A lawmaker on Thursday asked the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to hold free tour guide training nationwide that should be open to tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, UV express drivers, market vendors, and barangay tanods (village officers). Quezon Rep.-elect Reynan Arrogancia said the training should be offered to the “local people in the neighborhood” with whom tourists have direct contact upon arrival at their destinations. He said giving first aid for common emergencies should also be included in the training for tour guides, hotel personnel, and resort staff. “All too
An advocacy group on Wednesday assured wider access to clean and safe drinking water for students in Davao City. Liezel Salera-Manabat, the GiftingLife Philippines country manager, said her group is initially sourcing funds to set up water filtration and refilling centers in six schools in the city and one in Davao del Norte. “In partnership with the Department of Education in Davao (DepEd-Davao), our group has made it our mission to establish water filtration centers in schools here where learners have difficulty accessing clean drinking water,” Manabat said. DepEd-Davao has recommended the schools of Antonio Pichon Elementary
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolted Ilocos Sur Province on Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The quake struck 63 kilometers northwest of Candon City at 2:08 p.m. It was 14 kilometers deep. Intensity IV was felt in Candon, and San Esteban, Ilocos Sur. Intensity III was reported in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Pinili, Ilocos Norte; Sudipen and Bangar, La Union; and Bolinao and Alaminos City in Pangasinan. Intensity II was felt in Sinait, Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur; Bacarra, Ilocos Norte; and San Juan, La Union; while Intensity
The University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) has received funding approval for research on the use of durian rind as natural preservative. The Department of Science and Technology in Davao Region (DOST-11) said Thursday the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) has committed over PHP900,000 for the study. Prof. Judee Nogodula, head of the USEP College of Arts and Sciences Research, the study aims to use the fruit’s rinds as natural bio-preservatives by isolating bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and extracting bacteriocin from fermenting durian rind. “This research also aims to provide future solutions to food
The Office of Civil Defense in the Caraga Region (OCD-13) opened here Thursday its new office building and government and command center. The PHP77 million facility in Barangay Bancasi will also serve as one of the government control and command centers (GCCCs) in Mindanao. Three top officials of the Department of National Defense (DND) were present during the inauguration –Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director, Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, and Assistant Secretary Hernando Caraig Jr. They were joined by OCD-13 Director Liza Mazo and the provincial, city, and municipal level disaster
Four local government units (LGUs) and one provincial government office in Central Luzon have been cited for their significant efforts and contribution to the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Recipients of the Manila BAYani award in the region are the city governments of Balanga, Bataan and Palayan, Nueva Ecija; municipalities of Sasmuan, Pampanga and Marilao, Bulacan; and the Environment and Natural Resources Office of Pampanga province. The award recognized the LGUs, groups, and individuals that have shown exemplary and innovative strategies in the implementation of the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation program. Paquito Moreno Jr., regional
