(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.


Friday, July 27, 2018


Army awards deserving personnel in AgSur

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, July 27 (PIA) --The 401st Infantry (UNITY) Brigade, Philippine Army, has awarded 10 deserving personnel from the different battalions.

The activity, held at Camp Datu Lipus Makapandong, New Leyte, Brgy. Awa, Prosperidad, this province, was in line with its 46th anniversary celebration.

MGen. Ronnie Villanueva, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, together with BGen. Andres Centino, commander of 401st Brigade led the pinning of awards to the deserving personnel who have contributed to the success of their combat operations.

The awardees include TSgt. Joseph Frago of 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB), SSgt. Joseph Hulibayan of 75IB, 2Lt. Begie de Jesus of 26IB, 1Lt. Bryan Villena of 9th Special Forces Company, 1Lt. Rogie Munos of 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Sgt. Joel Manalo of 26IB, Sgt. Rogelio Baroro of 26IB, Corporal Artemio Ubo of 26IB, SSgt. Ronie Dador of 75IB, and Sgt. Maurino Mohammad of 75IB.

Meanwhile, Col. Maurito Licudine, deputy brigade commander of 401st Brigade warmly welcomed all the guests and recalled how partner stakeholders joined them in the last year's celebration.

He further stressed that the occasion is very significant as they once again celebrate the success and accomplishments of the brigade.

“All this would not be possible if not because of the full support from the LGUs, government agencies and locals in the area of responsibility,” he said.

Also, BGen. Andres Centino congratulated the entire 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade, its officers, men and women for another year of excellent performance.

He said the brigade, including their battalions, combat support and service support units did not fail the people of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur in protecting them from threats, and will continue to keep them safe in their communities and facilitate the resolution of their issues and concerns with all the concerned agencies of government through their community support programs in the barangays.

As the honored guest and speaker, Brigadier General Rogelio Villanueva (RET), 9th commander of the brigade, shared how the 401st brigade personnel surpassed all the challenges and hardships through the years that have brought about significant changes in the lives of the people in its area of responsibility.

He also encouraged all the men and women of the 401st Brigade to continue working in unity with its partner stakeholders and locals of the areas covered and promote sustainable peace and development. (PIA-Agusan del Sur)

SurSur all set for 2018 rescuers summit, rescue group exercise

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 27 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Surigao del Sur, headed by Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr. thru the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), is all set for the 2018 Rescuers Summit and Rescue Group Exercise to be held in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on July 28-30, 2018.

PDRRMO chief Abel de Guzman said the local government unit of Cantilan will host this year’s event.

On the first day of the event, De Guzman said Tandag City City Local Government Operations Officer Joseph Porgatorio will talk on the "Role of Rescuers in Climate Change Adaptation" and Gracia Espere will share volunteerism as a way of life. Meanwhile, TESDA Provincial Director Rey Cueva will discuss the competency assessment and certification of rescuers.

De Guzman also said that a mass casualty incident exercise will also be held during the opening day. On the evening, the host LGU will sponsor a welcome dinner party to all the participants, and to add colors and excitement, PDRRMO will sponsor a Chant and Pop Dance Contest.

On day two, the host LGU will lead the Zumba exercise from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Other activities include rescue group exercise-maritime incident, team building and basketball inter-cluster friendly game.

For the last day of the activity, a clean-up drive will be conducted to be followed by the Basketball Inter-Cluster Friendly Game Championship. The culmination program will then follow, which will highlight the awarding of prizes to the winners.

De Guzman said the activity is conducted yearly, in line with the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) celebration, which aims to foster camaraderie, enhance the skills and build alliance and partnership among the members of the Search and Emergency Response Team of Surigao del Sur commonly known as SERTSS volunteers in the province. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

PopCom delivers RH services to communities

BUTUAN CITY, July 27 -- Nearly a thousand Caraganons were served with reproductive health information and services during the outreach mission in various communities regionwide.

The Commission on Population (PopCom)-Caraga, in close partnership with the Department of Health-Caraga and the local governments of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Lianga, Surigao del Sur; and Placer, Surigao del Norte, provided women of reproductive age with free family planning information and services such as Progestin-Only Subdermal Implant (PSI) Insertion and Bilateral Tubal Ligation (BTL). PSI is a long-acting type of modern artificial family planning method, while BTL is permanent.

According to PopCom-Caraga, family planning does not refer to the pill or IUD or to any contraceptive methods alone; rather, it refers to the concept of proper spacing of children and having only the number of children that the couple can take care of.

As partners in women empowerment and gender equality, men attended the "Kalalakihang Tumutugon sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya" or KATROPA session.

“KATROPA session aims to equip men with necessary knowledge and skills on maternal and child health in order for them to become more personally effective in making decisions about their and their family’s health, personal development, and other related issues and concerns,” said PopCom Caraga Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano.

Aside from the session, KATROPA on Hardcourt also took place featuring the famous basketball players in the region as advocates for male involvement on reproductive health.

Since communication between parents and their growing children is crucial, adolescents of the said areas, together with their parents, participated in the simplified Parent-Teen Trail, an initiative that primarily deals with the importance of communication, parenting styles, perceptions and attitude on parent-child relationships, their level of involvement in their children’s activities, and their perception on the roles of parents in addressing the health and risks of adolescents.

In a separate venue, Sangguniang Bayan members, local program partners and punong barangays of the said municipalities were oriented about population and development integration; the conceptual framework of population, health, and environment; local migration and information system; and the resources for the awareness of population impacts on development (RAPID) model.

PopCom Caraga, in collaboration with relevant program partners and stakeholders, is continuously working and intensively implementing its programs and projects to champion the well-being of all Caraganons.

Makinano further disclosed that the activity is one communication strategy promoting and strengthening the implementation of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) towards the realization of “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Planadong Pamilyang Pilipino.” (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)