KORONADAL CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Officials in here declared its entire city hall complex as a “no-smoking zone” as the local government launched an intensified campaign for the full enforcement of the country’s anti-smoking law in the area.

Mayor Peter Miguel said they issued the declaration to set an example among other government and private establishments to abide by the prohibition against smoking in public places as provided for under Republic Act (RA) 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 and a local anti-smoking ordinance.

Research upgrade

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The provincial government of North Cotabato has allotted more than P4 million to the Department of Agriculture regional office for the upgrading of the Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CMIARC) in Kidapawan City and its satellite station in Barangay Balindog.

DA-12 regional director Amalia Jayag-Datukan and North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza have signed an agreement to upgrade the facilities of the agricultural research center. Datukan said the governor allotted P3.4 million for upgrading the soils laboratory in CMIARC Kidapawan City and P1 million for tissue culture laboratory in Barangay Balindog, Kidapawan City. (Joseph Jubelag)

Concrete steps

DAVAO CITY — An international rights watchdog has told the Philippine government to “take concrete steps” by prosecuting those responsible for killings and other human rights violations as the current administration as fall short from fulfilling its promise.

In a 2012 report released by Human Rights Watch, the New York-based organization criticized the administration of President Benigno Aquino III for failing to keep his promise on ending the culture of impunity among state security forces.

“Extrajudicial killings and torture of leftist activists, alleged communist rebels, and accused criminals continue, but the government has failed to acknowledge and address involvement in theses crimes by the security forces and local officials,” the report said. (Mick M. Basa)

Peace plan

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) — Newly appointed Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) Chief Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes on Saturday, January 21, stressed that the intensification of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) will be one of his priorities during the command turn-over ceremony.

 “The Internal Peace and Security Plan will serve as a guide in all of WESMINCOM’s operations," Coballes said. Coballes said that for the public to grasp IPSP, they will conduct a series of forums to explain how IPSP works.

Job fairs

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) — Jobs seekers can now start their job search at their own communities, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is making it easier for them by bringing the jobs through its job fairs in the regions. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz recently announced that DoLE has already outlined its job fair schedule in ten regions during the first quarter.

“The schedule of the job fairs is already available at the online site of the Phil-Jobnet, or http://phil.job-net, which is linked to the DoLE websiste, www.dole.gov.ph; to the Bureau of Local Employment website, www.ble.dole.gov.ph; to the website of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, www.bwsc.dole.gov.ph; and to the website of the TESDA, www.tesda.gov.ph,” Baldoz said.