(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, August 3, 2017

AFP chief graces 36IB's founding anniv in SurSur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 3 (PIA) – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año graced the celebration of the 43rd Founding Anniversary of the 36 Infantry “Valor” Battalion in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 held at the battalion headquarters, Brgy. Dayoan, Tago, Surigao del Sur.

“I am very proud to be a member of the Valor Battalion," General Año said in his keynote message. General Año was formerly assigned as intelligence officer of 36IB on 1985 and January of 1988.

During his career as a combat officer, he served as platoon leader and later as Bravo Company commander of the 36IB.

“No other battalion can surpass the record of 36IB with so many members who became chief of staff of the AFP," said National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

General Efren Abu, General Esperon, General Ricardo David, and General Año were once assigned in 36IB before.

Meanwhile, General Año thanked the local government of Surigao del Sur for donating four-hectare of land as the permanent camp of the 402nd Brigade, and the municipal level officials for extending their support to the Philippine Army during the 36IB anniversary celebration. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


AgNor to sign financial contract agreement with GIZ

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 3 - A new development in the province of Agusan del Norte is on its way upon implementation of the program called “Support to Capacity Development Measures on Conflict Sensitive Local Development Planning Processes in Agusan del Norte.”

This stemmed from the authority given by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba through Sanggunian Resolution No. 187-2017, authored by Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong, to sign the Financial Agreement Contract with Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for the said program.

The “Support to Capacity Development Measures on Conflict Sensitive Local Development Planning Processes in Agusan del Norte” was funded by the GIZ under the Conflict Resource and Asset Management (COSERAM) Program of the Philippine-German Development Cooperation.

The project aims to determine the appropriate programs in the respective local government units’ (LGUs) development plans like the Barangay Development Plan (BDP), City Development Plan (CDP), Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Project (CLUPP), Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) and the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) that will respond to the needs of the constituents and address various development challenges and conflicts affecting the local governments.

It also aims to enhance the competency of the local planning teams and improve the capacities of the planning offices toward participatory, inclusive and bottom-up planning that is integrative, comprehensive and sensitive to conflict, gender, Indigenous Peoples culture and rights and disaster risk reduction-climate change issues. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Siargao hosts first-ever international marathon 2017

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 3 - As a fundraising campaign organized by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte for the benefit of mangrove rehabilitation in Del Carmen, the historic Siargao International Marathon took place in Siargao Island on July 23, this year.

Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo “JR” Coro conceptualized the universally-acclaimed Marathon 2017 in collaboration with Runrio Events, Inc. and Open Space Media Inc. in the wake of the giant success of the “Shore It Up” program.

Heading the 21 km (female) category were top finishers Michelle Aclo (1st), followed by Madelyn Carter (2nd) and Andrea Calleja (3rd).

For the male category, Elmer Bartolo placed first. Johnrey Tumanda got the second spot while Aldrin Batac ranked third. They were all Filipinos.

For the 42 km female category, Ryzan Lacson won the first place, seconded by Pamela Apuhin and followed by Shiela Mae Montero for the third spot. They were all Filipinos.

Topping the male category was Joseph Mururi from Kenya, followed by Cris Aclo and July Bandojo (both Filipinos).

Racers hailed from different countries congregated at the Numancia Elementary School grounds for the out and back cover traversing a good section of the Siargao Circumferential Road.

The 5:00 a.m. gun start countenanced all to face the island’s spectacular panorama that consisted of the exceptional coastline that has given Siargao prominence as a sanctuary for water sports and game fishing.

Del Carmen took center-stage having a coastal mangrove forest which is the second largest in the Philippines and home to 27 diverse mangrove species all over the planet.

Siargao, the majestic island paradise of the Philippines, became a perfect venue for the foot races this season.

Registration was valued at P1,400 for the 21K and P1,800 for the 42K; race kit comprised of bib, official race singlet, and D-tag with shirts and medals laced to those who triumphed.

Also giving the race more life, meaning and purpose were the one mangrove seedling pledged by each runner in his or her name which formed part and parcel of the seed growing activity on July 25. (PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


DTI reorients LPCC-Prosperidad on consumer-related laws

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 3 - In order to ensure that members will be able to discharge their functions effectively, the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) here has recently conducted a follow-up meeting to reorient the members on pertinent laws as well as discuss further the requirements under the current Mindanao-wide price freeze.

Prosperidad Mayor Albin Magdamit presided the meeting and facilitated the discussion with 100 percent attendance of the council members.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga Regional Head of the Consumer Protection Division Lorijane Sacote, presented a summary of the pertinent consumer protection –related laws and discussed in detail the provisions of Republic Act 7581 (Price Act) including the functions of the LPCC member agencies.

