CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to invest on quality product packaging if it wants to lure more buyers.
“Packaging is important to market a product effectively not only to locals but also to foreigners,” Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz said in Cebu recently.
Cruz said DTI intends to partner with the Department of Tourism for strategies in making Filipino products more attractive to foreigners and locals.
Filipinos, particularly in the middle and upper classes, are starting to patronize more local products. (Malou M. Mozo)
Value of dental records
CAMP LAPU-LAPU, Cebu City –The Central Command (Centcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has hosted a four-day “Forensic Odontology” course attended by military and police dentist to stress the importance
of using dental records as a means of identifying missing persons among other uses.
Col. Antonio Alinsug of the Centcom’s 1305th Dental Dispensary said dental records can be used as a tool in identifying victims of fatal accidents.
He cited recent calamities that hit New Zealand and Japan which has prompted their unit to push for the funding of proper equipment and training of personnel on forensic odontology or forensic dentistry. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
Teachers get free x-ray
PALO, Leyte – The Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 8 has expressed appreciation for the free x-ray services being given to public school teachers in Leyte and Samar by the An Waray Party-list.
An Waray Rep. Florencio G. Noel said such service has benefited numerous teachers in Tacoloban City since it was launched nearly four years ago.
Assistant Regional Director for DepEd in Region 8, Alberto T. Escobarte said ideally the service should be shouldered by the government, per Section 22 of Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers.
Minors' cells a challenge
CEBU CITY, Cebu – An official from the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) stressed that the establishment of detention cells for minors in conflict with the law is a big challenge they face while parental guidance is identified as the best prevention method to reduce such problem.
CWC deputy executive director Maria Elena Caraballo said less than 10 local government units have separate cells for minors while some use their crisis center as a temporary holding area for errant minors. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
Total plastics ban urged
CEBU (PIA) – Senate Committee on Climate Change Chair Senator Loren Legarda is urging the government to prohibit the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in offices and for the local government units to start creating their own laws and ordinances in their respective areas.
She cited San Francisco town in the Camotes Island in Cebu (as well as in Muntinlupa City) which have already implemented a total ban on plastic, forcing locals there to use re-usable bags.