DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Negros Oriental’s Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (PARO) distributed lands and installed 13 farmer-beneficiaries recently in San Jose town, this province. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) information officer Gherelene Mae Rafols said the 10,649-hectare property was owned by Trison’s Development Corp. Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) were distributed to the new beneficiaries who were encouraged to avail of the projects and programs of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for their guidance in coconut farming. They were also reminded of their obligations and responsibilities especially the payment of taxes to government and the annual amortization of the land to the Landbank of the Philippines.

INDIGENTS’ PENSION

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — A total of 304 elderly people from various districts here received their three-month social pension last Tuesday from the city government at the Molo gymnasium. Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog who was there said, “We have always put importance on the welfare of senior citizens so they can become productive and enjoy life despite their age.” Senior citizens aged 77 and above with no means of living and are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System or private insurance, are entitled to a monthly pension of R500. Each senior citizen received R1,500 for the second quarter. “Although the amount is not much, it could help a poor elderly without any source of income,” Mabilog said.

QUAKE DRILL

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA6) — Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) chief Jomarie Vargas told participants in a school earthquake drill seminar at the Barangay Handumanan National High School, this city, that disaster preparedness begins at home and family heads should have plans on what members will do in case of earthquakes and other similar catastrophes. He advised teachers to urge students not to run when an earthquake occurs because they will be disoriented and might be injured.

RABIES PROGRAM

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — To eliminate rabies in Biliran and the entire Visayas, members of the Biliran Provincial Rabies Control Committee (PRCC) will attend a two-day Program Implementation Review of Rabies Elimination Project for Visayas. Biliran veterinarian Dr. Susette Apura said the activity is led by the Department of Health (DOH)-8 in coordination with the Department of Agriculture 8 and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

PERFORMANCE AWARD

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Maasin city government will receive a R3-million Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for complying with the standards of good governance. The city government passed the DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) program in 2011, hence, the Maasin city government is entitled to incentives for compliant LGUs,” City Local Government Operations Officer (CLGOO) Elsa Tingcoy said, adding that the Maasin city government also got a R20-million Local Government Support Fund award for passing the SGH in 2011.