Situation Report ini gikan sa PIA-Surigao del Norte last June 28: On Meningoccocemia Scare in Surigao City
July 1, 2008City Health Officer Aldine Morales in a press conference last Friday urged the local residents of Surigao City not to panic and stay calm amid the “meningococcemia scare” among residents in the city.
“There is no cause for alarm” he said adding that meningococcemia is already contained and controlled. The city health office made the assurance to the people that this disease is curable in the wake of the “alleged meningooccocemia case” in the city that resulted to a death of a 51-yr old pre-school teacher last Thursday, June 26 which panicked the residents.
Morales clarified that they are still waiting for the laboratory result which will be released next week (kuman na ini na semana). He informed the media that they have already given medications to the family and close contacts of the victim.
Morales also said that the disease is very serious and highly communicable and is very fatal, one should be cautious of the symptoms and signs like coughing, sore throat, pinpoint rashes which is become wider and appear like bruises starting on the legs and arms.
He then urged the public to be concerned with their personal hygiene and to clean their surroundings to prevent any spread of the bacteria. - (PeriodicoSurigao)
MAJOR ACTION IN PROGRESS AFTER NPA RAIDS IN SURIGAO DEL NORTE
June 30, 2008War planes and attack gunship helicopters of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) strike wing and helicopter wing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were deployed to extend air cover to the pursuing Army combat maneuvering battalion who encountered Sunday morning the withdrawing communist insurgents in Surigao del Norte, sketchy reports reaching the tactical advance command post (ACP) of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division stated.
The air support to the ground troops started at 10 o’clock in the morning. The war planes and helicopters took off from Bancasi Airport in Butuan City and flew to ’specified target’ areas in Claver and still undisclosed targets, it was learned.
Maj. Michele B. Anayron, regional Army spokesman, said blocking combat soldiers of the 30th Infantry Battallion, personally led by
Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragosa encountered the running New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at 9:15 in the morning in nearby coastal area in Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte.
At least five NPA rebels were already captured in Lapinigan island while one M16 Armalite rifle with M203 tube was also seized in the ensuing gunbattle.
Identities of the captured NPA rebels were temporarily withheld pending tactical interrogation.
‘The boats they (NPA) commandeered encountered sea engine trouble, that’s why our troops engaged them,’ said Maj. Anayron, adding ‘Running gunbattle is still raging in the area’.
Initially, troops of 1Lt. Joselito Anti engaged the estimated 40 withdrawing rebels, who are reportedly members of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, he said.
He said the encountered NPA rebels were part of the attacking communist insurgents in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, in Siargao Island of that same province Saturday night.
Maj. Anayron said operating troops in Claver area cannot still determine the number of casualties in Panatao heavy gunbattle as fighting still rages as of press time while another encounter still rages in unidentified coastal area in Claver town.
Brig. Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr., area command chief of the Army’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, ordered Brig. Gen. Dante Fernandez, commanding officer of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade the deployment of more combat troops in Claver, Maj. Anayron added.
The attack in Siargao Island, the most recorded peaceful area in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) on Saturday night is the first that ever happened in the island.
Chief Supt. Jaime E. Milla, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) is currently in the island, particularly in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, to assess the situation and to personally supervise the island’s police force in the pursuit operation to fleeing communist insurgents.
BUTUAN CITY, June 29 (PNA) — At least 16 long and short firearms were carted away by an estimated 60 suspected New People’s Army rebels who simultaneously ransacked two Municipal Halls and police stations, the Dapa, Surigao del Norte and General Luna Municipal Halls and police offices all in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on Saturday at about 10:30 p.m, initial police and military reports said.
The Municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, the country’s surfing capital and where many foreigners are now staying, is just 14 kilometers apart from each other, all situated in the Siargao Island.
Siargao Island which has nine municipalities is about two to three hours away by motorboat ride from the sea port of Surigao City.
Fourth Infantry Division Philippine Army spokesman Major Michelle Anayron, Jr. confirmed the attack and claimed military and police reinforcements are now pursuing the attackers believed to be mostly young rebels.
Initial police report reaching this regionʼs capital, particularly at the Caraga Regional Police Information Office here, claimed an estimated 60 fully-armed men and women clad in black uniforms boarding in six vans suddenly disembarked and scattered all over Dapa Municipal Hall Compound.
Twenty of them stormed Dapa Municipal Police Office where about six police personnel allegedly on duty. The raiders announced a raid then ordered all shocked and helpless policemen to lie face down on the floor.
Suspected NPA rebels then took away all six service short firearms and three M-16 armalite rifles of the policemen and undetermined number of ammunitions.
While the 20 suspected NPA rebels were busy guarding and hoarding firearms of the policemen, other comrades of the NPA raiders ransacked nearby government offices situated within the Municipal Hall compound.
The suspects destroyed computers and other facilities of the Dapa Fire Station, Dapa Water District, Dapa Municipal Circuit and Trial Court, SSS, BIR, Philippine Health or Phil Health and Public Attorneyʼs Offices.
Police said the suspects also destroyed computer and other equipment of the Dapa Municipal Police Office.
As the raid in Dapa town progressed, suspected communist rebels, also estimated to be 60 fully armed guerillas, conducted lightning raid on General Luna Municipal Police Office and carted away six service firearms, one M-16 armalite rifle and five others whose caliber or type of firearms were not reported.
Police reports claimed the General Luna Municipal Police Station, led by its chief of police, was able to put-up a firefight for more or less 15 minutes before being overrun by the Communist terrorists.
A certain PO1 William Montilla Dayday was wounded and is presently confined in a hospital.
