(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.


Friday, February 19, 2021

SK in Placer unite to fight COVID-19

By Venus L. Garcia

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of the municipality of Placer, Surigao del Norte has intensified its efforts to help coalesce the community for the common goal of beating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

As part of their initiatives to convince more youth to actively participate in community-building efforts of the government, Ace Paqueo Relleta, SK federated president of Placer, Surigao del Norte bared that they continue to disseminate correct and timely information to the locals for their guidance and update them on the COVID-19 situation.

“We were able to deliver relief goods to the residents in Placer utilizing the SK funds and distributed hygiene kits during this time of the pandemic. We also gave food packs to the frontliners in our community. It’s our simple way of expressing our appreciation to them for risking their lives and for the genuine services that they render untiringly,” said Relleta during her guesting in a Network Briefing News hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.

She added that online activities were also launched in celebration of the Linggo ng Kabataan wherein the youth participated in the TikTok Kabataan challenge, spoken words poetry, mobile photography and vlogging contests, and face shield making.

“These had helped in keeping young individuals busy to reduce stress and boredom amid the pandemic and to showcase their hidden talents,” Relleta said.

To raise awareness and build solidarity in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), they also played an active role in providing facts and information to the locals on how to protect themselves from the virus.

“We emphasized to them the need to take appropriate precautions. Wearing of mask must be combined with physical distancing and hand hygiene. It is also important to avoid crowds and follow the advice provided by our health authority,” she said.

Apart from the efforts in combatting COVID-19, Relleta said they also conducted symposia on anti-illegal drugs, terrorism, and awareness on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

She said that even in this critical time the SK Federation continues in promoting the importance of caring for the environment. “Following health and safety protocols, we also had our clean-up drive and tree planting activities,” she mentioned.

Meanwhile, Relleta said that they also distributed internet routers to the students to be used in their learning sessions, online lectures, and research activities.

“This is really a big help for our young people. Out of 20 barangays, 17 had already used it only three are not utilized since there is no internet connection or signal yet in those areas,” she said.

Relleta is optimistic that Filipinos can rise above these challenging times. “We must not lose hope and remain to be resilient. Nothing is permanent, so let us hope for the best and continue to be productive in our household and communities. Let this be our inspiration as we hold on to our goal for a healthy Pilipinas,” Relleta underscored. (VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Agusan Norte farmers acquire 42.38M rice mechanization equipment

By Rhea Abao

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 -- To make accessible to Agusan rice farmers the appropriate rice production and postharvest machinery and equipment the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) granted a total of 42.38 million worth of rice mechanization under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Component.

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo together with the PhilMech Director Baldwin G. Jallorina handed the intervention to 15 accredited rice-based farmer’s cooperative and associations (FCAs) in the province of Agusan del Norte and Butuan City.

RCEF Mechanization Component is being implemented by the DA-PhilMech in partnership with DA regional office. In the second year of its implementation, the implementing agencies continue to deliver the appropriate agricultural engineering technology to the rice farmers.

“You are now receiving the fruit of the implementation of Rice Tarrification Law. The rice tariff revenues are allocated to programs that will raise Caraga rice farmers’ productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness,” Director Monteagudo said.

Of the total project costs of RCEF machinery for the province, 22 million was from the second tranch of 2019 while 20.36 million was sourced out from 2020.

Thirteen four-wheel tractors, 11 hand tractors, 18 floating tillers, six rice-combine harvesters, two walk-behind transplanters, three riding-type transplanters, and one precision seeder was turned over to farmer leaders representing their respective groups.

According to DA-PhilMech Director Baldwin G. Jallorina It is expected that these farm machines will ease the drudgery in rice production from land preparation to harvesting, to cut the postharvest losses, thereby increasing farmers’ output and revenue.

DA-PhilMech estimates that farm mechanization can lower the cost of cultivating palay (unmilled rice) by P1 to P2 per kilo. At present, the cost of producing a kilo of palay in the Philippines is P12 per kilo while it is P6 in Vietnam and P8 in Thailand.

“We are encouraging our FCAs to make use of the interventions that they receive from the DA.  The recipients should ensure the safety of the equipment while in their custody and optimize its utilization,” Director Jallorina said.

Nicolas N. Licuna, President of Sayadion-Cuyago Irrigators Association Inc., Jabonga, Agusan del Norte appreciated now the result of the RTL as they received a one-unit four-wheel tractor, three units of the floating tiller, one-unit riding-type rice transplanter, and one-unit rice combine harvester with a total worth of 4.97 Million.

We are grateful for the support that we received from the government. This could reduce our rice production cost and improving the quality of our produce. This will serve the 85 hectares of rice area of our members and we can also extend our services to the nearby barangays,” Licuna said.

Another set of farm machinery and equipment will be turned over for the Provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur for the next month. (DA13-RAFIS/PIA Agusan del Norte)

PMO Surigao conducts port orientation seminar for port service providers

By NC Nusog

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The port service providers of the Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao are now afforded the opportunity to get to know the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) better - through attendance to the Basic Port Orientation Seminar (BPOS).

