DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PIA) — Some 56 Pantawid Pamilya program beneficiaries in Mabinay town received free patent titles from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) during the first Pantawid Pamilya Caravan held Friday last week in Negros Oriental.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Oscar Magallones handed said titles to beneficiaries from Brgy. Tara and Brgy. Baras at the Mabinay Gymnasium. The issuance of free patents is in line with the “Handog Sa Titutlo” program implemented by DENR through the PENRO. “We’re targeting distribution of 1,800 free patents under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in the province,” Magallones said.

BPAT activation

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — The Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) Director Gil Lebin said police heads in various Iloilo towns have been urged to tap the services of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) for peacekeeping activities to ensure public safety during the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day here.

 Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) Director Lebin said he asked all municipal police office chiefs in the province to tap other than barangay tanods, the volunteer groups to assist in peace keeping activity although, he stressed “police presence must be felt during both occasions.”

Nantions' parade

E.B. MAGALONA, Negros Occ. (PIA) — A parade of nations was held in E.B. Magalona highlighting this year’s 19th Universal Children’s Month celebration themed “Pakilusin, Palakasin, Pagtulungan Natin!” Showcased were 37 countries represented by toddlers from 37 day care centers in the town.

Crowned Mr. and Miss United Nations 2011 were Roge Goce and Trishia Geanne Botavara, who both represented the country Indonesia, from Madalag Day Care Center. Municipal social welfare and development officer Edmundo Abong said the yearly celebration recognizes children’s rights and welfare.

Meanwhile, also to mark Children’s Month, the Provincial Library held a “pabasa” or read-along activity at the EB Magalona Municipal Library with toddlers from Barangay 3-Poblacion as participants.
 
DTI monitoring

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Leyte has intensified monitoring of candles and flowers to ensure that there will be no overpricing despite high demand for these items during All Souls and All Saints days.

DTI Leyte Provincial Director Desiderio Belas informed the DTI Central Office that he has issued a directive to check the trading of candles and flowers in preparation for the November 1 and 2 holidays. The price monitoring is concentrated in urban centers where there are many shops selling candles and flowers in bulk.

‘Ligtas Undas’

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — Agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Philippine National Police Regional Office-6 have joined forces in effecting “Oplan Ligtas Undas” through Region 6. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office and PNP-PRO6 regional directors checked major Iloilo transport terminals as early as Oct. 29 to monitor the situation.

Help desks have been set up in bus terminals all over the region to offer other services, issue special permits for buses and other public utilities in anticipation of the big volume of passengers during the long weekend. The special permits are good for three days and are issued to public vehicles transporting passengers to destinations not in the vehicles’ usual routes.