(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 - Tuesday, October 23, 2012


Training on protection of internally displaced persons set in Davao


By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- The Norwegian Refugee Council-Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (NRC-IDMC) will be spearheading the first training workshop on the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in East Mindanao on October 25 and 26 to be held in Paradise Island Resort, Samal, Davao City.

The training will be joined by the personnel of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (PCHR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), member-agencies of the IDP Caraga Link, non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society indigenous people organizations.

The training workshop aims to enhance the institutional capacity of the PCHR, DSWD, civil society indigenous peoples organizations and NGOs and to contribute to the professional development of their staff and members, in the protection of human rights of IDPs in East Mindanao based on international and national legal frameworks, legislation and policies said Cecilia Jimenez of the NRC-IDMC Senior Training and Legal Office in a written statement.

This will also include prevention of arbitrary displacement and protection of IDP rights during and immediately after displacement, as well as durable solutions.

“The activity is also intended to raise the participants’ awareness of international standards on IDP protection from and during internal displacement and on durable solutions, as provided for by the UN Guiding Principles on IDPs, international human rights law obligations of the Philippine government and national law, with a focus on substantive rights and advocacy for those rights; to come to a common appraisal on the current situation of IDPs and the issues and problems confronting the IDP situation in East Mindanao and have a comprehensive picture of the challenges affecting IDP protection including various categories of displacements, the IDPs and affected populations; and to enhance the participants’ knowledge and skills to be effective agents in advocating for the rights of the IDPs and their active participation, especially those of indigenous peoples and women and children,” said Jimenez.

Participants will also reflect on the respective roles of the participating institutions in responding to the protection concerns affecting IDPs in East Mindanao and will come up with parameters for ways forward. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


OWWA-Caraga awards 2012 Reg'l MOFYA winners

By Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga region awarded the regional winners in the annual Search for Model Overseas Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) in a ceremony held here.

According to OWWA-Caraga Director Ron Lionel Bartolome, MOFYA is an award-giving program designed to give recognition to outstanding OFW families and promote best practices achieving optimal success in all aspect of life in the face of overseas migration of one or more members of the household.

Bartolome also said MOFYA aims to give recognition to the outstanding achievements of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families and serve as the role models for the whole OFW population; to promote success stories about the OFW families’ endurance over the challenges on their family relations and uplift the image of the OFW families in the community; and to highlight the role of the OFW family acting as a group/unit in the attainment of socio-civic, educational, professional and success.

The awards is categorized into two namely the land-based and the sea-based, with the following qualifications: A) The family is headed by an OFW, land-based/sea-based, formerly or presently working abroad with a formal or informal contract of employment and with proof of OWWA Membership; B) the OFW either married or single, is the head of the family, and has at least four years of work experience as an OFW; C) The OFW family is known as solid/stable family in the locality with a certification of family solidarity by the Barangay Captain; D) Financially stable.

The awardee for the land-based category is Nelly Arangali who works as a quality inspector in Liberty Woods International based in Malaysia.

Nicolas Sonsona won the sea-based category. He is working as a seafarer chief cook from different shipping company abroad.

The awardees were examined and approved by the Board of judges from different government and private stakeholders.

The winners received P20,000 cash in the form of GCASH from Globe Telecom, and DBO Asenso Card from Banco De Oro.

OWWA Caraga also said that the awardees of Caraga region are also the nominees for the National MOFYA to be held on December 6 at Mall of Asia, Manila. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Surigao del Sur DRRMC to implement red alert status on Oct 26

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- Due to the scheduled rocket launching by South Korea on October 26, 2012, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Surigao del Sur chaired by Gov.Johnny T. Pimentel thru the PDRRMC Executive Officer Florencio Pimentel directed all the local DRRMC in the province to implement a red alert status.

This was announced by Norberto Lorente of PDRRMC Center to 19 LDRRMC chair/officers during the Provincial Development Council Meeting held last week at the Provincial Capitol Conference Room here.

