ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – United States (US) Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. led the inauguration Monday of the $36,768 US-funded fusion center at the headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) here.

Thomas was joined by WesMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer and Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (SOTF-P) Captain Robert Gusentine in the inauguration ceremony at Camp Basilio Navarro that houses the WesMinCom headquarters. (AFP)

2 new events added to Palaro
DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte – The Department of Education (DepEd) added two new events in the 2011 Palarong Pambansa, the country’s premier sportsfest, which will be staged in this Shrine City from May 8 to 14.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, incharge of school sports, listed the two as Arnis for elementary boys and girls, and basketball for girls.

Umali, who presided over a recent seminar-workshop for Palaro technical officials here, said Arnis – elementary under the Labanan Competition is categorized by height with pupil-athletes five feet tall and below belonging to Category A and those above five feet under Category B. (Tony Pe. Rimando)

Mindanao cities join 'Earth Hour'
BUTUAN CITY – Key cities in Mindanao are all set to participate in the “Earth Hour Philippines 2011” this coming Saturday.

The “Earth Hour Philippines 2011” calls on private corporations, government units, local groups, schools, and the entire nation to participate in this year’s event by switching off lights from 8:30 p.m. to
9:30 p.m. on March 26.

“Earth Hour” is now on its fourth year in the Philippines.

“Earth Hour” aims to engulf once more the entire country, from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, in darkness.

The event tackles concerns on global warming and climate change, which the national government is trying to introduce in several programs to mitigate its effects. (Mike Crismundo)

Joint program for Lanao youth
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – The European Union (EU) continued extending its health program in Mindanao, and this time, the EU is joining the provincial government of Lanao del Norte, Department of Health (DoH), and Department of Education (DepEd) for a joint health project for the youth.

Promoting a healthy lifestyle among the youth of Lanao del Norte is the primary reason for the holding of a Health Quiz Road Show at the Macapagal Training Center here recently.

The inter-school activity is also part of EU’s Information, Communication, and Visibility Plan, in partnership with the DoH, DepEd and Lanao del Norte. (Mike Crismundo)

Health seminar for mediamen
PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DoH) will hold a seminar on health financing, medicine access, nutrition, and smoking from March 23 to 25, 2011 at the VIP Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Dubbed “Measles Immunizations, Food, Medicine, and Healthy Lifestyle 101,” the seminar will be a venue for media practitioners and government information officers to know the latest developments
in the fields of financing, medicine access, nutrition, smoking, and measles immunization.