(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, March 20, 2020

Caraga authorities implement tight security, precautionary measures vs. COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, March 20 (PIA) -- Amid the increasing number of coronavirus disease or COVID-19 patients in the country, the local government units in the Caraga region have leveled up the implementation of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

In the province of Agusan del Sur, the authorities are strictly implementing the conduct of thermal scanning procedure in the designated checkpoints to check the body temperature of all the individuals and assess if they manifest symptoms of COVID-19.

According to Sanny Dale Cinco of the Provincial Correctional And Security Management Office, there are instances where individuals are found to have a high temperature during the screening, not because that they have a fever, but due to the hot weather condition in the area.

“We carefully check the temperature of the individuals coming in and out of the government center and once we find them to have beyond a temperature of 37.5, we would refer them to the nearest hospital for further medical checkup. This is part of the strict implementation of the precautionary measures to ensure prevention on the spread of COVID-19 disease,” said Cinco.

With this effort of the government, the locals have been cooperative and are following the health protocol imposed by the local government units.

Every office in the provincial government also offered free use of sanitizers or alcohol, and maintained a clean comfort room for clients and public use.

Meanwhile, Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., has released an executive order declaring the suspension of classes in all levels in all schools in the province starting March 16, and has canceled big events and gatherings this month.

Meanwhile, in the recent visit of Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles in Butuan City, he announced that all COVID-19 testings, including quarantine and isolation costs, will be shouldered by the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Mga LGUs sa Caraga humingi ng tulong sa national gov't

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Marso 20 (PIA) -- Sa harap ng banta ng coronavirus o COVID-19 disease sa bansa, nanawagan ang mga opisyal ng Agusan del Norte sa national government hinggil sa pagkakaroon ng sapat na testing kits sa rehiyon. Gayundin ang pangangailangan nito sa personal protective equipment para sa mga frontliners.

Ayon kay Governor Dale Corvera, bagamat COVID-free pa ang probinsya, umabot na sa mahigit 3,800 ang kanilang persons under monitoring (PUMs) habang 13 ang patients under investigation (PUIs).

“Mas madali sanang ma-check kung positibo o negatibo ang resulta ng labtests sa ating mga PUIs kung mayroon tayong mga testing kits dito sa rehiyon. Nais din sana nating mabigyan ng personal protective equipment and ating mga frontliners habang ginagawa nila ang kanilang tungkulin sa bayan,” ani ni Corvera.

Humiling rin ng assistance ang City Tourism Office ng Butuan City sa national government para sa mga stranded na turista dahil sa umiiral na enhanced community quarantine sa Luzon at localized community quarantine sa ibat-ibang rehiyon.

Ayon kay Butuan City Tourism Officer Evangeline Peña-Dominese, sana ay magkaroon ng espesyal na biyahe ang mga turista pabalik sa kani-kanilang lugar. Gayundin ang mga Butuanons o Caraganons na na-stranded din sa ibang lugar.

“Isa lang talaga ang hiling namin sa tourism sector, at iyon ay sana mabigyan ng special trips ang ating mga turista upang sila’y makabalik at makauwi na sa kanilang mga tahanan. Ganun din sana sa ating mga kababayan dito na nasa ibang lugar na makauwi na sila,” sabi ni Dominese.


Samantala, patuloy din ang panawagan ng gobyerno sa lahat ng mamamayan na sumunod sa health protocol sa mga designated checkpoints, maging sa curfew hours at iba pang kautusan upang malabanan ang pagkalat ng virus. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Surigao Sur placed under preventive community quarantine

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Mar. 20 (PIA) -- Governor Alexander T. Pimentel has placed the entire province of Surigao del Sur under preventive community quarantine to avert the local transmission of the fatal effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Based on the Executive Order No. 14 series of 2020, a provincial preventive quarantine will be enforced effective 8:00 pm, March 20, 2020, until revoked or lifted.

There were five entrance and exit points that were identified and recommended by the Police Provincial Office (PPO) chief Police Colonel James Goforth for the establishment of checkpoints: 1. Barangay Adlay, Carascal via Claver, Surigao del Norte; 2. Barangay Payasan, Lianga via Los Arcos, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; 3. Sitio Cutlog, Barangay Bahi, Barobo via San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; 4. Barangay San Jose, Bislig City via Trento, Agusan del Sur; & 5. Barangay Sabang, Lingig via Boston, Davao Oriental.

All entrance and exit points in the province will be manned 24/7 by a joint team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the provincial and municipal health personnel.

The public utility vehicles (buses, vans, jeepneys, tricycles) within the province shall continue its operation, as stated on the EO, provided they have strictly observed social distancing for the passengers. For vehicles that are transporting goods and food products, they are allowed to enter the province, however, the drivers and helpers will be subjected to a temperature check. The drivers and helpers of supply chain vehicles/delivery vehicles are not allowed to leave their vehicles until the loading/unloading of the delivered goods is finished.

Earlier, the Bachelor Express Inc. has already suspended its operation in Surigao del Sur.

The curfew hours will also be imposed tonight from 8:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

All primary tourism-related establishments (TREs) such as travel and tour services, accommodation establishments, and resorts are suspended up to April 12 or until further notice. While secondary TREs such as malls, restaurants are advised to implement daily disinfection protocols.

Governor Pimentel has also ordered all the city and municipal mayors to activate their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCC) to monitor the price of local commodities. All prices of basic necessities sold within the province are declared frozen, under Section 6 of the Price Act of the Philippines (RA 7581) as amended, it was learned. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)


MGB 13 conducts budget proposal consultations for FY 2021

By Melinda B. Navida

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Mar. 20 (PIA) --The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-13) conducted the FY 2021 Budget Proposal Consultations with civil society organizations (CSOs) held recently at the MGB 13 training center, this city.

In view of the Regional Development Council’s (RDC's) approved Regional Guidelines for the Regional Budget Review for FY 2021 budget proposal, all agencies, state universities and colleges and other government instrumentalities shall conduct consultations with partner and interested CSOs, religious organizations and other stakeholders. 

During the consultation, MGB 13 Planning Officer Carl Orven C. Eludo gave a comprehensive presentation on the FY 2021 budget proposal. 

He expounded on the details of the Bureau’s work programs and the corresponding budgetary requirements.

The need to conduct budget review and consultations is imperative in order to generate feedbacks on MGB’s programs and projects from stakeholders prior to the endorsement of its proposed budget through the RDC of Caraga Region. 

Engr. Leonel Z. Santos, Chairman of Surigao Economic Development and Microfinance Foundation, Inc. and Arceli T. Napalan, Executive Director of REACH Foundation, attended the consultations and took note of MGB’s targets and accomplishments. 

All the stakeholders affirmed their approval for the said budget proposal’s endorsement through the RDC.  (MGB-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)