LILOAN, Cebu, Philippines – An Ormoc-bound vessel carrying 179 passengers failed to make its scheduled trip when the boat encountered steering problems a few minutes after it left the port of Mandaue last weekend. The Philippine Coast Guard in Cebu asked the skipper of M/V Super Shuttle Ferry 5 to submit a protest as it returned to its port of origin. A steering casualty means that a vessel has restricted maneuver ability. The vessel managed to get safely back to Mandaue’s Ouano Wharf where all its 179 passengers disembarked then transferred to another vessel. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Palayag 2012

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) – Buenavista town in Guimaras is set for its annual festivity, “Palayag Buenavista 2012” from January 6-15. This year’s celebration, Mayor Samuel T. Gumarin said, highlights the 104th founding anniversary of the municipality, bannered by the theme “Maghilu-ugyon sa Masanag nga Palaabuton(Unite for a Brighter Future)." Buenavista Tourism staff Teresa Garque said the Palayag, which is held every January, is already on its fifth year. The 10-day celebration will kick-off with “Palayag Pa-Buenavist” on January 6, with sailboats sporting colorful “layag (sails)” sailing from Iloilo wharf, crossing the Guimaras Strait, to McArthur Wharf, in Sto. Rosario, Buenavista.

Hydroponics gardening

CEBU (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-7) in Central Visayas recently inked a memorandum of agreement for the capability training of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries on hydroponics gardening. DOST-7 assistant regional director for technical operations Ed Paradela said this is the agency’s response to the millennium development goal of poverty alleviation which is also DSWD’s thrust. The DOST will provide the necessary assistance towards sustainable livelihood to DSWD clients starting with the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries learning hydroponics gardening.

Iloilo casualty

IGBARAS, Iloilo (PNA) — Rosario Telaseo, a resident of Igbaras, a remote town in Iloilo province was hit by a stray bullet and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Guimbal District Hospital, approximately 15 kilometers from her home. Igbaras police investigators have yet to pinpoint the origin of the bullet and no suspect has been identified. A total of four victims by stray bullets have been confirmed in both the city and province of Iloilo during the New Year eve's revelry. Meanwhile, three fire incidents blamed on firecrackers were reported in Iloilo province. At the same time, eight firecracker-related injuries were reported by the different Iloilo district hospitals.

Better drainage

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — Mandaue and Talisay city officials have pledged to work on their respective drainage systems this year, in response to floods that hit parts of Metro Cebu in 2011. Talisay officials increased the city government's budget by a modest P14 million from P464 million in 2011 to P478 million for 2012 to allow them to start constructing better drainage systems in critical areas. For his part, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said his city will also continue to improve the city’s drainage facilities.