(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.


Wednesday, June 27, 2018


Guv prioritizes education to Agusanons

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, June 27 (PIA) -- Education remains as one of the top priorities of Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba as the provincial government allotted close to PhP479.9 million for the improvement of public schools’ facilities in Agusan del Norte.

In her recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), Gov. Matba said 338 classrooms for the secondary schools with a budget of PhP468 million were constructed in 34 schools’ sites and 37 classrooms were also repaired and rehabilitated at a cost of PhP11.9 million for Senior High School.

Gov. Matba said since the implementation of the K to 12 program, a total of 157 teaching items for the 1st and 2nd batches and 109 for the 3rd batch were allocated in the province having a total of 2,858 teachers in 166 elementary schools and 45 secondary schools. 

Some 6,000 sets of backpacks containing various school supplies, according to Gov. Matba, were also distributed to children, while 10,932 day care children were provided with services such as nutrition and medicines.

The governor said the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE grantees have increased from 4,598 in SY 2016-2017 to 5,338 in SY 2017-2018. Similarly, Matba said the Alternative Learning System, which provides opportunities for drop-outs in the elementary and secondary levels, out-of-school youths, and adults who are unable to complete the requirements of basic education, has continued to grow in number as well.

"In 2017, over 80 percent of the total 2,650 enrollees completed the course," she said.

Gov. Matba also said the province was able to employ 657 students under the Special Program for Employment of Students(SPES) and provided scholarships to 250 students under the Provincial Special Education Program (PSESP) and 19 Indigenous People (IP) students under the Indigenous Peoples Scholarship Program.

“We also worked harder to preserve the culture of our IPs and Muslim brothers and sisters,” Gov. Matba said. For this, we continued to the programs of the IP Education (IPEd), and Madrasah Education, she added. (NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Gamut Bridge in Surigao del Sur closed to traffic for repair

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TAGO, Surigao del Sur, June 27 (PIA) –  The 60-day temporary closure of the Gamut Steel Bridge along Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Tago town has started on Tuesday, June 26, and will run until August 26, 2018, based on the advisory released by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) -Surigao del Sur 1st District Engineering Office (1st DEO).

DPWH 1st DEO chief engineer Ruel Bantugan said, in a radio interview, that the Gamut Steel Bridge will undergo rehabilitation of the deck slab/superstructure.

Based on the advisory released earlier, all north and south-bound motorists are advised to use the alternate road in Barangay La Paz, Bayabas to Tago Poblacion route.

However, the municipal streets of Poblacion, Tago, accordingly, are not passable for those vehicles with heavy body chassis including the 14 and 16-wheeler wing-van or stake-body and low bed trailers with prime mover due to the narrow road.

The main streets are also undergoing major repair in the said municipality.

Engr. Bantugan also said the construction of the bypass road in Poblacion, Tago is currently ongoing and it would soon be used as an alternate road for all types of vehicles. 

Engr. Jerome Mezo, project engineer for the ongoing construction of the bypass road traversing Tago town, said the completion of the construction depends on the releasing of funds from the DPWH.

The agency’s regional office manages the construction of the bypass road. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Bishop Dael assumes as Tandag City Diocese head

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 27 (PIA) - Guests and visitors arrived here on June 13 for the official installation of Bishop Raul Bautista Dael who took over as the third bishop to lead the Diocese of Tandag in Surigao del Sur.

Bishop Dael replaced retired Bishop Nereo Odchimar who served the diocese for 17 long years. He previously served as the vicar for the clergy of Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese prior his present appointment. 

Upon his arrival from Cagayan de Oro City in a convoy of vehicles, Dael was accompanied by clergies and other church workers coming from different regions.

He was warmly welcomed by Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel, Jr.,  together with other public officials and employees, at the Provincial Capitol lobby. 

Dael undertook the episcopal ordination as bishop last June 7, 2018 held at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City. It was attended by the Catholic hierarchy led by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Tagalog News: Association of Caraga Executives, Army nagbigay suporta sa mga IPs at OSY sa Surigao del Norte

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 27 (PIA) - Buo ang suportang ibinigay ng Association of Caraga Executives (ACE) sa ginanap na launching ng Mobile Computer Literacy Program (MCLP) ng 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army para sa mga Indigenous Peoples (IPs) at out-of-school youth (OSY) nitong Martes sa Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte.

Bakas sa mga ngiti ng 42 kabataang-benepisyaryo ng MCLP sa nasabing bayan, nang tinanggap nila ang regalong bigay ng ACE at Army.

Inabot isa-isa sa kanila ang mga backpacks, notebooks, ballpens, dental at hygiene kits na magagamit nila sa kanilang isang-buwang pagsasanay sa loob ng isang 40-footer van na may mga computers at iba pang gadgets na kinakailangan nila.

Ayon kay ACE president at Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Caraga regional director Atty. Francisco Pobe, mahalagang mapaabot ang mga programa at serbisyo para sa mga IPs at madama nila ang pagsisikap ng gobyerno na matugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailan, maging sa teknikal na aspeto.

Laking pasasalamat naman ni Gigaquit mayor Elvira Egay sa 402nd Brigade, Phil. Army, kasama ng ACE na binubuo ng mga regional directors at heads ng ibat-bang ahensya sa kanilang pagkakaisa na mapaabot ang programang ito sa kanilang lugar.

Dagdag pa niya, may inilaang P100,000.00 ang kanilang lokal na pamahalaan para sa nasabing pagsasanay.

Ibinahagi naman ni 402nd Brigade commander Brigadier General Franco Nemesio Gacal, na marami pang IPs at OSY ang makakabenepisyo ng nasabing programa sa Caraga region, at ito ay isang paraan umano upang ang mga kabataan ay mapalayo sa masamang bisyo at sa halip ay maging peace and development advocates.

Samantala, ipinahayag naman ni Gloria Hedi, isang IP youth at beneficiary ng MCLP, na nais niyang magtrabaho sa isang opisina, kaya pursigido siyang matuto sa pagsasanay at magamit niya ito sa kanyang papasukang trabaho. (PIA-Caraga)