(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 23 December 2024) π—¦π—¬π—‘π—’π—£π—¦π—œπ—¦: Shear Line affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas. Northeast Monsoon affecting the rest of Luzon. TROPICAL CYCLONE OUTSIDE PAR AS OF 3:00 AM TODAY TROPICAL DEPRESSION LOCATION: 165 KM WEST OF KALAYAAN, PALAWAN (10.8°N, 112.8°E) MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS: 55 KM/H GUSTINESS: UP TO 70 KM/H MOVEMENT: NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 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, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Trough of Low Pressure Area. 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—‘: Lifgt to Moderate winds coming from East toSoutheast will prevail with light to Moderate (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Thursday, May 17, 2018


Caraga farmers to pursue onion production

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 -- Farmers from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur are optimistic that onion production in their town will be a profitable venture.

The farmers recently underwent training on “Good Agricultural Practices on Onion Production” conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga, in coordination with the Local Government Unit of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

Municipal Agriculturist ViΓ±a Ranoco shared that some of the products sold in the local market are from the other provinces and even from other regions.

She encouraged the farmers to put to good use what they have learned from the training so that the town will soon be producing their own onion.  She said that this way, they will no longer have to source out from other places. In addition, they can also contribute to the country’s drive to cease importation of onion through sufficient local production. 

Resource Person Noe N. Parocha, East-West Seed Field Marketing Supervisor for Mindoro/Visayas/Mindanao, said that the bulk of the onion production in the Philippines is coming from Luzon with Nueva Ecija claiming the top spot. 

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that in 2016, the country had a production volume of 122,594 metric tons with Central Luzon accounting for 76.1 percent, followed by Cagayan Valley with 13.8 percent, and Ilocos Region with 6.1 percent, while the rest of the onion-producing areas chipped in a total of 4.0 percent. 

Parocha said that the country’s current production is not enough to meet the demand, thus, it is quite welcome that the other regions, especially in Visayas and Mindanao, are now showing interest for this crop. 

“Through proper management, onion will thrive in Mindanao,” he said. Parocha further added that he saw the willingness among the farmers and noted also the support by the local government and the DA, so it is really doable. 

Aside from discussions on onion production, the participants also had a hands-on training on seedbed preparation and seed sowing.

Elena Espina, Chairman of the Alegria Vegetable Farmers Association, said that she is thankful for the opportunity to have undergone the training since onion production is relatively new to most of them. However, she is confident that if they just set their mind to it, nothing is impossible. 

“I am looking forward to the day that onion production in our town will prosper because it will not only be economically good for us but it will also be our pride that we were able to do it,” Espina added. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

MGB Caraga conducts groundwater resource mapping, assessment in Siargao Island

By Melvin A. Mantilla

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 17 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Caraga carried out the groundwater resource mapping and assessment in the municipalities of General Luna and San Benito in Siargao Island on April 18 to May 5, 2018.

The activity aimed to establish the geology of the area and determine the general groundwater resource potential of the different lithologic units.

Likewise, the activity aimed to assess the vulnerability factors that could affect the water quality of the existing water supply sources in the study area and to identify possible areas for development and future extraction.

The assessment was conducted by a team of geologists, cartographer and on-the-job trainees from the Negros Oriental State University.

As for the mapping aspect of the activity, it was composed of an inventory of the existing groundwater resources (e.g. springs and wells) of each barangay within the said municipalities, identification of the lithologic unit and the overall geomorphologic characteristic of the groundwater locale, and in determination of the basic water chemistry of the groundwater.

For 2018, MGB Caraga hopes to conduct Groundwater Resource Mapping and Assessment in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur. (MGB-13/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

PNP-Caraga welcomes cops deployed for BSKE 2018

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 (PIA) -- Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 Deputy Regional Director for Administration CSupt. Carlos Lozano spearheaded the welcome for the police officers deployed for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2018 during the ceremony here Wednesday afternoon.

Highlight of the activity was the giving of awards to the deserving police personnel who had played vital roles in ensuring the safety and security of the recently concluded electoral process.

SSupt. Rogelio Raymundo, chairman of the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center and the chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division, was one of the awardees.

The 2,798 policemen who rendered election duties regionwide would receive the Medalya ng Papuri or the Philippine National Police (PNP) Commendation Medal.

