(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, November 22, 2012


Butuan to host 67th PICPA Annual National Convention

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Philippine Institute of Certified Accountants (PICPA) Agusan del Norte-Butuan City Chapter will be hosting this year’s 67th Annual National Convention (ANC) on November 28 to December 2, 2012 at the Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort here.

PICPA National President Atty. Josefe Sorrera-Ty said that PICPA is the accredited professional organization (APO) of CPAs by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and has been awarded thrice as PRC most outstanding APO from among other professional organizations.

Through PICPA, the country is actively represented in the world’s major accounting bodies. Foremost among these international organizations is the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the broad objective which is the development and enhancement of a well coordinated worldwide accountancy profession functioning under harmonized standards.

“82 years have passed, PICPA has continued to be faithful to its mission to enhance the integrity of the accountancy profession, serve the best interest of its members and other stakeholders, and contribute to the attainment of the country’s national objectives,” said Ty.

Ty added that some 2,500 participants nationwide are expected to join in the big event.

“With this upcoming event, we are helping Butuan City to be known by our guests from other regions and officials from the World Bank, and we are also helping our local hotels and pension houses raise additional income,” she said.

Ty also cited that they have been promoting the local products of Butuan whenever they attend activities in the different countries in the world.

ANC co-chair Rowena Tabada also said that the ‘Balanghai’ which represents the event’s logo was chosen because it is a symbol of Ethics and Excellence enshrined in the Filipinos as early as pre-colonial times.

“It is the earliest evidence of that early Filipino were already excellent traders. The Balanghais were used in keeping good business between the local people of Butuan and traders from the kingdoms within the regions,” she said. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


PDRRMC launches YOUNG-ADNERT

By Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spearheaded the launching of Youth Operative Urgency Nurturing Goodwill-Agusan del Norte Emergency Response Team (YOUNG-ADNERT) at Provincial Training Center, this City.

Ms. Erma Suyo, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer said the launching of YOUNG-ADNERT aims to engage the youth in Disaster Risk Reduction and Environment Sustainability.

“The Agusan del Norte PDRRMC believes in the importance of engaging the children and youth in Environment Sustainability, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management decision making processes and helps young people assume leadership roles within their communities” Suyo said.

This also in compliance to Republic Act 10121 an act recognizing the importance of the youth in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, she added.

The PDRRMC recognizes the role of the youth as follows: Instill good environmental ethics within one self/ home; disseminate & bring about multiplier effect; Work with the Community especially the vulnerable groups: the poor, children, women and elderly; Work with the regulatory agencies (environmental agency, Local DRRM Councils); Integrate environmental component/ element in their projects.

PDRRMC also recognizes the active involvement of the youth in Risk management and disaster prevention, Community-based disaster management planning, Restoration projects, Clean-up and clean up campaigns, Drills and Simulations (earthquake, fire, landslide drills, etc.).

Some 172 youth from the Municipality of Carmen, Nasipit, buenavista, Remedios T. Romualdez, Cabadbaran City, Magallanes, Tubay, Santiago, Jabongga, Kitcharao, and Las Nieves participated the launching of YOUNG-ADNERT. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Gov’t agencies discuss developmental issues & concerns in Caraga

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- Members of the Development Administration Committee (DAC) under the Regional Development Council (RDC) discussed developmental issues and concerns in Caraga, held Wednesday in one of the local convention centers here.

On behalf of DAC chairperson Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., DAC Secretary Romulus Villanueva of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga presided the meeting.

The members approved the proposal initiated by Alfredo Baluyut Jr of RDC-Private Sector Representative (PSR), requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to officially rename the Bancasi National Airport to Butuan National Airport to establish its brand especially since there is an increase in tourist arrivals and businessmen coming in the city. It will be endorsed to RDC for final approval.

Baluyut also cited that Mayor Amante already acknowledged said request but he suggested that the committee make the request in writing.

Another proposal approved by the committee is to give preference to local suppliers in the procurement of goods and services among government offices, provided that the requirements mandated by law are complied with. The committee will be endorsing said proposal to RDC for final approval.

