CARIGARA, Philippines (PIA) — To keep alive the tradition of gift-giving during the holidays, the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army recently launched its “Pamaskong Handog” project in Carigara, Leyte.

Lt. Colonel Francis Cabugon, commanding officer of the 19th IB, led the project launch during an assembly of the Association of Barangay Councils of Carigara Leyte. Cabugon informed the barangay chairmen of Carigara of the availability of medicines at the Alpha Company headquarters in Barangay Tinaguban.

Sanitation Award

CEBU CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Two barangays in Central Visayas were commended for best sanitation practices by the Department of Health (DoH) 7.

The award and a cash prize of P150,000 were given to representatives of Barangay Valladolid, Carcar City and Barangay Ytaya in Lazi, Siquijor.

DoH 7 environmental sanitation division coordinator Engr. Evangeline Canoneo said the award promotes proper sanitation and hygienic practices in barangays. She said Barangay Valladolid was able to provide access to water and sanitary toilets to 98 percent of its residents.

The barangay, through its council, also allotted 7.29 percent of its budget for water and garbage disposal programs and beautification.

D.O.H. Advocacy 

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health (DoH 6) is advocating responsible sexual behavior to curb the growth of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in Western Visayas.

At the recent World AIDS Day commemoration, Charity Yanson-Perea, DoH 6 coordinator for sexually transmitted infectious diseases, said there is dire need for an awareness campaign against irresponsible sexual lifestyles which can lead to the acquisition of the deadly virus.

HIV/AIDS cases in the region has risen to 162, with 44 new cases this year. Iloilo has the most cases at 70, with 17 fatalities. (Tara Yap)

F.L.E.T. Strengthened 

CATARMAN, Philippines — Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza told local media his office is intensifying efforts to eliminate illegal fishing here and he is directing local government units and the police in the province to continue cracking down on illegal fishing activities in their respective municipalities.

He also said that he has been conducting seminars on fishery laws and coastal resource management for members of the fishery law enforcement teams (FLET) of selected municipalities. He also informed that 11 fully-equipped patrol boats have been turned over to his office to help the FLET in their objectives. (Restituto A. Cayubit)

Samar Mussels 

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines (PIA) — Barnacles and other pollutants seem to be the culprit in the ‘mussel kill’ plaguing in Samar. This was the observation of different agricultural technicians in Talalora, Villareal, and Calbig towns during the recent South Maqueda Bay Fisheries Network (SMBFishNet) meeting hosted by Engineer Rolando Ay-ay of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here.

These parasitic barnacles are crustaceans clinging to mussel shells, feeding themselves by extending their threadlike structures to mussel meat.