CEBU CITY, Philippines — Local government units that belong to the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) were reminded Friday of the R1-billion funds available for them to be loaned to finance drainage works and flood control projects in their respective towns and cities.

MCDCB chairperson Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued the reminder following the recommendation of experts who composed the IBM Executive Service Corps that local officials in Metro Cebu need to “get their acts together and integrate plans to have effective and sustainable solutions to common challenges, including flooding and traffic congestion.” (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Fishermen's manifesto

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — Fishermen in San Dionisio town have heeded the call of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. against illegal fishing by ceasing their hulbot-hulbot (Danish seine) operations. Approximately 30 fishermen-operators signed a manifesto converting their “fishing gears into legal and applicable methods of fishing.”

They emphasized the need to end the cycle that is “detrimental to the habitat of fishes.” The 30 fishermen, who gave the manifesto to San Dionisio Mayor Larry Villanueva, said they ceased illegal operations by end of September. Defensor lauded the fishermen and hoped it would serve as an example to other illegal fishers in Iloilo’s coastal towns. (Tara Yap)

Feeding program

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The supplemental feeding program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now being fully implemented in the 18 towns of Antique province.

DSWD Regional Office 6 in-charge for the supplemental feeding program Sally Gayoma said all the 18 towns of Antique are now implementing the program in the 630 Day-Care Centers in the province after they recently released the budget for the last six municipalities.

Gayoma identified the six municipalities as Sebaste, Culasi, Patnongon, Tobias Fornier, Barbaza and Caluya.

Disaster mitigation

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — Disaster mitigation and preparedness is one of the priorities of the provincial government of Capiz, Gov. Victor Tanco said, adding that they have been working hard to put in place the needed disaster preparedness and mitigation initiatives.

Tanco, who is also the chairman of the Regional Development Council in Western Visayas, said the provincial government aims to complete all the equipment and facilities needed to immediately respond to the call of the public during calamities and disasters like flooding.

Boracay police

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — The Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO) needs at least two more patrol jeeps to increase its mobility in the island, which in turn could help reduce crime incidents in the area, Senior Supt. Cornelio T. Defensor of the Aklan Police Provincial Office said during the recent meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council held at the Gov. Corazon Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center.

During the police presentation of the province’s peace and order situation, it was revealed that from January to September of this year, the BSTPO recorded the highest number of crime cases in Aklan with 272 incidents, representing 36 percent of the total crime volume in the province for the period.