SIQUIJOR, Siquijor, Philippines (PIA) – A Siquijor women’s group may soon offer parishioners attending “Misa de Gallo” or dawn masses, this Christmas season an unusual treat. Instead of the traditional puto bumbong, the Brgy. Poblacion women will sell squash bread, which they themselves will bake.
The some 22 barangay women were trained by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) in squash bread-making recently. DoST Provincial Director Mario de la Pena said, the group would like to sell "veggie bread" during the Misa de Gallo. He said he hopes the group can start to serve the local populace with their bread products that are highly nutritious.
Seniors' pension
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) – The Social Welfare and Development Office in Region 6 recently released two quarters worth of social pension to indigent senior citizens of Escalante City. The said social pension was for the third and fourth quarter of 2011 and was released through the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
Distribution of P3,000 were given to 107 beneficiaries each while 10 were given P6,000 each, retroactive to the first and second quarters of 2011. This Social Pension Program was an offshoot of Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which provides for the giving of a monthly stipend of P500 to indigent senior citizens, to be given on a quarterly basis to augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs.
BISU property
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) – The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Sevilla town has authorized Mayor Ernesita Digal to purchase a lot for the proposed Bohol Island State University (BISU) annex. The decision was made after agreement was reached between the local government unit and owners of the lot where the new annex will be located for additional payment to process legal documents for transfer of the property.
The SB allocated P125,000 in its annual 20 percent 2010 development fund for payment to purchase the lot in Brgy. Cambagui from the heirs of Fabian Cabagnot, the original land owner. The new annex will focus on technical and vocational courses.
NOPPO report
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) provincial director P/SSupt. Edward Carranza said the drug menace in the province is under control, and with vigorous drug-law enforcement and multi-sector cooperation, the availability of illicit drugs here can be reduced.
In his situation report at the year-end conference of the Negros Oriental Drug Abuse Prevention Council (NORDAPC) recently, he said the operations of various drug enforcement agencies from January to November resulted in the arrest of 144 persons, including 107 drug pushers, 36 drug users and a marijuana cultivator from January to November this year.
Party highlight
ALANGALANG, Leyte (PIA) – A “Light a Tree Contest” will highlight the Christmas celebration of the Alangalang local government at 7 p.m., Dec. 16, 2011 at the Municipal Basketball Covered Court. Alangalang Mayor Loreto T. Yu initiated the competition.
Philippine Information Agency Region 8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu has been invited to be the judge in said competition after which the Integrated Christmas Party will take place.