MikeLigalig.com

Customs seizes PHP2-B fake cigarettes in Pampanga town

SAN SIMON, Pampanga, March 1 (PNA) -- Some PHP2 billion worth of fake cigarettes were seized on Wednesday by operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in five warehouses inside the San Simon Industrial Park in this town.

The BOC seized the items bearing "Marvel" and "Mighty" from the warehouses located at Block 3 Lot 19, Block 9 Lot 6 and Block 8 Lot15.

Fake tax stamps were also found affixed to the boxes of cigarettes seized.

The raid was led by Customs team leader Cleo Dongga-as, and was made possible through a Letter of Authority signed by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.

According to Dongga-as, the warehouses will be sealed awaiting the inspection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on the tax stamps.

Military personnel from the Office of Commissioner were assigned to guard the said warehouses.

The tax stamps should register a green light under a scanner, according to Norma del Rosario of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).

However, all the seized packs registered red lights.

It was not yet known if the products are indeed from Mighty Corp. or who owned the products stored in the warehouses.

One warehouse had 20,000 master cases which would have 50 reams of cigarettes each.

This means that one warehouse would have housed one million reams, and that some PHP300M in potential excise tax is considered foregone revenues for the government.

The BIR has not yet made an actual inventory of the products. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/MDDR

Construction of central school library in Rapu-Rapu pushed
By Mike Dela Rama

RAPU-RAPU, Albay, March 1, (PNA) â€"- Parents, teachers and village officials in Barangay Poblacion in the island town of Rapu-Rapu, Albay are asking help for the construction of a library inside the campus of the central school in the village to enhance the school life of the children of the townsfolk, majority of whom are fishermen.

The General Parent-Teachers Association (GPTA) of Rapu-rapu Central School and Sangguniang Barangay in Poblacion have recently adopted a joint resolution addressed to Albay second district Rep. Jose Salceda so funds could be appropriated for the establishment of a library within the central school.

GPTA president Abner Cilot said the library will help the pupils' knowledge to be at par with that of the children living in Albay’s urban centers.

Barangay Poblacion is one of the 34 villages in the island town of Rapu-Rapu, which is situated northeast of Legazpi City, Albay’s capital, and once known as site of the mining operations of the defunct Lafayette Philippines Inc.

Nearly 75 percent of the population in Barangay Poblacion are fisherman while the rest are farmers, professionals, traders and businessmen.

Erick de la Cruz, village chief of Poblacion, believes the library will have a positive influence in the life of the rural schoolchildren.

“Our village is located in an island town facing the Pacific Ocean. You need to travel four hours via a motorized banca to reach the mainland of Albay, particularly in Legazpi City,” he said.

Dela Cruz said the mountainous villages are inaccessible to children seeking to study in the central school which has experienced a decrease in enrollment over the past two years.

Cilot said Rapu-Rapu Central School records showed a 1.6 percent decrease in the school's total enrollment in schoolyear 2014-2015 and a 1.8 percent decrease for schoolyear 2015-2016.

He said there were more male students enrolling compared to female students, owing perhaps to “parents needing the girls to be home most of the time for babysitting and household chores.”

Cilot said that while the library will entice more children into going to school, it will help those already in school to update their knowledge in information technology and in other subject areas.

He said should it be realized, the library can also serve as a focal point for members of the community just like the village hall, pub and shops.

“It’s a safe, trusted place for meeting friends, a place for learning, information and leisure and sometimes just a place to keep warm,” said Cilot.

He said libraries are social places where people can chat, read and keep in touch with the outside world.

“Sometimes a friendly smile from a library worker can make all the difference to an isolated and vulnerable person any day of the week,” added Cilot. (PNA)
LAP/GVR/MDR/CBD

PDEA-CAR sets neuropsychological examinations for would-be agents

CAMP BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, March 1 (PNA) -- The qualifying and neuropsychological examinations for prospective Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency â€" Cordillera Regional Office (PDEA-CAR) agents is set on March 4 in Baguio City.

PDEA-CAR director Edgar Apalla said the examinations will be conducted at the Department of Education (DepEd) building located inside the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) grounds.

He said that applicants coming from Regions 1, 2, and the CAR are scheduled to take the examinations in Baguio City.

Earlier, Apalla said the PDEA is in need of 400 new agents to fill plantilla positions in the agency.

The call was made last December and those who applied will take the examinations on Saturday.

However, Apalla said that walk-in applicants will still be entertained on examination day.

Walk-in applicants must bring with them the duly accomplished Personal Data Sheet (Civil Service Commission Form No. 212); valid Identification Card; two latest 2"x2" ID photos; two Mongol #2 pencils; and a Black pen.

Apalla also said that the following must also be presented, original and photocopy of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) issued birth certificate; National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) height waiver (if applicable); official transcript of records (OTR); college diploma; and certificate of eligibility.

He said that interested walk-in applicants should at least be baccalaureate degree holders, 21 to 35 years old, 5'2" for men and 5' for women in height, and eligible for career service second level position.

Those who will be taking the examinations should wear white round-neck shirts, blue jeans and rubber shoes.

Males should be in proper haircut while females should be in ponytail, if applicable.

“The examinations will promptly start at 6 a.m.

“The recruitment of new blood is necessary to augment the lean manpower of PDEA in order to carry out the government's war against dangerous drugs,” the PDEA regional director said. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/JBL/SAM D. BAUTISTA

Retired cop killed in Ilocos Norte ambush

LAOAG CITY, March 1 (PNA) â€"- A retired policeman and chief security aide of Solsona town mayor Alex Calucag was gunned down around 8:08 p.m. on Tuesday while driving his Red Toyota vehicle along the national highway in San Marcos village, San Nicolas town.

Police Senior Inspector Joseph dela Cruz identified the victim as Warlito Maruquin, 61, a retired policeman and resident of Barangay Bagbag, Solsona, Ilocos Norte.

Initial police report said Maruquin along with another retired police companion identified as Abdon Laureta, 56, resident of Barangay 18, Laoag City, were heading the south direction when armed motorcycle-riding suspects followed and shot them several times using different firearms.

Maruquin, who suffered multiple gun shot wounds all over his body and head, died on the spot while Laureta was wounded. The latter was brought to a nearby Black Nazarene hospital in San Nicolas town and is now under stable condition.

Police authorities led by Police Senior Inspector Christian Felix and SOCO team recovered at least one unit cal. 45 Auto Pistol without serial number, one unit cal. 45 Auto Armscor Pistol with serial number 820482, one unit Cal. 45 Auto Armscor Pistol with serial number 904232, six pieces magazine assembly for cal. 45 pistol, 48 pieces cal. 45 auto cartridge cases, eight pieces heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing alleged “shabu residues” together with seven pieces cal. 45 auto fired cartridge cases, nine pieces cal. 5.56mm fired cartridge cases and one piece deformed jacketed fired bullet.

At press time, investigators have yet to identify the motive of the killing while the suspects are subject for manhunt operation.

In November 24, 2016, police record showed Maruquin was charged for murder and grave threat before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Laoag City. However, the case because the private complainant and witness executed an affidavit of desistance. (PNA)
LAP/LGA

BFF Grand Floral Float winners named

BAGUIO CITY, March 2 (PNA) â€" Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan announced the winners in the recently concluded Grand Floral Float Parade of the 22nd Baguio Flower Festival â€" Panagbenga 2017 on Wednesday.

Manila North Tollways Corporation’s (MNTC) received the grand prize in the Big Float Category for the most beautiful floral float for the second time.

MNTC’s “Beauty of the Wilderness” was among 10 entries that vied for the win in the Big Float Category.

Sitel Philippines Corporation’s float which portrayed a well-cultured and vegetated village with garden gnomes as main characters, came in second.

Department of Tourism â€" Cordillera Regional Office (DOT-CAR) float came in third, carrying the theme of the tourism redevelopment and awareness campaign known as REV-BLOOM.

The tourism campaign is basically about arousing community involvement and participation for the re-blooming and re-greening of Baguio City and its immediate environs, and extends all throughout the Cordilleras.

Meanwhile, Maybank’s float, which featured a tiger representing power and energy in nature, bagged the first prize in the Small Float Category.

Maybank, a first time participant, bested nine other floats in the Small Float Category.

Brandboss Incorporated’s (Coca-Cola) float which represented the wave of different emotions that come about when seeing something beautiful, took the second best honor and Asus Philippines’ float, which featured the Asus Zenfone caravan and its character Zenny, was adjudged third.

Domogan said this year’s parade was generally peaceful and orderly, and drew more tourists than the previous years.

Domogan attributed the peacefulness and orderliness of the grand parade to the concerted efforts of all those involved in the planning, conceptualizing, and implementation of the festival, and stressed the importance of working together in producing successful results.

“I hope what we have seen will continue to inspire each and every one of us so that we will not only do it during Panagbenga but also in our respective lives, and continue to perform the best,” Domogan said.

Winners in the Big Float Category will receive PHP250,000 (1st prize); PHP180,000 (2nd prize) and PHP150,000 (3rd prize).

Winners in the Small Float Category will receive PHP150,000 (1st prize); PHP120,000 (2nd prize) and PHP100,000 (3rd prize).

Prizes will be awarded during the Awarding and Closing Ceremony on Sunday, March 5, at the Melvin Jones Football Field. (PNA) FPV/JBL/MerriamSdelRosario (STRINGER)

PHP7.5M farm crops destroyed by pests in S. Cotabato

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Around PHP7.5 million worth agricultural crops were destroyed in parts of South Cotabato in the last two months due attacks from various pests.

Justina Navarrete, chief of the South Cotabato Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), said Thursday the crop damages were caused by rodents, corn plant hoppers, slug caterpillar and Brontispa.

She said the infestations mainly affected palay and corn plants in varying stages and coconut trees in Koronadal City and in the municipalities of Norala, Tantangan, Tampakan and Tupi.

Affected were 254 hectares of farmlands owned by at least 320 farmers in the nine infested barangays.

Hardest hit were Norala and Tantangan towns, which recorded a combined damage to palay crops of around PHP4.73 million due to rodent or rat attacks. It affected 140 farmers, covering 115.7 hectares.

In Koronadal City, some PHP1.6 million worth of corn crops from 95.1 hectares of farmlands owned by 129 farmers were also destroyed by rodents.

Corn planthoppers wiped out around PHP1.1 million worth of corn crops in five barangays in Tampakan and Tupi, affecting 32.7 hectares owned by 46 farmers.

At least 2.8 hectares of coconut plantations were ravaged by slug caterpillars and Brontispa in Tampakan town, leaving an estimated damage of PHP246,425.

“This is still partial and we're still waiting for damage reports from the other municipalities," Navarrete said.

Citing a recent meeting with agriculture officials and personnel of the province's 10 municipalities and lone city, she said almost all farm areas were affected by rodent infestations.

In the last five years, the official said pest infestations caused the bulk of the reported crop damages in the province.

Last year, around PHP164.42 million worth of farm crops were destroyed due to pest attacks in parts of the province.

The infestations were caused by black bug, rodents, rice stemborer, locusts, slug caterpillar, and chrysomellid bettle.(PNA)
FPV/AVE/HST

Tacloban organizes ‘Yolanda’ housing dwellers into groups

TACLOBAN CITY, March 2 (PNA) â€" The city government here has organized home owners associations (HOAs) in all of the eight permanent resettlement sites occupied by families badly hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

The organization is just one of the development initiatives spearheaded by the local government of Tacloban, according to the city housing department.

The establishment of HOAs in resettlement sites is a priority in the social preparation initiatives of the City Government for transferred families.

Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez revealed that 2,755 families have been organized into HOAs in resettlement sites â€" GMA Kapuso village, Kawayan Ville, Global Medic, Lions Village, UNDP Village, Villa Diana, Villa Sofia and Ridgeview Park.

Romualdez said the Bayanihan Savings Replication Program (BSRP) â€" a savings, finance and enterprise program at the community level that capacitates low income families in handling their finances and managing their livelihoodsâ€" have been established in the different sites; while regular values formation are being conducted.

It has also identified community coordinators in each resettlement areas to fast track the delivery of services.

Meanwhile, the city government is coordinating efforts for the construction of classrooms in resettlement sites for an estimated 24,878 school-age children; some 600 classrooms are needed in resettlement sites.

Classroom units completed thus far include 24 classrooms in GMA Kapuso Village and Habitat for Humanity Resettlement Site.

In areas where there is an immediate need for classrooms, Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) have been set up.

Completed TLS include 30 in Ridgeview Park, nine TLS are undergoing completion at the Lucio Vivero Elementary School and Camansihay Elementary School.

Students studying at the city center are ferried for free to and from settlement sites by buses provided by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas; the city government shoulders fuel cost and salary of drivers.

At least 6,089 houses have been occupied by recipients as of Feb. 13, 2017 out of the 8,422 completed units in 19 sites. Some 2,829 houses are being constructed, according to NHA.

The central government aims to build 14,433 units for Yolanda survivors in this city alone.(PNA)
FPV/SQM/CITY INFORMATION OFFICE-PR

Govt scholarship program offered to 3,115 Moro students in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Here's one good news for poor but deserving students in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The government, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-ARMM) is offering scholarships for ARMM students for school year 2017-2018.

Lawyer Rasol Mitmug Jr, TESDA-ARMM officer in charge, said applications for two programs - Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) and Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP), are now open to the public.

Rasol, also chief of staff at the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG), said the program aims to addressing equity and access by providing direct financial assistance to deserving enrollees. A total of 2,325 slots have been allocated under TWSP and 790 slots for PESFA.

In a statement, he announced that TESDA central office has earmarked PHP25 million for the two scholarship programs in the region.

The TWSP provides immediate interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills. It has two objectives: to drive TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) provision to available jobs through incentives and appropriate training programs that are directly connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, both locally and overseas.

