Butuanons honor significant hoisting of PH flag in
Mindanao
By Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – With pride and
admiration to the noble contributions of the Filipino revolutionaries who
raised the Philippine flag for the first time in Mindanao, the Butuanons paid
tribute by celebrating the 118th Anniversary of the Formal and Official
Hoisting of Philippine Flag in Mindanao held early morning on Tuesday at the
Guingona Park in this city.
The Butuan City government through mayor Ronnie
Vicente Lagnada spearheaded the event and was gladly joined by government
employees, Philippine National Police and Philippine Army personnel, students,
local media practitioners, private individuals and Butuanons in honor of the
sacrifices of the heroes for the hard-earned freedom and in showing allegiance
to the Philippine flag that symbolizes patriotism and love of country of the
Filipino people.
In his welcome remarks, Butuan City vice mayor Jose
Aquino II underlined the Filipinos' gains of living in freedom. “We should be
proud of our forefathers for their valor of emancipating Filipinos from foreign
rule, by guarding our institutional rights from perils, and that we should feel
proud of being a Butuanon and a Filipino."
He encouraged all Butuanons to be more responsible
in all their endeavors, and continue to be patriotic everyday of their lives.
As enunciated also by historian and Butuan City
Heritage Society president Greg Hontiveros, it exemplified the beginning of
accession of the first Philippine Republic. "It is appropriate to commend
ourselves to that virtue of Filipinos of fighting for freedom with sweat and
remarkable effort," he added.
Hontiveros recalled how Filipinos in the past
struggled in quest for independence and in claiming what the people in the
country deserve. He also stressed that people of today should be able to embrace
the good qualities of the Filipinos and be a good example to others.
Relentlessly marching in cadence and aligned in
their platoon formation, the uniformed men positioned and gave a snappy salute
upon hoisting of the giant flag as the nation’s emblem for freedom and victory
against the Spaniards.
Meanwhile, Mayor Lagnada expressed that it is
unsound for Filipinos to stand suffering. “This is the time for us to act as
one nation to realize the collective aspirations for our motherland. That all
may continue to give value to the Philippine Flag as a symbol solidarity and
sovereignty,” he said.
Lagnada further emphasized by urging everyone to
show the same sentiments with those who stood up for asserting our rights and
who spilled blood in the name of freedom. “Let’s not wait for decades to
achieve what we are supposed to enjoy as an independent nation. Work with a
heart and focus on the primary needs of our ‘kababayans’. Hinangon ta duon
(Let’s do it today)," he underlined.
Despite the rain during that day, the Special
Program of the Arts of Agusan National High School performed the reenactment
play of the historic account of the first hoisting of the Philippine flag in
Mindanao.
Deserved to be treated with solemnity and dignity,
the releasing of doves and community singing led by government officials
culminated the program. (VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Nonstop rain triggers floods in Agusan del Sur
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – Due to continuous
heavy rainfall experienced in the province of Agusan del Sur, several barangays
in the different municipalities of the province were heavily flooded and most
roads were rendered impassable.
At 8:30 a.m., the Esperanza bridge in Esperanza
town, Agusan del Sur was impassable since it was flooded at 300 meter length, 1
meter depth. The public was then advised not to take Butuan-Tungao-Esperanza
route. Also impassable is the Zilovia Section, San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (MDRRMC) officer Marcos Gonzales of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, reported at
around 8:00 a.m. that 10 barangays were already flooded due to continuous
moderate to heavy rains. He also said that their disaster operation center was
activated and rescue operation in the affected barangays was conducted by the
authorities.
According to MDRRM Officer Cydric Cumba of La Paz,
Agusan del Sur, 11 barangays in the said municipality are already flooded and
floodwaters continue to rise due to moderate-heavy rainfall, these are the
barangays of Sagunto, Panagangan Villa Paz, Sabang Adgawan, Osmena, Halapitan,
San Patricio and Langasian. He also added that the Talacogon-La Paz national
highway was impassable.
The PNP personnel of Sibagat Municipal Police
Station also conducted patrolling and monitoring at the riverside in Brgy. San
Vicente, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur and roads of Sibagat area. Yellow level flood
alert status was also raised with 4.9 meter as of 9:30 a.m. At the same time,
the PNP personnel of La Paz Municipal Police Station also conducted a rescue
operation in the different flooded barangays in La Paz, Agusan del Sur.
As per information from SB member Ricky Angwas of
Loreto, Agusan del Sur, the municipality is already under a state of calamity
due to continuous moderate to heavy rainfall that caused floodings in the
different barangays.
As of 1:00 p.m., flooded sections in Agusan del Sur
are the following: 1) Lucena section
along Babah-Talacogon Road (within an on-going project of the DEO), still
passable to light vehicles but floodwaters still rising; 2) Zillovia section
along San Luis-Talacogon Road, impassable to all types of vehicles; 3)
Esperanza bridge, impassable to all types of vehicles. Maintenance personnel
are on-site to assist the commuters.
Also, based on the situation report No. 2 released
by Caraga RDRRMC, several barangays in the municipalities of La Paz, Bunawan,
Talacogon, Loreto, San Luis, and Veruela in Agusan del Sur were already flooded.
Of the 39 total of barangays affected, 23 were heavily flooded.
