Larena police beefs up security measures, 
assistance desks set up for Holy Week
By Rizalie Anding Calibo

Larena, Siquijor, April 20 (PIA)—Starting Monday last week the Larena Police Station in Larena town, province of Siquijor has set-up community and tourist assistant desks to beef up security measures during Holy Week.

Larena Chief of Police S/Insp Philip Silva, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency here said the community assistance desk and tourist assistance desk are established at the Larena Pier to cater to the needs of the travelling public and tourists visiting the island and ensure public security and safety.

 
Arrival and departure of boats especially at nights are also closely monitored in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), he said.

Aside from police assistance desks, police officers will also be deployed to all strategic points on Maundy Thursday and Good Fridayto ensure orderly movement during the Holy Week observance especially in church, Silva said.

He said the municipal police station is also conducting roving inbeach resorts within his area of responsibility to deter lawless elements from doing illegal activities like robbery in beach resorts.

We have been on red alert since the start of the Holy week, Silva said citing the instructions from the Provincial Headquarter based in Caipilan, Siquijor.

With the influx of tourists expected in Mt. Bandilaan, Silva said the Provincial command has instructed all six municipal police stations to deploy three police each to augment the Siquijor Police force to secure the area where Folk Healing Festival is hosted as one of the province’s tourist attractions. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor) 

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MSMEs key to uplift economic status, DT-7I RD 

by Rizalie Anding Calibo

Siquijor, April 20, 2011 (PIA)--Recognizing the significant role of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in poverty reduction, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Asteria Caberte pushes once more the strengthening of the Siquijor Small and Medium Enterprises and Development (SMED) Council and the mapping out of clear and concrete programs for MSME development in the island.

Caberte said MSMEs are the key to uplift economic status of a province as she urged the SMEDC to come up with plans and programs that align to the development directions of the province while giving emphasis on tourism as the economic driver. 

“We are responsible for the prosperity or peril of the community,” Caberte said pushing for strengthening, promotion and development of assistance to Siquijor MSMEs.

This is an opportunity for every Siquijodnon to manifest his love for the province, she said during the SMEDC Planning Workshop held earlier that laid-out development plans for 2011-2016.

She said partnership between government and private sectors will make the task of reducing poverty easier and lighter. Linkaging between the tourism and business sector facilitates development of the island, she also said. (RAC/PIA-Siquijor)