It also aims to build and strengthen the capacity and capability of TVET institutions in expanding and improving the delivery of quality, efficient and relevant training programs that meet job requirements, including programs for higher levels of technology.

Rasol said priority in the program are offered to but not limited to the following: drug dependent surrenderers; out-of-school youths; those who are unemployed and underemployed; industry workers obtaining skills upgrading training programs; overseas Filipino workers and their dependents; basic and marginalized sectors; TVET trainers; and other targeted special groups.

On the other hand, PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses. The program seeks to: extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post-secondary non-degree courses; promote TVET; contribute to the development of a competent skilled workforce; and assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.

Under this program, beneficiaries must have completed at least 10 years of basic education; at least 15 years old at the start of the training; have taken the NCAE (National Career Assessment Examination); have an annual family income of not more than P300,000; must not be a recipient of any post-Grade 10 scholarship program; and must not have attended any post-secondary/college education program.

During the launching of anti-poverty agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte in ARMM, TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong said out-of-school youths and drug surrenderers are given priority in training courses offered by the agency.

"We are confident that these programs will help empower our people to become more productive members of society. These will give them opportunities through skills training that can either help them start a career, or a new business venture,” the TESDA chief.

Rasol said interested students may visit the TESDA training office in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. (PNA)
FPV/NYP/EOF

North Cotabato solon proposes Mechanized Agri Battalion to win war vs. rebellion

COTABATO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- A member of North Cotabato's provincial board has urged the defense and agriculture departments to establish a Mechanized Agriculture Battalion (MAB) in support of President Duterte's thrust to attain peace and food sufficiency.

North Cotabato 3rd District Board Member Socrates Pinol said under his proposed MAB, the military will be deployed to rebel infested areas to help farmers harvest their crops using rice harvesters, corn sheller, mobile grain harvesters and other state of the art agriculture equipment.

Pinol stressed that the government should set an unconventional warfare by using mechanized farm equipment instead of mechanized battalion using artillery and canons.

“Let’s bring the war against the rebels in an uncommon ground because the real battle fields are in the hearts of the people specifically in rebel stronghold communities wherein the rebels have very strong mass support,” he explained.

“What if instead of bringing tanks, they will just bring farm machinery wherein farmers can avail of it for free or at a very low cost then bring the harvest of the farmers to the market using military trucks?” Pinol said.

He stressed that it will be cheaper and very effective approach if farm machinery will be fielded in this areas than tanks and canons.

“Tanks are very expensive and disastrous while rice harvesters are cheap and very effective approach in swaying public sympathy,” he explained.

Pinol said a tank can exterminate a whole community of rebel supporters but it can never extinguish people’s disgust against the government.

Anger, Pinol said, can never be doused off but hostility will sprout again and be carried out by the next generation.

“The reason poor people sympathized with the rebels is because the rebels were able to emphasize government’s neglect. Rebellion is born out of peoples’ disgust. The battle cry of the rebels becomes legitimate as they capitalize in government’s long time neglect," he said.

“If our soldiers will be the channel of change and progress for these farmers in rebel infested areas, the negative impression will slowly change,” he said.

“Win peoples support in rebel infested areas by addressing government neglect, help farmers become productive,” he stressed.

When his proposal is realized, Pinol said the war against the rebels will be won without firing a single shot.

The provincial board member is the younger brother of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol. (PNA)
FPV/NYP/EOF

BFP warns GenSan residents vs fires as summer season nears

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here urged residents to be extra cautious against the possible occurrence of fire-related incidents due to the approaching summer season.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Allan Rey Imperio, chief investigator of the BFP station here, said Thursday the onset of warm weather in the area could trigger structural and grass fires if not given proper attention by residents.

"This March, with summer time almost here, our surroundings are expected to be warmer than usual and this makes our communities more vulnerable to fire incidents," he said.

BFP personnel here launched a series of awareness campaigns on Wednesday, March 1, in line with the observance of the Fire Prevention Month.

Since January, a total of 13 fire incidents had been recorded in the city that left nearly P1 million in damages.

Most of the cases, especially the structural fires, were found to be caused by faulty electrical connections.

Seven houses were gutted down in separate fire incidents at Natividad Street in Barangay Lagao and in Block 11, Phase 2 of Barangay Bula on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.

Imperio said residents should regularly check electrical connections in their houses and other structural properties, and seek immediate intervention if they notice any problem.

He said they should also check for possible stored or piled materials like papers, cartons and cloth that could easily catch fires.

The official advised residents to be more responsible in disposing lit cigarettes and avoid throwing them in grassy areas as they could cause grass fires.

The city recorded major grass fires these past years that affected communities and the operations of the city airport.

Meanwhile, in line with the observance of the Fire Prevention Month, BFP Region 12 enjoined government and private offices and other stakeholders to participate in their month-long fire safety information campaigns.

This year's theme is: "Buhay at Ari-arian ay Pahalagahan, Ibayong Pag-iingat sa Sunog ay sa Pamamahay Simulan."

Fire Sr. Supt. Louie Puracan, BFP-12 regional director, said the event mainly aims to influence the public to take into serious consideration various measures on fire safety at homes, businesses and offices.

Aside from the awareness campaigns, he said they posted advocacy posters in local fire stations, and various government and private establishments. (PNA)
LAP/AVE

US Embassy Consul General goes on familiarization tour of Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY, March 2 (PNA) â€"- The Consul General of the United States Embassy in Manila Russel Brown received a warm welcome from Ilocanos here as he visited the provincial capital on Thursday.

After his courtesy call with Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa Marcos at the Ilocos Norte Capitol, Brown gave in to a brief interview with reporters, saying his team is glad to represent the US mission in the Philippines to the Ilocanos.

As a first time visitor to Ilocos Norte, Brown said, “It’s wonderful to experience the hospitality of the Ilocanos” as he noted that the relationship between the Ilocanos and Americans goes back more than a hundred years.

Prior to his designation as Consul General at the US Embassy Manila in September 2016, Mr. Brown also served as Consul General and Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada.

“We are very happy to be here to talk about the ties of the United States and Ilocos Norte,” said Brown as he noted among the points of interest in the province include its unique society, design, culture and many other things that are special about the province.

Accompanying Brown and his party during a familiarization tour to Ilocos Norte are former honorary consul of Belarus, Annette Ablan from Laoag City and Provincial Tourism Officer Ianree Raquel. (PNA)

LTO allots P45M for construction of new Region 12 office building

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has allocated around P45 million for the construction of its new Region 12 field office building in nearby Koronadal City.

Macario Gonzaga, LTO-12 regional director, said Thursday the initial preparations are underway for the development of their permanent regional office in a one-hectare lot in Barangay Zone III.

"The project has already been approved for implementation by our central office and we're expecting the release of the budget in the coming weeks," he said in an interview.

Gonzaga said South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, who donated the project site, lobbied for its funding and implementation starting this year.

He said the agency earlier forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Rep. Hernandez for the donation of the lot.

The MOA was signed by LTO chief, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, and Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc, DOTr's officer-in-charge for land and infrastructure.

Gonzaga said they adopted the project as among their top priorities to further improve their operations and service delivery.

The move will allow the agency to cater to more clients and offer additional services to the public, he said.

“It will further bring our services nearer and more accessible to people in the region," the official said.

LTO-12 presently leases a house that was converted into an office building along Mabini Street in Barangay Zone IV, Koronadal City.

The site of its upcoming regional office building is presently used as impounding area for apprehended motor vehicles.

Koronadal City is the administrative seat and center of Region 12 or Soccsksargen.

The region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. (PNA)
LAP/AVE/AMS

Sorsogon City gets ready for formal declaration as 'drug cleared'
By Bobby Q. Labalan

SORSOGON CITY, March 2 (PNA) â€"- This city will be declared “cleared” of illegal drugs in formal ceremonies to be attended by Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, director of Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5), at the Bibincahan Gymnasium here Friday.

Sorsogon City is the last local government unit to be declared as drug-cleared in the province of Sorsogon since the intensified anti-narcotics drive of the government that was aimed at both high-profile and street level drug personalities started in July 2016.

The Sorsogon City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (SCADAC) came up with the declaration as contained in its resolution No 1-2017 dated February 27.

According to the resolution, all of the city’s 64 barangays have been declared as “drug-cleared” villages based on the declaration of their respective barangay councils and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC).

It also stated that the intensified operation of “Project Double Barrel” resulted in the total eradication of the presence of drug personalities and illegal drug activities in the city of Sorsogon.”

City Mayor Sally Lee lauded the declaration as she attributed it to the relentless efforts of the community stakeholders, especially the Philippine National Police, barangay officials, schools, women, senior citizens, students and youth organizations.

In January, PRO5 cited the Sorsogon Provincial Police Office (PPO) headed by Senior Supt. Ronaldo Cabral for recording the lowest crime rate among the six PPOs and one city PPO in Bicol for 2016.

Cabral attributed this to the various community relations program of the PPO that proved effective in engaging various sectors in curbing the drug scourge that has been seen as contributing to the high incidence of crime in the province.

Lee said the government remains steadfast in its commitment to maintain the city free from the perils of illegal drugs.

“We will continue all programs and activities that have brought about this declaration even as we assure those who have surrendered that the city government will assist them in the best ways possible,” she stressed.

PRO5 officials said their assessment of the performance of the PPOs in Bicol with regards to the government’s drug war uses the term “drug clear” as only the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has the authority to declare a local government unit as drug-free.

On Monday, the PNP is expected to reassume its leading role in the illegal drug campaign after the PNP was temporarily suspended from administering “Operation Tokhang” in the wake of a controversy that hounded the killing of a Korean businessman last month.

The suspension prompted the government to hand over to PDEA the major role in the campaign with the PNP taking a supporting role. (PNA)
LAP/GVR/BQL/CBD

5 Abu Sayyaf bandits die, 11 soldiers wounded in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Five Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while 11 soldiers were wounded in a clash as intensified focused military operations continued in a bid to rescue the hostages in Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., on Thursday said the clash occurred around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in Bud Taran, Indanan, Sulu.

He said the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu were conducting focused military operations when they clashed with the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Galvez said the firefight lasted for 10 minutes after which the Abu Sayyaf bandits fled to the hinterlands.

He said the troops were informed that five of the bandits were killed.

Galvez withheld the identities of the wounded soldiers but noted that they belong to the Army’s 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion.

They were taken to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital for treatment.

“The Joint Task Force Sulu led by Colonel Cirilito Sobejana continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to neutralize the bandits and ensure the rescue of the remaining hostages. All measures are undertaken in accordance with the rules of engagement and with support from the local government and the populace,” Galvez said.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding captive 31 people, including 26 foreigners, in the hinterlands of Sulu.

The hostages include 12 Vietnamese; seven Indonesians; five Malaysians; five Filipinos; a Dutch; and a Korean.

“The Command is right now at an advantage since the Local Government Units, the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and other security sectors are helping the government troops in fighting terrorism by means of giving information, thus, resulting in the decisive encounter yesterday,” he added.

“Terrorism is a sickening problem that needs all sectors of society's cooperation for it to be defeated. With the renewed vigor of those who are against it, we are optimistic that we will be able to crush the bandits within six months,” Galvez further said. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/TPGJR

Palawan's first and only BPO mounts career expo for jobseekers
By Celeste Anna R. Formoso

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Mayor Luis Marcaida III raved about Sitel, one the world's leading outsourcing providers of customer experience management, as it sponsored in this city Thursday morning the launching of the first-ever career expo dubbed “JobSpot Connect to the Future.”

"Sitel is the door opener for this kind of (business process outsourcing or BPO) industry… this kind of investment in the City of Puerto Princesa. They’ve been the prime mover, they’ve been our eye-opener us that the talents and the skills of Puerto Princesans can compete with those in other places in the Philippines," Marcaida said, adding he is proud that Sitel is now employing 500 residents in this city.

"Sitel has high standards, and I’m proud that students, as well as many jobseekers, are participating in this career expo; I am proud that 500 employees have been hired. I am proud of this because I know Sitel has high standards and many have qualified," he said.

The whole day career expo highlights the journey from traditional to new and emerging opportunities. It was done by Sitel as it joins Puerto Princesa in the celebration of its 145th founding anniversary on March 4.

Together with more than 20 top employers from different industries, the jobs fair is a venue for jobseekers to meet potential employers, be interviewed, assessed and potentially get hired immediately.

In addition, Sitel also organized Career Readiness Seminars throughout the day with respected and reputable speakers for the industry and the media.

“We are honored to be part of the Puerto Princesa foundation week celebration. The city has been very supportive of Sitel since we opened our customer experience center in 2016,” according to Craig Reines, Sitel Philippines Chief Operating Officer.

Haidee Enriquez, Sitel Philippines Vice President of Operations added, “The government and academe’s support made it possible for us to hire close to 500 associates in just seven months. We conceived this huge career expo to open up more job opportunities for Palawenos â€" in the BPO space and in other industries as well.”

Enriquez is a proud local, and a member of the Cuyunon indigenous peoples (IPs) of Palawan.

The jobs fair will have well-known career development gurus, digital technology and next generation recruitment platforms.

Sitel is going to offer too, interested jobseekers the opportunity to visit and tour its contact center facilities in the city, which features best in-class design and innovative interiors.

It boasts a world-class career center, the latest workspace technology and design, a full-service cafeteria, lounge area and other one-of-a-kind amenities.

Just like other new Sitel centers, the Puerto Princesa facility has large, open spaces featuring private work areas, chill-out pods, and huddle rooms where associates can meet, share ideas, and brainstorm.

Sitel has enjoyed steady growth in the Philippines for 17 years now, since it first set up shop in the country in 2000.

