(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 30 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, the center of the eye of Typhoon "LEON" {KONG-REY} was estimated based on all available data at 380 km East of Aparri, Cagayan or 395 km East of Calayan, Cagayan (18.8 °N, 125.2°E) with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h and gustiness of up to 205 km/h. It is moving West Northwestward at 15 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from West to Southwest will prevail with moderate to rough seas / (2.1 to 3.5 meters).


PIA News Service - Thursday, October 18, 2012


PRC, Wetlands Int'l pass assessment report of PfR areas in Agusan del Sur

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Oct. 18 (PIA) -- Climate, erosion and siltation, water quality conversion of marsh land into agriculture, dwindling of fish stock and other animals and the crocodiles were reported root causes of disaster in Agusan del Sur.

This was contained in an assessment report of the partnership for resilience (PfR) areas in Agusan del Sur by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Wetlands International as initial move to implement the special project on disaster risk reduction and management program financed by the Netherlands.

The main objectives of the project assessment by the Wetlands International represented during the assessment by Marianne Rense and Merjin van Leeuwen are to learn the way PRC and CARE work and communicate with communities in the project areas; do rapid assessment to identify the root causes and drivers for disaster and the state of the ecosystem most relevant to livelihoods and disaster mitigation and; developing joint insights within the partnership in land use-ecosystem-livelihood-disaster relations through learning by doing, joint field visits, interviewing community representatives and linkages between ecosystem and livelihoods aspects and discussing root causes of disaster.

The 2011 Pag-asa findings consider the Agusan River Basin as the Type IV are, with rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. The rainfall varies from a monthly 190 mm in the “dry” March – August period to 230 mm per month in the “wet” December to February period.

Erosion and siltation are other causes of disaster, whose silt originates from the hills and mountains surrounding the river basin. The increase of silt are caused by mining, large scale logging and agriculture not suited for slopes. Because of siltation, riverbeds to fill up, causing water levels to increase. And because the rivers are shallower than before, the current increase caused fast erosion of river banks.

Another cause of disaster is water quality. Water quality has gone down because siltation is making the water muddy. It is also noted that there is an increase of nitrogen and phosphate contents on the over use of chemical fertilizers. Water quality also deteriorate by exotic species, like water hyacinth and janitor fish that make the water low in oxygen levels during hyacinth massive die-off. The concentration of cadmium and mercury in the water are related to mining activities upstream.

Another is the conversion of marsh land to agriculture. Logging in marsh area continue, and converted into agricultural fields. Because of this, the system loses its function as sponge serving as water catchment during floods and slowly releasing water during drought season. It also serve as filter, improving the water quality and act as the major source of commercial fishes.

Dwindling of fish and other animals like crocodiles turned out as another cause of disaster due to over fishing and hunting, and the conversion of flood forest and marsh habitat into agriculture. To date, DENR superintendent of the marsh said there are only 20-30 animals left on 40,000 hectares of marsh area.

Possible actions were unveiled by the assessing team and the first consideration is understanding where the problem is coming from. The team has also drafted long- term solutions, suggesting the eradication of siltation and pollution by stopping logging of the remaining natural forests. After stopping the supply of silt, they recommend dredging of the Agusan river. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


PhilHealth to hold nationwide fun run for mother & child protection

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 18 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation will hold a nationwide fun run on February 17, 2013 to mark its 18th year of establishment.

Dubbed "PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother & Child Protection," the event aims to continuously draw national attention and support to its mission of providing all Filipinos with access to quality health care through social health insurance.

It will be held simultaneously in the 18 areas namely: Manila, Baguio, Dagupan, Taguegarao, Clark, Malolos, Laguna, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Butuan.

PhilHealth declared that the PhilHealth Run 2013 also aims to help increase public awareness and create more advocates who will advance the issue.

PhilHealth Caraga Regional Vice President Johnny Sychua said proceeds from registration fees and sponsorships will benefit one national and 18 other local institutions that work for and cater to the health and welfare of Filipino mothers & children.

The 50 percent of the total proceeds will to go to the national beneficiary which is the Philippine Medical Center for Children located in Manila.

Meanwhile, for Butuan City, the Bethany Home - a home by the Missionary Sisters of Mary at Baan Km. 4; and Gesu Eucaristico Children’s Inc. (GECI) at Manapa, Buenavista, both for physically and sexually abused young women are the two beneficiaries.

Sychua further bared that the PhilHealth Run on February 2013 is open to all Filipino and even non-Filipinos who are in good health condition. They can register in 3, 5, 10 or 18-kilometer category either online or at any PhilHealth regional and local health insurance offices where the participants are supposed to run.

