NegOr-funded road rehab project in Dgte completed
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, November 1 (PIA) --- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo recently led the blessing and inauguration ceremonies of the newly-improved Taft and Libertad Streets in Brgy. 8, Dumaguete City.
The provincial government earlier allocated around P1 million for the rehabilitation of said street in line with Gov. Degamo’s road projects province wide, said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo.
Among the local government units benefitting from the provincial government-funded road projects, Dumaguete City received the biggest share with P13 million being the province’s capital city.
“The funds are from the province’s 20% development fund,” said Sedillo.
The governor assured to fast track the road projects funded by the provincial government as this, he said, is one of the reasons why the province was recognized as one of the top ten performing provinces nationwide by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Gov. Degamo, in his talk during the inauguration ceremony, stressed the importance of well-maintained roads to the growth of the local economy and convenience of residents. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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DA inks MOA with Silliman University for marine research project
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, October 31, 2011 (PIA) --- The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Silliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental for a collaborative research project to examine the stock and population structure of Philippine marine species.
The agreement was signed by SU President Dr. Ben Malayang III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for the collection of selected marine species in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, said SU Office of Information and Publications Director Mark Raygan Garcia in a statement.
“The project focuses research on seagrasses, seaweeds, soft and hard corals, fish, and invertebrates,” said Garcia.
Said project is in line with another bigger project titled “Origins of High Marine Biodiversity in the Indo-Malay Philippine Archipelago: Transforming a Biodiversity Hotspot into a Research and Education Hotspot” undertaken by the university through the Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences in partnership with the Old Dominion University Research Foundation.
Garcia said molecular tools will be used in the assessment of the collected specimens.
“Since the project involves graduate students from Silliman, Old Dominion University and other partner academic institutions, it doubles as a venue for training in molecular genetic techniques and the development of scientific linkages,” he added.
DA, with its commitment of improving information systems regarding the country’s aquatic biological diversity, will benefit from the project as one of the recipients of scientific data.
Said data will serve as reference guide to effective fisheries management and policy making.
The project runs for 11 months and will end in July 2012. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from SU-OIP)
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Cebuanos urged to bring umbrella on Nov. 1,2 to cemetery, PAGASA says
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, October 31 (PIA) – Cebuanos are urged to bring umbrellas when they go to the cemetery as the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical and Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of rains ahead especially in the next two days.
PAGASA-Mactan said an inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) has been spotted in Mindanao and will bring forth rains to Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.
Boy Artiaga of PAGASA-Mactan said “it may rain in some parts of Cebu depending on where the formation of the rain clouds are” as he advised the public just to bring umbrellas and raincoats.
Cebu ’s temperature will run between 31 to 33 degrees Celsius, Artiaga said.
Except for the less than 30 minute-moderate rains last night, Cebu has been experiencing in the past few days very humid weather. Today is no exception.
The Department of Health (DOH) here previously warned to wear appropriate clothing during rainy weather to avoid getting sick.
“Do not wade in flood waters because there are many bacteria and the most likely disease one develops is leptospirosis,” DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Susana Madarieta informed.
Madarieta also advised the public to continue cleaning their surroundings and get rid of stale water in open containers because this will be a good breeding site of the dengue-carrying mosquito, Aedes Egypti. (PIA-Cebu)
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NYC invites Filipino youths to join logo design contest
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, October 31 (PIA) --- Young Filipino artists can walk away with cash prizes up to P25,000 during the Logo Design Contest launched by the National Youth Commission (NYC).
The contest is open to Filipinos aged 15 to 35 years old with each contestant allowed to submit up to three original designs.
There are no criteria set for judging as long as the logo portrays NYC’s branding: “The Voice and Advocate of the Youth,” a statement from NYC said.
Each design must contain a rational or brief description or explanation to provide context to the suggested logo such as explanation on colors or symbols used, etc.
Entries may be picture or text-based or a combination of both, may be done free-hand rendered in markers, ink, pastel, watercolor, oil or acrylic or digitally done by computer.
There are no restrictions in the number of colors used.
Submitted logo designs must not carry the name of the artist and should be in two formats: one full-color and one black and white or grayscale.
Entries received by NYC will be posted on their website and Facebook account for public voting.
The winning design will get a cash prize, plus mentions in press releases/social media releases regarding the NYC logo re-design.
The grand winner will get 25,000.00 while a special citation will be given to three entries with P5,000 each.
A cash prize of P5,000 will also be given each to the designs Most Popular on Facebook and Most Popular on Twitter. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Free patent titles issued to 56 Pantawid Pamilya recipients in Mabinay town
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, October 31, 2011 (PIA) --- A total of 56 Pantawid Pamilya program beneficiaries in Mabinay town received their free patent titles from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during the first Pantawid Pamilya Caravan held in Negros Oriental.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oscar Magallones handed over the free patent titles to the beneficiaries from Brgy. Tara and Brgy. Baras during the caravan held Oct. 28 at the Mabinay Gymnasium.
The issuance of free patents is in line with the Handog Sa Titutlo program implemented by DENR through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
“We are targeting to distribute 1,800 free patents under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in the province,” Magallones said in an interview.
Said recipients are among the nearly 2,000 Pantawid Pamilya program beneficiaries who participated in the caravan held in the hinterland town of Mabinay, 87 kilometers away from Dumaguete City, the capital city of Negros Oriental.
DENR was one of the eight government agencies that participated in the convergence caravan with the aim of bringing government services closer to the people, particularly to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, an anti-poverty program spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The Handog sa Titulo program is an ongoing program implemented by DENR nationwide aimed at giving land to the landless consistent with the national government’s poverty reduction efforts.
In line with said program, DENR also started implementing last year its Residential Free Patent program under R.A. 10023 or the Residential Land Patent Act of 2010 for lots located within the poblacion areas.
“These are for areas in the poblacion that don’t have titles yet,” explained Magallones.
Qualified to apply for the residential free patents are landowners in the poblacion whose untitled lots are declared as residential under the local government’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan, he said.
For first and second class cities, the maximum area that may be applied is 200 square meters and between 500 to 750 square meters for municipalities.
Interested applicants may contact the local DENR office for further details. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)