CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — A lighted candle that fell to the floor was believed to have caused the early dawn fire that razed three houses in Brgy. Camputhaw last Wednesday.

Cebu City Fire Department firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it could spread to the rest of the barangay.

Fire investigator Senior Fire Officer 2 Teo Magallon said the blaze started 3:37 a.m. in the house of one Clint Caballero. The fire also destroyed the houses of Caballero’s father and uncle. Property damage was pegged at P150,000. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Visayas youth media fest

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The first Visayas youth media festival dubbed Kabataan sa Bisayas Media Festival was launched Wednesday at the Harampang Ha PIA forum at 9:30 at Gerry’s Grill Tacloban.

A total of 184 photographs and 59 video entries were submitted as entries.

Anak TV shortlisted the photo entries to a manageable 60 weeding out those that did not qualify in terms of quality, focus, and composition.

The top three video winners to be announced later will constitute the official Philippine delegation to the Seoul International FilmFest in July.

NCDA forum in Northern Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) — The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), along with the Northern Samar provincial government, Plan Philippines, Liliane Foundation Philippines, and Terre des Homes will conduct a Provincial Disability Forum today at the Farmer’s Training Center, University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman.

The forum is in line with Government’s efforts to promote and address the information gap on disability issues. Forum organizers said the primary goal for the Forum is to ensure all concerned agencies, stakeholders and the persons with disabilities are aware of Government’s policies and mandates on disability.

Seniors’ social pension fund

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the local social welfare and services office in Maasin City bared the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in the implementation of the senior citizens’ social pension fund, a priority program of Government’s.

Some involved agencies in this effort include the local Social Welfare and Development Office, the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), local government units and the provincial social welfare development office (PSWDO).

Central Visayas anti-measles drive

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Eighty percent of the targeted 1.4 million children in Central Visayas have been vaccinated against measles even as the Department of Health (DoH) extended its house-to-house campaign in a bid to achieve zero incidence rate in cases of measles.

Health Sec. Dr. Enrique Ona announced the extension of the ‘Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas’ campaign saying only 63 percent of 18 million targeted for immunization nationwide had been vaccinated during the door-to-door drive as of May 4.

The DoH is optimistic that by the end of May, the remaining 6.2 million children would have been immunized.

At the very least, the program aims to cover 95 percent of targeted children throughout the country.