ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Philippines (PIA) — A sectoral year-end assessment and planning session was conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Capiz Provincial Office yesterday at the Provincial Capitol here. The half-day activity was a chance for stakeholders to review the year’s accomplishments in promoting Capiz’s priority sectors.

Programs, activities and projects (PAPs) to be implemented in 2012 in support of Capiz’s Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Plan were also presented. Priority sectors presented during the activity included horticulture and cut foliage, processed food and seafood, furnishings and engineered bamboo and tourism-related services.

DOLE awards

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 8 Atty. Forter G. Puguon said four companies in Eastern Visayas were among those who received DOLE’s nationwide Safety Milestone (SMILE) Recognition Awards.

The firms are Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., Tacloban Plant; Petron Corporation Tacloban Depot; Petron Corporation Ormoc Depot; and the Petron Corporation Isabel Depot. The SMILE Recognition is an incentive award given to a company that has achieved excellent safety performance of having no lost time accidents for a particular period. Doroja said.

Cops' seminar

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, led 10 chiefs of police, their deputies and sections heads at a Media Relations Seminar held at the BCPO training academy recently.

Resource speaker, ABS-CBN Bacolod news chief Angelo Angolo spoke about the role of the media in nation building; understanding and knowing the media; and its importance in informing the public about the accomplishments of the Philippine National Police. Participants were taught how to project themselves in front of the camera, and how to answer questions from the media.

Police action

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Illegal firecrackers, “piccolo,” worth P48,000 were recently confiscated by the Cebu Coast Guard Operatives at Pier 4 in Cebu City. Cebu Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan said reports about smuggled firecrackers bound for Leyte passing Pier 4 prompted a team which found and confiscated the cargo.

Also, the Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guards Supervisor Section (FESSAGS) in Central Visayas under the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 raided stalls selling fireworks and pyrotechnics in Manalili Street and Carbon Public market in Cebu City. FESSAGS 7 Chief Rex Derilo headed the operation along with PRO 7 policemen.

Safe toys

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — Health officials are urging gift givers to choose safe toys for children. Dr. Elvie Villalobos, chief of the environment and occupational health division of Department of Health (DoH) in Region 6 reiterated the reminder as a means to keep children from harm’s way.

Villalobos strongly warned not to buy toys made with lead paint, a heavy metal very dangerous to children which can damage the nervous system, kidney as well as cause mental retardation.“This is toxic and can cause ingestion,” Villalobos said. Dr. Ariel Valencia, DoH 6 regional director, asked shoppers to look for the import commodity clearance (ICC) or product standard (PS) stickers on toys that are imported. (Tara Yap)