JOLO, Sulu, Philippines — The Department of Health (DoH) has allotted some P3 million for the purchase and installation of a “12 placer refrigerated centrifuge” at the Red Cross center here.

Rep. Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) said the machine will facilitate the immediate process for of a red blood cell count (RBC) and white blood cell including the platelet counts which is essential before a blood can be used in blood transfusion. —NONOY E. LACSON

E-yearbooks pushed

COTABATO CITY — As the graduation season approaches, parents in all parts of the country start facing additional financial pressures from the publications of their school children’s annual yearbooks in a yearly cycle evolving into various schemes.

Because of the extra burden posed by such an academic routine, the Sangguiang Panglunsod of Kidapawan City is proposing an ordinance encouraging all schools under its jurisdiction to go electronic, meaning the conversion of the hardbound yearbooks into electronic copies to be known as e-yearbooks. Kidapawan City Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista, who is also SP chair, said: “Most parents, guardians, and even the students are worried as to how they would produce the money for the yearbook. And we’re not talking here of hundreds of pesos but thousands, which is big for poor and middle class families.” — ALI G. MACABALANG

Moro truce

COTABATO CITY — The Government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) are rallying efforts to peacefully end a land conflict between families of two Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders in Barangay Dungos, Tulunan, North Cotabato, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAOPP) said over the weekend.

For a start, CCCH and AHJAG attended the joint municipal peace and order (MPOC) emergency meeting held last week by Mayors Lani Candolada of Tlunan and Joselito Piñol of M’Lang to craft cohesive efforts in reconciling the warring families of MILF commanders Jun Panangulon and Jabidi Abdul, on one camp, and former MILF field leader Sukarno Huasain, on the other, an OPAPP statement said. — ALI G. MACABALANG

Peace talks

DAVAO CITY, (PNA) — Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has urged Nur Misuari, Chair-Emeritus of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), to maximize peaceful means in following up the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement with the government, by which many provisions were culled from the Tripoli Agreement in 1976.

Sharing his insights on his latest meeting with the MNLF leader at the Marco Polo Hotel here, Duterte said it is better for the former rebel group to pursue peace talks than considering other options. Duterte stressed that war is no longer an alternative in resolving conflicts nowadays.

Price freeze

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, (PIA) — The City Council here directed an explanation from gasoline dealers for non-compliance of standing order of the state of national calamity in view of the disaster brought by tropical storm ‘Sendong.’ The Office of the President, on Dec. 20, 2012, issued Proclamation No. 303 putting the entire city under the state of national calamity, following the killer flashfloods that devastated the city on December 17.