The Philippines' business-friendly climate and its pool of highly skilled talent with a strong customer orientation have enabled Sitel to grow and expand at a steady clip. (PNA)
JMC/CARF/EDS

Another GK Enchanted Farm, Farm University to rise in Davao
By Emil G. Gamos

ANGAT, Bulacan, March 2 (PNA) -- The “magical” success of Gawad Kalinga’s Enchanted Farm and Farm University in the thickly forested village of Barangay Engkanto here will soon be experienced in the hometown of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Tony Meloto, the visionary founder of Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm and Farm University, disclosed on Thursday that works are now under way for the same eco-educational, farm-school village which will soon rise in the mountain resort town of Catigan, Davao City.

Meloto said that he already had a meeting with President Duterte and said that the Chief Executive is very supportive of the model farm village like the one in Barangay Engkanto here where hundreds of foreign and domestic students are currently enrolled in a farm university, studying the successful “Bayanihan”- type of boosting community-led entrepreneurship.

He said the President wants the area to be the hub of agri-business in Mindanao.

"During my meeting with President Duterte, I personally felt his sincerity to address poverty and make the lives of Filipinos better and with dignity,” Meloto said, adding that President Duterte is willing to release PHP1 billion to house the poor and give them livelihood opportunities.

He said that President Duterte knows the problem of the poor and soon another Enchanted Farm village will soon rise and bring change to the lives of the poor in Mindanao.

“When the poor are given opportunity, they just don’t shine, they shine brightly,” Meloto said.

The visionary founder of Gawad Kalinga presented some of their students who are very fluent in English and French.

He said GK Enchanted farm University is here to build character, mold honest people, make them feel the beauty of hard work, honor and dignity.

One of them is John Paul Jose, 17, a member of Isinay tribe in Nueva Vizcaya.

He said that his province is known for tribes engaged in head hunting, a tradition in the mountain province and Cordillera that has faded due to the advent of urban civilization.

Jose said that “instead of taking life, I am now giving life. Thanks to the teachings and trainings given to me here at the Farm University of the Enchanted Farm. There is still good magic in this world," he said.

Students like Jose will now enjoy added comfort at the Enchanted Farm after the GK foundation and the Monsato Philippines opened a 24-bed, two-storey dormitory at the heart of the forest known as “Batis ng mga Diwata”.

Meloto said that the site where the “dorm”, which is complete with a swimming pool with the thick forest as backdrop, was constructed in the spot that was believed to be the “center of positive energy,” in the Enchanted farm.

Rachel Lomibao, head of Monsato Philippines, said that this is part of their company’s community outreach program.

“Mosanto is committed to bringing a broad range of solution to help nourish our growing world. And with GK Enchanted Farm Village University as partner in this endeavor, the poor that have been already helped by Mr. Meloto and his volunteers will be helping raise many others from poverty through social enterprise that does not leave the poor behind,” Lomibao said.

Earlier, Governor Willhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado described the success of GK Enchanted Farm and Farm University as "magical".

“The place was once known as the hub of communist insurgents and supernaturals or “engkantos," now it is the hub of international communities learning the traditional Filipino culture of Bayanihan. This is not the story of princes and princesses but of ordinary folks, special scums of the slums, who made their dreams come true by fighting the monsters of poverty and surviving its challenges,” Alvarado said. (PNA)
  LAP/ZST/EGGAMOS

Davao City creates task force to study coordinated implementation of projects

DAVAO CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- The city government here has created a task force that would study the coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects by all government agencies to prevent the disruption of traffic, business operations, and other activities in the city.

This developed as the city faces a worsening traffic situation, aggravated by road diggings and excavations by different agencies and service providers.

City Planning chief Ivan Cortez however said other factors contribute to the problem, such as poor mass transport system, noting that the city relies mainly on public utility vehicles and taxicabs for transportation while the easy access to owning vehicles and the bulk of projects that are implemented simultaneously, contribute to traffic congestion.

Cortez also cited migration as another contributing factor given the influx of people coming and relocating in the city.

The task force, he said, is going to ask government agencies, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to synchronize their work, so that the digging of newly built roads would be avoided and government resources would not go to waste.

"This has been the practice (build and destroy) that we have reached the point of wanting to seek intervention from higher authorities to address this," he said.

Cortez also said the city will ask DPWH to include in its projects space for future underground cabling, aimed at eliminating overhead wires and telephone and internet cables. The city government has already completed underground cabling in areas within City Hall.

"Perhaps they could provide spaces for water pipe connections, for telcos and also for gas so these basic lines are ready for future projects," he said.

Talks are ongoing with concerned government agencies, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and the City Engineer’s Office to address the gap in terms of synchronizing their project implementation.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has instructed them to come up with long-term plans on what they want to happen to the city as short- and medium-term plans address the current situation, Cortez said.

He said Mayor Sara has also directed them to look into the possibility of imposing building height requirements, and this will be handled by the City Planning Office, City Legal Office and the City Engineer’s Office who will later come up with an ordinance that would address these concerns.

“Right now, only the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regulates the height limitation for building constructions that may affect the flight path of an aircraft,” Cortez said, adding that there is also a plan to consult structural engineers as they know the quality of the city’s soil.

This is also aimed at determining the quality of soil whether it can stand the weight of tall buildings given the common comments of construction companies that it is more costly to build a skyscraper in Davao City than in Manila because the soft soil here would require a lot of board piling.

Citing an example, he said the expansion of the bridge along the diversion road took a long time to build because the original specifications of 12 to 14 board piling rose to 25 and they were not able to reach the level where the base is stable.

The contractor has asked for work suspension because their project cost estimates have already ballooned beyond their budget.

"They cannot put the vertical structure when the base is not stable," he said.

Cortez said there are other areas that the task force needs to study for better project planning. (PNA)
CVL/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON

President Duterte welcomes newest grandson from daughter, Mayor Sara
By Lilian C. Mellejor


DAVAO CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her husband Manases on the birth of his newest grandson, Stonefish.

“The President is delighted with the arrival of his newest 'apo', and he is glad that both Mayor Inday Sara and Stonefish are healthy and stable,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

The President and Stonefish have the same birth month. Duterte is celebrating his birthday on March 28.

According to Abella, the arrival of the President’s newest grandson strengthens Duterte’s resolve to leave a legacy of a Philippines that is safe and secure from drugs and heinous crimes.

At 12:56 noon Thursday, Sara gave birth by caesarean section to the healthy baby boy at Davao Doctor’s Hospital.

Nicknamed Stonefish, the baby weighs 2.42 kilos or 5.3 pounds.

This was confirmed by City Hall chief Information Officer Jefry Tupas in a press statement.

Tupas said Sara’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, was thankful. He even posted in his Facebook account: "Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life".

Carpio also announced that Sara is "stable" and "generally fine."

Sara is the 10th mother in Mindanao who successfully gave birth through the in vitro fertilization (IVF) offered by Brokenshire Hospital, which opened its IVF facility in October 2015.

The IVF facility is the first in Mindanao aimed at providing a more affordable operation compared to that in Luzon and Mindanao.

IVF is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. It is a medical procedure where the egg cell and the sperm cell are extracted from the couple to join them in the laboratory.

After the fertilized egg or embryo is formed which takes about two weeks to develop, it will be injected in the uterus of the woman.

Last year, a Muslim mother gave birth to Mindanao’s first test tube baby at the Brokenshire Hospital.

Baby boy Muhagher was the first baby born to Gamal and Mydean Pagul from a successful pregnancy through the IVF offered by Brokenshire Hospital.

The couple is from Wa-o, Lanao del Sur. Gamal works as Jail Officer of the Bureau of Jail Management in Wa-o while Mydean is a public school teacher in Wa-o. (PNA)
LAP/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR

Dynamite explosion kills Ilocos Sur fisherman

SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur, March 2 (PNA) -- A fisherman was killed when a lighted improvised dynamite he was using in illegal fishing prematurely exploded along the shoreline in Barangay Sumgait, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

A report reaching the San Juan Police Station late Wednesday identified the fatality as one Gladlee Ford Vitamog, 31, a resident of Barangay Dardarat, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

Investigation conducted by the police showed that Vitamog was alone on board a raft while he was doing illegal fishing along the shoreline.

A witness named Samuel Asuncion revealed that he saw the victim on the shoreline standing on a bamboo raft, afterwhich, he heard an explosion believed to be from an improvised dynamite used in fishing locally called "bong-bong".

He further noticed that the victim fell off from the bamboo raft, prompting him to seek help from the neighborhood.

Victim Vitamog was already dead when rescuers retrieved his body from the water. He sustained multiple blast injuries causing his instantaneous death.

The incident is now under investigation by the local police. (PNA)
LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RAM

VAWC cases in Iloilo City drop

ILOILO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) in Iloilo City continue to decline in the past eight years, according to data gathered by the Bantay Abuso Project of this city.

Bantay Abuso is a community-based project initiated by the City Population Office (CPO) in coordination with the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

Since last quarter of 2008 until 2016, the project was able to monitor 607 cases. It peaked in 2015 with 106 and dropped to 98 in 2016.

These data came from barangay service point officers (BSPOs) based on their monitored cases from 73 of the city’s 180 barangays that were piloted for the project.

Population Program Officer III Rachel Lapascua on Thursday said that the highest form of abuse were physical and emotional with 282 and 197, respectively.

She revealed that amid the decline, the cases are “slightly alarming” because the abuse is still present.

“The monitored cases are minimal because not everyone who experiences violence at home is reporting,” she said. Others are ashamed or have other reasons for not coming out. Most of them also came from families with middle class to below average economic status.

Lapascua added that with the monitoring, proper intervention is also extended to the victims through the offices where the cases are being referred.

Starting this year, the monitoring of VAWC cases is now handled by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). They will already cover 180 barangays for their quarterly report to be submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and furnished the CPO. (PNA)

Fire prevention policy should focus on ‘education’

MISAMIS ORIENTAL, March 2 (PNA) -- Nothing is far greater than educating the people on the importance of fire prevention, Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said Thursday.

Emano made the statement while expressing full support for the activities of the Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP) as the March “Fire Prevention Month” kicked off Wednesday.

He said all sectors of the community must be educated so they would appreciate the importance of fire prevention in protecting life and limb.

“While the discovery of fire is considered a very important milestone in human civilization, it cannot be denied that fire too has become a menace and become a very serious threat to our continuing progress,” the governor said.

Everyone in society, he said, must fight ignorance and promote awareness of the proper control of fire rather than the fire controlling us.

“I hope that the celebration of Fire Prevention Month this year would be successful while reminding the BFP that awareness and adopting a proactive approach in the prevention of fire through education should be given emphasis,” Emano said.

During the launch of Fire Prevention Month, Emano also ordered the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office to closely coordinate with the BFP.

He said that closer coordination with the BFP would promote proactive activities in preventing disastrous fire incidents and identifying proper sites for the establishment of more fire stations in towns and villages. (PNA)

Lapu-Lapu City legislator Damian 'Damgo' Gomez Jr. dies at 66 (Obit)

CEBU CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Damian “Damgo” Gomez Jr. passed away at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday at Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu City. He was 66.

Gomez was admitted to the hospital since Monday after feeling ill.

Ruben Gomez, his nephew, who attended to him at the hospital, said Gomez felt weak after eating breakfast and decided to take a nap.

A few minutes later, he checked on Gomez because he was no longer moving.

When he and the hospital staff tried to wake him, Gomez was already unresponsive and was later declared dead by attending physicians.

He said Gomez had been in and out of the hospital for the past months due to kidney infection, high blood pressure and other complications. (PNA)
LAP/EB/EDS

No sufficient funds for repatriated OFWs in Northern Mindanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 10 here has admitted that it does not have enough funds to extend assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Northern Mindanao who were sent home by their Arab employers, an official said Thursday.

Leonor Mabagal, officer-in-charge of OWWA-10, made the admission when more than a dozen OFWs from Northern Mindanao sought the help of OWWA-10 after they were sent home from the oil-rich country due to the failure of the Saudi government to pay their salaries.

Mabagal said that at present, the regional OWWA agency does not have sufficient financial assistance to the repatriated OFWs because the national OWWA office has not released the funds yet.

Despite the unavailability of the financial aid, former OFWs can still augment their livelihood either through borrowing at the government's Land Bank of the Philippines or avail of skills training at the Technical Skills and Development Authority (Tesda), Mabagal said.

During the dialogue with the OFWs at the OWWA-10 office, Mabagal assured the OFWs that they would assist them in obtaining loan.

“OFWs who have potential business endeavor may also apply for a livelihood loan ranging from PHP 100,000.00 to PHP 2 million under the OFW-Reintegration Program of OWWA in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines,” Mabagal said.

Jonas Rule, Migrante leader for the repatriated Saudi OFWs, said many of them have not received their wages for three to nine months since 2015.

Aside from the unpaid wages, the OFWs were not also paid their end of service payment and other benefits as most of them had already gone home, Rule said.

According to the Migrante group, some 11,000 workers from provinces in Region 10 were working in the Arab nation and employed by the Saudi Oger Ltd., Saudi Bin Laden Group, Mohammad Al Mojil Group and other firms, until the oil price crisis affected its economy. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/CD/JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

President Duterte leads groundbreaking for PHP27.9-B CCLEX
By Eddie Barrita

CEBU CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday afternoon led the groundbreaking ceremony of the PHP27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), the third link between the Cebu mainland and Mactan Island.

The ceremony was held in Sitio Dapitan, Pilipog in Cordova town on Mactan Island.

Among those who attended the ceremony were Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, Cordova Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho, Secretary Adelino Sitoy, Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs and Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPDTC).

MPDTC, the project proponent, entered into a joint venture agreement with the Cebu City Government and the Cordova Municipal Government, to undertake the third bridge that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island.

The actual construction of the CCLEX, a toll bridge, is set to start in the second quarter of the year.

