ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PIA) — Dr. Leriza Balopenos, Regional Animal Health Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture, Region 6 said starting this month they will focus surveillance on signs of bird flu in preparation for the period where migratory birds come into the country.

Dr. Balopenos said in an interview that migratory birds usually flock to local wet lands to escape cold weather from their host country. Both Balopenos and Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, Regional Emerging Infectious Disease Coordinator of DoH 6 said that Western Visayas remains bird flu-free, but reminded everyone "not to hold our guard down; we have to be prepared.”

Meanwhile, National Epidemiology Center Head Dr. Eric Tayag said the government’s Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources are all taking steps to make sure the country remains bird flu-free.

He said this is aside from coordination efforts between the Department of Health and the Manila International Airport Authority in scanning passenger arrivals which might be carriers of the bird flu virus.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR VISITS SAGAY

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines (PIA) — Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines, Zvi Avenir Vapni with Yeshayahu Stern, Head of Agricultural Projects in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Centre for International Agricultural Development Cooperation recently visited Sagay City to see and explore the different areas where they can extend cooperation and be of help to the community.

During his courtesy call on Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva, Vice Mayor Kent M. Javelosa and other city officials, Ambassador Vapni said he feels that Israel could be of help in the area of agricultural technology. He said he is interested in the city's dairy farm which, he said, he could extend assistance to its expansion program.

He also told the local government officials that he could link them up with various companies that might be interested in entering into ventures with their local government units (LGUs.) On the basis of cooperation, he said the LGUs “Need to hear from us so they would know what we need and counterpart with expertise that best fits our needs.”

He said Sagay can either send its representative to Israel to learn its technology requirement with other Asian countries or Israel can send experts here to teach relevant technology.

BOHOL SCHOOLS WIN AWARDS

TUBIGON, Bohol, Philippines (PIA) — Noted for its impressive pool of talented and academically gifted students from its top schools, Tubigon joins local school administrators in celebrating pay off.

Principals from Holy Cross Academy, Salus Institute of Technology, Holy Family of Nazareth, Gods's Little Flock Learning Center and Mater Dei College, all in this town are in jubilation for harvesting the much coveted awards and recognition from the Bohol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) Meet.

The athletic, literary and musical meet is for high school levels and the Bohol Association of Private School Elementary Administrators (BAPSEA).

Fresh from the competitions, the students from both elementary and high school here are still feeling the hype and euphoria. Holy Cross Academy ranked overall champion and romped off with the Miss BACS Athletics 2010 award for Alyssa Quinones.

Salus Institute of Technology took the 2nd Place Over-all and reaped the Miss BACS Academics 2010 through Judiel Israel. On the other hand, Holy Family of Nazareth School took the 7th Place Overall and bagged the Miss BACS Personality 2010 through Dianne Mascariñas.