(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, April 24, 2017

SurSur town inks MOA with DENR for biochar project

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 24 (PIA) – The local government unit of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur recently inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the implementation of the Biochar Community Enterprise Project, primarily aimed to remediate environmental problems.

Surigao del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) information officer Johny Natad said the signing of the MOA took place in time with the project launching held at the Ecopark of Barangay Hayanggabon, Claver, Surigao del Norte on April 18 between Cantilan Mayor Philip Pichay and DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez as support for the implementation of the biochar project in Surigao del Sur.

Accordingly, the project will be implemented initially in two areas: Barangay Adlay of Carascal town and Barangay Magasang of Cantilan town with Adlay Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (ADISFFAMCO) and Tigpanalipod sa Katunggan nan Magasang (TIKAMA) as the participating community organizations.

The project will be expanded to the identified areas in Surigao del Sur and in Caraga region, as well under the Sustainable Integrated Area Development (SIAD) – Green Economy Model (GEM) of the agency. (JSN/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


PRDP to fast track review process of projects

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) - The Mindanao Project Support Office (PSO) of the Department of Agriculture's (DA’s) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) has committed to fast track the review process of pipelined and proposed subprojects through the conduct of joint technical reviews and joint inspection activities that will enjoin teams in the national, regional and provincial levels.

This was among the major recommended actions pushed by the local government units (LGUs) during the month-long forum-caravan in various regions conducted by PRDP Mindanao that aims to re-orient implementing LGUs of its commitments and PRDP’s project deliverables.

“In collaboration with the Regional Project Coordinating Office (RPCOs), the PSO will strengthen the conduct of joint inspection especially for infrastructure projects which composed the bulk of PRDP’s investment portfolio,” PRDP Mindanao deputy project director Araceli Morano said.

She added that joint technical reviews will also cover proposals and pipelined enterprise development projects.

“The project management will strive to simplify processes and review the requirements so as not to have a piecemeal review, taking into account that we have service standards to follow,” Morano added.

The forum, which was attended by Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and their Provincial/City Project Management and Implementing Unit (P/CPMIU) aims to provide updates and implementation status of various PRDP subprojects in in the region and to get the concerns as well as solicit recommendations that will fast track accomplishments of their respective subprojects.

Morano also said that the PRDP will assist in the forging of inter-agency convergence mechanisms to mainstream investments to the City and Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (C/PCIP).

“PRDP continues to advocate making PCIP as a major reference for planning and budgeting,” she said.

Convergence mechanisms have been piloted in Region 9 for cacao and Region 10 for coconut.

Emphasizing the timeline for PRDP from 2014 to 2020, and the coming midterm evaluation, Morano encouraged everyone to elevate their concerns so this can be solved at once and hasten completion of their project.

“These recommendations and proposed next steps that we have gathered will be documented and presented during the upcoming World Bank Implementation Support Mission in May,” she said. (with reports from Rosie Paasa/DA-RPCO and Marriez Torreliza/PSO Min/PIA-Caraga)


DOH stresses importance of immunization as World Immunization Week draws near

By Janen Lumandas

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) - The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga, during its monthly forum here, highlighted the importance of immunization as the agency is set to celebrate the World Immunization Week on April 24-30, 2017.

Maria Jasmine Sarce of DOH Caraga reminded everyone that vaccination starts at birth and proper schedule must be observed. “Vaccination should be completed by the time the child reached one year old to eliminate vaccine preventable diseases,” said Sarce.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, "Vaccination is everyone's job, Protect our children, Protect our community."

It was learned that the DOH will hold outreach activities in high risk communities throughout the week. There will be seminar/meetings with provincial and city coordinators to talk about action plans and development of strategies.

Also, supplementary immunization activities will include vaccination campaigns and Child Health Day in Bayugan City, Tandag City, Rosario in Agusan del Sur, and Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte.

The goal of the immunization program of the Philippines is to reduce morbidity and mortality of children aged 0-11 months old against vaccine preventable diseases. It also aims to attain 95 percent immunization coverage for all antigens and preserve the polio-free status. (FSUU/PIA-Caraga)


Local distributors, producers, DTI meet to strengthen partnership for ‘Diskwento Caravan’

BUTUAN CITY, April 24 – The regional distributors and local producers met with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) personnel to strengthen their partnership in the conduct of diskwento caravans (DCs) in Caraga region.

The group discussed a draft memorandum of agreement (MOA) outlining the responsibilities of the partners in the conduct of the DCs. This included the arrangements on logistics, inventory of products, workforce  and other non-monetary requirements and incentives.

Lorijane Sacote, chief of Consumer Welfare Division of DTI- Caraga, discussed the details of the MOA. She said that upon signing, the memorandum shall take effect immediately.

Also, DTI-Agusan del Sur DC partners that attended the activity were Bunawan Livelihood Business Center and Integrated Producers Association of Prosperidad Agusan del Sur Inc. (IPAPADSI).

Diskwento Caravan is one of the banner programs of DTI, which aims to bring products to the areas at a discounted price. This is also conducted during times of calamity or upon request by local government units. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


DOE to ERC: Public interest comes first

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 24 (PIA) – Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi met with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) commissioners recently to address the concerns of the public and the electricity industry sector.

The commissioners submitted to Sec. Cusi a report which the Department of Energy (DOE) is currently studying.

In the previous meetings with the commissioners, Cusi asked the ERC chairman to ensure that the ERC is working.

"I don't know how you'll do it but you have to do it," Cusi asserted.

"The DOE respects the ERC as a strong and independent institution. However, public interest comes first," Cusi added.

In the succeeding meetings with the commissioners, the DOE will push for a more definite set of outputs from the ERC aside from pushing to resolve the internal differences within the Commission.


"The delays incurred by the ERC must be addressed immediately. We cannot have internal squabbles within the Commission go in the way of the interest of the public," Cusi concluded. (DOE/PIA-Caraga)