ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — More than 100 civilians will be joining the military force to help in the attainment of the government’s thrust to have lasting peace and development in the countryside. Public Affairs Office Chief Enrico Gil Ileto of the Philippines Army’s 3rd Infantry Division disclosed that some 143 civilians have earlier applied to join the Philippine Army. Ileto said the male candidates are now undergoing a six-month rigid training for the Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) and Jungle Warfare Mountain Operation Course (JWMOC) Class 295-2012 and the 3ID’s Training Unit, while the female candidate soldiers are also currently undergoing the same selection process at 3ID and will be sent to Camp O’Donel in Tarlac province for their training.

Coastal Cleanup

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) — Dumaguete City, through its Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), has collected 2,670 kilos of garbage during the coastal cleanup last Saturday along the coastal barangays in the city. ENRO Fishery Coordinator Roy Lumjod said the coastal clean-up drive is one of the initiatives of the city government to address a heavy influx of solid waste that could possibly affect the city’s coastal resources. Lumjod said the activity was also one way of making the environment life-supportive and ecologically friendly for Dumagueteños and tourists as well.

B.F.A.R. Donation

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources turned over Thursday a check worth R1.250 million for the procurement of Bantay Dagat patrol boat for the province of Iloilo. BFAR regional director Drusila Bayate personally handed the check to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. who acknowledged the agency’s support to his administration’s anti-illegal fishing campaign. Bayate said the financial assistance was committed by BFAR Director Asis Perez several months back when the latter visited the province.

Fire Trucks

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Forty-seven towns in Western Visayas have no fire trucks, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) regional office here. Senior Supt. Eleuterio Itturiaga, BFP-6 regional director, said majority of these municipalities are from the provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo. Itturiaga stressed that towns without fire trucks are “prone to fire” and “risky” considering that they are only dependent on the assistance from other neighboring towns during fire incidents.

Rivers Display

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will put on display major rivers in the region and the various initiatives of the agency in the management of waterways, during the three-day 1st International River Summit on May 30 to June 1. DENR VI Regional Executive Director Julian D. Amador said Western Visayas’ major rivers will take center stage during the exhibit to highlight the numerous undertakings of the agency in the preservation of these bodies of water. The rivers that will take center stage during the exhibit are Bugang River in Pandan, Antique; Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve; Panakuyan River in Ibajay, Aklan, Sibunag River in Guimaras and Tigum-Aganan River in Iloilo, among others.