The Sagay City government, through its Social Welfare Development Office, conducted a series of gift-giving activities for identified recipients in 24 barangays, a press release from the city said.

Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva and CSWDO head Concepcion Javellana led the distribution of groceries and rice to 32 rehabilitated mental patients.

Before the year ended, the city also distributed gifts to 240 indigent families, and about 910 barangays health workers, nutrition scholars and barangays officials received rice, canned goods, fruits candies and biscuits, the press release added.*

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USLS students win quiz bowl

The University of St. La Salle College of Engineering from Bacolod City won the championship in the Visayas Chemical Engineering Quiz Bowl held at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City recently, a USLS press release said.

Five colleges and universities in the Visayas area participated in the competition where USLS was represented by ChE students Jeomy Bermejo, Orville Parreño, Sherwin Bacanto and Ma. Aubrey Trayco.

The students were mentored by Dr. Fely Altalaguirre, Marie Therese Sales, Leilani Baltazar, Ma. Junallie Fuentebella, Francis Elano, and Anita Jacildo, the press release said.

The team will represent the Visayas in the national competition in Manila on February 3, the press release added.*

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Household wastewater good
for growing 'kangkong': study

Household wastewater is not a total waste as it can be reused in growing aquatic plants like water cabbage, locally known as "kangkong", a study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology's marine research institute said.

Executive director Dr. Rafael Guerrero III of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development, said that, household wastewater can be reused, a solution which could help address concerns over water pollution, a Philippine Information Agency said.

Household wastewater from the kitchen and laundry is regarded as a major pollutant in bodies of water in communities which do not have treatment facilities because of nitrate and phosphate contents.

Guerrero said that a 10 percent concentration of kitchen wastewater yielded a positive result in the net growth of kangkong during the study, the press release said.

He said, however that a 20 percent concentration produced a negative net growth for the water cabbage, adding that, by using kitchen wastewater in growing aquatic plants, tap water could be saved for other purposes.

The study was conducted to promote water conservation and prevent water contamination, the press release added.*

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