The registration fees for the simultaneous nationwide PhilHealth Run 2013 are as follows: 3km - P250; 5km - P300; 10km - P500; and 18km - P600.

Sychua also signed a memorandum of agreement with the representatives of Eastwest Bank, Bethany Home, GESU Eucaristico, and Smart Communications Inc., as sign of partnership for the said event in February 2013. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Milo organizers enjoins gov’t employees to participate in 36th Milo Marathon

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct 18 (PIA) -- The Milo organizers in Caraga Region headed by Benjamin Dacera enjoins employees of government agencies to participate in the 36th Milo Marathon Butuan City qualifying race on November 18.

The assembly area will be at the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Gymnasium at 4 a.m.

The following are the categories of the said marathon: 3K Kiddie Run, 5K Fun Run, 10K Run, and 21K Half Run. There will also be a cheer dance competition.

For 3K kiddie run and 5K run for students, the registrants have to submit a photocopy of their birth certificate and school Identification Card, a 220-gram empty pack of Milo, and a registration fee of P50. For the 5K run for adults, registrants have to submit a form and a P100 fee, while registrants for the 10K and 21K Half Run have to submit the same form and a fee of P500.

Dacera said the registration is a first come, first serve basis.

“A big part of the success of the 35th National Milo Marathon Butuan City Regional Qualifying Race last year was due to the full support we have received from various schools in the region, government agencies, private sectors, enthusiasts and top runners of each province which participated in the said activity,” said Dacera.

For more information, the Milo organizers can be reached at telephone number (085) 225-0026 and cellphone number 0929-8582515. (RER/JPG/PIA-Caraga)


Butuan’s PESO earns top Regional Performer Recognition

By Maria Diana Luisa Dianah Z. Generalao

BUTUAN CITY, Oct 18 (PIA) -- Butuan LGU's Public Employment Service Office has been given the Top Regional Performer award during the 12th National PESO Congress and Awarding Ceremony in Baguio City on Oct 11.

This adds to the growing list of recognitions Butuan LGU has received.

The Butuan LGU has also been awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping for its programs on good governance and earned the third place in the recent 2012 National Literacy Awards for Highly-Urbanized City Category held in Baguio City.

Butuan City has previously won in the Regional Levels for Highly-Urbanized City Categories in the 2012 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards, the 2012 Search for Child-Friendly Cities and the 2012 Gawad Kalasag for disaster preparedness, qualifying in the national levels in all three award-giving bodies with which the results are to be announced before the year ends.

Earlier this year, Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. received the award for Butuan City as one of the Top 50 Outstanding Municipalities/Cities of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards for 2011 dubbed "Mga Bosing ng Palayan" at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). (NCLM/BC-PIO/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: TESDA, LGU pinalakas ang kapasidad ng mga kabataang apektado ng pagbaba ng industriya ng kahoy sa Caraga

Ni Danilo S. Makiling Jr.

BUTUAN CITY, Okt. 18 (PIA) -- Ang mga kabataang galing sa mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng pagbaba ng industriya ng kahoy sa rehiyon ng Caraga ay binigyan ng oportunidad na matuto ng mga kasanayan na tutulong sa kanila na makahanap ng trabaho.

Mahigit 75 scholars ang isasailalim sa isang pagsasanay sa kursong Shield Metal Arc Welding NC II at 20 scholars naman ang isasailalim sa Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. Bawat isa naman sa kanila ay bibigyan ng P10,500 upang pondohan ang 34 na araw ng pagsasanay sa Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Ang mga scholars ay makakatanggap din ng National Certification ng National Competency Assessment at isasailalim din ang mga ito sa registry system sa ilalim ng Public Employment Service Office (PESO) para sila ay mag-qualify para sa local at overseas na trabaho.

Si Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa PESO ay magsasagawa ng isang orientation para sa mga partisipante ng Training-for-Work Scholarship na kabilang din sa programa ng local na pamahalaan ng Butuan upang bigyang tugon ang mga pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang apektado ng pagliit ng industriya ng kahoy sa rehiyon.

Dahil sa inisyatibo ni Amante, sa pamamagitan ni Secretary Joel Villanueva, ang nasyonal na pamahalaan ay nagpalabas ng mahigit sa P3.8 milyones para bigyang pundo ang programa.

Samantala, ang natitirang pundo ay gagamitin para sa pangalawang batch ng scholars na sasailalim sa pagsasanay sa kursong heavy equipment operator, masonry at electricity. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: Aquino miasoy nga pipila sa ahensiya sa gobyerno ang hugtanong nagmonitor ngadto sa inisyatibong pag-implementar sa administrasyon nga pagbungkag sa grupong-pribadong armado

Ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Okt. 18 (PIA) -- Si Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III misulti nga pipila sa mga ahensiya sa gobyerno ang hugtanong motrabaho ngadto sa pag implementar sa inisyatibo sa administrasyon nga mapabungkag ang mga pribado nga armadong grupo aron masiguro ang malungtaron nga kalinaw kon peace and order sa nasud labina sa umaabot nga panahon sa piniliay sunod tuig.

