ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) — The Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing for the use of electric tricycle on a national scale this year. The promotion of e-trike is a pet project of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, according to Engr. Eduardo L. Amante, chief of the Energy Resources Development and Utilization Division of the DOE-Cebu. The project was piloted in Mandaluyong City but it is also being adopted by 13 other local government units (LGUs) in the country. The use of e-trikes, he said, would allow drivers to earn more aside from the fact that it could help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel.

Pope Avenue

CEBU CITY (PNA) — The Cebu City Council has passed an ordinance filed by Councilor Edgardo Labella renaming Juan Luna Ave., formerly San Jose dela Montana Ave., to Pope John Paul II Ave. The renaming of the street to Pope John Paul II Ave. closes the loop of streets named after religious leaders, namely Gorordo Ave., Archbishop Reyes Ave., and Cardinal Rosales Ave. The Catholic Church welcomed the new development, as the street’s name will continuously remind Cebuanos of the Pope’s visit to the city in 1981. “We are so happy with the development because it will make the central business district of the city a religious powerhouse.''

Business Seminar

CEBU CITY, Cebu — The Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas (DTI 7) is urging Cebu exporters of goods and services to attend a seminar on “Doing Business with the United Nations” to help increase the competitiveness of Cebuano export products to the international market. The event is headed by the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion of the Department of Trade and Industry and the United Nations Procurement Division. It will be held on Feb. 22. This seminar’s objective is to brief Philippine companies on business opportunities and procurement activities such as values, policies, process, buying profile, business opportunities of the United Nations Procurement Division, and to register qualified vendors on-line by the close of the seminar. (Malou M. Mozo)

Capiz Caravan

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA6) — A Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) caravan will be conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Capiz on Feb. 16 to 17 to enhance the competitiveness of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the province. The two-day activity in view of DTI’s Work on Wheels (WOW) project will particularly capacitate MSMEs through learning sessions on the various topics that are appropriate to their needs and interests.

Protected Areas

CEBU CITY (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is lobbying for three natural sites in Cebu to be declared as protected areas. These sites are the Sibonga River Watershed in the municipality of Sibonga, Basak River Watershed Reserve in Badian, and the Liloan Protected Landscape and Seascape. DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso said that titling and processing of all public land applications (PLAs) for titling purposes are suspended in a protected area, based on DENR Memorandum Order No. 2011-04.