(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 14 November 2024) At 4:00 AM today, the center of Typhoon “OFEL” (USAGI) was estimated based on all available data at 475 km East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 595 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.6 °N, 128.5 °E ) with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h. It is moving Westward at 35 km/h. TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY TROPICAL STORM TORAJI (2423) [FORMERLY NIKA] LOCATION: 475 KM WEST OF CALAYAN, CAGAYAN (20.0°N, 117.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 85 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 105 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST NORTHWESTWARD AT 15 KM/H TROPICAL STORM MAN-YI (2424) LOCATION: 2,210 KM EAST OF EASTERN VISAYAS (13.2°N, 145.0°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 75 KM/H NEAR THE CENTER GUSTINESS: UP TO 90 KM/H MOVEMENT: WEST SOUTHWESTWARD AT 30 KM/H 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—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Northwest to Southwest will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Friday, May 14, 2021

AgSur LGU showcases IPs’ products during Kaliga-on Festival

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local government unit of San Luis, Agusan del Sur led the celebration of the Kaliga-on Festival with the presence of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who actively participated in showcasing their locally-made products, rituals, and ethnic dances, among others.

According to municipal Mayor Dr. Phoebe Corvera during the Network Briefing News program, the IPs have been their constant partner in this annual celebration. “We used to celebrate Kaliga-on festival for days during the pre-COVID and last year, we tried to celebrate it because that's when our tribes come together,” she cited.

She added that this year, this festival becomes more meaningful as the IPs and the LGU work together to maintain the real essence of this celebration amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In San Luis, we have the Talaandig, Banwaon, Manobo tribes so we tried to have even a simple celebration because what's important is that we showcase and preserve our culture,” added Corvera.

The lady mayor also highlighted the LGU’s One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) Pasalubong Store, where different products including the work of the IPs are displayed.

“This was supposed to be opened last year but because of the pandemic, it was prolonged. We have an association that was given the opportunity to display their products, including rattan bags and baskets. This is what we are piloting now, and the store is open to everyone. With this, we are also inviting all the small businesses here in San Luis to display their products,” bared Corvera.

The Kaliga-on Festival is celebrated every 15th day of June. It is a festivity of thanksgiving and praising the ‘Magbabaya’ for the good harvest, abundant blessings, and a gift of life. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Caraga’s first monolithic dome now underway

By Vanessa P. Sanchez

BUTUAN CITY, May 14 -- Taking one step closer to realizing the establishment of the first monolithic dome in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga and the local government unit (LGU) of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur conducted a groundbreaking on May 7 this year.

The groundbreaking signals the official start of the construction of the monolithic dome cold storage facility in the said town.

Cold storage is a facility that is like a large refrigerator that helps in keeping the freshness of the perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits by slowing down the deterioration process which prolongs its shelf life for several weeks and thus decreasing losses.

The monolithic dome cold storage and packing facility is an air-tight, super-insulated, and disaster-resistant structure that offers absolute protection against calamity.

It will be constructed on a 1,000 square meter land area in Barangay 1 in the town of San Francisco.

The project is under the DA-Caraga’s High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). It costs P25,000,000.00 with P20,000,000.00 funded by the DA-Caraga and P5,000,000.00 as the LGU of San Francisco’s counterpart.

Municipal Mayor Solomon Rufila said he is thankful that the efforts of the LGU to help uplift the lives of the farmers are paying off.   He said he is thankful for the cold storage project which the farmers of the town would really benefit from.

On the other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Nicandro M. Navia, Jr. said that San Francisco is a strategic area for the project and that hopefully, the facility will really aid the farmers as well as the advancement of the agriculture sector. (DA 13–RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Online caravan on updated PDP to be launched in Caraga 

By Rhea Mae C. Mendez

BUTUAN CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will conduct the Caraga leg of the virtual caravan on the updated Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 on May 18, 2021, via Zoom teleconference and Facebook Live to strengthen stakeholder engagement and gain wider support for the PDP.

The updated PDP 2017-2022 is anchored on the 0+10 Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration and the first medium-term plan geared towards the AmBisyon Natin 2040, which envisions a middle-class Philippines with a life for all that is “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag.”

This employs a whole-of-society approach for economic recovery amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic while staying on course in achieving the Filipino dream.

Participating Caraganons are to gain awareness on how the updated PDP 2017-2022, as a national blueprint for development, takes into account both the medium-term needs and the long-term aspirations of the Filipinos. The event hopes for participants to realize that each one can do something purposeful and contribute solutions to the challenges that we face in attaining our aspirations. Hence, the Caravan is dubbed, “Tayo Na, Bumangon Para sa AmBisyon,” which is a call to action – let’s get up and go for our ambition.

No less than Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua will grace the event to give the rationale of conducting the caravan. The strategies embodied in the updated PDP 2017-2022 will be discussed by NEDA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon. Two reactors from Caraga will share their thoughts on the PDP and how said Plan has helped in providing direction in their respective sectors. After which, the participants will be asked to express their support for the Updated PDP and AmBisyon Natin 2040 by committing positive actions in their respective sectors.

For Caraganons who are interested to participate in the Caravan, please register at https://forms.gle/nsXK27JPUQif5Swr6 and follow the NEDA Caraga Facebook Page www.facebook.com/neda13caraga for updates. The NEDA would like to encourage each Caraganon to pause and reflect: “Ano ang taya ko para sa AmBisyon?” (NEDA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

DTI spearheads LPCC consultative meeting in Siargao

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 14 -- The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Surigao del Norte through its Consumer Protection Unit recently spearheaded the conduct of the Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) Consultative Meeting in Dapa and General Luna town in Siargao Island.

DTI Provincial Director Arnold Faelnar said that in the interest of public service, and in the light of the implementation of suggested retail prices (SRPs) of Basic Needs and Prime Commodities (BNPCs), all local government units (LGUs) are strongly encouraged to strengthen and amplify their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) to address or forestall and to monitor exorbitant, excessive and unreasonable price increases of essential and prime commodities. Such action is urgent considering the magnitude and the depth of harsh impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

He said that both municipalities have expressed their commitment on reactivating their LPCCs, creation of monitoring task force, enforcement of regular monitoring and consistent coordination with the implementing agencies (IAs) to establish harmonious execution of power and functions of the LPCCs.

“The above activities recently conducted in Siargao Island municipalities generally aimed to strengthen partner government agencies, stakeholders and citizen-based organizations in efforts to shield consumers from possible price hikes and profiteering," said Faelnar. (DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)