(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 01 December 2024) Northeast Monsoon affecting Eastern section of Northern Luzon. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Thursday, September 19, 2019


Gov’t agencies gear up campaign vs human trafficking, illegal recruitment in Caraga region


By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- The Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking - Violence Against Women and their Children (RIACAT-VAWC) Caraga has geared up its campaign against trafficking in persons (TIPs) and illegal recruitment following the number of cases recorded in the region which already reached to 490 since 2011.

As part of their activities for the World Day Against Trafficking, the committee conducted an orientation on the prevention of human trafficking and anti-illegal recruitment with different sectors in Caraga held recently in this city.

Based on the data released by RIACAT-VAWC Caraga, most of the victims are aged 18-30 years old and perpetrators are not related or acquaintance of the victims.

The number of cases on human trafficking this year is lower compared to the previous years' data. However, government agencies levelled up their efforts to intensify the campaign to prevent such cases.

Ritchel Butao of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) also tackled how to prevent illegal recruitment to overseas workers.

She also reminded the Caraganons who want to work abroad to be very cautious, alert and meticulous in choosing their recruitment agencies so they will not become victims.

Atty. Rechell Bazar-Apao of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) further warned recruiters on the possible cancellation of their license or suspension of operation once they are proven to be involved in illegal recruitment.
For those recruitment agencies that are not yet licensed, they would also face charges in court.


Meanwhile, the welfare of the domestic helpers was given due emphasis as they are vulnerable victims of trafficking in persons such as in forced labor, debt bondage, and slavery.

The victims were also urged to raise their complaints or to report such incident to the RIACAT-VAWC, law enforcement agencies or to social workers so that immediate and appropriate actions be made to save them.

“We could not respond to human trafficking victims if there is no report or complaint, that’s why we need the help of the public in this fight against trafficking in persons and illegal recruitment in the region,” said Catherine Aranas, social worker officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and focal person for RIACAT-VAWC. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Dar urges farmers to collectivize to be empowered

By Vanessa Sanchez

BUTUAN CITY, Sept.  19 -- Be active! Be part of farmers’ associations and cooperatives. This is the Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s message to the farmers and fisherfolk during his visit in Caraga on September 17.
Dar said it is high time that the farmers and fisherfolk are empowered for them to become strong partners in big businesses to improve their income and productivity.

The secretary added that the department is not only focusing on high levels of productivity but is also strongly promoting agribusiness because farmers should have higher incomes to better meet their needs and have a better quality of life. He said that the DA is aiming at making agribusiness as a way of life.

“This is not only looking at productivity but value-adding, processing, manufacturing, and markets. This is the new way with which we are now developing the countryside,” Dar said. 

He also shared that at present, the farm family annual income is at P108,000 and that the DA intends to double this in the next five years.

In addition, he said that the DA in coordination with various stakeholders is doing their best to assist the farmers and fisherfolk in their endeavors to help lift them out of poverty. 

The secretary was in the region to turn-over P50 million worth of agri-fishery projects and livelihood assistance to farmers and fishers’ groups of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands. 

The interventions awarded include eight hauling trucks for various cooperatives and inputs for Grow Out Production of Bangus in Cage Project, Grow Out Production of Tilapia in Pen Project, Polyculture of Bangus and Mangrove Crab in Pond Project, and seaweed farming. The turn-over ceremony was held at Masao Fish Farm of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Butuan City. (DA Caraga/PIA Caraga)

BFAR-Caraga holds orientation on new fishery management framework


SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 19 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Caraga region recently held a series of orientations on the new Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 263, which establishes fisheries management areas (FMAs) for the conservation and management of fisheries in the Philippine waters.

The multi-sectoral orientation was held in Butuan City for FMA 9 and Surigao City for FMA 8, on August 28 and 29, respectively.

Serving as resource speaker during the two-day activity was Napoleon Lamarca, senior aquaculturist from the Capture Fisheries Division of BFAR Central Office, who discussed the key points of the FAO 263; the science and concepts of ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM); and the history, development and rationale of fisheries management in the Philippines.

"We are now moving towards EAFM, finding a balance between human well-being and ecological well-being through good governance. We need cooperation among all sectors and coordination across municipal jurisdictions to have a common direction towards managing and conserving our resources," Lamarca said.

The FAO 263 seeks to provide a science-based and participatory governance framework for the management of these FMAs.

"With the FMA, it would be a science-based and participatory approach among the local government units (LGUs) and the different sectors in the preservation, conservation, and management of our fishing grounds. Hopefully, through this (FMA), overfishing will be addressed," said Omnia Olama, the acting chief of the regional bureau's Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division.


