CEBU, Philippines — Mutual cooperation possibilities was discussed by Naotoshi Sugawara, a member of Japan’s Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly and Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during Sugawara’s courtesy visit to the Capitol last Feb. 10. Sugawara, who informed that it was his first time to the Philippines, said he was impressed with Cebu. “It’s not all about beach resorts, it’s very industrialized,” he remarked, adding that “many Japanese can invest here.” Sugawara said he will hold a conference and invite Cebu government officials and businessmen to meet their counterparts from Kanagawa Prefecture. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr. )

FARMC Training

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA6) — Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) leaders and members are on training until Friday at Murcia’s Mambukal Resort to define their role in community building and in effectively resolving fishery-related issues. Said training, conducted by the Central Negros Council on Coastal Resources and Development (CENECCORD), tackles FARMC’s mandate as set in Republic Act 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998). Leadership topics include effective teamwork dynamics, conflict resolution, and leadership qualities and management skills.

Public Safety

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA6) — Capiz’s Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) has approved its Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan (IACPSP) for 2012. Included in the plan are programs and activities to counter insurgency, crime prevention, law enforcement, civil defense and disaster risk reduction and management, campaign against use of prohibited drugs, prosecution of cases, community participation, social reform agenda, environmental protection, education, health and sanitation, food security, and moral and spiritual recovery.

Water Purifier

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PNA) — Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) officials arrived in Negros Oriental to assess the extent of the damage of the Feb. 6 magnitude 6.9 earthquake on various water districts here. LWUA chairman Rene Villa and LWUA administrator Ed Santos were met Monday by general managers and representatives of various water districts in the province, led by Dumaguete City Water District general manager Esperato Dicen. Villa said he has received reports that Ayungon and La Libertad towns and Guihulngan City have no access to potable drinking water and although these areas do not have LWUA water districts, they were provided by LWUA with a mobile water purifying system while two more portable water treatment plants from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities will be sent to quake-stricken areas in northern Negros Oriental.

Disaster-Risk Knowledge

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) recently conducted hazard mapping orientation in 14 barangays in Libagon town to enhance knowledge of barangay chairmen on disaster-risk and vulnerabilities in their areas. The one-day hazard mapping orientation was also attended by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) headed by Libagon Mayor Oliver Ranque, according to Civil Defense officer Marichu Tan. The activity taught the barangay officials how to conduct hazard mapping.