(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 07 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).


Thursday, December 8, 2016


DOST, Winrock hold TOT on food safety awareness

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga, together with the Winrock International - Philippine Cold Chain Project (PCCP) conducted on Thursday the Food Safety Awareness Training of Trainers held at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.

In her message, DOST Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga emphasized that food safety is not only the responsibility of one agency, but a shared responsibility of all sectors. She added that through this training, participants are equipped with right knowledge on food safety and will be able to train others in their respective community.

Mallonga also recognized the Winrock International – PCCP thru chief of party Dan Gudahl for its sincere concern for the Caraganons in terms of food safety and for establishing programs that directly address the needs of the vulnerable sectors in the region.

“We are very lucky that the Winrock is here working with us for this campaign that will address food safety concerns not only here in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, but for the whole provinces of Caraga region. Let us all do our share for us to achieve our goal for a healthier Caraganons,” underlined Mallonga.

Gudahl enumerated examples/situations where people missed to observe food safety that may cause various diseases. He also stressed that Winrock wanted to improve food safety practices in Caraga region, and conducting the Food Safety Awareness Training of Trainers is just one of their initiatives with DOST.

“The Food Safe Caraga Campaign is aimed to contribute to the PCCP’s overarching goals by implementing an information campaign on food safety, and a training program on meat handling for meat shop operators and workers, meat vendors and the general public,” reiterated Gudahl.

Gudahl further challenged all the participants to take said training seriously and share their learnings to other people.

Republic Act (RA) No. 10611, also known as the Food Safety Act of 2013 is an act to strengthen the food safety regulatory system in the country to protect consumer health and facilitate market access of local foods and food products. Apart from consumer health protection, implementation of RA 10611 also pushes for better food regulatory system to ensure a high level of food safety, and linked to this, the promotion of fair trade practice and sound regulatory foundation for domestic and international trade. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DOST, Winrock, PIA maximize platforms in communicating Caraga Food Safe Campaign

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) – With the intent to intensify the Caraga Food Safe Campaign in the region, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Winrock International – Philippine Cold Chain Project (PCCP) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) have joined efforts and were able to maximize the use of its existing platforms to effectively communicate food safety to all Caraganons.

The DOST, Winrock and PIA Caraga had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Caraga Food Safe Campaign.

DOST Caraga regional director Dominga Mallonga reiterated that the said campaign is aimed to advocate food safety among processing and food service enterprises, and among consumers; and to develop or improve the food safety practices and behavior of food handlers and consumers.

Mallonga bared that relevant information on food safety will be coming from their office, in collaboration with the Caraga Food Safety Team, and other concerned agencies. She emphasized that PIA is the lead agency in the dissemination and promotion of information to the general public through its known platforms.

“We believe that PIA is best in communicating this campaign to the different provinces through its Information Center Managers. PIA also works well and harmoniously with the media in the region and we want this strengthened. We are optimistic that PIA and media can effectively help us bring our campaign on food safety to its listeners, viewers that will also effect change in the people’s daily routine of preparing food,” Mallonga underlined.

PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga will lead the crafting of the one-year communication plan indicating significant activities to be conducted in line with the implementation of the Caraga Food Safe Campaign.

“We have been innovating and discovering other means on how we can reach more people in the grassroots. Also, we have been maximizing our existing platforms in communicating the Caraga Food Safe Campaign since the day it was launched in the region – from our textblast, press and photo releases, national and regional websites, Caraga in Focus electronic news magazine, and our online streaming Advance Forward Emergency Broadcasting System (AFEBS) Network, and constant collaboration with our media partners,” elaborated Caga.

Also, Dan Gudahl, chief of party of Winrock International assured that they will fully support PIA and its partners in the implementation of this campaign. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DSWD Caraga chief to report 2016 accomplishments

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga thru regional director Minda Brigoli will be reporting to the public its accomplishments in the implementation of the programs and services for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors dubbed “Ulat ng DSWD sa Taong 2016” on December 14, 2016 at the city’s Guingona Park.

According to Dir. Brigoli, as DSWD adheres to the principles of transparency and recognizes the great contribution of its partners, the department also sees the opportunity of reporting to the stakeholders about the gains of its program/service delivery.

