GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (PNA) – Health authorities in South Cotabato have expressed alarm over the rising incidence of maternal deaths, which they mainly attribute to the low awareness level among residents on the available health services of local health stations in the area.

“We need to change that behavior,” Dr. Salvecio Dagang, technical chief of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office said, referring to the importance of visiting rural health units, especially for expectant mothers. Studies showed that most residents of remote communities remain unaware and seldom avail of health services offered in barangay health centers and related facilities.

Priority programs

TANDAG CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Northeastern Mindanao has formed a special body that will oversee planning and synchronization of interventions in the poorest villages in the Caraga Region through convergence of efforts and resources.

It was learned that the special body will prioritize the poorest villages in terms of resource allocation by the concerned government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations. The objective of the creation of the special body is to make a positive approach to the poverty situation in the Caraga Region. (Mike Crismundo)

Partnership gab

BUTUAN CITY – A delegation from this city composed of selected city economic officials and legislators, business leaders, chamber of commerce, academe and professors from various universities left for Tokyo, Japan for a Private-Partnership-Project (PPA) Forum.

Highlight of the investment forum is the presentation of the “PPP Possibilities for the Future of Growing Butuan City.” The presentation will be undertaken by the Toyo University PPP Graduate School Butuan Project Team who recently visited this city. “The good news of this investment forum of PPP for infrastructure development is economic growth in the city,” said Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. (Mike Crismundo)

Coco research

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has scheduled a one-day consultative meeting of coco-coir processors, traders, officials of small coconut farmers associations, national government agencies, and other stakeholders of the industry in Region 9.

DTI Region-9 Director Nazrullah Manzur said the consultation, scheduled to be held on November 16 in Pagadian City, aims to spur the growth and development of the coco-coir industry in the region. “The industry holds so much potential for the region especially in exports,” Manzur said.

Cinnamon project

MARAGUSAN, Compostela Valley (ComVal) (PNA) – This town known as the province’s summer capital due to its cold weather, was the site of the planting of cinnamon trees Friday, with 1st District Representative Maria Carmen Zamora Apsay leading the activity. Apsay said they need to plant trees to bring back the cold weather in the area.

“We wanted that kind of weather be brought back to this town and the planting of trees can help improve the climate,” she said. Apsay said the date 11-11-11 has no particular meaning for the launching but see the numbers as trees.