The PDRRMC said the advisory was sent by the office of the Regional DRRM Center directing them to activate the Red Alert Status on the day of the launching of the Republic of Korea’s 3rd Science and Technology Satellite-2.

In Caraga region, the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur were identified to be on red alert status where the general public especially the fishermen are advised not to venture on seas from 2:30 – 6:00 P.M..

Lorente further said Surigao del Sur Operation Center during the day of the launch will monitor, assess and respond to the possible effects of the satellite such as the fall of debris within the province. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Soldier killed in Surigao Norte clash

SURIGAO CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) - A government trooper was killed following a clash with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Gigaquit town, Surigao del Norte Monday afternoon.

Capt. Steve Mangabat, Spokesperson of the Army’s 30th Infantry ‘Python’ Battalion said the fatality was identified as Sgt. Jessie D. Kuaya.

Mangabat said troops from the 36th Infantry Batallion led by Sgt Labadisos and from the 29th Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt Plete while conducting Community Organizing for Peace and Development operation were harassed by more or less 10 NPAs believed to be members of Guerilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command around 3:10pm, Monday, Oct. 22 at the vicinity of Brgy Lahi in Gigaquit.

An exchange of gunfire ensued which lasted for about 15 minutes after which the enemy withdrew towards Southeast direction.

“The said harassment is a manifestation that the said group is anti-peace and development in the area,” said Lt. Col. Vincent Iringan, Commanding Officer of 30IB. (FEA/CMO-30IB/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


DILG 13 conducts regional forum on local governance

By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa

BUTUAN CITY, Oct 23 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Caraga, in commemoration of the 21st year of the Local Government Code, conducted the regional forum on local governance on October 19 at Dottie’s Place Hotel, Butuan City.

Local chief executives in the region, representatives from regional line agencies, civil society organizations, academe and DILG personnel convened in the forum to celebrate the two decades of local autonomy in the Philippines.

The regional forum is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 63, Series of 1992, which declared the month of October of every year as the local government month, and the second week as the local government Week, and the 10th of October as the local government day.

DILG Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion, in her welcome message, said that collective efforts will set the direction for good governance as the principles of participation, accountability, responsiveness and transparency are being uphold and put into action.

Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr, who gave his message in the event, emphasized the essence of local autonomy in the country as local governments have exercised certain basic powers to provide for the best interest of their constituents.

The forum proper started with the region’s stake on sustainable development focusing on its three pillars, namely, social, economic and environmental aspects. It was presented by Mylah Faye Aurora B. CariΓ±o, assistant regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority-Caraga. She presented the status of Caraga in terms of development and areas of improvement where the region needs to recover and focus its attention, such as the presence of low water quality and forest degradation.

The regional state of local governance report was presented by DILG Local Government Capacity Development Division Chief Charissa T. Guerta. She made mention of the five performance areas, namely, social, economic, environmental, administrative and valuing fundamentals. Critical observation on the report is the region’s incidence on AIDS/HIV, which has increased tremendously compared with other regions in the country. It was also noted that local government units needs to sustain their compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Act, which is an important component for the Seal of Good Housekeeping for 2012.

The regional winners of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards 2012 were given plaques, certificates and a cash incentive: P1 million for the municipality of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; P2 million for Surigao City and P3 millionfor the province of Surigao del Norte.

Also during the forum, the municipalities of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte and Loreto, Dinagat Islands being recipients of the DILG Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat Program received the first tranche of release, which is equivalent to 50 percent of the total project cost. Magallanes received P3.5 million, while Loreto received P500,000.

Symbolic checks equivalent to 80 percent of the total project cost were given to the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur as recipients of DILG-Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan program. The province of Agusan del Sur, through Provincial Governor Adolph Edward G. Plaza, received P56 million, covering the municipalities of Sibagat, Prosperidad, Sta. Josefa and Veruela.

