(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 24 April 2024) Easterlies affecting 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. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from East to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.1 meters).


Wednesday, May 3, 2017

DTI Surigao Norte warns public on unregistered food products, food supplements

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 3 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial office has warned the public on the purchase and consumption of unregistered food products and food supplement.

DTI provincial director Celestino L. Negapatan said the directive is in connection with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Advisory No. 2017-110 issued on March 29, 2017 that warned the public on the purchase and consumption of the following products and food supplement: Unregistered Healthy Brain Pills; Unregistered Novo Puree Pure Bottled Water; and Unregistered Holista Calcium Citrate.

According to Negapatan, the FDA post marketing surveillance activities have verified that the abovementioned food supplement have not gone through the registration process of the agency and have not been issued the proper authorization in the form of Certificate of Product Registration pursuant to Republic Act No. 9711 otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.”

Negapatan said that under the said act, manufacture, importation, exportation, sale and, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of health products without the proper authorization from FDA is prohibited.

He said, since unregistered food products and food supplement have not gone through evaluation and testing process of the FDA, the agency cannot guarantee their quality and safety. The consumption of such unregistered products may pose potential health hazards to the consuming public.

Food products including food supplements should not bear any misleading, deceptive, and false claims in their labels and or any promotional materials that will provide erroneous impression on products’ character or identity.

Negapatan said the FDA and DTI warned all concerned establishments against distribution of the above identified unregistered food products and food supplements until they have already been covered by the appropriate authorization or product registration.

He then advised the public to report continuous sale or distribution of the said food products and food supplement to FDA reporting facility: online at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport, email via report@dfa.gov.ph or call the Center for Food Regulation and Research hotline number (02) 857-1991 to 93 or just visit the DTI Provincial Office located at the 2nd Floor, Simtoco Business Center, Burgos Street, Surigao City or call at telephone numbers (086) 826-6129/826-2373. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

PSA-Caraga slates to release 2016 GRDP data

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) – In an effort to cascade accurate and relevant statistical data, comparing the year to year growth of Caraga region’s economy, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) Caraga is set to release the 2016 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) data on May 4, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. to be held at Almont Inland Resort, this city.

“The GRDP can be used generally in the formulation of annual development plans, in monitoring performance of the regional economy and its sectors and subsectors, identification of industries/sectors in terms of investment promotion and support service, and in analyzing trends and forecasting for planning purposes,” said PSA-Caraga regional director Rosalinda Celeste-Apura.

GRDP, which measures the amount of final goods and services produced by a region, is a primary indicator of a region's economic health. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)


Agusan Norte SP establishes exit strategy program for provincial workers

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, May 2 - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recently adopted and approved Provincial Ordinance No. 441-2017, Establishing an Exit Strategy Program for Retiring Provincial Government Workers during its 34th Regular Session.

Under the said ordinance, authored by Provincial Board Member Salutario B. Cuasito, it is mandated that the Provincial Human Resource Management Office (PHRMO) shall conduct series of exit strategy program aimed at preparing the provincial government workers who are due to retire from government service.

The PHRMO is mandated further to prepare programs, such but not limited to, personality development, entrepreneurial skills training, fund management, stress handling, prospecting business and investment and programs that would make the retireables useful in their respective communities.

It is the thrust of the provincial government to ensure the welfare of its employees by providing adequate trainings that would help them improve their lives for service to others and that its employees are equipped and endowed with feasible and viable options of investment areas where their money are best utilized upon retirement. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


Army medics, partners team up for operation tuli in Surigao

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 2 - Soldiers of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), Philippine Army who are conducting Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP) in the city together with stakeholders spearheaded an “operation tuli" (circumcision) on Monday here.

The activity is in line with the annual operation tuli of the Surigao Health Specialists Incorporated and the army troopers.

A total of 155 young boys benefited the free circumcision, and free haircut was also rendered by the soldiers to civilians that catered 50 beneficiaries on the same activity.

