(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, April 9, 2020

3 more PUIs test negative for COVID-19 in Caraga 

BUTUAN CITY, April 9 -- The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga on Thursday announces three additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lab results released from the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). All three results received tested negative.

The negative results were from the admitted 39-year-old, male at the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City and two patients (51-year-old, male from Agusan del Sur and 37-year-old, female from Butuan City) who both completed the home quarantine period following physician’s assessment and management.

“There are still pending lab results and we have high hopes that it would be in our favor,” said DOH Caraga Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.

As per Department Memorandum (DM) No. 2020-0108-B or the Further Amendment to DM No. 2020-0108 entitled, “Guidelines for Management of Patients with Possible and Confirmed COVID-19,” respiratory specimens for the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing may be collected from Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) that have recovered from severe and critical condition, elderlies (regardless of clinical manifestations), presence of existing medical conditions that may exacerbate COVID-19 clinical course, and healthcare workers in facilities with PUIs and confirmed cases of COVID-19 that have manifested signs and symptoms of the disease.

“We are closely coordinating with our partner sub-national laboratory in the release of the test results. Meanwhile, we would like to reiterate to the public to continue following our health advisories,” said Dr. Llacuna, Jr. (DOH Caraga/PIA Caraga) 


Over 5K Caraga workers receive financial aid from DOLE

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- Some 321 establishments with more than 5,000 workers in Caraga region have applied and submitted the requirements for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Said program provides cash assistance amounting to P5,000.00 for each of the qualified workers in the private sector, who have been affected by the temporary closure of the respective establishments where they work with, as a preventive measure against the harmful COVID-19.

This has started since the implementation of the Community Quarantine in most areas of the Caraga region and with the recent declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, wherein the workers are among the vulnerable sectors affected by this crisis.

As part of the government efforts to help cushion the impact of the ECQ on Caraganons, different government agencies have also provided assistance that would ease workers from worries and peril in this trying time.

“This benefit for the workers in the formal sector are directly given to them in the amount of P5,000. We really need to unite and work together in providing the needed assistance to the vulnerable sector and help them cope with life while undergoing the community quarantine,” said Mantilla.  

The official added that though said program is open for all affected workers in the private sector, it follows the “first come, first serve” basis in the release of the cash assistance. All applications also are evaluated and validated by the DOLE-Caraga.

As one of the beneficiaries, Christian James Alfon thanked the DOLE for reaching out to them and upholding their rights and welfare. “We are thankful to DOLE because without this assistance, our family would suffer hunger while we are jobless,” he said.

“It’s been hard without a job for now, but I’m thankful knowing that the government does not leave us behind on this crisis situation,” bared Ervie Jane Cachuela, a co-worker.

Sean Christian Cabardo, who also worked at the same restaurant with the two others, also expressed his gratitude to his employer for taking the initiative and have them included in the first batch among the beneficiaries.

Director Mantilla also appreciated all the employers who expressed concern for their workers and immediately responded and coordinated with the department and complied with the necessary requirements for the cash assistance.

Meanwhile, Director Mantilla revealed that under the “Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko” (BKBK) Disinfection and Sanitation Project, there were 1,700 enlisted from the informal sector while 1,500 beneficiaries have already started working.

With this project, the qualified beneficiaries will receive the P3,000.00 cash assistance after they completed the 10-day work with 4-hours a day, through the supervision of their respective barangay officials. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

GSIS grants 3-month moratorium on loan payments

BUTUAN CITY, April 9 -- President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet announced yesterday that the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) approved Resolution No. 42-2020 granting a moratorium on loan payments of GSIS members and pensioners, including housing loan amortization of borrowers.

“The GSIS Board of Trustees, in compliance with the “Bayanihan Heal as One” law, decided to grant a moratorium to our borrowers,” Macasaet said.

Section 4 (aa) of Republic Act 11469, otherwise known as the “Bayanihan Heal as One Law,” instructs all lending institutions to grant a 30-day grace period or extension on loan payments during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period without imposing interest or penalties on borrowers.

