Mayor Casurra visits SoKor for eco training
June 26, 2008

	EXCHANGE OF TOKENS. Director Kim Kwi-Gon, Ph D., of IUTC, a UN-HABITAT initiative, hands over the certificate of completion to Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra for having completed the 2008 International Urban Ecological Restoration training in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The mayor in return also presents his token of appreciation, a replica of the Seal of the City of Surigao, to Director Kim. Photo courtesy of IUTC

Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra flew to South Korea on June 15 together with other local government executives, urban planners and environmentalists in the Asia-Pacific region to attend the 2008 International Urban Ecological Restoration training, a short-term program of the International Urban Training Center (IUTC), an initiative supported by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT).
More of the story...

DBM releases P262.5M SARO to Caraga
June 12, 2008

	PUBLIC SERVICE. Budget Secretary Andaya announces the projects laid out by President Arroyo to Caraga region. Photo by Nestor Borja

Department of Budget and Management Secretary Rolando G. Andaya Jr. disclosed Thursday that his department has issued special allotment release order and national cash allocation amounting to P262.5 million to Caraga region as part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's pro-poor public service programs in the Independence Day celebrations this year.

Earlier in May, President Arroyo ordered her Cabinet to execute government programs on Independence Day in addition to the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying activities. Other members of the Cabinet were also distributing budget allocations and programs in other parts of the country where the President had previously assigned them.
More of the story...

Surigao City to hold regional celebration of 110th Philippine Independence
June 11, 2008

	PREPARATION. . A platform was laid out in front of the City Hall's main building as preparations began for the 110th Philippine Independence Day.Photo by Michael Miranda

Regional directors of the different national agencies will convene Thursday at the Surigao City Hall grounds for the raising of the Philippine flag in commemoration of the 110th Philippine Independence Day, which is synchronous to other regional celebrations in different parts of the country.

Secretary Rolando G. Andaya Jr. of the Department of Budget and Management will grace the local celebration here, as Cabinet members were assigned earlier in May by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to different cities in the country as her representative. This year's theme is “Republic Service: Tungo sa Ganap na Kalayaan at Kaunlaran.” In relation to this, the President ordered 'uncommon' celebration of the Independence by way of endowing pro-poor public service programs for the masses.
More of the story...

Surigao City Cultural Center opens for business
May 29, 2008

	NOW OPEN. Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra (right) and Vice Mayor Rico Salvador A. Sering (left) pull the shroud of the SCCC tablet marker etched with names of the city officials. Photo by Sydney Loyd Besario

Mayor Alfonso S. Casurra Wednesday led the opening of the newly constructed 400-seater Surigao City Cultural Center, together with city officials, department heads and employees, in a short blessing and inauguration ceremony celebrated by Fr. Perfecto Icat, DCS.

The Surigaonons got the chance to view for the first time the new cultural center which the mayor announced as fully equipped with state-of-the art facilities. “This center is state of the art. It is fully air-conditioned. It has WiFi Internet [connections] and has a VIP room and a caterer's room. The restrooms are at par with big cultural centers you can find [in major cities],” the mayor said.
More of the story...