Photo Releases - Thursday, January 29, 2009

Floodings, landslides in Veruela

January 27, 2009

Veruela, Agusan del Sur

Veruela Mayor Solimar Mondejar (with cap) explains how the recent flood caused landslides in riverbanks and some moutain ranges in his municipality. Listening attentively are PIA OIC-Regional Director Abner Caga (wearing light-blue shirt), Chris Lindo (back to camera, wearing black and white striped shirt), Executive Assistant of Agusan del Sur Governor Maria Valentina Plaza, and Robert Roperos (in tangerine-blue shirt), PIA-Caraga Planning Officer.

Mr. Norito Villarin, employee of LGU-Veruela relates when and how the landslide occured in Purok 9, Brgy. Sampaguita, affecting the road going to the Baobo National Irrigation Project in Brgy. Sinobong, Veruela, Agusan del Sur, during the interview with PIA-Caraga personnel.

One of the major landslides in Veruela, Agusan del Sur is the access road in Purok 9, Barangay Sampaguita going to the Baobo National Irrigation Project in Brgy. Sinobong. With the disaster, the local government unit is on the process of rehabilitating the road to give farmers and residents better access to and from the irrigation site.

Photo shows the Baobo National Irrigation Project where portions of it were damaged due to incessant rains which caused massive floodings in the province of Agusan del Sur and the entire Caraga Region. The irrigation project will be fully operational on May 2009. With the damage amounting to Php 11-million, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo handed-in check worth Php 10-million to Agusan del Sur Governor Maria Valentina Plaza during her visit to the site on January 28, 2009 making her the first President of the country to visit Veruela, Agusan del Sur.

VERUELA HEROES... Rescuers of the Search and Rescue Agusan del Sur (SARAS) share how they rescue the family of Raymundo Marcos from drowning when they were washed-out by a flashflood that hits Veruela in the evening of January 16, 2009 during the interview with PIA-Caraga personnel. From left to right: Jerry Tablo, Angelito Rulida (Team Leader), and Pablo Pal-ing.

Teary-eyed Raymundo Marcos recalls how his family was rescued by the team of the Search and Rescue Agusan del Sur (SARAS) when their house was washed-out by a flashflood on the night of January 16, 2009.

Photo Releases - Friday, January 23, 2009

Gift-giving to Flood Victims

January 21, 2009

Surigao City Auditorium

Guest of Honor:

Secretary Joseph Ace Durano

Department of Tourism

Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD)

DOT Secretary and Caraga CORD Joseph Ace Durano hands in the food pack to a resident in Surigao City as part of the relief operations of the Arroyo Administration to victims of massive floodings that hit the city and the entire Caraga Region. The gift-giving was held earlier on the day of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Visit to Tubajon, Province of Dinagat Islands and Surigao City.

PIA-Surigao del Norte Provincial Coordinator Fryan Abkilan is interviewed by a local media man in Surigao City during the Gift-giving ceremony held at Surigao City Auditorium graced by DOT Secretary and Caraga CORD Joseph Ace Durano. Also in photo is Zarina Lastra of PIA-Caraga.

PIA-Caraga personnel documented the Gift-giving ceremony as part of the Communication Support Services of the Agency. Photo shows Administrative Officer Nora CL Molde (stills) and Audio-Visual Technician Robespierre Tradio (back to camera, holding video cam) adhering to their "call of duty."

Caraga Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) and Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano answered questions from the local media and the Philippine Information Agency in a live phone-patch interview with local radio stations in Surigao City and Butuan City after leading the gift-giving ceremony to flood victims in Surigao City on January 21, 2009 at the Surigao City Auditorium. Sec. Durano emphasized that the Arroyo Administration is very serious in fighting poverty especially during calamities.

A total of 3,000 food packs were given to flood victims in Surigao City during the massive floodings that hit Caraga Region from January 10-18, 2009. Containing the packs are 2-kilos rice, 6 pcs. noodles, 1 pack coffee, and 1 kilo sugar. The food packs were ceremonially distributed by Caraga CORD and DOT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano in time with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Visit to Surigao City on January 21, 2009.

Photo Releases - Thursday, January 22, 2009

Presidential Visit in Surigao City

January 21, 2009

Surigao City Airport Pre-departure Area

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shaking hands and exchanges talks with PIA-Caraga OIC-Regional Director Abner Caga moments after she adjourned the RDCC Meeting in Surigao City presided by her. The President lauded the efforts made by RD Caga and the PIA Staff for the communication support activities conducted by the agency during the continuous rains that hit the region last week causing landslides and massive flooding in majority of the areas in the region.

PIA-Caraga OIC-Regional Director Abner Caga is shown here discussing with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the communication support activities conducted by PIA-Caraga during the continuous rains that hit the region last week causing landslides and massive flooding in majority of the areas in the region. RD Caga highlighted the significance of SMS as delivered by the agency during critical times such as the disaster happened in the region.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is being briefed by DA Asst. Regional Director Primitivo Liwanag (right) on the foreign-assisted projects undertaken by the department’s field unit in Siargao and Dinagat Islands. Joining the President in looking-over is PIA-Caraga OIC-Regional Director Abner Caga (left).

Photo Releases - Monday, January 19, 2009

Regional Avian Influenza Task Force

1st Quarterly Meeting

Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center

Doongan, Butuan City

January 15, 2009

Members of the Regional Avian Influenza Task Force (RAITF) are shown here during its 1st Quarterly Meeting held recently in one of the hotels in Butuan City. Animal Health Committee Chairman John Gamboa Sr. of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga presided the meeting. (DA-13/ PIA-Caraga)

DA-Caraga Animal Health Committee Chairman John Gamboa Sr. (center) discussed the accomplishment report of the Avian Influenza Preparedness Program (AIPP). Gamboa said that Regional Avian Influenza Task Force (RAITF) has distributed office, laboratory, drug and biologics supplies to the Local Government Units (LGUs) regionwide for the AIPP Task Forces in 2008. This was held recently during the RAITF 1st Quarterly Meeting in one of the hotels in Butuan City. (DA-13/ PIA-Caraga)

Ms. Lorene Catedral (standing, wearing striped jacket), Regional Avian Influenza Task Force (RAITF) focal person of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga is shown here giving her suggestions to the committee to meet again on February 10, 2009 for the refinement of the Contingency Plan while the finalization and approval will be conducted on February 17, 2009, which RAITF members approved. This was held recently during the RAITF 1st Quarterly Meeting in one of the hotels in Butuan City. (DA-13/ PIA-Caraga)

Members of the Regional Avian Influenza Task Force (RAITF) from the regional/provincial offices convened recently in one of the hotels in Butuan City and discussed the accomplishments for 2008 including logistic support from Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI); contingency plan for avian influenza; table top simulation for Agusan del Sur; the submission of work and financial plan and proposals for 2009; plans for 2009; and other issues and concerns. (DA-13/ PIA-Caraga)