(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 165 km West Northwest of Coron, Palawan (12.3N, 118.7E) It is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, 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 West will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Friday, October 7, 2016

Pres. Duterte assures to protect the lives & welfare of the Filipino people

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) - During his visit on Thursday at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga regional office, Camp Rafael Rodriguez here, President Rodrigo Duterte stressed that it is never wrong to protect the lives and welfare of the Filipino people.

According to the President, the drug menace has caused chaos in the society, it is then but proper to do something and prevent people from suffering its effects. He further bared that there are about 4,000 to 5,000 barangay officials who are involved in illegal drug trade.

The good President also highlighted that it has to be during his administration where illegal drug syndicates should be arrested. Duterte said any policeman doing his duty should also be protected and need not risk their lives against the criminals.

Scrapping out illegal drugs according to Pres. Duterte is not an easy fight, but he is stern of his objective of curbing it, and will never allow to flourish it even more in the country. Now is the time to kill a criminal correctly, he underscored.

Duterte also stressed that the Philippine government is doing the best ways to protect its people. He emphasized that the government will never compromise the safety of the citizens. No foreign organizations could dictate what the government should do, he underlined.

Amidst the great challenge of achieving the goal of ending illegal drug trade in the country, Pres. Duterte remarked that the nation will survive, and that he will be the first to die for his country, making sure that the dignity of every Filipino will never be compromised.

"All criminalities are a cycle of violence and so I urged the uniformed personnel and everyone to support the anti-illegal drug advocacy of the government," Duterte said. (JPG/VLG, PIA-Caraga)


Pres. Duterte Duterte fetes outstanding Caraga cops, units

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) - President Rodrigo Duterte commended on Thursday the officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region who were awarded as best performing police units and personnel during his visit at the PNP Caraga regional office, Camp Rafael Rodriguez, this city.

The awards that were given to PNP units are the following: Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office as Best Performing Police Provincial Office; Surigao City Police Office as Best Performing City Police Station; San Francisco Municipal Police Station in Agusan del Sur as Best Performing Municipal Police Station; Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Caraga as Best Performing National Separate Unit.

Leading the individual awardees is Police Chief Inspector Rommel Villamor for being the Top Performer of Caraga Police Regional Office’ Anti-Illegal Campaign; Police Chief Inspector Christian Rafols for the most number of arrested drug personalities in the implementation of Project Double Barrel; and Police Senior Inspector Arvin Hosmillo for the most number of illegal drugs confiscated in the implementation of Project Double Barrel.

Along with other awardees, the Best Performing Municipal Police Station of Caraga region, the San Francisco Municipal Station in Agusan del Sur also received a cash incentive from Pres. Duterte amounting to P250,000.

PSSupt Joseph Plaza, provincial director of PNP Agusan del Sur, said that it is a collective effort of all the PNP personnel in the province that resulted to having the highest number of illegal drug surrenderees and number of arrested illegal drug suspects.

Meanwhile, PCI Rafols of Ambago Police Station, one of the awardees, expressed his gratitude to Pres. Duterte for recognizing his efforts. He received a cash incentive amounting to P200,000. (JPG/VLG, PIA-Caraga)


2017 Nutrition Month theme writing, logo design contest now open

By Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) – In line with the celebration of 2017 Nutrition Month, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) will conduct a contest for the celebration’s theme and logo design.

The contest shall run from October 1 to November 15, 2016. It is open to individual Filipino citizens (students, professionals, nutrition workers, barangay nutrition scholars, etc.) aged 15 years old and above.

The 2017 Nutrition Month celebration will focus on “Healthy Diet” that aims to promote consumption of healthier foods and discourage consumption of unhealthy diets.

According to NNC executive director and Department of Health Assistant Secretary Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, healthy diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, root crops and fat-free or low-fat milk, lean meats, poultry, fish, egg, beans, and nuts, and is low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

On the other hand, an unhealthy diet is composed of foods that are energy-dense and nutrient-poor, high in saturated fat, trans-fats, refined carbohydrates, and salt, and low in consumption of vegetables and fruits and low in fiber, Flores said.

Unhealthy diet is one of the common shared risk factors to obesity and non-communicable diseases. Based on the latest data, 31.1 percent of adults are overweight and obese while among children, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing in the last two decades, Flores added.

