DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) – The provincial government of Negros Oriental is set to award this year’s winners of the Gulayan sa Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan (GPAK) provincial evaluation here on July 17. The awarding ceremony marks the 10th year that GPAK, a Galing Pook awardee, is implemented in Negros Oriental to improve food production in the province by allotting unused lots within school grounds for vegetable production and tilapia ponds. GPAK was initiated in the province in 2002 by then governor and now Second District Representative George Arnaiz. It earned a Galing Pook award due to its positive impact on the nutritional status of school children in the province by helping reduce the malnutrition rate.

Skills Training

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Biliran Provincial Office announced the conduct of the first run of the Synchronized Free National Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) in various sectors per schedule. Loreta Banario, TESDA provincial director of Biliran, said the NATCAC will be conducted in three schedules that are July 9 to 20, August 20 to 31, and October 15 to 26, this year. Banario is also encouraging government and private sector workers to take advantage of this opportunity.

Peace Advocacy

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) – The Philippine Army (PA) here has assured people in Aklan that their troops continue to sustain their pursuit of peace and security to safeguard communities and vital facilities in the province. The PA gave this assurance during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting here recently when they gave a report on their internal security operations. The Army, particularly the CAA detachment province-wide, are sustaining their security activities in close coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), said PA Executive Officer Major Jamal Bonza, who represented Commanding Officer LTC.

Medical Mission

BORONGAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Central Office and Regional Office-8 in Tacloban held a medical mission for Boronganons on July 13 and 14. Edna Tomandao, technical staff of the provincial health office (PHO) said 30 obstetricians and gynecologists examined around 300 women who have abnormalities in their reproductive systems. She said only residents of this city were prioritized. She said about 10 patients are already set for surgical operation for myoma and a hysterectomy. Tomandao estimates a Myoma hospital operation will cost R50,000.

Day-Care Centers

TALISAY CITY – The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), through the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF), has turned over three newly constructed day-care centers to the municipalities of San Francisco, Asturias, and this city.  The day-care centers (DCC), which will benefit more than 200 pupils, belong to the villages of Dumalerio in San Francisco, Langub in Asturias, and Bulacao in this city. The RAFI-DACF’s donation is part of its commitment to support communities as they prepare young children to become successful students and responsible citizens of the Philippines. (Phoebe Jen Indino)