(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.


Monday, January 18, 2021

Surigao Norte SK pushes for environmental projects amid pandemic

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Bad-as, Placer town, Surigao del Norte eyes tree planting activities and backyard gardening for the village youth as part of their proposed projects for the FY 2021.

SK Chairperson Jestoni Polistico Balaba said during the 11th episode of the Bisaya Gyud on Saturday, January 16, with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar that the proposed project is part of the recreational activities they plan on launching while the whole nation battles with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Instead of wasting their time using their gadgets, we encourage them na magtanom kay para pud atong makompetensyahan ang presyo sa [mga paliton] sa market. [Instead of wasting their time using their gadgets, we encourage them to plant in order to compete with the prices of goods in the market],” he said.

The said project will be launched in coordination with the Sangguniang Barangay (SB).

As for the projects launched by the youth council in response to the pandemic, the youth leader said they distributed various forms of assistance such as cash and food packs for the residents despite the limited funding they had.

On the onset of the community-wide lockdown in March, they distributed alcohol and face masks to frontline workers, barangay health workers, and barangay tanods as well as small business establishments in the village.

In April, the first wave of assistance was distributed where each resident was given a kilo of rice. The same form of assistance was given on the second wave of assistance distributed in the succeeding month.

“No exemptions [ang distribution sa goods], either buntis man o waya pa nipanaw na bata para pantay tanan [We exempted no one from the distribution of goods, be it a pregnant resident or … so that it’s equal for everyone],” the SK chair said.

During the holiday season, the SK once again distributed food packs containing four kilos of rice, ten packs of milk, and ten pieces of eggs to every household in the village.

The village youth council also provided support for the implementation of distance learning, where SK Chair Balaba personally donated reams of bond papers to a private high school on behalf of the SK.

“Naghatag mi ug bond paper sa private institution which is hamo silay macater na mga estudyante na waya magsalig sa gobyerno para mafeel nila the barangay council, the Sangguniang Kabataan are supporting them despite the pandemic [We provided bond papers to a private institution to cater the needs of students who are not receiving aid from the government to make them feel that the barangay council and the Sangguniang Kabataan are supporting them during the pandemic],” he added.

As his message to his fellow youth in the village, he emphasizes the need to continue abiding by health protocols, more so now that the new strain of the virus has been detected in the country. Despite this, he also urged the youth to continue succeeding in their personal endeavors despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“Don’t lose hope. Continue to strive for success and do what is necessary for the good of our community,” he said.

‘Bisaya Gyud’ is a weekly public service and entertainment program hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar aired on select radio stations across the country and streamed live on its official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bisayagyudph, every Saturday.

The program was initially launched to provide assistance to underprivileged Bisaya and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). At the height of the pandemic, the program also devoted its episodes to addressing various issues of the Bisayas concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Its 'Operation Tabang' is launched to extend medical and food assistance to Bisaya all over the country, especially those who suffered greatly due to the health crisis. The program also launched its Bond Paper Gift project, which aims to assist schools in rural areas in effectively implementing distance learning by providing reams of bond papers to be used for the production of learning materials.

The program also explores Bisaya music and artists and features Bisaya success stories. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

‘Bisaya Gyud’ lends aid to Surigao City fire victims

By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- Over 300 residents of Baybay Magallanes in Washington village in Surigao City who were victims of a recent fire received aid from the Bisaya Gyud team through its Operation Tabang.

‘Bisaya Gyud’ is a weekly public service and entertainment program hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar. Initially launched to help underprivileged Bisaya Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the program’s scope has progressed to serving Bisaya Filipinos nationwide since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, delivering grassroots information on the efforts of local and national governments to address the people’s needs during the health crisis whilst launching their own initiatives through the ‘Operation Tabang’.

During the team’s visit to the area, the victims expressed great concern on the challenge of rebuilding their lives and finding a new home.

“Hantod karon, iniya pa kami sa [pagpangita ug] kweba, asa kami matulog [Until now, we are still looking for a place to stay permanently],” says resident Michael Coñado.

Lending help in their own way, the team provided food packs containing rice and instant food products and clothes to fire victims.

