ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PIA)--The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 6, including its six Provincial Science & Technology Centers (PSTCs) in Western Visayas have been recently recertified to ISO 9001:2008 for its quality management efforts.

The reassessment was conducted by the Certification International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI) last February.

ISO 9001:2008 Certificate covers the provision by regional and provincial offices of scientific and technology transfer services. The certification is seen by DOST as a validation of their accomplishments in their continued used of the international standard as an instrument for enhancing their competitiveness and for meeting needs and expectations of people.

CHED financial aid for students

ILOILO (PIA) --- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is accepting applicants for its Student Financial Assistance Programs (SFAP) for 2011-2012.

Scholarship programs available are One Town One Scholar; Full-Merit and Half-Merit for Scholarship Program; Tulong Dunong and Study Grant Program for Congressional Districts for Grant-in-Aid; and Study Now, Pay Later Plan for student loans program.

Student/applicants are advised to enroll in such CHED priority courses available in Region 6 as information technology/computer science, agriculture and all agricultural and fishery-related courses, teacher education, engineering courses, health sciences, arts and humanities, and environmental science.

P.N.P. secures Siquijor tourists

SIQUIJOR, April 18 (PIA)-- To maintain the province’s serenity and professionalize tourism service, the Philippine National Police (PNP) here is institutionalizing the police tourist office in all six towns of the province.

PNP Provincial Director Ernesto Agas made his commitment to maintain peace and order of the province in line with the direction of the province towards tourism development during the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development (PSMED) Planning.

Jobs fair in Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA)--Hundreds of job seekers in Negros Oriental are expected to take part in a Jobs Fair scheduled by the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) of Negros Oriental on May 1, 2011 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Capitol Area, Dumaguete City.

The Jobs Fair is part of the celebrations marking Labor Day in the province. Some 19 Manila and Cebu-based agencies recruiting for overseas jobs along with five agencies seeking recruits for local employment are expected to join in said Fair.

Antique marks earth day

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) – Antique province celebrated Earth Day yesterday with a Fun Run for the Environment from the Malandog marker in Hamtic, Antique to the Evelio B. Javier (EBJ) Freedom Park in the provincial capital, San Jose town.

Other activities included seed collection and propagation and tree planting especially in mangrove areas, and a symposium on global warming, climate change mitigation and earth conservation.

This year’s theme, “Earth Day Every Day” reminds everyone to be committed to do simple acts to protect and conserve Mother Earth,” said Ildefonso Tuliva, Antique’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO).