(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Tuesday, 10 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 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 Localized Thunderstorms. 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Caraganon stakeholders celebrate 2021 Women with Disability Day

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 31 (PIA) – The different stakeholders in Caraga region actively took part and participated in the celebration of this year’s Women with Disability Day via online platform on Monday, March 29 along with the  member agencies of the Regional Committee on Disability Affairs (RCDA).

In his message, regional director Ramel Jamen of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga highlighted how women with disability strive to contribute to nation-building and in solving the problem, issues and concerns in the society.

“The rights of the women with disability should be respected at all times and their welfare should be given due attention. Despite their disability, they have shown us their courage to help in solving the pressing issues we have today, even during this time of the pandemic,” Jamen cited.

Engr. Emerito Rojas, executive director of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) also emphasized that the women with disability sector have continued to show their passion and determination to fulfill their goals and achieve their aspirations in life despite their disabilities.

“They always strive for excellence in all they do. They continue to learn and relearn everything. They begin in empowering themselves and later become good leaders, who will not only be part in identifying the occurring problem in the society but also in solving those problems,” bared Rojas.

Jessie Catherine Aranas, chief of Protective Services Division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga and focal person for the Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children (RIACAT-VAWC) recognized the women with disability, who should not go unnoticed especially during Women’s Month celebration.

“We are hoping that our partner government agencies and private stakeholders in the region will continue to give their full support to the committees that protect the rights and welfare of our women and the women with disability sector, and we continue to be very aggressive in implementing the programs for them especially during this time of the pandemic,” Aranas underscored.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrined a State policy for the total development and empowerment of women which specifically provides that “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men” (Section 14, Article II). Women with disabilities are also part of society and deserve equal rights in the field of law and in all aspects of human endeavor. Their desires of full participation and inclusion in all fields of endeavors are brought about by international mandates and national policies instituted for their empowerment.

In response to this and fully commemorate this celebration, the Women with Disabilities Day is being observed every last Monday of March of each year which is supported by Proclamation No. 744 (2004).

For this year, Women with Disability will celebrate its 17th year with the theme "Women with Disabilities in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world". This theme seeks to celebrate the tremendous efforts not only for women but also for women with disability around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DTI Dinagat Islands conducts capability-building seminar to local price council members

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Mar. 31 -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Dinagat Islands recently conducted the Capacity Building Seminar to the members of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) of San Jose town.

The activity aims to make the members more aware and equipped on certain provisions of the Price Act and the Joint Administrative Order No. 13-1 series of 2013.

DTI Dinagat Islands Provincial Director Arnold Faelnar said the activity also tackled the issues and concerns they received about the complaints on alleged overpricing of basic goods such as medicines, chicken, pork, and fish.

He said that one recommendation of the DTI is to establish a Consumer Care Center (CCC) to consolidate price and supply monitoring reports from concerned agencies, facilitate and endorse complaints, disseminate information, and coordinate LPCC meetings and joint monitoring activities.

Meanwhile, San Jose Mayor Yngwie Hero B. Ecleo and the rest of the LPCC members agreed on the recommendation and vowed to establish the said Consumer Care Center by the second quarter of this year. (DTI-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)

Market vendors in AgSur town thankful to Sen. Bong Go's assistance

The drastic economic effects due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have hampered the lives of many Filipinos in the country, particularly the market vendors in the province of Agusan del Sur.

Priscilla Duqueline, a market vendor from the municipality of Prosperidad, expressed in an interview that with the current status of the pandemic, she has been having a hard time earning for her family. Their source of living was limited due to the possible transmission of the disease in everyday transactions.

Duqueline is one of the 212 market vendors in Prosperidad who received assistance from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. Through his team, Go distributed meals, food packs, masks, face shields and vitamins to the market vendors in a distribution activity held at the Barangay Poblacion Covered Court on Tuesday, March 16.

“Nagpapasalamat ako at nabigyan kami ng tulong ni Senator Bong Go. Nagpapasalamat ako kasi ganito ang aming sitwasyon pero natulungan kami. Salamat talaga (I’m thankful as I received the aid from Senator Bong Go. Despite of our situation, we were able to receive help from the government),” Duqueline said in an interview after receiving aid from the Senator.

On the other hand, the Senator expressed that he will continue to support Filipinos especially those in crisis. In his short message to the beneficiaries, Go said that everyone must work together in order to survive the pandemic.

“Sa mga kababayan ko diyan sa Prosperidad, sana nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. Mayroon akong kaunting tulong na ipinadala diyan sa inyo dahil alam kong hirap ang pamumuhay ninyo ngayong panahon na ito kaya magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan, kung hindi tayong kapwa Pilipino lang (We hope that all the AgSurnons are in good health condition. I have something for all of you to help lessen the burden that you feel during this time of the pandemic. Who should all be helping each other as Filipino people),“ Go said.

