TACLOBAN, CITY – The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has concluded its four-day trade fair as part of its observance of the Women’s Month.
The March 16 to 19 trade fair was held at the Robinsons Marasbaras and was participated by 49 micro, small, and medium enterprises(SMEs), all owned by women.

In her welcome message, DTI Regional Director Celerina Bato gave emphasis on their accomplishments on helping women entrepreneurs by establishing eight OTOP (One Town, One Product) hubs and inviting the 49 women behind the SMEs who joined the trade fair.
“We [DTI] caters both men and women in the delivery of various programs and services because we envision prosperity for all. I encourage everyone that during this women’s month celebration, let us all be reminded that realizing equal rights for women and men is a step closer to a better community”, Bato added.

Meanwhile, Maria Cañete, an exhibitor from Naval, Biliran, said that it was an opportunity for them to introduce and sell their products on a wider market which helps their business to survive.

“Kaupay gud Han naupod kami han DTI kay na known kami nga suman from Naval, nakaintroduce kami ha iba-iba nga kustomer ha mga lugar nga amon nakakadtuan”, Cañete said.
(MARCO JEMSBOY ARCENA, LNU Student Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY– In honor for this year’s pride month, the Integrated Global Models (IGM) Events Management Services will hold a Pride Parade here in the city on June 20.
This event, which has a theme ‘Walk with Pride,’ is open to all LGBTQIA+ and allies who are willing to promote gender equality in the region.

According to IGM’s Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, Jacob Brazil, “here at IGM we want people to know that we promote the uniqueness and inclusivity to all the people from our region.”

“We accept everyone no matter who you are in this world,” he added.

The event management services would like to orient the society that these members of the LGBT-QIA+ are humans too and that they deserve equal rights just as how they are.
“After all this is a time for the community to celebrate their uniqueness during the pride month season,” Brazil said.

Among the highlights of the event will be the holding of a grand fashion show where there will be surprise guests both from local and national artists who will be performing, aside from homegrown talents from the region.

(JAIRA SOPHIA ROSE ENCINA,LNU Student Intern)

Manila-At the request of the Philippine government, eight experts from the United States government arrived in Pola, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday (March 21) to support the oil spill response operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Five members from the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) National Strike Force will provide subject matter expertise and assess the affected areas to determine the most effective method and equipment to contain and clean up the oil spill from the sunken tanker MT Princess Empress.

Through funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), two members of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work closely with the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct rapid environmental assessments of affected areas, identify priority areas at risk of environmental damage, and assess needs for ecosystem restoration. NOAA has already provided the PCG with satellite imagery to boost assessment efforts. It also provided the University of the Philippines-Marine Sciences Institute with support for scientific modeling to estimate the trajectory of the spill.

Lastly, a U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving will evaluate the technical parameters required to support the possible deployment of a remotely operated vehicle.
Prior to their deployment to Pola, the American experts received a briefing on March 20 in Manila from the PCG and the Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team about oil-spill mitigation actions taken so far.

“When vessels are in deep water, as in this case, cleaning up the remaining oil becomes a complicated issue. Through our incident management professionals’ wealth of experience and strong expertise in oil spill response, we will assist the PCG in developing safe and efficient methods to contain and recover the oil and minimize damage to the environment,” said Commander Stacey Crecy, commanding officer of the USCG Pacific Strike Team. “The USCG remains deeply committed to our relationship with the PCG.”

Earlier this month, USAID partnered with the World Food Program to support the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development in transporting 20,000 food packs for families affected by the oil spill. (PR)

ORMOC CITY– A buy-bust operation in the town of Merida, Leyte province on Tuesday (March 21) resulted in the death of the subject of the operation with operatives recovered illegal drugs from the suspect valued at P30,000.

The suspect, Rodcir Maraviles, a resident of Barangay Libertad, Ormoc City reportedly drew his firearm to the operatives who retaliated which resulted in his death, report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP) based in Palo town, Leyte, said.
The report said that operatives from the regional drug enforcement unit of the PNP together with the local police of Merida conducted the sting operation against the suspect at Brgy.Poblacion, Merida at about 4:40 pm Tuesday.

One of the anti-narcotics agents, acting as a buyer-poseur, bought a sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect.

After the transaction was made, the police government agents ran toward the suspect, who reportedly drew his gun and fired at them.

The police officers, in return, fired back, hitting him in the different parts of his body.
The suspect was brought to the Ormoc District Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by the doctor who attended him.

Maraviles was said to be a high-value target and ranked number two among the regional top priority targets on illegal drugs.
(ROBERT DEJON)