(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 - Friday, January 18, 2013



PDRRMC convenes, assesses damages caused by 'Pablo' in Agusan del Sur

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza recently convened council members to discuss and assess the extent of damages left by typhoon Pablo that hit the province on December 4, 2012 in order to come up with correct estimate of relief goods and materials.

In a report prepared by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and presented to the council by Vice Gov. Santiago Cane Jr., it shows that of the 314 barangays in the entire province, 194 were affected by the typhoon with 45,190 families or almost 222,000 persons. Eighteen persons died, one missing while 28 were injured.

The total estimated amount of damages on social and economic sector alone reached up to P2.98 billion where agriculture claims to be on top, with P1.7 billion, and economic with P873 million.

Although provincial agriculturist Dr. Jorex Elivaso said many farmers had already harvested their palay when the typhoon came, with 16,700 hectares of farmlands affected, the damage was still tremendous on rice, corn, rubber, banana, oil palm, and coconut.

Totally damaged houses in six most affected municipalities of Veruela, Sta. Josefa, Trento, Bunawan, Lapaz and Loreto reached 11,982 while partially damaged were 26,172 houses with an estimated cost of P327,567,228.

In education, reports shows 473 classrooms in the elementary level were damaged where 161 were totally damaged and 312 partially. On secondary level, totally damaged classroom reached to 21, while partially recorded 85 with the total estimated cost of P364.3 million.

Damages on health and social facilities totaled to P182 million, which were identified to be government buildings P91 million; day-care centers, 24 units P6.4 million; health center 14 units amounting to P2.1 million; barangay halls 16 with the estimated cost of P10 million; multipurpose buildings, gymnasium with eight amounting to P4.65 million; and other public building worth P67.85 million.

Damaged roads spanning 141 kilometers with an estimated cost of P116 million while five bridges were also damaged amounting to P12.65 million. Two flood control facilities with estimated cost of P58 million was also damaged, while power lines claimed P30 million damage, and another solar power to 143 houses with estimated cost of P5.5 million.

Some 8,907 hectares of watershed areas were also reported damaged while tree parks claimed six hectares damaged. For the second growth forest, damages reached up to 262,305.54 hectares.

“I want to know all these figures especially the residential houses of our people so that we can find ways and means to produce the needed relief goods, materials and services. Although we have already distributed partial materials like galvanized iron and other construction materials to helpless typhoon victims, we need more because of their number. We all know that it will take time for them to recover because their means of livelihood and their crops were also damaged. I am therefore knocking on the hearts of our friends for help, so that our fellow Agusanons can recover the earliest possible time,” Plaza said.

To date, rehabilitation and distribution of relief goods are on going. (DMS-PIA 13, Agusan del Sur)


NSO to recruit, train personnel for the upcoming 2012 CAF

By Nida Grace B. Tranquilan

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) provincial office here headed by Provincial Statistics Officer Ruel Dres will undertake personnel recruitment and training in preparation for the 2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) field operation this coming February 25.

According to Dres, they will be hiring 529 personnel composed of 167 team supervisors (TS) and 366 enumerators (ENs) including reserved ENs.

Pre-selected TS will become participants of the third-level training along with the Regional and Provincial Agricultural Statistics Officers (RASO and PASO), Provincial Statistics Officer (PSO), PO Staff, District Statistics Officers (DSOs), Statistical Coordination Officers (SCOs), and NSO contractual personnel. They will serve as trainers on the fourth-level training where the participants are the hired ENs.

The third-level training is scheduled on February 4 to 8. Likewise, those qualified applicants who passed the examination and interview will join the first and second batches of the fourth-level training on February 11 to 16 and February 18 to 23.

Dres said those who are interested to apply may visit their respective Local Civil Registrar’s Office for information on the qualifications and requirements of the applicants.

The 2012 CAF execution is under Executive Order 352 which requires generation of data for decision-making of government and private sector. The 2012 CAF aims to provide basic data for use in national as well as sub-national development planning.

