CEBU CITY – After the successful election of officers of the Media and Information Network on Nutrition (MIND) here, said officers of the new organization, together with the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) have laid out plans to strongly promote proper nutrition.

In a recent fellowship activity, MIND7 President, Jun Tagalog, said that the groups plan to help government combat the continuing problem of malnutrition among children.

The plan includes special radio and television plugs on nutrition-related issues while print media is expected to come out with cartoon sketches and feature stories with the current undertakings of the NNC7. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Cebuanos rais P1.9 M for sick kids
CEBU CITY – The generosity of Cebuanos was once again made evident with the raising of nearly P2 million during the fund-raising program of the Marco Plaza Hotel for the benefit of children with cancer in Cebu recently.A total of P1,911,000 was raised by the "Season of Hope" that ran for one month.

The amount was more than the P1.3 million raised in 2009 under the same program."Today is the day that Cebuanos display their generosity. With the amount raised, we hope that we can see the relief from pain of these kids," said Marco Polo Plaza General Manager Hanz Hauri.

The amount was raised during the flag-off of the Train of Hope, part of the Season of Hope activity, which features the finest model-railway exhibitions from the 15-year collection of the Tugonon couple displayed in the Marco Polo hotel. (Mars W. Mosqueda. Jr.)

Candian gov't probes alleged scam
KALIBO, Aklan (PNA) – The city council of Vancouver, Canada, is now investigating the claims of 50 Filipino temporary workers against a restaurant there.

The said investigation is being led by the Mayor's Group on Immigration that has been tasked to take up the complaints of Filipinos who claim to be victims of a scam under Canada's Temporary Worker Program.

The complainants have filed a $10-million class suit action against Denny Restaurant after the management allegedly required them to go home as soon as their contract ends.

The allegation, however, has yet to be proven in court with the restaurant management categorically denying it already.

Vancouver councilor Geoff Megs in his blog said that they are investigating the complaints because it may pose a potentially serious problem for the city government.

Bank Guards' training ordered
ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The regional director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) based in Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City has ordered the training of bank security guards in Iloilo City.

PRO6 regional director Police C/Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. said training should help boost the guards' knowledge on implementing security measures against attempts to rob banks.

During the training, discussions will also focus on security lapses related to the East West Bank heist earlier this month.

The bank located at the corner of Fuentes and Ledesma streets in the city proper.

Earlier, Iloilo City Police Office members conducted a field training exercise, anticipating possible occurrence of robbery incidents in the city.

D.A. pushes for certified rice seeds
ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) here is optimistic that using certified seeds among farming villages will boost the region’s rice yield this year.

Manuel O. Olanday, the DA's regional Agri-Pinoy Rice program coordinator, said certified seeds have been proven to increase rice yields of farmers in some provinces, including pilot sites in Iloilo province.

However, he said the DA will soon stop subsidizing the provision of certified seeds to farmers in the country.

He said the DA is training some 187 rice cluster areas in the region to serve as initial sites for the propagation of certified seeds.

The DA is currently helping farmers in Western Visayas to grow and produce high quality seeds for their own use.