(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 04 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression "JULIAN" {KRATHON} was estimated based on all available data at 240 km North Northwest of Itbayat, Batanes (22.6°N, 120.6°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 75 km/h. It is almost stationary. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and 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 partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 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 Southwest to Southeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Government’s Balik Probinsya Program benefits Caraganons

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- With the ongoing implementation of the government’s Balik Probinsya Program, the Caraganons who were stranded in other parts of the country have gained access and benefited of the said program, as concerned government agencies and local government units work together to bring them back to their respective hometowns.

The locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from the National Capital Region and Cebu City who have traveled back to Caraga region expressed their thanks to all the concerned government agencies for their effort and initiative to assist and provide cash assistance to the stranded Caraganons during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

“We thanked the government for facilitating our safe travel back here. The processes might be so tedious, but we understand that the organizers from the government only want to make sure that all the health protocols and preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 are followed,” said Romeo Aguilar, one of the passengers and a resident of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

According to Freida Judith Milan, Zone Manager of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Caraga, their office has been facilitating a number of Caraganons who wanted to return home and these include the students who arrived in batches.

The local government units also continue to monitor and assist those who are still in other parts of the country and need to return to their respective provinces in Caraga.

Milan added that the LSIs have received 3,000 pesos each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga while 1st District Representative Lawrence Fortun also handed-over 1,500 pesos to those from Butuan City and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.

“PEZA is always here ready to extend help and assistance to our Caraganons who wished to return home,” cited Milan.

Milan further clarified that those who have arrived in the region through the Balik Probinsya Program have undergone the necessary health protocols of the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned agencies. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

AgNor’s scholarship program intensified

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Agusan del Norte has intensified the implementation of its scholarship program to assist those youth in poverty line to be able to get a degree and improve their way of living.

Jerry Ampo, Jr., who was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration recounted how thankful he was being a beneficiary of the provincial scholarship program in Agusan del Norte.

He also called on all other scholars to study hard and achieve their dreams in life, as not all are given the opportunity to finish a course in college.  

“To my peers who were lucky to be part of this program, please study well and give your best because not all are given the privilege to have this kind opportunity to study and finish a degree in college,” said Ampo.

There are three types of the provincial scholarship program in Agusan del Norte. First is the provincial special educational scholarship program for the qualified Senior High School graduates, college level students, or even drop-outs who wanted to graduate from their respective college courses. Under this program, scholars are given a maximum of  P20,000.00 per semester.

Second is the Provincial Indigenous Scholarship Program. This is intended for the indigenous peoples (IPs) who live in the province and they are given a maximum of P50,000.00 every semester.

The third is the Provincial Medical Scholarship Program particularly for those who passed the National Medical Admission Test. The provincial government helps them finish their courses and provides a maximum of P100,000.00 per semester.

According to Maria Eleanor Tupaz, project evaluation officer of Agusan del Norte, with the positive impact brought about by the implementation of scholarship programs to the youth sector, the local chief executives are also giving additional slots every year, so that more could benefit from the government’s educational assistance.

Meanwhile, this has already been an ordinance issued by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera, in order to help more of the Agusanon youths. (JPG/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

TESDA-AdN chief visits proposed veggie production site

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, June 2 -- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Agusan del Norte Acting Provincial Director Liza B. Budtan, together with Supervising TESD Specialist Buenafe G. Enaya visited recently the proposed vegetable production site in Sitio Tagkiling, Brgy. Anticala, this city.

With PD Budtan are the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Brgy. Anticala – Kagawad Diomedes; Farm School Administrator of Lasco Demo Crops Farm – Romy S. Lasco; and Chieftain of the Manobo Tribal Community – Robinson Dapenagan.

According to Enaya, Brgy. Anticala is one of the priority barangays of this city and the province of Agusan del Norte for which the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) should look into the needs of the community, as a response of the national government in combatting insurgency.

“Like in Brgy. San Antonio in the municipality of Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR) where PRLEC has already started its program implementation on “Gulayan Village” before the community quarantine took place due to COVID-19 pandemic, Brgy. Anticala is another target of the cluster so that services of the government will be brought to the local community,” Enaya added.

Meanwhile, PD Budtan is hoping that the program will be implemented as soon as the global crisis on COVID-19 will put to an end. “We should be ready for the implementation of these projects of PRLEC so that when the global crisis ends, we will immediately pursue what the cluster has started in RTR and continue the project implementation in other priority barangays of the city and the province of Agusan del Norte,” Budtan said.

The PRLEC has identified the following barangays in the province as priority areas: Brgy. Cuyago in Jabonga, Brgy. Jaliobong in Kitcharao, Brgy. San Isidro in Santiago, Brgy. Mahaba in Cabadbaran City, Brgys. San Antonio and Tagbongabong in RTR, Brgys. Casiklan and Durian in Las Nieves, Brgy. Anticala in Butuan City, Brgy. Simbalan in Buenavista, Brgy. Camagong in Nasipit, and Brgy. Poblacion in Carmen.

The provincial office through Dir. Budtan and Ms. Enaya also handed in 50 facemasks to the Manobo tribal community as a way of supporting their officials and members against COVID-19. The facemasks were produced by the Northern Mindanao School of Fisheries (NMSF). (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)

DAR’s ARBold Move Project rolls out in AgSur

By Rechel D. Besonia

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur, June 2 – During this chaotic time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) finds the means to extend assistance to the affected Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

The inception of this program dubbed "PaSSOver: ARBold move for the Deliverance of our farmers from COVID 19 Pandemic" is the agency's response to Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” which intends to provide immediate and essential support to the farmer-beneficiaries, mitigate the impact brought about by the ongoing community quarantine and address the demands affecting the agricultural sector upon the start of the "new normal."

