PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Philippines – The province of Agusan del Sur has been selected for the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards in the Philippines for its distinguished performance in rice production since 2008. The Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards program is launched by the government through the Department of Agriculture in line with the vision of achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2013. The program identifies and gives recognition to high-performing provinces, cities, municipalities and agricultural extension workers in the production of rice. The implementation of the Boosted Utilization of Grains program in Agusan del Sur is personally being supervised by Gov. Adolph Edward G. Plaza. (Mike U. Crismundo)

School Chairs

BUTUAN CITY — Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje turned over on Friday to Department of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro some 6,096 new classroom chairs made from the confiscated illegal logs by the agency at the height of its operation in Caraga Region XIII since 2010 in a ceremony held at the Covered Court of Butuan Central Elementary School here. This was the second delivery and the largest production of classroom chairs and other school facilities made so far under the “ P-Noy Bayanihan Project” launched by President Benigno S. Aquino III in July last year. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Housewives' Training

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) — To equip them with the knowledge and skills in food processing and sewing, some 300 housewives from this city recently completed a livelihood training conducted by the city government’s Livelihood Skills Development and Enhancement Center (LSDEC). LSDEC head Angelita Collyer said the participants were unemployed mothers who need to engage in some livelihoods to help augment their family income. The housewives enrolled in short-term courses on food processing, sewing, good manufacturing practice and basic management training. In food processing, they were taught how to make bottled sardines, alamang or bagoong.

New Capitol

AGUSAN DEL NORTE (PIA) — After the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte attained the reclassification of their land conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran City where the new Capitol building will be constructed, the land conversion by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will soon follow. DAR promised that they will fast-track the land conversion of the land from an agricultural to an industrial land in a month’s time for the construction to start.

Greening Program

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur (PIA) — A Private-Public Partnership (PPP) program involving local government units, the private sector, academe and civil society in the province is set to launch the Run to Plant for Greening Philippines on Feb. 20 as part of the National Greening Program (NGP). The provincial government, the Holy Cross of Bansalan College, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. and the Lao Integrated Farms, Inc. agreed last Jan. 23 to carry out the run. A memorandum of agreement will be sealed during the launching activity with Gov. Douglas Cagas representing the provincial government of Davao del Sur and Holy Cross of Bansalan president RVM Sr. Maria Fe Gerodias.