Friday, April 18, 2008 (Philippines)

Locally known as "payao," it is a fish-aggregating device commonly used by fishermen to increase fish catch of small pelagic fishes. This is usually found in fishing communities like this one in Barangay Malipano in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. (Contributed photo) NORTH Cotabato officials suggested a farmer exchange center patterned after the "botika sa barangay" to other local government officials from all over Mindanao during the Mindanao-wide rice consultation held in Davao City Thursday. A brainchild of North Cotabato Representative Bernardo Piñol Jr., the farmer exchange center will serve as depository of fertilizers and seedlings where farmers could get at half the price from the market. Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo [full story]