Phil. Army soldiers join Araw ng Kagitingan celebration
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 11 (PIA) --- Soldiers from the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Armyjoined the local celebration of the "Araw ng Kagitingan" and Philippine Veterans Week on April 9 in Bais City to honor the gallantry of the Philippine Veterans during the World War II in Bataan and Corregidor.
The soldiers laid wreaths and offered flowers at the Veterans Memorial Park in Bais City to honor the gallantry and heroism of the Filipino war veterans.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the Bais City government, surviving members of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines Negros Oriental Chapter led by Atty. Enrico Garcia and 2Lt Bruno Pestijo (Ret) of the Veterans-Dumaguete City Chapter and the 42 members of the Sons and Daughters of Veterans-Bais City Chapter.
Also in attendance were 302nd Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Christopher C. Estella and Bais City Vice Mayor Luciano Benlota Sr.
Bais City spearheaded the local observation of “Araw ng Kagitingan” after Mayor Karen Villanueva allocated funds for the activity upon the request of the Sons and Daughters of Veterans of Bais City. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental
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Environmentalists gather in Dumaguete for annual biodiversity confab
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 11 (PIA) --- Environmentalists from across the country and from abroad will gather today in Dumaguete City for the 20th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, which is being hosted by Silliman University.
Starting today until April 14, a host of activities have been lined up to review the status of the country's biodiversity and the growth and contribution of the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines (WCSP) for the past 20 years.
The key activities of the four-day symposium, the theme of which is “Twenty Years in Biodiversity Conservation, Preparing for Future Challenges”, include an institutional fair, workshops and roundtable discussions, oral and poster presentations on wildlife conservation including a special session for undegraduate students and the WCSP Annual General Meeting.
Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources DENR) who hails from Dumaguete, is expected to give a keynote speech. A Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, Dr. Alcala is an expert on Philippine reptiles and amphibians.
SU President and former DENR Undersecretary Dr. Ben S. Malayang III will give a plenary presentation on environmental governance.
Post-symposium field trips are scheduled on the 15th for the participants to visit variousenvironment conservation areas and tourist destinations in the province of Negros Oriental such as the interactive rainforestation demonstration site of Liptong Woodlands in Bacong town and the Siit Arboretum Botanical Garden in Lutoban, Zamboanguita town.
The Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium held in different provinces every year is spearheaded by WCSP, a professional organization of wildlife researchers, managers, scientists and conservationists whose aim is to promote collaborative research, providing technical assistance and training and increasing public awareness.
Bicol University played host to last year's symposium during which 180 participants from all over the country participated in the event. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental)
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Phil. Army soldiers undergo training on law enforcement
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
by: Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 9 (PIA) --- Local cops and soldiers from the Negros OrientalProvincial Police Office (NOPPO) and the 302nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Armycompleted a two-day seminar on law enforcement conducted by the Dr. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development of Silliman University (SU).
The seminar tackled several topics such as issuance of warrants of arrest, lawful way of conducting searches and seizures, facts on admissible evidence as outlined in the Rules of Court, and essentials of the Philippines’ Anti-Torture Act and of international laws against humanity, according to a statement from the SU Office of Information and Publications.
The 40 total participants also had a brief affidavit-making activity during the seminar conducted in the last week of March, this year at Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City.
The pool of lecturers were composed of Director of Salonga Center Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio, Jose Ramon Nakao and Joseph Arnel Zerna of the Dumaguete City Prosecutors' Office, and 2010 SU bar exam passers Ma. Zusabel Digaum, Ramon Antonio Ruperto and Jason Bandal.
Salonga Center volunteers who are SU Law students were also on hand to facilitate the interaction during the seminar.
Also present were 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Manuel Luis M. Ochotorena, Police Provincial Director Col. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Deputy Brigade Commander Col. Christopher C. Estella and Deputy Police Provincial Director for Administration P/Supt Roy T. Abella. (RMN/PIA-7 Negros Oriental with reports from John Paul Oira)
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PA’s humanitarian mission benefitted 300 street children
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 11 (PIA) More than 300 children and residents of Barangay Talay have benefited from humanitarian mission on April 9 at Casa Miani-Arvedi compound, Dumaguete City.
Military and civilian doctors joined the medical mission undertaken by302 Infantry Brigade Medical and Dental Team and Casa Miani-Arvedi Somascan Fathers Foundation Incorporation, Casa Cittadini Home for the Girls and Friendship Home Foundation.
Civil Military Officer 1Lt Win Love Bag-ao said soldiers, mostly members of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, carry out and uphold this mission to achieve peace and development with local residents.
Lieutenant Win Love Bag-ao said the joint mission had delivered basic health services and aimed to uplift the health and living condition of the poor who cannot afford to pay for hospitalization.
The soldiers together with personnel of Dumaguete City Health Office provided free medical and dental services, circumcision and feeding program tostreet children and homeless families in the barangay.
The Lingkod ng Panginoon Dumaguete, Negros Oriental High School batch 1994 and 1995, Eversure Company and the Association of Young Nurses Leaders and Advocates (AYNLA) also assisted the soldiers in the conduct of the medical and dental services as part of the army’s civil-military operations to foster cooperation for peace and development with local residents. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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DOE, NORECO 2 to hold Energy Efficiency Seminar
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr 11 (PIA) With the looming effects of climate change and recent critical power supply situation in the province, the Department of Energy (DOE) in coordination with Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative (NORECO 2) will hold a seminar on energy efficiency and conservation on April 13 at the Noreco 2 Multipurpose Hall, Real Street, this city.
NORECO2 General Manager Ephraim Taclob said the activity aims to provide information in energy saving knowledge, attitude and practices in the use of electricity among the electric consumers in Negros Oriental.
Among the topics to be tackled include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use and safety, Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers, Philippine Energy Efficiency project(PEEP), and DOE’s program and services, Taclob said.
The DOE is also expected to present energy saving tips to participants with the use ofcompact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which consumes far less electricity than the traditionalincandescent bulbs, and this means it reduces greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.
Expected participants to attend the seminar are from various national agencies, local government units, power producers and distribution utilities, academe, and affiliated renewable energy centers.
DOE is likely to ask the local officials in the city as well in the province to do their share in energy conservation and mitigate the impact of climate change. (PIA NegOr/Jennifer Catan-Tilos)