BUTUAN CITY -- A Kapihan with PIA was hosted on Tuesday, August 31, shedding light on the plight of the agriculture and education sectors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 

This is the third Kapihan with PIA held in the region hosted by SM City Butuan in partnership with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga. 

Also highlighted during the event were the rigorous preparations of the Department of Education (DepEd) XIII for the opening of school year 2021 – 2022 and the possible challenges it may come across.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga focused on pressing issues concerning the state of the agricultural sector within the region on the onset of the pandemic and the strategies they have employed to curb the transmission of the African Swine Fever (ASF). 

Present during the event are DepEd-Caraga former Asst. Regional Director (OIC) and current School’s Division Superintendent – Dr. Lorenzo O. Macasocol, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director for Operations – Rebecca Atega, PIA-Caraga Asst. Regional Director Fryan Abkilan, SM City Butuan Mall Manager Kristine Joy Baritua, and SM City City Butuan Public Relation Officer Frank Nicol Melgar Marba.

The Kapihan sa PIA is an initiative to help drum-beat the projects, programs and activities from different government agencies in order to deliver timely, relevant, and accurate information concerning public interest. (Frank Nicol Marba, SM City Butuan/PIA-Caraga)