MANILA, Philippines  — Hundreds of displaced families in North Cotabato will soon move in to their new homes as the government through the PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program is set to turn over on Thursday, January 12, 2012; 265 shelters as part of its IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Shelter Assistance Project.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the turnover ceremonies will be held in Barangay Libungan Torreta in Pigcawayan this morning and Barangay Dunguan in Aleosan this afternoon. (Francis T. Wakefield)

Photo exhibit

KORONADAL CITY, (PIA) — Visitors to the opening of the Photo Exhibit at the lobby of the Koronadal City Hall on January 5 all eyes were on the photo of a 16-year-old boy holding a carbine riffle.

The photo exhibit which is a tribute to the veterans through the efforts of the Philippine Veterans Bank and the Local Government Unit of Koronadal City paved the way for the people to appreciate the heroic exploits of Filipino fighters during World War II which include Jose Enrijo.

Enrijo, who was then 16 years old, is seen in the photo holding a carbine riffle issued by the Americans during the Second World War. He said he had to be armed then as everyone was called to defend the country against the aggressors.

Muslim Barangay

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) — The City Government will inaugurate Wednesday morning some P5.7 million worth of projects in the city’s prominent Muslim Barangay of Taluksangay some 15 kilometers East of the City Proper.

City Mayor Celso Lobregat said the projects that will be inaugurated and turned over to the Taluksangay Barangay Council headed by Councilor Abdurahman Nuño and other barangay and education officials, include the P4.367-million two-storey, six-classroom building at the Taluksangay Elementary School, the P648,000 day care center and the P719,000 fence facility at the Taluksangay Barangay Hall.

Cacao production

DAVAO CITY — The City Agriculturist Office is eyeing improved Cacao production with increased hectares planted to cacao. According to City Agriculturist Leo Avila during a Davao Press Club’s weekly Kapehan sa SM at Blugre SM-Davao, the City is eyeing to plant 2,000 hectares of cacao a year.

Avila said they have identified 22,000 hectares as potential planting sites for cacao. The City Government-run Central Nursery has propagated 80,000 cacao seedlings while private nurseries have about 200,000 seedlings in their inventory. For the intensified cacao program the city would need about 1 million to 1.5 million cacao seedlings, according to Avila.

Heavy Rain

ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PNA) – The City Government has alerted the local police force and barangay officials to monitor the situation in the riverbanks and low-lying areas of the city following the continuous heavy downpour Tuesday.

City Administrator Antonio Ordendain Jr. said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council members have coordinated with the Zamboanga City Water District to monitor the water level at its filtration plant in Pasonanca.

Orendain presided an emergency meeting on Thursday at the Hall conference room following the onset of rain early this morning until the evening.