(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.


Wednesday, July 01, 2020

48 FRs take oath of allegiance to gov't, receive financial assistance

By Nora C. Lanuza

BUTUAN CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- Forty-eight former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPAs) consist of 42 members of Guerrilla Front 4A (GF4A) operating in the areas of Las Nieves, Buenavista, Nasipit, Carmen in the province of Agusan del Norte, Gingoog City, and Butuan City; and six members from the Guerrilla Front 88 (GF88) operating in the areas of Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon have signed a manifesto withdrawing their support to the communist terrorist group (CTG).

The former rebels (FRs) have decided to go back to the government to have a peaceful life with their families.

Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera thanked the FRs for deciding to go back to the government. He also asked them to be a partner of the province’s development.

“I am asking you to support us in ending the insurgency problem in our place,” he said.  The governor then read the pledge of withdrawal of support and requested them to raise their right hand in front of the other provincial officials, police personnel, and media partners and to sincerely pledge their withdrawal of support to the communist terrorist group.

Col. Cerilo C. Balaoro, Jr., the deputy brigade commander of 402nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, also asked the FRs to help in convincing their former comrades to go back to the folds of the law and help in their peace initiatives. “I urged you to help stop the armed struggle and let’s give peace a chance,” he said.

The FRs also recited the Panunumpa sa Watawat ng Pilipinas led by Agusan del Norte 2nd district representative Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba. “By reciting this, you are now again a Filipino that not only love peace, but want to give peace to our fellow Filipinos, be an instrument of change and help the police and the military to stop local communist armed conflict in order to live peacefully,” she said.

In showing their sincere intention of going back and supporting the government in their fight against terrorism, the FRs also burned the CTG's flag at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga grandstand.

PBGen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr., regional director of PNP Caraga, thanked the FRs for their acts of signing the manifesto of withdrawal of support to the CTG. He was also confident that the government is winning against the terrorist group.

Meanwhile, because of the acts shown by the FRs and while the government is still validating and processing their Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) benefits, Rep. Matba and Gov. Corvera gave cash assistance to the 48 and the seven newly-surrendered FRs. (NCL/PIA Agusan del Norte)

PH Nickel Industry Association provides P38-M for COVID-19 response

SURIGAO CITY, July 1 -- The members of the Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) have collectively disbursed more than P38 million of their Social Development Management Program (SDMP) fund for various coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief efforts to benefit frontliners and host communities during the two-month enhanced community quarantine period (ECQ).

PNIA has also been working in solidarity with Act as One, Kalinga Kontra Kovid (KKK) QC, as well as local and national government authorities in providing assistance to key hospitals in Metro Manila and to more than 66,200 households in Caraga, Zambales, and Palawan.
“We try our best to keep our commitment to our host communities especially during these trying times. It’s definitely a challenging time for our business operations but our local communities are our partners throughout the years and saving lives is our priority right now,” said Atty. Dante R. Bravo, PNIA president.

Aside from providing 31,800 food packs and sharing over 26,960 sacks of rice to their host communities, mining companies also organized transportation for displaced individuals, set up disinfection tents and facilitated disinfection drives in the area.

Other member companies likewise sourced majority of its fresh produce from local farmers and other goods from local establishments to stimulate the region’s economy. Due to ECQ restrictions on transportation, these farmers faced the risk of spoilage of their produce – in addition to the challenge of putting food on their own tables.

PNIA member companies donated over 20,300 units of medical supplies including facemasks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), digital thermal scanners, vitamins, and other medical and disinfection supplies to local government units and various non-government organizations.

In addition, PNIA recently donated 5,000 test kits through Act as One to help fast track rapid testing efforts of local government units in Metro Manila and other selected cities in the country.

Over and beyond allocating SDMP funds, PNIA members have also prepared a COVID-19 response fund to support employees and local community stakeholders through salary continuance, and various forms of assistance during the crisis.

“We also ensure highest health and safety standards are enforced in our mining operations, during and beyond the ECQ to protect the welfare of our employees, partners, and communities. PNIA members are strictly following quarantine protocols and information campaign efforts to help mitigate transmission of the virus,” said Bravo.

PNIA members have also been resolute in implementing quarantine protocol guidelines mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 (IATF) in coordination with local government authorities. The companies also augment the local government’s information and education drive by proactively promoting awareness on social distancing and proper hygiene procedures within the local host communities.

Looking beyond the pandemic, PNIA members looks forward to bounce back and help reinvigorate the country’s economy towards recovery. 

“Each company is doing its best to balance the impact of this crisis and at the same time uphold the safety of all our stakeholders but we are optimistic that will survive this,” Bravo said. (PNIA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

P9.8-M illegal drugs seized by PNP-Caraga in Q1 2020

BUTUAN CITY, July 1 -- Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr, regional director of Philippine National Police (PNP) - Caraga reported that for the period January 1 to June 27 of this year they were able to confiscate P9,879,173.76 worth of shabu, marijuana, and cocaine; arrested 225 drug personalities while two have died during an intensified campaign against illegal drugs in the region.

Record from Regional Operations Management Division 13 revealed that for the said period, a total of 198 drug operations were conducted wherein 661.18 grams of shabu; 14,250 grams of marijuana; and 15 grams of cocaine were confiscated.

On May 8, two anti-illegal drugs operations under Case Operational Plan (COPLAN) Everest-Bravo were conducted in Barangay Kasapa II in La Paz, Agusan del Sur wherein 4,000 and 6,000 marijuana hills were uprooted in two separate plantations, and amounting to P800,000 and P1,200,000, respectively.

