(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.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

DENR challenges Bislig coastal community on Climate Change

By Herzon Gallego

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Aug. 15 (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called on the people in Bislig City to take bold initiatives on climate change adaptation to cushion the impact of climate change which is now capable of causing seawater surges brought by strong typhoons.

Bislig City Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief Victor B. Sabornido made the call during the ceremony on mangrove propagule planting held at the shorelines of Barangay Poblacion in this city conducted on August 13, 2019.
There were more than 100 participants who trooped to the planting site, bringing with them around 4,000 bakawan lalake propagules.

"We should always be reminded of the past experience of destructive calamity in areas where floods and landslides had claimed many lives. I thought we should always be prepared all the time," said Sabornido.

Among the participants are the local government unit (LGU), barangay officials, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police (PNP), 75th Infantry Battalion - Philippine Army, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and CENRO personnel.

DENR 13 Regional Executive Director lawyer Felix S.Alicer hailed the event as "appropriate and urgent" at a season when the planet earth is being devastated by strong calamities even in countries where it should not suppose to experience flooding brought about by the global climate change.

Surigao del Sur PENRO Chief Achilles Anthony Ebron said "every community along the coastal area should prepare for strong typhoons although they can think and initiate climate adaptation measures by planting mangroves similar to what the community has done in Bislig City to neutralize the impact of a strong seawater surge."

There are at least 7,000 people who are living along the 12 coastal barangays in Bislig City. (DENR/PIA-Surigao del Sur).

PopCom to launch Salas book

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Aug. 15 -- The Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) will launch this August a lecture series on the book entitled ”A Millennial Man for Others: The Life and Times of Rafael M. Salas,” to educate the youth about the life and times of the man who emphasized the link between population and development.

The said lecture series will be attended by a maximum of 150 students from the different colleges and universities in Butuan City, as a strategy to educate and popularize demographic dividend among the youth.

During the lecture series, population and development situationer in the country vis-à-vis Salas’ works and advocacy will be discussed/presented. 

Reflection on the life of Salas will be shared by three student volunteers to reflect on Salas as a student, Salas as a Filipino public servant and Salas and his legacy, which will be highlighted by the declaration of commitment among the student participants.

The late Rafael M. Salas is dubbed as Mr. Population.  Salas gained relevance by being the first Executive Director of the UNFPA and the first highest-ranking Filipino in the United Nations (UN) system by playing a critical role in the creation of Philippine policies and programs on population, and in making population a conscious and deliberate issue in the UN and the international community.

He was also a pioneer in the field of population who advocated the importance of understanding the links between population and development and the need to take population factors into consideration in development planning.

Salas book was published by PopCom to honor his significant contribution in the field of Population and Development and was launched recently at the national level with the joint effort of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Department of Foreign Affairs.

The publication of Salas' book aims to record, commemorate, and propagate the life and  legacy of the person who had a great contribution to population and development. (POPCOM Caraga/PIA Caraga)

Mga estudyante pinaalalahanan tungkol sa Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Agosto 15 (PIA) - Alinsunod sa pinapatupad na Anti-Discrimination Ordinance dito sa lungsod, pinaalalahanan ang lahat ng mag-aaral hinggil dito sa isinagawang symposium ng Ladlad Caraga Incorporated, isang non-government organization na isinusulong ang karapatan ng mga lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer at intersex (LGBTQI) community.

Ayon kay Isagani Bacasmas, Jr., Chairperson at Chief Executive Officer ng Ladlad Caraga, ang mga kabataan o mag-aaral ang madalas nakararanas ng diskriminasyon sa paaralan o sa kahit saang lugar.

May pagkakataon na nababaliwala daw ang kakayanan at galing ng mga batang LGBTQI dahil sa diskriminasyon ng ibang tao sa sektor.

“Ini-educate po namin yung mga paaralan ngayon sa Butuan City. Nagsimula po kami sa Agusan Colleges at sa Agusan National High School, at isusunod naming ang Butuan City School of Arts and Trades, hanggang sa matapos kami sa lahat ng mga high schools ng lungsod. Ginagawa naming ito dahil gusto naming malaman ng publiko lalu na yung mga studyante na grabe yung diskriminasyon pagdating sa paaralan,” sabi ni Bacasmas.

Malaking tulong ang ordinansang ito para maiwasan ang anumang pang-bubully o pangmamaliit sa nasabing sektor.

Nagpahayag din ng suporta ang mga estudyante at guro ukol dito.

“Ang symposium na ito ay importante dahil natutunan ng mga estudyante at ng publiko na dapat mahalin ang ating kapwa tao. Huwag natin silang husgahan dahil sila ay tao rin at nilikha ng Diyos,”  sabi ni Jun Mechael Sacurom, na isang grade 12.

Para naman kay Lianna Alissandra Caponpon, grade 12, “nakatutulong ito sa amin, para kusang matanggap ang mga miyembro ng LGBTQI, kasi alam naman natin na bawat silid-aralan ay may mga kaklase kami na napabilang sa LGBTQI, kaya malaking tulong ito para mas maliwanagan kami sa kanilang pagiging iba.”

“Nakatutulong din po yung may lawyer na nagpapaintindi sa kanila kung ano yung pwedeng aksyon na kanilang pwedeng gawin. Mensahi ko lang sa mga estudyante at sa lahat na kung ayaw mo ng diskriminasyon, huwag mo rin itong gawin sa iba. Walang dapat makaranas nito, ikaw man o ibang tao,” pahayag ni Rowie Mae Espelita, isang Special Science Teacher.