Selected beneficiaries were given new shoes while some received bicycles so they can commute to work with ease while transportation remains limited. Another set of residents were provided computer tablets to help their children access educational materials while studying at home.

The Senator, also chair of the Senate Committee on Health, assured struggling beneficiaries, like Duqueline, that after frontliners, the government would prioritize the distribution of vaccines to poor and vulnerable sectors, particularly those in crisis situations, so they can safely earn a living. Until then, he reminded them to strictly follow the health and safety protocols to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also present during the distribution activity and provided beneficiaries with separate financial assistance. The Department of Trade and Industry also validated potential recipients for their livelihood program. The Department of Agriculture distributed vegetable seeds.

Additionally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also provided scholarship grants and livelihood training to the market vendors. The Department of Labor and Employment provided a temporary livelihood for displaced or disadvantaged workers.

Go also offered to help those who need major health operations and urged beneficiaries to conveniently seek medical assistance from the government at the nearest Malasakit Center located at the Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte and the Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital in Davao de Oro, formerly known as Compostela Valley.

According to the Senator, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop-shop where agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Health, PhilHealth and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, are housed under one roof to provide convenient access to medical assistance to cover hospital and medical-related bills, especially of poor and indigent patients.

Go also thanked local government officials for their untiring service to their constituents, particularly Prosperidad Mayor Frederick Mark Mellana and Punong Barangay Alicia Demecillo.

Since Typhoon Vicky struck last December, the Senator’s team has assisted more than twenty thousand other victims from various towns in Agusan del Sur. In February, Go continued to distribute aid to nearly 8,000 residents from Bunawan and Trento who were affected by the typhoon. (Office of SBG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

RTWPB Caraga conducts career coaching for productive workers

By Sara Mae Cassion-Dahuyla

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 31 --  The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Caraga recently  conducted a Training of Trainers on Work Ethics of a Productive Worker here.

The training is intended for DOLE-Provincial Heads, DOLE-Career Guidance Focal persons, Provincial PESO Managers and PESO Managers in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between National Wages and Productivity Commission and Bureau of Local Employment.

Naomi Lyn C. Abellana, Assistant Regional Director of DOLE Caraga, said career coaching is no longer the traditional one wherein you talk of topics that are keep repeating every year, it has an add-on specifically on productivity. She encouraged the PESO managers to take advantage of the activity for them to be equipped in introducing the new system, new methods of re-engineering the attitude of our new entrants to become a productive worker.

During the activity, DOLE-Caraga Regional Director Chona M. Mantilla also said that in competing in this kind of training, productivity plays a very vital role and work ethics can be a useful tool in helping our new entrants to be more competitive.

“Knowledge and skills can be developed but possessing a set of work values once imbedded into a person is a tough task to change or influence," she emphasized.

Also, an overview of the Memorandum of Understanding between NWPC and BLE was shared by Atty. Claire L. Jamero. She also shared the RTWPB-Caraga basic programs and services and its mandates and composition.

Earl D. Dela Victoria, Board Secretary VI, discussed the module on Work Ethics of a Productive Worker. During his discussion, he elaborated that, the region has a glut in the supply of labor force especially nowadays given the impact of the pandemic to businesses resulting to the displacement of a lot of workers. 

"Hence, it is of utmost importance that our new entrants to the labor force who would be competing with more experienced workers be equipped with positive work values," he said. (RTWPB Caraga/PIA Caraga)

TUPAD program orientation gipahigayon sa Loreto

LUNGSOD SA SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands, Marso 31 -- Ang lokal nga pangagamhanan sa Dinagat Islands mipahigayon og pagbansay-bansay alang sa programa nga Tulong Pangkabuhayan para sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) o emergency employment sa lungsod sa Loreto niadtong March 18, 2021.

Tinguha sa TUPAD program nga mahatagan og temporaryo nga trabaho ang mga nahisakop sa impormal sektor ilabi na kadtong wala'y igong trabaho, self-employed, o aduna'y mga gagmay nga negosyo sama sa sari-sari store ug uban pa nga labing naapektuhan sa pandemya nga COVID-19.

Sila magtrabaho upat ka oras kada adlaw sulod sa 15 ka adlaw. Mao kini ang first batch sa pinakaunang programa sa TUPAD ilalom sa Provincial Government nga gipondohan ni Senador Joel Villanueva ug sa pagpaningkamot ni Gobernador Kaka Bag-ao nga magahinan kini ug pondo gikan sa Provincial Labor, Employment, and Manpower Office (PLEMO).

Sa iyang mensahe madasigon si Gob. Kaka nga taliwala sa pandemya misaka ang pang-ekonomiya sa probinsya kini pinaagi sa suporta nga gipakita sa mga mag-uuma ug mangingisda sa panahon nga aduna'y pandemya ug gidasig niya ang mga katawhan nga padayon kining suportahan aron molungtad kini.

