ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA6) — Some 300 patients benefited from a medical mission conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC)-Capiz last March 22 at Barangay Balucuan in Dao town.

The inter-agency activity was designed to attend to poor Capiceños’ simple health needs by bringing government health and other basic social services to the residents. Residents led by Balucuan Punong Barangay Dominico Daños, Jr. expressed their appreciation for the free medical check up even as they hoped for more similar activities in the future.

Earth Hour

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — The Earth Hour Core group recently met at the SM City Bacolod Conference Room to discuss activities for the ceremonial switching off of light for one hour on March 31.

This year’s theme is “I Will If You Will,” a line that dares each one to respond to the theme’s message, thereby forming a network of people and organizations committed to the worldwide goal of counteracting the effects of global warming. Colegio San Agustin Dean of Engineering Department Doctor Felicidad Altalaguire explained that the “60+” in the logo represents the 60 minutes or more of turning off the non-essential lights in businesses and households Altalaguire said Earth Hour is a non-political endeavor welcoming everyone regardless of political views and affiliation.

Gov't Intervention

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo said there is a need for government to continue making its presence be strongly felt in Sitios Avocado and Kakha — once insurgency hotbeds — in Sta. Catalina town. Degamo made the statement after the Philippine Army reported continued sightings of suspected rebels in the area.

Degamo said he strongly supports the AFP’s anti-insurgency measures even as the provincial government will continue to provide necessary interventions in the once insurgency-stricken areas.

Water Project

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — Sitio Libtong Gamay residents in Naval, Biliran can now experience continuous and improved water supply after a new water pump system was inaugurated here. The Naval local government unit inaugurated the Coca-Cola Foundation-funded Ram Pump Water System project, Friday, March 2.

Costing P800,000, the project is in partnership with the Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) whose role was to inform Sitio Libtong Gamay residents about environmental consciousness, protection and preservation, and the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Incorporated (AIDFI), the maker of the Ram Pump device.

Rain Gauge

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Maasin City Engineering Office, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), installed one automatic rain gauge at the San Rafael Elementary School, in Brgy. San Rafael, Maasin City.

The device was installed to alert the locals here on weather conditions and keep them prepared for possible calamities to strike in Maasin City. “Brgy. San Rafael is prone to flooding, landslides calamities which are usually triggered by heavy rains, thus the need to determine the amount of rainfall, whether it is still within normal or exceeding water level already,” said DOST Provincial Head Engr. Dominador Clavejo.