“Let’s be grateful that in the overall, there was no major trouble even in election watchlist areas. The integrity of the electoral process had been safeguarded and the democratic rights of the people are protected,” CSupt Lozano said. (PRO-13/PIA-Caraga)

Claver farmers celebrate 'KANINhawaan' feast day

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 17 (PIA) -- A ceremonial harvest dubbed as “KANINhawaan” Feast Day of the project kaPALAYapaan of the 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (36IB), Philippine Army and the THPAL Nickel Corporation was celebrated on May 12, 2018 at Sitio Capangdan, Brgy Urbiztondo, Claver town.

Following the success of the Project kaPALAYApaan in the province of Surigao del Sur, the 36IB under the 402nd Infantry Brigade has partnered with THPAL Nickel Corporation thru its Community Relations and launched the said project last November 29, 2017 at the Municipal Hall of Claver, Surigao del Norte with the motto of “I Believe.”

The KANINhawaan Feast Day is a farmer’s celebration of a bountiful harvest in availing the project kaPALAYapaan.

The farmers in Brgy Urbiztondo situated at the foot of the infamous “Red Mountain” were encouraged to turn their 12 years laterite-laden and abandoned farm lands into organic rice fields through the project kaPALAYapaan.

A total of 15.5 hectares were dedicated for the said project as the pilot area.

Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, during the celebration, said they partnered with THPAL and other stakeholders who share the common goals of serving the people to attain peace and development in the community.

He said the 36IB will always be the people’s committed partner to bring programs and projects to every community.

“A challenge was presented and we have accepted it because we strongly believe in the project kaPALAYapaan. What we are witnessing now is the new roles of your army to alleviate the plight of the farmers and facilitate convergence in the delivery of basic services of our government," Trinidad said.

On his part, 402nd Brigade Commander BGen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal said the province of Agusan del Norte will also now embrace the said project.

"The Philippine Army, specifically the 402nd Infantry Brigade, is fully committed in this project kaPALAYapaan. This is the evolution of the role of the Army; we are now the so-called agent of change. Our organization is here in order to help and extend whatever help we could offer to the LGUs with our only intent of having a productive and festive community that will eventually uplift our lives," Gacal said.

The project kaPALAYapaan is a program for the farmer sector, which means “there is peace in rice farming” to address the perennial problem of the farmers on “high cost, low yield” farm production. It is a convergence of stakeholders that aims to increase the farm production of the farmers, promotes organic farming, and introduces new farming techniques. (36IB, Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Farmer-groups thank DAR-IFAD-ConVERGE for agribusiness project in AgNor

By Gil E. Miranda

BUTUAN CITY, May 17 -- Farmers from different Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Agusan del Norte are grateful to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) finance project under the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte.

This was the collective voice of the group-leaders expressed during the visit of Charlotte Salford, IFAD Associate Vice-President of External Relations and Governance, and  Wei Wang, IFAD Director for APL and Special Adviser to the IFAD President at San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative or SIUFMULCO of Santiago town on May 6, 2018.

“It is exciting to see how much potential there is for family farms and indigenous producers when they are fully engaged in inclusive value chains and have access to markets, technology and financing,” Salford said.

DAR Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Andre B. Atega said that the project has invested around P180 million funds in support to abaca enterprise and related commodities in the province that will cater to the needs of the farmers involving SIUFMULCO and 20 other participating farmer-groups in Tubay, Jabonga, Kitcharao and Santiago.

Leonora Mila, SIUFMULCO Manager, said that they are very thankful for the ConVERGE interventions and support services provisions that bring positive impact in the lives of the farmers in the cluster.

“The interventions of project ConVERGE indeed changed not only the acres of abaca plantation but also the way of life among the famers,” Mila added.

Based on the data of DAR, three years in the implementation of Project ConVERGE for the period of 2016 to 1st quarter of this year performance, the project claimed P55.6 million or 31 percent of P180 million total project cost allocated up to 2021.

This performance included the 80 classes with 13 types of Capability Enhancement Trainings to 21 peoples’ organizations; provision of 12 mobile stripping machines; one unit 10-wheeler truck; provision of planting materials and other farm inputs covering 300 hectares distributed to ten ARBOs; and farm-to-market road to be implemented within this year. 

In her visit, Salford was joined by Wei Wang, IFAD Director for APL and Special Adviser to the IFAD President; IFAD Country Programme Officer Jerry Pacturan; Special Adviser, Yolando Arban of IFAD Philippines Country Office; and DAR Provincial Director Andre B. Atega, CESO V. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)