MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Five hundred families from the first district of Bulacan received R5,000 cash grants from the Livelihood Assistance for Neighborhood in Need through Cash Grant held at Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city Friday. A joint project of Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the grant sourced from the senator’s Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) aims to rehabilitate businesses adversely affected by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” last year. Beneficiaries of the grant were also given Simple Accounting and Basic Management seminars to properly handle their finances. (Freddie C. Velez)

Soil Conditioner

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Using a soil conditioner has been proven to yield better results in rice fields as shown in a demonstration area in Barangay Ilayang Dupay, here, the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO) revealed yesterday. The Rapid Agricultural Mode of Improving Languid (RAMIL) and the CAO said better results were seen after applying fulvic acid, a soil conditioner, as introduced by Councilor Ramil Talaga to local farmers. Rice field owner Nestor Abadilla testified that the use of the soil conditioner allowed him to decrease spraying insecticides in his farm from as frequent as seven times down to only twice in a harvest season. (Danny Estacio)

Ilocanos Move Up In ‘Palaro’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Region 1 athletes are making a good account of themselves in this year’s Palarong Pambansa being held here as compared with their showing in last year’s youth games in Dapitan, Zamboanga City. The delegation of 395 athletes are now ranked 8th overall whereas last year it ranked 12th at the close of the games. Region 1 sports officials are even optimistic that by the end of this year’s “Palaro,” the delegation may rack up more wins to push it further up the rankings. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Pest Control

BATANGAS CAPITOL — The Batangas Capitol and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) conducted recently a seminar-orientation in response for the current pest problem that threatened the coconut industry in the province, Governor Vilma Santos Recto said yesterday. Municipal agriculturists from different towns gathered with farm leaders from 10 towns for the seminar aimed at preventing the escalation of pest attacks on coconut trees. PCA Region 4-A director Joselito Alcantara said over 150,000 trees in 70 villages were damaged by the pest attack. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

O.S.Y.  Encampment

BATO, Catanduanes —  The Bato Central Elementary School in Bato East District, Catanduanes will host the 9th Regional Alternative Learning System (ALS) Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Summer Encampment 2012 of the Department of Education (DepEd) from May 21 to 25. The event with the theme, “Kung ALS Learner Ka, Naiiba Ka," will be participated by 13 divisions from Bicol region. According to Mayor Rodriguez, the hosting of the said camp is part of the preparation on being a Hall of Famer of their town in the National Literacy Awards. (PIA)