ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in line with President Aquino’s Executive Order No. 26, has launched the National Greening Program (NGP) in this city.

The NGP launching held Wednesday was spearheaded by DENR Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. who said the agency aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in about 1.5 million hectares of land for the next six years.

Adobo said they are optimistic that the 1.5 million hectares of land will be turned into a vast green area until year 2016. He said the NGP is aimed at reducing poverty in the countryside.

Wastre recycling

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) will be initiating the 11th waste recycling activity on June 28 and 29 at the parking area of a mall here. DCCCII environment committee chairperson Dr. Robert Puentespina is urging the public to join the activity, which converts trash to cash.

Puentespina said many investors in this city are becoming interested to conduct business out of trash. He made the observation as an offshoot of the waste recycling event which DCCCII has been initiating. About P200,000 was generated from DCCCII’s waste recycling event last year, confident the amount will increase this year.

Labor growth

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Region 9 office of the National Statistics Office (NSO-9) has posted the highest employment rate in the entire country in April this year.

NSO-9 Director Ronaldo Taghap said the Labor Force Survey (LFS) in April this year showed that Region 9 posted an employment rate of 96.8 percent.

Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula comprises the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, and the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, Pagadian, and Zamboanga.

Agusan cited

BUTUAN CITY – The Agusan del Norte received the “Best Performing Health Program” because of its establishment of several health projects in the past three years, which is very vital in providing health care to thousands of residents in the province, especially those in the far-flung communities.

The province was also cited for the establishment of 77 Botika ng Barangay (BNB), while establishing 24 BNB’s in 2010. Additional six BNB’s will be established this year to reach the national target of 1:2 ratio of BNB to every two villages.

Despite the lack of medical doctors, the provincial government has also served 9,454 patients at the provincial hospital, and attended to 20,294 outpatients. (Mike Crismundo)

Earthquake drill

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – The Camp Evangelista Station Hospital (CESH) here, in cooperation with the Cagayan de Oro City Fire Department, successfully conducted its first fire and earthquake drill inside the hospital compound on Thursday.

The drill was witnessed by top military officials and medical staff, and personnel from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division led by Maj. Gen. Victor A. Felix. Lt. Col. Nelia F. Valmonte, CESH chief nurse, said that it is the first time the CESH initiated such disaster preparedness on earthquake and fire. (Mike Crismundo)