SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) – The 82nd Infantry (Bantay Laya) Battalion is set to bring selected elementary pupils from upland barangays to different places in the city as part of their “Lakbay Aral” in November.  The battalion took it upon themselves to conduct such activity as they had heart-breaking experiences with the children in the uplands as they went about performing their tasks, said 2Lt. Cherry DL Gervacio, Civil Military Operations officer. The Army observed that many schoolchildren from the upland barangays have not even gone down to the lowlands, rode a jeep or bus, entered a mall or eat in a restaurant, visited a park or landmark places or have never eaten even a chicken from the fast food restaurant Jollibee.  Life for them has always been hard, routinary.

BIRTHING CENTER

ORMOC CITY, Leyte (PIA) – To the advantage of residents of Barangay Lat-osan, Palompon, Leyte, a birthing center is currently being built there by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Region 8. The birthing center, according to Lino Francisco C. Gonzalez, engineer of DPWH, cost R1 million funded by the Department of Health (DOH). The center is located in a far-flung barangay where roads are rough and hardly passable to all types of vehicles. With the presence of the birthing center in the barangay, DOH hopes that mortality rate among women will be lessened. Likewise, with the presence of a center, some 300 households will now benefit some health services.

CADASTRAL SURVEY 

CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7, through the Land Management Services (LMS) has conducted a one-day regional conference with the cadastral survey contractors. DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the conference was aimed to discuss the extent of implementation of the cadastral survey project here in the region. “We are now closely monitoring our contractors for updates on the accomplishments to make sure that they are able to meet their targets on time,” he said. (Phoebe Indino)

OVI TRAPS

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) – Elementary and secondary schools in Aklan have received their respective shares of Ovi/Larvicidal traps during a launch program at the Trade Hall, Capitol Building. The launch and distribution of the Ovi traps were spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Education (DepEd) in coordination with the provincial government of Aklan.  The Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap or mosquito OL trap is a system used to control the population of dengue-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.

BLOOD DONATION

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA6) – More bags of blood are expected to be added in the blood bank of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) – Capiz with the six mass blood donation (MBD) activities this month. “Initially about 70 bags of blood were generated from the earlier MBD activities at Saint Anthony College Hospital (SACH), barangays Bago Grande and Tanza Norte in Panay town as well as Pob. Sur in Ivisan,” said Red Cross – Capiz Blood Service representative Ray Martinez. “Another mass blood donation activities will be on Oct. 27 organized by the Youth for Christ at Capiz National High School here and JEMS Barbershop at the PRC – Capiz building.”