The first of a series of BPOS was conducted recently at the PMO Administration Building in Surigao City for applicants serving the Port of Surigao and the Lipata Ferry Terminal.

According to Port Manager Froilan Caturla it shall continue to be conducted thereat every Tuesday afternoon and a series of BPOS sessions shall also be conducted at the Terminal Management Office (TMO) in the province of Dinagat Islands (Port of San Jose), TMO Siargao (Port of Dapa) and TMO Tandag in Surigao del Sur (Port of Tandag) to accommodate PTO applicants at the terminal ports of PMO Surigao.

With the implementation of PPA Administrative Order no. 09-20 or the Revised Guidelines on the Issuance of Permit to Operate (PTO) for the Provision of Port Ancillary Services, attendance by PTO applicants to the BPOS shall be required as a post-approval condition. (PMO-PPA/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Over P6-M DTI SSF projects in Caraga to benefit LSIs

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 - To serve the growing number of returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to Caraga due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office here, through the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program, is set to provide business facilities amounting to a total of Php6.6 million.

The initiative, in support of the national government’s Balik Probinsya-Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2), is a measure to empower local industries and at the same time mitigate the effects of the pandemic to the livelihoods and jobs of LSIs, said DTI Caraga Regional Director Edwin Banquerigo.

“We have already started purchasing the facilities for these nine SSF projects that are intended to develop our micro, small and medium enterprises instrumental to rural development especially after the ill effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Banquerigo added.

These projects consist of SSF on food processing in three local government units of Agusan del Norte, SSF on virgin coconut oil (VCO) processing and organic tablea production in Agusan del Sur, SSF on mobile mariculture platform in Surigao del Norte, and SSF on cacao processing, VCO processing and mariculture platform in the Province of Dinagat Islands.

Cooperators of these projects were chosen based on their capacity to reach out to BP2 beneficiaries including returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and individuals or families who have opted to move out of Metro Manila or highly urbanized cities due to loss of job or other source of income.

SSF is meant to improve MSME competitiveness by providing machinery, equipment, tools, systems, accessories, and other auxiliary items, skills and knowledge under a shared system.

“In the last seven years, the SFF program has touched and helped many individuals lead better lives. It has scaled up a number of MSMEs to the next level. We hope to continue these success stories,” Banquerigo said.

As of 2020, DTI Caraga has already established 169 SSF projects, 71 of which were already fully turned over to the cooperators. (DTI-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

3 NPAs killed, 4 firearms seized in AgSur clash

By Major Francisco Garello, Jr.

BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 – Three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and three firearms to include assorted war materiel were seized after a five-minute firefight between the government troops and the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) at Sitio Damming, Barangay Zillovia, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur at around 2:00 p.m. on February 15, 2021.

Troops of 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion under the operational control of 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade clashed against more or less seven CNTs believed to be members of Guerilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Said firefight resulted to the tragic demise of three CNTs and the seizure of the following items at the encounter site: one M16 rifle; two shotguns; one cal. 38; two hand grenades; one anti-personnel mine (APM); assorted ammunitions; five cellphones; one binocular; medical paraphernalia; 15 sets of Army Battle Dress Attire (BDA); lousy caps; combat boots; numerous ammunition of different caliber; and various subversive documents.

Brigadier General Maurito Licudine, the Commander of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, lauded the troops’ decisive victory and its persistent determination in tracking the NPA terrorists who were pestering the communities in the area. “This victory is for the people who for the longest time wanted to live without the intimidation and threat from the NPA Terrorist. We urge the CNT to stop using violence as it will not solve our problems,” he said.

Licudine also offered his sympathies to the dead NPAs and ensures that the cadavers will be turned over to the families once it will be identified for decent and proper burial. However, he emphasized that the tragic fate of the dead NPAs was a reminder of the futility of the armed struggle which the communist terrorist group is espousing and placing the lives of innocent youths and the masses who were deceived and exploited, to extreme danger during skirmishes.

“We reiterate our call to the remaining members of the NPA to voluntarily surrender and heed the call of peace. We want to assure the CNTs that our troops will be relentless in pursuing them, there is no other way for them but to lay down their arms or continue hiding and be hunted. It’s their choice but we insist that they follow the path of peace for the sake of their families and for the people who longed to live normal lives in peace,” BGen. Licudine bared.

No casualty on the government side and troops are still on pursuit operations. (CMO, 402nd Brigade/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Rebeldeng NPAs, supporters nagbalik-loob sa gobyerno

By Nora C. Lanuza

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Pebrero 19 (PIA) -- Handang tumulong sa pamahalaan ang mga rebeldeng nagbalik loob sa gobyerno kasama ang halos 500 myembro ng underground mass organization o UGMO na sumusuporta sa mga terorsitang NPA sa bayan ng Las Nieves sa Agusan del Norte.

Sa kanilang pababalik loob sa gobyerno siginuro ni Tommy, presendente ng UGMO ang kanilang suporta. Malaki din ang kanilang pasalamat sa 23rd Infantry Battalion at nakabalik-loob na sila sa gobyerno.

