(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, March 12, 2019

Effects of El Niño felt by Caraganons

By Venus L. Garcia

BUTUAN CITY, March 12 (PIA) -- With the reduced amount of rainfall over most areas in Caraga region, adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon are now gradually felt by Caraganons.

Daryl Luminarias, a farm administrator from barangay Mahay in this city, is worried about how this climate pattern could cause damage to more than twenty hectares of land that his family cultivated for rice and crop production.

According to him, there is a certain decline in their rice harvest due to insufficient supply of water.

Luminarias is calling for help from the government, particularly to the National Irrigation Administration or NIA Caraga, for the installation of an irrigation system in their vicinity.

“I hope the NIA could help the farmers here in our locality because the government’s irrigation project has not yet reached in our farms at present,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government agencies concerned have already taken measures and set preparations that they would have to implement to counter the adverse effects of El Niño especially to the farmers.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has initially warned of drought and dry spell conditions in four Caraga provinces from march to may as normal rainfall level is expected to reduce by 60 percent.

Melody Guimary, agricultural center chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, said the agency is ready address the concern of farmers who will be affected by the El Niño.

He said, their agricultural program coordinating offices are also currently verifying the reports about the droughts and dry spell being experienced in several locations in the region.

“We are always preparing ‘agrivisory’ that is to inform the local government units (LGUs) and also the farmers relative to the impact of El Niño. For this year, we are preparing about P58 million as our budget for calamities, and that includes our interventions for unfavorable results of El Nino,” said Guimary.

According to Surigao del Sur provincial agriculturist Marcos Quico, that though there is no direct effect yet of El Niño in their province, they are bracing themselves and have carried out preparations.

Ruth Maisog, assistant city agriculturist of Butuan City, also said that with the help of DA-Caraga, a water pump and engine set were provided to the Sto. Niño farmers association in barangay Banza after they sought assistance to save their rice fields.

The official also advised farmers to prepare beforehand the needed documents to avoid delay in the processing of specific assistance by the government for their sector. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)

Caraga women sector proposes agenda for winning candidates of 2019 polls

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, March 12 (PIA) -- The participating women sector convened recently during the Women’s Forum and discussed political agenda that they wanted the officials and legislators, especially the winning candidates of this year’s Midterm Elections, to give priority and due attention in order to address the issues and concerns of the women sector in the region.

Lawyer Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang, Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-13 regional director and Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) Caraga chairperson, led the Women's Forum dubbed "Panawagan sa Halalan: Agenda ng mga Kababaihan" held in Butuan City.

She said the activity enables the women sector to lobby their concerns and bring up political agenda that could address the welfare of the sector.

“All of these will be consolidated and will be submitted to CHR, as well as to running candidates so they will be informed and would include in their platform of government so as to address the issues and concerns of the women in the society,” said Bacang.

The participants have come up with several political agenda that they wanted the 2019 candidates to give attention and these include the following: 1) establishment of Crisis Center for Women; 2) medico legal assistance to assist abused women; 3) additional spacious custodial facility to better address women deprived of liberty at the city/provincial jails; 4) easy procedure for annulment; and 5) Health insurance for women; 6) enhance facility for women victims of illegal drugs; 7) technical job opportunities for women; 8) additional 40-min lactation time for women and a room for them in the offices; and 9) extensive livelihood for the women, among others.

Meanwhile, Sharlene Cueva, tourism operations officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT), elaborated the significance of joining the Women’s Forum as an avenue where women could discuss different societal issues and provide recommendations on how these could be addressed by the officials and legislators.

“Women contribute a lot to nation-building, thus, their voices should also be heard especially when they only want what is due for the sector. I hope all the issues and concerns raised by the participating women of this Women’s Forum would be given due attention by the concerned officials,” Cueva said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

172 SurSur farmers receive CLOA from DAR

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, March 12 (PIA) – A total of 172 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) received on Thursday the certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held at the Surigao del Sur State University Gymnasium in Barangay Rosario, this city.

DAR Undersecretary lawyer Karlo Bello and Undersecretary Emily Padilla led the distribution of 291.401 hectares of land to the beneficiaries.
(From left) DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla and DAR Undersecretary Karlo Bello lead the distribution of certificate of land ownership award to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Surigao del Sur held on March 7, 2019 at the Surigao del Sur State University Gymnasium in Tandag City.

According to Myra Yu, Provincial Agrarian Reform Office Information Officer, the recipients are coming from the province's eight municipalities and one city.

Of the 291.401 hectares distributed, seven ARBs from Marihatag are recipients of 6.7111 hectares; 19 Barobo ARBs with 35.3884 hectares; nine Lianga ARBs with 18.1902 hectares; 38 Hinatuan ARBs with 76.4180 hectares; 35 San Miguel ARBs with 45.6971 hectares; 22 Tagbina ARBs with 40.8775 hectares; six Cagwait ARBs  with 9.96320 hectares; 31 Tago ARBs with 56.8505 hectares; and five ARBs from Tandag City were awarded with a total of 1.3805 hectares. (PIA Surigao del Sur)

Sektor ng kababaihan may mga hiling para sa mga kandidato ngayong halalan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Marso 12 (PIA) - Hiniling ng sektor ng kababaihan sa Caraga region na pagtuunan pansin din ng mga mananalong kandidato ngayong eleksyon ang kapakanan ng mga kababaihan.

