(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, June 21, 2017

Caraga region set to host Kakao Konek 2017

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, June 21 (PIA) - In advancing the cacao industry in the region, it’s all systems go for Caraga region’s hosting of this year's Mindanao Kakao Konek 2017 slated here on September 13-14.

Around 500 delegates are expected to participate in this biggest annual event of the country where the cacao value chain players discuss pressing issues and prospects from macro to micro industry.

Some of the topics that will be tackled during the event include the increasing global demand for cocoa products and how the Philippines can fill the supply gap, farmers’ access to credit and financing, product standards and certificates and significance of climate change to cacao farming.

As explained during the recent 91st Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) Meeting, here, there has been renewed interest in cacao growing given the increasing demand for cacao beans in 2020. It is forecasted that will be a global production shortfall of one million metric tons. The Philippines committed to supply 10 percent of 100,000 metric tons and this gave birth to the Philippines’ Cacao Challenge that aims to produce 100,000 metric tons of fermented beans by 2020. Caraga region committed to produce two percent of the national commitment, which is equivalent to 2,000 metric tons of fermented cacao beans by 2020.

It was also pointed out that the Philippines is among the countries in Asia that is seen to have a competitive advantage for cacao production given its strategic location and growing condition. Data will tell that despite this competitive advantage, cacao production in 2014 was 5,427.66 metric tons from an area of 12.037.79 hectares, which is not enough even to supply local requirements. Mindanao accounts for 90 percent of the national cacao production with Davao region contributing 89 percent while Caraga region contributed one percent.

The RDC secretariat bared that advancing the cacao industry in the region offers a bright prospect for the development rural areas in terms of optimal utilization of land resource, employment creation and income generation.

The Kakao Konek 2017 creates interest and draws in marketers and investors for the agricultural sector particularly the cacao industry, thus, facilitating the expansion and opening of new opportunities from production to marketing.

The Kakao Konek 2017 has a registration fee of P1,500 per delegate. A separate registration fee will also be collected for the exhibitors and sponsors. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Tandag City is all set for 10th Charter Day celeb

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 21, 2017 (PIA) – The city government here headed by mayor Alexander Pimentel is all set for the 10th Charter Day celebration on June 22-23, 2017 with the theme, “Pahinumdum ug Pagpasalamat.”

The Charter Day activities will begin with a Zumbaruga early morning at the Vicente L. Pimentel (VLP) Sr. Boulevard followed by a motorcade at 8:00 a.m.

The Drum and Lyre Corps Competition dubbed as "Laguboh" will then follow in two different categories, a.) elementary and b.) secondary. A medical/dental check up/Libreng Gupit for the senior citizens dubbed as “Kumusta Lo ug La” will also be held at the city gymnasium.

On day 2, the activities lined up include a foot parade or “Karahikas,” Holy Mass and charter day program, which will take place at the city gymnasium.

Other activities set during the anniversary day are: release of funds for livelihood projects to identified people’s organization; turn over of the Day Care Centers in barangay Bontud and San Agustin Norte; turn over of Health Centers to Barangay Buenavista and Salvacion and the turn over of the Bahay Pag-asa situated in Barangay Rosario, this city.

The said event will culminate on Friday night with a “Hudyaka” featuring: Comedian Pooh, singer-performer Roxanne Barcelo and 6 Cycle Mind Band plus the Rave Band from Cebu. Activities will then end with the fireworks display at the VLP Boulevard. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DTI conducts consumer education to senior citizens in Tandag City

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 21 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry Surigao del Sur (DTI-SDS) Provincial Office, in collaboration with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) recently conducted a consumerism seminar to the senior citizens held at the Office of the Senior Citizens Association, this city.

In a press statement released by the DTI-SDS provincial office, the said activity was tackled on the salient features of the DTI-Department of Agriculture Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No.12-01 series of 2012 – Granting Special Discounts to Senior Citizens on the Purchase of Basic Necessities and Prime Commodities.

Some 20 active officers and members of the Federation of Senior Citizens Association (FSCA) of this city attended the seminar, it was learned.

DTI Consumer Welfare Division Chief designate Emmanuel Disca elaborated the “No Return, No Exchange” policy, and Deceptive Sales Acts and Practices.

Meanwile, CSWD Senior Citizens focal person Merlita Cabrera, on her closing statement, expressed an appreciation to the DTI and requested to conduct the same seminar to another batch of senior citizens associations in this city.

The conduct of consumerism seminar is the DTI’s strategy aims to intensify the consumer protection through consumer information and education. (with a report from DTI/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Butuan completes water resource projects

By Regal C. Oribia

BUTUAN CITY, June 21 (PIA) – As part of the strategic framework to establish a sustainable water resource, the City Engineering Office - Waterworks Section of the city government of Butuan bared per record the successful completion of two water resource projects in barangays Antongalon and Pinamanculan, this city.

A water pump amounting to P10,000 was put up for the Home for the Boys in barangay Antongalon to support their household, recreational and other needs for supply of water. This is where the then street children were housed and taken cared of by the city government.

Also, water resource lines and electric motor pump with pressure tank that costs a total of P25,760 were installed at the Bood Promontory in barangay Pinamanculan.

Both projects are potentially useful in addressing the need for continuous supply and source of clean and safe water. (RCO/PIA-Caraga)


P103M FMR to boost agriculture in Surigao Norte

By Fretcher D. Magatao

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 21 (PIA) - The Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in Caraga recently conducted a pre-construction conference for the 9.4 km rehabilitation/concreting of Magsaysay – Bobonaon Spur Sta. Cruz – Paco Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Mainit, Surigao del Norte amounting to P103 million.

