DAVAO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – An official of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shared some insights on how to promote local products in the world market at the Doing Business in Free Trade Areas (DBFTA) information session conducted here recently.

PTTC deputy executive director Nestor P. Palabyab said certain strategies had to be adopted to create a niche in the global trading arena. For product strategies, Palabyab said one must move up the value chain, capture higher-value processes in the global supply chain, and develop product linkages for organic, natural, and certification-enabled products.

Health forum

BUTUAN CITY – A maternal, child health, and family planning forum is set to be conducted at the city’s convention center here early next month.

The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DoH-CHD) in Northeastern Mindanao is spearheading the 3rd Inter-Agency Advocacy on Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning (MCH-FP) Program on December 6, this year.

DoH Region-13 Director Leonita Gorgolon said this advocacy will focus on the orientation of partners in the Aquino Health Agenda – “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan” (Universal Health Care) and its strategic thrusts. (Mike Crismundo)

Agri training

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – At least 54 students from the various colleges of the Mindanao State University (MSU) were trained recently for three days on how to create news articles and features to enhance agricultural productivity.

The training was sponsored by Agham Party-list and conducted by staff members of the Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development and was held at the MSU Graduate School in this city. Of interest to them are campus journalists who will be committed to work on disseminating new technologies with applications for the agriculture, forestry and natural resources sectors. (Marvyn Benaning)

Road projects

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur – Several Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and provincial government funded road projects amounting to P131.66 million are set to start in three key areas in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions.

The road project covers 84.48 kilometers in the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, and Misamis Occidental. While two of the road rehabilitation projects are set to be completed within six months in Agusan del Sur. These include the San Jose-Aurora-Lucena Road, Aurora-Lucena Section, with a budget of P31,950,538.60 and the Pisaan-Del Monte Road, Tagapua Section, with a budget of P37,504,222.96. (Mike Crismundo)

Peace advocacy

BUTUAN CITY – Thousands of villagers in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao benefited from the various projects that will uplift their living condition. Among those that benefited from the various peace and development projects are the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Projects that are being implemented and soon to be completed in Northeastern and Southern Mindanao regions are farm-to-market roads, agro-forestry, rehabilitation of bridges and roads, water supply systems, abaca, rubber, cacao and banana productions, and handicraft. (Mike Crismundo)