The CAF 2012 is the sixth census undertaken on a large scale, geared toward the collection and compilation of statistics on the nation's agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Formal launching and press conference is on January 24, 2013, 10:00 a.m. at the provincial office here. (NGBT with reports from PSO Ruel Dres, NSO-SDS/PIA-Surigao del Sur)


Day care pupils get new school, playground

CEBU CITY, Jan. 18 -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), through its Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF), recently turned-over a day-care center and a playground funded by Vereniging Haarlemmermeer Cebu (VHC) to Barangay Pooc, Talisay City.

The day-care center, built to meet DSWD accreditation standards, will benefit 58 three- to four-year-old pupils of the barangay. The classroom features elements that foster independence and self-sufficiency such as child-sized toilets, sinks, doorknobs, and windows at children's height.

Recognizing the importance of play in child development, a playground was built within the facility. The playground, built by local laborers, is made of bamboo, used tires, and nipa.

The project is an example of various institutions and individuals collaborating to support children―the design and materials were donated by DACF, while the local government unit of Talisay and the barangay shouldered the labor cost and ensured that the standards were followed. International organization VHC donated the playground. This collaboration was marked by a hand-printing ceremony, where everyone involved in the said endeavor placed their handprint on the wall of the day care center.

“Recognizing the long-term effect that early childhood care and education can have on both the individual and society as a whole, DACF is committed to supporting communities as they prepare young children to become successful students and responsible citizens of the Philippines," Amaya Aboitiz, RAFI–DACF executive director, said.

The completion of the center and the playground in Pooc, Talisay City now brings RAFI-DACF's coverage to a total of five classrooms and playgrounds in four towns in Cebu, benefitting 255 pupils since it started early 2012.

“I'm very thankful to have this kind of facility in our barangay, the building is spacious and conducive for learning. The playground is safe for my pupils to play in while they develop their psychomotor skills. As a teacher, I will also strengthen the day care service parents group in order for the parents to be active in helping out in the maintenance of the facility given to us,” Jocelyn Maneja, day care center teacher, said.

For more information on how you or your organization can help build more day care centers and playground, please contact 418-7234 loc. 512 and look for Engr. May Reah Cuevas.

DACF is under RAFI's Education focus area, believing that shaping the next generation of talents begins with nurturing the love for learning. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Citizenship.

For more information about DACF, please contact 255-5630 and look for Joem de Gracia, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)


RAFI-KAC program supports grade school curriculum

CEBU CITY, January 18 -- Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) introduces the Integrated Learning through Adventure Education (iLead), the first KAC program integrated in the grade school curriculum of Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC).

The program's pioneering group are a hundred grade 6 students of SHS-AdC last year.

iLead is an urban backpacking program that provides students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned through their academic subjects.

This program also aims to hone in students leadership qualities, such as ownership and accountability of responsibilities, initiative, and active citizenship anchored on the school’s theme, “Nurturing Ignatian Heroic Leaders.”

Students are grouped and given cards with tasks they have to accomplish. These challenges include knowing about the history of Christianity in Cebu, recycling, demonstrating the country's traditional martial arts, and feeding a family with the minimum daily wage. They also have a chance to reach out to some orphans in Cebu.

Key areas include the Magellan’s Cross, Carbon Market, Old Jesuit House, Pari-an Drop-In Center, and the Archivals’ House Close to Nature.

“The group has very high perception and good thinking skills. They were competitive and wanted to excel given their goals and targets. The students can be very well honed to take on lead roles in tasks assigned in the school. With enough mentoring, the group can perform and deliver,” Marie Sol Gonzalvo, KAC deputy director for Youth Programs, said of the program's participants.

This program is expected to achieve particular outcomes per subject area of the school’s curriculum. Students are expected to use verbal and writing communication skills, clearly articulate ideas and feelings, recognize the relationship between good health, good physical well-being and the natural environment.

In Math, they are expected to use basic mathematical operations through word problems involving actual transactions.

For their Christian Life Formation subject, students should be able to trace the growth of the local Church and history of the Jesuits and its impact in Cebu.

While in Social Studies, the participants are to discover one’s role in nation building as a young citizen, to be aware and to appreciate one’s local culture, and to have a sense of pride of place.

KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to take an active role in affecting change. RAFI’s other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

KAC is currently building the Philippines’ first outdoor experiential center at Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban Cebu, which is set to open this year.

For more information about KAC, please contact 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea May Santillan, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com.ph/rafi.org.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)


Watershed Consciousness Week declared

By Junesther Jean S. Iway and Eldie David

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 18 -- In an effort to strengthen the consciousness of the people of Butuan on the importance to protect our watersheds, the Sangguniang Panlungsod recently approved an ordinance that will make every third week of January as Watershed Consciousness Week.

The SP Ordinance No. 4097-2013 principally authored by Vice Mayor Law Fortun, cited in its explanatory note that the purpose for the declaration is in cognizance of the city’s avowed policies concerning the commitment to protect, preserve and rehabilitate the watershed areas within Butuan.

The week-long celebration will be dedicated towards the strengthening and reinforcement of watershed awareness projects, programs and activities of the city.

According to Fortun who is a staunch advocate for the protection of the environment, it is but fitting that we increase the consciousness of every individual to protect our watersheds because this is our only source of potable water in the city.

“The protection of our watersheds which has been threatened with man-made destruction is not only the sole responsibility of the government but an inherent responsibility of everybody,” Fortun said.

Thus, he added, that all the people should be involve in this effort for we are the ultimate beneficiary of this.

This year’s Watershed Consciousness Week starts off with the formal launching of the Butuan City Watershed Code on January 24, 2013 at Guingona Park, this city.

Other activities lined-up for the week-long celebration are the On the Spot Essay Writing Contest, Poster Making Contest and the 5th Caraga Parliamentary Debate Championship: Law Fortun Cup which will tackle relevant issues on environmental protection. (NCLM/LGU-BC/Vice Mayor’s Office/PIA-Agusan del Norte)


RAFI, Carcar hold school governance workshop

CEBU CITY, Jan. 18 -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), in partnership with the Synergeia Foundation Inc., conducted a workshop, dubbed “Equip-CEBU (Educational Quality Improvement through Community Empowerment and Capacity Building) LEAD (Local Education Agenda Development) Workshop for Carcar City,” late last year at Diamond Suites Hotel and Residences, this city.

The education planning workshop aimed to build a collaborative relationship with the Carcar City and develop strategic goals to address the education needs of Carcar City.

The activity was participated by the Project Management Team, local government officials, school heads and teachers from private and public schools of Carcar City, and representatives from other sectors.

Through team-building activities conducted by RAFI's Kool Adventure Camp (KAC), the 30 participants saw the importance of collaboration and planning to address education concerns in the city level and succeed in their efforts to improve the quality of education.

Carcar City Division Superintendent Dr. Gregorio Cyrus Elejorde presented on the second day of the workshop the current state of education of the city. Education gaps in Carcar City such as inadequacy in the number of teachers for elementary and secondary schools and supply of school furniture and equipment, deficiency of textbooks, among others, were discussed.

“There may be a lot of problems as far as education is concerned but we should not let DepEd solve everything. DepEd cannot do it alone. That is why, as teachers, we also need to do our part,” Elejorde, said, referring to the lack of textbooks among elementary and secondary schools.

“If there is a lack of new books for our students, then, we can make use of old books. As teachers, we must be creative enough to find solutions even to simple problems,” Elejorde, added.

Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura also graced the activity and expressed his support for the project.

“I believe that education is the most powerful weapon in our fight against ignorance and poverty. The greatest gift that this administration can give to its constituents is access to good quality education,” Apura, said.

On the third day, initial steps to be done as well as the desired outputs for Carcar City in terms of education were defined.

Equip-CEBU is one of the projects under RAFI’s Education focus area, believing that shaping the next generation of talent begins with nurturing the love for learning. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Citizenship.

For more information about Equip-CEBU, please contact 419-7234 loc. 209 and look for Tanya Flores, or visit www.rafi.org.ph and www.facebook.com/rafi.or.ph. (RAFI/PIA-Caraga)