(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.


Monday, September 26, 2016


News Feature: Butuanons recognize DENR's 'Oras sa Kinaiyahan' radio program

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) – The “Oras sa Kinaiyahan” (Environment Hour) radio program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga thru its anchorperson Forest Ranger Rey Joy Chavez of CENRO-Nasipit, Agusan del Norte was recognized by the listening public and Hope Radio Philippines based in the city.

In an awarding ceremony held recently at the Hope Radio FM station, Chavez received a plaque of appreciation from the management for masterfully anchoring a highly informative, beneficial, entertaining and fascinating radio program dubbed as “Oras sa Kinaiyahan,” which not only accomplishes much of DENR’s mission but also of HOPE Radio’s – that of filling its air time with contents that lift up the souls of the listeners with godly hope and love for mother earth.

Chavez expressed his overwhelming thanks to all its listeners for recognizing the “Oras sa Kinaiyahan” and taking positively the contents related to environment that he airs during his program.

“We have been informing the public on the different issues and concerns so they can help the government in its effort to maintain a clean and green environment and promote healthy living by participating in the community activities that will also contribute to the peace and development of their respective communities,” highlighted Chavez.

Chavez further emphasized that the DENR will continue to cascade relevant and useful/helpful information to the public "as we continue to promote a healthier, cleaner and greener environment to live in until the next generations to come."

The said radio program has started airing in the said station for more than a year and still hitting the airwaves at this time. The same radio program has also a timeslot at 107.8 Power FM/Advanced Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network – PIA Caraga’s radio station in the city. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DTI, DOH conduct skills training to drug dependents

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Sept 26 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with Department of Health (DOH), helped the 18 recovering drug dependents bing back their self-worth as they mingle again with the community through the conduct of several skills training.

In a recently concluded activity, the drug dependent participants were taught on soap making (liquid soap, bath soap, powder soap and beauty soap), as well as perfume and fabric conditioner production. They also learned on how to manage business money, product costing, marketing, packaging and labeling.

Provided also are starter kits for them to start engaging in business immediately after the training. “DTI will not give fish but DTI will teach them how to fish so that they will have fish all their lives. It is a challenge to all of them for them to work for it. If we can trust them in small thing, we can also trust them in bigger things,” emphasized DTI Agusan del Norte provincial director Gay Tidalgo.

All of them have their own story to tell, what is common is that they all wanted to have a normal life after experiencing the most horrible thing that they encountered in their lives which they considered themselves as victims. At the moment, they really wanted to support their family and be a productive part of the society.

Meanwhile, DOH is assisting them recover physically, mentally and spiritually and this led them to avail of the livelihood project of DTI to support their daily needs and eventually earn to financially support their family. (DTI/PIA-Caraga)


PRDP Caraga endorses P102 Million agri projects

By Emmylou Presilda

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) - After thorough deliberation, the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in Caraga Region has recently approved and endorsed for funding a total of P102 Million worth of subprojects (SPs) from different proponent groups (PGs).

Nineteen of the SPs amounting to a total of P80 Million are under the Enterprise Development portfolio that aims to increase farmer’s individual income and benefit the various associations and cooperatives.  These include project proposals on geonet production and marketing, rice processing and trading, seaweeds production and marketing, cardava production and marketing, banana consolidation and marketing, bangus production and marketing, and abaca production and marketing.

During the deliberation, Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga OIC regional executive director and RPAB chair Renato P. Manantan emphasized that PGs should have the capacity to carry out the projects and ensure its sustainability to get approval from the board.

“These projects should not only benefit its direct beneficiaries but should also become a venue to enable communities alleviate poverty that even after the Project has ended, people will continue to live and prosper,” Manantan said.

PRDP, a six-year national government platform for inclusive, value-oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector, has been known to have championed measures on transparency and accountability.

Following the rigorous process of coming up viable business enterprises, each project proposal went through several in depth assessment, scrutiny and revisions before finally presenting it to RPAB for approval. This, to make sure that if given the final go, will serve its purpose in line with the project’s objective that includes increasing farmers’ income, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside.

The municipality of Cortes, Surigao del Sur which is the lone proponent for Infrastructure Component during the deliberation also received endorsement from the RPAB with four subprojects amounting to a total of P22.6 Million.  These include the construction of six watch towers, nine papag dryers, five units all-weather dryer, and one warehouse with solar dryer.

“These subprojects will not only help our fishers and seaweed farmers but will also sustain the protection of our marine protected areas and fish sanctuaries and would eventually create employment for our people,” said Coastal Resource Management Officer Vincent Dueñas of Cortes.

After endorsement of the subprojects to the National Program Coordination Office (NPCO) for further evaluation, PGs will have to wait for the No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1), which signals the approval of each proposal. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


AgNor guv approves P7.3M road project in Cabadbaran

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) – Agusan del Norte provincial governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell “Angel” M. Amante-Matba recently approved the implementation of the infrastructure project Rehab Plus/Improvement of Comagascas-del Pilar-Pirada Provincial Road in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte with a total cost of P7,337,470.27 funded under the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC).

Gov. Matba prioritized the said project to provide basic facility to the barangay through convenient road access to the city proper and neighboring sitios and barangays. It is also in line with the thrust of the provincial government of providing basic services and infrastructure development program in the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte authorized Gov. Matba through Sanggunian Resolution No. 028-2016, authored by Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong, to sign for and in behalf of the province the Contract Agreement with Reyrose Construction and Supply for the immediate implementation of the said road project. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DAR Surigao Norte holds coordination meeting on conflicting land claims

By Daryll M. Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 26 (PIA) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Surigao del Norte spearheaded a coordination meeting with other concerned government agencies on Sept. 15, 2016 at the Gateway Hotel, this city.

Other government agencies present during the meeting were representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the 30IB of the Philippine Army.

The discussion puts emphasis on conflicting claims on ancestral domain lands and timber lands that were allegedly covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and were issued with Certificate of Land Ownership Awards in the barangays of Bunyasan, Cansayong, Hanagdong and Tinago, all of Malimono town, Surigao del Norte.

The meeting also focused on the issues regarding land tenure and security, and issues on mining activities of the identified above barangays under the Peace and Development Outreach Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Lt. Ryan D. Layug of the 30IB said he was overwhelmed with the result and stressed that the purpose of the coordination meeting between the concerned government agencies is to iron out and look for a common solution that will answer the identified issues of the concerned communities. (DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


AgNor LGU distributes school supplies to Las Nieves students

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) - The provincial government of Agusan del Norte with the key persons from the Provincial Social Welfare, Population, Nutrition and Services Office led the distribution of school supplies to the students of Barangays San Roque and Subait in the municipality of Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.

Said activity is under the "Provision of School Supplies to Far Flung Schools" program of Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell “Angel” Amante-Matba, it was learned.

School officials of San Roque Elementary School and the barangay officials, including the students, parents and residents of the said barangays warmly welcomed the team of Gov. Angel.

Previously, the team also distributed school supplies to Barangay Simbalan in Buenavista, Barangay Bonifacio in Las Nieves, and Sitios Malahuni, Mimbahandi and Salaysayon, all of Barangay Camagong in Nasipit, all of Agusan del Norte. (LUG-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)