(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.


Thursday, July 6, 2017

DOST chief leads Pisay Caraga campus inauguration

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) – The Caraganon students, parents and teachers have witnessed the campus inauguration and Thanksgiving celebration of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) on Thursday here, with the presence of Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Dela Peña, in his message, bared that the newly-inaugurated campus of Pisay will now be used during the opening of classes in August 7, 2017.

“Philippine Science High School (Pisay) Caraga Region Campus is the 13th Pisay campus in the country,” said Sec. Dela Peña. He also said that it will soon have its own gymnasium before the end of 2018.

Also, the good secretary expressed his warm thanks to the Caraga State University (CSU) for facilitating the provision of temporary campus/classrooms for Pisay students for a couple of years while it awaits the completion of the new Pisay building.

“As of now, the Philippine Science High School has 343 scholars from Grade 7 to Grade 10. We are optimistic that these scholars will be able to reach their goals and become scientists in the region,” Dela Peña highlighted.

Agusan del Norte 1st District Representative Lawrence Fortun also stressed that Caraga needs more scientists that could also help enhance the agricultural facilities/technologies that farmers use.

Fortun, further elaborated to the students the importance of having a good education and encouraged them to continue to learn, and develop their skills and talent in innovating the technologies today that will also benefit the next generations.

Meanwhile, Butuan City mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada personally congratulated all the participating students, parents and teachers. He said that he has personally visited the area where the newly-constructed campus of the Phil. Science High School is situated, and have seen its facilities and how the students will be enjoying their studies, especially in their interest in science and technology. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


SurSur LGU strengthens peace, dev’t efforts in conflict-affected areas

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 6 (PIA) – The provincial government of Surigao del Sur convened for a quarterly meeting with the members of the Peace Development Oversight and Advisory Committee (PDOAC) on June 30, 2017 to appraise the functions of its members and relevance in addressing peace and development concerns in the conflict-affected areas in the province.

PDOAC Chairperson Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr was ably represented by Provincial Administrator Efren Rivas who presided the conference participated by the members of the PDOAC who are coming from the national government agencies, non-government organizations and provincial government frontline services department heads.

According to Rivas, the composition of PDOAC was based on the Executive Order # 16, Series of 2016 dated September 19, 2016 “Organizing PDOAC in the Province of this province.”

The PDOAC, accordingly, will act as harmonizing and advisory body that will exercise oversight functions. It also looks into the specific details of the implementation of Peace and Development interventions through a Bayanihan Team Activities.

Also, during the activity, a total of 17 Former Rebels (FRs) who surrendered to Surigao del Sur in 2016 received the cash assistance from the provincial government worth P5,000.00 each and 4.5 kilos of rice thru the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and assorted seeds from the Department of Agriculture. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DAR conducts training to AgSur ARBOs

By Rechel D. Besonia

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, July 6 (PIA) - A total of 150 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) from 10 ARB Organizations within the SIBAE (Sibagat, Bayugan, Esperanza) and Loreto-La Paz Agrarian Reform Community were trained on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Principles and Practices in four separate batches within the second quarter of 2017 held at Mabe’s Savory Place, San Francisco, this province.

Among the participating ARBOs were the Tambo ARB Farmers Association (TARBFA); Guitas Amapco United ARB Association, Inc. (GAUARBA); Osmena ARB Association (OARBFAMCO); Maiton Agro Industrial Development MPC; San Vicente Farmers Association; Ilihan CARP Beneficiaries Multi-Purpoose Cooperative (ILCARBEMCO); Gamao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GAMPC); Grace Estate Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association; Mahagkot Farmers Association (MFA) and Hawilian Family Group Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

“These ARBOs was specifically chosen since they are vulnerable to typhoon, drought, flooding and other natural phenomenon due to the changing climate that causes adverse impacts and considerable damage to farm production," Jimmielho Azares, Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (ARPO I) said.

Project Development Coordinator Paul Baang, Project Coordinator Ruel Maitem, Area Coordinator Alfredo Sevilla and Database Administrator Mia Flor Prochina from the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRAA) were the resource speakers during the said training.

According to Baang, the activity was aimed to sustainably increase agricultural productivity by enhancing the knowledge of the participants on how to adapt and build the resilience of agricultural and food security systems to climate change at the farm level and reduce the farmer’s dependency on inorganic farming methods.

“Kining mao nga training dako ug gikahatag nga pagtulun-an alang sa among pagpanguma ug unsaon aron mkalahutay sa panahon sa kalamidad (This training helps us a lot in managing our farm and prepares us in times in times of calamity), said Joeme E. Delaganar, a member of Mahagkot Farmers Association.

