CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines (PIA) – Non-governmental organization, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is backing the national government’s National Greening Program through its Greening Philippines Program.

RAFI Native Tree Nursery and satellite nurseries have been set up as the program’s support mechanism, with Cebu as pilot area. Some 16 firms have partnered with RAFI to pursue the program’s objectives, including formation of forest patches, using native tree species.

For Cebu, the program targets to plant five million native trees in five years in 2,900 hectares in the public domain.

Bacolod O.F.Ws aided
Bac olod city , NEGROS OCC. (PIA) – the Bacolod City government through its sectoral office has facilitated free phone calls abroad between families with members working in crisis-struck countries overseas.

To date, some 157 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Negros Occidental in such countries as Lebanon, Kuwait, Libya, and Japan have been given such assistance.

T.E.S.D.A. aids Siquijor tourism
SIQUIJOR (PIA) – For the first time in Siquijor province, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will conduct free assessment and certification for Food and Beverages, Commercial Cooking, Bread and Pastry Making, and Housekeeping in three runs this year.

Fletcher Gumahad of TESDA-Siquijor said, the National Synchronized Assessment and Certification is a great help for the province as this is tourism-oriented.

Medical team goes to Homonhon
BORONGAN, Eastern Samar (PIA) – A day before villages in Homonhon Island commemorated Magellan’s 490th Landing, some 300 residents from nine barangays here benefitted from a medical and dental mission in Barangay Pagbabangnan, Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

A member of the mission, Dr. Lilia Daguinod, held medical consultations with 240 atients; three dentists did tooth xtraction of 49 islanders and Dr. Mylo Barcial, chief of Homonhon Island Community Hospital, circumcised 36 young males.

The medical and dental mission coincided with the commemoration of Ferdinand Magellan’s landing in the island.

Greater resolve to wage peace
ILOLOILO CITY, Iloilo – The death of a soldier under the hands of the New People’s Army (NPA) has strengthened the resolve of soldiers to quash remaining rebel forces in Panay.

“It made us even more committed to win the peace though the NPA resorts to obsolete means to overthrow the government,” said Maj. John Andrada, commander of the 3rd Civil Military Operations Battalion (3CMOB), on the death of Cpl. Joebert Glindro.

Glindro was abducted and killed in Tapaz, Capiz by 30 armed men dressed as soldiers while he was on his way home last March 13. It was learned later that Glindro, who was negotiating for the surrender of a rebel, was killed by the NPA’s Central Front Committee led by Francisco Balois (aka “Tonying”). (Tara Yap)