Nanghinaot siya nga pinaagi sa programa nga TUPAD mas modaghan na ang tanom nga punoan alang sa pagsulbad sa problema sa tubig ug pinaagi usab sa pagtinabangay sa mga katawhang Dinagatnon ug pinaagi niana aduna na usab dugang kapanguhaan sa panginabuhian ang mga katawhan alang sa pagpalit sa nag-unang panginahanglanon.

Personal usab nga gipasabot ni Gob. Kaka ang kabahin sa gipagawas nga patakaran sa paggawas ug pagsulod sa probinsya diin iyang gipahingusgan nga kinahanglan ang doble nga pag-ignay ug dili magkompyansa mahitungod kay nisaka na usab ang confirmed cases sa COVID-19 sa ubang lugar.

Malipayon nga gipadayag ni Gob. Kaka ang mga proyekto nga naimplementar sa lungsod sa Loreto sukad pa niadtong anaa pa siya sa kongreso hangtod karon nga gobernador na siya ug iyang ibutyag usab nga aduna na'y pondo nga iyang gitagana ug nanghinaot siya nga daghan pa ang oportunidad nga moabot diin usa usab siya sa makabenepisyo niini isip lumulupyo sa naasoy nga lungsod.

Sa laing bahin, gibutyag usab ni Gob. Kaka ang kabahin sa pagsugod sa vaccination sa COVID-19 sa duha ka district hospitals ug ang sunod niini ang Loreto District Hospital (LDH) diin iyang gihatagan ug assurance ang mga Loretonhon nga safe ang bakuna nga gipili sa probinsya.

Pagkahuman sa pagbansay-bansay gipapirma sa ilang kontrata ang 70 ka mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo nga gikan sa Barangay Magsaysay, Helene, Liberty, Panamaon, Ferdinand, Santiago, Esperanza, San Juan, Carmen, ug Sta. Cruz isip pagpamatuod nga ligal ang ilang sudlan nga trabaho adeser sila magsugod.

Mitambong sa maong tigum mao sila Board Member Lyn Dialde (District 1) diin mibati usab ug dakong kadasig sa mga programa alang sa kaayuhan sa mga katawhan. Hugot usab nga gisuportahan sa bag-ong provincial head sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) nga si Supervising LEO Buhawi C. Correa ug Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Lilibeth Paragamac ang gipahigayon nga kalihukan. (Dinagat Islands-PIO/PIA-Dinagat Islands) 

Dugang gulayan gipahiluna sa AgNor kaabag ang DOLE ug ubang ahensya

By Shena Mae Pabia

DAKBAYAN SA BUTUAN, Marso 31 -- Gihimo bag-uhay pa lamang ang oryentasyon ug site validation sa gulayan sa mga mag-uuma ubos sa Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Disadvantage Workers [TUPAD] Program sa probinsya sa Brgy. Casiklan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.

Mokabat sa 366 ka mga benepisyaryo ang gitarget ubos sa TUPAD nga gilangkoban sa mga lungsod sa Las Nieves, Carmen ug Nasipit.

Ubos sa programa, pundohan sa DOLE ubos sa TUPAD program ang sweldo sa mga benepisyaryo sulod sa 15 ka adlaw aron mapahiluna ang gulayan.

Gi-orient sa personahe sa Provincial Planning Development Office [PPDO] ang mga mag-uuma bahin sa TUPAD ug mga mando niini sama sa pila ka-oras ilang trabaho, pila ilang sweldo, ug gipasabot kanila nga isa lang ang benepisyaryo matag pamilya.

"Dako mi ug pasalamat kay gihatag ni nga kahigayunan sa amo, kay kini para sa among mga anak nga makapa eskwela mi ug makapakaon mi sa ila" Matod ni alias TM.

Gitudloan usab ang mga mag-uuma sa  hustong paagi sa pagpananum ug gihatagan og vegetable seeds sa mga personahe sa Department of Agriculture [DA] Region.

Nagpahigayon usab ang Technical Educations and Skills Development Authority [TESDA] og individual profiling aron mahibaw-an unsay mga skills nga ilang gusto matun-an ug gikinahanglan sa maong lugar.

Mahinumduman nga gihimo usab ang maong kalihukan niaging semana sa Brgy. Camagong ug Aclan sa Nasipit, Brgy. Rojales ug Kabayawa sa Carmen ug Brgy. Durian sa Las Nieves.

Ang pagpananum og gulay kabahin sa Food Security Enhancement Project ubos sa AGUSAN UP!, ang kampanya sa pagpalambo sa administrasyon ni Gobernador Dale B. Corvera kaabag ang buhatan ni Kong. Angel Amante-Matba. (LGU Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)