On the other hand, the Province of Surigao del Sur, through Provincial Governor Johnny T. Pimentel received P30.4 million, covering the municipalities of Marihatag, Bayabas, San Agustin, Tagbina and Hinatuan; and the cities of Tandag and Bislig. (NCLM/DILG-12/PIA-Caraga)


Amante signs commitment with WFP, UNH

By Maria Diana Luisa Z. Generalao

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- In his most recent trip to Manila, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. signed a commitment of partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Habitat (UNH) during the Sustainable Philippine Cities Project Launching at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Oct. 16, 2012.

Butuan City was chosen by the Joint WFP-UNH Initiative on Philippine Cities and Climate Change Adaptation to be one of the partner cities for both its Disaster Preparedness and Response Program and the Program for Achieving Sustainable Development (ASUD).

The project aims to build resilient cities in the face of climate change and natural disasters by increasing city government capacities in participatory risk and vulnerability assessment as basis for planning and operationalizing community-based adaptation actions to benefit vulnerable poor families living in high-risk areas.

Under the program, the WFP and UNH will provide Butuan City a P3 Million-fund with the directive of utilizing the support to produce an Action Plan for Disaster Preparedness as well as Urban Planning for the enhancement of the current Comprehensive Land Use Program.

In a phone interview with Engr. Antenedo Milloren, City Planning and Development Office Chief, he said the LGU is planning to use P1 Million of the total fund of P3 Million for Mapping, a requirement to enhance our Comprehensive Land Use Program, and which includes dense updating of the city’s Urban Observatory. He added that the P1 Million allotment would not be enough to cater to the specified task, but the UNH is willing to give additional funding assistance.

Engr. Milloren also said that we are given the condition of submitting the aforementioned requirements not later than December of this year for us to be included in the UNH Pabahay Program for 2013. Inclusion of which would mean additional funding for our existing housing programs.

Meanwhile, the remaining P2 Million will be used for the production of an Action Plan for Disaster Preparedness, with more emphasis on critical villages/areas in the city. The German Government has recently trained the local government unit on the ground rules of establishing a sound action plan, which is now seen as a useful tool in the creation of the said requirement.

Mayor Amante signed the commitment of partnership together with the mayors of the other partner-cities which included Iloilo, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. Four programs were introduced during the launching. Butuan was the only city which qualified partnerships in two of the four programs. (NCLM/BC-PIO/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog News: Anim sa pitong programang pang imprastraktura isinulong noong magpulong ang RDC

Ni David M. Suyao

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur -- Anim sa pitong programang pang inprsatraktura sa rehiyon ng Caraga ang isinulong para maaprobahan matapos itong maipresenta noon magpulong ang Regional Development Council (RDC) pagkatapos na ito ay lubusang mapag usapan at pagpasyahan ng mga miyambro ng RDC noong nakaraang lingo.

Ang pitong programang pang imprastraktura na ipineresenta ng Chairman ng Infrastructure Development Committee na si Agusan del Sur Gob. Adolph Edward Plaza ay ang hiling ng Departamento ng Agricultura (DA) na mapadali ang pag palabas ng pundo para sa rehabilitasyon ng Man-on-farm-to-market road sa bayan ng Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, ang hiling ng Department of Environment at Natural Resources (DENR) para sa maayos na pagtanggap ng mga surveyors para sa mga local na pamahalaan (LGUs) at maisali sa grupo ng mga surveyors ang naiturong representante ng bawat LGU at; ang limang nangungunang proyekto sa turismo na pang imprastraktura sa Surigao del Sur para mapundohan sa ilalim ng 2013 General Appropriation Act

Kasama sa mga programang naendorso ay ang paghikayat sa lahat ng LGU sa rehiyon ng Caraga para pagtibayin ang pagrehistro o pagtala sa mga turista at itaas ang antas ng kanilang kwalipikasyon para sa tourism road infrastructure project prioritization criteria; hilingin ang Gawad Kalinga para suportahan ang paglilipat ng 32 na pamilyang apektado sa Dona Helene area; ang napipintong Siargao Island Agri-Eco Tourism Nautical Highway. May isang hindi naisali at ito ay upang pag usapan pang mabuti ng komitiba ay ang paghiling sa DOT na e-deklara ang buong Rehiyon ng Caraga na destinasyon ng turismo maliban sa mga lugar na naideklarang mineral reservation at watershed areas.

