TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, Philippines – Lanao del Norte bags two tourism awards in the “Best Tourism Practices” (national level) during the recently concluded 12th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) held in Roxas City, Capiz.

This fast-rising province won the top spot in Culture and Arts category for its “Araw ng Lanao del Norte” festivities and third place in Sports and Wellness category for the hugely successful “Lanao del Norte International Motocross Championships.” Receiving the awards in behalf of the provincial government were Governor Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo and Provincial Tourism Head Minda Regis. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Fort Pilar

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) -– A more illuminated, vibrant and an improved quality of sound system will awe the public as the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the National Museum have approved in principle the city government’s proposal to enhance Fort Pilar Shrine and the improvement of some infrastructures of the city’s national museum, this revealed City Information Officer (IO) Sheila Covarrubias.

Covarrubias said “the National Museum through Director Jeremy Barnes has committed to allocate funds for the improvement of some infrastructure of the Zamboanga’s National Museum located right behind the Fort Pilar Shrine.”

Tree planting

DAVAO CITY (PNA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office here plans to plant 2.7 million seedlings of trees this year as part of the administration’s national greening program. Alfredo B. Zarasate, chief of forest resources development division of DENR Davao, said the agency has already planted nearly 2.3 million seedlings as of Oct. 13.

“Hopefully, we would achieve our target by the end of the year,” he said. Zarasate said the implementation of the program started earlier this year after President Benigno C. Aquino III penned Executive Order 26.

River rehab

DAVAO CITY (PNA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here has placed on top of its priorities the reforestation of a river in Davao City which overflowed in June, this year, killing 33 people. On the night of June 29, Pangi River in the southern area of the city overflowed its banks causing a flash flood that swept through four barangays.

Alfredo Zarasate, chief of Forest Resources Development Division (FRDD), said Pangi River is at the top of priorities for reforestation after the DENR completed its assessment of sites and rivers in Davao City that needed rehabilitation.

Zamboanga traffic

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – Mayor Celso Lobregat has ordered the local police's traffic division to plan, adopt and implement a temporary traffic rerouting scheme on all roads leading to public and private cemeteries in the observance of “All Saints' Day” and “All Souls Day” on November 1 and 2, respectively.

In his Executive Order No. CL-423-2011 dated October 17, 2011, Lobregat emphasized that it is the responsibility of the city government to ensure vehicular traffic would be smooth, orderly and convenient to the public during the observance of the two-day religious activity.