Interested individuals shall propose the theme for the 2017 Nutrition Month celebration focusing on healthy diet. The theme shall be in Filipino or combination of English and Filipino and shall consist of eight words or less. All entries must be original. The theme should be catchy and contain a call to action towards consuming healthier diets.

For the logo contest, the proposed logo must be submitted in PDF format and must be accompanied by a brief description in less than 50 words. The logo should be simple and not contain too many elements.

Each individual can submit only one entry for each category (logo and/or theme). Entries should include the name of the contestant, age, mobile or telephone number/s, and e-mail address. The entry should be accompanied with a photocopy of a valid identification card with photo.

Entries shall be submitted via email to info@nnc.gov.ph with the subject: 2017 Nutrition Month Theme and Logo Contest. Only entries submitted via email shall be considered.

The NNC Secretariat shall notify the winner through e-mail and phone call. A cash prize of P10,000 for each winner of the logo and theme contest shall be awarded to the winner after proper identification and verification. The winner shall also be acknowledged in the NNC website, social media, Nutrition Month Talking Points and flyer. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


PPA Surigao gets highest rate nationwide on port user’s needs, satisfaction in 2015

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 7 (PIA) – The Philippine Ports Authority - Port Management Office (PPA-PMO) Surigao got the highest rate nationwide on the survey of port user’s needs and satisfaction conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in 2015.

"The respondents of the survey are the shipping companies, cargo owners and passengers," said PPA Surigao port manager Mildred J. Padilla, in a press conference conducted recently.

“With regard to our services, I am proud to tell you that last year we got the highest rate nationwide, meaning to say, our clients were very satisfied in terms of services and facilities that we offer. Specifically, these services are the availability of our birthing facility when they arrived in our port, we have efficient cargo handling services, and processing of entry and departing clearance,” added Padilla. 

She further said that the mandate of PPA is to manage, develop, administer and operate port facilities, provide reliable and responsive services in ports, sustain development of communities and the environment, and to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers who would come to the port to go on board.

“We make sure that when the shipping companies come to us and apply for a space for anchorage we have that for them. If they need services for their cargoes, we can also discharge or load cargo in a most efficient time. For passengers, if they would come to the port to go on board they have a safe passenger terminal to stay and we have porterage available to carry their goods and baggage,” said Padilla. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


DAR USec graces distribution of 4.8M economic benefits to 114 ARB members in AgSur

By Rechel D. Besonia

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 7 (PIA) – Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary for Field Operations, Atty. Marcos D. Risonar Jr. recently graced the distribution of economic benefits to 114 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) members of NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) held at Mabe’s Savory Place here.

A total of 4.8M economic benefits earned from the oil company accumulated for seven long years since 2009 was finally released to the farmers of the Ronquillo Group. The distribution was agreed upon by the NGEI ARB MPC and FPPI MPC during the Farmer’s Dialogue on September 16, 2016 where members of Ronquillo Group were advised to affiliate to either of the two coop recognized by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

“With the commitment of the new administration as well as the strategies of the Task Force and intervention of the DAR Central Office headed by Usec. Risonar, we are able to fast track the distribution process and give what is due to our farmer beneficiaries,” said Julita A. Ragandang, regional director of DAR Caraga.

Usec. Risonar, during his message, urged the ARBs to make use of the money very well. “You come a long way before this moment came into realization. Given the struggles you faced along the way fighting for your rights as an ARB, finally you will now receive what you have dreamed of for a long time,” he said.

For Rodonia E. Alviso, the ingenuity of the DAR is very remarkable. “Ako nagpasalamat ug dako sa tabang sa atong ahensya sa DAR nga sa kadugayan nahuptan na gayod namo ang dugay ra namong gipaabot (I am very thankful to DAR for their continuous effort in helping us through this endeavor. After a long wait, we finally received what we have longed for a long time),” she gasped in excitement. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Gov't's anti-illegal drug operation successfully arrested 2 suspects in AgSur

By Cpt Joe Patrick A Martinez

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Oct. 7 (PIA) - Troops of 26th Infantry Battalion under 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army successfully supported the law enforcers and the Municipal Anti-Illegal Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur during the simultaneous implementation of the eight search warrants at P-1, Brgy Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on Thursday at around 7:20 a.m.

By virtue of the search warrants issued on September 30, 2016 by Judge Dymphna C. Gozon-Labindao of 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, the joint government operation has been launched and successfully recovered nine sealed transparent plastic sachets of shabu weighing of about 395 grams with an estimated market value of P4,661,000 and assorted drug paraphernalia.

