Rice subsidy program for farmers, fisherfolks underway in NegOr

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 28 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has embarked on a short-term rice subsidy program for small-scale farmers and fisherfolks in Negros Oriental. 

Selected small-scale farmers in 18 towns and cities across the province identified by DSWD are expected to benefit from said program which is implemented through a cash-for-training and cash-for-work basis, said Aileen Lariba, DSWD-7 Information Officer, in an interview. 

The program's beneficiaries will be required to undergo a four-day training. "They will be taught innovative ways in fishing and farming to help them in their livelihood," Lariba said.

In return, the beneficiaries will receive P267 per day for the duration of the training and the seven-day community development work they are expected to undertake afterwards. 

"After the training, the farmers and fisherfolks are expected to give back to the community and apply what they learned for seven days," said Lariba. 

Asked for the total number of beneficiaries in Negros Oriental, Lariba said DSWD has yet to pinpoint the exact figure as the program is still ongoing in the province. "We just started implementing the program early this month," she explained. 

The beneficiaries are chosen based on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction conducted earlier by DSWD. 

One of the local government units (LGUs) seen to benefit from the program is the town ofPamplona which announced in a press statement that 1,388 farmers in their area have been chosen to benefit from the rice subsidy program. 

"These beneficiaries come from 15 villages in our town," said Pamplona Information Officer Lee Janette Buscaino in the statement. 

The Rice Subsidy Program is spearheaded by DSWD in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Agriculture. 

A short-term poverty alleviation project, the program aims to provide temporary employment to small-scale farmers and fisher folks particularly to families who are distressed/displaced or needing assistance during the lean season. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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Dumaguete City to open public market waterless comfort room 
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 27 (PIA)   The Dumaguete City government is set to hold  the blessing and inauguration of the Dumaguete Public market waterless comfort room on June 28 at Building 1 of the market.

According to public market supervisor Engr. Ronnie Fortin, the state of the art and environment friendly comfort room (CR) will be operational and serve the clients of the Dumaguete City public market. 

The CR caters the male users only while renovation of the female comfort will follow, also located at the same building after the budget allocation, explained Engr. Fortin.

These waterless rest rooms are censor operated, equip with hand soap and toilet paper. Other sanitary needs like napkins, tissue paper and others will also be available through a machine at very minimal prices.

Fortin said, for the main time, a P2.00 usage fees will be collected per use of the CR and all tenants of the public market will have to pay also for the maintenance of the facilities. 

 “After the inauguration this can be used for males only, but they still have to use the ticket because the machine for tokens is not yet available,” Fortin said. 

Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria will lead the blessing and inauguration with the city officials, department heads with Rev. Father Ferdinand Ferraren is the celebrant. (PIA NegOr/JCT)

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DTI brings Diskwento Caravan to Dumaguete City

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 27 (PIA)--- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental is inviting consumers in Dumaguete City to avail of the discounted goods during the Diskwento Caravan or Presyo Bonanza from July 5 to 7, 2011. 

DTI will be rolling out the three-day caravan at three of the biggest commercial establishments in the city, namely: Lee Super Plaza, Cang's Inc. and Robinson's Place Dumaguete, according to DTI here in a press statement.  

The caravan will kick off with DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo expected to formally open the mall-wide Diskwento Caravan at Robinson’s Place Dumaguete on July 5, 2011 at 10:30 am.  

A total of 32 tenant stores at Robinson's Place, including Robinsons's Supermarket, will be participating in the caravan by marking down the prices of their wares during the three-day affair. 

Aside from the reduced prices, consumers can also avail of bundled grocery items at the Diskwento Korner inside the Robinson's Supermarket. 

DTI said shoppers can enjoy up to 60% discount on household appliances and non-food items. 

Consumers will also have a chance to bring home prizes after their discounted shopping sprees during the Diskwento Raffle. "For a minimum purchase of P300 of non-food items and P500 worth of appliances, shoppers are entitled to one raffle coupon. Fun games and gimmicks will also be conducted by participating stores at Robinsons Place," a statement from DTI said. 

On the other hand, Cang’s Inc. in Daro, Dumaguete City is expected to sell all kinds of notebooks at low prices, including bundled items such as milk, coffee, detergents, canned goods and rice will be sold up to 50% discounts at Cang’s  Diskwento Korner.  

Other low priced grocery items will also be displayed at the supermarket area of Cang's Inc.

Lee Super Plaza will also hold storewide sales in line with the caravan beginning July 1 to 15, 2011 for their "Branded Jeans Sale" and their Mega Midyear Sale from July 16 to 31, 2011. 

A Diskwento Korner will also be set up at the Lee Super Plaza Supermarket wherein consumers can save more on basic commodites and groceries. 

The Diskwento Caravan Project is a national program expanded by DTI to reach the provinces across the country, bringing affordable, discounted goods to consumers to help buffer the impact of rising fuel prices on the buying public. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

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NegOr forest cover highest in Region 7

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 27 (PIA) --- Among the four island-provinces comprising Central Visayas, Negros Oriental registered the highest forest cover this year. 

Forest cover in the province is now pegged at 12% of the total land area, higher than the 11% combined total forest cover of Region 7 provinces.  

This makes Negros Oriental the highest contributor to the region's total forest cover, said Dr. Isabelo Montejo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Technical Director, in a recent forum held at Bethel Guesthouse, Dumaguete City. 

"We are fortunate that Negros Oriental has contributed a lot to the region in terms of forest cover," said Montejo. 

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oscar Magallones, in an earlier forum, attributed the forest cover in Negros Oriental to the continuing reforestation efforts by local government units and non-government organizations here. 

The forest cover in the province is comprised of natural and man-made forests. 

The provincial government has recently allocated P5.5 million to set up pocket forests in all villages across the province. 

The move is aimed at supporting DENR's reforestation efforts and to help increase the forest cover in Negros Oriental. 

Magallones has expressed optimism that the mini-forests program will contribute much to the national government's greening program. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)