Atol sa question and answer portion sa Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) nga panagtigum didto sa Manila Hotel kagahapon, si Presidente Aquino mipasalig ngadto sa katawhan sa gobyerno nga padayon ang paningkamot sa pagbungkag sa pribadong armado.

Ang Chief Executive miingon nga ubay ubay na sa mga pribadong armado kon army ang nabungkag na labina sa sa Central Luzon ug Cordillera sugod sa pag implementar sa maong programa.

“Kami mibaton sa programa ngadto sa pagbungkag sa mga pribado nga armadong grupo, siguro dul-an sa upat na ka bulan, nagpasabot, nga kadto pod nga mga orasa ang tinuoray sa pagmugna ug mga operasyon sa pagbungkag. Wala ko’y datus kon numero sa pagkakaron kung pila na ang mga grupo nga napabungkag ingo man ang mga naaresto,” (“We've been on a program to dismantle these private armed groups I think about less than four months; meaning, that was the time that they actually went to an operation to dismantle. I don't have the figures right now for how many groups have been dismantled or how many people have been arrested,”), sulti ni Presidente.

“Pero sa tagbaw’ng pinulongan, ang paningkamot nagpadayon. Dunay mga pagmatuod sa pamalaod sa pakigbugo ug para kanako walay semana ang mulabay nga walay report sa tino nga mga armadong grupo nga napabungkag. Daghan na sa …. Naa na sa akoang panumduman pero ang una….. pareho naa sa Cordillera ug Central Luzon,” (“But suffice it to say that it's an ongoing effort. There's a validation of the order of battle and I think not a week goes by without a report on specific armed groups that have already been dismantled. A lot of them were in... I'm talking on top of my head but the first… were both in the Cordillera and in Central Luzon,”) dugang pa niya.

Mihatag ug pagmando si Presidente Aquino ngadto kang Interior and Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II aron sa pagpadayon sa paningkamot ingon sa ang nasud nangandam alang sa 2013 Mid-term elections.

Kahinumduman nga ang grupo sa human rights advocate, Amnesty International, nanawagan sa gobyerno aron sa pagbakwi sa Executive Order 546, kung diin gitugtan ang private militias nga molihok kon mo-oprate sugod niadtong 2006.

Ang grupo midayag nga ang gobyerno kinahanglan dayon nga mopugong ug mopabungkag sa pribadong mga army ug paramilitary forces nga responsible para sa election-related nga pagpangatake sa nagkadaiyang lugar sa nasud. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Cebuano News: Aquino pabilin nga malaumon nga territorial dispute sa West Philippine Sea maresolba nga malinawon

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Okt. 18 (PIA) -- Si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III pabilin nga malaomon nga ang away sa teritoryo sa West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) malinawon nga maresolba sa tanang mga hingtundan.

Giingnan sa Pangulo ang mga miyembro sa Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) atol sa tinuig niini nga Presidential Forum nga gipahigayon didto sa Centennial Ballroom sa Manila Hotel kagahapon nga siya naglaom nga makab-ot na sa dili madugay ang usa ka solusyon nga maoy motubag sa mga multilateral concerns.

“We are still hoping that we will resolve this amicably; that reasonable voices will prevail; and that both sides are really geared towards arriving at a solution that will satisfy not just the bilateral concerns but more importantly I guess the multilateral concerns affecting this issue,” matud sa Pangulo.

Luyo sa Pilipinas, unom ka mga nasod nga mao ang China, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan ug Malaysia ang miangkon usab sa maong giawayan nga erya.

Matud pa sa Pangulo nga gitun-an na sa mga legal experts sa international law “how to advance our claims” sa West Philippine Sea pinaagi sa International Tribunal on the Laws of the Sea (ITLOS), usa ka independente nga judicial body nga gimugna sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) aron maoy mohusay sa mga away resulta sa interpretasyon ug aplikasyon sa maong Convention. Kini naglangkob sa 21 ka mga independent members, nga napili gikan sa mga tawo nga adunay taas, integridad ug makiangayon nga reputasyon nga naila sa natang sa balaod sa dagat.

“In terms of ITLOS, it is still being studied by our consultants. There are several law firms that we are consulting, conversant and very well thought of and experts in international law, to precisely chart the course of how we will utilize the legal procedures in international law to advance our claims,” dugang pa niya. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)