Like in Dapa, the General Luna Police Station is situated within the Municipal Hall compound.
Same report claimed personnel from Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Offices and 14th Regional Mobile Group had already deployed as blocking/intercepting forces at the possible escape routes of attackers while Philippine Army personnel in the area has also called for reinforcement.
Before the simultaneous attacks, the rebels allegedly knocked out communication facilities of the two island towns. (Balita Pinoy - Philippine News & Analysis)
Troops kill 15 NPAs, nab 12 more in Surigao Norte
At least 15 suspected members of the New People’s Army were killed while 12 others were captured in a clash with government troops in Surigao del Norte that began over the weekend, the spokesman for the Philippine Army said Monday.
Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said that the suspected insurgents were slain and arrested in pursuit operations by the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion and the 42nd Military Intelligence Company in Siargao Island.
Brawner said the pursuing troops were augmented by the local police, which helped in the follow-up operations launched after the NPA rebels attacked a police station and burned a cellular phone transmission in Dapa and General Luna towns late Saturday.
Eastern Mindanao regional military spokesman Maj. Armand Rico earlier said two policemen were killed and four others were wounded in the encounter.
Initially, 50 NPA rebels attacked a police station in Dapa town, where they carted away a number of assault rifles and pistols. After government officials blocked exit points in the area, the rebels split into two groups.
One of the two groups fled bv boat to Lapinigan Island, where they remain trapped as of 9 a.m. in the island’s forested interior, Brawner said.
Firefight continues as of this posting, the Army spokesman added.
Surigao del Norte, a province of nearly 500,000 people, is about 430 miles southeast of Manila. - (GMANews.TV)
3 Ka Lantsa Nalunod
June 27, 2008Pito gyod ka mga mananagat ang hangtud karon wala pa igkita samtang nasalbad ang laing 39 ka mga tawo dihang nalunod ang tulo ka mga sakayan sa kadagatan dihang gikuso-kuso sa bagyong Frank ankadagatan sa Siargao Island ug Surigao del Norte niadtong usa ka adlaw.
Matud sa report sa Public Information Office-Police Regional Office 13 sa Butuan City, ang Coast Guard ug ang Quick Action Response Team sa Surigao City nagpadayon pa hinuon sa ilang rescue mission ngadto saw ala pa igkita ang pito ka mga mananagat.
Ang nawala nga mga mananagat giilang sila si Johnrey Asan, 27; Wendelberto Asan, 21; Alan Asan, 39; George Ubay, 20; Damian Usayan, 51; Rejay Itac, 35; ug Jun Zaide, 34 nga pulos molupyo sa Purok 2, Sabang, Surigao City.
Sayo niini gibutyag nga 39 ka mga crew members ang gibanlas didto sa kabaybayonan sa Cagwait, Surigao del Sur ug Taganaan, Surigao del Norte.
Nasayran nga ala 1:00 sa hapon niadtong Biyernes, ang MV Meme II nga gidumala sa 18 ka mga crewmenbers ug ang MV Balljack Tricks nga gipadagan pod sa 11 ka mga lalaki, nalunod sa kadagatan sa General Luna, Siargao Island tungod sa kusog nga hangin gikan sa bagyong Frank nga milatos sa Surigao.
Ang nawagtang nga mga mananagat, tripulante sa MV Meme II may duha na ka mga survivors ang natabangan sa usa ka fishing boat nga ginganlan ng MTGR ug midunggo didto sa pantalan sa Cagwait, alas 10:00 sa buntag niadtong sabado.
Ang tanang mga survivors gitambalan ni Dr, Sherwen Mantilla, Cagwait Municipal Health Officer.
Alas 10:00 sa buntag, ang fishing boat nga ginganlan ug Trina nalunod pod sa kadagatan sa Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, apan ang 17 crewmen naluwas sa mga mananagat, local government rescue team ug Quick Response Team sa lain-laing barangay sakop sa Taganaan, Surigao del Norte.
Gibutyag sa pulis report, nga ang likod nga bahin sa fishing boat maoy nadaut sa dagkong balod, busa misulod nag dagat ug nalunod ang sakayan.
PGMA: Gov’t is working hard to solve rice and price issues
June 18, 2008
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the Philippine government is working hard to solve the rice and price issues facing the country as she ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to improve the distribution and increase the allocation of government-subsidized rice in depressed areas in the country.
"Our efforts to address this challenge are focused on doing whatever possible to ensure access to supplies of rice and fair prices", the President said.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap have assured adequate supplies of rice for our needs for the rest of the year from both domestically produced rice and from imports. Importation of rice will be made when prices and conditions are acceptable to expand buffer stocks, she added.
At present, legal actions are being taken against rice hoarders which include the filing of charges against 73 traders and against the regional directors of NFA of Regions V and X; the NFA provincial managers of North Cotabato, Camarines Sur and Misamis Oriental; and the Assistant provincial manager of Misamis Oriental.
The President said that the government is now focused on the distribution, supply and enforcement efforts on both fair prices today and fair prices in the years to come. The new economics of global food security now make it imperative that we control our own destiny in terms of rice.
We are taking control of our food supply. We are working with all levels of government in our country with multilateral agencies and our other development partners, and with the private sector to achieve rice self-sufficiency in five years from now, she said.
Our longer-term efforts to promote rice self-sufficiency will also ensure that we will no longer have to rely on expensive imports to meet our country’s needs for this important commodity.
The actions we are taking to achieve self-sufficiency include providing unprecedented amounts of investments in fertilizers; in irrigation and other infrastructure; in agricultural education, extension and equipment; in dryers and other post-harvest facilities; and in seeds, the President said. (PIA)
