(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.


Friday, June 2, 2017

DTI calls on Caraganons to avail P3 program

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga called on Caraganons especially those entrepreneurs who want their business to grow and develop to avail of the government’s 'Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso' (P3) program.

During the Nationwide Roll Out of the P3 program held on Wednesday at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort here, Caraga entrepreneurs and representatives from government agencies were oriented on the said program by the officials coming from DTI and other partner stakeholders.

DTI Caraga regional director Brielgo Pagaran underlined that P3 is a funding program of the government designed to provide microenterprises an alternative source of financing that is easy to access and made available at a reasonable cost.

“In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to provide affordable micro-financing program for Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) included P1.0-billion for financial assistance subsidy to microenterprises under the P3 program. Depending on the performance of this initial funding. P3 may be scaled up and included in the GAA for subsequent years,” Pagaran elaborated.

Pagaran further asked the media to help them in advocating the said program to the general public so many will know and be able to avail of the opportunity.

Small Business Corporation (SBC) senior account specialist Melody Viste also reiterated that P3 is a program that gives boost to the development of the Micro-Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, particularly the microenterprises that comprise about 90 percent of registered enterprise in the country.

“The 'Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso' (P3) was launched in Tacloban in Leyte on Jan. 25, San Jose, Occ. Mindoro on Jan. 27, and Alabel, Saranggani last Jan. 30. She added that a total of P7.7-M have been released to individual borrowers in these pilot areas: P3.5-M in Mindoro; P2.2-M in Saranggani; and P1.8-M in Leyte,” Viste recalled.

Viste added that P3 will make it easy for borrowers since it will only require minimal documentation requirement; easy to access with only one day processing of application; low cost interest at 2.5 percent per month; and easy payment with collection on a weekly or daily basis, as necessary.

For more information on the P3 program and how to avail, DTI encouraged the public to visit the Negosyo Center in their respective areas. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


1 NPA killed, 3 rifles recovered in Agusan del Sur

SIBAGAT, Agusan del Sur, June 2 - A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed and recovered two AK 47 and M16 rifle from the NPA’s Guerilla Front 21A after an hour of firefight with the 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Sitio Goshen, Barangay New Tubigon, Sibagat, this province at around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 29. 

The remnants of the 20-man platoon of the NPA rebels scampered to different directions with some bringing with them their four wounded companions as reported by the locals. Five backpacks with documents of high intelligence value were also left as stated in a report of Lt. Col. Rudy Parallag to Col. Cristobal Zaragoza of the 401st Brigade, Philippine Army.

The dead male NPA was brought by the troopers to the Chatto Funeral Homes in San Vicente of Sibagat for documentation by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and identification by his relatives for his decent burial.

Meanwhile, Major General Benjamin Madrigal of the 4th Infantry Division congratulated the Special Forces troopers for their relentless tracking of the armed group who were reported earlier by the residents of the barangay that are already fed up feeding the bandits out of fear every time the group is in their area. (401st/4ID, Phil. Army/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


DILG conducts pre-assessment of SGLG in Dinagat Islands

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, June 2 - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) here recently conducted a pre-assessment for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Regional Validation.

The pre-assessment validation aims to assess whether the pertinent documents for the seven indicators are met.

The seven indicators are classified into core and essential areas, the four core areas are financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order.

The three essential areas are Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

According to DILG provincial director Domingo Bulabog, so far majority of the documents are complied with since the provincial government of Dinagat Islands is doing its best to garner the seal of good local governance for the third time in the regional level and be included in the Hall of Fame.


The said activity was attended by all the concerned offices and agencies in the province and facilitated by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO). (PIO-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)