The authorities immediately arrested the two suspects namely, Saada Cabugatan Macasalong, 23 year old, married; and Amil Sultan, age unknown, single, who are caught in the possession of these prohibited drugs during the said operation.

They were among the identified personalities who are included in the police's drug list in the said town and among the eight personalities included in the search warrant orders. The two will be facing criminal charges on violations of the Republic Act 9165 also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Major General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., Commander of 4th Infantry Division lauded the smooth implementation of the said operation.

"Our increased coordination with the Philippine National Police resulted to the success of the operation. I commend all the people involved in planning and execution that led to the successful arrest of these two suspects and recovery of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia," said Madrigal.

"You have exhibited the highest form of professionalism especially on the proper implementation and execution of the search and arrest procedure. This shall serve as a stern warning to everyone who uses illegal drugs or involved in this kind of illegal activities. The government forces are more persistent and focused to hunt you down and bring you to the court of law,” added Madrigal. (4ID PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Feature: A mother’s top priority

By Mark Davey D. Reyes

Edna B. Balagulan, a laborer in the Kalahi-CIDSS believes that her simple sacrifice of labor will ensure her children’s welfare.

Her closed-knit community in Barangay Del Rosario, Tubod, Surigao del Norte has been blessed with basic services –such as their local public elementary school. However, parents are still calling for their local government to address the problem of the flowing river parallel to the school fence at the back of the school campus.

With the emergence of climate change and the unpredictable seasonal patterns, Edna is one of the first to call for action to have peace of mind during school days and even during the rainy season.

During the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) 2nd cycle implementation, the community, with a resounding voice, voted for a sub-project to put their worries aside.

The people of the said community proposed for the construction of a 105 linear meters Riverbank Protection (Flood Control) sub-project which will cover the area behind their public elementary school.

She actively participated in their community activities for the program implementation – even landing as a woman paid laborer for the construction of their sub-project.

“Dako kaayo ug tabang ang proyekto namo. Masiguro na ang safety sa among mga anak, naka-income pa mi sa among pagpanarbaho (The project has really helped us dearly. We can now ensure the safety of our children, and at the same time, help us earn a living through the employment opportunity),” Edna said. (DSWD-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Blessing ug inagurasyon sa bag-ong buhatan sa PhilHealth malampuson

Ni Mary Jul Escalante

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Okt. 7 (PIA) –Malampuson nga gibendisyunan ug gi-inagurahan ang bag-ong buhatan sa Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) nga nahimutang sa 2nd floor, Primeglee Building dalan San Nicolas corner Diez., ning dakbayan.

Gihalaran ug pag-ampo alang sa paglambo ug bendisyon ang maong buhatan ni Fr. Larry Espuerta, DCS samtang ang ribbon cutting gipangunahan sa Acting President, CEO, EVP ug COO nga si Ramon F. Aristoza Jr. ug Provincial Governor Sol F. Matugas.

Gipasigarbo ni Regional Vice President Johnny Y. Sychua ang mga pasidungog nga nadawat sa Philhealth Surigao Branch diin kini mao ang pinakaunang nakapahimutang sa pinakadako nga Philhealth Express nga anaa sulod sa Gaisano Capital, ning dakbayan.

Matud pa ni Sychua nakadawat usab kini sa Seal of Excellence Award mahitungod sa ilang outstanding nga pagpanerbisyo sa katawhan sa probinsya.

Samtang sa iyang bahin, giawhag ni Gobernador Matugas ang Philhealth nga magmadasigon kanunay sa pagtabang sa mga katawhan nga nanginahanglan gayud sa supporta ug tabang sa pagpatambal hilabi na kay usa ang health o maayong panglawas sa gitagaan og dakong pagtagad sa gobernador pinaagi sa iyang HEALS PLUS Program.

Sa susamang higayon nagpasalamat og dako si Rodrigo D. Ariar ang Chief Social Insurance Officer (CSIO) ug Local Health Insurance Officer (LHIO) sa iyang mga kaubanan ug mga bank partners nga nahimo nilang katimbang sa ilang mga nakab-ot nga pasidungog ug paglambo ug iyang gisaad nga buhaton nila ang tanan aron makahatag og mas maayo pang panerbisyo sa katawhan sa probinsya. (PGO-PIC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)