ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (PIA) – Some 40 youth from the city’s far-flung village of Labuan benefited from a livelihood training jointly sponsored by the Food Processor Association of Zamboanga (FPAZ) and Councilor Mike Alavar III. The ongoing training, which started first of July, aims to equip the participants with knowledge in fish processing and Spanish Sardines making.

Alavar said the training will help the participants gain skills that they can use to their advantage in job hunting or start their own business. “After they have completed the training, I hope they will be able to use what they have learned in the training in starting their own business,” Alavar said.

Housing support

DAVAO CITY (PNA) – The real estate development sector has committed to help flash flood victims in this city to rebuild their homes. Carlos Vargas, head of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Associations – Davao City chapter, said various developers believed crushed structures in flood-prone areas could not easily be rebuilt given the recurring bad weather and geographic location of the houses.

In this connection, the developers joined efforts in talking with the city government and discussed their plan of helping the relocation of families living in flood-prone areas. The project dubbed “Run To Rebuild Program” is a continuing project aimed at helping families build homes in safer grounds.

Mild earthquake

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – A magnitude 4.7 earthquake rocked parts of this city before dawn Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the 4:30 a.m. tremor was not connected to the quake that hit Davao area on Wednesday night.

Phivolcs said the quake in Davao, which occurred at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, was recorded at magnitude 4.2, with the epicenter traced some 142 kilometers east of Mati City in Davao Oriental.

Mushroom culture

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in cooperation with the Gender Advocates (GA) in Northern Mindanao, has organized a seminar on Oyster Mushroom Culture for GA members.

DTI-10 Director Alicia V. Euseña and GA-10 president said the seminar is primarily intended to equip the women in the government with technical skills specifically on growing mushrooms to augment family income.

“Mushrooms are also beneficial for the families for the high nutritional value of the plant,” she said.
Edible mushrooms are good sources of high-quality protein.

Wildlife center

TAGUM CITY (PIA) – Confiscated, abandoned or donated wild animals will soon find home in this city where they will be quarantined and properly cared for. The city government here and the Region 11 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR-11) signed a Memorandum of Agreement which paved the way for the establishment of the region’s first wildlife rescue center.

To be located inside the 5.6-hectare Bird Park at Sitio Mandapaan in Barangay New Balamban, the center will be managed by the DENR through the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau with the assistance of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and City Veterinary Office.