It was then followed by the presentation of each member agency on the actions that they have taken with the price freeze order (as a result of the declaration of martial law) and the status of the products that they are mandated to monitor.

The other agencies that also reported include the National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health, the Municipal Economic Enterprise & Development Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office. The presenters were Cerila P. Inson (DTI), Hugo M. Sarigumba (NFA), Brigidito R. Acuso (PSA), Ike L. Igpalina (DENR), Evelyn T. Monato (MEEDO) and Marlita P. Cortez (MAO).

The council also moved to organize a Price Action Team (PAT) composed of technical staff from each member agency. The PAT is tasked to do initial studies on the state of prices of basic necessities monitored in the market, make some analysis and submit their outputs to the council for further assessment. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


News Feature: Payanig sa Bislig: A drill to prepare for the 'Big One'

BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 3 (PIA) - Duck, Cover, and Hold – the employees calmly ran and covered their heads as National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) held an earthquake drill recently at Bislig City Hall in consonance with the National Disasters Month last July with the theme “ 4Ks Kamalayan Sa Kahandaan Katumbas Ay Kaligtasan."

The National, Regional, Provincial, and City Risk Reduction Management Councils, accordingly, jointly coordinated the activity in collaboration with various local and national government agencies.

The “Payanig sa Bislig Drill” seeks to intensify the local government unit’s earthquake preparedness and strengthen the commitment of the local government in building safe communities.

The evaluators headed by Engr. Evelyn B. Sererado from the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) observed the entire exercise and conducted their assessment with regard to the conducted earthquake drill.

As mentioned, LGU-Bislig was able to perfectly execute the six phases of the actual conduct of the drill – Alarm Phase, Response Phase, Evacuation Phase, Assembly Phase, Head Count Phase, and Evaluation or Termination of the Drill which in turn leads to a very satisfactory rating. “Higher than the previous earthquake drill I have observed," Engr. Sererado said.

Participating drills, exercises, and advocacies as part of the continuing effort of the government are definitely of great help in enhancing preparedness and raising awareness among employees thereby making them tough and ready enough to face any man made or natural disasters. (with a report from LSElechicon, KACPoliran, NBBanda/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


DAR launches farm business school in Surigao City

By Daryll M. Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Aug. 3 (PIA) - The provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Surigao del Norte launched on July 27, 2017, the farm business school (FBS) project in Brgy. Mabini, this city.

A total of 35 farmer-enrollees will endure the weekly sessions for four months of over 25 modules.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) I Ma. Elizabeth L. De Guzman during the launching stressed that the farm business school will teach the farmers the entrepreneurial and marketing skills.

Meanwhile, PARPO II Jose T. Sebucao challenged the farmer-enrollees to apply the knowledge and skills that they will learn from the class.

“These skills will eventually help you find and forge profitable agri-business linkages,” Sebucao said while addressing the farmer-enrollees.

On his part, Provincial Director Celestino L. Negapatan of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Surigao del Norte, said that the farmers should be the one to create their business decisions, and the government agencies will be there to assist them.

During the launching, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the farm business school was inked between the DAR, DTI, local government unit of Surigao City and the Mabini Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative. (DAR-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


News Feature: AgSur KMME mentees study human resource & organization management for their business

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, Aug. 3 – “Human resource is the heart of the organization,” Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) mentor Maylene Navalta shared during the Kapatid Mentor Me Program (KMME) Module 7: Human Resource and Organization Management held recently at the Mabe’s Savory Place, this municipality.

Navalta also emphasized that leadership is the foundation of human resource.

Agusan del Sur’s 1st batch of 25 mentees were taught how to become leaders in their respective organizations. They were asked to assess individually what type of leaders they are after pointing out that leadership is not about personality, but rather about behavior. Navalta also encouraged them to value their people to help them achieve their goals and succeed in their businesses.

“The basics of Human Resource Management—HR planning, acquiring, developing, motivating and separation—will help in managing my people for the future expansion of my business. Meantime, I will apply the lessons I learned in developing and motivating my subordinates,” said Flora Sayson, one of the mentees.

Sayson is owner of Flor’s Meat Processing and president of DelCaZiLab Women’s Association—a BuB 2014 beneficiary on Meat & Chicken Processing project of the local government unit of Talacogon.

Agusan del Sur Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry President and local mentor Freddie Mero also expressed his gratitude to the PCE Mentor Navalta for making the module and the terms and processes in human resource management easy to understand for the mentees. He was joined by seven local mentors.


KMME is a program that aims to produce confident entrepreneurs with the right mindset and business-knowhow who can sustain and scale up their enterprises. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)