(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.


Thursday, October 13, 2016


DOH Caraga declares Agusan Norte as filariasis free province

By Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) – The province of Agusan del Norte is now declared as filariasis free province by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga region in a ceremony held recently here.

The declaration was based on the Transmission Assessment Survey by the DOH with the support and guidance of the Provincial Health Office and the cooperation of the local government units (LGUs).

During the declaration, the province also received P1,000,000 from DOH through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) citing the amount as a performance-based grant inorder to maintain its status as filariasis free province.

According to DOH Caraga regional director Jose Llacuna, DOH is on its course towards the implementation of the Service Delivery Network and the honing of local government leaders in bridging leadership and provision of health in the respective communities.

“The program targets individuals, families and communities living in endemic municipalities in 44 provinces in 12 regions," Llacuna said.

"By year 2018, the National Filariasis Elimination Program (NFED) of DOH targeted that all of the identified municipalities will also be free from the disease," Llacuna added.

Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


POPCOM Caraga gathers advocates, partners for 1st PHE confab

By May Ann O. Escobal

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 13 (PIA) - Advocates and local partners vowed  to integrate Population, Health and Environment (PHE) approach into their plans during the recently concluded 1st PHE Regional Conference initiated by the Commission on Population (POPCOM).

Local leaders, partners and stakeholders developed their respective plans integrating strategic initiatives and interventions that would greatly address the prevailing issues concerning their sector. They all agreed that health is a very critical factor in sustainable development since humans need to be healthy to be productive and able to engage in environmentally-friendly practices.

POPCOM hopes that the commitments of the local planners and community leaders in promoting the integration of population, health and environment in their respective localities and areas of concerns will be put into account in programming and planning.

SP Committee Chair on Social Services, Health and Environment, Provincial/City Population Officers, Health and Environment Officer, students, regional line agencies and media partners were among the hundreds of participants.

POPCOM Caraga regional director Alexander A. Makinano heightened the significance of the event for it helped create concepts and practical guides on integrating PHE through strategic leadership. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


POPCOM Caraga displays model families

By May Ann O. Escobal

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Oct. 13 (PIA) - Six families representing the different provinces and cities of Caraga displayed their family values and showcased their talents during the recent “Search for Planado at Talentadong Pamilyang Pilipino 2016” with the theme: “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas.”

The family contestants joyfully showed off their group talents during the talent contest and parlor games. They also proved how harmonious their family is despite of their situation in the community they live in.

The contestants are 4Ps beneficiaries and pre-selected on the basis of their maternal health and family planning practices. Couples of Surigao City, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Go bagged the 1st Place; Mr. and Mrs. Julito Espia of Surigao del Norte for the 2nd Place; and Mr. and Mrs. Ronie Yuson from Bayugan City for the 3rd Place.

Commission on Population (POPCOM) Caraga regional director Alexander A. Makinano highlighted the impact of a well-planned family size and responsible parenting as shown among the family contestants. “Planning your family well is very important. Responsible parenting is a series of decisions of the parents to ensure the best possible life for themselves, for their children, and for the communities they belong to,” Makinano emphasized.

The Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP) Component under the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) envisions an empowered population where parents, couples, and individuals can freely decide on and fully exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Said program also aims to help couples achieve their desired spacing, timing and number of children according to their socioeconomic, emotional, and psychological capacity.

The event was spearheaded by POPCOM Caraga in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and the local government units of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City. (POPCOM-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)