NAVAL, Biliran, Philippines (PIA) — Athletes from the nine delegations in Biliran province began competing in the two-day 2011 Biliran Provincial Athletic Association Meet Thursday. The athletic competition is being held at the Biliran Sports Complex in Barangay Larrazabal, in the municipality of Naval.

The holding of the 2011 Biliran Provincial Athletic Association meet is intended to train and select the best athletes that will represent the province of Biliran in the 2012 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) contest. Said contest will take place in January next year in Maasin City.

PWD law

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The director of a foundation working to address the needs of children with disabilities here is urging persons with disabilities (PWDs) to monitor the non-compliance of the national law protecting the rights of PWDs.

Analou Suan, executive director of the Great Physician Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc. or GP Rehab, called on the PWDs in the province to bring to the attention of authorities violations of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons or Republic Act 9442. “It is your responsibility to report to government establishments or local governments not complying with the law,” Suan said in a forum tackling issues affecting RA 9442 implementation.

PCV anniversary

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental (PIA) — The US Peace Corps Volunteers (US PCV) in Bacolod City held both its anniversary program and exhibit opening at SM City mall to commemorate the 50th year of existence of the US Peace Corps in the Philippines.

Celebration theme is “Use the 50th anniversary as a platform to honor our past, demonstrate our effectiveness and inspire the next generation of volunteers through education and engagement.” Attendees included retired and current Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) in Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

ARTA compliance

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is leading in the monitoring of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Watch implementation in Antique.

In connection, CSC Provincial Director Atty. Ma. Lina P. Gonzaga visited the offices of the Land Transportation Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Social Security System, and National Statistics Office. – agencies providing front-line services to the public.

Continuous spot checking, she said, will be done on other agencies including local government units, schools and hospitals.

Fish confiscated

CEBU CITY, CEBU (PIA) — Approximately 900 kilos of fish caught through dynamite fishing from Zamboanga City were recently confiscated by the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission (CCBDC) at Cebu Pier 2. The catch had an estimated value of P100,000. CCBDC Chief Ranulfo Sebusa earlier received a report from Maritime Police that fish caught through dynamite fishing from Zamboanga will be transported to Cebu.

Sebusa and his team waited for the ship carrying the cargo that disembarked at Cebu City’s Pier 2 and then checked two boxes containing fish varieties including molmol, tangigue, mamsa, and bayang, among others. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) fish examiner Dioscoro Avenido confirmed that said fish were caught through dynamite fishing.