PIA - Caraga Regional Office: 2023-01-29

(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 27 June 2025) Southwest Monsoon affecting Visayas, Mindanao, and the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon. 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 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 Southwest Monsoon. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to West will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 1.2 meters).

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

DTI Dinagat Islands conducts business management training

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands -- The Department of Trade & Industry-Dinagat Islands in partnership with the United Nations Development Program through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the Local Government Unit of Basilisa conducted a three-day Business Management Training.

Ms. Saira Shade G. Yaco, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist of DTI Dinagat Islands and Ms. Youreallylove Sango, PBSP Training Coordinator, both facilitated the activity.

The activity aims to teach the beneficiaries about visual merchandising, proper store layout, product placement and the target consumer approach. In addition, these strategies will help the beneficiaries improve store image, attract customers, and ultimately increase sales.

To cap the three-day activity, a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DTI Dinagat Islands represented by Provincial Director Elmer M. Natad, and the UNDP-PBSP was held at the same venue.

The activity was witnessed by LGU Basilisa Vice Mayor Manuelito Piodo and STIDS Ms. Saira Shade G. Yaco. (DTI-Dinagat Islands/PIA-Dinagat Islands)

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -- The Department of Science and Technology boosts competitiveness of our micro, small, and medium enterprises by providing packaging and labelling (P&L) services to help them create and establish their identity, enhance product quality and safety, and have a marketing leverage.

The P&L services include packaging solutions, through consultations with an accredited P&L expert, specifically in the design, selection and execution of appropriate labelling and packaging materials to increase shelf-life, protect products, and make them more appealing to consumers.

In the Province of Surigao del Norte, an exclusive one-on-one meeting between the Proprietors and the hired accredited P&L Designer-Consultant of DOST Caraga, Mr. Elpsalms David Franco, was conducted on January 17, 2023, at the DOST-SDN Office, Surigao City.

Separate consultations were conducted with Aquariane Food Products Manufacturing owned and managed by Mrs. Gemma S. Rebuta; Gellan’s Sweets, Cakes & Pastry Needs by Ms. Genievive Camporedondo; and, with Mr. and Mrs. Tirso and Rosanna Lisbos of Lisbos Cacao Trading.

DOST Caraga provides P&L service to MSMEs in the region in the forms of (1) packaging materials based on technical requirements of the food products to improve shelf-life, (2) printed labels containing information required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and (3) nutritional facts and shelf-life analyses assistance.

Nutritional facts analysis provides detailed information about the food’s nutritional content such as the amount of fat, sugar, sodium, and fiber it contains.

Shelf-life testing is a detailed laboratory analysis that measures the number of days until a product is safe and of good quality for consumption. These analyses are required by the FDA on most packaged food and beverage products. (DOST-SDN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Wednesday, February 01, 2023

US Peace Corps volunteers return to the Philippines

BUTUAN CITY -- Nearly forty American volunteers arrived in the Philippines on Monday (January 30) to resume the U.S. Peace Corps’ work in the sectors of education, youth development, and coastal resource management for the benefit of communities across Luzon and Visayas.

The 37 newly arrived volunteers are the 279^th U.S. Peace Corps batch to serve in the Philippines since 1961. At the invitation of the Philippine government, the volunteers will fulfill a range of roles requested by host communities for the coming 27 months. These roles include co-teaching English in public elementary and secondary schools, serving as youth development facilitators in Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-accredited organizations and residential shelters, and supporting local governments in establishing marine protected areas and implementing coastal resource management plans.

Starting in April, the American volunteers will be deployed to their permanent sites in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, La Union, Laguna, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Camarines Sur, Bohol, Cebu, Capiz, and Negros Oriental. They will undertake two months of language, technical, and cultural training prior to deployment.

Additional volunteers will arrive in the Philippines in May, August, and September as the U.S. Peace Corps ramps back up its operations this year.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first group of American Peace Corps volunteers to the Philippines since the start of the pandemic,” U.S. Peace Corps Country Director Jenner Edelman said. “We are ready to meet this historic moment with our community partners and staff.”

