SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — Foreign travel agencies will be scanning the Luzon area of the archipelago to gain first hand experience of the finest tourism destinations in the area.

Part of their itinerary are the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CA), Ilocos, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

The group will attend the North Philippines (NorthPhil) Tourism and Travel Expo 2011 held at the SM City Clark in Pampanga.

The group afterwards will interact with local tourism firms in the Buyers Meet Sellers program at the Holiday Inn Clark.

According to Department of Tourism (DoT) Central Luzon Director Ronnie P. Tiotuico, these foreign travel agents will tour Clark Freeport Zone. (Jonas Reyes)

Oyster capital

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin S. Lim is optimistic that soon this city may become the Phililippines' oyster king and the world's seafood capital.

Lim sees a bright future of the city's fishing industry during the launching of the oyster culture in barangay Poblacion Oeste here last Friday in line with his program “ILog Ko, Bilay Ko,” (My River, My Life) which recently won bronze prizes in the 2011 International LivCom Awards in Korea.

"It has been my vision to transform our city as the country's top oyster producer and the world's leading seafood provider," he said.

The program will benefit at least 600 families, most of whom are displaced pen caretakers from barangays Carael and Lucao. (Liezle Basa Inigo )

Vaccine clinic

IBA, Philippines — Two new vaccine clinics were formally opened, one at this town and the other at the town of Sta. Cruz, in collaboration with the Zambales War Against Poverty Foundation Inc. and the Family Vaccines and Specialty Clinics, Inc.

The opening of these clinics is part of their thrust to give various high quality vaccines at very affordable prices for the residents of Zambales.

According to a Zambales official, the opening of these vaccine clinics will give residents the proper education on how to fight various diseases.

It is also part of the provincial government’s program to change the mentality of the residents that vaccines are expensive and are not necessary. (Jonas Reyes)

Student scholarships

PAMPANGA, Philippines — Some 391 poor but deserving students from five villages here have recently received scholarship grants under the city’s Scholarship in Education for Empowerment and Development (SEED).

Mayor Rodriguez handed personally the certificate of scholarship and grants to the said scholars during simple rites held at Heroes Hall here Saturday. The city scholars came from Barangay Del Carmen, Maimpis, Malino, Pulungbulu, and Saguin. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Save rice 

MUÑOZ SCIENCE CITY , Philippines – As part of its 26th anniversary, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead in rice science and development based in this city, will kick off the month-long celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) in the country this November.

PhilRice’s anniversary will highlight the “Save Rice, Save Lives" pledge to gain public’s commitment in conserving rice to help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

The said plead will be lead by Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala and PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. on November 8, Tuesday. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)