SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, Philippines — The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) based in this city projects higher yields of rice crops once the country implements an globally competitive quality rice certification.

PhilRice, the government agency that supervises rice research and development in the country, said that the program will promote better production of quality rice in the Philippines and higher income for local rice farmers. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Cavite flag day celebration set

CAVITE, Philippines — Imus will celebrate National Flag Day on May 28 with simple ceremonies set at Alapan Elementary School, the site where the Philippine flag was reportedly unfurled by the revolutionary army after defeating the Spanish forces in the area in 1898.

Veronica Luz D. Crisostomo, Imus tourism officer, said that a program to be led by national and local officials was set at the historical site.

The National Flag Day, commemorated on the 28th day of May every year, is the traditional kickoff day of the two-week celebration leading up to the country’s June 12 “Araw ng Kalayaan” (Independence Day). (Anthony Giron)

D.E.N.R. documents reefs in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan Valley Region is presently conducting training for scuba divers in preparation for the documentation of the coral reefs along the shorelines of the region, it was reported.

DENR’s Regional Project Coordinator Enrique Pasion disclosed Wednesday that the coral reefs along the shorelines in Cagayan Valley Region are found to be more attractive comparing to other coral reefs in the other shorelines in the country.

However, he said that the problem was lack of documentation and promotion.

Pasion said that whatever views taken from the coral reefs documentation in Cagayan Valley region will be placed in a book for distribution worldwide. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Ambuklao folk seal heritage sites

BOKOD, Benguet, Philippines — Schools, sports facilities, and a municipal building will now be under the administration of community stakeholders in Sitio Sombrero, barangay Ambuklao in Bokod, Benguet with the recent signing of a multi-party implementing agreement.

Governor Nestor B. Fongwan, Bokod Mayor Mauricio Macay, SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Vice President for Corporate Services Michael C. Hosillos, and Director Amador P. Batay-an of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera Region (NCIP) led the signing ceremonies on May 13, 2011 at La Trinidad, Benguet. (Dexter See)

Pampanga waste closely monitored

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda has pledged to support the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) proposal on the creation of a “Task Force” to curb and to monitor illegal waste disposal, illegal fishing activities and encroachment along Pampanga river and towns coastal areas.

Aside from the support the provincial government also promised to provide patrol boats and to hire personnel to manning and assure the monitoring of the Pampanga’s illegal activities on the river and towns coastal areas near the Manila Bay.(Franco G. Regala)