CEBU CITY, Philippines— The Region 7 office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has noted an increasing trend of women working abroad based on its quarterly deployment abroad.

Marina Villaflores, POEA7 administrative officer bared that from 172 last year, this year’s deployment of female OFWs covering the months of January to March is now at 350 or 103.48 percent higher as compared to last year on the same period. The data is based on the quarterly report of POEA7 where the deployment of workers abroad sea-based or land based is generally increasing.

P.R.O.7 ready for class opening

CAMP SERGIO OSMEÑA, Cebu City– With the opening of classes next week, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 has already laid out its plans for security measures as street crimes are seen to increase during this season. Theft, robbery, snatching among other crimes are seen to increase during the start of the classes especially in highly urbanized areas like this city. PSSupt. Josephus Angan, PRO7 chief for the directorial staff said that they will still have a normal alert status however, more police personnel will be deployed in the ground specially on convergence areas or near school premises. “We will be on normal alert but mobile police components will be deployed in public areas,” he said. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

D.T.I. Bohol school supplies program

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – To provide discount to parents who are buying school supplies for their children, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol is launching the Diskwento Caravan program starting May 31 to June 2. The DTI Bohol has partnered with major stores in Tagbilaran City, namely the Alturas Mall and the Bohol Quality, to offer discounted school supplies as part of the nationwide Diskwento Caravan: Presyong Panalo Para sa Mamimiling

Pilipino Program. The Diskwento Caravan is DTI’s efforts to present a visible answer to the national government's call to implement non-wage benefit to employees, who are heavily burdened during these difficult times, says Lucille Autentico, DTI information of officer. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Intensity 5.0 quake jolts Panay

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — An intensity 5.0 on the Richter scale rocked the island of Panay Sunday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Roxas City, Capiz, said. Phivolcs-Roxas City officer-in-charge Ramil Atando said the earthquake epicenter was located at five kilometers north, 23 degrees west of San Jose, Antique (coordinates at 10.79 degrees north, 121.90 degrees east).

Boracay village starts I.D. system

BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, (PNA) – Barangay Manoc-Manoc in this resort island started its own identification (ID) system as one of the community efforts to ensure safety in Boracay. Manoc Manoc Barangay chairman

Abriam Sualog said they must compliment the needed safety standards not only for its residents but also for tourists staying in this resort island. The Barangay Manoc-Manoc is the largest barangay of Malay town with over 2,000 residents.