(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, February 8, 2018

DAR starts work for road and water project in Tagbina

By Joie L. Ceballos

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 8  – Coffee farmers in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur will no longer have a hard time transporting their products months from now as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) commenced work for the concreting of road from Sitio Mabuhay to Kahayagan.

A groundbreaking ceremony led by DAR 13 Regional Director Engr. Felix B. Aguhob and Tagbina Mayor Generoso Naraiso was held on February 6, 2018 in Brgy. Kahayagan, Tagbina, Surigao Sur.

Aguhob said that the 4.67-kilometer road concreting is funded under the DAR Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Development (ConVERGE).

“This road project amounting to P30.9 million is expected to aid the value-chain process of the coffee products in Tagbina,” he added.

Naraiso thanked the DAR in behalf of the people of Tagbina. “Out of 19 municipalities in Surigao del Sur, it is our Tagbina who is blessed to have this road and water project," he said in his message.

In the same occasion, the groundbreaking for the Extension of Level II Potable Water System in Sitio Mabuhay was also held.

According to Aguhob, the water system project is helpful in the production and processing cycle of the coffee.

In his message, Surigao Sur PARPO II Benjamin Mataksil encouraged the beneficiaries and the community to take care of the project. “Let us work together so that these projects will help realize the dreams of Tagbina coffee farmers for a better quality of life,” he stressed.

Arlyn Ruiz, chairwoman of the Kahayagan Water System Sanitation Association (KAWASA) said that the water project will greatly help not only in their livelihood but more so in their day to day living.

She added that with easier household chores, they will have enough time to attend to their children and their livelihood.

Seventy (70) households, in addition to the existing 300 households, will benefit the P2 million water expansion project.

For Carmelita Samoya, member of the Mabuhay Kahayagan Coffee Growers Cooperative (MKCGC), the road project, which they have been dreaming for a long time, will greatly help them in their coffee production and processing business.

“Finally, we can now experience a better road. Thanks to the DAR,” Sayoma said.

The MKCGC started with 140 member-farmers who were recipients of land award from the DAR in 2010 but have started growing coffee since 1965.

Under Project ConVERGE, the MKCGC will be the lead organization of the Coffee Production, Rejuvenation, Processing and Marketing project.

Project ConVERGE is jointly funded by the Government of the Philippines represented by DAR and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). (JLCeballos, DAR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Gov’t allocates 140M for irrigation system in Agusan del Sur
 
BUTUAN CITY, Feb 8 (PIA) – With the assistance of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS), a funding worth P140 million for calendar year 2018 was allocated for Sta. Josefa Pump Irrigation System (SJPIS) in Agusan del Sur.

It is intended for the improvement of the facilities from earth to line canal, to minimize the leakage of irrigation water, particularly at the different lateral canals along service area of the irrigation system.

A comprehensive inspection, particularly the pump irrigation system in the municipality of Sta. Josefa, was conducted by Atty. Jann Roby Otero, OCS assistant secretary, together with Engr. Madante Ganotisi, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga acting regional manager, and Engr. Elmer B. Felizarta, officer-in-charge of SJPIS.

The group visited four sites to see the status of the irrigation facilities and the damaged canal caused by Tropical Depression Vinta.

After the inspection, Felizarta presented the system status where there were eight irrigators associations already organized with 307 members. The system, if fully functional, could serve almost 2,500 hectares based on the design.

Otero added that he will personally monitor the completion of the project to ensure that it will be completed based on the target. (NIA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)


Teachers’ Congress set in Surigao del Norte

By John Glenn A. Platil

SURIGAO CITY, Feb. 8 – Over 6,000 teachers and school administrators are expected to join the province-wide Teachers’ Congress set on February 16, 2018 to be held at the Surigao del Norte Provincial Gymnasium.

Gov. Sol Matugas of said province will unveil the proposed Provincial Division Office and the Teachers’ Training Center in Siargao. She will also lead the launching of the Provincial Online Education and the ceremonial distribution of umbrellas, bags and laptops.

Part of the event will be the Schools Excellence Award and Awarding of Outstanding Educators to be presented by Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga Regional Director Beatriz Torno and be assisted by Schools Division Superintendent Nelia Lomocso of the DepEd-Surigao del Norte Division. The outstanding Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) will also be recognized.

Meanwhile, actor-singer Sam Concepcion and Keiko Necesario were also invited to take center stage and showcase their performance.

It can be recalled that DepEd appointed Concepcion as the 'Youth Role Model and Spokesperson' while the National Book Development Board (NBDB) named him as the 'Get Caught Reading’ campaign Ambassador.

As the DepEd’s mouthpiece for the youth, Concepcion initiated drives and promoted meaningful co-curricular activities in line with the "SAMa SAMa saEskwela" project among other life-changing projects.

By personally touring the entire country, Concepcion visited 50 schools and immersed with 100,000 students on its first month and had been to various points all over the Philippines like Pampanga, Bohol, Laguna, Cebu City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Davao City.

In his talking engagements, he continually stressed the value of literacy, English proficiency, enriching one's capacity, and excelling in school.

Conception was also given a representative role by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to the Korea World Travel Fair. United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines (UNAP) also conferred upon him the prestigious UNAP 'Outstanding Youth Leader Award' at the Malacañang Palace.


The Teacher’s Musicale Concert will likewise feature the ‘kundiman’ and popular music beside Philippine folk dances and modern bop. To cap the grand celebration is the fellowship to enjoy the camaraderie of participants. (VLG/PGO-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)