The said activity is a convergent efforts of the 30IB with the Surigao Health Specialists Inc, City Government of Surigao, Surigao Doctors College, Riverside Parts Master Inc, Natures Spring and Surigao del Norte Medical Society.

It can be recalled that soldiers were deployed in different barangays to gather issues and concerns of the people in order to address it to concerned agencies.

One of the issues brought up by PDOP is the lack of financial capability of the parents in sending their sons to private doctors for circumcision.

Civil Military Operations Officer 2Lt. Jonel Castillo said the PDOP is a tool of the Army in helping the agencies address different concerns of the people in a community which is seldom reached by basic services.

“Thus, it also strengthens our linkages and partnership with other stakeholders in order to attain a long and lasting peace in our communities,” Castillo said.

Meanwhile, 30IB Commanding Officer Col. Rico Amaro said they will continue performing such kind of civic action activities with the stakeholders.

“It shows the sincerity of our soldiers in serving our fellow Surigaonons to ensure the delivery of basic services to the communities,” said Amaro. (30IB-Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Energy department chief pushes integrated energy-water-food programs

BUTUAN CITY, May 2 - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday said integrated energy-water-food projects like hydroelectric dams is among the key strategy of the Duterte Administration in achieving its sustainable development goals.

"The Department of Energy is encouraging the integration of programs to develop renewable energy, water and food production," Cusi said in a speech at the 10th anniversary celebration of the privatization of the 360 megawatt (MW) Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant (Magat HEPP) in Ramon, Isabela.

“I want this hydropower plant to serve as an example of this energy, water and food undertaking. This plant serves as a peaking power plant that is capable of providing ancillary services for the stability of the Luzon grid, and also irrigates 80,000 hectares of land to feed millions of Filipinos,” Cusi said.

The energy chief conducted an aerial and technical inspection of the Magat HEPP and the ongoing construction of the National Irrigation Administration’s 6 MW Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS), which is targeted to be complete by December this year.

"I am certain that it will benefit not only the 10 municipalities across three provinces: Isabela, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, but the entire country," Cusi said of the two power plants.

He also said a strong partnership with the private sector is needed to produce 17,300 MW of additional power to support the country's development by 2030 under Dutertenomics or President Duterte's 10-point economic agenda.

During the event, the Cusi invited Norway, through its ambassador, Erik Forner, to invest more in the Philippines.

"More investments are needed. DOE will provide that environment conducive to business by ensuring reliable and sufficient power and more importantly, we need to protect the interest of the public. That is the cornerstone of the Presidency of Mayor Duterte," Cusi concluded. (DOE/PIA-Caraga)


US turns over EOD to PNP

BUTUAN CITY, May 2 - United States (US) Embassy regional security officer Lon Clyde Fairchild, Jr. and Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security Antiterrorism Assistance (DS/ATA) resident program manager Ronald Dizon formally turned over the post blast investigation and explosive incident countermeasure kits to Philippine National Police - Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal Canine (EOD/K9) Group during the first Anniversary of the EOD/K9 Group held at the PNP Multi-purpose Hall, Camp Crame, Quezon City on April 24, 2017.

The DS/ATA’s EOD/K9 recognizes that a well-trained EOD/K9 with an experienced handler is an excellent tool in locating explosive devices.  To develop this capability in the Philippines, DS/ATA began assisting the PNP in early 2007 with the establishment of an EOD/K-9 facility for the PNP National Capital Region Police Office.

The facilities include kennels, a veterinary clinic and billeting for EOD/K9 handlers.  Six bomb detector dogs were granted by DS/ATA in 2008 to the PNP EOD/K9 Group and in 2015, twenty-two additional bomb detector dogs were granted.  DS/ATA trained 22 handlers who are now assigned to Mindanao and the National Capital Region.

