DAVAO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The government-run hospital based in this city will construct an annex building worth P25 million to serve more patients from all over Mindanao.

Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) chief of hospital Dr. Leopoldo Vega said the new annex building will be constructed just above the new operating room and can cater to 150 more patients. Vega said the annex building will be a 150-bed capacity ward with a mother-andchild care facility to separate the SPMC maternity center from patients with various ailments.

RAIN HARVESTING FACILITY PUSHED

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Sen. Loren Legarda on Thursday encouraged local government units (LGUs) to construct rainwater harvesting facilities in their respective villages as part of the water conservation program.

Legarda said that setting up such facility would help address the country’s water shortage problem, particularly during the summer season, while making use of the excessive water brought by the rains during the wet season. “Water is a very precious resource. We have been experiencing water shortages especially in the urban areas,” she said. (Nonoy Lacson)

EDUCATION SUMMIT IN SURIGAO SLATED

SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – In an effort to improve basic education, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte and this city are set to launch the “2011 Education Roadmap Summit” where several educators, other government officials, and stakeholders will be participating at the Surigao Provincial Convention Center here next month.

The summit is also fully supported by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, League of Municipal Mayors of the Philippines, Association of Barangay Captains, and Parents-Teachers and Community Association. (Mike Crismundo)

L.B.P. LOANS OUT P4 B IN REGION 9

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Close to P4 billion was loaned out by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) during the first three quarters of 2010 to various priority sectors in Western Mindanao.

The Region 9 office of LBP here covers Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Sulu, Zamboanga Sibugay, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan, and the cities of Pagadian, Zamboanga, Ozamiz, Dipolog, Oroquieta, Dapitan, Isabela (Basilan), and Tangub. LBP 9 manager Khurshid U. Kalabud said the amount – totaling P3.91 billion – that was lent out to local priority sectors during last year’s first nine months period represented an increase of P490 million. (Tony Pe. Rimando)

REASEARCH GROUP BARES PEACE PLAN

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Golden Crescent Peace Center, now known as the Golden Crescent Peace Council (GCPC) that is affiliated with the Inter-religious Solidarity Movement for Peace (IRSMP), has set up a new research group named as Golden Crescent Consortium of Peace Builders and Affiliates (GCCPBA) in this city.

The consortium is an offshoot of the GCPC aimed at convening Muslim professionals especially those heading important institutions and organizations within the city into a formidable research group with its theme “Rescuing Islam from the Extremists: Building Bridges of Peace through Research." (Nonoy Lacson)