BUTUAN CITY, Philippines (PIA) – Beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilya recently shared how the program strengthened their family relationships. In two separate occasions, the beneficiaries proudly disclosed what they have learned during their Family Development Sessions (FDS).

“The program is a big help to us, not only in the financial aspect because we have this FDS where we learn how to become a more responsible parents to our children,” Remely Salazar said in the vernacular. Another beneficiary, Rose Gregay, also expressed that the grants they get from the program helped their children get basic education.

Asparagus plant

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala with City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio lead the recent groundbreaking of the R3 million Asparagus Packing Plant to facilitate the processing of asparagus not only in this city but the entire SocSarGen (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos City) area.

Alcala was happy to note of the new development in the city, describing it as another milestone for the agricultural sector here. He then turned over to Custodio asparagus seeds as initial assistance under the department’s high-value crop development program.

‘White spot'

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – A deadly virus known as “white spot” killed prawns, shrimps, crabs, and fish in Barangay Vitali, east of the city, costing the fishpond owners hundreds of thousands of pesos worth of investments. Village councilman Leo Natividad disclosed that their village has been dealing with the problem for about three months now.

But Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 9 Director Ahadulla Sajili said they are doing everything they can to immediately address the problem, however, the lack of manpower and the many priorities that they have to attend to has been limiting their interventions.

Crocodile hunt

BUNAWAN, Agusan del Sur – A giant crocodile was finally captured after a 24-day hunt inside the country’s largest marshland in Agusan del Sur. Hunters led by Bunawan Mayor Edwin G. Elorde captured the 21-foot long and more than 1,000-kilo male crocodile in Barangay Nueva Era here at 11 p.m. Saturday.

The hunt against the crocodiles started after residents saw the large reptiles attacked a two-year-old carabao in Barangay Nueva Era last August 11. Local officials also recalled that a crocodile attacked and killed a 12-year-old girl, identified as Rowena Romano, in the marshy waters of Agusan del Sur in March 7, 2009. (Mike Crismundo)

Agri campaign

KORONADAL CITY (PIA) – At least 38,000 rat tails were gathered by farmers, residents, and local officials in the nearby town of Tantangan during the launching of an anti-rat campaign recently. Community response to the call to catch and eliminate rats was so successful that the 30 sacks of rice allocated in exchange of rodents’ tails during the launching program were insufficient.

According to provincial agriculturist Reynaldo Legaste, controlling rat population in the area could prevent recurrence of rat infestation. Early this year, rat infestation forced Tantangan officials and other local government units to declare a state of calamity in their respective areas.