Ayon din kay Agusan del Norte provincial administrator Gerry Joey Laurito, handa at patuloy ang tulong ng pamahalaan sa barangay Casiklan at sa mga malalayong lugar ng probinsya.

Maliban sa tulong ng probinsya, handa din ang TESDA na mabigyan ng livelihood at skills training ang mga nagbalik-loob upang makapagbagong buhay at magkaroon ng hanapbuhay.

Boluntaryo ding isinurender ng mga nagbalik loob ang dala nilang armas sa 23rd IB. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)

60 SurSur PIOs sumailalim sa pagsasanay sa Tandag City

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

LUNGSOD NG TANDAG, Surigao del Sur, Pebrero 19 (PIA) -- Mahigit 60 na mga information officers (IOs) mula sa mga nakikitang erya na may problema sa insurhensiya ang sumailalim sa pagsasanay sa pagsusulat ng mahahalagang balita na ginanap noong Miyerkules, Pebrero 17, 2021 sa Goldbar Restaurant Function Hall nitong lungsod.

Ang nasabing pagsasanay na tinawag na "Establishing Retooled Community Support Program Messaging Hub of Surigao del Sur" ay inorganisa ng Regional Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) Caraga, sa pakipagtulungan ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Surigao del Sur provincial office. Ito ang kauna-unahang aktibidad sa buong rehiyon na gaganapin sa iba pang apat na probinsya na sakop sa rehiyon.

Sa layunin na mapaigting ang kapasidad o madagdagan ang kaalaman ng bawat IOs ng mga barangay at munisipyo na kalahok dito, ibinahagi ni Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Agusan del Norte Information Center Manager (ICM) ang mahalagang papel o katungkulan ng bawat information officer na itinalaga ng lokal na pamahalaan sa information dissemination.

Bukod pa nito, ibinahagi din PIA Agusan del Sur Infocen Manager Jennifer Gaitano sa mga kalahok sa nasabing aktibidad paano gumawa ng tama at akmang impormasyon, at mga paraan ng pagbahagi nito gamit ang ibat-ibang social media platforms. Mobile photography naman ang ibinahagi ni John Charles Malazarte ng PIA-Caraga.

Nagpaabot naman ng kanyang pasasalamat si Carmelito Valeroso, mula sa bayan ng Carmen, Surigao del Sur, sa mga nag organisa. Sinabi pa niya, dagdag kaalaman para sa mga kalahok ang kanilang natutunan sa nasabing pagsasanay. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Pagproseso sa ani sa mga mag-uuma sa kape gipunting sa Cabadbadbaran

By Angel Lyn F. Gaviola

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Pebrero 19 --Gipunting nga masugdan na sa mga mag-uuma sa kape sa siyudad sa Cabadbaran ang pagproseso sa mga ani nila nga kape aron himoong “local regular coffee” karong tuiga.

Gawas kini sa gilantaw nga pagproseso sa civet coffee sa Sitio Pirada, Barangay Del Pilar sa maong dakbayan, sumala ni Ma. Arcelle Soria, ang city agriculturist.

Sumala kang Soria nga samtang naghulat ang mga mag-uuma sa panahon sa ting-ani sa kape, gisugdan na usab nila ang mga pagbansay kalabot sa paggama og kape, kaabag ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) nga maoy nagpasiugda sa mga trainings, partikular sa Sitio Ansili, Barangay Puting Bato.

Target nga mag-ani sa ilang produksyon sa kape ang mga mag-uuma sa pinaka-ulahing kwarter ning tuiga, tukmang panahon lang aron mahuman sa pagtuon ang mga mag-uuma nga interesadong magproseso sa kape.

Dugang ni Soria nga sa kasamtangan nagpadaghan pa og mga civets kon milo ang potensyal nga lugar sa Sitio Pirada, diin ang mga fermented coffee beans nga i-digest niini mao ang kolektahon aron iproseso nga mahimong civet coffee.

Nangita na usab og dugang nga mga sites ang City Agriculture Office (CAO) sa Cabadbaran alang sa dugang nga kapahilunaan sa pagpalambo sa civet coffee, lakip na ang tourism site nga maoy kabutangan sa mga produkto na unya sa kape.

Gilantaw nga dakung potensyal sa Agri-tourism ang gibansagang “Higanteng Bato” nga nahimutang sa kabukiran sa Sitio Pirada, ug potensyal nga mahimong kabahin sa ‘hiking site’.

Gibisita na sa Plant! Plant! Plant! Team sa Agusan UP ang lugar sa nakalabay’ng tuig, diin makita ang daku kaayong bato. Ilawom niini nagdagayday ang tin-aw ug bugnaw nga tubig sa busay nga makahupay sa kainit sa mga mahimong hikers.

Sa kinatibuk-an, gilantaw sa AGUSAN UP!, ubos sa Process! Process! Process! Project niini, nga makapahiluna og matawag nga coffee network nga magsilbing consolidator, processor ug coffee shop nga magsilbing site usab sa turismo sa nailang mga tourism areas sa probinsya.

Ang AGUSAN UP! mao ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrasyon ni Gov. Dale B. Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kong. Angel Amante-Matba. (Agusan Up, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)