BAGUIO CITY – At least 30 micro enterprise associations from 26 towns in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will be receiving a total of P2.25-million livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DWSD’s) Self-Employment Assistance–Kaunlaran (SEA-K) starting next year.

The grant for the beneficiaries under the said program is geared towards enhancing socio-economic skills to provide livelihood opportunities for poor families in the countryside.

The beneficiaries will come from the towns of Tuba, Banged, and Baay-Licuan in Abra; Calanasan, Sta. Marcela, Flora, and Pudtol in Apayao; Kibungan, Kapangan, Kabayan, and Tublay in Benguet; Mayoyao, Hingyon, Banaue, Asipulo, and Lamut in Ifugao; Pnukpok, Tinglayan, Lubuagan, Rizal, and Balbalan in Kalinga; Sadanga, Bauko, Sabangan, Sagada, and Besao in Mountain Province; and some villages here.

Major components of the SEA-K program include social preparation, formation of groups and associations, capital assistance, savings mobilization, technical assistance and smooth access to social services for the people. (Dexter See)

Cavite cops seal firearms
IMUS, Cavite – The firearms of the 1,387-strong Cavite police force were virtually sealed for the Christmas season following the ceremonial gun-taping over the weekend at Camp General Pantaleon Garcia here.

Senior Supt. Danilo L. Maligalig, Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, led the traditional gun-sealing with a stern warning that policemen and civilians will take the consequences if ever they will be caught firing their guns indiscriminately, particularly during the New Year’s revelry.

Maligalig and his staff officers have taped the nozzle of Armalite rifles and short firearms held by police officers and men who lined up for the ceremony on Friday at the camp grounds.

The taping signaled the start of the campaign against indiscriminate gun firing this Christmas season.

The move was in response to the orders of Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo, and Chief Supt. Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr., director of Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO 4-A) to conduct the simultaneous gun-sealing over the weekend in the area. (Anthony Giron)

4 villages cited for anti-rabies
BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Mountain Province government cited four villages in three towns for their outstanding performance in the implementation of their respective anti-rabies program in compliance to marching orders from the national government to curb the prevalence of rabies cases, especially in the countryside.

Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen said Poblacion in Tadian was adjudged the overall winner in the province-wide search for the most compliant village to the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 because of the firm commitment of village officials and the community to eradicate the dreaded illness caused by animal bites.

Coming in second was Baguitan in Besao, while Lias Silangan and Lias Kanluran, both of Barlig town, tied for third place.

The champion in the search for best anti-rabies practices received P10,000, P6,000 was given to the second placer, while P3,000 each were distributed to the two third placers.

Because of the alarming cases of rabies in the country, Mayaen ordered concerned provincial offices and the villages to step up their campaign against the proliferation of stray dogs in their areas. (Dexter See)