DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PNA) — Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is warning the public here against groups or individuals using his name to solicit funds for various purposes.

Reports have reached the governor’s office that groups, including one that is supposed to be a religious entity, are going around collecting donations using Degamo’s name.

According to the Negros Oriental governor, he has an idea about this group and has already taken action against it.

Farm schools

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — DepEd-6 Asst. Regional Director Corazon Brown said recently that Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro has ordered the putting up of family farm schools to encourage students to take courses in agriculture, a government priority thrust.

Dr. Rex Casiple of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) in the region said total enrollment in agriculture in the last four years have been fluctuating, with 6,073 in 2008, 4,762 in 2009, 5,224 in 2010 and 4,920 in 2011 in public tertiary schools. Private schools’ enrollment in 2008 was 320, in 2009, 227; in 2010, 163; and in 2011, 158.

Dumaguete quake

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PNA) — A magnitude 2.8 earthquake rocked Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, shortly after midnight Tuesday as scores of people were still in cemeteries, observing the yearly All Saints Day tradition.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) station in nearby Sibulan town said the quake was recorded at 12:16 a.m. Wednesday, with a 30-km. depth of focus, situated 08.93°North, 123.01°East and 51 km South, 35° west of Dumaguete City. The local Phivolcs station said the temblor was brief, of tectonic origin, shaking the city at Intensity 2. No damage and no aftershocks were reported or expected.

Bacolod dogs

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. — Bacolod City dog population is increasing at a brisk pace, says the city veterinarian’s office, with some 55,000 heads noted in the city’s 61 barangays, far surpassing neighboring Iloilo City’s 29,000 canine population.

City veterinarian Rex Juplo says the city is maximizing efforts in pets vaccination, particularly dogs, to control rabies spread. Bacolod is implementing compulsory vaccination of pets particularly dogs, to control the spread of rabies with pet owners paying P50 per vaccinated pet. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated vaccines to the city. (Edith B. Colmo)

Seniors' cash

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has assured that the remaining P3,000 financial aid to the city’s senior citizens will be released December 8. This was announced by Rama during the 9th Senior Citizens’ Congress held at the Metro Cebu Water District auditorium recently.

Rama said he has already ordered City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete to take charge of said cash distribution to some 48,000 senior citizens. Earlier, P2,000 financial aid was released as birthday gifts to senior citizens; the cash to be given Dec. 8 will be their Christmas