GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated some P40 million for the development of an alternate road network that would connect potential agribusiness production areas of the three municipalities in South Cotabato to various markets in Region 12.

Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato provincial agriculturist, said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala endorsed the proposed Tupi-Banga-T'boli road project’s immediate funding and implementation. The official said the planned road network will cover various prime agricultural production areas and communities in the upland portions of the municipalities of Tupi, Banga, and T’boli in South Cotabato.

Bird watching

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – Veterinary personnel in South Cotabato have intensified their monitoring against the possible entry of the H5N1 Avian Influenza or bird flu virus in the province following the resurgence of the deadly disease in several parts of Southeast Asia.

Dr. Raul Teves, Veterinarian IV of the South Cotabato Provincial Veterinary Office, said they have launched a series of random tests on chickens, ducks, and other poultry species in several parts of the province for possible infection of the bird flu virus. “This is a precautionary measure since the province is adjacent to the areas that are considered as highly vulnerable for the possible entry of bird flu,” he said.

Water project

PANABO CITY (PIA) – Some 254 households in Barangay Tibungol here will soon benefit from an adequate supply of safe drinking water courtesy of a P3- million project from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The city government here recently spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of a Potable Water System (PWS) under the implementation of the DA-Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) at Purok 3 in Barangay Tibungol.

The MRDP project that has a funding from the World Bank, will have a water reservoir for the constituents of the village.

Agusan fest

CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte (PIA) – Preparations are set for the “10th Baoto Festival 2011” in the province. The festival pays tribute to the “baoto” or native dug-out canoe, which is the featured activity in the celebration. The 30K Paddling Competition in Lake Mainit is considered to be the longest paddling race in the Philippines for three-seater dug-out canoes.

The municipality of Jabonga will host the big event with the support of other nearby municipalities, like Kitcharao, Santiago, and Tubay, which are gifted with sceneries as they are embraced by mountain ranges and surrounded by the lake – perfect for the said festival.

School paper

DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – A total of 166 school paper advisers from the schools divisions of Zamboanga del Norte, and the cities of Dipolog, Dapitan, and Isabela have participated in a two-day workshop on campus newspapering conducted here by the Region-9 office of the Department of Education (DepED-9).

Regional English Supervisor Visminda Valde said the workshop focused on page layout/design, which the school papers in Region-9 are found wanting. She said the school papers from this region could hardly bring home awards in page layout/design in the national school paper competitions.