(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).


Friday, September 2, 2016


NCAA accepts proposals for arts, cultural development projects

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) - The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is calling proponents to submit proposals for arts and cultural projects to be implemented in 2017.

As mentioned by executive committee member of the National Committee on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS) Dr. Ma. Teresa Baylon during the press conference here on Wednesday, NCAA is giving financial and technical assistance through project proposals which include cultural awareness enhancement training, transfer of knowledge, workshops, productions, shows, exhibits, festivals, among others.

“All proposals will be considered by the NCCA provided that all requirements are being complied. We aim to boost the significance of artistic creation and empower the artists and cultural workers to promote their creative inclinations through arts and culture preservation and development projects,” said Baylon.

There are two categories of the proposals. Accordingly, category A includes projects which have ben conceptualized during the various levels of planning workshops by its various national committees following the identified needs of the locality and where specific outputs and deliverables had been defined. Projects in this category will have three or more component activities.

The category B is for project proposals conceptualized by proponents with due consideration to the important concerns cited in the project brief and aligned to the identified NCAA priorities and outcomes.

According to NCCA admin and finance chief Susan Dayao, they are also looking for implementing partners of projects which have been conceptualized by the agency.

“Take for example, NCAA was in support with the cultural education program, a literacy activity for teachers to be more knowledgeable on cultural icons and know thoroughly what to teach to their pupils or students. Programs for the youth is also encouraged especially in developing curriculum on writing of local history, in partnership with Department of Education,” added Dayao.

Moreover, Dayao recognizes the support of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga in the call for project proposals and also acknowledged the role of media practitioners in the dissemination of information. “They too can avail of the funding support from the NCCA based on the project proposals that they will submit,” she said.

Meanwhile, Roel Hoang Manipon, managing editor of Agung, the official newsletter of the NCCA said that culture and the arts are vital in nation building. “It is believed that Filipinos are artistically rich but needs funding support to pursue certain projects,” he added.

As disclosed by Baylon, NCAA has allocated P33,400,000.00 for different projects in Mindanao alone. She said that it is high time to grab the opportunity to avail of the funding and be utilized to help save the environment and in preservation of ecotourism sites.

Civil society organizations, indigenous peoples organizations, local gov't units, gov't agencies, state universities, colleges and public schools are all encouraged to apply. There will be a technical writeshop to equip the proponents with the necessary know-how in composing the proposal.

Deadline of submission of letters of intent and proposals to NCCA is on September 30, 2016. Project briefs as well as guidelines and requirements can be accessed and downloaded at www.ncca.gov.ph.

The general functions of the NCAA include promotion of cultural and artistic development; conservation and promotion of the nation's historical and cultural heritage; nationwide dissemination of artistic and cultural products; preservation and integration of traditional culture as part of the national cultural mainstream; and ensuring that standards of excellence are met in its programs and activities.

Also, NCCA-Philippines is the overall policymaking, coordinating, and grants giving agency for the preservation, development, and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and an agency task to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA). (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


PCCI prexy acknowledges Mindanao's role in PH growth

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 2 (PIA) - Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon acknowledged the role of Mindanao in helping the country achieve broad growth across all sectors.

In his speech during the 25th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) held recently here, Barcelon said Mindanao has always been an enigma – an area blessed with so much resources yet with a number of provinces remaining poverty-stricken.  Despite the fact that conflict was confined to a few areas, the picture of insurgency haunted the psyche of Filipinos and foreigners alike, a stigma that caused investors to turn a blind eye on the region.

“I am glad to say that this no longer holds true.  The Mindanao we now see is a far-cry from the old Mindanao we know.  All eyes are now on the region.  Who wouldn’t when the first Filipina to have won the Miss Universe title after 43 long years, Miss Pia Wurtzbach, is from Mindanao, specifically Cagayan De Oro?  And as if this is not enough, the current President, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who got an overwhelming mandate from the Filipinos is also a son of Mindanao, while the Senate and House leaderships are held by Mindanaoans – Senate President Koko Pimentel and Speaker Bebot Alvarez," Barcelon said.

Just recently, the first Filipina Olympic medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, showed the world that a simple ZamboangeΓ±a can be a world-class athlete, added Barcelon.

He said it took time for Mindanao to finally get out of the clutches of the stigma, but when it did, it has emerged as a strong force. 

Barcelon cited the island-region’s economy grew by 7.4 percent in 2014, contributed 20.7 percent to the economy in the same year, and its agricultural produce has been robust, supplying most of the world with banana, pineapple, and tuna. 

“You have transformed your region into an economy that is ripe for the picking. As it was before conflict entered the picture. Mindanao now plays a significant role in the country’s economic and social development strategically located in the East Asian economic corridor, Mindanao plays a key role in unlocking ASEAN’s potential as the turning point of transforming our country from middle- to high-income through increased trade and investments with your nearest ASEAN neighbors – Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia,” said Barcelon.

Barcelon said that as a businessman and an exporter himself, he shared in the excitement of developing Mindanao. 

"During the Sulong Pilipinas, which the then incoming government asked the PCCI to co-organize, a number of my fellow business delegates and even our international development partners expressed their interest to do business in Mindanao.  This is an acute acknowledgement of the potentials of the region, and recognition that the time of Mindanao has come,” Barcelon stressed. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Surigao Norte vice gov graces Power 101 confab

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 2 (PIA) – Surigao del Norte Vice Governor Arturo Carlos Egay, Jr. addressed the energy sector in behalf of Gov. Sol Matugas during the Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA's) official launching of Power 101 on August 24, 2016 held at the Parkway Hotel, this city.

In his message, Egay explained that “electricity production becomes more guaranteed and secured when sound financial, commercial and economic policies are set in place.”

“Investments will pour in when we revolutionize our courses of action in line with renewable and alternative energy sources, in which people have no fears about taking care of Mindanao’s future to endlessly meet the demands of our growing consumers,” he said.

Vice Gov. Egay added that present circumstances reveal that, "the demand is high, but the supply is low."

“Essentially, Mindanao banks on hydropower for over half of its regular use. Many factors alter water supply—like El NiΓ±o phenomenon, and man-made tragedies,” he said.

Having a more steady and constant energy source will provide the region with a stronger business position to potential businessmen, he added.

“This isn’t just about power; this is about drawing investments and creating opportunities, and this is about fixing the region as a whole,” he quipped.

Distinguished panel of lecturers and presenters comprised of Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperative (AMRECO) president Sergio Dagooc, Department of Energy (DOE) officials, and Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative (SURNECO) gen. manager Engr. Narciso Caliao. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)