To develop the PNP’s bomb disposal and investigation capabilities, DS/ATA provided a post blast investigation and explosive incident countermeasure training and equipment to critical areas in Mindanao; in particular to Zamboanga, Davao, General Santos, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

DS/ATA-trained bomb technicians and investigators are now able to respond quickly to bombing incidents and improvised explosive device (IED) threats, preventing the loss of lives.  DS/ATA-trained and equipped EOD/K9 units also provided IED Awareness Training to PNP units, local schools, and civic groups in at-risk areas of Mindanao.

The US government has donated P19 million worth of explosive ordnance devices (EOD) and was received by PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa. (U.S. Embassy/PIA-Caraga)


Cops ready for International Women’s Surfing Cup in Siargao

BUTUAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) -  Security measures are ready to ensure a peaceful and secured women’s surfing competition that will be held in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on May 2-6, 2017, Caraga Police director Chief Supt Rolando Felix said.

A total of 108 additional cops will be deployed to the country’s surfing capital aside from the troops from the Philippine Army and force multipliers to tighten security operations.

The PNP, AFP, Local Government Units, other government agencies, and private sectors will collaborate to make this event successful.

 “Making this international surfing cup peaceful and orderly is our contribution to boost the tourism in Siargao Island and attract more tourists from different parts of the world,” Felix affirmed.

He also appealed to the citizens to immediately report to the police suspicious activities in the area and to approach the nearest police assistance desks for any concern of peace and order.
The upcoming surfing event is the first ever World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) women’s event in the Philippines where best female surfers around the world will come and vie for the $10,000-prize purse and other consolation prizes. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Mahigit 300 bata nakinabang sa libreng tuli sa lungsod ng Butuan

Ni Venus L. Garcia

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Mayo 2 (PIA) - Bilang katuparan sa misyon na magbigay tulong sa mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng community outreach program, dinagsa ng mahigit 300 kabataan na may siyam na taong edad ang pinangunahang ‘Operation Tuli’ ng Father Saturnino Urios University o FSUU High School Alumni Association, sa pakikipagtulungan ng Civil-Military Operations o CMO, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army dito sa lungsod ng Butuan.

Ang nasabing libreng tuli ay inisyatibo ng FSUU High School Alumni Association na siyang ginaganap kada taon bilang bahagi na rin ng kanilang homecoming lined-up activities.

Ayon kay association president Minnie May Dumanhug, mismong mga medical doctors na alumni ng nasabing unibersidad ang nagbigay ng kani-kanilang serbisyo, kasama na rin ang volunteers ng Operating Room Nurses Association at mga medical practitioners ng Butuan City Medical Center.

Samantala, kaakibat naman ang Philippine Army sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong medikal ng kanilang skilled personnel.

Ayon kay 4th CMO battalion commander Lt. Col. Manuel Valdez IV, ang kanilang partisipasyon ay pang-apat na sa magkakasunod na isinagawang Oplan Tuli at medical mission simula first quarter nitong taon.

Sa magkaibang venues ay nakapagtuli naman sila ng may 200 na kabataan sa barangay Tag-abaka; 150 sa barangay Ong Yiu; 75 sa barangay Maon; at 100 din ang nakinabang sa dental services.

Dagdag pa ni Lt. Col. Valdez ay nakaschedule na rin sa May 10 ang gagawing Operation Tuli sa barangay Bancasi, lungsod ng Butuan.


Namahagi rin sila ng libreng medisina sa mga tinutuli. Napapanahon naman ang kanilang isinagawang proyekto dahil nagkataong summer vacation kung saan walang pasok ang mga kabataan. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)

Friday, April 28, 2017

DOLE all set for Labor Day celebration in SurSur

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Apr. 28 (PIA) – All lined-up activities for the Labor Day celebration in the province are set, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Friday.

This year's Philippine Labor Day Celebration is anchored on the theme: “Matatag na Kabuhayan at Trabaho Tungo sa Progresibing Pagbabago.”

