CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) has cited ten towns in Samar for successfully implementing the agency’s Garantisadong Pambata, a program comprised of health services for children, in 2012. The Samar Provincial Health Office (PHO) said in terms of vitamin A supplementation, Talalora, Samar placed number 1 with 114.6 percent accomplishment with a total coverage of 1,017 over a target population of 888. Second is Marabut, Samar with 105.7  percent or with a total coverage of 4,398 over a 4161 target. Third is Matuguinao, Samar with of 99.4 percent coverage or a total of 733 covered beneficiaries. Other municipalities are San Jose De Buan, with 93.6 percent coverage, Zumarraga with 93.2 percent, Daram with 92.2 percent, Gandara with 91.9 percent, San Jorge with 91.2 percent, Motiong with 91.2 percent, and Sta. Margarita with 91 percent.

DAIRY CONGRESS

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) - Negros Occidental province, through the Negros Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (NEFEDACO), will host the 16th Dairy Congress and Expo on Feb.7-9, 2013 at the New Bacolod Pavillon Resort Hotel and Restaurant, with some 400 participants from the dairy and livestock industries expected to attend the two-day event. Gov. Alfredo Maranon, Jr. said the choice of the province as congress host is a recognition by the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, that the dairy and livestock sectors in Negros Occidental are alive and well.

FACILITY INAUGURATED 

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – The Biliran local government inaugurated last January 15 a residential treatment facility building for children in conflict with the law (CICL) . Dubbed Bahay Pag-asa, the facility, located in Brgy. Larrazabal in Naval, Biliran will serve children and youth in the province who are disadvantaged, at risk and with deep-seated behavioral problems as well as those in need of protection, care, training and rehabilitation. Virginia Cadano of the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the facility is the first of its kind to be operated by the local government unit for CICL in Eastern Visayas.

RECEPTACLES PROVISION

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is asking local government units (LGUs) and business establishments to provide waste receptacles in their offices' vicinity. DENR issued the call in view of thousands of people expected to join the grand procession of the Sinulog Festival on Sunday, Jan. 20 in the city.  DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said “by making properly labeled garbage bins such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable and recyclables to be put up in strategic sites, waste materials could be easily collected.” Cebu City has an estimated waste discharge of 511 tons per day or 0.7 kilogram per person per day in an ordinary day.

MORE PAG-IBIG

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) – To bring government services closer to the people, the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-Ibig Fund Regional Office – 8 intends to open field offices and branches across the region. Pag-Ibig Information Officer Kevin Sosiona said there are plans to open field services centers in Catarman and Allen in Northern Samar; Borongan City in Eastern Samar; Catbalogan City in Samar;  Palo, Dulag, Palompon, Robinsons and Port Area in Leyte;  Naval in Biliran; and San Juan, Maasin City and Sogod in Southern Leyte, with between two to three staff members fielded to manage said proposed field centers.