“This shall be conducted to celebrate the triumphs and gains of the strong synergy, to communicate the status of the sectors whom the agency have committed to serve in the region, and to share wonderful positive/success stories of change,” underscored Brigoli. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DENR identifies CarCanMadCarlan as self-sustaining ‘model area’

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Dec. 8 (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified the CarCanMadCarlan as one of the 29 priority areas in the country that to be transformed into an income generation sites and make those identified areas self-sustaining in a well-protected environment through the agency’s Area Management Program.

The word “CarCanMadCarLan” stands for Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza, all were interconnected towns in northern part of this province.

According to DENR-PENRO Surigao del Sur information officer Johnny Natad, this cluster area plays a significant role in the lives of Surigaonons since marine resources along the marine and aquatic ecosystem are the primary source of food and income of the local people.

“These municipalities were connected across five watersheds proclaimed on March 23, 2009 as watershed forest reserve which are the Alamio, Buyaan, Carac-an, Panikian, and Sipangpang that drain to the Lanuza Bay,” Natad said.

Natad further said, these areas are also part of the proposed expansion of the Mt. Hilong-hilong Range Protected Landscape wherein the presence of mangkono (Xanthostemonverdugonianus) and insect bat (Hipposideroscoronatus) found endemic in the area.

Meanwhile, PENRO Surigao del Sur Planning Officer Glendel Adlawon said the project is the result of the series of multi-stakeholders consultation-workshop in CanCarMadCarlan last November, adding that it will be implemented in partnership with other government agencies who have the expertise and needed support.

The project is expected to facilitate promotion of both environmental and economic condition of CanCarMadCarlan, it was learned.

The DENR has directed the environmental offices to promote the agency’s developmental program in pursuing convergence among national government agencies and other relevant stakeholders through the Sustainable Development Framework to address poverty and to deliver social justice to marginalized communities throughout the country dubbed as “model communities.” (PENRO-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Tagalog News: Mahigit 80 na farmers nagtapos sa farmers field training sa Agusan del Sur

Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Dis. 8 (PIA) - Kasabay sa ginanap na harvest festival nitong bayan, mahigit sa 80 na farmers na naka-focus sa vegetable production ang pumasa at nagtapos sa farmers’ field training na pinangunahan ng Winrock International – Philippine Cold Chain Project at East West Seeds Incorporated.

Ayon kay forticulture specialist Lowel Sareno ng Winrock, layon ng nasabing farmers’ training ang dagdagan ang kaalaman at hasain ang mga vegetable producers na maging mas produktibo pa gamit ang makabagong teknolohiya at maturuan sila kung papaano i-market sa mga investors ang kanilang produkto.

Ibinahagi rin ni vice mayor Solomon Rufila na buo ang kanilang suporta sa mga farmer associations sa ibat-ibang barangay sa kanilang bayan at tutugunan nito ang kanilang mga pangangailangang teknikal at pinansyal. Nagpapasalamat din ang lokal na pamahalaan ng San Francisco sa Winrock sa kanilang assistance at patuloy na pagtulong sa mga farmers lalung-lalo na ang mga vegetable producers na sila’y makapag-expand at mapalago ang kanilang pangkabuhayan.

Ipinahayag naman ni Elena Espina, isa sa mga vegetable producers sa barangay Alegria, ng nasabing bayan na nakabanipesyo rin sa programa ng Winrock at East West Seeds ang kanyang kaligayan na sila’y nabigyan ng pagkakataong matoto ng makabagong teknolohiya sa pagpapalago ng produksyon ng mga gulay at makakita ng mga investors hindi lamang sa bansa pati na sa mga dayuhang investors. Hinikayat rin niya ang lahat na tangkilikin ang mga lokal na produkto na makakatulong sa paglago rin ng bansa.

“Ang laking bagay para sa aming mga vegetable producers ang naibigay’ng tulong teknikal at pinansyal ng Winrock International at East West Seeds sa aming pangkabuhayan. Mas porsigido kaming pagbutihin pa ang aming mga pananim upang mas mapalago pa naming ito at makapag-expand sa aming negosyo,” dagdag ni Espina. 

Kasama ang mga opisyal ng Winrock at East West Seeds, pinuntahan ng mga partisipante ang farm ng barangay Pisaan at Tagapuwa at ginawa ang harvest festival. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)