DOLE provincial chief May Velonta said the pre-labor day activities of the province will be conducted on Saturday morning in Bislig City and on afternoon in Hinatuan town with DOLE Undersecretary Bernard Olalia as the guest of honor.

He will lead the distribution of the livelihood assistance to the idetified recipients - Airport Rural Builders Association in Bislig City and Hinatuan OFWs and Dependents Association in Hinatuan.

Meanwhile, during the Labor Day on Monday, May 1, the celebration will start with a mass at 6:00 a.m. followed by a motorcade and program proper at the Tandag City Park participated by employees from the public and private sectors, other partners stakeholders, tripartite councils, PESO Managers, Associations/Organizations and Labor and management partners in partnership with the city government of Tandag.

On May 2, DOLE will lead the jobs fair and business fair activities in Carrascal town in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


AgNor SP adopts grant of gratuity pay to JOs, CSWs

By Aimee B. Sienes

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 28 - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recently adopted the grant of gratuity pay to job order (JO) and contract of service workers (CSWs) in the provincial government, subject to availability of funds of the province.

In its Provincial Resolution No. 083-2017, authored by Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan adopted the Administrative Order No. 02 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, authorizing the grant of gratuity pay to JOs and CSWs in national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and government financial institutions, chargeable to their respective Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).

Under Section 6 of said AO 02, local government units are likewise encouraged to adopt in their respective offices the said grant utilizing appropriate funds and available funding sources.

In a proposed resolution studied by the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, chaired by Vice Governor Bungabong, the province will authorize the grant of gratuity pay to all JOs and CSWs in the provincial government of Agusan del Norte who have rendered a total of an aggregate of at least four months of satisfactory service as of December 15, 2016 and whose contract are still effective as of said date in the amount of P2,000 each, chargeable to appropriate funds.

Provincial Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba expressed support of the said move and is willing to extend the gratuity pay, but said that it should be incorporated first in the province’s supplemental AIP for funding under the province’s supplemental budget. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


PSA prepares for building structures geo-tagging activity

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 28  - The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the central statistical authority of the Philippine government on primary data collection, will conduct the tablet-aided geo-tagging of building structures.

This activity aims to come-up with accurate and reliable digitized maps, use primarily for the various censuses and surveys conducted by the office.

The main purpose of conducting the geo-tagging activity is to identify and mark building structures as points in the digitized maps and attributing these buildings with the pertinent geographical information in the barangays.

The PSA Field Staff and selected trained Map Data Collectors and Map Data Screeners in Caraga will geotag all kinds of building structures and take pictures of the building facade using tablets in May to August, 2017.  The information collected shall be kept strictly confidential and shall not be used for purposes of taxation, investigation or regulation as provided under Article 55 of Republic Act 10625. (PSA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


DOE pitches energy opportunities to ASEAN investors

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 28 (PIA) - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Thursday that there is a big business opportunity in the Philippines' energy sector that investors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can take advantage of.

"We're inviting energy investors from ASEAN. The ASEAN summit is an opportunity for us to drum up to our neighbors that there is this development happening in the Philippines and they can participate," Cusi said after attending the closed door quarterly roundtable of the Wallace Business Forum at Shangri-la Hotel, Makati City.

Cusi said the potential business opportunity in energy is the result of the government's ambitious infrastructure program dubbed "Build Build Build."

"We're going to build the energy supply for the infrastructure," said Cusi.

"From 2016 to 2030, 17,300 megawatts (MW) is needed to support the Ambisyon 2040 development plan of the government for the Philippines. An additional power of 26,000 MW from 2030 to 2040 or a total of 43,000 MW from 2016 to 2040 is needed to support the infrastructure projects," Cusi said at the second round of Dutertenomics Forum on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Cusi is optimistic that investors will come in. "The investment opportunity is open for all and the DOE will not put a cap and quota on the energy source of choice," said Cusi.

