TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) — In line with the nationwide celebration of February as Arts Month 2012, the University of Philippines in the Visayas -Tacloban College, will hold a forum on February 3, 2012, entitled “Kinaadman para han aton Kalibutan ha Kabubuwason” (Knowledge for Our World Tomorrow) to cover Philippine Culture, Education and Media Directions for the Millennium.
Topics to be discussed will include Eastern Visayan culture and the region’s vision of moving towards the future.
Settlers settlement
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is eyeing the purchase by the city of the 1.8-hectare lot in Barangay Tanza Esperanza, site of last Sunday’s big conflagration that razed down 190 houses and partially burned 10 more. Mabilog said he is seeking to reach the lot owner, reportedly the Bedaña family to offer and purchase the lot so that the city government could start implementing site development in the area including a major roadway.
The fire in Tanza Esperanza razed 80 percent of houses there, affecting 227 families and 1,140 persons. Neighboring barangays Tanza Timawa Zone 2 posted 27 totally burned and eight partially burned houses while Barangay Malipayon suffered 62 totally burned and four partially burned houses.
Presidential aid
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — Government and private sector joined forces to help the more than 300 families affected by the fire that razed three villages in the city proper district here last Jan. 22. Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, who went to Manila on Tuesday, said he was expecting financial assistance of almost P2 million from Pres. Benigno Aquino III, through Ilonggo Sen. Franklin Drilon.
“Each of the affected families will receive P5,000 from the national government regardless of whether their houses were totally burned or not,” he told members of the media. The amount is on top of the P5,000 that the city government will give to families whose houses were completely destroyed by fire, while P2,500 will be received by those with partially burned residences.
RAT ends
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — Regional achievement tests (RAT) will no longer be conducted starting next school year, education officials said. Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia said Education Secretary Armin Luistro has declared that effective this June, the national achievement test (NAT) will be the only assessment tool to measure performance of students and schools.
In an order dated January 20 Luistro said stopping of regional achievement tests and similar assessment tools used by regions and division is in line with the implementation of the K + 12 enhanced basic education program.
Disaster management
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Negros Oriental local government leaders will discuss issues on disaster management and climate change in a two-day seminar workshop dubbed “Coping with Climate Change and Mitigating Disaster: Predictive Agenda Setting ug pagadumalahon sa South East Asia Institute of strategic Studies (SEAISS),” February 8 to 9, 2012 in Dumaguete City.
The workshop, which is aimed at beefing up disaster preparedness of local government units in the face of all forms of calamity, is spearheaded by the Nergros Oriental provincial government.