ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The Region 6 office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 6) is now actively pushing for the utilization of engineered bamboos.

The drive was in response to Executive Order (EO) 879 which mandates that 25 percent of the requirements in public elementary and secondary schools in the country will be made of engineered bamboos.

DTI 6 Director Wilhelm Malones explained that their agency was tasked to provide technical support to the initiative to include, among others, the active campaign for its utilization.

Malones said the campaign for the use of engineered bamboos is already extended to schools, private institutions, and even developers. Aside from its role in responding to climate change, Malones underscored the role of bamboos in poverty alleviation through the concept of entrepreneurial development.

Guimaras gets 4 new bridges
JORDAN, Guimaras (PNA) – The province of Guimaras is a recipient of four bridges to be constructed under the Mega Bridges for Urban and Rural Development Project (MBURDP) of the President’s Bridge Project.

Just recently, Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson relative to the projects’ implementation.

Under the MoA, the province agreed to provide counterpart funds and annual maintenance trust fund as well as undertake the maintenance of the facility.

Further, the provincial government will be responsible for the repair and rehabilitation of roads to include provincial, municipal, and village roads that will be used as alternative routes while the construction is ongoing.

Foreign experts to train Cebu cops
CEBU PROVINCE – Members of the elite Israel commandos are being tapped to train the elite forces of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU) of the province to effectively address critical situations, including hostage crisis.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal on Saturday confirmed that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has already made a request to the Consulate of Israel for the training. Garcia’s request generated positive response from Israeli Ambassador Zvi Vapni who said his country is willing to help Cebu anytime.

According to Digal, they need more personnel for the SRU as there are a number of towns in Cebu province, which has 44 municipalities and six component cities that need to be secured. But he added the 60 personnel that will be placed under the SRU are enough to respond to possible crimes and crisis situations that might happen. (Mars Mosqueda Jr.)

DTI to monitor Christmas lights
DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – The Region 7 office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 7) stressed there will be no let up in the monitoring of substandard Christmas lights starting soon.

DTI 7 Director Ester Caberte directed provincial offices in Region 7 not to go slow in its monitoring because this involves the lives and limbs of the people.

She issued an early warning for the public to start doubting when Christmas lights are sold so cheap, because it has more chances of starting a fire. When in doubt, look for an ICC mark if it’s imported, and a PS mark if it’s locally made.