The concreting of the road could benefit five barangays with coconut as their main agricultural crop. “Farmers in the barangays are already excited for the start of the construction of the project since this has been the dream of the residents in the community,” said Mainit Mayor Crisanta Mondano.

Mondano said that farmers in the area have committed to planting more crops if there is already a road where they can easily transport the commodities.

“These farmers are truly industrious, they work hard for their family, but there are times that discouragement comes because their products got damaged after transporting through the bumpy and narrow road,” Mondano added.

The Municipality of Mainit is rich with coconut trees which is one of the priority commodities of the project. “The municipality is ranked second among all municipalities in the province according to the expanded vulnerability and suitability assessment (E-VSA) result for coconut. Thus, PRDP’s intervention will be established here,” said Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada.

The Infrastructure Component aims to put in place strategic and climate-resilient rural infrastructure facilities along the value chain of a particular commodity to achieve its maximum value and increase the profit of the players in the industry.

PRDP sees the needs of the community and plans for interventions based on the results on its science-based tools. It works out to put in place climate resilient FMRs, bridges, communal irrigation and potable water systems. (RPCO-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Authorities nab rebel instructor in Surigao City

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 21 (PIA) - An alleged political instructor was recently apprehended by the joint elements of the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) here.

Civil Military Operations officer 2Lt. Jonel Castillo of the 30th Infantry Battalion, PA identified the suspect as Rovelyn Mahimay a.k.a Apple/Apo, "one of the best political instructors at Medic Samahang Partido sa Platon (SPP) 1, Guerilla Front (GF) 30, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC)."

She was apprehended by virtue of warrant of arrest on June 15, 2017 in Sitio Tumanday II, barangay Rizal, this city.

“The subject person was presently in Surigao City to stabilize the IPO (Ideological, Political, Organizational) works of the SPP 1, GF-30 NEMRC and to train medics of the NPA platoons in Surigao del Norte,” Castillo said.

The authorities recovered from her position one improvised explosive device (IED) with blasting cap and detonating cord.

Castillo, further said the subject person has a pending case of two rebellion and one frustrated murder and is now at the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-13. (30IB, Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Over 10K farmers to benefit from PRDP’s agri enterprises in Mindanao

By Jay M. Rosas

DAVAO CITY, June 21 - Around 10,000 more farmer-beneficiaries are expected to directly benefit from approved enterprise development projects under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), a recent report revealed.

Under PRDP’s Investment for Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Productivity (I-REAP) portfolio, a total of 43 subprojects with a total cost of P184.21 million have been approved to date with one ongoing subproject in South Cotabato, the Cassava Granules Production and Marketing Project.

Around 10,930 farmer beneficiaries from 110 cooperatives who act as proponent groups and impementers of the project will benefit from the subprojects.

Forty-one (41) subprojects with a total cost of P151.14 million have been issued the No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 which means the these projects are now approved.

While one project – the P4.98-million Rubber Expansion and Marketing Project in North Cotabato – issued with NOL 2. A NOL 2 issuance means that the project can proceed to procurement process.

“We are doubling our efforts to move all the approved enterprise projects into its procurement stage within the year so that the farmer-beneficiaries can start reaping the project gains,” PRDP Mindanao project director Ricardo Oñate Jr. said.

He said that all enterprise projects aim to increase the incomes of the farmers and to enhance their productivity by strengthening market linkages.

Enterprise projects are classified into small, medium, and micro or startup enterprises.

Region 12 has been issued with NOL 1 for four enterprise subprojects with a total cost of P56.98 million for coffee, coconut and abaca, while three enterprise subprojects in Region 11 are given NOL 1 with a total cost of P25.08 million for its champion commodity cacao.

Region 13 has also been issued NOL1 for its abaca enterprise with P22.89 million. Region 9 has one NOL 1-approved subproject with a cost of P13.40 million for cacao.

In Region 10, aside from the P8.78-million NOL 1-approved subproject in Lanao del Norte, 31 microenterprises with a total of P43.38 million have been issued NOL 1 in Bukidnon. These approved subprojects have been classified under microenterprises that addresses the El Niño-affected areas.

Around 18 of the 27 Mindanao provinces have enterprises subprojects both approved and pipelined or those undergoing review.

According to PRDP Mindanao I-REAP component head Basila Siago, PRDP assisted in the forging of 30 marketing agreements between proponent groups and buyers, including two international buyers.

“While we help our cooperatives achieve increase in production of their yield, it is equally important to ensure that there is a ready market for their products,” she said. (PRDP Mindanao/PIA-Caraga)


OWWA Caraga sets 22nd Migrant Workers Day

BUTUAN CITY, June 21 - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Caraga said that it is all systems go for the celebration of the 22nd Migrant Workers Days or the “Araw ng Pasasalamat," which will be held on Thursday, 13th of July 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Claver Municipal Convention Hall, Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Among the highlights of the annual institutionalized activity is the "PINOY AKO, PINOY TAYO" Dance Contest for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family Circles. The contest shall be comprised of 5-10 participants per family circle coming from the different municipalities in the region.

A beauty and health care clinic will be open for the participants where they can relax and pamper themselves while enjoying the activity. Parlor games and fun activities also await the participants, which will be sponsored by our social partners.

A number of raffle draw prizes are also waiting for the lucky winners during the event.

It can be recalled that the previously slated Migrant Workers Day 2017 Celebration was postponed due to the ongoing crisis in Marawi City. Several OWWA Caraga personnel were sent to reinforce OWWA Region X in the expeditious release of assistance to the victims, it was learned.


Interested participants may visit the nearest Public Employment Service Office (PESO) or make contact with OWWA Regional Welfare Office-13 with telephone numbers (085) 342-6178/815-1894 and mobile numbers 09399259895/09173150590 for further information regarding the activity. (JPIM, OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)