Matatandaan na naisabatas ang SP Ordinance number 4998-2016 noong June 30, 2016 na nagbabawal sa anumang diskriminasyon sa tao maging sa basehan ng edad, disability, ehtnicity, gender and expression, gender identity, health status, physical appearance, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, social at marital status. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DOST turns over eco-sep to AgNor town

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PIA) -- To maintain a clean environment and in preparation for the influx of tourists in Lake Mainit, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Caraga has recently turned-over one eco-friendly septic system (Eco-Sep) to the local government unit (LGU) of Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte.

The said eco-sep facility is intended to protect and preserve the wildlife and natural resources in Lake Mainit.

Kitcharao vice mayor Leo Galua thanked the DOST for this new technology handed to the LGU.

This, he said, would be of great help to the locals in maintaining the cleanliness in the area, as well as the water in the Lake Mainit.

The eco-sep is a low-cost septic system that enhances the quality of wastewater before it is set to be released.

According to Dr. Merlinda Palencia, inventor, the eco-sep is designed for tourist areas and environmentally-compromised areas. hence, this would help maintain the eco-tourism of an LGU.

It also serves as a treatment facility to sewerage and wastewater in the residences, resorts, hotels and public establishments. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

PopCom, LGU promote safe motherhood

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Aug. 15 --  In advancing safe motherhood among the expectant mothers, about 60 pregnant mothers will join the Buntis Congress on August 16 at Bayugan City Gym, as jointly initiated by the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) and the City Government of Bayugan.

The initiative is one of the major activities in celebration of Family Planning Month this August. This year’s theme "Serbisyong Pangkalahatan Tungo sa Planadong Kinabukasan" centers on the promotion of the importance of safe motherhood and responsible parenthood-family planning.

The said congress would heighten the advocacy of PopCom in increasing the knowledge of soon-to-be-mothers on the importance of having monthly check-ups to reduce child and maternal mortality, including  the risks of having closely-spaced births and too many children.

Buntis Congress would also focus on segments such as Usapang Buntis and Safe Motherhood Through Facility-based Delivery to raise awareness among pregnant women on healthy pregnancy.

As part of the congress, search and awarding of the Healthy Preggy Moms and free laboratory examination will also take place.

Also, the impact of family planning to the 100 millionth symbolic baby will be tackled on the said event and will be followed by a turn-over of birthday gift pack to James Mark Diano Montalban, one of the 100 millionth symbolic babies.

It can be recalled that August of every year has been designated as the National Family Planning Month, a celebration that centers on the attainment of a better quality of life for the mother, the father, and the family as a whole.

Through the years,  PopCom and the Department of Health lead the efforts to raise awareness and access of people to various family planning methods. (PopCom Caraga/PIA Caraga)

DOST pinasinayaan ang eco-friendly septic system sa bayan ng Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, Agosto 15 (PIA) -- Upang mapanatili ang malinis na kapaligiran at mas mapaghandaan ang pagdagsa ng mga turista sa Lake Mainit, isang eco-friendly septic system o eco-sep ang natanggap ng Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte mula sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Ang nasabing eco-sep facility ay layong maprotektahan at mapreserba ang wildlife at natural resources ng Lake Mainit.

Malaki ang pasalamat ni Kitcharao vice mayor Leo Galua sa DOST sa bagong teknolohiyang bigay sa kanilang bayan. Malaki umano ang tulong nito para mapanatiling malinis ang tubig ng lawa at ang paligid nito.

Ang eco-sep ay isang low-cost septic system na nakakatulong na mapabuti ang kalidad ng wastewater bago ito tuluyang pakawalan.

Ayon kay Dr. Merlinda Palencia ng Adamson University at inbentor ng eco-sep, ito ay idinisenyo para sa tourist areas at environmentally-compromised areas.

Malaki aniya ang maitutulong nito para sa pangangalaga ng eco-tourism ng isang lugar.
Ito rin aniya ay isang treatment sa sewerage at wastewater ng mga kabahayan, resorts, hotels at pampublikong establesemento. (NCLM/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Agusan Norte mopirma og MOA tali medical practitioners para sa pagsuporta sa frontline services

By Jessica O. Mellejor

BUTUAN CITY, Agosto 15 -- Gihatagan og otoridad sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan si Gobernador Dale B. Corvera aron sa pag-pirma sa usa ka Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa ngalan sa lokal nga panggamhanan sa Agusan del Norte ug Medical Practitioners para pagsuporta sa frontline services sa mga hospital nga gidumala sa probinsiya.

Basi sa pagtuki sa Committee on Social Welfare, Population and Health and Nutrition diin tsirman si Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, nasayran nga ang mga katuyoan sa maong mekanismo mao ang paghatag og maayo nga pag-atiman sa mga pasyente pinaagi sa pagpuno sa mga medical service gap requirements nga gi-identify sa chief of hospital ug aron matuman ang padayon nga pagsunod sa mga kinahanglanon sa licensing requirements sa Department of Health ug sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Dugang pa sa maong Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) nga pirmahan ni  Governor Corvera ug ang Medical Practitioners, maghatag ang mga medical practitioners og 24 hour services sa Agusan del Norte provincial hospital ug ang MOA naglangkub kini sa mga termino ug kondisyon, ingon man usab ang mga responsibilidad sa matag partido nga suportahan ang mga serbisyo sa mga ospital nga gidumala sa Provincial Government sa Agusan del Norte.

Gi-aprobahan ang maong paghatag otoridad pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 015-2019 nga gipanginahanan ni Provincial Board Member Elizabeth Marie R. Calo. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)