ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) – Marine Biodiversity Day in Western Visayas today will be highlighted by the importance of protecting, conserving, and managing the region’s marine life. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 6 (DENR-6) executive director Julian Amador said Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENRO) here have undergone four-day training on Geographical Information System and Situational Analysis for Integrated Coastal Management. Field implementers were updated on statistical analysis and database technology for coastal management and sustainability.

GREENIN PHILIPPINES

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), a Cebu-based non-government organization (NGO) recently launched at the Cebu Provincial Capitol its 2012 “Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines” program that includes a running and planting activity which targets the planting of 220,000 native tree seedlings on June 30 all over Cebu. RAFI chief operating officer Dominica Chua said “the idea is not just to plant for photo purposes, but to really grow trees to become forests. This will be held simultaneously in 50 municipalities and component cities in Cebu, making the event a province-wide endeavor."

VETERANS BUDGET

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — In a speech during the recent celebration of the 67th Liberation Day anniversary at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo pledged to allocate a yearly budget of nearly R100,000 to fund programs and activities of war veterans here. “Because of their bravery, Filipinos were freed from the hands of those who wished to conquer the country,” he said. Degamo expressed hope that the funds will benefit local war veterans groups “so that they can enjoy the fruits of the hard work and sacrifice they made for the country.”

KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has responded to Eastern Visayas’ need for 207 kindergarten teachers by releasing the budget for their salaries. Rebecca Ragrag of the Department of Education (DepEd) said the 207 new kindergarten teachers will fill up vacancies across the region, that is, 56 in Leyte; 46 in Samar; 43 in Northern Samar; 25 in Eastern Samar; and 15 in Southern Leyte. She said the national government has allotted over R2.4 billion for kindergarten, beginning this school year.

FOREST CONSERVATION 

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas has pledged to conserve forests in Mt. Nacolod in Silago, Southern Leyte. In connection, an assessment which would provide policy and decision makers sound basis for crafting appropriate conservation measures was undertaken jointly by DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau; Flora and Fauna International; National Museum of the Philippines; and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).