(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 28, 2017

DTI-Caraga to kickstart ‘OTOP Next Gen’

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) – The drive for inclusive local economic growth through programs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is set to roll out dubbed One Town One Product Next Generation (OTOP Next Gen) in Caraga region.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Regional Office is undertaking activities that include: a) briefing by the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) with DTI trade promotion officers and local designers; b) conduct of an intensive product clinic and assessment for MSMEs) in processed food and wearables/home-style known as OTOP Next Gen screening, assessment and triage (SAT) sessions.

“We are also going to conduct a press conference on June 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Nasipit Hall of Almont Inland Resort to further explain the concept of the program as well as to cover a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing for yet another program by DTI, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with RISPhilippines for Rural Impact Sourcing Everywhere (RISE) Caraga,” said DTI-Caraga regional director Brielgo Pagaran.

DTI-Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga and officers from the DCP will join the panel with DTI-Caraga officers.

The OTOP Next Gen program aims to level up local products and services. Building from the gains of the initial OTOP program of the DTI, and with local MSMEs with viable products, this project aims to offer a package of public-private assistance to have significant improvement and innovation in the areas of quality, design, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development, among others. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Agnor PDRRMC readies NDCM celebration; bares lined up activities

By Nora C. Lanuza Molde

BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) – In celebration of this year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Agusan del Norte has lined up a month-long activities this July.

PDRRMC chairperson and governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba enjoined the stakeholders to join in the celebration that will kick-off with a thanksgiving mass, a motorcade at the municipal gymnasium of the Nasipit, Agusan del Norte on July 4.

Also on same day, different contests to be participated by different schools will be held at the municipal gym, to include: Jingle contest, Poster making contest, On-the-spot Essay Writing Contest, Quiz Bee Competition, and Video Clip Making contest.

During the celebration, an orientation on Republic Act 10821 also known as “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, Civil Society Organization and Youth Forum" will be held at the provincial training center here.

In barangay Pinana-an, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, a Comprehensive Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training is also scheduled on July 11-13 to be participated by the community members and barangay council.

A DRRM advocacy for the Bureau of Local Government Finance employees is also set on July 12.

Radio groups and Provincial RETT members will also be joining the two-day Agusan del Norte on Air Training on July 12-13 at the provincial training center.

One of the highlights in the celebration is the Provincial Fire Olympics to be participated by the different barangays and municipal fire brigades at the capitol commercial complex on July 14.

Also, a five-day simulation drill is set on July 18-22 to barangay Tagbongabong, RTR; barangays San Roque and Bangayan in the municipality of Kitcharao; ba rangays Caloc-an and Sto. Niño in Magallanes, all in the province of Agusan del Norte.

To test the response capacity and capability of the youth, different school youth organizations and emergency response teams from the different schools of the province will undergo a Rescue Exercise in Buenavista on July 27-29.

To culminate the month long celebration, a program will be held at the Robinsons Atrium here on July 29.

This year’s celebration carries the theme, “4Ks: Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan.” (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


DA launches loan program in Surigao Norte town

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 28 (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched its Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Program on June 23, 2017 in Malimono town. The launching was graced by DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

According to Secretary Piñol, the program will have an initial credit fund of P15 million, which will be downloaded to the Malimono Multipurpose Cooperative and will serve as the lending conduit for the municipality.

He said that the fishing and farming municipality will serve as the pilot areas of the program since small farmers and fishers need adequate, fast convenient and affordable credit in order to finance their production requirements thus raise production and incomes; and in effect, it will help provide sufficient and affordable food not just for the people in the municipality but for the province as a whole.

“Not just in Malimono, but other municipalities in the Philippines also feel the same sentiment that they are not being reached and served by most banks. Consequently, many of the small farmers and fishers do not have access to credit from formal sources and are therefore depending miserably on informal sources that charge high interest rates,” said Sec. Piñol.

Secretary Piñol emphasized that he has been going around the country visiting remote areas like Malimono under his “Biyaheng Bukid” in order to hear from the farmers and fishers themselves about their problems and requirements.

He said through his “Biyaheng Bukid,” the PLEA was designed to address the financial needs of marginalized farmers for a fast and affordable credit for agri-fishery production especially among those in remote and less productive areas.

Secretary Piñol explained that the program will be implemented by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), an attached agency of the DA through cooperatives and non-government organizations (NGOs) as lending conduits.

Piñol further said that the loans under the PLEA program do not need a collateral. The maximum loanable amount a farmer or fisherman can borrow is P50,000 depending on the activity and commodity being produced.

“The loan is payable within a period ranging from 2 to 10 years with an interest rate of 6 percent per annum. Loans released under the said program are also covered with crops insurance by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC),” Piñol added. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


PIA Caraga holds ASEAN info caravan to students in Butuan

By Regal C. Oribia

BUTUAN CITY, June 28 (PIA) - Hundreds of students from the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) gathered recently at the FSUU Morelos Campus here for the ASEAN Information Caravan 2017.

The caravan aims to deepen appreciation of the public about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN and the benefits it would give them in their daily lives.

"This is part of the government's effort to intensify the information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign about ASEAN. We want to communicate the opportunities and benefits of ASEAN to the Filipinos," said PIA Caraga regional director Abner Caga.

During the info caravan, Jennifer Gaitano of PIA-Caraga shared the privileges, benefits, significance, as well as the importance of being a member of the ASEAN community.

Meanwhile, Rica Ella Batino, 4th year Business Administration student, said the activity helped her understand the significant role of ASEAN in the country. "I need to strive hard in my education for me to be more globally competitive," she said.

Also, Dr. Emiliana Lozano, dean of Business Administration Program, thanked PIA Caraga for granting their request to be their resource speaker on ASEAN.

She noted that thru this activity, the students can have a deeper understanding of the employment opportunities in neighboring countries and the advantages that the ASEAN brings to its citizens. (FEA/RCO/PIA-Caraga)