The Cordova side of the CCLEX will be in Barangay Pilipog, Cordova, while the Cebu City side will be at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The 8.25-kilometer toll-bridge will be constructed 7.5 kilometers south of the old Mandaue Bridge.

MPDTC officials told PNA the bridge will be at least 40 meters above sea level, double the height of the two existing Mandaue-Mactan bridges, to accommodate big vessels entering the southern entrance of the Mactan Channel towards the Cebu City port.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena said no house will be demolished on the Cebu City side because it will be at the unoccupied portion of the SRP.

The SRP now hosts the SM Seaside City and a mixed-use development of Filinvest Land Inc. (PNA)
LAP/EB/EDS

Kidapawan City creates Task Force Usok to bolster anti-smoking ordinance

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato, March 2 (PNA) -- The local government on Thursday launched “Task Force Usok” to intensify its anti - smoking campaign in all private establishments and public places here.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista personally visited and posted anti-smoking signage in schools, hotels, department stores, and the city’s public market to boost efforts on the initiative.

The drive was fully backed by the Department of Health (DOH) campaign on eradicating respiratory illnesses of city residents brought about by cigarette smoking.

Evangelista said the task force would oversee the full implementation of the city’s Anti - Smoking Ordinance and review of its implementing rules and regulations.

The task force, for its part, has recommended before the city council’s Committee on Health to implement stiffer penalties to individual and establishment owners violating the ordinance.

Evangelista has also deputized city police personnel, village officials and watchmen and traffic officers to strengthen the campaign.

Only last year, the city was a recipient of the DOH Red Orchard Award for making the locality a smoke â€" free zone. (PNA)
BNB/NYP/JOHN ANDREW G. TABUGOC/

Village physician killed in Lanao del Norte

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The young municipal doctor in the town of Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte was shot dead Wednesday night, a police report reaching here Thursday said.

Police identified the fatality as Dr. Dreyfus Perlas, 30, a native of Aklan province. He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen just after having dinner near his rented house in Kapatagan.

The witnesses told the police that they did not hear any gun fire, but noticed that the doctor suddenly fell while standing after eating his dinner.

The police who investigated the incident reported of a gunshot wound on the victim’s chest, which could be the cause of his death.

The police said they are still looking into the motive of the killing as the municipal government ordered a manhunt of the killers.

Perlas started as a village “volunteer doctor” of the Department of Health (DOH) in 2013 in Lanao Del Norte.

It was only recently that Perlas was promoted as the DOH’s regular health worker following his appointment as the municipal doctor of Kapatagan.

The DOH regional office mourned the death of one of the most efficient and honest public servants who left the opportunities in the urban centers in order to serve the less fortunate in the country’s impoverished villages. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/CD

Roman Catholics warned on 'evils of gambling'

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Roman Catholic leadership on Thursday warned the “evils of gambling” as it announced its strong opposition to the opening of a gambling casino here.

In a pastoral letter, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, head of the archdiocese here, said that the “Church cannot turn a blind eye to the negative effects that gambling institutions will create in our society.”

Ledesma was referring to the proposed operation of a gambling casino near a state university and Our Lady of Manaoag Chapel inside a popular commercial complex here in Lapasan.

In the same letter, Ledesma said that the Roman Catholic Church has already warned its faithful of the “gambling culture,” which leads to the various problems of immoralities.

He said that gambling results in “a culture of enslavement of money and pleasure as a form of addiction, from which many of our people are suffering today and families are victimized.”

Together with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and other religious leaders, the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro has reiterated its stand to denounce illegal gambling in all its forms and prevent its legalization.

It also aims to combat the expansion of organized and systemic legal gambling such as putting up of casinos, and to refrain from soliciting or receiving funds from illegal and legal gambling so as not to promote a culture of gambling.

In 2008, a Korean company’s plan to build a casino-hotel here was thwarted by strong opposition by various sectors.

Sometime in the mid-90s, the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro City and then City Mayor Pablo Magtajas also successfully closed a gambling casino, which has started to operate in an uptown hotel here. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/CD/JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

Zambo solon backs institutionalization of DepEd's National Schools Feeding Program

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- First District Representative Celso Lobregat on Thursday declared strong support to institutionalize the National Schools Feeding Program (NSFP) of the Department of Education (DepED) in all government schools across the country.

Lobregat said he has co-authored House Bill No. 0034 as he is pushing for the sustainability of the feeding program since it is beneficial to the pupils in day care centers, public pre-school and elementary school levels.

H.B. No. 0034 is an “Act institutionalizing the National School Feeding Program for public kindergarten and elementary pupils and appropriating fund therefor.”

DepED implements the feeding program in a bid to address the high-prevalence of malnutrition since most of the children enrolled in public schools belong to poor families.

Undernourished and malnourished children are poor in academic performance since they cannot absorb their lessons while suffering from hunger pangs.

Lobregat said there is an urgent need to fine-tune the feeding program of DepED and enhance it by providing a free breakfast program not only to day care centers and pre-schools but also in all public elementary schools in the country.

He said H.B. No. 0034 is now being reviewed by the Committee on Basic Education and Culture in the House of Representatives. (PNA)

PhilHealth Eastern Visayas embarks on massive registration of non-members

TACLOBAN CITY, March 3 (PNA) â€" State-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is eyeing to enlist an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 individuals in Eastern Visayas who are not covered by the government’s health insurance program.

The health insurance will conduct massive village level registration in the region until end March.

“The purpose of registration is to find out how many people are qualified to receive premium subsidies from the government. The next step is enrolment. We hope to complete the process within the first quarter of 2017,” said PhilHealth Eastern Visayas regional vice president Renato Limsiaco.

As of this week, PhilHealth has already validated about 100,000 names for enrolment from six provinces in the region. The listing covers non-members under the age bracket of 21 to 59 years old.

Premium subsidy for non-members will be sourced out from the PHP3 billion balance from the 2016 General Appropriations Act and PHP50.2 billion from the 2017 allotment for priority groups.

The government’s subsidy is intended for village officials, community volunteers, poor families listed in the National Household Targeting System, senior citizens, and conditional cash transfer recipients.

“Those who can afford should pay their premium since the subsidy is only for those who have no capacity to pay,” Limsiaco said.

The more than 300,000 non-PhilHealth members account seven percent of the region’s 4.5 million population in 2016.

Last year’s official report listed at least 4.19 million health insurance members in the region with 71 percent of them are indigents.

The village level massive registration is in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive for universal health insurance coverage for all Filipinos.

The state insurance firm has been asking support from various stakeholders to support the universal coverage.

On Thursday, hundreds of PhilHealth officials, governors, mayors, and health workers gathered in Palo Leyte for the Visayas area health financing forum.

The gathering discussed the 2016 accomplishments of health insurance programs, directions under the administration of President Duterte, and recommendations to attain the universal coverage.

A government owned and controlled corporation under the Department of Health, the Philippine the PhilHealth was created in 1995 to implement universal health coverage in the country.(PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Gov’t troops encounter NPA rebels in Rodriguez, Rizal
By Pau Mojar

RODRIGUEZ, Rizal, March 2 (PNA) -- Government military troops encountered an undetermined number of armed New People’s Army (NPAs) rebels on Thursday morning at Sitio Lam-aw, Barangay Puray in this town.

In a report from the Philippine Army (PA) 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) public affairs chief, 1 Lieutenant Xy-Zon Meneses said the armed encounter lasted for 10 minutes as troopers launched their offensives following a tip from a resident on the presence of the armed rebels.

1Lt. Meneses disclosed that their intelligence reports also confirmed that the NPA terrorists have consolidated to launch a tactical offensive at Patrol Basia Apia in Barangay Calawis, Antipolo City.

The reports also revealed insurgents were out to liquidate their former supporter known as Ka Egay at Sitio Dapis, Barangay Puray in Rodriguez, Rizal.

No casualty was reported from the government side while the military initially reported on undetermined number of casualties from the enemies during the encounter.

Major General Rhoderick Parayno, 2ID commander, said the troops are still in the area for their pursuit operations to track down the fleeing rebels.

2ID also reported they have neutralized two top-ranking NPA leaders following their intensified military offensives after the NPA declared termination of their ceasefire and the government’s abrogation of the ceasefire and declaration of an all out war against the communist insurgents.

The government forces also recovered four high-powered firearms and various ammunition and explosives from their military operations against the rebels. (PNA)

DTI-2 conducts orientation on 2017 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Survey

TUGUEGARAO CITY, March 2 (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-02 has conducted an orientation on the 2017 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Survey in Cagayan and Isabela.

DTI-02 information officer Manilyn Ponce on Thursday said the orientation aimed to deepen the appreciation of local government units (LGUs) on the importance of the CMCI Survey in advancing the level of competitiveness of each LGU.

Ponce said that part of the orientation was the discussion of the pillar on “resiliency” and additional indicators.

She said the participants were members of the Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC), Business Permits and Licensing Officers (BPLOs) and City/Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (CPDCs/MPDCs) in the region, representatives from the academe, and representatives from Department of Tourism (DOT), Negosyo Coordinators, and some DTI region 2 personnel.

The same orientation and workshop will also be conducted in Batanes on March 17. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/SCD

Heads of RLAs, Antique local officials to discuss programs, projects

SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique, March 2 (PNA) -- Heads of regional line agencies (RLAs) in Western Visayas and local chief executives (LCEs) of Antique will meet Friday to discuss ongoing national programs and projects in the province.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao on Thursday said that the one-day gathering will have Senator Loren Legarda, whose roots came from this province, as keynote speaker. Also expected to grace the event is Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

The dialogue will serve as venue for LCEs to raise their issues and concerns before the concerned regional directors.

Activities in line with this province’s hosting of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa will also be presented during the meeting.

Cadiao said in a previous interview that the province is 80 percent ready for the Palaro hosting slated April 23-29. Preparations such as repair of the 22 billeting schools and playing venues like the Binirayan track oval are ongoing. (PNA)

Tacurong City hikes allowance for city volunteer health workers

TACURONG CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The city council of Tacurong on Thursday passed an ordinance increasing the city's health workers allowance, officials announced Friday.

Retroactive January this year, community health volunteer workers in Tacurong City will be receiving a PHP1,200 monthly subsistence allowance as mandated by City Ordinance 04-2017.

The ordinance was enacted by the 7th Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Before the ordinance was passed, volunteers only receive PHP1,000 a month.

The executive and legislative arms of the local government unit hoped that the increase will motivate the volunteers to become more effective frontline health service providers.

“Barangay health workers serve as the first line of help of the people, especially for those living in far-flung areas,” Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito, city council presiding officer.

“It is just proper that we also address their needs,” he added.

Lechonsito and Councilor Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz authored the Ordinance. Co-authors were Councilors Psyche Sucaldito, Welson Ferrer, Hernane Fermo, Cirilo Flores, Carlos Borromeo Segura Jr., and David Salazar.

The same city lawmakers councilors proposed city ordinance 05-2017 that granted PHP1,000 subsistence allowance to qualified barangay nutrition scholars. (PNA)

Warehouses of fake cigarettes leased to Mighty Corporation

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, March 2 (PNA)-- The five warehouses located at the San Simon Industrial Park in San Simon, Pampanga, from where some PHP2 billion worth of fake cigarettes were seized, were found to be leased to tobacco company Mighty Corporation.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional director Jethro Sabariaga said Mighty Corporation lawyers and representatives met with the BIR during the detention of the said items Wednesday night.

"Apparently, they are claiming ownership of the items,” Sabariaga said, adding that the Mighty Corporation lawyers and representatives made no denial of the authenticity of the items. 

The BIR regional office will be detaining the items for seven days before turning them over to the Large Taxpayer Service and the Commissioner of the BIR.

The BIR regional office seized 41 master cases of cigarettes for further testing and reporting, and then turn over to the BIR national office.

Majority of the items are still inside the warehouses.

Sabariaga said if it was found that all the cigarette packs are affixed with fake stamps and excise tax have not been paid, there will be criminal liability on the part of the owner.

BIR had made an estimate of master cases of cigarettes at 90,000 which means that there are some 45 million boxes of cigarettes in the warehouses. 

This places the possible excise tax responsibility for the merchandise at PHP1.2 billion.

Customs operatives conducted random sampling of the said products and inspected with a scanner to check the cigarette tax stamps affixed to packs.

As far as the BIR is concerned, 41 of the master cases checked did not register as authentic.   

Sabariaga said he is saddened that there are still companies that resort to faking BIR tax stamps.

Customs team leader Cleo Dongga-as, through a Letter of Authority signed by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon raided Wednesday the warehouses located at Block 3 Lot 19, Block 9 Lot 6 and Block 8 Lot15 in San Simon town where items bearing "Marvel" and "Mighty" with fake tax stamps were found affixed to the boxes of cigarettes.

One warehouse is said to have 20,000 master cases which would have 50 reams of cigarettes each.(PNA)

Tacloban prioritizes relocatees for youth summer employment

TACLOBAN CITY, March 3 (PNA) â€" Dwellers of northern relocation sites in this city will be the top priority for summer jobs under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

The city employment office had opened 170 slots for applicants from 14 relocation sites in the northern part of the city.

“They are the first preference of the city government since they badly need summer jobs to finance their education and help their family after being displaced,” said Katherine Peliño, development management officer of Tacloban Public Employment Service Office (PESO).

Qualified applicants are required to render a 20-day service in the city government with a daily wage of PHP430, up by PHP170 than last year.

“This is based on the new implementing rules and regulations of the program that the salary should be the same as the lowest salary entry level. Since Tacloban is a highly urbanized city, it is PHP430,” Peliño explained.

Under the program, the Department of Labor and Employment shoulders 40 percent of the SPES salary while the remaining 60 percent will be covered by the local government.

