NATION ROUNDUP

1 BAGUIO / DEPED PUSHES HEALTH-FOOD-ONLY POLICY

The Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Baguio has ordered school canteens to sell only healthy food. DepEd Baguio Superintendent Agustin Laban said school canteens are given enough time during the summer break to prepare healthy food options in the next academic school year. Laban said there are a lot of fruits and vegetables that the canteens can sell, taking junk food out of the menu for all food centers in schools. DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones called to promote a healthy diet and positive eating behavior in public schools and DepEd offices nationwide. Laban said the order should be strictly followed to ensure the promotion of good health for students. The order details the food categories; green, yellow and red. Under green category, the school shall provide fruits and vegetables where these are highly recommended to canteens. Examples of these are boiled camote, boiled banana, boiled peanut and others fresh fruits and vegetables. / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES

2 DAVAO/ PIER DEVELOPMENT TO BOOST REVENUES

The Davao City Enterprises Office is expecting to earn from the Santa Ana Pier beautification project as part of the rehabilitation. Maribeth Lumactod, CEO officerin-charge, showed Friday the architect’s perspective of the pier development where it showed a baywalk, a building for food establishments, set on landscaped grounds. The City Tourism Office intends to complete the beautification by May. The dilapidated pier is also expected to be rehabilitated as part of the P218-billion grant extended by the China Government, but this has yet to be confirmed. / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES

3 PAMPANGA / POLICE ON PROBE VS. RAPE, KIDNAPPING CASES

Local authorities are now investigating a series of abduction and rape cases which are threatening the lady residents of this town. This was learned from this town police chief Superintendent Wilfredo Paulo of cases orchestrated by still unknown suspects. Paulo said that a 14-year-old student came to their office recently to report how she was victimized. The suspects, who were wearing bonnets, allegedly abducted and raped the victim who was on her way home from school before the incident. The local police recorded three similar incidents from October 2015 to November 2016, Paulo said. / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES