TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Country representatives of seven Developing Member Countries (DMC) lauded the successful implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) here, citing that such project was able to empower its beneficiary-communities into becoming active participants in local development. This was revealed during the recent reflection and output presentation of the DMC representatives after visiting several project sites in Bohol like municipalities of San Miguel and Carmen to observe and learn more about Kalahi-CIDSS program implementation in the country. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
FORESTS FORUM
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — The 8th Eastern Samar Peace and Development Forum, which is regularly convened by members of the clergy with its major convener, Most Reverend Crispin Varquez, Bishop of Borongan Diocese, met Wednesday, a number of department heads of national agencies (NGAs) who shared their 2012 major accomplishments. Several issues were raised on illegal logging and mining by the priests, mayors, and ordinary civilians during the forum. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arthur Salazar answered the inquiries ranging from the Chainsaw Act, illegal lumber activities, gravel and sand extraction, climate change mitigation through planting abaca, preservation of identified eco-tourism sites, and the plaguing conflict at the Manicani mining site, among others. (PIA)
PCOS GETS A NEW MEANING
NAVAL, Biliran — To help strengthen people's trust in automated elections, the head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has coined a phrase to give new meaning to PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machine. Laywer Sabino C. Mejarito, provincial election supervisor of Comelec-Biliran, said PCOS may also mean “People’s Choice Open and Secure.” Mejarito said this during the signing of a pledge of commitment by different groups in the conduct of an honest, orderly, clean and peaceful midterm elections in Biliran. Among the signatories were Comelec deputies, and representatives of the national government agencies. (PIA)
BOHOL TOURISM
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — As Bohol hosts the second Philippine Dragon Boat Festival (PDBF) International Club Crew Challenge 2013 in April, tourism stakeholders and local officials jointly see it as tourism driver. During the project presentation weeks ago, tourism stakeholders, sports enthusiasts, and local officials said the Dragon Boat Festival allows them an opportunity to showcase the best of Bohol to an international crowd. Hosting the event in Bohol can attract hordes of foreign and local tourists and countless business opportunities open, local organizers said. (PIA)
NO ‘EPAL’
CEBU CITY — Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expected to lead the launching of the department’s “Bawal ang Epal” campaign on Feb. 23, 2013 in Carcar, this city. The campaign aims to protect the government’s poverty reduction program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and its beneficiaries from being used by politicians for their personal and political gains for the May 13 polls. (PIA)