"I'm sure there will be entrants, particularly those who can offer the best for the Philippines and those who can provide the supply in the cheapest and most efficient way," he concluded. (DOE/PIA-Caraga)


Surigao Norte agrarian org tops regional maturity assessment

By Daryll M. Tumbaga

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Apr. 28  - Alipao Multi-purpose Cooperative (ALMUCO) of Brgy. Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte topped the Caraga-wide Information Technology-enabled Maturity Assessment (ITEMA) for the assisted agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

This was revealed during the ITEMA feedbacking session held last April 18, 2017 in Butuan City facilitated by the staff from Policy Planning Services of DAR Central Office and ITEMA consultant.

ALMUCO obtained a rating of 78.25 equivalent to Maturity Level of 5. A total of 378 ARBOs all over the region were subjected to ITEMA.

The said ARBOs were assessed on their 2015 organizational operations on the following key results areas, to wit; organizational management, business enterprises and social services, resource and financial management, alliance building, and social and environment responsibility.

“This is a great and very welcoming news for us,” said Venancia S. Signar, chairperson of ALMUCO.

“This is because of the untiring and collaborative effort of all the officers and members of ALMUCO. Truly, there is strength in unity,” she added.

The ITeMA for ARBOs seeks to come up with comprehensive and realistic results of assessing the levels of maturity of the DAR-assisted ARBOs, to bring to fore the development gaps or the interventions yet to be provided, and to create a database of DAR-assisted ARBOs from which updated and comprehensive ARBO profiles can be readily generated. (DAR-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Medialdea’s decision to halt additional mine fund a procedural matter – Barbers

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Apr. 28 - Surigao del Norte 2nd district Representative Robert Ace Barbers expressed his support for Executive Secretary (ES) Salvador Medialdea’s decision to suspend the imposition of a P2-million trust fund for every hectare of land disturbed by mining operations, an order that was issued by the office of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.

Barbers said the suspension is not an opposition to Secretary Gina’s proposed additional mine fund.

"The DENR Secretary has to understand that this is all part of due process. Mining companies appealed to the Office of the President, therefore, it is only imperative that they be given immediate relief, until the President decides on the petitions,” said Barbers.

Barbers said the executive secretary has jurisdiction over appeals filed with the Office of the President.

"I firmly believe that ES Medialdea deferred the mine fund not because he counters President Duterte’s policy against destructive mining operations, but because the petitions center on this controversial trust fund,” Barbers added. (Surigao del Norte 2nd District Congressional Office/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


3 Caraga towns to pioneer 'assistance to municipalities' program

By Marilou Autor-Salado

BUTUAN CITY, Apr. 28 - Three municipalities in Caraga region are set to pioneer the implementation of projects under the Assistance to Municipalities (AM) program as Notices to Debit Account Issued (NADAI) are already out for the release of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) amounting to P35,177,000.00 as of April 18, 2017.

Each municipality is granted the amount equivalent to their approved projects.

The municipality of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte will implement two projects; for the Construction of one unit Evacuation center cum Training Center in Purok 1, Barangay Bangonay amounting P3 million and an amount of P6,913,000 for the upgrading of access road to Great Lake Resort in Purok 1, Poblacion.

The municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur will concentrate all of its allocation amounting to P11,038,000 for the Mayabog Spring development (Level III) for the benefit of barangays Poblacion, San Vicente, Sta. Teresa, Sto. Tomas, Waloe, San Isidro, San Mariano and Sto. NiΓ±o.

The municipality of Sta. Monica, Surigao del Norte will also work on two approved projects - provision of Potable Water Supply in Poblacion and Rizal amounting to P4,226,000 and the Core Local Access Road in Poblacion amounting to P10 million.

Prompt compliance to the requirements of Public Financial Management (PFM) under the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH), a component of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are two requisites for the early release of their funds.


Other municipalities are encouraged to coordinate with the DBM and the DILG Municipal Officers to ensure compliance of requirements to facilitate LGSF release. (DILG-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)