(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, August 18, 2017

JPIC-IDC, Caraga media to discuss protection of women, children vs various forms of abuses

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) – To intensify awareness among media partners in Caraga region on the protection of women and their children against abuses, exploitation and human trafficking, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation – Integrated Development Center, Incorporated (JPIC-IDC, Inc.) is set to hold the roundtable discussion with media partners in Caraga on Setember 15, 2017 at Grand Palace Hotel, this city.

Reann Mantilla, project coordinator of Cinemobile Project – JPIC-IDC, Inc., underlined that for almost nine years, JPIC-IDC has been conducting awareness-raising activities, mobilization and strengthening of advocates, providing trainings in handling trafficking in persons cases to frontline service providers such as judges, prosecutors, law enforcers, academe, religious sectors and social workers manily on the areas of Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte.

“However, there is still a need to extend the modus of human trafficking to other civil society groups especially the media partners to be well-aware and become an advocates,” added Mantilla.

Mantilla, further said that with the scheduled one-day discussion with Caraga media, she is optimistic that the group will be able to come up with strategies on how to better enhance information dissemination on the said campaign especially in the remote areas of the region.

The JPIC-IDC is a non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization duly registered with the Security Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and accredited under Philippine Council for NGO certification.

It has been implementing projects in Caraga region specifically focused on protecting women and children against abuse, exploitation and trafficking in persons thru their Cinemobile Project dubbed “Capacity development of structures and competencies of state and non-state actors to fight against human trafficking in the Caraga region, Mindanao, Philippines,” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Karl Kübel Stiftung für Kind and Familie (KKS) of Germany. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Butuan PNP destroys illegal gambling machines

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 18 (PIA) – The Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) has recently conducted destruction of some 56 illegal gambling machines from their six-month operations in the different barangays of the city.

BCPO chief Police Senior Superintendent Percival Agustus Placer said, of the 56 confiscated 22 are video karera while the 34 are fruit game machines.

“These 56 illegal gambling machines were confiscated by our personnel from the different police stations here within the six-month operations of our office. We are continuously monitoring the different barangays as we intensify our campaign against illegal activities," underscored Placer.

"We will also destroy all these confiscated machines especially the motherboard, where illegally-made games were stored,” he added.

Placer also said that the activity is in line with the implementation of the marching order of President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal gambling activities. He further called on the locals not to engage into illegal gambling activities since it can ruin lives.

Several city councilors also joined in the destruction activity and witnessed by media partners. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


DepEd SurSur division completes advocacy campaign on random drug testing

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 18 (PIA) - The Department of Education (DepEd) Surigao del Sur Schools Division has recently completed the advocacy/orientation campaign relative to the implementation of 'random drug testing' in the entire division, said a senior official of the division on Thursday.

Schools Division Superintendent Marilou Dedumo said the random drug testing will be conducted to select secondary students and teachers identified by the system, developed by the DepEd Central Office.

Dedumo added that all non-teaching personnel will also undergo the drug testing in the Surigao del Sur Division.

Dedumo explained that as of press time, they are still waiting for the memorandum to be issued by the central office for the start of the implementation.

The conduct of the random drug testing in public and private secondary schools, particularly in the Junior and Senior High School students for the school year 2017-2018, was based on the guidelines stipulated by the DepEd order number 40, series of 2017. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


2-day power shutdown to hit parts of SurSur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 18 (PIA) – Thousands of households and businesses will suffer a two-day power outage on Aug. 20-21, 2017 here due to the conduct of Preventive Maintenance and Servicing for the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Incorporation II (SURSECO II) Substations.

The said maintenance is regularly conducted annually to ensure and maintain the quality and reliability of their distribution services, according to a notice issued by SURSECO II.

During the conduct of the preventive maintenance, there will be a power interruption from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to the following areas: (Aug. 20) Tandag City; Municipality of Cortes; and some parts of Tago town, particularly in barangays of Poblacion, Victoria, Dayo-an, Camagong, Mercedes, and parts of Gamut.

While on August 21, Monday, affected areas are: Municipalities of Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, San Miguel and some parts of Tago.

According to SURSECO II General Manager Engr. Iglorio Hinayon, power will be restored anytime after all works are completed.

SURSECO II operates in the first district of the province covering Tandag City and 13 towns: Lianga, San Agustin, Marihatag, Cagwait, Bayabas, Tago, San Miguel, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, and Carrascal. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


ATI Caraga chief to extension managers: Build bridges, not walls

By Jason Paul Dads E. Jampac

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 18 - “We should build bridges, not walls,” Robert T. Poculan, Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center XIII (ATI-Caraga), told extension managers during the Leadership and Management Skills Training held recently here.

“As leaders in your organization you should be mediators and not agents of divisiveness,” he added.

The five-day training was participated in by 31 managers from the municipal local government units in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Sur.

Resource speakers were from Manila namely, Steve Sandoval and wife Teresita Sandoval. Topics discussed were on the importance of personal and team mission and vision, levels of influence and leadership, and functions of a manager, among others. Aside from the lecture-discussions, resource speakers also incorporated case studies, role-plays and other group dynamics, and video presentations to facilitate learning.