Inihayag ito sa isinagawang Women’s Forum dito sa lungsod ng Butuan.

Ayon kay Sharlene Cueva, tourism operations officer ng Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga, isa mga kababaihang kalahok sa nasabing forum, sana isama ng mga kandidato sa kanilang mga isinusulong ang pagtatatag ng Crisis Center para sa mga kababaihan; pagbibigay tulong-mediko legal para sa mga naabusong kababaihan; maluwag na custodial facility para sa mga kababaihang nasa piitan; mas madaling pagproseso ng annulment; pagtatatag ng health insurance para sa sektor; pagtatayo ng pasilidad na makatutulong sa mga kababaihang biktima ng ilegal na droga; magandang trabaho at pangkabuhayan; at maging ang pagbigay ng dagdag na oras sa break time para sa mga lactating mothers na nagtratrabaho sa opisina.

Ayon naman kay Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) chairperson at Commision on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga regional director Atty. Jerefe Tubigon-Bacang, mas nagiging aktibo na ang mga kababaihan sa ibat-ibang usapin ng rehiyon partikular na sa politika.

Malaking tulong din ang pagsasagawa ng forum tulad nito para marinig ang boses ng mga kababaihan at bigyan ng pagkakataong maihayag ang kanilang mga suhestiyon kung papaano mas mapaunlad pa ang sektor.

Dagdag pa ni Bacang, tutulong ang RGADC sa paglobby o pagpresenta ng mga napag-usapang adyenda ng mga kababaihan sa mga tumatakbong kandidato upang maisali rin sa kanilang plataporma.

Inilarawan naman ng mga partisipante sa pamamagitan ng pagawa ng slogan ang kanilang mga isinusulong na adyenda. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Epekto ng El Niño unti-unti ng nararanasan ng mga Caraganon

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Marso12 (PIA) - Dahil sa paminsan-minsang na lamang na pag-ulan sa ibat-ibang parte ng Caraga region, unti-unti ng naranasan ng mga Caraganon ang epekto ng El Niño.

Isa na ang pamilya ni Daryl Luminarias, isang magsasaka sa Barangay Mahay, Butuan City sa mga umaaray sa epekto ng El Niño sa kanilang lugar.

Ayon sa kanya, apektado na ang nasa mahigit 20 ektaryang sakahan ng kanilang pamilya.

Dagdag pa niya, bumaba na ang produksyon ng palay ngayon  dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig.

Dahil dito nananawagan sya sa National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Caraga na sila ay tulungan.

“Sana matulungan din kami ng NIA dito sa aming lugar, dahil sa ngayon ay hindi pa umaabot dito ang proyektong patubig ng NIA para sa aming sakahan,” pahayag ni Luminarias.

Nakahanda namang tugunan ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan dito sa rehiyon ng Caraga ang anumang epektong dulot ng El Niño partikular na sa mga magsasaka.

Una nang nagpalabas ng abiso ang PAGASA na kabilang ang Caraga sa mga rehiyon ng Mindanao na may 60 porsyento ng pagbaba ng tiyansa ng pag-ulan mula Marso hanggang sa Abril bunsod na rin ng El Niño.

Binigyang-diin ni Melody Guimary, agricultural center chief ng Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, na handa ang kanilang ahensiya na tumugon sa anumang pangangailangan ng mga magsasakang maaapektuhan ng tagtuyot.

May report na rin silang natanggap mula sa ilang magsasaka ng ibat-ibang bayan na nakararanas ng pagkatuyo ng kanilang sakahan.

Kasalukuyang sinusuri na ito ng kanilang mga tauhan mula sa agricultural program coordinating offices ng kanilang ahensya.

Nakikita rin nila ang posibilidad na maapektuhan din ang malalaking ektarya ng sakahan sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur at Surigao del Sur.

Ayon kay Surigao del Sur provincial agriculturist Marcos Quico, bagamat wala pang direktang epekto sa ngayon ang El Niño sa kanilang probinsya ay ipinaghahandaan na nila ang posibleng dulot nito.

Sinabi naman ni Ruth Maisog, assistant city agriculturist sa lungsod ng Butuan, na sa tulong ng DA Caraga, agad din nilang nabigyan ng isang unit ng water pump at engine set ang Sto. Niño Farmers Association sa Barangay Banza matapos itong humingi ng tulong upang magamit ito sa patubig at maisalba ang kanilang sakahang palay.

Hinimok din ng opisyal ang mga maaapektuhang magsasaka na ihanda ang mga kinakailangang dokumento upang mapabilis ang pagproseso ng anumang tulong para sa kanilang sektor mula sa gobyerno. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)