MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Philippines (PIA) — After undergoing food processing and simplified bookkeeping trainings, two Gawad Kalinga (GK) villages here — Lilo-an GK and Manlico GK — will go through marketing training to prepare local residents in getting into the food processing industry.

Set for January 19, 2012, they will undergo training on labeling and packaging, among other marketing strategies to promote their cassava and gabi food processing skills, Sanda Alcober, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Trade and Industry Development Specialist reported.

Police training

CAMP RUPERTO K KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte (PIA) — Two hundred police officers from different police units in Eastern Visayas started training in the PNP Special Counter Insurgency Operation Unit Training (SCOUT) on January 10 and this will go on for 45 days.

PSupt. Raymund Graveles, training commander, said the training aims to strengthen the police force by enhancing their skills and knowledge in all aspects of police work with the end goal of attaining improved credibility of the PNP.

SWAT anniversary

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — Day-long activities marked the first year anniversary of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Roxas City Police Station (RCPS) last Jan. 9 here. Considered to be the fully-trained and equipped elite group of the PNP in Western Visayas, the team was created January 9, 2011 and was made to undergo a 45-day SWAT Basic Training Course that in March, 2011.

RCPS director Supt. Kashmir Disomangcop said a firing competition among SWAT team members at the Sibaguan Firing Range here and a boodle fight lunch highlighted the anniversary. Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan Celino and councilor Powell del Rosario graced the activities.

Youth honors

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Outstanding Students of the Philippines-Alumni Community (TOSP-AC) in Central Visayas is set to hold “Youth Hours” (YH) simultaneously on January 28 in Dumaguete City and Cebu City.

“Youth Hours” is an annual youth-formation workshop anchored on three pillars of the TOSP program: Academic excellence, leadership, and social responsibility.Each participant is expected to experience one of four different workshops: Academic and professional excellence track, leadership track, social responsibility track, and school administrators’ track.

Cebu assistance

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Sibulan town in Negros Oriental was extended P570,000 in financial aid from the Cebu provincial government. Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia personally handed over the monetary aid to SibulanVice Mayor Antonio Renacia and Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Operations Head Concepcion Rosales last Jan. 10, 2012.

Along with some Cebu mayors, Garcia visited Sibulan town and other towns in Negros Oriental which were similarly affected by the same storm. Meanwhile, Rosales said Sibulan is still under a state of calamity and will remain so until families by the storm are relocated.