Ayon sa mungkahi ng isang miyembro ng konseho na inaprobahan ng RDC chairperson Sol Matugas, yung hindi naisaling e endorse ay dapat mapag usapan ng mabuti para yung mga nadeklarang mineral reservation at watershed areas ay makilala ng mabuti para mapag-igting ang pagpatupad ng batas.

Ang iba pang programa na ipinipresenta ni Mayor Amante ng Lungsod ng Butuan ay ang siyam na programang pampaunlad sa ilalim ng Development Administration Committee kung saan, si Mayor Amante mismo ang namumuno. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)


Cebuano News: Pangulong Aquino niabot na sa Auckland

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Okt. 23 (PIA) – Si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III miabot sa Aerobridge 5, Auckland International Airport kagahapon aron sugdan ang iyang duha ka adlaw nga pagbisita napuno og daghang mga metings uban ang mga lideres sa maong nasod ug aron motambong sa business forum.

Si Pangulong Aquino sakay sa Philippine Airlines flight PR001 gikan sa Manila, milanding eksakto alas 11:15 sa buntag (New Zealand nga oras), sayo og 45 minutos sa gikatakdang pag-abot niini.

Siya gisugat ni Philippine Ambassador sa New Zealand Virginia Benavidez ug Minister Giovanni Palec sa Philippine Embassy didto sa Wellington.

“Sa pagbisita ng ating pangulo dito lahat kami ay excited kasi lahat nararamdaman ng mga kababayan natin dito kung gaano ka-importante sila sa ating pangulo at gaano sila kalapit sa puso ng ating pangulo. Bakit? Dahil ang kauna-unahan niyang gagawin paglapag niya dito sa Auckland…ay makipag-panayam at makasama ang ating mga kababayan,” matud ni Benavidez.

Kabahin nini, una ng nagreunion ang mga Filipino aron eselebrar kining maong okasyon nga gipangunahan sa grupo sa Nobleja uban ang pakigtambayayong sa Council of Auckland Filipino Organizations ug New Zealand-Philippines Business Council, matud pa sa ambassador.

“Malaking bagay ang planong pagpunta ni President (Aquino) dito kasi mas lalong makikilala ang lakas ng Filipino; na hindi kami abandoned; na they (are) continuously looking after our welfare kasi ‘pag may mga problema Philippines pa rin ang tumutulong,” dugang pa ni Noblejas .

Sa kasamtangang, ang New Zealand adunay mokabat sa 36,000 ka mga Filipino nga naglangkob og usa ka porsyento sa kinatibuk-ang populasyon ug ang pinakadakong komunidad sa mga Filipino makit-an didto sa Auckland nga mokabat sa 23,000, matud sa Philippine Embassy didto.

Human sa iyang mga meting sa Filipino community, pasinayaan ni Pangulong Aquino ang usa ka interbyu sa Radio New Zealand sa dili pa niini tak-opan ang adlaw uban ang pribadong panihapon didto sa SkyCity Grand Hotel. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano News: Fortun nangusog aron mapalig-on ang pinulungang Binutuanon

Ni Eldie N. David

BUTUAN CITY, Okt. 23 (PIA) -- Tungod sa katuyuan nga mapalig-on ug mabalik ang pinulungang Binutuanon, gipa-tambong ni Bise Mayor Law Fortun ang mg empleyado sa Sangguniang Panlungsod sa “3rd Butuanon Language Camp” nga gipahigayon niadtong Setyembre 21-23, 2012 sa Brgy. Babag niining Siyudad sa Butuan.