A total of 992 qualified ARBs all over the province has received the supplemental food and non-food packs led personally by PARPO II Jamil P. Amatonding Jr. and other members of the Management Committee.

PARPO Amatonding said that although the packs cannot be compared to those relief goods given by the LGUs and other agencies, however, it is enough to withstand hunger for the next three days or more.

He further emphasized that DAR, through the directive of Secretary John R. Castriciones has always value the importance of the farmers as the front liners in terms of food security to ensure that there is a constant supply of food in the table in time of a global crisis.

"Being religious is not enough to show compassion, but by taking the opportunity for kindness and making a difference to people's lives no matter how big or small,” he added.

Arturo Libahan, 70, one of the lucky beneficiaries was beyond grateful upon handing the food packs with rice, noodles, canned goods, bath soaps, washable masks, and vitamin C.

“Daghang salamat sa DAR sa padayon nga pag amuma kanamo nga mga mag-uuma. Salamat niining ayuda mga among nadawat. Dakong tabang kanamo sa panahon karon sa krisis (Thank you so much DAR for the care you showed to us, farmers. Thank you for these goods that we have received. A big help for us in this time of crisis),” Libahan said.

The ARBold Move Project has four main components: (1) Support to ARBOs as Front liners in the Food Supply Chain; (2) Farm Productivity Assistance to ARBs; (3) Livelihood Support for Women in Crisis Situation and (4) Package of Supplemental Food and Non-Food Items. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Tatlong bagong kaso ng COVID-19 naitala sa Caraga region

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hunyo 2 (PIA) -- Kinumpirma ng Department of Health (DOH) Caraga ang tatlong bagong kaso ng Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa Caraga region.

Ang mga pasyente ay 26 na taong gulang, lalaki, at residente ng Butuan City; 41 na taong gulang, lalaki, at 37 na taong gulang, lalaki, parehong nakatira sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur.

Kabilang sila sa mga Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) na nakarating sa Caraga region noong Mayo.  

Lahat ng pasyente ay walang pre-existing medical conditions. Nananatiling asymptomatic ang mga ito at nasa stable ang kalagayan.

Ayon sa provincial government ng Agusan del Sur, ang 37-year-old ay isang ROF na galing sa Estados Unidos  at nakarating sa Maynila noong Abril 24. Nagnegatibo ito sa confirmatory test noong May 3. Nakarating siya sa Nasipit Port sa Agusan del Norte noong May 24.

Ang 41-year-old ay isang LSI na galing sa Cagayan de Oro City. Nakarating ito sa naturang probinsya noong May 22.

Isinailalim na ang dalawang pasyente sa strict facility quarantine. Nasa isang isolation facility sa munisipyo ng San Fransisco ang ROF  habang tinutukoy pa ang residency ng LSI kung kaya’t inilagay na muna siya sa provincial quarantine facility.

“Nagsagawa na kami ng contact tracing at nagbigay-alam na din kami sa mga kinauukulang mga indibidwal at  mga opisyales ng LGUs,” sabi ni Jacqueline Momville, Provincial Health Officer of Agusan del Sur, sa isang virtual press briefing sa pamamagitan ng PTV Agusan del Sur noong Linggo.

Ang 26 na taong gulang na pasyente ay kasalukuyang nasa strict facility quarantine sa Butuan City.

Patuloy ang koordinasyon ng mga otoridad at ng DOH Caraga sa pagsasagawa ng contact tracing at pagmonitor ng iba pang ROFs at LSIs na kasalukuyang nasa rehiyon.

Puspusan din ang paghahanda sa pagdating ng mga susunod pang batches ng mga indibidwal na uuwi sa Caraga. Nakatakdang umuwi ang 700 Caraganons na nastranded sa Metro Manila ngayong Hunyo 2.

Bago pa maitala ang mga naturang kaso, may limang confirmed cases ang rehiyon. Apat dito ang nakarecover na habang ang isa ay isinasailalim pa sa strict facility quarantine. Sumatotal, walo na ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa Caraga region. (DMNR/PIACaraga)


Pagkuha og mountain soil sa Buenavista i-regulate

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Hunyo 2 -- I-regulate na sa lungsod sa Buenavista, Agusan del Norte ang pagkuha og mountain soil human gideklara nga balido sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa Agusan del Norte ang Municipal Ordinance No. 03-2020 nga nagmando niini atol sa ilang ika-41st sesyon regular niadtong Mayo 11.

Hingpit nga gi-regulate ang pagkuha og mountain soil sa mga identified barangay nga adunay potensyal sa paguswag ug natukod nga mga tourist spot. Ang mga barangay mao ang mosunod: Alubihid, Guinabsan, Malpoc, Malapong, Matabao, Manapa, Macalang, Rizal, Sangay, Simbalan ug Talo-ao.

Katuyoan sa maong ordinansa, nga gipangamahanan ni Sangguniang Bayan Member Rodrigo M. Luzon, nga mapanalipdan ang mga yuta, mineral, kalasangan ug uban pang natural nga kahinguhaan sa maong munisipalidad.

Ang mga kinahanglan sa pagkuha og yuta mao ang mosunod: 1.) Resolution Interposing No Objection gikan sa barangay; 2.) Affidavit before a Notary Public; 3.) Resolution Interposing No Objection gikan sa Sangguniang Bayan; 4.) Special or Regular Permit gikan sa Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board; 5.) Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC); 6.) Permit to cut gikan sa Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) kung ang proposed site adunay mga lubi; ug 7.) Business Permit.

Ang ordinansa giaprobahan pinaagi sa Sanggunian Resolution No. 217-2020 nga gipangamahanan ni Bokal James T. Reserva, tsirman sa Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)