DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PNA) — The Dumaguete city government’s tourism office announced the return of “Tayada sa Plaza,” a cultural show held weekends at the city’s Quezon Park. For the past 10 years, the park has been the venue for Dumagueteños showcasing their talents and skills.

Tayada sa Plaza is held Sundays at the Quezon Park. Since last October, the “Tayada” was temporarily halted as preparations for the annual charter day and fiesta celebration held November demanded everyone’s attention but this Sunday, Feb. 5, “Tayada sa Plaza” will have a grand return with the St. Louis School–Don Bosco as the performing school.

Proficiency Test

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) here is preparing to accommodate the influx of registrants interested in taking the 8th Employment Permit System-Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS-TOPIK), a requirement for those who would like to seek employment in Korea.

The EPS-TOPIK is tentatively set on March 18, 2012. Registration is set February 6-9 with Iloilo hosting registrants coming from as far as Cebu, Bacolod and Tacloban. The local POEA office here is at the 2nd floor, Divinagracia Bldg. Quezon St, City Proper; it will open at exactly 8 a.m. though registration may start at around 9 a.m..

Budget Cuts

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — The Cebu City Council is set to call department heads at City Hall to an executive session to explain their statements on the budget cuts made public through the media. Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, presiding officer of the council, said he wants the department heads to present to legislators what they presented to the media.

Earlier, Dr. Stella Ygona, City Health Department (CHD) head, complained that the cut made by the City Council on the CHD budget will affect the department’s service. Aside from CHD, the City Department of Manpower Development and Placement and the City Agriculture Office also complained about the budget cuts.

Coco Scholarship

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) — Children of small coconut farmers will be given scholarship grants at the Samar State University in Catbalogan City from the United Coconut Planters Bank.

According to the Samar head of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Emi Acasio 10 scholarship slots for children of Samar will be initially allotted when school opens in June 2012.

Qualified to apply are children of coconut farmers with less than five hectares of coconut farm, or whose parents are tenants.

DOLE-8 Grants

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar (PIA) — Through the Borongan city government, some poor fishermen of Divinubo Island received 42 paddled bancas costing a total of P272,496 from the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Regional Office 8.

Mayor Fe Abunda received the assistance from DoLE Regional Director Atty. Forter G. Puguon with the island’s barangay officials and DoLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program beneficiaries present. Information Officer Cora Basada said the marginalized fishermen will also be enrolled with PhilHealth and Social Security System (SSS), with the city government sharing the 20 percent counterpart for the project.