Ang maong language camp gipasiugdahan sa Save our Languages through Federalism (SOLFED) ug sa Butuan Global Forum (BGF) sa katuyuan sa pagtudlo sa mga sumasalmot sa pinulungang Binutuanon ug pag puyo sa kinabuhi sa usa ka Butuanon. Lakip sa mga aktibidades sa maong language camp ang lecture ni Dr. Jose Dacudao kung unsaon pag litok sa sakto ang maong pinulungan. Agig pag suta sa mga nakat-onan sa mga ni salmot, aduna usab gipahigayon nga pag himo ug short story sa pinulungang Binutuanon ug pagkanta sa usa ka Butuanon nga awit. Gipahigayon usab ang pagbisita sa mga lugar sa Babag diin gipakita ang paghimo ug pagpa-ila sa ilang gipasigarbo nga ‘Laksoy’. Ang Brgy. Babag mao na lamang ang barangay sa Siyudad sa Butuan nga adunay mo kabat sa 90 porsyento sa populasyon nga mo litok sa pinulungang Butuanon.

Matod pa ni Bise Mayor Law Fortun, angayan gayod nga pakusgon ug tagaan ug importansiya ang atong paglitok sa atong lingwahi kay amo kini ang atong kailhanan o ‘identity’ ug legasiya nga atong ikabilin sa mga sumusunod nga henerasyon. Dugang pa niya, “Importante kini para kita mailhan nga usa ka malig-on nga syudad.” Mitoo siya nga pinaagi sa pag-una sa gobyerno sa pagpaningkamot nga mubalik ang sinultian nga Binutuanon, mao kini ang mutultol sa uban nga mupadayon niining atong kaugalinong lingwahe.

Tungod kay nakit-an ug nabati sa mga empleyado ang importansiya niini, gisugdan na dayon sa mga empleyado diha sa ilang opisina sa pagsulti isip usa ka tinood nga Butuanon. Kabahin niini, bisan kinsa nga mo bisita sa Sangguniang Panlungsod madunggan gayod nila ang pakig hinabi sa mga empleyado sa pinulungang Binutuanon. Dakong pasalamat sa mga empleyado sa Sangguniang Panlungsod kang Bise Mayor Law Fortun nga gi-awhag sila sa pag-apil niing Language Camp kay daghan silay nahikat-unan dili lamang sa pagsulti ug sa paglitok ug Binutuanon apil na pud sa kaagi o ‘history’ sa Butuan. (NCLM/BC-VMO/PIA-Caraga)


Cebuano News: BANFA, 2nd place sa Smart Club Championship Football Tournament

Ni Eldie N. David

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- Sa unang higayon sa dugay na nga panahon nasungkit sa Butuan-Agusan Norte Football Association (BANFA) ang ikaduhang pwesto sa gipahigayong Smart Club Football Championship Tournament dili pa lamang dugay sa Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Ang maong torneyo gisalmutan sa mga nagkalain-laing Football teams sa Northern Mindanao diin sakop niini ang BANFA. Kahinumduman nga ang football team sa Butuan kanhi naghari sa Mindanao kaniadtong 1970’s paingon sa 1980s. Tungod sa pagpaningkamot ni Bise Mayor Law Fortun sa dihang namahimo siyang Presidente sa BANFA, nabuhi ang interes ug kasibot sa mga football players sa Butuan ug Agusan del Norte.

Matud pa ni Mr. Robby Rulona, ang kasamtangang General Secretary sa Banfa, “Bisan tuod nga 2nd place lang ang among nasungkit, apan dako na kini nga accomplishment sa BANFA tungod kay karon pa ang unang higayon nga niabot mi sa championship match.” Dugang pa niya nga “ang paglambo karon sa Footbal sa Butuan tungod kini sa maayong liderato ug supporta ni Bise Mayor Law Fortun nga among presidente,”

Dako usab ang kalipay ni Bise Mayor Law Fortun sa nakab-ot karon sa Banfa. Matod pa niya, nga “ang atong pagpaningkamot sa Butuan-Agusan Norte Football Association, natubag ug positibo nga resulta ug nanghinaot ako nga maka produce kita ug mga players nga usa mga best in the country.” (NCLM/BC-VMO/PIA-Caraga)