LOON, Bohol, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 7 office has turned over seven brand-new fiber glass patrol boats to coastal towns in the province.
BFAR 7 assistant regional director Allan Poquita said that the patrol boats are part of their enforcement capability in fishing and coastal resource management to curb illegal activities in the province.
“These patrol boats will be very useful in guarding our seas against illegal fishing activities because it has an outdoor engine that can run up to 30 knots with 135 horse power,” he said. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
Tourism catchphrase
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DoT) announced it will unveil a new slogan for the country's international promotions in the next three to four months once the newly formed “Branding Counsel” approves of new catchphrase.
Benito Bengzon Jr., DoT assistant secretary, said the Branding Counsel, composed of government officials and private stakeholders in the tourism sector, will be ready by September this year to launch the new slogan, following the much criticized “Pilipinas Kay Ganda.
”Bengzon said the DoT decided to introduce a new slogan because “some markets do not understand well the meaning of ‘Wow’ in the old ‘Wow Philippines’ slogan.” (Malou M. Gozo)
Rice wastage
DUMAGUETE CITY PNA) — The Department of Agriculture–Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office of Siquijor, in collaboration with the Provincial Agriculturist Office and the Municipal Agriculture Offices of the six towns of the island-province, have embarked on an information and dissemination campaign against rice wastage.
During the first quarterly meeting held recently in the province and participated by Rice Program Implementers, officials from the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Unit 7 in Mandaue City, Cebu raised the alert against rice wastage and bad eating habits, saying the wasted cooked rice is enough to feed the people in the Central Visayas region, said Renan Ansing of the Siquijor Provincial Agriculturist’s Office.
Social pension
ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) — At least 895 senior citizens in Capiz province, including 71 in Roxas City, have availed themselves of the social pension program of the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6).
DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman personally turned over the P1.3 million worth of checks to the local government units covering the period January to March, this year. Each of the senior citizens received P1,500 pension.
‘Green’ toilets
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Three state-of-the-art and environment-friendly comfort rooms will soon be operational at the Dumaguete City Public Market, with funding allocation of P1.6 million from the city government.
Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said he is hoping that these facilities, with technology adapted from five-star hotels and international convention centers in the country, will be open to the public before the end of May or sometime in June.
These comfort rooms are located at Building I and Building II of the Public Market complex.
Sagarbarria said he picked these locations at the public market because of the huge influx of people, especially during the early morning and on weekends.
Mayor Sagarbarria said the new comfort rooms will be waterless, censor-operated and equipped with hand soap and toilet paper.