CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — As part of its quality education advocacy, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) along with local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to rehabilitate 12 additional schools in Cebu province under a program called School Rehabilitation Program Phase 3.

The phase covers 12 schools in four municipalities of Cebu Province that include Asturias, Bantayan, Catmon, and Tuburan. Highlighted were the collaboration of partners whose contributions resulted in the successful implementation of the program’s previous three phases aligned with DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program and which were designed to address the need for improved learning in public elementary schools. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Dumaguete festival

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Dumaguete City’s Sandurot Festival champion will participate in the 2012 grand Sinulog de Cebu in January. The Barangay Banilad contingent bested other barangays in the 63rd Dumaguete City fiesta’s Sandurot Festival as best in street dancing and showdown competition last November this year.

City Information Officer Steve Gabriel said the Sandurot winner from Banilad is now preparing to compete with other contingents next month in Cebu. He said Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros has called the city to confirm the Sandurot contingent’s participation in the Sinulog.

Kasama slot

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – A Bacolod-based initiative - Anti-Trafficking Legal Advocates Society (ATLAS) — was one of 14 programs chosen from 147 entries in this year’s “Karapatan sa Malikhaing Paraan: the Search for Innovative Philippine Human Rights Initiatives” or KaSaMa, a representative of the group said. ATLAS was chosen for its proposed private prosecutor fund and training project covering Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
The grant for ATLAS is sponsored by the Australian Embassy. The search was adjudged based on the criteria of innovation and creativity, potential impact and value-added results, cost effectiveness and organizational capacity.

Antique alert

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — As the province prepares for simultaneous celebrations and activities this holiday season, the Antique Police Provincial office (APPO) gave assurances that it is ready to provide the security needed by these celebrations.

 APPO Director, Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, Jr. said the holding of the Binirayan Festival during the latter part of the month, Christmas and New Year celebrations and the Regional State Colleges and University Athletic Association Meet (SCUAA) here in the province has the police on 24 hours the whole week (23/7) to ensure peaceful and orderly celebration of these activities.

PSEP award

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — For the second straight year, La Paz National High School (LPNHS) in this city won the National Values Education Program (NVEP) award organized by the Pambansang Samahan Para sa Edukasyon sa Pagpapahalaga Inc. (PSEP) or Philippine Association for Values Education.

The LPNHS bagged the first place and received a plaque of recognition during the awarding ceremony, which occurred at the 21st Annual National Values Education Convention at Hotel Stotsenberg in Clark, Pampanga recently.