Two separate cases for violation of Section 16 Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, docketed under NPS No.13-03-INV-20F-208 and NPS No.13-03-INV-20F-207 were already filed against Iming Tilocan, legal age, farmer, resident of Sitio Landing, Kasapa II, La Paz, Agusan del Sur, and the identified owner and cultivator of said marijuana plantations.

BGen. Esquivel lauded the operating personnel for their dedication to duty and sincere commitment of giving the people a drug-free community.

“I assure all Caraganons that we will sustain all our efforts against all forms of criminality in the region. The people deserve no less and it is our prime duty as law enforcers that all criminals will be put behind bars,” said BGen. Esquivel.

He added that the community has a significant role in the attainment of sustainable peace in the region. “We are calling for your continued support by immediately reporting to the nearest police station any illegal activities or presence of criminals in your locality,” said BGen Esquivel. (PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Siargao Island tallies first confirmed COVID-19 case; cases in Caraga now total to 138

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- Authorities confirm the first confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in the municipality of Del Carmen in Siargao Island.

The said case is one of the 22 new confirmed cases reported by the Department of Health (DOH) Caraga on Monday, June 29. Eighteen of these cases are locally stranded individuals (LSIs), two returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), one with a travel history in Metro Manila while the other is a health care worker.

Twenty are asymptomatic and are now isolated in the quarantine facilities in their respective local government units (LGUs) while two are experiencing mild symptoms of the disease and are now confined in the treatment facilities in the region.

Per the health department’s data, the area distribution of the cases are as follows: 2 in Cabadbaran City; 1 in Buenavista; 2 in Carmen; 1 in Jabonga; and 2 in Nasipit, all of which are areas in the province of Agusan del Norte; 1 in Esperanza; 1 in Loreto; 2 in Prosperidad; and 1 in Sibagat in Agusan del Sur; 1 in Bislig City; 2 in Carmen; and 1 in Lingig, Surigao del Sur; one confirmed case in the municipalities of Alegria, Mainit, and Tubod in Surigao del Norte, and one in Butuan City.

Meanwhile, ten of the previously tallied cases also tested positive in their follow-up tests.
Caraga region now has a total of 138 cases, wherein seven are discharged, 28 have recovered but are to complete quarantine period, and 103 are still admitted and on strict facility quarantine. (DMNR/PIACaraga)

Communal garden sa Butuan City, nagbibigay ng pagkain at seguridad 

 


Sa pangunguna ni Hanawi Alauya, isang empleyado ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources o BFAR at residente sa nasabing lugar kasama ang pitong pamilya na apektado ang hanapbuhay dahil sa enhanced community quarantine o ECQ, sinimulan nila ang isang communal garden sa isang 400-square meter na bakanteng lote sa buwan ng Abril upang matugunan ang kanilang pangangailan sa pagkain.
Saysay pa ni Alauya, naramdaman niya ang pangangailan ng kanyang mga kapitbahay kaya’t kinombinsi niya silang magtanim sa bakanteng lote at kukuha ng seedlings sa DA.

Tulong-tulong sa pagtanim, pag-alaga at ngayon ay nakikinabang na sila nito. Si Lyn Montes, isang tricycle driver at asawang construction worker na parehong apektado ang kanilang kabuhayan dahil sa ECQ ay masaya sa pagkakaroon ng communal garden sa kanilang lugar. Anya hindi lang ito nakakatulong sa araw-araw nilang pagkain, kumikita din sila at nagkaroon din sila ng magandang relasyon ng kanyang mga anak dahil nagtutulongan sila dito.
Kabilang sa mga pananim sa communal garden ay ang pechay, mustasa, okra, opo, alugbati at talong.

Sa ngayon, nadagdagan pa ng 300-square meter ang kanilang tinataniman at may plano na silang lakihan pa at magtanim ng mais sa pamamagian ng project maisan sa nataran o pro-mais movement, ang bagong food production initiative ng DA. (NCL/PIA Caraga)

Unang kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID-19 sa Siargao Island, naitala na

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Hulyo 1 (PIA) -- Kinumpirma ng mga otoridad ang unang kaso ng coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sa bayan ng Del Carmen sa isla ng Siargao.

Kabilang ito sa 22 na bagong kasong naitala ng Department of Health (DOH) Caraga noong Lunes, Hunyo 29.
Labing-walo sa naitalang kaso ay are locally stranded individuals (LSIs), dalawa ay returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), isa ay may travel history sa Metro Manila, at isa naman ay healthcare worker.

Dalawampu dito ay asymptomatic at kasalukuyang nakaisolate na sa quarantine facilities ng kanilng local government units (LGUs) habang dalawa dito ay may mild symptoms at nakaconfine sa mga treatment facilities sa rehiyon.

Base sa datos ng kagawaran, ang sumusunod ay area distribution ng mga kaso: 2 sa Cabadbaran City; 1 sa Buenavista; 2 sa Carmen; 1 sa Jabonga; at 2 sa Nasipit sa probinsya ng Agusan del Norte; 1 sa Esperanza; 1 sa Loreto; 2 sa Prosperidad; at 1 sa Sibagat sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur; 1 sa Bislig City; 2 sa Carmen; at 1 sa Lingig, Surigao del Sur; isa sa bayan ng Alegria, Mainit, and Tubod sa Surigao del Norte, at isa sa Butuan City.

Samantala, nagpositibo naman sa follow-up tests ang sampung previously tallied cases.

Sa kabuuan, may 138 na confirmed cases na ang Caraga region, kung saan pito ay nakarecover at nadischarge na, 28 ay nakarecover na ngunit kinakailangan pang tapusin ang quarantine period, at 103 ay kasulukuyang admitted at naka strict facility quarantine. (DMNR/PIACaraga)