SPES is mandated under Republic Act No. 9547 to “help poor but deserving 15-25 years old students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during vacations.”(PNA) FPV/SQM/Gerico A. Sabalza (OJT)

Aussie gov’t builds houses for Zambo-siege displaced families
By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 3 (PNA)-- Forty-five siege-affected families housed at the Tulungatung transitory site have returned to their permanent homes courtesy of the Australian government and other implementing agencies under the Zamboanga Recovery Project (ZRP).

Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Mat Kimberley and Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar led the handover of the permanent houses to 45 “untagged” families in Barangay Tulungatung, this city, on Thursday.

Officials of the Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Archdiocese of Zamboanga joined the two officials in the turnover of the permanent shelters.

A Day Care center with water, sanitation and hygiene facility and playground that can accommodate 30 children per class session put up at the resettlement site, was also turned over.

“Australia is committed to support the continuing recovery of this city under the Zamboanga Recovery Project,” Kimberly said.

“I am honored to meet some of the families supported by the project and to be among the first to visit their new permanent homes,” Kimberly stressed.

Salazar thanked the Australian government, CFSI, CRS and Archdiocese of Zamboanga for coming in to the aid of the local government and the internally displaced persons.

Salazar urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the permanent dwellings and help Zamboanga build back better.

The beneficiaries of the housing projects are among the more than 120,000 people displaced in the 21-day September 2013 siege.

The 45 homes turned over in Barangay Tulungatung came less than a month after 35 houses were also turned over to untagged families in Barangay San Roque under the ZRP where 15 other families received support from Australia to build permanent houses on their own land. (PNA)
FPV/TPGJR

Zamboanga City PHP233.6-M supplemental budget for flagship projects

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The City Development Council (CDC) has reviewed and resolved to adopt and endorse to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the supplemental Current Year-2017 Local Development Investment Program (LDIP) and Annual Investment Program (AIP).

Eng’r Rodrigo Sicat, city planning and development coordinator, said he presented to the CDC on Thursday the identified programs, projects and activities which the city government intends to undertake this year, earmarked at PHP233,698,600.

Sicat on Friday said the flagship projects include flood mitigation facilities, the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) building which would further improve services during the annual renewal of business registration as well as plans to make Justice Building more accessible to persons with disability and/or indigents.

On the tourism front, Sicat said the city is also looking at constructing a passenger terminal shed at Paseo del Mar for visitors to the Sta. Cruz Island.

Also included in the supplemental budget are improvement plans for Merloquet Falls and the 11 Islands.

The Merloquet Falls located in Barangay Sibulao, this city, attracts tourists as it looks like a white curtain pinned to a lush forest wall just flowing in the wind.

The 11 Islands located in this city’s east coast is becoming a favorite picnic ground as the place has pristine white fine sand beaches.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has assured the CDC as well as urged offices and sectors concerned to ensure that residents will not be displaced as the city pushes for the promotion of new tourism destinations in the city.

The CDC also reviewed and resolved to adopt and endorse the draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), Zoning Ordinance (ZO) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for its subsequent approval. (PNA)

Filipino, Chinese businessmen to construct school buildings in ComVal

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley, March 3 (PNA) -- Members of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce vowed to continue their support to the education sector of Compostela Valley province with the construction of four school buildings in different municipalities.

Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy bared that the planned project will be finalized during the upcoming visit of Filipino and Chinese businessmen in the province this month.

Uy said the visit to the province is among the agenda discussed during the regular meeting of the chamber in Tagum City last Feb. 25.

Uy said this is not the first time that Filipino and Chinese businessmen extended support to the education sector in the province.

The provincial office reported that based on data from the Provincial Engineering Office, the chamber started to donate school buildings in the province since 2008.

There is a total of 84 classrooms already donated by the chamber to various schools in the province from 2008 to 2015.

In 2008, 22 classrooms were donated by the chamber in six public schools in the town of Nabunturan particularly in barangays San Roque, Magsaysay, Bukal, Katipunan, Bayabas and Manat.

Two-classroom buildings were also donated by the chamber in Barangay Casoon in Moncayo; Dauman Elementary School in Montevista; and Maliwon Elementary School in Mawab.

“The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce is one of the consistent partners of Compostela Valley in our efforts to strengthen the education of our children and the youth,” Uy said. (PNA)
JMC/LCM/ALEXANDER LOPEZ/LDP

Police hunt suspects in Cotabato City grenade attack; 3 injured

COTABATO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- Police are hunting down two men believed to have lobbed a hand grenade inside a residential apartment here Friday morning.

Chief Inspector Carlo Jurenario, police station 2 chief, said the blast at around 1 a.m. injured a father and his two daughters. Police refused to identify the victims for security reasons.

The father is an employee of the local government of Matanog, Maguindanao.

Jurenario said two men riding tandem on a motorbike passed by the victims' house along Santos Street and tossed the grenade.

The victims sustained injuries from broken window panes.

Jurenario said the family is yet to provide information on possible motive of the attack and who could be the perpetrators.

Investigation is still going on, he added. (PNA)

Ilocos Norte lady cops train girls on basic self-defense

LAOAG CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- Teenage girls in Grades 10 and 11 from various schools in Ilocos Norte province are being prepared for a basic training course on self-defense, courtesy of lady cops based at the Camp Valentin S. Juan here.

On Monday and Tuesday, some 100 girls per batch will be clustered in every training site to learn the tactics of safeguarding oneself against sexual harassment or rape.

Police records on violence against women and children show an increase in rape victims in the province, most of them teenage girls.

As part of the intensified campaign to protect the rights of women and girls, the Ilocos Norte Police's Women Division, in cooperation with the provincial government's Gender and Development Office, will spearhead an information caravan and basic training on self-defense as a way of moving forward into the millennium and ending such barbaric practices.

On Monday (March 6), teenage girls from the towns of Bacarra, Piddig and Vintar will convene at the Vintar auditorium at 1 p.m. for the first batch of training.

The following day, female students from the secondary schools of Currimao, Pinili, and Badoc will gather at the Badoc auditorium for the same training.

The basic self-defense training by lady police officers of the Ilocos Norte Police has become an annual activity benefiting teenage girls in the province. It is held in celebration of National Women’s Month this March.(PNA)
CVL/LGA/EDS

South Cotabato town eyes barracks-type treatment facility for surfacing drug personalities

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The municipal government of Tupi in South Cotabato is pushing the establishment of a barracks-type rehabilitation facility to facilitate the treatment of surfacing drug personalities in the area.

Tupi Mayor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said Friday they are presently studying such move as alternative to the Matrix Intensive Outpatient Treatment for People with Stimulant Disorder or MIOP program being introduced by the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC).

He said the proposed barracks-type facility will be used for the community-based treatment of the surfacing personalities involved on drugs or SPIDs.

Citing their program, he said all involved personalities will be gathered at the facility and undergo uniform sessions on various modules instead of just keeping them in their respective barangays and attend sessions hosted by an assigned counselor.

Tupi town has listed 80 drug personalities classified at the moderate and low-risk levels and who need to undergo community-based treatment and rehabilitation.

Around 9,000 drug personalities surfaced and surrendered to local authorities last year in line with the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Tamayo said that out of the town’s 15 barangays, only four have not yet submitted their list of personalities that require treatment and rehabilitation.

“If this will push through, we will conduct the treatment in two batches,” the mayor said.

The official said the facility will be established in one of their far-flung barangays with just minimal structures.

He said it will have no walls or fences but fully guarded, and those who would try to escape will face punishment.

At the proposed facility, he said they are looking at providing the SPIDs with income-generating opportunities through farming.

Some of the income would be used by the local government to fund the treatment of the next batch of SPIDs, he said.

“The setup will be conducive to the clients and their families. They will have their treatment as if just having a vacation,” Tamayo said.

The mayor clarified that the treatment will not be forced on the drug personalities but on voluntary basis.

"If this will become successful, other towns can also avail of the facility for their SPIDs,” he said.

South Cotabato board member Agustin Dema-ala, PADAC action officer, said they are currently studying the proposed initiative of the Tupi municipal government.

He said they could also provide assistance to the program, especially in seeing support from other agencies and stakeholders. (PNA)

TESDA-12 allots P8M for tech-voc scholarships

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Region 12 has allotted around P8 million for the implementation this year of its scholarship and student assistance programs.

Richard Amparo, TESDA Sarangani/General Santos provincial director, said such figure comprise the initial funding approved by their central office for the continuing rollout of its flagship scholarship programs.

TESDA allotted at least 30,000 scholarship slots for Region 12 this year for skills trainings, technical-vocational (tech-voc) training scholarships and other related initiatives.

The agency has been implementing its scholarship programs in coordination with accredited tech-voc institutions, local government units and other government agencies.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

In this city, TESDA-12 allotted some 800 scholarship slots for its Training for Work Scholarship Program.

He said the program mainly provides immediate interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills in various industries.

Aside from this, he said they will also continue with the implementation of its Special Training for Employment Program (STEP).

STEP is a community-based specialty training program that addresses the specific skills needs of local communities and promote employment, particularly through entrepreneurial, self-employment and service-oriented activities.

On Thursday, some 265 residents in the area received tool kits from TESDA through the program.

The tool kits were composed of basic inputs that will complement with the trainings received by the beneficiaries, among them for plumbing installation and bread and pastry making.

Alvin Feliciano, TESDA deputy director general for operations, said they are continually expanding their services to in a bid to serve more residents, especially those in the poor and marginalized areas.

He said their scholarship programs presently cater to students, out-of-school youths, workers, persons with disabilities and even inmates.

Earlier this week, he said the agency signed a memorandum of agreement with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to facilitate the provision of scholarships to lumad or tribal residents.

“TESDA is now inclusive. We’ve been going to the barangays to extend our services and directly enlist beneficiaries,” said Feliciano, who graced the distribution of STEP grants here.

He said they have also linked up with the departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Social Welfare and Development, and the Labor and Employment for the expansion of their skills trainings and scholarship programs.

DTI is currently helping their beneficiaries access capital and other inputs for viable ventures, he added.(PNA)
LAP/AVE/FKA

Bacolod security personnel, private firm employees train on bomb awareness for ASEAN meeting

BACOLOD CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- Two clusters of trainees attended a Seminar on Bomb Awareness as part of the preparations of this city for the hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit meeting this month.

After the seminar, Senior Superintendent Hector Maestral, chief of Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office-18, said in a report Friday the seminar focused on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) establishments should employ in case of untoward incidents like bomb threats or bomb explosions.

Participants included personnel of Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), and utility personnel of the City Hall and representatives from private establishments like hotels that will host the ASEAN delegates.

Maestral, who was the resource speaker, discussed “Explosives, IED Awareness and Bomb Threat Management.”

The seminar is an important requirement for the hosting of the ASEAN meeting, he said.

"We also need the seminar due to the alarming cases of bomb threats in Bacolod that turned out to be hoaxes," Maestral added.

Bacolod is scheduled to host the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), Joint Consultative Meeting, and Other Related Meetings, or the 15th Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI).

On Wednesday, Mayor Evelio Leonardia also convened the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) to discuss the traffic, and peace and order situation in preparation for the hosting of the ASEAN Summit meeting.

Leonardia, chairman of the CPOC, said no untoward incident should happen during the event.

Rodolfo Song, spokesperson of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, said concerns on the loading and unloading areas were already addressed.

Superintendent Noel Polines, deputy chief for operations of Bacolod City Police Office, in his presentation, discussed the police’s accomplishments on Oplan Bakbak (Bacolod Batok sa Krimen).

Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, acting director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-18, who heads Task Group Bacolod, said that plans are being refined, including the conduct of simulation exercises on the second week of March, with the members of the National Organizing Committee (NOC).

Task Group Bacolod, formed to lead the preparations for the hosting of the 2017 ASEAN Summit meetings, is composed of 21 national government agencies, including, among others, the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Health, and Bureau of Fire Protection. (PNA)

Police working to identify gunmen in the slaying of a government doctor in Lanao

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The provincial police in Lanao Del Norte has started to collate evidence that could lead to the possible identity of the suspects in the shooting to death of a municipal doctor in Lanao Del Norte last Wednesday, a senior police official said Friday.

In an interview with the local media, P/Sr. Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera, provincial police director in Lanao Del Norte, said that unidentified gunmen shot dead Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas, 30, the municipal health officer of Sapad in Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte Wednesday night.

“We have gathered evidence, including Perlas’ mobile phone, which we are submitting to the [Philippine National Police’s] Anti-cyber Crime Group,” Olaguera said.

He said that the investigation would focus on the report that Perlas had a heated argument with a patient or relative of a patient in the Bontilao Country Hospital in Barangay Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte.

According to the police report, Perlas was driving a motorcycle and was on his way to his residence in Maranding, Lanao Del Norte when a riding tandem on a motorcycle drove beside and shot the victim at close range.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered a single .45 caliber cartridge from the crime scene, Olaguera said.

Olaguera said that the police investigators also did a background check on Perlas family, but it came up empty, so now they are looking into the Bontilao hospital incident as the most possible motive for the shooting.

He said that the police investigators are now conducting a background investigation of the names of the patients or relatives with whom Perlas reportedly had an altercation prior to the shooting incident. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/CD/JIGGER J. JERUSALEM

Ilocos Norte summer tourism program to accept senior citizens

LAOAG CITY, March 3 (PNA) -â€" Senior citizens and retirees who are still capable to work are most welcome to apply for the Ilocos Norte summer tourism program of the provincial government.

Senior citizens are highly regarded for their rich knowledge and experience in history. Hence, they may serve as effective story tellers in heritage museums and churches being promoted to visitors in the province.

Interested applicants may start submitting their biodata to the Provincial Tourism Office - Capitol, La Tabacalera Tourist Center located in front of Museo Ilocos Norte or at the Taoid Museum on or before March 16, 2017. Other pertinent documents such as barangay clearance, community tax certificate and 2x2 I.D. picture are also required.

