SENIORS’ CONGRESS
NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) – The Annual Provincial Senior Citizens Congress in Biliran province last November 7, was successful with nearly 200 participants gathering at the provincial capitol compound. The Congress provided senior citizens in Biliran’s eight towns a chance to strengthen their camaraderie; show their talents in dancing, “siday” and other skills in a competition and be updated of their rights, privileges, and benefits. Ben Calzado of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s office in Region 8 and focal person of senior citizens’ affairs in Region 8 updated the Biliran elderly of such privileges and benefits.
D.S.W.D. STORY-TELLING
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 6 engaged 30 pupils of Badiangan Elementary School in Badiangan, Iloilo in a morning storytelling session in the hope of enkindling their love for reading and promote it as an opportunity for parents to bond with their children. Armed with her laptop, DSWD6 Information Officer May Castillo won the children’s attention and enthusiasm who listened intently to her stories “Colors of the Rainbow” and “Three Little Pigs” with the help of a projector.
APPLICANTS SOUGHT
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) is now accepting applicants for the fourth batch of its Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RN HEALS) to be deployed in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces. DOH 6 needs 965 registered nurses, RN HEALS regional coordinator Dr. Mary Pauline Gestosani said and those qualified for deployment in hospitals will start January next year while those assigned in rural areas will start in March. Gestosani said the program, good for a year, is not employment but an avenue for learning and training of registered nurses, thus, they will be given allowance during the entire year.
OFFICIALS CAUTIONED
PALO, Leyte (PIA) – Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB)-DOE director Zenaida Monsada cautioned local government officials during a recent multisectoral forum at the Leyte Oriental Hotel against malpractices of unauthorized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sellers posing serious threats to consumers. She said repainting of LPG tanks with independently labeled LPG brands, under-filling and selling below authorized limits, incorrect or no tare ware markings, dilapidated or poor LPG cylinder quality, leaking or defective cylinders and illegally refilled cylinders are some of the malpractices by unscrupulous traders.
ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-6 is urging local government in Region 6 to create an inter-agency body addressing problems and further strengthen the campaign against human trafficking and violence against women and children. DSWD 6 Specialist for the Protection of Women and Children Delia Bagolcol said the Regional Inter-Agency Council on Anti-Trafficking (RIACAT) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in Western Visayas are both functioning well and should be replicated in other towns or cities in the region.