As they each receive their share of the assistance, the victims expressed their huge thanks to the team, adding that their generosity provided them relief and hope.

On the morning of January 9, residents of Baybay Magallanes in Brgy. Washington awoke to a fire, resulting in the destruction of houses and properties of more than 80 households. The fire was allegedly caused by a butane gas stove left unattended. (DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

DBP grants P150M credit line for modern PUVs manufacturer

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 18 -- State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has granted a P150-million revolving credit line for Hino Motors Philippines Corporation (HMPC) to augment the working capital requirements of the company in the manufacturing and distribution of its commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses and modern public utility vehicles (PUVs), a top official said.

DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said that the bank's funding support to HMPC will help the company cater to the increasing demand for modern PUVs nationwide, especially with the surge of approvals under DBP’s Program Assistance to Support Alternative Driving Approaches (PASADA) during the first half of last year.

“As of end June 2020, DBP has already approved approximately 1,800 units of modern PUVs to be produced by HMPC which will be distributed to around 50 transport cooperatives nationwide,” Herbosa said.

DBP is the seventh largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.

HMPC, formerly known as Pilipinas Hino Inc., is one of the pioneers in the development of prototypes for modern PUVs in support of the National Government’s PUV Modernization Program.

The company is one of the top players in the truck and bus segment in the country, with 20 dealers nationwide with its Class 2 and Class 3 modern PUVs meeting Philippine National Standards (PNS) 2126:2017 as certified by the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

Herbosa added that DBP continues to work closely with DoTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to continually expand financial interventions that would help the transportation and other affected sectors recover from the impact of the pandemic.

He said the bank recognizes the essential role of the transport sector in the country’s overall economic recovery as it caters mostly to workers belonging to the MSME sector, which is considered the backbone of the local economy.

“With this, it is imperative for DBP to support initiatives that would not only benefit our local drivers but other small businesses as well,” Herbosa said. (DBP/PIA Caraga)

Paglabay og basura sa open dumpsite sa Magallanes gidid-an na

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Enero 18 -- Gidid-an na ang paglabay og basura sa open dumpsite sa lungsod sa Magallanes.

Kini nag padayon nga pag-abiso sa Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office [MENRO] sa mga lumulopyo sa Magallanes.

Ang pagdili nag-apil bisan unsang matang sa basura sa open dumpsite sa maong lungsod ubos sa Ecological Solid Waste Management Act [RA 9003] as per order sa Environmental Management Bureau [EMB] ubos Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] Caraga.

Niini, padayon ang mga personahe sa MENRO sa pag igmat og pagbantay sa palibot aron malikayan sa mga lumulopyo ang gina-dili nga paglabog sa basura, lakip pagsunog niini. Isip sulbad, naay mga garbage collector sa lungsod ang na-assign pagkolekta gikan sa mga Material Recovery Facility (MRF) nga nahimutang sa matag barangay.

Ang masakpan nga mag labog sakop sa lungsod adunay multa nahiuyon sa Municipal Ordinance No. 013-2020 An Ordinance Amending Section 8 of SB Ordinance No. 059-1994, Entitled, “An Ordinance Promulgating a Comprehensive and Sustainable Solid Waste Disposal Management Program Fixing the rates of garbage collection services and providing penalties thereof.”

1st Offense – A fine of Five Hundred Pesos (Php 500.00) with one (1) month imprisonment

2nd Offense – A fine of One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) with three months imprisonment

3rd Offense – A fine of Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00) with six (6) months imprisonment and revocation of business permit.

Kasamatangang gi-implementar sa lungsod ang temporaryong Residual Containment Area [RCA] para sa proper segregation sa lungsod samtang gihulat pa ang himoong Sanitary Landfill.

Kaabag niini ang Municipal Mayor Cesar Cumba sa Magallanes, ang DENR, mga personahe sa MENRO ug mga barangay officials.

Ang pagpahiluna sa basura usa sa mga tumong sa Lunhaw’ng Agusan program sa Agusan Up ubos sa administrasyon ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera kauban ni Rep. Angel Amante-Matba. (Shena Mae Pabia with reports from Rey Jaudian, Agusan Up, LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)