CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City, Philippines – At least eight policemen were honored for their exemplary feats in line with their duties during a ceremony early this week at the headquarters of Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) here.

The eight policemen received their medals from Police Director Jaime Milla, Police Directorate for Personnel and Records Division chief of the Philippine National Police. Chief Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, PRO-13 director, assisted in the awarding of medals to the deserving and brave policemen. (Mike Crismundo)

Rain-fed areas get tube wells
DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – Rice farmers of rain-fed areas in the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Norte recently received shallow tube wells (STWs) from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In his recent visit here, DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala turned-over to 2nd District Rep. Rosendo Labadlabad 14 units of STWs worth P1,091,300 for the rice farmers in non-irrigated areas.

STWs are designed to provide irrigation water to tail-end users of irrigation system, and rice farmers in non-irrigated rice areas.

Presently, the 2nd district only has five functional irrigation systems situated in Dipolog City, Sinuyak and Seres in Katipunan, and Inuman and Dumalogdog in Sindangan.

Disaster-resistant houses advocated
DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) is urging members of Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) to be more conscious on the resiliency and adaptability of their housing projects to disasters.

This was emphasized by HUDCC Deputy Secretary General Wendel E. Avisado in his message at the opening of the Mindanao Housing Fair organized by SHDA at the Gaisanao Mall Atrium here recently.

He represented HUDCC Chair Jejomar Binay during the occasion.

Zambo Sur starts 'Pambata' drive
PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – In support to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur headed by the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Health, Board Member Ramon Blancia Jr., will launch the “Garantisadong Pambata” Thursday in the town of San Pablo.

The program aims to ensure that children below five years old be given the exact oral health care and teach parents good nutrition practices.

Children will also be given Vitamin-A, and de-worming medication. Mothers will also be taught the correct procedures of breastfeeding and its importance to their child.

More Davao women enter law practice
DAVAO CITY (PNA) – More lady law graduates from this city passed the annual bar examinations where 26 students from two universities here took the examination in September 2010 in Manila.

Some 19 of those who hurdled the 2010 bar examinations are ladies.

Dean Manuel P. Quibod of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) College of Law said 17 women and only four men passed the exams, while the University of Mindanao has only five, two of whom are women.

Quibod said a graduate of ADDU College of Law, Janette R. Ancog, ranked fourth with a score of 85.90 percent.