Earthquake Hits Butuan Again

A 3.8-magnitude quake, tectonic in origin, hit the southern province of Agusan del Sur around 12:47 p.m., local time. The epicenter was traced about 37 kilometers northwest of the southern city of Butuan.

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Butuan Mayor On Training To Korea

Butuan City (20 August) -- City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. left Butuan on August 18, 2010 to join 14 other Mayors from other regions of the country to attend a14-day training from August 21 to September 3 in Local Administration Improvement to be held in Seongnam and Suwon, Korea. Participants will be housed at the KOIKA International Cooperation Center.

The South Korean government, through the Korea International Cooperating Agency (KOICA) will conduct the trainings that are aimed to help promote faster and more sustainable growth in the Philippines, and paved the way for future collaboration and aid opportunities in particular cities or municipalities.

The 15 participants from the Philippines will undergo a short study program with the objectives of offering Korean perspective of national development by introducing Korean development experiences, to enhance understanding of Korean local administrative system and to promote better understanding and more friendly relations between Korea and participating countries.

It was learned, that KOICA offered to invite 132 Filipinos for 2010 to Korea to attend 36 training courses, five of which were designed exclusively for Filipinos, one of which is the Local Administration Improvement that Mayor Amante will be attending.

The trainings offered by KOIKA are the following: National Integrated Vehicle Management and Inspection System Development, Economic Development in Mindanao, Immigration Management, and Railway Management and Operations.

"The interaction of Mayor Amante and Korean experts may help identify areas where the Korean government can provide interventions as well as for us in the city government to adopt Korean best practices in relation to effective governance," said Vice Mayor Lawrence Fortun.

The Vice Mayor was appointed to act as the Officer in Charge from August 18-20 and shall seat as the Acting Mayor of Butun City on August 21 until September 3, 2010. (dxBN-Radyo ng Bayan Butuan/PIA-Caraga)

Butuan: Historical Mecca

photo source

According to the Manila Bulletin online article, Butuan  City (Region XIII) of Caraga is the historical mecca of the Philippines with good access to Agusan marshlands and surfing capital of Siargao.

To read it for yourself, click here.

Mayor Reaching Out To Butuanons

Executive Order No. 3 issued by the incumbent Butuan Mayor is a welcome development for Butuanons.  The Order provides for the creation and establishment of Adlaw Hong Butuan every Wednesday of the week.  This is a chance for every Butuanon to personally meet and raise his/her concerns with the Mayor.

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3 Balangays Make History Again

ABS-CBNNEWS.COM reported that the wooden balangay "Sama Tawi-Tawi" would be launched in Butuan City, today, July 16, and will join two other balangays, "Diwata ng Lahi" and "Masawa Hong Butuan" in Zamboanga City for an expedition across South East Asia and then to China on July 26.

Since I am writing this post almost too late already, I wonder if it was successfully launched?

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P48 million Budget for Butuan Bridge Rehab

The Magsaysay bridge which connects Davao, Surigao, and Agusan del Sur to Butuan City is now under rehabilitation. Allotted budget amounted to P48,161,187.83 which main objective is to strengthen its sub-structures.  The rehabilitation is estimated to be completed in 300 days.

The 50-year old bridge is believed to be the oldest bridge in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions.

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Earthquake in Butuan

An earthquake hit Butuan and nearby cities (Cabadbaran and Surigao City) yesterday at around 10:11am. The tremor, with a magnitude of 4 caused panic among the residents. As of this moment, authorities are still checking whether there were injuries or damages incurred. They however assured that there were no immediate casualties reported.

It is worthy to note also that a 4.1 earthquake magnitude previously shook Butuan City on the day of elections, Monday, May 10, 2010.

Source: Philippine Information Agency and Inquirer.net.

Who is Butuan's Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr.?

The surname rings a bell, however, I really did not know a single thing about Butuan's new mayor, Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr.  Not until I read an article from dateline.ph.

Accordingly, the newly-elected mayor was a first-term barangay captain of vote-rich Ampayon (which is just a few kilometers away from Butuan City proper).  Also a practicing physician, Dr. Amante, Jr., must have done something good in Ampayon that he gained the support of his constituents.

Although he was a neophyte barangay captain, Amante is actually connected with a clan of politicians in Agusan del Norte.  His father and Mr. Edelmiro Amante, a seasoned politician, are brothers.

Dr. Amante's impressive entry to Butuan City hall finally ended the 18-year reign of the Plazas in Butuan City.

Butuan Has A New Mayor

Last night, COMELEC has proclaimed Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr. as the new mayor of Butuan City.  This is surprising considering that the Plazas had been dominating the Butuan political arena for so long.  Who would have thought that the recent May 10, 2010 elections would force the Plazas to step down from City Hall for earning 56,763 votes only?  Dr. Amante won by 8,900 votes.

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This is Your Moment!

Calling all bloggers who want to gain friends in the blogosphere and build links at the same time –  BC Bloggers 3 is now open.  To join just visit Mommy Diary, read the requirements, and fill out the Application Form.