“We have once again opened our Summer Tourism Program! Lahat po ay imbitado na sumali at makiisa sa Kapitolyo, kabilang din ang mga senior citizen!” said a public announcement of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO).

Aside from senior citizens, the INTO is also in need of tourism ambassador, utility personnel and registered nurses to serve as first aid personnel to assist in various tourism destinations of the province.

The first wave of tourist aide deployment will be on March 27 to April 27. (PNA)

USAID to wrap up Be Secure project in Iloilo

ILOLO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be closing its four-year Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) project in Iloilo come July this year.

In a statement, USAID said that a “close out” activity to showcase the project’s important achievements in providing water security sanitation and climate resilience will be held in Iloilo this coming March 10.

It will also serve as venue for USAID to recognize its partners, specifically local government units, water districts, academe and other stakeholders who made significant contributions to the success of the Be Secure’s works in Iloilo.

In an interview Friday, USAID Be Secure Project Climate Resiliency team leader Elisea Gozun said that the Be Secure project in Iloilo has provided significant, effective and sustainable contributions in terms of water security and climate resiliency.

She mentioned that among the highlights of its accomplishments were downloading of the climate projections in Iloilo City, production of hazard maps for rainfall and temperature, training of people in water auditing, introduction of septage treatment for sanitation and conduct of vulnerability assessment of water resources of Iloilo.

In the academe, USAID was also able to promote the water demand management, which is now being incorporated in the curriculum of Central Philippine University (CPU).

Gozun said that the projects were able to mobilize and educate stakeholders and improve their capacities for integrating climate change into local planning.

The USAID Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project is a four-year activity that seeks to promote good governance and build capacity for long-term water security, improve access to water and wastewater treatment services, and build more resilient communities.

It focuses on delivering increased sustainable access to water supply and wastewater treatment services and increased resilience to climate-related water stress and hydrologic extremes.

The project started in July 2013 and operates in six focal areas namely Basilan, Iloilo, Leyte, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga Provinces. (PNA)
LAP/PGL/CBFERRER/CBF

DSWD-11 releases PHP2.2M to indigent senior citizens in Davao Sur town

MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur, March 3 (PNA) -â€" The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Region 11 completed Friday the release of a total of PHP2,292,000 for 1,528 indigent senior citizens.

The cash release was made this early even as it should cover the first quarter of 2017 or from January to March.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and the Municipal Treasurer’s Office here divided the 22 barangays (villages) into three for the three-day release of the pension starting last Wednesday.

Every indigent senior citizen aged 65 years old and above is entitled to receive 500 monthly pension. The age qualification eligible to receive a social pension was lowered from 77 years old to 65 years old. It was approved under the General Appropriations Act for CY 2015.

With the lower age requirement, more economically disadvantaged senior citizens can have additional cash to spend for their basic needs such as medicines and nutritious food to support their well-being.

Those who will qualify to receive the PHP500 monthly stipend are senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or have disabilities; are not receiving pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or Veterans Pension; and do not have a permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.

The pension is distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field Offices or city/municipal social welfare and development offices. (PNA)

President Duterte arrives in Misamis Oriental airport to visit slain, wounded soldiers

LAGUINDINGAN AIRPORT, Misamis Oriental, March 3 (PNA) ---- President Rodrigo Duterte and his party arrived and landed in Camp Evangelista about 5:52 Thursday afternoon and went directly to visit slain soldiers whose remains lie at the Loyola Chapel inside the Army camp.

Military officials said that Duterte would confer posthumous medals to the slain Army soldiers and extend financial assistance to survivors before visiting the wounded personnel in the Army hospital at Camp Evangelista.

The two fatalities and four wounded were victims in a running gunbattle in the hinterlands of Sugbongcogon in Misamis Oriental last Monday.

The two killed were Corporal Marzon Morales and Private Oshin Rosala.

Wounded were Private First Class Marquin R. Variacion, Private First Class Vincent Nino L. Lopez, Private Regie Joy Duyan and Private Ramon B. Balibagon, all of the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion based in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in this regional airport around 5:30 Friday afternoon on board a private aircraft.

Duterte, clad in checkered polo shirt and wearing rubber shoes, then boarded the presidential chopper, which flew to Camp Evangelista accompanied by two helicopter choppers as escorts around 5:40 p.m. (PNA)

DOST SETUP to focus on environmental projects in Zamboanga Peninsula

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 3 (PNA) â€"- Businesses that are into environmental protection such as waste recycling and the development of renewable energy will be the priority for the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) for this year.

“Based on the policies initiated by the central office, we will no longer limit to the eight priorities, but expand it and include other areas, especially environmental protection and alternative source of clean energy,” Mahmud Kingking, DOST assistant regional director for field operation services, said on Friday.

Kingking, who oversees the SETUP in the region, said shoring up economic development and ensuring the country’s food security should not be at the expense of the environment.

“Environmental protection through science and technology is needed for sustainable development,” he said.

Priority sectors initially covered by the program are furniture, food processing, gifts, toys and housewares, marine and aquatic resources, horticulture, metals and engineering.

Kingking said the new shift is to encourage the upgrading of existing businesses that will help address environmental issues, and develop new business ventures that are environmentally sound.

“We have seen the huge negative impact to the agricultural sector due to climate change,” he said.

According to Kingking, rice farmers in Zamboanga del Sur have started to move from the usual open solar dryer for their crops to the environment-friendly mechanical dryer due to unpredictable weather patterns.

“Aside from our aim to continue to provide services that improve the lives of our people, especially in the countryside, it is also equally important to put premium on environmental preservation,” he said.

SETUP has been among the flagship projects of the DOST to help develop quality products for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

It is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist SMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness.

The program enables firms to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technological interventions to improve productivity through better product quality, human resources development, cost minimization, and waste management, and other operation related activities.

Under the program, qualified MSMEs will be assisted in acquiring new technology such as machines for their productions through a rent-to-own scheme.

The beneficiary will be given a six-month grace period before the first payment for the three years, and may be extended for another three years depending on the cost.

Kingking said they expect the bulk of this year’s P59.8-million SETUP fund to go to businesses that promote environmental protection.

He said that this year’s budget would enable them to financially assist 53 MSMEs projects.

“We are encouraging MSMEs to adopt our technology. It will not only improve their productions, but also help in the conservation efforts,” he said.

Since its implementation here in Zamboanga Peninsula in 2001, the bulk of the SETUP went to food processing, metals and engineering, and others.

However, there was no substantial allocation made to those small businesses that are into environmental protection.

At least P208-million worth of technology-based solutions was provided to the local SMEs to upgrade 268 projects across Zamboanga Peninsula in 2001 up to the present.

In 2016 alone, the DOST SETUP was able to generate a 29-percent increase in productivity among the assisted MSMEs.

It also generated almost P400million in gross sales, and employed 1,587 new jobs across Zamboanga Peninsula. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/TPGJR/DARWIN WALLY T. WEE

Body of slain Aklan doctor in Lanao del Norte now back in Batan

KALIBO, Aklan, March 3 (PNA) -- The remains of the Aklanon doctor slain in Lanao del Norte are now back in his native town, Batan.

Carried by a C-130 plane from Pagadian Airport, the body of rural health doctor Dreyfuss Perlas, 31, arrived at Kalibo International Airport at the Aklan capital around 3 p.m., Friday.

The Aklanon doctor was shot dead by unidentified persons while he was riding a motorbike in Kapatagan town in Lanao del Norte around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

From Kalibo, Dreyfuss' body as well as his motorcycle were brought to their home in Poblacion, Batan.

The victim's father Dennis Perlas, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Batan, said they will not stop seeking justice for his son.

The town councilor, who went to Lanao del Norte to get the body of his son, said the municipal government of Sapad where his son was working as a health officer expressed their support in searching for justice.

Meanwhile, the Association of Medical Health Officers - Aklan chapter also expressed support to the victim’s family. The group said they will help the family so that justice would be served to Dreyfuss.

Dreyfuss first worked as a volunteer under the Doctors to the Barrios Program of the Department of Health (DOH) before he became the municipal health officer of the town. (PNA)
LAP/PGL/AJP/KVBERMEJO/KVB

President Duterte pays tribute to fallen Army soldiers in Misamis Oriental
By Cris Diaz

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan De Oro City, March 3 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte arrived at the Loyola Chapel inside this Army Camp past 6:00 p.m. Friday to pay his last respects to two soldiers killed in the line of duty and condole with their families.

The slain soldiers were identified as Cpl. Marzon Morales, and Pvt. Oshin Rosala, all of the 58th Infantry Battalion, based in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.

The soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in a running gunbattle with the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental last Monday.

President Duterte first talked to Aiza, the grieving wife of Morales, inside the Chapel where the President extended financial assistance and awarded a posthumous medal to the fallen soldier.

After talking with the widow, he proceeded to the coffin of Rosala and talked to the surviving mother. Rosala was still single.

The President also gave the posthumous medal to Rosala’s mother and extended to her financial assistance.

From the chapel, Duterte went to the Army Station Hospital to confer the military wounded medal to the four soldiers identified as Private First Class Marquin R. Variacion, Private First Class Vincent Nino L. Lopez, Private Regie Joy Duyan and Private Ramon B. Balibagon.

Three other wounded soldiers who were earlier confined in the Army hospital were also conferred the military wounded medal.

Military officials said that the wounded government troopers were already in stable condition. (PNA)

PHP10-B development projects up in Antique this 2017
By Annabel J. Petinglay

SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique, March 3 (PNA) -- The province of Antique will be a recipient of some Php10 billion worth of development projects that will be implemented through various government agencies this year.

Senator Loren Legarda, whose roots came from Antique, revealed the good news during the dialogue between heads of national government offices and local officials of Antique, Friday. She claimed that she was inspired by what Senator Franklin M. Drilon has done for Iloilo City that she also would like to bring in developmental projects to Antique.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said that the PHP10 billion is contained in the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 6 was allotted the biggest budget of PHP3.049 billion for 126 projects, which include roads and bridges. School projects will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED).

The lady senator also approved the additional PHP2.25 billion that was requested by DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut and Assistant Secretary for the Visayas Roberto Bernardo who joined the meeting. The fund is necessary to finish the projects that are currently being implemented in Antique.

Among the projects that are already implemented or are yet to be implemented this 2017 are the San Jose Boulevard, Panay East West Road, Barangay Comon-San Pedro Coastal road, and Solong Bridge.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistant Secretary Hope Hervilla revealed that it has PHP 1 billion fund allotted for Antique. The money will be utilized in Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplemental Feeding Program, and social pension for qualified senior citizens.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for the Visayas Hansel Didulo said they have various projects for Antique like fiber glass boats for the coastal municipalities aside from the free irrigation for farmers.

Moreover, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Deputy-Director General Rebecca Calzado, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Bernardita Flores, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Director Rowen Gelonga also made their respective presentations of projects and programs that are part of the PHP10 billion for Antique.

Also present during the dialogue were DepEd Assistant Regional Director Victor G. De Gracia, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Regional Director Jessie Vego and National Nutrition Council (NNC) Manager Nona Tad-y.

Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao expressed gratitude to Legarda and officials of different government agencies for coming to Antique to inform Antiquenos about their programs and projects.

She said that as a leader of the province, she desires Antique “to have a place in the sand” and not just for the Antiquenos to be known as sacadas or sugar migrants, housemaids, and backward people.

Likewise, Legarda turned over the PHP10 million fund that will be utilized in the province’s ongoing preparations for the 2017 Palarong Pambansa.

The check that came from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was received by Cadiao.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) downloaded PHP30 million for the rehabilitation of schools that will be used as billeting for some 15,000 athletes and officials who will participate in the national sports event on April 23-29.

The provincial government also released PHP5 million for the repair of comfort rooms and establishment of kitchens at the billeting schools. (PNA)
LAP/PGL/AJPETINGLAY/KVB

IT training up for residents of ‘Tanglaw Pag-asa’ reform center in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, March 3 (PNA) -- Residents of the “Tanglaw Pag-asa” Juvenile Center in this city will soon undergo training on information technology (IT).

Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado announced on Friday that the juvenile reform facility will soon have four brand new computer units as part of the training program.

Alvarado said the computer units will be a big help to residents of Tanglaw Pag-asa because they will be given an opportunity to learn and become productive citizens.

He also disclosed that the provincial government of Bulacan, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), will also launch the program E-dalaw in the near future.

Aside from helping young offenders at the juvenile center to become computer proficient, the E-dalaw will help them reconnect with their families outside the facility.

“Due to circumstances such as distance, family members are unable to visit their loved ones and home sickness strikes. Through electronic dalaw or E-dalaw, it will help families visit the minors through the use of the internet. But internet usage will be strictly monitored for security reasons,” Jaymark Chico, head of the Tanglaw Pag-asa, said.

The four computers were donated by Roderick M. Magpili, officer-in-charge of Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. (BayanTel)-IT Division and Maricar G. Magpili, provincial team leader of Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) in cooperation with Director Cheryl C. Ortega of DICT Field Operation Office Luzon Cluster 2, as part of the program Tech4Ed, which is set to start during the last week of March this year.

Tech4Ed which stands for Technology for Education aims to help members of the society, especially those in the marginal sector to have new opportunities in terms of education, business and employment.

The program will use the ICT as medium of training.

The minors at the juvenile center will receive online lessons through the Alternative Learning System (ALS), which was digitalized with the help of the DICT.

Volunteer teachers from Bulacan State University, Bulacan Polytechnic College and DepEd Mobile Teachers will also be giving supplementary online lessons under the ALS program.

Tanglaw Pag-asa is a rehabilitation center for children in conflict with the law which aims to give psychosocial and therapeutic programs that include peer enrichment, livelihood programs, basic education, spiritual formation and post-release programs such as parent education and home counseling.

