(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).


Monday, November 28, 2016


Caraganons observe 18-Day Campaign to end VAW

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – Caraganons from the different sectors will be holding activities in line with this year’s observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) from November 25 to December 12, 2016.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga will be launching its campaign initiative to end VAWC dubbed ‘Orange Your Icon’ within the duration of the campaign. It seeks to promote a VAW-free community in the tourism sector.

Accordingly, the advocacy initiative aims to raise awareness and consciousness in ending VAW through “oranging” famous and prominent tourism sites or attractions in the country. This creative advocacy effort also hopes to convey a message that the DOT together with its stakeholders in the industry encourages gender-responsiveness in Philippine tourism, which among others endeavors to promote safe and non-exploitative tourism activities.

Also, on December 12, 2016, different sectors will convene for the culminating activity of said campaign and will start with a thanksgiving mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, this city, followed with the conduct of motorcade within the city thoroughfares, and program proper at Robinson's Place Atrium. A dance flash mob will also be held at the same venue. (JPG/VLG, PIA-Caraga)


Mindanao Week of Peace kicks-off in Butuan City

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 28 (PIA) – As the Mindanao Week of Peace (MWOP) celebration opens this year, the Caraga Conference for Peace and Development (CCPD) through convenor Most Rev. Juan de Dios Pueblos spearheaded the 'Healing Prayer for Peace' at the Guingona Park on Saturday, this city.

Individuals from religious groups, representatives from the government and private sectors, and media personalities joined in the gathering to reaffirm a hope of achieving a common aspiration to live in unity, harmony and peace with one another regardless of religious belief, culture and status in life.

This year's weeklong MWOP celebration is anchored on the theme, "Protect and Respect Life” which will run from November 26 to December 2, 2016. Stakeholders took their part in the candle lighting activity to profess conviction in achieving peace and unity not only in the continents of Mindanao but of the entire nation.

In giving the statement of purpose of the activity, Pastor Nolan Lloren emphasized that people have to acknowledge the holy spirit and plead to the Almighty Father for healing of the nation, and ask for the mercy and grace to find in each person's heart the real essence of peace in order to bring forth to others the same message.

Lloren also cited instances wherein Butuan City was spared from different calamities and he attributed it mainly to the strong faith and devotion of the townfolk in bringing harmony.

Meanwhile, in behalf of Butuan City mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada, vice mayor Jose Aquino relayed that the MWOP celebration is envisioned to turn chaos and conflicts into peace and harmony – an instrument for genuine transformation.

Lagnada further urges everyone to do their share in attaining lasting peace despite cultural diversity as Mindanaoans deserve to have a tranquil and orderly land, a peace-loving people with common aspirations.

In recognizing God as the supreme being, the source of life and peace, an interfaith prayer was also offered. It aims to empower people to live in law of love to sustain peace and prosperity.

Also, a bike for peace dubbed ‘Sikadayahan’ started its lapse with a route from Guingona Park, Bancasi Rotonda back to Guingona Park. It was a one-of-a-kind event participated in by energetic and skilled local motorcyclists advocating for peace.

The Movie for Peace Contest, a project initiated by the Caraga Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) was also officially launched during the opening ceremony of the MWOP. According to Merle Dawn Comidoy of the GIZ-Coseram, out of the nine entries, six were chosen to compete for the final round of judging. Entries will be uploaded at the ‘PIA CARAGA’ youtube acccount for viewing wherein most viewed movie will also be awarded on December 1, 2016.

“Through the week-long observance, the bishops, ulama, imams, priests, pastors and religious men and women of Mindanao hope to raise the consciousness of the people of the need to work together to attain our dream for peace in the spirit of solidarity,” said Most Rev. Pueblos. (VLG/JPG/PIA-Caraga)


25 individuals undergo substance use disorder training

By David M Suyao

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 28 (PIA) - Twenty five persons from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Moral Recovery and Value Formation Section (MRVFS), Substance Use Recovery and Enlightenment (SURE) program and graduates of the Out-patient Drop-in Center (ODIC) from the municipalities of Bunawan and Talacogon of this province started to undergo trainings on substance use disorder courses since November 6, 2016 in order to augment the workforce of SURE program of the provincial and local governments in rehabilitating, treatment, recovery and enlightenment of those who are victims of illegal drugs.

In a report laid down by SURE training facilitator Patricia Plaza, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) had entered into cooperation with the Living Free Foundation, an education provider of Colombo Plan International Center for Credentialing and Education (ICCE) in order for them to educate the identified service providers of the SURE program to make sure they will be efficient and effective in extending services to the victims of illegal drugs so that in return, they will be advocates against addiction themselves someday.

“We expect that from these trainings, we will be able to produce recovery coaches who are equipped with the knowledge and skills to advocate against addiction and who are 'homegrown' addiction counselors for the province,” Patricia Plaza said.

On November 7–9, the Universal Treatment Curriculum 1 – Physiology and Pharmacology of Addiction started with discussion on Foundational Course, the overview of the Physiology of addiction as a brain disease and the pharmacology of psychoactive substances and the identifying the classification of different substances.

On November 10-15, the discussions focused on Universal Treatment Curriculum 2 with component on the overview on recovery and recovery management, and learning the principles of recovery and defining the recovery-oriented system. The Curriculum 4 – Basic Counseling Skills for Addiction Professionals was also taken up with discussing on skills based course, overview of the helping relationship, intentionality or focus, in counseling; core counseling skills; basic motivational interviewing and psycho-educational group skills on November 16-19.

Meanwhile, on November 28 to December 1, topics will be focused on Curriculum 1 – Developing Community-Based Support System will be taken up, with discussion on learning the knowledge and skills on peer-led and community-based interventions to those serving in the community as recovery coaches.

On December 6-9, the Universal Treatment Curricula 8 – Ethics will take place discussing on Foundation Course and Professional conduct and ethical behavior, confidentiality, ethical principles and professional codes of ethics, ethical decision-making and supervision and ethical practice.

Finally, on December 13-16, Basics of Recovery Coach will be taken up for participants who wish to become recovery coaches and to learn the basics of treatment interventions.

Four professionals and experts in the field of addictions are the resource trainers in this activity. They are Malyn Cristobal, Master Global Trainer, family therapist, 21 years in the field of addictions; Aimee Manda, Psychologist, ICAP in the field of addictions professional for 12 years and Mark Larry Chua, ICAP II, SURE Director, Master Global Trainer, 14 years in the field of addictions professional and Living Free Foundation Inc.

It can be recalled that PGAS, thru its chief executive Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza has been religiously supporting the all out war against the use and trade of illegal drugs nationwide.

PGAS is the first and only province that established the Outpatient Drop-in Center while formulating the Substance Use Recovery and Enhancement (SURE) program whose aim is to help drug abuse victims recover and become productive citizen and enter into partnership with 401st Infantry Brigade for the establishment of rehabilitation center inside the 401st Infantry Brigade compound while envisioning that this training will become major component for sustainability of the SURE program. (PPIO-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)