“This proposal was made by the RDC-PSR since it has been observed that a big number of bids as supplier of goods and services for government entities have been awarded to suppliers based in Metro Manila. With this, we would like to request that government agencies give preference to local suppliers in the procurement of goods and services among government offices in Caraga provided that all the requirements mandated by law are complied with,” said Baluyut.

Also, the council discussed the functions and objectives of Mindanao Development Forum (MDF), as well as its member-agencies involved in working with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Villanueva said that the MDF will be MinDA’s primary mechanism to align with the Aquino administration’s Social Contract, Philippine Development Plan (PDP), Mindanao 2020, and the Mindanao Strategic Development Framework (MSDF).

Villanueva added that the proposed MDF will function as: an inclusive, multi-stakeholder forum for discussing and addressing priority development issues on Mindanao, which shall inform the Mindanao Policy Agenda and the agenda of MinDA Board and the PDF; a dialogue mechanism between Government of the Philippines and donors on development policies, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and aid effectiveness in Mindanao; and a coordinative mechanism for program coordination on inter-regional and Mindanao-wide programs. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)


VMLP Regional Assembly all set

By Eldie N. David

BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) 3rd Caraga Regional Assembly is all set to be staged on November 22-23, 2012 at the Goa2Geder Hotel and Restaurant in Barangay Imadejas, this city.

More than 70 Vice Mayors coming from all the cities and municipalities in Caraga Region are expected to attend this assembly which is also seen as a farewell assembly for the participants with the holding of next year’s national and local elections.

During the first day for which a plenary session will be held, a workshop will be given to all the participants on various topics. Among the resource persons who will conduct the workshop are Mr. Lambert A. Ramirez of the National Institute for Policy Studies (NIPS) and Mr. Derrick C. Manas of the Green Party Philippines.

Also expected to grace the assembly during the fellowship night are Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and Agusan del Norte 2nd District Representative Angel Amante.

Butuan City Vice Mayor Lawrence “Law” Fortun, who is the VMLP Caraga Regional Chairman has expressed gratitude to all the vice mayors who have thrown their untiring support to his leadership which highlighted during the chapter’s hosting of the 3rd VMLP Mindanao Island Congress.

The said congress was attended by not only vice mayors coming from Mindanao but the whole country as well. (Vice Mayor’s Office/LGU-Butuan/PIA-Caraga)


Feature: GK’s Chair Tony Meloto dishes out entrepreneurial pointers; GK, partners launch Butuan City Social Innovation Movement

By Gervacio C. Dauz Jr.

For fellows who are long-time comrades and collaborators, it only took days of appealing by Victor Emmanuel A. Ozarraga, Caraga and Camiguin area coordinator for Gawad Kalinga (GK), to get Antonio P. Meloto – the steadfast titular stalwart of GK and likewise the determined high priest of Center for Social Innovations (CSI) – to pay a visit here.

When he spoke on May 25, 2012 to preach social entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as to launch the Butuan City Social Innovation Movement (SIM) in the presence of executives and representatives of the civil society groups, the national government agencies, and the local government unit here led by Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr., everyone was fascinated by what he said.

The build up toward the climax started earlier when, on late afternoon, Meloto, upon arrival at the airport, went straight to survey and assess the proposed GK Enchanted Farm in Barangay Pagatpatan here, which is home to at least 500 household beneficiaries of the GK housing Project.

During what a chat with partners and GK volunteers amid the verdant backdrop of the Enchanted Farm, he coached his listeners: “We can no longer afford to do the same things all over again that do not work anymore.” He argued that there’s a need to reinvent the wheel in order to meet the challenges of the times.

For example, in terms of marketing strategy, he said “you cannot grow if you are not visible; you will remain just like a cottage industry.”

As a believer in collaboration, he pointed out also that “social enterprises cannot ignore the role of government in development, or take over its role, if they want to make the most impact. They can help in the delivery of services, facilitate partnerships, restore trust and leverage limited government resources with private sector contribution.”

