(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Sunday, 22 December 2024) π—¦π—¬π—‘π—’π—£π—¦π—œπ—¦: Shear Line affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas. Northeast Monsoon affecting the rest of Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Dinagat Islands will experience Cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the Shear Line. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. 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—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with Moderate to Rough seas / (1.5 to 3.7 meters).


Monday, August 6, 2018


KMME mentor shares 'STEPS' to become successful entrepreneur

By Fryan Abkilan

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 6 -- “Never give up, but rather give in to your passion"

This statement encapsulated what Module 1 was for Apolonia Foods owner Nenita Baybay who attended the first session of the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprises (KMME) program along with 24 other mentees who comprised the third batch of the program.

Handling the first module on “Entrepreneurial Mind-setting and Values Formation” for this run is Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) accredited local mentor April Dabalos.

Dabalos said that among the highlights of her own entrepreneurial journey were a few “failures” from which she derived lessons from and these helped her become what she is today.

She currently owns and manages Tinkerville Playhouse and is now in the thick of preparations for an expansion. 

She shared with the mentees her so-called “STEPS” to become a successful entrepreneur, among others.

“S”, she said, stands for starting up. At this stage, she said one needs to be honest in answering questions such as: “Do you have what it takes?", "Are you good with duct tape (a euphemism for resourcefulness and innovation)?", "Do you have insatiable curiosity?", "Open-minded?", "Always looking for better?", "Do you like taking on risks and do not mind getting hit in the face (perseverance)?".

“T” is actually comprised of three elements: talent, time and treasure, Dabalos said. These elements mean knowing how to turn your passion into profit.

“E” requires you to know your environment to be able to seek out opportunities, while “P” stands for product such as what people want to buy and not want you only want to sell.

“S” is for service – quality, consistent – nothing less.

Dabalos also discussed the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.

She added that Filipinos already have one leg up because of these favorable values: resilience, diligence, close family ties, debt of gratitude risk-taking, and good interpersonal relations (management and labor).

KMME is a targeted and focused assistance to a group of pre-selected micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) called mentees through weekly coaching and mentoring sessions by business owners and practitioners on the different functional areas of entrepreneurship. 

After the mentoring which will run for 10 weeks, the mentees are expected to become more confident, more knowledgeable and armed with their business improvement plan ready for implementation.

Implementing the over-all facilitation of this program was DTI Agusan del Norte Negosyo Center (NC) and KMME Provincial Coordinator Myra Gavero, in coordination with the provincial office's NC staff and personnel from the Butuan City Trade, Industry and Investment Promotion Office. (DTI-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

DA Caraga, LGU unite to boost livestock industry

By Aurelius Arais

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 6 -" In unity, there is strength."

 This is the principle that holds government livestock expert in Caraga Region to unite and conduct "bayanihan" system in serving the livestock industry.

Dubbed as Joint Livestock Outreach Program held on July 23 to 27, 2018, the group serves the farmers in the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) particularly in the towns of Cagdianao, San Jose and Dinagat.

The group was comprised of pool of experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga through its livestock section and the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL), livestock technicians from local government units of Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and PDI.

Farmers were able to access services such as heat synchronization and artificial insemination for ruminants, deworming, vitamin supplementation, blood sampling and surra disease treatment.

A total of 128 farmers were served with their various farm animals such as cattle, carabao, horse, goat, poultry and swine.

Carlos Ringga, 57, a resident of Purok 3, Sta. Rita, Cagdianao, PDI brought his two carabaos during the bayanihan to avail the services being offered.

“I am so thankful that the government is bringing this kind of services of us. It is a big help for my animals as they are my partner in tilling my farm planted with cassava and camote,” Ringga said.

Veterinarian Esther CardeΓ±o,  who is the chief of RADDL, explained that it is important that animals should be physically checked for early detection of any disease or abnormalities.

“No amount of medical treatment is as effective as early detection. This is our first line of defense against any diseases,” CardeΓ±o said.

