PROVINCE NEWS

.. BANANA SLOGAN TAGUM CITY - "Saging: sa bawat kagat, sustansya ang katapat" goes the slogan that won for high student Clark Marvin Tan of the Tagum National Trade School in Davao del Norte, the first prize in the recently concluded Regionwide Banana Slogan Contest. "The contest is a side event of the First Mindanao Banana Congress (scheduled in the city from November 7-9 this year) and is aimed at promoting the nutritional benefits of banana," Department of Trade and Industry XI Regional Director Marizon Loreto said. (PIA) NEW ROADS SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur - Well-paved roads that will assure, easiest and fastest travel of farm products from upland barangays is already completed in the nine barangays of the agricultural-rice province of Agusan del Sur in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region), it was reported yesterday. It was also reported that these P4.35-million completed roads in the nine barangays will also assure safety of commuters and easy access to public markets in the progressing towns of San Francisco and Prosperidad and other nearby towns including the city of Bayugan. (Mike U. Crismundo) MARKET INTEGRITY PAGADIAN CITY - Vendors at the Pagadian City Public Market were surprised with the conduct of Operation Timbangan from ConsumerNet, a group of several government agencies whose thrust is to protect the interest of consumers at large. Among the government agencies that joined the operation were the Departments of Agriculture; Health; Education; and Trade and Industry, and the Office of the Pagadian City Market Superintendent. The activity is to highlight the observance of the Consumer Welfare Month in October. The activity promotes honesty and integrity in market transactions. (PIA) MINDANAO JEWELS KORONADAL CITY - Government agencies, local governments, and the mining sector in Soccsksargen Region yesterday launched a project that will expand the benefits of mining industry to communities where mines are located. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 12 led the launching of the jewelry development project in Region 12 at Barangay Edwards, T'Boli, South Cotabato. Other partners are the Department of Trade and Industry, Tribal Mining Corporation (TMC), National Economic and Development Authority, local government unit of Tboli, the provincial government of South Cotabato, the barangays of Poblacion, Kematu, Edwards, and Desawo of the said town, and the Philippine Information Agency. (PIA) CAVE CONFAB BUTUAN CITY - Cavers coming from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao regions gathered in Southern Mindanao province in an effort to strengthen and enhance capabilities among the cavers in Southern Philippines. Caver experts and specialists discussed topics as additional guidelines of cavers in the country. Among these were karst management, cave management, biodiversity and ecotourism. The cavers also updated the Cave Act and Cave Management and Conservation. Participants of the recently concluded four-day 7th Mindanao Caving Forum in Maitum, Sarangani province also made the cavers updated on cave preservation and protection. (Mike U. Crismundo) ..