Currently, the Tanglaw Pag-asa houses 123 residents with ages ranging from 15 to 26 years old. (PNA)
LAP/PGL/ZST/EGGAMOS

58 tribesmen in Bukidnon complete computer literacy training

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- Fifty-eight members of the Manobo and Pulangihon Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Bukidnon completed the Basic Computer Literacy (BCL) training there, a report reaching here Friday said.

Capt. Norman Tagros, Army's 403rd Infantry Battalion based in Bukidnon, said that the 31 days of lectures and practical exercises about computer literacy culminated successfully on Thursday afternoon.

He said that the BCL program was part of the Philippine Army’s outreach educational project to provide basic education modules to the IPs in Northern Mindanao.

Tagros said that the IPs live in the hinterlands of Northern Mindanao and education and the advancement of technology seem alien to them.

The BCL was one of the Philippine Army’s programs that became popular among the IPs when it was launched last January 20, 2017 with 52 IP students.

Tagros said that the computer facilities of BCL were donated by the “Tuloy Foundation, Inc. and the “Pinoy Batang Bayani” (The Filipino Child’s a Hero).

He said that the BCL’s other stakeholders include the Department of Education â€" Alternative Learning System (DepEd-ALS), TESDA, BUSCO Sugar Milling Company, and the Local Government Unit. (PNA)

DTI-Calabarzon engages social media for info mobilization on trade, industry services
By Zen Trinidad

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, March 3 (PNA) -- The Calabarzon Regional Office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 4A) has embarked on engaging the social media platforms to reach a great number of people about its services and programs.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday, DTI Regional Director Marilou Q. Toledo said the regional office has created its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Toledo said their new media platforms are in pursuit of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez's directives to expand the reach in informing the public about the services and programs of the department.

”By using the social media, we can reach a greater number of people specially the millennials in addition to our flyers and information materials,” Toledo explained.

She added that complaints and inquiries can easily reach their office for immediate action except when mediation is necessary.

"We can act immediately on people’s concerns however, when mediation is required, and advised them to go to their nearest DTI offices for the appropriate action,” she added.

Toledo also explained that the department encourages electronic commerce (ecommerce) where people sell and buy through the Internet specially the millennials who are more techno-savvy with the Net.

Other than queries and complaints, DTI offers networking sites for business names registration, sales promotions, exports, entrepreneurships, career opportunities, among other services. (PNA)
LAP/SEP/ZEN TRINIDAD/RSM

President Duterte vows to axe corrupt government officials
By Jigger J. Jerusalem

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- More heads will roll in President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet as he vowed to rid his administration of officials who may be involved in corruption following the firing of one of his closest allies.

In the wake of former National Irrigation Administration (NIA) administrator Peter Laviña’s stepping down due to alleged wrongdoings, Duterte said Friday more others in his Cabinet will follow.

Laviña resigned last week amid accusations that he was asking money from NIA contractors, an allegation that he vehemently denied.

In interviews, he said he resigned from his post to save the Duterte government from embarrassment.

“So in the coming days I’m going to fire additional people whom I have appointed in government,” the President told reporters here.

Duterte was in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro City on a visit to the wake of two soldiers killed in action in the camp’s Loyola Chapel and four wounded troopers at the Army Station Hospital here.

The wounded and the dead soldiers were just the latest casualties as the military and New People’s Army fighters figured in a series of encounters in Misamis Oriental early this week.

Although he did not give exact numbers or the names of those whom he will boot out from his Cabinet, Duterte said “marami yan (there’s many of them).”

He also gave out a warning to all public officials who may be suspected of committing unlawful acts or abusing their power.

“This is my warning to those in the government: Whether you are a director or CESO or civil service eligible, I’m telling you stop it, at least for six years, while I’m still sitting in office,” he said referring to those who may be involved corrupt practices.

During his campaign, Duterte promised to rid the government of corruption and now that he is the country’s chief executive, he is bent on fulfilling it.

“Corruption will stop and it will stop, I am telling you I will put a stop to it,” he stressed. (PNA)

BJMP eyes using local government-owned facility in San Ramon

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is planning to use the vacated detention facility of the local government located at the property of the San Ramon Prison and Penal Colony in this city.

The facility, which was built by the city government, was used as detention facility for the arrested members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) involved in the 2013 siege.

The facility is now vacant since the detained MNLF members were transferred to the government detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Chief Insp. Ervin Diaz, warden of the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC), on Friday said they will utilize the San Ramon facility as the number of inmates is expected to increase once the police resume its anti-drug campaign.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to resume soon the anti-drug campaign dubbed as Oplan Tokhang after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its resumption.

Diaz said the ZCRC is too congested at present since there are 2,392 inmates at the detention facility, which is designed for only 800 detainees.

He said those who would be detained at the Ran Ramon detention facility are those with lighter offenses and whose court appearance are scheduled several months away.

He said the facility in San Ramon can accommodate more than 200 inmates.

Due to congested jail, the warden is worried over the security as well as the health of the inmates.

“Anything can happen because of congestion. We have to remember that we are dealing with people of different behavior and behavior changes in just seconds,” he said. (PNA)

NGCP skeds power interruptions in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- Maintainance activities by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will result in 10-hour power interruptions in parts of Pangasinan on March 7.

Melma Batario, NGCP regional communications and public affairs officer, said the 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. power interruption will affect the entire franchise area of Pangasinan Electric Cooperative I (Panelco 1) and the Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative's (Cenpelco's) Labrador sub-station.

She said corrective works by NGCP along the Labrador-Bani line segment is the reason for the power interruption.

Another electric interruption is slated on March 8 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. affecting Cenpelco's Malasiqui, San Carlos City, Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Mangatarem and Urbiztondo substations.

Cited as reason for the brownout is the repair of the Labrador-Malasiqui line. (PNA)
LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/

President Duterte: I take responsibility for killings
By Cris Diaz

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan De Oro City, March 3 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he takes responsibility for the killings of drug suspects during legitimate operations performed by law enforcers.

Duterte flew to this largest army camp in Northern Mindanao Friday afternoon to pay tribute to the Army soldiers who were killed and wounded in an armed encounter with the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Misamis Oriental last Monday.

In an impromptu press conference, Duterte said he takes responsibility for all the killings of drug suspects during legitimate operations carried out by the law enforcers.

“I take responsibility for all those killed during legitimate encounter. I will answer my deeds or misdeeds,” he said.

The President lambasted the human rights advocates for accusing his administration of “illegally” allowing the “extra judicial killings” in the country.

Duterte said that the killing would continue as long as the illegal drug activities continue in the country.

He said that with more than 3 million Filipinos, including top government officials and the police engaged in illegal drug activities, his administration could not simply allow the destruction of the country.

“If the human rights group could stop the illegal drug activities tomorrow, there would be no killings anymore,” Duterte said.

He cited several figures of various public officials who were reportedly engaged in illegal drug activities who were not subject of investigation and validation.

The President also disclosed about the ongoing top-to-bottom revamp in his Cabinet in an effort to rid the government of corrupt public officials.

He said that more heads would roll in the coming days, regardless of positions in the government.

“Even if you are a director, a career executive service officer (CESO) or Civil Service eligible, the cleansing against corruption would spare no one,” Duterte said.

Last month, President Duterte also visited Camp Evangelista to pay tribute to three Army soldiers who were killed in an ambuscade in Bukidnon shortly before the unilateral ceasefire with the communist NPA rebels scuttled.

The Chief Executive willfully allowed picture-taking and selfies with members of the local media before heading back to the Laguindingan airport about 8 p.m. Friday. (PNA)
LAP/NYP/CD

Pangasinan PNP awaits order to resume 'Oplan Tokhang'

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, March 3 (PNA) -- The Pangasinan Police Office has yet to receive an order in black and white authorizing the resumption of its unfinished anti-illegal drug operations in Pangasinan which was suspended sometime in January on order of President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was revealed by Supt. Frankie Candelario, deputy police provincial director and concurrent Public Information Officer of the Pangasinan PPO amid reports that the President has given the nod to the police to resume its anti-drug operations.

"Of course, that is good news to us and a challenge to all of us that once more the PNP is authorized to continue its anti-drug operations," Supt. Candelario said.

He told the media that once the marching order is given, the police will do their unfinished job of cleaning the province which, in the last assessment of Candelario himself, was already more than 80 percent drug-cleared.

Sto. Tomas used to be the lone municipality in Pangasinan declared as drug-free. A report said that the town of Laoac made it as the second drug-cleared municipality in the province.

There was also the unfinished job of declaring the town of Natividad drug-free which was about to be done by the PNP till the anti-illegal drugs operations were withdrawn from them.

Chief PNP Ronald de la Rosa, in a speech during the inauguration of the new Laoac Police Station on March 2, gave broad hints that Oplan Tokhang would be back soon but did not indicate when it would start.

"Of course, we have many things to show to our people that the police are deserving of the new trust and confidence given by President Rodrigo Dueterte in giving back the lead to the police in the anti-illegal drugs operations, he said.

He added that the Pangasinan PNP has already undergone internal cleansing by already weeding out uniformed men involved in drugs and is now ready to resume its work in anti-illegal drugs operations in coordination with the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The PDEA, as the lead agency in the war on drugs in Pangasinan, has only 13 operatives and cannot be expected to cover the whole province, comprising of 48 towns and cities.

Responding to a question from the media, Candelario said with the cleansing process of PNP personnel in Pangasinan, the public could be assured the lawmen would go back to work with more vigor and efficiency and finish the job of making the province drug-free soon. (PNA)
LAP/LVM/LVMICUA/RMA

Construction of CCLEX paves way for more bridges linking Visayas islands

CEBU CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- The construction of the PHP27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) could pave the way for the construction of more bridges linking the islands in the Visayas.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday led the groundbreaking for the CCLEX, the third bridge linking Cebu City to Mactan via Cordova town.

Although the President said in jest that “bridges are the refuge of the desperate,” noting that a number of people have jumped off the two existing Mandaue-Mactan bridges, he said he Filipinos may see a nation with bridges.

"Maybe in the years to come, we will see a nation with bridges, connect-connecting short distances. But the far and between the wide expanse of the sea, it will take generation,” he said.

But he said he wants to see the islands in the Visayas to be the first to be linked with bridges.

”But hopefully, the first to go for the islands of bridges will really be the Visayas," Duterte said.

The President also said he approved the CCLEX because Cebu gave him 1.4 million votes of the more than 16 million votes he got in winning the presidency.

The CCLEX, a joint venture with the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) and the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova town, will be built at no cost to the national government and the two local governments involved in the project.

Its construction is expected generate 5,000 jobs and is set to be finished by 2020 or within the term of President Duterte.

It looks like people in the Visayas need not wait for a generation to see more islands in the central Philippines linked with bridges.

Manny V. Pangilinan, MPTDC chair, said a fourth bridge linking Cebu and Mactan could be built in less than 20 years.

"This (CCLEX) is the third bridge, but in my own assessment, you do need two more bridges and we'd like to see the fourth bridge being built certainly in much less than 20 years," Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan also said they are looking into building a bridge that will link Cebu and Bohol.

"Earlier, (Bohol) Governor Edgar Chatto told me that it should link the islands of Cebu and Bohol, and I said, absolutely!" he said.

Other plans are to build bridges linking Cebu to Negros Island and linking Bohol to Leyte. (PNA)

Cops probe Catbalogan City explosions

TACLOBAN CITY, March 3 (PNA) -â€" The Philippine National Police (PNP) will form a special task force to investigate two separate explosion incidents that injured two persons in Catbalogan City in Samar province early Friday morning.

PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar said a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) will be formed to investigate the blasts that hit residences of local government officials.

“By creating the SITG, we are committed to identify the perpetrators to give justice to the victims and for disturbing the peace of the community,” Beltejar said.

The police regional chief appealed to the public to support the PNP in its investigation for the immediate identification and subsequent arrest of the suspects.

According to police reports, the first blast occurred 1:30 a.m. in Canlapwas village that injured Faith Rosales, 17 and her neighbor BJ Bernate, 6 after being hit by splinters.

Witnesses told the police that a riding in tandem threw a homemade explosive devise at the house of Ma. Elfa De Jesus, Canlapwas village chief.

Rosales was waiting for a motorcycle ride near the village chief’s house while Bernate was asleep a few meters away from the explosion site.

Both suffered slight injuries in their arms and were brought to Samar Provincial Hospital for treatment.

In a separate incident, suspects launched a grenade attack around 1:50 a.m. at the house of Lucio Pacle in Silanga village, also in Catbalogan. Pacle is the municipal administrator of nearby Hinabangan town in Samar.

Nobody was hurt in the second explosion, but Pacle’s car was badly damaged.

Citing accounts of witnesses, police said that suspects were on board a black single motorcycle clad in black jackets and bonnets.

The police don’t discount the possibilities that these two blasts were done by same suspects, according to Beltejar.

Catbalogan, the capital of Samar province, is approximately 100 kilometers north of Tacloban City.

The explosion rocked the small city a month before hosting the United Cities and Local Government Asia-Pacific executive bureau meeting on April 5-7, 2017.

The international event will be joined by 300 local chief executives and other key officials from 19 countries. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Baguio City CCTV ordinance signed into law

BAGUIO CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has signed an ordinance mandating all business establishments here to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, video recorders and monitors for security purposes.

City Councilor Edgar Avila on Friday said the existing business establishments under ordinance no. 11 series of 2017 will not be able to get a renewal of its business permits until the CCTV requirement has been complied with.

Avila said the country is beginning to embrace the positive effects of technology as part of the process of modernization.

Aside from communication and transportation, the government is gearing towards a modernized criminal justice system, he added.

Based on the report of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (RLECC), notable decrease in crimes were recorded between January and December 2011.