And it was for this reason that he cited “the need of having an agriculturist collaborating with business people” so that production and marketing would interact smoothly. He wanted to avoid the disappointment of many farmers who, according to former Senator Juan Flavier, are good producers but dismal market agents.

During the evening of interaction at the Technology and Livelihood Education Room of the Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) Morelos Campus in Barangay Libertad here, Ozarraga provided the background leading to the formal launching of the Butuan City Social Innovation Movement.

He explained that in October 2010, Mayor Amante and his team of executives and partners visited the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. During the said educational visit, Amante and his group were amazed at the said social entrepreneurship model and became convinced that it would be worth reproducing the same experience here.

Thus, by September 16, 2011, in a simple but fitting ceremony, the LGU here, together with at least five pioneering national agencies – the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, as well as the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority – plus the FSUU and the GK, signed a memorandum of agreement, committing themselves to be part of the GK Partnership Coordinating Committee in support of the GK Enchanted Farm development. From said development, GK went further by launching the SIM as a partner building block of housing project for development.

Amante, who promised to conduct his governance via participative, transparent, and God-centered approach, said during the launching that “this project is timely because we are pushing for a public-private partnership.”

He added that the project “is helping us achieve in building a better Butuan.” Although, he admitted that “we have a long way to go, but at least we have started.”

He then revealed his support for developing the GK Enchanted Farm so that by June 2012 “the road concreting leading to Brgy. Pagatpatan will already start, plus a skills training center will be built in said community.”

During Meloto’s turn to speak, he described what’s wrong with the Filipinos. “Our soul was stolen from us,” he complained. “Filipinos are raised to be employees, not employers; consumers, not producers.”

In terms of integrity, he said, “the whole country is compromised. We even have a soap opera going on at the Senate,” referring to the impeachment move against Chief Justice Renato Corona. For him, the need of the times is “to have real heroes who can transcend parochialism, politicking, self-interest.”

“When we are not blinded by a desire for money or paralyzed by a lack of it, we learn to use our creativity, raise passion-driven caretakers and volunteers whose nobility cannot be bought and the integrity of the mission is not compromised,” he said.

“We have to overcome negative mindsets,” he added. “While we’re not used to be social innovators, changers, and wealth creators,” the name of the game for the Filipinos is to have a paradigm shift. He’s positive that the Philippines will be a major player, so that “we can show the way through building first a platform for social innovation and patriotism.”

He gave an example out of Human Nature, which is “a social entrepreneurship model that is pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment.” What is key to that example is “you bring the rich and poor together, but you don’t treat the poor lowly.” He expressed disdain for rich and intelligent fellows who don’t have the heart to lift the downtrodden.

He believed that there is a need “to anchor our progress on justice and peace, on capitalism with a conscience . . . to create profit with a big heart for the least and the lost.”

He narrowed down his message to this: “I just want to have a few brave souls who would like to leave a legacy for the next generation.”

Meloto made his point clear before his audience based on his own experience, some apparently convinced to be part of his growing warriors of movers and shakers under the umbrella of the Social Innovation Movement.

Tony Meloto, who came from humble beginnings in Bacolod City, is a multi-awarded, development-oriented fellow and a much sought-after speaker who had earned distinguished awards and citations like the 2006 Gawad Haydee Yorac Award, 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, 2012 Ernst and Young’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year-Philippines, the latest of which the 2012 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship granted him at the Oxford University in England. (Tesda-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Caraga)


Tagalog news: PIA-Caraga inilunsad ang kanilang bagong FM radio station

Ni Danilo S. Makiling

BUTUAN CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) -- Inilunsad kamakailan ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Region ang kanilang pinakabagong government FM radio station. 

“Dahil sa kaunlarang isinasagawa ng rehiyon, maaari nating mapalakas ang serbisyong publiko sa pamamagitan ng paghahatid ng mga balita at mga impormasyon hinggil sa mga programa ng pamahalaan,” ayon kay Abner Caga, Mindanao Cluster head.

