Pagadian City receives composting equipment from Villar Foundation

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 19 (PNA) -- The local government received Thursday a Php500,000 worth of composting equipment from the Villar Sipag at Tiyaga Foundation.

Christian Villacura, Villar Sipag at Tiyaga Foundation project coordinator, handed over the equipment to Mayor Romeo Pulmones in a simple ceremony held at the local port.

Villacura said the turnover of the equipment is the fulfillment of Senator Cynthia Villar's promise during her visit here in support to the local government’s program on livelihood.

The composting equipment consists of Rotary Composter with Shredder and Hydraulic Presser, which Villacura said is capable to produce a ton of organic fertilizer in one week.

Pulmones expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Villar Sipag at Tiyaga Foundation for the support to the program of the city government.

Pulmones said the organic fertilizer that will be produced by the city government will be distributed to the rural barangays engaged in backyard gardening and farming.

Backyard gardening and farming is aimed to produce healthy and environmental-friendly vegetables for the local populace.

A demonstration on how the equipment works followed after the turnover ceremony, which was witnessed by Vice-Mayor Divina Grace Yu, City Councilors, City Agriculture Office personnel and representatives of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) and farmers cooperatives.

It is the second equipment for organic fertilizer production the city acquired.

The first equipment that was granted to the city government was a joint project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).(PNA)
FPV/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION/PJN

Pagadian City extends financial assistance to informal settler-families

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- The city government has extended initial financial assistance to 40 informal settler-families who voluntarily demolished their shanties to be transferred to this city’s relocation site.

They were among the 500 informal settler-families staying at the coast of Barangay Sta. Lucia that will be transferred to the resettlement site of the city government in Barangay Bolatoc.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones said Wednesday they are the first batch of families to be accommodated this month at the resettlement site.

Pulmones said that each of the 40 families, who transferred on Tuesday to the resettlement site, received Php3,000 as initial financial assistance from the city government for the purchase of their immediate needs.

He said the city government have ferried the materials of houses that were demolished to the resettlement site while the construction of houses at the resettlement site will be jointly undertaken by the Army’s 52nd Engineering Battalion, 53rd Infantry Battalion, and the provincial and local police offices.

Pulmones said the establishment of the resettlement site is a joint project of the city government and the National Housing Authority (NHA) aimed to relocate the informal settlers from the coastal areas of this city, which are vulnerable to storms surges.

 

He said those informal settlers will only pay a minimal monthly amortization for the lot awarded to them at the resettlement area. (PNA)
FFC/TPGJR/HDC/EDS

89 couples in Pagadian City to unite in Valentine’s Day ‘Kasalan ng Bayan’

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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 13 (PNA) -- A total of 89 unwedded couples will exchange vows on Valentine’s Day in a mass wedding ceremony dubbed as “Kasalan ng Bayan” in this city.

Mayor Romeo Pulmones will solemnize the wedding of the couples at 9 a.m. Saturday at the City Executive Function Hall.

Civil Registrar Leonardo Acorda said the couples in the “Kasalan ng Bayan” will spend less, paying only P400 for the certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) and P100 for the marriage license fee.

Acorda said the local government shoulders the other expenses which include seminars, solemnization and others.

“Getting married is costly but they will spend less through the Kasalan ng Bayan,” he said.

The local government launched the “Kasalan ng Bayan” program in 2000 to assist live-in couples in legalizing their status as husband and wife.

Acorda said the number of couples getting married through the program on Valentine’s Day this year is higher by 17 than last year’s 72 pairs. (PNA)
LAM/TPGJR/HDCadion/pjn

Zambo Sur Guv orders filing of charges vs mangrove destroyers

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Posted by JONG CADION, Mindanao Pagadian Frontline

Gov. Tony Cerilles during the actual inspection at

The mangrove area in Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 13, 2015 -– Gov. Antonio Cerilles has ordered the Task Force Bakawan to investigate and file charges against the people behind the destruction of the mangrove in Barangay Pisaan, Dinas, this province.

Cerilles issued the order after he received report supported with photographs that the mangrove areas in Barangay Pisaan, Dinas, are already denuded.

Reports stated the mangroves were cut by the residents who are engaged in charcoal business. The charcoal they produced is reportedly being sold in this city.

Over the weekend, the Task Force Bakawan has confiscated 51 sacks of charcoal made of mangrove and several illegally cut mangrove trees.

Cerilles said charges must be filed against those responsible since the cutting of mangroves is prohibited under existing law.

“It might be true they are poor but they are abusive and they destroyed the things which can help the poor like them,” Cerilles said.

Mangrove forests serve as spawning area for fish and crustaceans as well as habitat to oysters. It also protects coastal areas from erosion and storm surge.

Cerilles has also directed the task force to filed charges against those who are behind the illegal construction of fishponds.