DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

Two public high schools in Dumaguete City have registered high dropout rates, prompting officials of the City Schools Division to devise a program to address the problem.

Schools Division superintendent Ramir Uytico said 10 students each from the Dumaguete City High School in Calindagan, and the Camanjac High School, who have very low grades and are at risk of dropping out for reasons of poverty, will be allowed to stay at the homes of selected bright students of the Dumaguete Science High School.

Uytico said the “Homestay” program, hopes to save at least 70 students who are at risk of dropping out every year.

Court hears case
vs. Helmet law
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

Regional Trial Court Branch 44 Judge Neciforo Enot heard yesterday the petition against the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.

The petitioners, represented by Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova, and councilors Joe Kenneth Arbas, Manuel Arbon, Antonio Remollo and Albert Aquino, asked the court for another five days to reply to the comment of the solicitor-general, who filed his comments on the case.

The next hearing is set on June 15

Beneficiaries’ volunteer work hours
to speed up construction of houses
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

The construction pace of the low-cost housing project for victims of tropical storm “Sendong” in Dumaguete City is picking up as beneficiaries of the Roman Catholic Church-backed venture pour in work hours beyond the required labor period.

Fr. Burton Villarmente, coordinator of the Diocese of Dumaguete Social Action Center, said 11 housing units are being built, and work is well underway with 10 skilled carpenters and four volunteer-beneficiaries who started last week.

The housing project in Barangay Bajumpandan, was launched last month, and the model unit was inaugurated and blessed, before then Dumaguete Bishop John Du left for his new assignment as archbishop of Palo, Leyte, on May 7.

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