BORONGAN, Eastern Samar, Philippines (PIA) — Since Arbor Day this year fell on a Saturday, personnel with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office here planted trees a day in advance, that is, last Friday, June 24, 2011.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Fidel Adal said the DENR workers planted mangrove tree propagules in Brgy. Punta Maria, Borongan, and then proceeded to Balangkayan town, 30 kilometers south of Borongan for a coastal clean-up.

Jobs fair in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — To mark the Southern Leyte’s founding anniversary, a Jobs Fair will be held here from June 27-28. The fair is just one of several activities to celebrate the province’s 51st anniversary. Theme for Southern Leyte’s anniversary this year is “Southern Leyte: Sustaining the Growth.”

Other activities lined up are anniversary walk, cycling competition, shoot fest, rescue Olympics, agri-aqua fair, the search for Miss Southern Leyte 2011, and a sports competition, to name a few.

DOH-8 alerts public on dengue

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here is constantly monitoring dengue cases in Eastern Visayas. So far this year, DoH 8 has noted a significant drop in dengue cases although the agency is warning of another strain of the mosquito-borne disease.

The wet season covering June to December usually brings a rise in dengue cases as mosquitoes usually breeds in water. A rundown so far this year points to 397 cases with 225 in Leyte; 71 in Southern Leyte; 37 in Samar; 32 in Biliran; 25 in Eastern Samar and six in Northern Samar.

SU grad a TOSP finalist

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — A new Silliman University (SU) graduate in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental is among this year's 30 national finalists in the search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). Jonathan Andro P. Tan, who graduated magna cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Physics in March, 2011, made it to the final leg of said search which will culminate in August.

Tan was dubbed Most Oustanding Student of the Year upon graduation and was a member of the S.U. Corps of Campus Ambassador. RFM Foundation President, Marie Concepcion-Young said this year’s TOSP search is a milestone as it celebrates 150-50-10 years of excellence, leadership, and service.

Bacolod seniors given cash aid

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — Some 61senior citizens here got their P1,500 cash assistance each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development office here. The first batch of senior citizens, who are 77 years old and up, are covered by the National Housing Targeting Support Survey - Poverty Reduction or NHTS-PR.

The second batch of 69 elders will be informed as soon as their cash assistance is set for release. The cash assistance shall augment recipents’ finances as they spend for their daily needs such as food, vitamins and clothing in their twilight years.