(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, July 25, 2018


DOH records 483 HIV cases in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY, July 25 - A total of  483 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases with 41 reported HIV-AIDS related deaths were recorded by in Caraga region by the Department of Health (DOH) from 1995 to February 2018.

Of the total cases, 95 percent or 459 were males while 24 cases  or 5 percent were females,  and most of these cases were from the 15-24 year age group.

In February 2018 alone, 12 new HIV antibody sero-positive individual were reported and all these cases were males. The reported cases for the said month are 50 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Butuan City has the highest number of cases reaching 153, followed by Agusan del Sur with 94, and Surigao del Norte with 93 cases.

Sexual contact remains the main mode of transmission with 479 cases, 53.2 percent or 257 of which are through homosexual contact. 

HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is one of the most serious infections that people can acquire through sex.

With the rising cases of HIV in the region, the Commission on Population (PopCom)-Caraga and the DOH-Caraga, urge everyone especially the young people to be responsible of their sexual behavior or action; refrain from sexual activities that would lead to unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS.

PopCom and DOH, along with its program partners, are continuously intensifying their respective advocacies and programs for the young people through various activities to address the pressing issues concerning them; these interventions provide adolescents and youth with appropriate information, life skills, and services to enable them to cope with their sexual and full development into adulthood.

The Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Program of the government aims to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies, early sexual involvement, early marriages, and other reproductive health problems such as sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, among other. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

RH campaign for youth takes social media

BUTUAN, July 25 - The United States Agency for International Development-Mindanao Health, along with the Commission on Population (PopCom) - Caraga and other government offices, took the campaign for Adolescent Reproductive Health to next level through its recently launched newest project  "Caraga #SoMe4AYRH" Campaign.

Caraga #SoMe4AYRH or social media for adolescent and youth reproductive health project is an interactive learning tool that promotes, educates and provides youth and adolescents with correct information on life skills, responsible sexuality and reproductive health that can help protect them from poor decisions and abuse.

Arlys D. Demata, Mindanao Health Area Technical Team Leader for Caraga Region, admitted that young people nowadays use social media to express themselves, to belong in certain groups, and experiment with their personalities and identities.

According to the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 4), Filipino youth of today embraces new media. About 78% have cellular phone, 59% use the internet and 53% have social networking account.

Being partner for said initiative, PopCom-Caraga developed a Facebook page devoted for interactive forum of adolescent sexuality and reproductive concerns. 

While communication in today’s world is an important factor for any institution, PopCom Caraga Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano recognized the advantage of technology, the internet and the social media in creating awareness and providing adolescents good access to news and health information.

However, PopCom-Caraga, in all its information dissemination activities, cautioned the young people to be responsible online and mindful when using an online educational platform or create digital content. Internet is a space where people can discover new things, but it is also a dangerous place if not use safely and responsibly, said Makinano.

With the concerted efforts of program partners and stakeholders, PopCom hopes that this intervention will help create positive environment that will enable all young people to maximize their potential, develop their capabilities to manage their future and become responsible individuals. (PopCom-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Tagalog News: 10 sundalo ng 401st Brigade, Philippine Army pinarangalan

Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 25 (PIA) - Pinarangalan ang may 10 sundalo ng 401st Brigade, Philippine Army kasabay ng ika-46 na anibersaryo ng nasabing brigade sa Camp Datu Lipus Makapandong, New Leyte, Barangay Awa, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Napag-alaman na dahilan sa kanilang dedikasyon sa tungkulin bilang sundalo at katapangan sa mga naisagawang combat operations sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur at Surigao del Sur na naging kontribusyon sa tagumpay at pagkakahuli ng ilan-ilang miyembro ng teroristang New People’s Army (NPA) at pagkakasabat ng mga firearms at ammunitions at mahahalagang dokumento mula sa NPA, ay naparangalan ang 10 sundalo na nagmula sa 26th Infantry Battalion, 75th Infantry Battalion, 9th Special Forces Company at 3rd Special Forces Battalion sa ilalim ng 401st Brigade.

Si Major General Ronald Villanueva, kumander ng 4th Infantry Division mismo ang nagsabit ng parangal kasama si Brigadier General Andres Centino, kumander ng 401st Brigade sa sampung magigiting na sundalo na nakilalang sina Technical Sargeant (Tsg) Joseph Frago, Staff Sargeant (Ssg) Joseph Hulibayan, 2Lt. Begie de Jesus, 1Lt. Bryan Villena, 1Lt. Rogie Munos, Sgt. Joel Manalo, Sgt. Rogelio Baroro, Corporal Artemio Ubo, Ssg. Ronie Dador, at Sgt. Maurino Mohammad.

Ayon kay Brigadier General Centino, ang ginawang pagbibigay parangal ay parte ng selebrasyon ng 401st Brigade sa kanilang mga matagumpay na pagsasawa ng kanilang misyon sa kanilang area of responsibility.

Hinimok din ni Major General Villanueva ang mga local government units at local chief executives na tulungan at suportahan sila sa kampanya laban terorismo at mas lalo pang paigtingin ang implementasyon ng mga programa at serbisyo ng gobyerno at maiparating ito sa ibat-ibang komunidad ng rehiyon lalung-lalo na sa liblib na lugar kung saan ang karamihan sa mga naninirahan dito ay sinasamantala ng mga teroristang npa na sumanib sa kanilang grupo. (PIA-Caraga)