ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has resumed its processing of documents for returning Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) including new hires bound for Bahrain.
This was confirmed by POEA 6 Officer-in-Charge Rhea Glynda Calantas who said the Department of Foreign Affairs, through its travel advisory, has already lowered its alert level in Bahrain to 1 or the observation stage. Based on the DFA’s alert level guidelines, level 1 allows deployment of OFWs with new job contracts or new hires and returning workers, either vacationing or rehires, with valid work visas or resident permits.
I-Rice introduced in Negros Oriental
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Oriental has launched I-Rice (iron-fortified rice) in this province.
BFA manager Francisco Lorico Jr. said the I-Rice program intends to make iron-fortified rice a part of Filipinos’ daily diet to prevent iron deficiency.
Priority beneficiaries of I-Rice are schoolchildren through daily supplemental feeding under the Food for School Program of three Negros Oriental congressmen. Iron-fortified rice is white-milled rice mixed with iron rice premix (I-Mix) processed through fortification.
Iron is one of the most important trace elements essential for keeping the body healthy.
Fire safety code compliance urged
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — In the wake of disasters like earthquakes that can trigger fires, the Iloilo City Bureau of Fire Protection reiterated its call for strict compliance with the New Fire Safety Code.
City Fire Marshall Rodolfo Denaga said the code requires commercial, industrial and private establishments with 300 or more occupants at a time to install automatic sprinklers.
“Sprinkler systems need time for construction but new buildings are given a time of 15 days to comply, while old buildings are given a two-year moratorium,” Denaga said.
He said since the enforcement of the new code in November 2010, the BFP has strictly imposed the provisions because they are liable if they don’t.
Rain gauges needed in Antique
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The need for more rain gauges, particularly for Antique’s northern part, was expressed during a recent meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) here.
PDRRMC Action Officer, Broderick Train said Antique is elongated, stretching from the boundaries of Aklan in the north and Iloilo in the south with different weather patterns, there is need to establish rain gauges to be strategically located in the south, central and northern portions of the province.
Balamban rice production to increase
BALAMBAN, Cebu (PIA) — The local government unit of Balamban expects rice production to increase from 10 to 20 percent with various agricultural programs in place here.
Mayor Ace Stefan V. Binghay has advised the local agricultural office to provide assistance in terms of providing fertilizers and certified seeds at 50 percent less of the prevailing market price to farmers here.
Balamban farmers are also provided with free organic fertilizer. Also, the local agricultural office will provide training and agricultural tips to farmers here who produced 60-70 cavans of rice per hectare last year.