"Makatabang kini aron makat-onan namo unsaon pagbuhat ug pag gamit sa mga organic fertilizers, sa ingon maminusan ang among gasto ug motaas ang among income (It will also help us on how to make organic fertilizers and use it effectively in the farm to lessen farming cost and thus increase farm income),” Delaganar added. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


US turns over 12 trucks to AFP

BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) – The United States (US) has officially turned over on Thursday 12 Ford F-550 trucks to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP’s) Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point in Cavite.

Security cooperation manager for the Joint US Military Assistance Group Frederick Riker handed over the ceremonial truck key to Philippine Navy Capt. Alfonspin P. Tumanda Jr.

The said trucks will help ease the mobility of the NAVSOG troops spread throughout the Philippines including units located in Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga and Davao.  It will also aid in the transport and deployment to critical areas of rigid-hulled inflatable boats that were previously delivered by the US to the AFP.

Through a variety of assistance packages over the past three years, the US has also provided the Philippines with over 200 million dollars of grant assistance to assist the partner forces in building the required capabilities for success.

Present also during the ceremony were other representatives from the Joint US Military Assistance Group, as well as Capt. Alfonspin P. Tumanda Jr. and Cmdr. Jim P. Razo, the Commander and Deputy Commander of Philippine NAVSOG. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)


Army, PNP arrest NPA leader in Surigao City

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, July 6 (PIA)  - Joint police and military efforts led to the capture of a New People’s Army (NPA) leader on Wednesday, July 5 here.

The arrested person was identified as Arpel Medelozo Rabago a.k.a Ka Yoyo, 30 years old and a resident of Purok 6, Upper Sangay, Barangay Anomar, this city, a vice commander of an NPA platoon of the Guerilla Front 16 operating in Surigao del Norte. He was arrested by the army's 30th Infantry Battalion, Surigao City Police and Provincial Public Safety Company by virtue of warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 32 Judge Dan Calderon at around 5:00 p.m., July 5, 2017 at the checkpoint along the national highway of Barangay Trinidad, this city.

Rabago has a pending case for frustrated murder last October 21, 2013 and warrant of arrest for multiple attempted murder issued by the late Judge Victor Canoy of RTC Branch 29 last November 27, 2015 and kidnapping and serious illegal detention. He is now with the Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition.

According to 30IB Civil Military Operations Officer 2LT Jonel Castillo, Ka Yoyo is responsible for the series of harassments and extortion in certain parts of the province. He also led a numerous attacks against government troops who were conducting Peace and Development Activities in the towns of Malimono, San Francisco and Surigao City during the previous years.

In his statement, 30IB Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Allen Tomas said the government troops will continue to strengthen the peace and security in the province.

“We will never allow these communist insurgents to destabilize our peace efforts especially in conflict- affected areas," said Lt. Col. Tomas. (30IB-Philippine Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


PACANGEL 17 delivers humanitarian assistance, capability building in PH

BUTUAN CITY, July 6 (PIA) - Over the course of ten days, more than 100 active duty United States (US) Air Force, Army, Navy, Nevada Air National Guard, and five other Pacific nations delivered humanitarian assistance and performed subject matter expert exchanges with their partners in the Philippines during the Pacific Angel (PACANGEL) 2017.

PACANGEL team members from the Philippines, US, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia worked in conjunction with local non-governmental organizations to conduct subject matter expert exchanges, complete electrical, plumbing and infrastructure repair projects, and provide dental, optometric, pediatric and general health care to the people of Northern Cebu Province.

“It has been an honor being here in the Philippines and working with the community and our multi-lateral partners,” said Lt. Col. Edward Khim, PACANGEL Philippines mission commander.  “Not only were we able to provide structural repairs at seven different sites, but our doctors saw a record-breaking number of patients.  At the end of the day though, it’s not about the numbers, it’s about building partnerships and learning from each other,” he emphasized.

PACANGEL doctors and technicians were able to cater more than 6,000 patients throughout the five days of health services outreach.

While PACANGEL events in the Philippines are now complete, Pacific Angel 2017 will continue in three other locations, namely, Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam; Northern and Western Divisions, Fiji; and Gorkha, Nepal.

Operation Pacific Angel is a recurring joint humanitarian assistance mission sponsored by US Pacific Command (USPACOM) designed to bring humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) and civil-military operations (CMO) to areas in need in the Pacific region. It is conducted in locations throughout the Pacific theater to support the U.S. military charter of capacity building in partner nations. The operations contain elements of all four branches of the Department of Defense, including active duty,National Guard, and reserve members.

The key difference between this mission and previous missions is that these missions are focused on capacity building in the host nation. The mission objective is to provide assistance to an area, and leave behind a capability for the host nation doctors to continue to provide the services. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)