DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here turned over a R250,000 check to the Brgy. Liptong Small Coconut Farmers Association (BLISCOFA) comprised of coconut farmers in Valencia, this province.
The check was for the BLISCOFA’s Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) production project, particularly to buy a motorized screw-type press coconut milk extractor to improve their processing technique of oil production. The equipment will be bought through a three-year lease-to-own agreement with zero interest.
Watershed Monitoring
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 is urging continued monitoring of the 630-hectare Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve in Toong, Cebu after a fire of yet unknown cause hit the watershed last Friday. DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo O. Dichoso called for the cooperation of the community living near the tree plantations to help in monitoring the area, and help prevent forest fires.
Foresters, guards and policemen responded to a fire alarm after a Philippine Business for Social Progress staff alerted the DENR of the incident.
Rubber Trees
KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — The Aklan provincial government will plant 4,000 rubber tree seedlings as an activity to mark its 56th anniversary as a province separate from Capiz. The rubber tree seedlings, which are Mindanao-sourced will be planted in Brgy. Castillo, Makato, Aklan in a provincial government-owned lot.
Governor Carlito S. Marquez and other Aklan officials and provincial government staff will do the planting on April 26. Rubber trees are productive after five years and cold continue to produce for as long as 60 years. Once productive, the latex it produces could be harvested every other day.
Adopt-An-Estero Program
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The Maasin city government has launched its version of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s “Adopt-an-Estero” program, under which multisectoral stakeholders will be encouraged to clean and maintain canals (esteros) here.
The city government has identified two rivers to be worked on - the Combado creek in Brgy. Combado and the Tuburan-Abgao creek in Brgy. Abgao. Each area will be assigned sectors to clean-up and maintain cleanliness, including business establishments and schools along riverbanks.
Labor Day
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 8 is preparing activities to be participated in by personnel of government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations.
This year’s 110th Labor Day celebration, will see DOLE -8 leading a Fun Run on May 1 which will start 7 a.m. at the Tacloban Convention Center grounds and the “Welcome Tacloban Arch” in Marasbaras, Tacloban City and end at Robinson’s Place Tacloban, after which a Holy Mass will be said to be followed by a Commemorative Program at the mall’s ground floor and a job’s fair on the mall’s second floor.