Under the said GSIS Board Resolution, collection of loan payments due for the months of March, April and May 2020 shall be deferred. GSIS will resume collection of loan payments on 01 June 2020 without penalty or additional interest. All loan terms, as a result of the moratorium, shall be effectively extended by three months.

“We hope that this 90-day grace period will give our members some financial relief in these trying times,” the GSIS chief stated.

Aside from regular government employees, pensioners with GSIS pension loans will also get a moratorium. “We are halting loan deductions in their next month’s pension (in May),” Macasaet said.

GSIS housing loan borrowers will likewise not be required to pay their monthly amortizations during the said 3-month period.

All GSIS borrowers are automatically covered by the moratorium, except those whose loan accounts are in default as of 29 February 2020. GSIS considers a loan in default when the account has incurred more than six (6) months of unpaid amortizations.

Macasaet said that GSIS already issued a memorandum circular (MC) instructing all heads of government agencies to stop loan deductions for the months of March, April and May 2020. He however emphasized that premium contributions of government employees will continue to be deducted and remitted to GSIS.

GSIS shall resume collection of loan payments on 01 June 2020. (GSIS/PIA-Caraga)


Mahigit 5,000 manggagawa sa Caraga, nagsimula nang makatanggap ng ayuda mula sa DOLE

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 9 (PIA) -- Matapos isailalim sa Enhanced Community Quarantine ang rehiyon ng Caraga, isa sa mga pinakaapektadong sektor ay ang mga manggagawa.

Kaya naman iba’t-ibang tulong ang ipinamamahagi ng gobyerno para sila ay matulungan.

Kabilang na dito ang coronavirus disease o COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), kung saan makakatanggap ng P5,000.00 ang mga kwalipikadong manggagawa sa pribadong sektor.

Ayon kay DOLE-Caraga regional director Chona Mantilla, may 321 establishimento sa rehiyon na may mahigit 5,000 manggagawa ang nag-sumiti na ng requirements sa ilalim ng programang CAMP at may mga nakatanggap na rin ng ayuda.

“Ang benepisyong ito ay direktang ibibigay sa mga kwalipikadong manggagawa sa halagang 5,000.00 sa bawat isa sa kanila. Kailangan nating magtulungan dahil lahat ay apektado ng COVID-19,” ani ni Mantilla.

Dagdag pa ng opisyal, ito ay “First Come, First Serve” at lahat ay dumaan sa evaluation at validation ng dole.


“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DOLE dahil kung wala ang tulong na ito, magugutom rin ang aming mga pamilya,” sabi ni Christian James Alfon na empleyado ng isang restaurant.

“Malaking tulong na rin po ito para sa amin na ngayon ay walang trabaho dahil sa enhanced community quarantine kontra COVID-19,” dagdag ni Ervie Jane Cachuela na kasamahan rin sa trabaho.

“Salamat din sa aming employer dahil sa kanyang inisyatibo at kami ay naisali sa first batch ng mga benepisyaryo,” pahayag din ni Sean Christian Cabardo.

Pinasalamatan din ni Director Mantilla ang lahat ng employers na agad namang nakipag-ugnayan sa kanilang ahensiya at nag-sumite ng requirements para sa benepisyong direktang ipamamahagi sa kanilang mga manggagawa.

Samantala, sinabi rin ni Director Mantilla na sa ilalim ng “Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko” (BKBK) Disinfection and Sanitation Project, may 1,700 na ang na-enlist mula sa informal sector, habang 1,500 na nito ang nakapagsimula ng magtrabaho.

Ang mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo ay maaring magtrabaho ng apat na oras kada araw sa loob ng sampung araw at tatanggap sila ng P3,000.00.

Nanawagan naman ang DOLE sa mga barangay officials na ipaabot ang programang ito sa mga residente at tulungan silang maka-avail. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)