The bayanihan team regularly conducts its outreach program in different municipalities in Caraga Region to cater the needs of the farmers especially in areas who lack manpower in catering farm animals in their locality. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

DAR turns over farm tools to agrarian orgs in Agusan Norte

By Gil E. Miranda

TUBAY, Agusan del Norte, Aug. 6 - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of Agusan del Norte recently turned over farm implements worth Php225,000 to two Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) to boost their productivity.

The Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) program, which was launched on June 6, 2018,  adopts a convergence approach among DAR, Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tubay, and ARBOs to mitigate hunger and food self-sufficiency through Sustainable Livelihood Program (LSP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega said the tools, composed of a farm cultivator and Power Sprayer, are substantial support for ARBO’s Agri-Enterprise Development (AED) activities and improves their productivity and increase income.

 “The implements will be eventually turned over to the ARBOs as stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DAR and the ARBOs.  It is expected that these implements will always be in tip-top condition to sustain farmers livelihood,” Atega added. 

Atega further said that one of DAR’s responsibilities is to monitor the usage to ensure other neighboring farmers, ARB or non-ARB, can avail and make use of the tools.  

The equipment will benefit to at least 143 ARBs and non-ARB members of Dona Rosario Certificate of Land Ownership Certificate (CLOA) Holders and Vegetable Producers Association (DRCHVPA) as the lead proponent, ARBO chaired by Hector R. dela Cruz and Cabayawa Sala Farmers Association (CASAFA).

Dela Cruz promised to take responsibility by urging the ARBO members to cooperate and innovate to propel their organization’s operations resulting to increase farm yield. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Army overruns NPA camp in Agusan del Norte

By Cpt Al Anthony B Pueblas

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 6 -  The 29th Infantry Battalion, 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army overran another New People's Army (NPA) camp after the government forces encountered an undetermined number of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) under Sangay sa Partido Pamproganda (SPP)16A, Guerilla Front Committee 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee in Sitio Cogon-Cogon, Brgy Tagmamarkay, Tubay, Agusan del Norte on July 26, 2018, at around 2:20 in the afternoon.

The firefight ensued, while the troops were conducting Focused Military Operations (FMO), as a response to the reports provided by the residents of the NPAs' presence extorting in their locality. The skirmish, which lasted for about 20 minutes, resulted to the capture of the terrorist's camp, the recovery of one high powered firearm AK-47 loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunitions, one improvised explosive device (landmine), 100 meters trip wire, one backpack and personal belongings. 

On the other hand, no casualty or loss was incurred by the government forces. But heavy blood stains were seen on the captured enemy camp indicating of the enemy's large casualties. Moreover, additional troops were sent to pursue the remaining NPA terrorists.

The successful combat operation was a result of the local community’s support to get rid of lawless elements from their community. BGen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, commander of the 402nd Brigade, lauded the troops for the successful conduct of this military operation.

"Our operations against the NPA terrorists will be relentless. We will pursue them right at the heart of their guerrilla bases," BGen. Gacal said.

"The communities are already expressing their sentiments against the continued presence of the NPA terrorists as this terrorist group has only brought misery and suffering in their locality," he added. (CMO Officer 402Bde/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

AgNor SP approves creation of dangerous drugs admin board

By Justine Lumonsod

RTR, Agusan del Norte, Aug. 6 - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte recently approved the Municipal Ordinance No. 316-2018 creating the Dangerous Drugs Administrative Board (DDAB) in the Municipality of RTR, this province.

The DDAB is tasked to receive complaints for the abatement of drug-related nuisances and has the power to declare and abate a place or premises a drug nuisance.

The ordinance seeks to prevent drug addiction, maintenance of drug dens, drug pushing and such other activities which are inimical to the welfare and morals of the inhabitants of the municipality.

The municipal ordinance authored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Carlos E. Martinez, is in accordance with Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as The Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

The ordinance was approved by the SP throughSanggunian Resolution No. 210-2018 pushed by Board Member Dick Victor B. Carmona. (LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)