The U.S. Peace Corps suspended its global operations and repatriated American volunteers from more than 60 countries, including from the Philippines, in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the absence of American volunteers, U.S. Peace Corps staff in the Philippines continued to work closely with the Philippine government and other local partners to vaccinate over 27,000 Filipinos against COVID-19, support nationwide distance learning, prepare schools for safe resumption of face-to-face classes, introduce alternative income-generating activities to communities recovering from the pandemic, and strengthen community-level volunteerism.

For decades, the U.S. Peace Corps has engaged in critical global health work, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. American Peace Corps volunteers will continue to work alongside community members to make progress on the biggest development challenge the world has faced in more than a century.

Peace Corps Philippines is the United States Government’s premier volunteer program in the Philippines. Since 1961, over 9,300 Peace Corps Volunteers have worked alongside Filipino community members in support of government and community development priorities. For more than six decades, Peace Corps Philippines staff and volunteers have served as co-teachers, youth development facilitators, environmental experts, or filled other roles requested by the Philippine government and host communities. (US Embassy in the Philippines/DMNR/PIA-Caraga)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

DA allots P538M intervention to Caraga Rice Farmers

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and bureaus continue to pour out more financial resources to boost the Caraga region’s rice industry.

Oñate Jr.

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. said that to optimize the government interventions, collaboration and coordination with the rice stakeholders are necessary to align the programs and interventions intended for the region’s rice farmers.

All programs and projects for the rice sector are being lined up to ensure a stable supply of safe and nutritious rice. It also aims to increase farm household income in consonance with the directives of the President and Secretary of Agriculture Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

In Caraga Region, the DA Rice Program allocated ₱260.85 million worth of agriculture interventions to rice farmers for CY 2023. This is a 76% increase in budget allocation compared to last year’s ₱148 million.

This year, the budget is allocated to the following interventions: ₱178.95 million for production support; ₱54.48 million for extension support, education, and training; ₱6.71 million for research and development; ₱6.94 million for agricultural machinery, equipment, and facilities; and ₱13.75 million irrigation network services.

Aside from the regular Rice Program, DA-Caraga is set to release ₱156.7 million in fertilizer discount vouchers (FDV) that would enable rice farmers to meet the recommended urea fertilizer requirement, and, in turn, increase their production. This is part of the additional funding of the government’s fertilizer subsidy program that covers the 2022–2023 dry planting season.

In addition, the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute—Agusan has a target allocation of 158,630 bags of certified seeds amounting to ₱120.55 million, under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for the 2023 dry season.

The implementation of these interventions will be closely coordinated with the Local Government Units through the City/Municipal Agriculture Offices. (Rhea C. Abao, DA Caraga RAFIS/PIA Caraga)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Sustaining partnership with DepEd AgNor, key to peace and security

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – The Department of Education - Agusan del Norte (DepEd-ADN) headed by Dr. Lorenzo “Dodong” O. Macasocol, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) visited the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23IB) for continuous collaboration of the DepEd-ADN and 23IB through Alternative Learning System (ALS) – DepEd’s second chance education program for out-of-school youth and adult.

Said program envisions every community to be awakened, empowered, informed and transformed into a productive, self-reliant, responsible, humane, and upright citizen who can contribute to the betterment of the family, community, and country. It also helps to alleviate poverty and sustain social and economic growth via the development of employable skills and the generation of self-employment.

Dr. Macasocol commits to maintain the close coordination to work hand in hand and to provide opportunities for out-of-school youth and adult (OSYA) learners to develop basic and functional literacy skills, and to access equivalent pathways to complete basic education especially in the far-flung communities through the Mobile Computer Laboratory (MCL) Van of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte that was launched last December 1, 2022.

Macasocol also inspires the Former Rebels (FRs) by citing his experiences in life that brings him to what he is now. He shares that it takes a lot of efforts and hard work in order to reach your dreams as long as you don't lose hope, you will surely succeed in life.

The activity was also graced by Assistant School Division Superintendent, Ms. Emma Love Sudario, Ms. Glorina L Siclon, SGOD, Chief Education Supervisor, Ms. Rayfrocina Abao, CID Chief Education Supervisor, ALS Focal Person, Mr. Nilo Verdon, and ALS Education Program Supervisor, Ms. Marjorie Castillo.

Meanwhile, 23IB Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey P Balingao expressed his gratitude to SDS Dr. Macasocol and DepEd-ADN for their unending support and advancing the welfare of the FRs and the community.

