ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas is poised for emergency purchase of ready-to-eat goods to augment stocks of local government units (LGUs) affected by tropical depression “Quinta.” Said goods will include cup noodles and canned goods, DSWD’s Disaster Management and Crisis Intervention Unit head, Judith Tanate said. Currently, she said, the agency has 1,247 family packs available and ready, along with an additional 2,000 family packs to be repacked as standby relief and released upon LGUs’ requests. Tanate said help is needed for repacking. The DSWD heads the Response Committee of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC). Its role is to provide augmentation to LGU, which are on the frontline during disasters.
FOREST PROTECTION
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) — Information-education campaigns (IEC) and capability building are two major components of the 2013 Forest Protection Plan (FPP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region VI. DENR VI Planning and Management Division Chief Edna Locsin, who presented the FPP during the Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (RMFPC) Meeting, said the updating and formulation of this plan included the integration of activities gearing towards information dissemination, education campaigns and capability building. “This will increase and maximize multi-sectoral participation in forest protection,” said Locsin.
CEREMONIAL MUZZLE-TAPING
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — Police Senior Supt. Constantino Barot led his men, officers and organic staff issued with firearms, in a ceremonial muzzle-taping last December 19 to show that the police here are concerned for the Boholanos’ safety especially during the holidays. Barot presented his .45 caliber pistol side-arm to retired police inspector Alfredo Cubero, president of the Loay-based Regatta Gun Club for taping, with media and other gun-club officers witnessing the ceremony.
FARMING ASSISTANCE
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Over R11 million worth of farming equipment will be distributed in 2013 to farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Cebu. Atty. Jonathan Sinco, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Assistant Regional Director for Operations, said DAR already approved the funding for Cebu under the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services Program (ARCESS).
B.I.R. CAMPAIGN
GOV’T CENTER, Palo, Leyte (PIA) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Eastern Visayas, Revenue Region No. 14, is set to intensify its campaign on compliance with the agency’s “Iboto Mo” program. Oplan: Iboto Mo requires political bets, parties, supporters, and contributors to register with the BIR as withholding agents and deduct the five percent tax from payments made to suppliers on campaign materials and services purchased during the campaign period.