DAVAO CITY, Philippines (PIA) – City Vice- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned criminals to stay away from schools. In his weekly television program “Ato ni Bai,” the former mayor said he received reports that a group of unscrupulous individuals riding in heavily tinted cars are just lurking for students to victimize.

Duterte said that he will not hesitate to stop and check suspicious-looking tinted vehicles.

And if he ever crosses paths with them,“They better have a good explanation,” the vice mayor said.

He warned these elements to stop plying their trade before he catches them.

Late enrollees 

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The Region 12 office of the Department of Education (DepEd- 12) assured Friday that public elementary and high schools in the region would still accept late enrollees until next week.

Macario Ontal, DepEd-12’s policy planning and research division chief, said they received a directive from DepEd central office to accommodate all pupils and students who have not yet enrolled but still want to go to school.

“We can’t refuse anyone who wants to go to school,” he said.

Ontal pointed out that poverty remains the top reason as to why some parents failed to enroll their children on time.

Farmers’ welfare 

TANDAG, Surigao del Sur – Thousands of farmers in the province of Surigao del Sur continue to benefit from the national government’s agriculture assistance in an effort to increase their farm production and improve their living condition.

In fulfilling his promise, President Aquino ordered Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala to confer with the farmers’ group and local officials of Surigao del Sur today about the proposed P98-million Hubo River Irrigation Project in San Agustin town, and the P50 million concreting of the San Jose-San Isidro farm-to-market road of the newly created city of Tandag. (Mike Crismundo)

State university 

SURIGAO CITY, Philippines --  – The Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives finally approved on Wednesday a measure for the establishment of the “Surigao del Norte State University” in the province of Surigao del Norte. Before the session adjourned Wednesday, the members of the committee chaired by Rep. Sonny Angara unanimously gave the “green light” for endorsement of the measure, said Surigao del Norte Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr. House Bill 1718 would pave the way for the establishment of the Surigao del Norte State Univer-sity which is being pushed by the provincial, city, and municipal officials in the province, including the Department of Education to cater to the needs of education. (Mike Crismundo)

Organic farming 

DUMINGAG, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA) – To spread the principles and practices of organic farming, the Dumingag Institute of Sustainable Organic Agriculture (DISOA) starts to offer a short course on organic agriculture to other local government units (LGUs).

The local government of Siayan was the first to enroll in the two-week course on organic agriculture that started June 6 at the DISOA training center in Barangay Dapiwak, Dumingag. After Siayan, the LGU of Oroquieta City will follow as course enrollee in the following month.

“Organic agriculture is like the Gospel of the Lord that should be spread to as many farmers as possible,” DISOA executive director Jesus Semine said.