TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) — Eight East Visayas private firms have signed an accord with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 8 to partner in ensuring a healthy, clean and save environment in the region.
One company is the NICUA Leyte Irons and Corp. which signed a MoA with DENR for the environmental improvement of the Bacatotan/Ipil Creek in MacArthur, Leyte. Representatives of both parties met here last Wednesday last week for an orientation in the implementation of “Adopt-An-Estero,” a DENR program replicated in the countryside where private companies get involved in the cleaning up of a specific river or waterway.
DOST gadgets
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — Locally-made weather gadgets by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), through the Industrial Technology Development Institute, which cost much less than their imported versions, have been installed in the province.
A locally-made unit installed in Brgy. Felisa in Bacolod City which costs only P500,000 is equipment called a “mini PAG-ASA,” which sends localized weather data through short messaging system (SMS) over a 30 to 40-km radius. Another gadget, Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG), which also costs P1 million if bought overseas, was also made locally for only P250,000.
Iloilo dumpsite
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — The Advocates of Metro Iloilo Dumpsite and Sanitary Landfill, which is a group of concerned city residents here, is asking the Iloilo government to establish a Metro Iloilo dumpsite and sanitary landfill far from population centers and is also pushing for closure of what it sees as a poorly-managed dumpsite in Calajunan, Mandurriao, Iloilo city.
The group’s chair, Ramon Buenaflor said they are making the urgent call because of the danger the present dumpsite poses on the health and safety of people, aside from the fact that it is located along the Iloilo River and thus, may cause water contamination.
Wine-making seminar
KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — Aklan’s oversupply of such seasonal fruits as rambutan, santol, duhat, bugnay and others will be among the subjects in a two-day wine-making seminar by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to be held starting Wednesday.
The seminar, to be held at the DoST Center in Kalibo, will also teach locals how to turn coconut water into vinegar DoST-Aklan director Jarius Lachica said, “Aklan has seasonal like rambutan and santol which are sometimes only left to rot on trees or sold at low prices.''
Abattoir upgrade
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The Double A slaughterhouse owned by the city government will be upgraded into a Triple A abattoir with a refrigeration unit, a waste water treatment plant, and facilities for slaughtering such big animals as cows and carabaos.
City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog announced the upgrade after the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office received a notice of Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for P40 million for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the slaughterhouse in Brgy. Tacas, Jaro.