BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan (PNA) — The Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) is urging government to diplomatically end the conflict with China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal as soon as possible. BFI President Dionisio Salme said the tourism industry in the country’s premier tourist destination has been affected since Chinese tourists cancelled their room reservations recently. Chinese tourists comprise 12 percent of overall foreign tourists in Boracay. “The BFI has a standing invitation from the China Tourism Organization for a travel exposition in China this September. We wish to go there and promote Boracay as the country’s top tourism destination,” said Salme.

NEW P.A.R.O.

NAVAL, Biliran (PNA) — Ismael Aya-ay is Biliran’s new Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO). Aya-ay, 52, designated PARO-111 last May 8, 2012 by DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes, replaced Elisea Orapa, who was transferred to Southern Leyte. A Career Executive Service eligible, Aya-ay was chief of the Beneficiaries Development Coordinating Division and concurrently designated PARO-1 prior to his new post. He joined DAR in 1983 as Agrarian Reform Technologist and was promoted to Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer in 1989. The island province of Biliran is one of the country’s newest provinces, being formerly a sub-province of Leyte until achieving full-fledged provincehood in 1992.

K-TO-12 TRAINING

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) deputized La Consolacion College Bacolod to train teachers in Negros Occidental public schools for the K-to-12 program this school year, with training starting last May 14 and ending June 1 covering Science, Edukasyon sa Pagkatao (Values Education), and Filipino. Some 1,000 participants from DepEd divisions in the province, including Bacolod City are attending the training aimed at teaching salient revisions in the basic education curriculum, equipping participants with pedagogical skills in various academic areas and levels.

SCHOOLS BEAUTIFICATION

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Volunteer parents and teachers of Mandaue City’s biggest public high school recently trooped to the school to paint classrooms and help fix minor repairs in time for the June 4 opening of classes. “We provided manpower and materials and we hope to finish everything in a week’s time,” Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (MCCNHS) president Vic Suliva said. Department of Education Asst. Sec. Elena Ruiz who was in Cebu to launch Brigada Eskwela 2012 dropped by some public schools including the MCCNHS to see how the program was being implemented in Cebu.

FEEDING ROOM

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar (PIA) — A special room for lactating and breastfeeding moms will be provided by the Borongan city government at the Borongan bus terminal near the public market. City Social Worker Thelma Banal proposed the project to Mayor Fe Abund who readily agreed. “The program will benefit traveling mothers, market vendors even balot, chicharon, and peanut vendors and all mother-peddlers,” Banal said.