(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.


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Caraganons gear up for ASEAN multi-sectoral forum in Butuan City

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) – As an endeavor in keeping the people to be well-acquainted on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its socio-economic impacts, Caraganons from all levels of society will come together for the ‘ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Forum’ to be held on April 11, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at the Convention Hall of Watergate Hotel, here.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga-led ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Forum will be participated by some 500 youth/indigenous people, information officers and representatives of local government units and national line agencies, student leaders and educators, religious group representatives, community movers and media practitioners.

According to PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga, the activity also aims to drum up support to Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN this year. “PIA, as the government’s information arm, wants to share how the Filipino can keep advantage from being citizens of an ASEAN member country,” said Caga.

Topics that will be discussed in the said forum include Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN 2017, positive impact of the ASEAN and how this opens opportunities for all Filipinos, as well as the challenges and accomplishments of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Executive Order, and Ambisyon Natin 2040, among others.

Philippine Information Agency Director General Harold Clavite and Deputy Director General Gregorio Angelo Villar will personally grace the event.

The ASEAN’s 50th Founding Anniversary this year is anchored on the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”.

“It is hoped that as we work together using the awareness on how Filipinos can participate in and benefit from the programs, policies and services of the government and the ASEAN, we can best define our roles in pursuing the goals for sustainable development,” underlined Caga. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Caraga RDRRMC spearheads 1st Quarter NSED in Bislig City

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 5 (PIA) – The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) spearheaded the conduct of the 1st Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) 2017 in Bislig City.

The earthquake drill was held at Bislig Central Elementary School and Bislig Central Special Science Elementary School with the presence of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga Regional Director Rosauro Arnel Gonzalez Jr. and Bislig City Mayor and City DRRM Council Chairperson Librado Navarro with the regional evaluators.

Around 1,100 students and teachers from Bislig City have joined the simultaneous drill performing the “duck, cover, and hold.”

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Abel de Guzman, the activity is in line with the ongoing efforts of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) to educate the public on what to do if major tremors will hit the country.

"The NSED aims to enhance the level of alertness as awareness before, during and after disaster or calamity," said.

Based on the report received from the PDRRMO - Surigao del Sur, a total of 7,021 participants from nine local DRRMOs of the province participated in the activity, they are the cities of Bislig and Tandag; the towns of Lanuza, Bayabas, Lianga, Carrascal, Cantilan, Marihatag; and for the provincial level: the Police Provincial Office (PPO), 402nd Brigade, and Department of Public Works and Highways-1st District. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Butuanons to pay tribute for PH heroes

By Janen Lumandas

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - In line with the 'Araw ng Kagitingan' commemoration on the 9th of April every year, the city government of Butuan will have a half-day tribute on Sunday to honor the memory of heroes who made an impact on our country.

The event will take place at the Butuan City Library at 7:00 a.m. Public servants and other private employees and guests are expected to participate in the activities prepared for the celebration.

'Araw ng Kagitingan' has been celebrated annually throughout the country to give recognition to World War II veterans and the Filipino heroism displayed during the Bataan death march. (PIA-Caraga)


DAR AgNor personnel, women-farmers attend GAD symposium

By Gil E. Miranda

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Provincial Agrarian Reform Office in the Province of Agusan del Norte, in coordination with the Gender and Development (GAD) team recently conducted a Gender Sensitivity Cum Entrepreneurship Seminar here.

The seminar participated in by all provincial Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) personnel led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega and selected women farmer-beneficiaries in the province.

The activity is in line with the nationwide observance of the month-long celebration of the women’s month with the theme, “We make change work for women.”

Provincial GAD point person Ellen J. Torralba said the activity aimed to promote self-reliance for women agrarian reform beneficiaries. The seminar shared inputs on how they can actively make decisions for themselves, for community and able to participate for organization-building efforts.

“The participants, despite coming from different backgrounds were able to integrate under a common objective for improving the welfare of all rural women in the community,” Torralba said.

The morning session was presented by the resource person, Commission on Human Rights Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe T. Bacang who discussed, among others, the topic on basic concept on gender and development and emphasizing the women’s rule in nation building.

In the afternoon, the discussion on Entrepreneurship skills training took place with invited resource speaker from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Region Irene L. Macheca who presented business planning ideas and latest trends in business.

With this intention to enhance the well-being of women, the agency is hopeful that the inputs will have a long term benefit to emancipate the oppressed women against violence and discrimination. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Caraga RDRRMC holds 1st quarter full council meeting in 2017

By April Rose Sanchez

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) held its 1st Quarter RDRRMC Full Council Meeting on Tuesday in one of the convention centers here.

As the RDRRMC institutionalizes the four DRRM Committees, the agenda for the full council meeting were presented per committee/thematic area.

The agenda of the meeting included the Seasonal Weather Outlook for the 2nd Quarter by PAGASA; Update on the Harmonization of Vulnerability Assessment Tools (VATs) and Presentation of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Committee Road Map for 2017 by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); updates of the Regional Disaster Preparedness Plan (RDPP) and presentation of Disaster Preparedness Committee Road Map for 2017 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); After Action Review on recent weather disturbances and 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Caraga Region and Presentation of Disaster Response Committee Road Map for 2017 by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Report on various weather disturbances and 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Caraga Region and presentation of Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee Road Map for 2017 by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); and the significant accomplishments and milestones of the province of Surigao del Norte and Butuan City for the 1st Quarter.

The meeting was presided by the RDRRMC Chairperson and OCD Caraga Regional Director Rosauro Arnel Gonzales,Jr. It was attended by the members of the RDRRMC Executive Committee (Dir. Dominga D. Mallonga, DOST Caraga Regional Diector and Vice Chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; Ray Gregory Jaranilla of DILG Caraga as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Preparedness; Angel Bert Casimillo of DSWD Caraga as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Response; and Assistant Regional Director Roy Kantuna of NEDA as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery), RDRRMC member-agencies including representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Provincial and City DRRM officers.

The six agencies that complied with the Implementation of the Disaster Capability Assessment Checklist for All RDRRMC Members, Associations and Organizations pursuant to RDRRMC Resolution No. 1 series of 2015 entitled “A Resolution Enjoining All Member Agencies, Associations and Organizations of the RDRRMC to Undertake the Disaster Capability Assessment” were awarded with Plaque of Recognition during the meeting. The checklist is a self-assessment tool to evaluate the disaster preparedness capability of all RDRRMC member agencies, associations and organizations. This is also to determine whether government agencies are compliant to the provisions of RA 10121 particularly on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM). These agencies were DILG, DOST, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine National Police and National Telecommunications Commission.

The next full council meeting is scheduled in June 2017. (OCD-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


USS Fitzgerald arrives in Subic Bay

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 5 (PIA) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived in Subic Bay on Saturday for a brief port call that highlights the strong community and military connections between the Philippines and the United States.

The ship’s crew will use the stop to conduct some minor repairs with the assistance of Philippine companies.

The United States and Philippines continue to build upon their 70-year history of partnership through defense cooperation, port visits, and military training activities.  The American and Philippine militaries have worked together on areas of mutual interest including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, cyber security, and maritime security.

USS Fitzgerald is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)