ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government here has ordered barangay captains to conduct a Barangay Assembly Day and State of the Barangay Address (SOBA) every year in pursuant to a memorandum issued by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Sarangani DILG director Flor Limpin Jr. said Robredo issued recently Memorandum Circular 2011-144 directing all barangay captains to deliver their individual State of the Barangay Address (SOBA) which aims to inform local populace of their accomplishment and on-going programs to uplift the plight of their respective constituents. (Joseph Jubelag)

Orobest 2011

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA) — The best agricultural, food and tourism businesses in the Northern Mindanao, including those trade covered by the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) are showcased in the Oro Business Enterprise Services and Trade (OROBEST) Exposition 2011.

Staged by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (OroChamber), the Expo which is held simultaneously with the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials and Ministerial Meeting (SOMM) will run from Oct. 19-22, 2011 at the Atrium of SM City, here.

Settlers honored

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur (PIA) — Sta. Cruz, the oldest municipality in the province, celebrated its 127th founding anniversary this month by honoring the early settlers from the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe. The celebration paid tribute to the tribal group in a showcase of its culture and traditions during the Tribal Day event led by the Municipal Tribal Council .

The Bagobo descendants from about nine upland barangays in Sta. Cruz demonstrated in song and dance performances their rituals and practices such as tribal wedding, farming, planting and harvest method. Most tribe members are found in Barangays Sibulan and Tibolo where culture and traditions are still preserved and upheld.

‘Unsung heroes’

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) — National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) regional director Dr. Arturo De Jesus Jr. has declared local meat inspectors as “unsung heroes” in the region during the stakeholders and meat inspectors’ forum held on Tuesday.

De Jesus said he recognized the significant contributions of local meat inspectors (LMIs) in society as they are the ones who safeguard the meat and assure the public that such products are fit for human consumption.

“You are the country’s unsung heroes who are at the forefront in food defense and unnoticed in the early morning hours when everybody is still sleeping, you are carefully doing meat inspection works to ensure that only healthy, clean and safe meat are passed for food to consumers,” he said.

Lanao awards

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — Lanao del Norte bagged two tourism awards in the Best Tourism Practices (national level) during the 12th National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) held last Oct. 5 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.