Meanwhile, BFAR-Caraga regional director Visa Tan-Dimerin noted the importance of strengthening the fisheries and aquatic management councils (FARMCs) in all levels of local governance. "If your FARMC is strong and that you are able to represent your cause, the local legislative body will listen to you," she said.

Dimerin also encouraged the participants to speak out their minds and ideas, and called for strong support among the key stakeholders. "Let our minds be aware and our hearts be touched by our cause for our seas," Dimerin said.

The orientation convened representatives from different sectoral groups such as municipal fisherfolk, commercial fishers, aquaculture stakeholders, traders, integrated FARMC, non-government organization, academe, and LGUs.

Pursuant to its mandates, the FAO 263 delineates the Philippine waters into 12 FMAs wherein Caraga region is geographically covered by FMAs 2, 8 and 9.

As such, the event was conducted to facilitate the selection of the sectoral representatives among the key stakeholders for the establishment of the regional technical working group for FMAs 8 and 9. (BFAR-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

BFAR-Caraga conducts fish handling workshop


SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 19 -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) - Caraga conducted recently a two-day seminar-workshop on the proper handling of fish and fishery products and the management and operation of the Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) in Tubajon, province of Dinagat Islands.

The training oriented the personnel of the local government unit of Tubajon and 30 other participants representing the five fisherfolk organizations from the municipality on the CFLC guidelines to make it fully operational.

The CFLC will not only serve as a trading hub for fresh catch and processed products but also as a training center for skills development. It will further become an information hub for registration and licensing of fishers, boats, and gears.


Part of the activity was a series of lectures on the proper handling of tuna, shrimp, seaweed, and bivalve in order to extend its shelf life and retain the desirable quality and nutritional value.

The Bureau also aimed to empower the marginalized sector, especially the fisherfolk’s wives to become partners in economic upliftment in the area by formulating fishery-based food products.

The BFAR Caraga team, led by its training division chief Anna Melissa Talavera, with the support of regional director Visa Tan-Dimerin, has also been conducting a similar training to other five municipalities in the region, namely Malimono, Mainit, Magallanes, Libjo, and Marihatag since July. (BFAR-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Kabataan pinaalalahanan na maging alerto laban sa pangrerecruit ng NPA sa mga unibersidad

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Setyembre 19 (PIA) -- Sa patuloy na kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa pangrerecruit ng mga makakaliwang grupo sa mga estudyante sa ibat-ibang unibersidad sa bansa, pinaalalahanan ni National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr., ang lahat ng sektor na maging alerto at tumulong sa paghadlang ng gawaing ito ng Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Ayon kay Sec. Esperon, binibigyang-halaga ng administrasyong Duterte ang edukasyon lalo na ang kinabukasan ng mga kabataan. Dahil dito, binibigyan ding prayoridad ni President Rpdrigo Duterte ang mga programa, proyekto at mga oportunidad sa mga kabataan na umunlad.

“Ang pangulo mismo ang nanguna sa pagpapatupad ng libreng tertiary education sa lahat ng state universities. Nais ng pangulo na makapag-aral ang mga kabataan at umunlad,” sabi ni Sec. Esperon.

Nanghihinayang naman ang opisyal sa mga kabataang nalinlang ng mga makakaliwang grupo at hindi na nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. May mga minor de edad na din ang napabilang sa mga nagbalik-loob sa gobyerno.

“Mayroong karamihan sa kanila ay Grade 3, Grade 5. Kung sana nabigyan lang ng pagkakataon ang mga ito na makapag-aral, naranasan din sana nila ang magandang buhay. Dahil din ditto, mas pinalawak pa natin ang alternative learning systems at mga skills trainings ng Technical Education and Skills Development upang maka-capacitate din sila,” dagdag ni Esperon.

Sinabi rin ng kalihim na mas maunlad na sana ang mga probinsya ng Caraga kung hindi lang dahil sa gulong idinudulot ng CPP-NPA, maging ang pangbibiktima at pag-aabuso nila sa mga Indigenous Peoples at magsasaka.

Kaya naman, mas paiigtingin pa ng Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) ang mga inisyatibo at aktibidad kasama ang ibang sektor ng rehiyon para masugpo ang insurhensiya sa barangay level.

Samantala, dapat din daw na maging tapat at seryoso ang mga opisyal sa barangay sa pagtulong sa gobyerno na makamit ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan at pag-unlad ng bansa.

“Pupuntahan namin yung mga barangay kapitan at opisyales. Napaka-importanteng sila ang kasama natin at nakikita naman na yung mga barangay kapitan natin ay tutulong sa inisyatibong ito,” sabi ni Esperon. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)