities, an offering and a ritual (usually involves the offering of live animals) is commonly done by Manobo tribal leaders (datu) or a tribal priest to appease the spirits and bless the endeavors of the community. (Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)