DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Cebu-based non-government organization Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) will present its 6th Triennial Awards for outstanding individual and institution in the Visayas on March 22 at the Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City.

RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua said the RAFI Triennial Awards was launched in the Visayas and Mindanao in 969, and is conferred every three years.

The awards are given in two categories, the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution.

Celebrating Women

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA6) — The Bacolod City Gender and Development (GAD) Council celebrates 2012 Women’s Month with the theme ”Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.” The celebration highlights the responsibility of the people especially women in environment and disaster preparedness.

The GAD council has lined-up activities including clean-up drives,” potting session” or seedling preparation, mangrove planting, medical missions, solid waste management campaign and feeding program.

C.C.A.P.O. Officials

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Cebu Council of Administrative and Personnel Officers (CCAPO), Inc. convened and elected recently its new set of officers for 2012 at the Civil Service Commission (CSC)-7 Regional Office here. Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 Administrative Officer Atty. Gerry Mahinay was elected president of the organization.

The CCAPO is a creation of the CSC comprised of personnel and administrative officers of various government offices. Mahinay said the Council will try to revive the membership of the association and to familiarize themselves with the procedures, ways and laws since most of the elected officers are new in the association.

Mass Wedding

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA6) — Aklan province had its biggest mass wedding, solemnized by Mayor Ma. Lourdes Miraflores recently, as it marked Civil Registration Month last month. The wedding was held in Ibajay, Aklan, facilitated by the local government unit under the National Statistics Office (NSO). From Ibajay’s 35 barangays, 247 pairs were married in civil wedding rites.

The oldest bride was 74 years old “We’re happy that even with her age, she recognized the importance of being married,” said NSO-Aklan Statistician II Rodelyn Panadero.

D.T.I.-Samar Recognition

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) — Two business establishments in Samar recently received the BAGWIS awards from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Calbayog City’s Justmar Marketing won the Silver Award while Ticon Marketing from Cataloging City earned the Bronze Award.

“The DTI is very much pleased that more and more establishments have recognized the need to obtain the Bagwis Seal not only to help the consumers and enterprises, but most importantly to help themselves grow as model businesses,” DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras quoted USec Zeny Maglaya in her speech, read by Atty. Lemuel Montes.