DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III Wednesday inspected the site on which the LinkSy IT Park will rise at Brgy. Bantayan here. The project is an Information Technology (IT) building facility being built on 11,164 sq.m. prime property along the National Highway in Dumaguete City.

Constructed by 100 percent Filipino-owned July Development Corp., the project is expected to open business activity in this less commercialized northern part of Dumaguete. Elevators, high-powered generators, a fiber optic communication system, a road network and spacious parking area for some 200 vehicles will service the facility.

Dengue dips

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has reported a decrease in dengue cases by 78 percent this year from January to August 31 compared to the same period in 2010.

The Antique Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit registered a total of 184 dengue cases from January to August 2011 (with one death in January), a huge drop in number compared to 838 cases in the same period last year.

The reduction in dengue cases is on account of the collaborative efforts of families, communities, schools, local officials and concerned agencies who have helped in controlling and preventing dengue here.

NGP target

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s provincial office is working to reach its target of reforesting – under government’s National Greening Program — 1,800 hectares of timberland areas in the province in 2011, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ricardo Tomol said.

Under the NGP, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Maasin was assigned 800 hectares and CENRO-San Juan, 1,000 hectares. CENRO-Maasin comprises areas from Maasin to Sogod while CENRO-San Juan encompasses the rest of the towns in the pacific and Panaon Island, including Libagon.

Market inaugurated

BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III Wednesday inaugurated the city’s public market complex. Called “Mercado de Bais,” the P265-million two-storey complex has a 11,000 sq.m. floor area with a cold storage facility, ice maker, and underground Sewerate Treatment Plant. Located along the National Highway, the market complex also has a 200-person capacity function room, a dining room for 100 persons, a transient room and a child-minding area on the second floor.

DOLE-7 aid

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Three women’s organizations in Consolacion, Cebu recently received P300,000 as financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment in the region (DoLE-7). The organizations are based in Barangays Tayud, Nangka and Cansaga in Consolacion town.

DoLE-7 acting regional director Exequiel Sarcaoga handed over the total amount to Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado and Alegado, in turn gave each group a check for P100,000 as seed capital for their livelihood projects like rug making, fashion accessories, and decorative wallets, among others.