(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.


Tuesday, May 8, 2018


5 SurSur bets win Caraga Regional Gawad KALASAG award

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, May 8 (PIA) - The Regional Selection Committee (RSC) thru the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga headed by Regional Director Liza Mazo recently announced the regional winners of this year’s Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan): Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance in Caraga.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Abel de Guzman said five winners from Surigao del Sur obtained the highest rank regionwide in the different categories and automatically qualified to represent Caraga Region in the national level competition.

Proclaimed as first placers are the following: Bislig City for Component City Category; Local Government Unit (LGU) of Cagwait for 4th to 6th Class LGU Category;   Hinatuan District Hospital for Local Hospital Category; Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center for National Hospital Category; and Nagkahiusang Mangingisda Sa Hinatuan (NAMAHIN) for People’s Organizations (POs) Category.

Other winning entries from the province that were adjudged as second placers were: Brgy Santo Nino of Hinatuan town for Rural Barangay Category; Unidad National High School for Public Secondary Category; Aras asan Elementary School for Public Elementary School Category; and CERD Hinatuan for Civil Society Organizations Category.

The Gawad KALASAG is a current recognition scheme of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for its search for excellence on DRRM and humanitarian assistance, which was initiated in 1998.

It accordingly provides the mechanism in obtaining sustained commitment and support from the highest level of government by recognizing the exceptional contributions of the various DRRM practitioners in rebuilding the resilience of nations and communities to disaster. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Siargao welcomes GKonomics for social enterprise development
SURIGAO CITY, May 8 (PIA) - With over 100 families in Gawad Kalinga (GK) Del Carmen villages that were sponsored by Berjaya, LBC, and Federal Land and 40 families in General Luna sponsored by GK Singapore and another group, the municipal government of Del Carmen in Surigao del Norte through Mayor Alfred Coro II is gearing to commence its social enterprises development in the said town. 
“We reached out to GKonomics in 2013-2014 to help in our livelihood initiatives but not much had happened then. So, this time we are giving our best efforts to realize all the plans,” said Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro II.

When one of the top resorts in Siargao set up shop years ago - the Harana Resort, they hired GK Del Carmen residents and even ordered lighting fixtures made by community artisans which the residents themselves installed. 

GK Del Carmen in the province of Surigao del Norte was the first GK community in Siargao which was built in 2013.  GK now has two thriving communities in the towns of Del Carmen where the airport and famous Sugba Lagoon are located and General Luna, the center of tourism establishments.

According to Allan Quiseo, GK liaison of Del Carmen local government unit, the resort owners in Siargao have participated in past GK Bayani challenge events and they will welcome GKonomics initiatives for sure.

GKonomics is now working closely with the municipal government of Del Carmen through Mayor Coro, the communities, and other partners to hopefully set up some social enterprises in Siargao.

These include the souvenirs and furnishings-making enterprise, in partnership with ASAM and Invisible Sisters; a social tourism enterprise, in partnership with MR; an ice-making enterprise, in partnership with Palamigan Incorporated; and a dried seafood enterprise, in partnership with Balangay’s Best.

“We need support such as yours to sustain the development that we started with our GK community here,” said Coro.

For anyone interested to partner, volunteer, or help out in anyway in social enterprise development in Siargao, GKonomics can be contacted at info@gkonomics.com.

GKonomics, a Gawad Kalinga partner in social enterprise development, works hand in hand with GK residents, partners, and volunteers to develop and distribute world-class, marketable, and eco-friendly products and services.

In the process, GKonomics helps build sustainable business enterprises that commit to either partner with a GK community; employ GK residents; include GK communities in their supply chain; or donate at least 10 percent of their net income to GK. (GKonomics/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Caraga police intensifies operations vs illegal logging, wanted persons

SURIGAO CITY, May 8 (PIA) - In the intensified campaign against all forms of criminality, Caraga police and environmental authorities arrested six suspects during the anti-illegal logging drive and three wanted persons were also arrested in the different provinces of Caraga.

CSupt Noli Romana, regional director of Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga said that the police operatives, together with elements of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office – Surigao del Norte (PENRO-SDN), conducted a joint anti-illegal logging operation that resulted in the arrest of Rogeth Predog, 50 years old, resident of Brgy. Poblacion; Larry Sahay, 51 ; Ranel Ebale, 43; Noel Orillaneda, 30; Jonil Henuesga, 25; and Ariel Canor,  24, all residents of Brgy. Navarro,Tubajon, Dinagat Islands.

Confiscated from them were assorted round logs with estimated volume of 2,500 board feet worth P75,000 and one motorized banca. The confiscated logs were turned-over to PENRO while suspects were charged for violation of Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, three were arrested in separate operations on Oplan Manhunt Charlie. Leo Linga, 22 years old, resident of Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City was also arrested for violation of PD 1612, also known as Anti-Fencing Law and listed as Top 10 Most Wanted Person in the city level by the elements of Butuan City Police Station 3; Lucrecio Tizon Jr., 40, resident of Brgy. San Jose, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur and an active Militia ng Bayan member of FGFC8, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee was captured for the crime of multiple frustrated murder; and Allan Perez, 42, resident of Brgy. Del Monte for qualified theft.

CSupt Romana assured the community that the Police Regional Office-13, in coordination with other government agencies, would ensure that the laws on environmental protection are strictly implemented and the fight against all forms of illegal activity is strengthened. (PNP-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)