BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – To assure road safety and travel convenience of the expected influx of motorists during the Holy Week, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Caraga region has set up the “Lakbay Alalay Program” which starts today, Palm Sunday.

“Lakbay Alalay Program” involves the deployment of Motorists Assistance Centers (MAC) along major thoroughfares and highways region-wide.

Teams were organized at the regional and all District Engineering Offices.

DPWH equipment and mechanics will be assigned in critical areas along national roads round-the-clock to provide immediate assistance to motorists in emergency road situations. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Aquino order clarified

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) - - Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Carlito Tuballa of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Zamboanga del Norte has clarified that the recent moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber primarily applies to natural and residual forests.

Tuballa made the explanation to dispel misconception that the issuance of Executive Order 23 by President Aquino would result in total log ban which, to some groups, only encourages illegal cutting of trees.

Cotabato eyes aerial survey

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – South Cotabato officials are planning to launch an aerial inspection of the mines development site of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc., in the mountains of Tampakan town to determine the extent of the damage wrought by the continuing small-scale illegal mining activities in the area.

South Cotabato Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr. said Friday they pushed for the conduct of the aerial survey to identify the specific sites covered by the destructive “banlas” or sluice mining operations within the mining areas.

The provincial government earlier launched a crackdown against the illegal sluice mining operations, a method which employs the pouring of large amounts of water on a mountain’s surface to extract the rocks containing the gold ore.

Students get jobs

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – - Eighteen local government units (LGUs) and seven private schools in Zamboanga del Norte have provided summer jobs to poor students who want to pursue their studies next school year.

Rey Hamoy of the provincial office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency that more or less 1,200 students are now employed in 18 LGUs and seven private schools under the DoLE’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

Defense team visits Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan (PIA) -- Encouraging Basileños to be prepared, the Office of the Civil Defense IX of the Department of National Defense (DND-OCD-9) challenged the provincial government to strengthen and prepare its volunteers and respondents for disaster management and response with the passage of a new law that provides for a comprehensive disaster management scheme.

DND-OCD-9 Regional Director Adriano D. Fuego said his team is conducting orientations in the region on Republic Act No. 10121 or an Act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System.