ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo were asked to exercise strong political will in effectively dealing with anti-illegal fishing in the province.

Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Officer (PAO) Dr. Ildefonso Toledo said fish production in Iloilo has been decreasing annually because “no LGU seems to be serious in addressing illegal fishing within their jurisdiction.”

Toledo stressed further, “We need the commitment and active participation of the LGUs so we could address this illegal fishing problem.”

Palo chooses new diocesan administrator
PALO, Leyte – Members of the Board of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Palo has elected an administrator after the installation of Archbishop Jose S. Palma as new Archbishop of Cebu last January 13, 2011 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City.

Monsignor Jimmy Villanueva of the Burauen Vicariate, and parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Burauen town, has been elected as Diocesan administrator, while the Holy See has yet to name a new Archbishop in the Archdiocese of Palo.

Villanueva was elected by his colleagues including Rev. Fr. Erwin Bagalapo of the Sto. Niño Parish in Tacloban City.

Lactation area in workplace pushed
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – As part of the National Nutrition Councils (NNC) advocacy, in line with with the exclusive breast-feeding program of the Department of Health, the latter is slated to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and the city government to push for the setting up of a lactation area in the workplace.

NNC7 Executive Director Parolita Mission said a lactation station is one of the low-cost family-friendly facilities an employer can put up at the workplace for the benefit of female employees.

Disaster risk management strengthened
SIQUIJOR (PIA) – The Siquijor provincial government is strengthening its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) to counter adversity and calamities brought by climate change.

Civil Defense Office7 Assistant Regional Director, Welino Gubuan stressed that the reorganization of the PDRRMC is a great help in responding to emergency situations.

He underlined the need for every municipality to have a strong and well-organized municipal disaster risk reduction council.

A strategic planning workshop was held recently to outline mitigation and other measures useful in addressing calamities.

Biliran Road damaged
TACLOBAN CITY LEYTE (PIA) – Only one lane of the Culaba-Caibiran Road specifically at Kilometer 1083+060 in Biliran province is passable, as of 5 o’clock in the afternoon of January 21. However, construction is already ongoing at the other lane.

This was learned from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Eastern Visayas as reported by the local disaster risk reduction and management councils and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the effects on of continuous rains since January 2, 2011 in Eastern Visayas.