STA. JOSEFA, Agusan del Sur – Farmers of this far-flung municipality of Agusan del Sur province received a good news when the Regional Development Council (RDC) endorsed the P57.7 million expansion of Sta. Josefa Pump Irrigation Project here, it was learned yesterday. Because of this development, more farmers in almost all barangays in this town will soon improve their yield. The expansion of the service area of the project was unanimously endorsed by the RDC during its meeting held recently in Butuan City for funding by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The additional cost will expand the service area from 2,000 hectares to 2,787 hectares, NIA official here said. Presently, only the barangays of Angas, Awao, Sayon, Concepcion, San Jose and Patrocinio in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur are covered by adequate irrigation water supply. (Mike U. Crismundo)

CARAGA PREPARES DEVELOPMENT PLAN

BUTUAN CITY – In an effort to help the current administration in its development program in the countryside, particularly Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region), the Regional Development Council (RDC) will be preparing its successor Regional Development Plan (RDP) for period 2010-2016, it was learned yesterday. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the 2010-2016 regional development plan came out after the RDC approved during its 63rd Full Council Meeting held recently here, the guidelines for the formulation of a successor plan, also known as the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP). Since the previous RDP will expire this year, the successor plan will set the development direction of the region in the next six years. (Mike U. Crismundo)

AFP TO DISTRIBUTE BOOKS TO STUDENTS

MAWAB, Compostela Valley – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is set to distribute at least 137,000 student workbooks to less fortunate students in Southern Philippines, Lt. Col. Medel M. Aguilar, Public Information Officer (PAO) of the Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said yesterday. The PAO said the donated workbooks arrived on Wednesday at Southern Mindanao Sasa Port aboard a Philippine Navy ship. The books were donated by the Union Bank of the Philippines as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CPSR), through the joint efforts of the AFP, Department of Education (DepEd) and the Local Government Unit (LGU). The project is in line with the Union Bank Learning System program implemented in the entire Region XI dubbed as “Developmental Reading Integrated with Values for Good Citizenship.” (Mike U. Crismundo)

C.D.O. EYES P200-M TRAFFIC SYSTEM

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The local government unit here plans to borrow as much as P200 million next year to replace the city’s ageing traffic lights, officials said, amid caution from an opposition official that it may strain the city's finances. Councilor Roger Abaday acknowledged the importance of overhauling the city's traffic system but urged City Hall to "think twice because this may add up again to the pile of debts accumulated throughout the years." The plan was first bared by Councilor Alden Bacal, Public Utilities committee chairman, last month, albeit without the price tag. Bacal said the proposal calls for the purchase of modern traffic equipment to synchronize traffic lights in critical intersections in Max Suniel St. and Vamenta Boulevard, A. Velez and J.R. Borja Sts. and J.R. Borja and Pabayo Sts. (Nef Luczon)