PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines – Bringing down the price of organic rice in the market could be achieved if more farmers adapt to pesticide-free rice cultivation, a development this region is bound to achieve as it gradually turns conventional rice fields into organic.

At least 200,000 hectares of rice fields in three municipalities located in Salug Valley is eyed to be turned into organic rice fields where farmers will use nothing but ducks as means to cultivate rice from planting down to harvest time. Government and non-government agencies will work together to help farmers accept an organic method using nothing but ducks. (Mick Basa)

Fruit festival

LAAK, Compostela Valley (PIA) – The local government here will celebrate the Kahimunan Festival simultaneously with the Fruit Festival on September 21. A grand parade is set to kick-off the celebration, to be followed by the program proper at the Municipal Hall grounds.

The migrant tribes and the indigenous people of this town will be given a chance to display their cultural practices, customs and traditions. The celebration also includes booth contest and fruit display where the 20 clustered villages will vie for the best dressed booth, best in cultural design, best product displayed, and most number of displayed fruits.

Fine handicraft

MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA) – Several members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) in the city’s rice farming communities will undergo skills enhancement training on the use of rice straw to produce fine handicrafts. Mayor Ignacio Zubiri said the training, which is set on September 23, would somehow help RIC women-members in their efforts to enrich their livelihood.

“In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, this project will practically help generate new strategies for rice farming households to improve the situation of women by exploring various aspects in the rice livelihood systems,” he said.

Protocol seminar

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – Retired Ambassador Fortunato D. Oblena conducted a lecture on the various aspects of protocol during a seminar held before the weekend. Protocol, Oblena said, refers to accepted rules governing the conduct of diplomats with the foreign ministry, the officials and the public in the host country, other diplomats and international organizations.

“The rules of protocol include the niceties, courtesies, and politeness in oral and written communication,” he said. Oblena’s lecture includes overview of diplomatic protocol, order of precedence, diplomatic ceremonies, escorting procedures, protocol of the flag and the different arrangements, and requirements for official and social functions.

Health facilities

MATI CITY, Davao Oriental (PNA) – The Region 11 office of the Department of Health (DoH-11) turned over P35 million as cash assistance to the province of Davao Oriental to help upgrade its local government-run health facilities like the provincial and district hospitals, including rural health units.

DoH-11 Director Gene Baluma also vowed to extend more financial assistance to the local government units in Region 11. “As you can see, most of the illnesses that were brought to the Davao Regional Hospital and Southern Philippines Medical Center can be handled by the provincial and district hospitals,” Baluma said.