(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).


Friday, July 17, 2020


Bayugan City mayor allocates enough funds to support fight vs COVID-19

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, July 17 (PIA) - City Mayor Kirk Asis of Bayugan City bared that the local government unit has allocated funds to support the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related operations.

"We have allocated and made available the supplemental budget of P171-million (from the 2019 budget) and fund from the Bayanihan Grant from the national government in the amount of P91-million, as well as a provincial government share of P5.6-million. This is apart from the bags of rice turned-over by the provincial government for the city," said Asis as he guested the Laging Handa Network Briefing hosted by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Friday.

The local chief executive emphasized that even prior to the pandemic, the LGU has already put in place a program to ensure food security, including the sustainable livelihood programs of the people.

“The locals here are supporting backyard gardening which helped them cope with their daily needs especially during this time of the pandemic. On the other hand, the farmers are also being supported with various assistance for them to continuously produce agricultural products and earn from it,” underscored Asis.

Mayor Asis added that the cut flower industry, which the city of Bayugan is known for, was greatly affected because of the pandemic. However, because of the Department of Agriculture's vegetable gardening programs, workers in the industry were able to somehow gain income. “In addition, the city government is now focusing on rice production and other crops such as banana and corn to help with the recovery of the local economy. Over 4,000 land area were irrigated for such purpose. According to the mayor, these will be distributed in Manila,” he said.

Meanwhile, he further reminded the locals to constantly follow the health protocols and wearing of face mask, face shields, the practice of maintaining proper hygiene and other preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19. He also emphasized that the city government monitors the observance/compliance of the Bayuganons.

Wilfred Pitogo of City FM and Ruel Castro of Fox FM, both from Bayugan City, were the media co-hosts of Sec. Andanar during the said briefing. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Leyte province provides continuous livelihood support to FRs

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- “We are making headway in the fight against the Left and the rebels.” This was the statement of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Asec. Jonji Gonzales on the local insurgency situation in the Leyte province.

During the Laging Handa Network Briefing episode today, July 17, with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Secretary Martin Andanar, Asec. Gonzales bared the initiatives of the provincial government of Leyte for the former rebels (FRs) in the province.

In San Isidro town, where 500 FRs have been recorded, rebel returnees were given livelihood through partaking in the poultry production in the town. With the help of business owners in the area, they help in the production of 3,000 eggs every day.

The Philippine Coconut Authority in the Eastern Visayas region also distributed several seedlings to the FRs, in coordination with the Philippine Army 802nd Infantry Brigade.

The national government also provided additional funds for the construction of the halfway houses for the rebel returnees in the Leyte province. A cheque worth P5 million was given to the Leyte Provincial Task Force against Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) through provincial task force chairperson and Leyte provincial governor Leopoldo Petilla. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

Provinces in Visayas intensify response vs pandemic

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- Provinces in Visayas continue to intensify their response against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic amid the easement of community quarantine protocols in the province.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Asec. Jonji Gonzales reiterated during the Laging Handa Network Briefing episode today, July 17, that another polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine was approved by the Department of Health (DOH) in the Eastern Visayas region, which will be placed in the molecular laboratory in Southern Leyte.

The facility is expected to be completed in the next 45 to 60 days. Around 5,000 swab kits will also be provided to the sub-national laboratory in the said area.

The Small Business Corporation in Capiz has also approved the loan applications of 23 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the area through the Pondo para sa Pagbabago (P3) COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to help aid their businesses.

The said MSMEs vary from culinary schools, businesses selling agricultural products, food manufacturing enterprises, eateries, sari-sari stores, and construction supplies.

Under the P3 CARES, enterprises may avail loans ranging from P10, 000 to P3 million. As of July 6, a total of P1.7 million has been released by the program.

Meanwhile, recovered patients of COVID-19 in the Cebu province have taken part in the government’s continuous response for COVID-19 patients through donating blood.

The Donate Blood, Save a Life, Be a Hero project of the OPAV, in coordination with the DOH Central Visayas, aims to encourage recovered patients of the fatal virus to donate blood for current patients of COVID-19.

The donated blood will be used for the convalescent plasma therapy, which involves the transfusion of blood plasma collected from patients who have recovered from infection to improve the immune response of the recipient.

The bloodletting activity had recently been conducted in Lapu-Lapu City, where around 200 donors participated, including 50 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), 13 from the Philippine Air Force, and 11 from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and city mayor Ahong Chan.

“This on-going blood donation drive is to help those in need of convalescent plasma since dengue season is also coming,” Asec. Gonzales said.

Select cities in the Cebu province have now been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), including Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Consolacion, Talisay, and Minglanilla. Meanwhile, Cebu City remains under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)


Mga magsasaka sa Agusan del Norte nakatanggap ng farm equipment


By Nora C. Lanuza

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 17 -- Isang kooperatiba ng mga magsasaka sa probinsya ng Agusan del Norte – ang Avancena Beneficiaries Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooerative (ABFMPC) na may 105 myembro ang nakatanggap ng farm tractor na nagkakahalaga ng 1.2 milyong peso mula sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa pamamagitan ng Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP).

Ayon ka provincial agrarian reform program officer II Andre Atega, ang nasabing farm equipment ay nakakatulong upang madagdagan ang kita ng mga magsasaka at matugonan ang kanilang pangangailangan lalo nga sa panahong may coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Sergio Baguhin, ang chairperson ng ABFMPC sa ayudang bigay ng DAR lalong-lalo na ang mga makinaryas at pati na rin ang mga trainings para sa mga magsasaka.

Dagdag pa ni Baguhin, ito ay isang sagot upang mas maging matugonan ang panganib na dulot ng climate change.

Ang makinaryas ay mapapakinabangan hindi lang ng mga myembro ng ABFMPC kundi pati na rin ang ibang magsasaka dahil mas mapahusay pa nito ang pagsasaka, ang pamumuhay ng magsasaka at  makapagbibigay ito ng trabaho.

Ayon din kay Constancio Dalanon, ang vice chaiperson ng ABFMPC, ng dahil sa farm mechanization program na nagbigay ng malaking tulong sa kanilang pagsasaka, mas napadali pa ang mga gawain nila.

Ang CRFPSP ay nakakatulong upang mas matugonan ang mga pangangailan ng mga agrarian reform communities (ARCs) sa bansa, isa itong sagot ng DAR upang matugonan ang panganib ng climate change para sa ARCs. (NCL/PIA Agusan del Norte)