Idinagdag din ni Caga na ang pagbuo ng communication channel na ito ay bilang tugon sa Mindanao Blueprint kung saan ang lahat ng tanggapan ng PIA sa bawat rehiyon sa Mindanao ay makakahanap ng isang estratehiya upang maging maayos ang paghahatid ng impormasyon sa publiko.

Aniya, ito ay unang na-implementa sa rehiyong Caraga, at inaasahang ipapalaganap sa ibang rehiyon sa Mindanao.

Ang FM radio na ito ay gagamitin upang maghatid ng mga impormasyon kagaya ng public announcement, weather updates, government events, at mga special reports hinggil sa mga kaunlaran na isinasagawa ng pamahalaan, dagdag ng opisyal.

Ngayong ang istasyon ay nasa ika-apat na araw na ng test broadcast, nagsisimula nang umabot ang mga airwaves nito na may lakas na 700-watts, sa kalapit na mga probinsya.

Dahil sa kaunlarang ito, ina-anyayahan ni Caga ang lahat na makinig ng PIA Caraga FM Radio sa 107.8 kHz. Lakip nito'y mga balita, at impormasyon, at nagpapatugtog din sila ng lahat ng klase ng kanta., ani Caga. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)


Surigaonon news: City Veterinary, Philippine Carabao Center mipahigayon og artificial insemination

Ni Annette P. Villaces

SURIGAO CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) – An buhatan sa City Veterinary uban sa pakigtambayayong sa Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) - Bukidnon mipahigayon sa artificial insemination sa mga buhi-ong kabaw sugod niadtong Nobyembre. 9 hangtod Nob. 23, 2012 sa mga kabarangayan sa syudad.

An amo na kalihukan tinuig nga gipasiugdahan sa lokal na gobyerno nan syudad ubos sa City Veterinary Office sa pagdumaya ni Dr. Alan Quines iban ang grupo nan PCC.

Matud ni Dr. Quines, sa miagi na tuig mokabat sa 30 ka mga kabaw an ila na produced ug sija nan hinaut na unta koman na tuig mas modaghan pa kini.

Sa amo na kalamboan, mapasalamaton og dako si Mayor Ernesto Matugas sa mga tabang nga gihatag nan PCC para sa karajawan isab nan mga mag-uuma diri sa Surigao City. (SDR/Surigao City PIO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)


Cebuano news: MalacaΓ±ang miingon nga pagpasar sa Sin Tax Bill mahinungdanong lakang aron mapalambo, mapalapdan ang health safety nets sa mga Filipino

Ni Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Nob. 22 (PIA) -- Ang lakang sa Senado aron ipasar ang Sin Tax Bill maoy usa ka mahinungdanong lakang aron mapalambo ug mapalapdan ang public health safety nets alang sa mga Filipino, matud sa opisyales sa Palasyo kagahapon.

Si Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda mipagawas sa maong pamahayag atol sa regular press briefing didto sa MalacaΓ±ang kagahapon human ang Sin Tax Bill mipasar sa Senado, diin gisertipikahan kini sa Pangulo isip dinalian.

"This complements the Aquino administration’s relentless pursuit of universal health care which underscores the belief that healthcare should be a right and not a privilege in our country," matud ni Lacierda.

"We commend the unshakable commitment of Senator Franklin Drilon who steered this important piece of legislation through this long, drawn out process, and all the senators who voted for the measure," sa iyang pagpasabot.

Gipasalamatan usab sa gobyernong Aquino ang ubay-ubay nga mga advocates sa gobyerno ug civil society alang sa pagduso niining maong dinalian nga reporma.

"Recognizing and advancing the protection of public health is a commitment present in the Aquino administration’s social contract with the Filipino people. This goes beyond government, however, and begets the responsibility of all citizens to contribute to this cause," matud pa ni Lacierda.

Tumong ug tinunguha sa Sin Tax Bill nga makakuha ang gobyerno og dugang buluhisan alang sa tinguha niini nga mapalig-on ang sistema sa health care sa nasod. (RER/SDR-PIA-Surigao del Norte)