“In my 25 years of government service, ngayon lang ako naka-attend ng ganitong klaseng training kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa ATI sa pagbibigay sa akin ng pagkakataon na makasali dito sa Leadership and Management Skills Training. Nag-aadjust pa lang ako sa position ko ngayon, pero pagbalik ko sa amin alam ko na kung ano ang una kong gagawin sa aming organisasyon,” expressed Emmanuel Cabachete, Municipal Agriculturist of Tubod, Surigao del Norte.

The said training revolved around the theme, “Inspiring, Influencing and Achieving Results.” It is conducted nationwide by ATI Central Office, and the one recently held in Butuan City was the ninth batch so far. (ATI-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


327 new police recruits in Caraga take oath of office

By PSupt. Martin M. Gamba

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 18 - The 327 youngest members of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO13) took an oath before their loved ones and family held at the PRO13 parade ground on August 16, 2017.

Chief Superintendent Rolando Felix, director of PRO13 administered the oath of office of 232 males and 94 females comprising the 327 new police personnel of this PRO.

The regular recruitment quota for PRO13 for 2017 was 700, but only 327 among the 529 applicants hurdled the stringent screening and tests for an applicant to join the Philippine National Police organization.         

The new recruits will undergo six months of rigorous training at the Regional Training Center 13 and they will start to receive a monthly salary of P20,494.

“You now officially belong to the special breed of men and women in the noble profession of law enforcement. Do not let anyone and anything stain or destroy your name, as you work in the organization,” was Felix advice to the new policemen during the ceremony. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


DTI-AgSur mounts 2nd KMMe launch in Bayugan City

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 18 - With full backing from both the city government here and the provincial government of Agusan del Sur, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Operations Group and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) - Go Negosyo,  DTI-Agusan del Sur have recently conducted the second launch of the ‘Kapatid Mentor Me’ (KMME) program.

Held at the Lope A. Asis Memorial Gymnasium, Bayugan City, the event was attended by close to 500 participants.

PCE Go Negosyo sent its team composed of Angelpreneurs Armand Bengco, Vix Madlangbayan, and coordinator P.A. De Guzman.

Bayugan City Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis expressed his optimism that more entrepreneurs and enthusiasts will benefit from the second KMMe in the city and will enhance their capabilities in their field of interest.

Agusan del Sur Provincial Governor Adolph Edward Plaza represented by SP Member Dr. Susan Gerona; DTI Caraga regional director Brielgo Pagaran; DTI Agusan del Sur OIC Provincial Director Brenda Baybay Corvera;  ADS Chamber of Commerce President Engr. Freddie Mero; Bayugan City Chamber of Commerce President Atty. Rafael Ybanez; Inspirational Forum Resource Persons -  Sherwin "Wangyu" Mylil Begyan and Arturo "Atoy" Franco, and the province's PCE accredited local mentors were present during said activity. (DTI-Agusand el Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Organically grown products to boost in Caraga

By Fretcher Magatao

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 18 - Farmers, agricultural extension workers, local government units, researchers, exhibitors and members of the academe convened for the 3rd Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (ROAC) conducted recently in Butuan City carrying the theme “Go Organic: Sa Organikong Pamamaraan, Ligtas ang Mamayan!”

The confab aims to mainstream the organic agriculture practices regionwide and encourage practitioners to obtain the Third-Party Certification in order to have better access to domestic and global markets.

According to National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) Member Jimmy Geronimo, DA together with organic agriculture stakeholders should envision not just the five percent conversion to organic farming, but also that every household should practice and be an advocate of organic agriculture.

Department of Agriculture – Caraga (DA) reported that as of December 2016, the region already achieved 6 percent of agricultural land devoted to organic farming way beyond its 5 percent target. This accounts to 42,000 hectares regionwide contributing to almost 9 percent of the country’s goal of 477,000 hectares to be converted to organic agriculture.

“I believe that the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) through the regional counterparts has been effective in implementing its objectives to the farmers. Up to now I still hear appreciation from farmers who experienced the difference of the organically grown produce,” Geronimo said.

Geronimo said that despite the strict process for organic certification, some farmers’ associations and cooperatives gradually work out to comply the necessary requirements. He also shared the alternative of adapting the standards set by Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS).

PGS are locally focused quality assurance systems which certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on the foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.

“PGS is designed to encourage more farmers to engage with organic agriculture,” Geronimo also cited that PGS is much cheaper compared to the Third-Party Certification which is assisted by DA and the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS) and eventually be certified by a third-party governing body.

DA-Caraga’s Alternate BAFS Focal Person Helen Fortun said that the region has one farmer and one LGU-controlled association that complies with PGS, one is the identified integrated organic farmer Edgar Opalia and the City Organic Agriculture Fisheries Complex (COAFC) of Bislig City.


DA urged other LGUs present to provide optimum support to the Organic Agriculture Program as it will further the production of safe food and making the agriculture sector more sustainable. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)