Meanwhile, around 4:00 p.m. today, acting governor
Samuel Tortor in Agusan del Sur has declared
the suspension of classes in all levels effective Friday, Jan. 20, 2017
due to continuous moderate to heavy rainfall that caused floodings in different
municipalities in the province.
The local residents are encouraged to report any
information of floodings/landslides in their area at the PDRRMO Hotline
numbers: 09217103463 (smart); 09175789585 / 09778242705. (JPG/PIA-Agusan del
Sur)
Hundreds of Agusanons displaced by floods
By Nora C. Lanuza
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – Hundreds of families
from the different municipalities of Agusan del Norte were evacuated Thursday
morning due to the sudden rise of water level caused by incessant rainfall
since Tuesday brought about by the Tail-end of a Cold Front.
As per record from the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), a total of 112 families from
Cabadbaran City were already evacuated at the city gymnasium.
The City DRRMO of Cabadbaran also conducted an
evacuation to the affected areas in barangays 2, 3, 6, 9, Kauswagan and
Comagascas due to the rise of the Cabadbaran River. As of 7:23 A.M Thursday,
the water level of the river has already reached a warning limit of 4.106
meters high.
Due to severe flooding in the low lying barangays
of the Cabadbaran City, mayor Katrina Marie Mortola has ordered the suspension
of classes in all levels in the city.
Residents living along the rivers in Brgy.
Concepcion, Cabadbaran City were advised to evacuate to the barangay hall or
Concepcion Elementary School. They were also advised to refrain from crossing
the river due to the strong current. For mobility, residents may use the Dona
Telesfora route.
A pre-emptive evacuation was also conducted by the
Municipal DRRM at Purok Punta Garcia and Poblacion 1 in the municipality of
Tubay due to the sudden rise of water level in the area. The water level of the
Kalinawan River in the municipality has already reached to 4.5 meters.
Continuous monitoring of the water level is ongoing by the MDRRMO personnel.
In the municipality of RTR, 35 families or 109
individuals were also evacuated at the municipal gym due to the rise of water
level in the area.
Early this morning, PDRRMC chairperson Gov. Ma.
Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba has advised all local DRRMCs to conduct
pre-emptive evacuation in high risk communities.
Meanwhile, Butuan City mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada
has also released an order for the suspension of classes from pre-school,
elementary and high school in the city on Thursday until further noticed. As of
12:00 P.M., the Agusan River water level was observed at 2.51 meters.
(NCLM/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
CSC urges government agencies to support full
implementation of graphic health warning in cigarette packs
By Regal C. Oribia
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) – The Civil Service
Commission (CSC) released recently a memorandum circular (MC) urging its
regional offices and field offices and national line agencies to support the
full implementation of the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) Law.
Under the law, all cigarette packs in the country
must bear graphical warnings about the dangers of tabacco smoke, as prescribed.
The CSC's MC No. 27, s. 2016 urges the entire civil
service to be one in celebrating the event by posting the GHW tarpaulin (“Full
Blast Na! Bawal na ang text lang. Dapat Graphic Health Warnings!”) in their
respective office premises, including regional and field offices.
The template for this 3.5ft x 5ft tarpaulin can be
found in the following Internet links: http://csc.gov.ph(Official website of
the CSC), http://doh.gov.ph (Official website of DOH),
https://www.facebook.com/smokefree.civilservice (facebook page of the
CSC-Project Management Unit).
“In coordination with the Department of Health
(DOH), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) enjoins all government agencies in
supporting the full implementation of Republic Act No. 10643 or The Graphic
Warning Law," said CSC Caraga regional director Resurreccion P. Pueyo.
The implementation of the law started on March 6,
2016, and all tabacco smoke products shall carry graphic health warnings by
November 4, 2016. Non-compliant packages found in the market for sale or
distribution shall be subject to removal and/or confiscation. (PIA-Caraga)
Agusan del Norte barangays receive rescue vehicles
By Aimee B. Sienes
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) - The provincial
government of Agusan del Norte through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council turned over six rescue vehicles to six barangays of the
province during the convocation on Jan. 16 at the Capitol grounds.
Provincial Vice Governor Ramon AG. Bungabong,
together with Provincial Board Members Elizabeth Marie R. Calo, Dick Victor B.
Carmona and Virgilio R. Escasinas, Jr. turned over the rescue vehicles to
Barangay Captain Lucita G. Estrada of Barangay E. Morgado, Barangay Captain
Carlito M. Balinos, Jr. of Barangay Tagbuyacan, Barangay Captain Benjamin D.
Lim of Barangay La Paz, all of the municipality of Santiago, Barangay Captain
Alberto R. Japitana of Barangay Poblacion and barangay officials of Barangay
Lawan-Lawan, municipality of Las Nieves, and barangay officials of Barangay La
Fraternidad, municipality of Tubay.
Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba was
authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Sanggunian Resolution No.
013-2017, authored by Provincial Board Member Aquino W. Gambe, to sign for and
in behalf of the province the Memoranda of Agreements by and among the province
and the said barangay governments for the acquisition, receipt and utilization
of the rescue vehicles.
The provincial government is committed to assist
its component local government units in the delivery of basic services to its
constituents. It ensured that incidents within the locality are properly
addressed especially during times of calamities and emergencies. (LGU Agusan
del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