"The immense support of the DepEd-ADN in our fight towards peace and progress was never in vain. We thank all of them for helping us end insurgency. Peace and progress for the community to prosper is an integral part of development. If the community is peaceful, progress will follow. It’s not only the AFP alone that must address the issue on peace, security, and insurgency, it should be the whole nation where all stakeholders take part in it. Peace, Security, and Development is a shared responsibility,” Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey P Balingao added. (2Lt. Paoula P. Ledesma CMO Officer 23^rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

FRs receive cash assistance from Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte

CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte -- Two former rebels, Jennifer Gabo and Maximo Vibas Sr, together with LtCol Cresencio C Gargar, Commanding Officer of 29IB recently paid visit to Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante at her office in Provincial Capitol, Agusan del Norte.

Governor Amante warmly welcomed the former rebels and gave them PhP100,000.00 cash assistance while they are waiting for the cash and livelihood assistance from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

“Ikaw ra ang driver sa imong kinabuhi. Ayaw mo ug sugot nga mailad na pud mo sa mga propaganda anang mga NPAs. Luoy kayo inyong mga kauban na nangamatay sa maling ideolohiya ug ang uban padayon pang nagkalisod sa bukid samtang ang mga Commanders anang mga NPA ang mas samot nag kadato. (You are the driver of your own life, don’t be deceived again with propaganda of the CTGs. We feel sorry for your comrades who died believing in the wrong ideology and for those comrades who still sacrifice there in the mountains while your Commanders are the ones getting rich),” said governor Amante to the FRs.

It can be recalled that last January 1, 2023, live in partners Jennifer Gabo and Maximo Vibas Sr voluntarily surrendered to 29^th IB and revealed their arms cache. After their return from the retrieval operation of the arms cache, Jennifer emotionally opened up that she had a son whom she left in the hands of the CNT's Mass supporters and which she hasn't seen for 4 years.

After hearing her statement, the 29IB immediately facilitated her visit to her son in Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte. Afterwards, their emotional reunion turns into a happy occasion as they celebrated the son's 6th birthday on January 16, 2023.

LtCol Gargar also calls on the remaining member of the Communist Terrorist Group, return to the folds of law and stop the useless armed struggle and come home to your family. “Your family and loved ones are already deprived of your presence since you entered the armed struggle. Have the chance to be with them and fulfill your responsibility as a father, as a mother, a sister or brother, and as a son," he said. (1Lt. Jade Bryce G. Buñe, CMO Officer 29^thInfantry Battalion, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)

Monday, January 30, 2023

ATI patuloy ang pagbibigay gabay sa mga magsasaka sa Caraga

LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN -- Mahigit isang daang magsasaka, mangingisda at maging mga learning site accredited operators ng Caraga region ang kakailan lang na binigyang gabay sa isinagawang Techno Gabay Program Summit sa Butuan City.

Layunin nitong mapalago pa ang pagsasaka at pangingisda sa rehiyon na pinangunahan ng Agricultural Training Institute o ATI.

Si Elvis dela Merced, isang magsasakang siyentista at isa ring learning site accredited operator ng San Jose, Dinagat Islands ay masayang ibinahagi ang kanyang matagumpay na karanasan bilang magsasaka. Anya napakahalaga ang tulong at suporta ng ATI sa patuloy niyang farm school. Dahil din sa kanilang tulong ay patuloy ang kanyang pagsasaka at ibinabahagi din nya sa iba ang kanyang mga natutunan at kaalaman.

Dagdag pa ni dela Merced, mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng kaalaman kaya’t laking tulong ang programa ng ATI sa kanila.

Sa panig din ng ATI, ayon kay director Remelyn R. Recoter, patuloy silang magbibigay gabay sa mga magsasaka at kinilalang malaki ang kanilang kontribusyon sa ecokomiya ng bansa.

“Patuloy kaming (ATI) na gagabay sa ating mga magsasaka, sa teknolohiya, kaalaman at maging sa siyensya.

Sa ginawang summit, lahat ng partisipante ay aktibong nakilahok sa ginawang workshop, pagtalakay at benchmarking activity. (NCLM, PIA Caraga)

Monday, January 30, 2023

CTG member with 8 warrants of arrest falls to authorities in SurSur

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- A suspect with eight (8) warrants of arrest for murder was apprehended in a joint operation conducted by Carmen Municipal Police Station and 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) at P4 Barangay Hinapoyan, Carmen, Surigao del Sur on January 28.

Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Dennis Siruno identified the arrested person as Charmaine Ravelo Coquilla a.k.a. “Nelmar/Ating”, 21 years old, female, single and a resident of Tabing Dagat, Mabua, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

Coquilla according to the report was a regular member of the Communist Terrorists Group (CTG), Platoon 2, Guerilla Front 30 headed by the late “Kumander Megan” operating in CarCanMadCarLan areas comprising of the municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, and Lanuza all in the Northern part of the province.

The said operation was launched by virtue of eight warrants of arrest for murder against the suspect all issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC), 11th Judicial Region, Branch 41, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur dated July 19, 2022.

The arrested person is facing charges for the crime of murder under criminal case (CC) nos. 1965; 1818; 1826; 1966; 1953; 1957.

In addition, she is charged with Frustrated Murder under CC no. 1954 with Php100, 000.00 bails recommended and Attempted Murder under CC no C-1828 with Php100, 000.00 bails recommended.

Further, Coquilla was the Most Wanted Person at the Municipal Level under Manhunt Charlie and the 4th CTG Priority Target at the Provincial Level.

The Surigao del Sur Police force together with other law enforcement agencies will remain strong and committed to putting these wanted persons behind bars, said Police Colonel Siruno.

“I am encouraging them to abandon their radical ways and return to the folds of the law,” Colonel Siruno noted. (NGPB/SDS-PPO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Monday, January 30, 2023

Authorities arrested Most Wanted Person and 3 others in SurSur

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- One (1) most wanted person and three (3) others were collared within Surigao del Sur recently in separate law enforcement operations conducted by the operatives of Caraga Region.

Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) Director Police Colonel Dennis Siruno identified the arrested suspect as Alex Rivas Atigan a.k.a. Lilek Atigan, 42 years old, male, married, farmer, and a resident of Purok-4, Barangay Buatong, San Agustin this province.

Other personalities fall into the hands of the authorities were the following:
● Beverly Llanos Vocales a.k.a. “Palang”, (CTG Non-PSR listed) under WGF-19, SRC Southland NEMRC, 37 years old, female, married, and a resident of Purok-17 Tubod, Brgy. Bolhoon, San Miguel, SDS;
● Joel Bacalles Sinday, 62 years old, male, married, fisherman, a resident of P-6, Brgy Liatimco, Lianga, SDS; and
● Ronald Parian Villegas, 35 years old, with a live-in, farmer, a resident P-4, Brgy Burboanan, Bislig City, SDS.

Atigan was nabbed in a joint operation of San Agustin Municipal Police Station and 1304th Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (MC RMFB)-13 by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest, issued by RTC Eleventh Judicial Region, Branch 28, Lianga for the crime Multiple Frustrated Murder, docketed under Criminal Case No. 18-3293 with bail bond recommended amounting to Php200, 000.000.

In addition, Atigan was listed as the top most wanted person under Enhanced Managing Police Operations (EMPO) Municipal Level. He was arrested by the operatives of San Miguel MPS together with the personnel of Regional Intelligence Unit 13 (RIU 13) for the crime of Murder docketed under Criminal Case Number 8663-22 with no bail bond recommended.

In a separate operation, Sinday was collared by a Warrant of Arrest for the crime of Illegal Fishing, docketed under Criminal Case No. 09-CR-016-B, with bail bond recommended amounting to Php4,000.00 while Bislig personnel arrested Villegas by Warrant of Arrest issued by RTC, Branch 14, 11th Judicial Region, Bislig City dated January 26, 2023, for the Violation of Sec 5 (A) (two counts) of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, docketed under Criminal Case Nos. 287-FC-B and 288-FC-B with bail bond recommended amounting to Php2,000.00 each.

Meanwhile, Col. Siruno lauded the operating unit for the successful operations against those lawless identified personalities.

“I laud our operating unit for another successful law enforcement operations and the implementation of the warrant of arrests against these lawless elements. We will intensify more our police presence in the community to reduce crimes and to fight all forms of criminality,” Police Col. Siruno said. (SDS-PPO/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

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