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) recorded 2,826 cases of theft and robbery incidents between January to December 2010, and recorded only 2,495 cases in the same period in 2011.

The decrease was attributed to the installation of CCTV cameras initiated by some business owners to protect their businesses.

In the definition of terms, “all business establishments” will include restaurants, schools, hospitals, malls, shopping centers, movie houses, theaters, supermarkets, groceries, entertainment centers, office buildings, public utility terminals, banks, shopping malls, department stores, convenience stores, gasoline stations, pawnshops, money changers, all types of night spots and bars, warehouses or general merchandise, and other similar establishments.

The ordinance will also cover boarding houses with a maximum of five rooms or three units and above, car wash, emission test and auto repair shops.

Pawnshops, money changing, lending companies, building for rent or lease, business engaged in accepting or delivering baggage, lotto outlet and the like with or without security personnel whose employees are even less than five are obliged to install at least two CCTVs.

All banks, restaurants, schools, hospitals, shopping malls/centers, movie houses, theaters, supermarkets, groceries, entertainment centers, office buildings, public utility terminals, department/convenience stores, gasoline stations, pawnshops, money changers, all bars, and other business establishments with a minimum business capital of PhP500,000 are also required to install CCTV with corresponding image recorders in their facilities.

Video recordings from the system shall be preserved for 15 days from the date of recording.

Avila said no CCTV camera will be installed in restrooms or comfort rooms, changing room, and other similar areas.

All establishments are required to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of all video feeds and recordings obtained.

The use, viewing, copying, disclosure or publication of said video feeds and recordings shall be strictly prohibited unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction; and in connection with and limited to a criminal investigation or prosecution of an offense, punishable by law or regulation provided that the request is made by the City Police director or the National Bureau of Investigation director.

Violators of this ordinance shall pay a fine of PhP5,000 or imprisonment of one year or both upon the discretion of the court. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/JOJO LAMARIA

President Duterte calls on Cebu traders to help him end corruption
By Eddie Barrita

CEBU CITY, March 3 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday night rallied businessmen in Cebu, calling for them to help him put an end to corruption in Philippine government.

Duterte, who spoke to members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and other local business groups, said the only way to eradicate this problem was for traders to become more assertive.

“Help me minimize or do away with corruption. I support you, but you have to help me. You have to be assertive. ’Wag kayong magbigay’ (Don’t give),” he said.

He was referring to paying off government workers to avoid or to go around the red tape in government processes.

He also urged Cebuano businessmen to “drop names” of corrupt government officials every time they attempt to extort money for government services.

Among the government agencies he mentioned in his speech were the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Internal Revenue, all of which have been tainted with allegations of corruption over the years.

President Duterte addressed close to 200 members of the local business community, this being the first time he met with the private sector in Cebu since he was elected president in May 2016.

He also administered the induction of the newly elected CCCI officers and trustees.

Before attending the induction in Lapu-Lapu City, the President graced the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cebu-Cordova Toll Link (CCLEX) in Cordova town on Mactan Island.

The CCLEX, which is expected to start construction in July this year, will cost some PHP27.9 billion and is set to be finished by 2020. (PNA)
LAP/EB/RSM

Bicol police chief leads groundbreaking of P70-M new headquarters of Sorsogon police
By Jorge Hallare

LEGAZPI CITY, March 3 (PNA) â€"- The groundbreaking of the new home of the Sorsogon Provincial Police Office (PPO) inside the compound of Camp Salvador G. Escudero Sr. in the city was held Friday morning with the top official of the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) here as guest of honor.

Sr. Insp. Ma. Luisa Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said Chief Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, PRO5 director, led the ceremonies at the groundbreaking of the three-story building that will serve as headquarters of the Sorsogon PPO.

Senior Supt. Ronald Cabral, Sorsogon police chief, said an initial fund of P70 million from a budget of P107 million will be used in constructing the new police headquarters.

He said Senator Francis Escudero had helped realize the allocation of the initial fund of P70 million for the new building inside the more than one-and-a-half hectare compound housing the camp.

“Aside from the three-story facility, another building with condo-type units will be separately constructed inside the camp to house the new police officers and their families,” said Cabral.

Cabral said police officers with the ranks of Police Officer 1 (PO1), Police Officer 2 (PO2) and Police Officer 3 (PO3), who come from other provinces or far flung municipalities in Sorsogon, are qualified to stay in the condo-style units during their tour of duty in the province.

After the groundbreaking ceremonies, Buenafe was also guest of honor during the formal launching of BRAD or Bicol Region Ayaw sa Droga that was held in the afternoon at the Capitol complex.

BRAD was first organized and launched by ordinary citizens, non-government organizations, media and private groups in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay as part of their support to the Bicol police’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

After launch of BRAD, the multi-sectoral coalition of various organizations working to eliminate the drug scourge at the grassroots level in Sorsogon province, Cabral himself formally declared the province as “drug-clear.”

Cabral had invited friends from media, local government officials and residents of Sorsogon to watch the public announcement, a key component of the police-community relations program that was mapped out by the Sorsogon PPO so its anti-illegal drug campaign would succeed not just in the provincial level but up to the village level.

In January, PRO5 officials lauded Sorsogon PPO for being the best performer among the six PPOs and one city PPO, that covers the entire Bicol region, for attaining the lowest crime rate in 2016.

Cabral noted that this was realized through the concerted efforts of all members of the community seeking to have genuine peace and order.

PRO5 officials earlier clarified that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is vested with the authority to declare their areas of jurisdiction as “drug clear” while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA is the sole authority in giving “drug-free” declarations as based on the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

The PNP is set to reassume its leading role in the anti-illegal drug campaign on Monday after PDEA took over last month following the controversial killing of a Korean businessman. (PNA)
LAP/GVR/JH/CBD

PDEA busts drug ring in Tacurong City

COTABATO CITY, March 4 (PNA) -- Anti-narcotics officials in Soccsksargen on Saturday vowed to crush the illegal drug trade in the region as drug personalities appeared to have resumed their "illegal business" when police-led campaigns slowed down.

Kath Abad, speaking for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Mindanao (PDEA-Central Mindanao), said Thursday's arrest of four suspects actively involved in the illegal drug trade in Sultan Kudarat province has destroyed a network of big-time drug pushers.

Abad told DXMS-AM Radyo Bida that after a long and tedious covert operation, a PDEA-led anti-drug operation led to the arrest of Norodin Amolan, 33, of Barangay Poblacion, Tacurong City; Abubakar Ugalingan, 25, of Barangay Ambalgan, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato; Nike Quibuyen, 25, of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; and Jay-R Hablero, 26, of Barangay Libertad, Surallah, South Cotabato.

Amolan and Ugalingan, according to Abad, were in the list of most wanted drug personalities in the Soccsksargen region.

A PDEA agent, posing as a buyer, managed to secure several sachets of illegal drugs from Amolan and Ugalingan during the operation in Biaca Subdivision, Barangay Poblacion, Tacurong City.

PDEA-Soccsksargen regional director Gil Cesario Castro, in a statement, said anti-narcotics agents seized 15 sachets of shabu with an estimated market value of PHP35,000, a digital weighing scale and shabu paraphernalia.

The suspects, currently detained at the PDEA-Soccsksargen lock-up cell in Gen. Santos City, are facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Abad said PDEA will continue to fulfill its new mandate as lead agency in the war on drugs. She lauded the support provided by the Tacurong City police and the local government. (PNA)
CVL/NYP/EOF

Four slain Kalinga cops to receive posthumous Pamanang Lingkod Bayani award
By Villamor Visaya Jr.

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, March 3 (PNA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) will honor the four slain policemen in Kalinga with the posthumous Pamanang Lingkod Bayani Award and will give PHP100,000 financial assistance to their beneficiaries.

The four killed policemen, identified as Police Officer 3 Cruzaldo Lawagan, PO2 Juvenal Aguinaldo, PO1 Vincent Tay-od and PO1 Charles Ryan Compas, all of the Kalinga PNP Provincial Public Safety Company based in Lubuagan in Kalinga province, will receive the award soonest, according to Annette Paredes, CSC-Cordillera chief human resource specialist.

In a statement, Paredes said she has linked up with the Kalinga provincial police and the provincial government to help them finalize the documentation prior to the awarding rites slated for the slain policemen.

It could be recalled that the four policemen were killed in action in a shootout with a nationwide-topnotch wanted gang leader, Willie Sagasag, after they tried to serve an arrest warrant on him on the killing of Kalinga Judge Milnar Lammawin.

She also cited the bravery of three other policemen identified as Police Senior Inspector Edward Liclic (team leader), Police Officer 1 Ferdie Diwag and PO1 Ferdinand Asuncion who were wounded and being treated at the Lubuagan District Hospital. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/SCD/VILLAMOR VISAYA JR./RSM

Gunmen seize couple in Zambo Norte; pursuit operation underway

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, March 4 (PNA) -- Government troops are tracking down the whereabouts of a farmer-couple abducted by gunmen in the nearby province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Sr. Supt. Edwin Buenaventura Wagan, Zamboanga del Norte police director, said Saturday that joint police and Army special forces were immediately sent to locate and rescue the victims, identified as Jose Duterte, 62, and his wife, Jessica, 52, of Barangay Santa Maria, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

Wagan said they were seized from their residence by seven gunmen at about 7:45 p.m. Friday.

He said the victims were having conversation when suddenly the gunmen, clad in bonnet masks and police uniforms, arrived and seized them.

He said the victims were forced to board a waiting speedboat that sped off to the high seas.

Wagan has ordered police forces in towns near Zamboanga del Norte to help locate the whereabouts and to rescue the couple.

He said no one has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. (PNA)
CVL/NYP/TPGJR/DENNIS C. BAGUIO

Boracay police continue manhunt for QC road rage suspect

BORACAY, Aklan, March 4 (PNA) -- Police operatives in this resort island continue their manhunt for Fredison Atienza, the suspect in a road rage shooting incident in Quezon City.

Sr. Insp. Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, deputy chief of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC), said intelligence personnel and police assets in the island continue to search for the whereabouts of Atienza, also known as Sonson.

Atienza is considered as the prime suspect in the death of Anthony Mendoza, whom he allegedly shot after an altercation on the road last February 25.

Gesulga said the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), which is handling the case, has coordinated with them after Atienza was allegedly spotted in Boracay following the murder.

“Our intelligence monitoring will continue until Atienza surfaces,Â" stressed Gesulga, adding police personnel in both the ports of Caticlan and Cagban have already been alerted.

He said they have also coordinated with personnel of the local Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) office.

Gesulga said they have been visiting different hotels and establishments in the island.

He likewise urged the Boracay community to report any information on the suspect. (PNA)
CVL/AJP/KVBERMEJO/KVB

BCDA determined to build Clark Green City 

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, March 3 (PNA) -- The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is determined to build the Clark Green City which is considered as its "largest and the most ambitious project yet."

BCDA president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon said the 9,450-hectare state of the art metropolis which is to be located within the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) will be the Philippines' first true green and gifted city.

"It aims to promote inclusive growth that could boost the country's global competitiveness," he said.

Dizon is confident that the Clark Green City has a strong potential to become the premier city of the Philippines as it is designed to cater to government agencies, businesses, educational organizations, research institutions, agro-industries and tourism.

He added that a new government center is also being planned to put up in Clark Green City.

Tentatively, he said the master plan of Clark Green City is set to be finished in June of this year.

Meanwhile, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president and CEO Noel Manankil said the Clark Freeport Zone has 895 locators with 93,089 workers and has a total of USD3.32 billion exports since December 2016. (PNA)

MICC eyes PHP 50-M budget for review of mining firms
By Joann Santiago

MANILA, March 3 (PNA) -- The Mining and Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) is considering a Php 50-million budget for the three-month multi-stakeholder review on the operations of 28 mine sites ordered suspended, or closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who co-chairs the Council with DENR Secretary Regina Lopez, said he had been informed by Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) dontingency funds that could be tapped for this purpose.

In a briefing after the Council’s meeting Friday, Dominguez said the organization of the people under the five Technical Review Teams (TRT) would start on Monday, March 6.

“They (the adhoc review management unit) will start selecting the people who will be involved. Mostly from state colleges and universities,” he said.

The MICC, according to documents released to the media Friday, “will conduct an objective, fact-finding and science-based review of the performance of the existing mine operations”, initially on companies covered by the suspension and closure orders.

The review teams will look into the technical, legal, social, environmental, and economic aspects of the mines’ operations.

They will be provided with available data and records as well as technical personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

DOLE orders airline companies to stop travel tax and terminal fees collection to OFWs

MANILA, March 4 - Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III ordered airline companies to cease and desist from incorporating the cost of travel tax and terminal fees in the cost of their tickets issued to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Bello, in his letter to Director General Jim Sydiongco of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), said that OFWs are exempted from paying travel tax and terminal fees based on Presidential Decree No. 1183 and R. A. No.8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, as Amended by R. A. No. 100022.

“It has come to my attention that the travel tax and terminal fees are being included in the cost of the airline tickets issued to our OFWs.  While some OFWs were refunded of these fees at the airport prior to their departure, most of them, however, were not refunded because of lack of awareness about this privilege or lack of time to process their claim for refund,” said Bello.

He also requested the CAAP to remit the travel tax and terminal fees which were not refunded to the OFWs to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“Considering that the inclusion of these travel tax and terminal fees in the cost of tickets has been a practice of airline companies for several years, we request that the travel tax and fees collected from our OFWs which were not refunded to them be remitted to the OWWA,” said Bello.

The Labor Secretary also instructed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and OWWA to coordinate with CAAP and MIAA on the immediate operationalization of a mechanism for automatic exemption of OFWs in paying of travel tax and terminals.

In his letter,  which was copy furnished to Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation, General Manager Eddie V. Monreal of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and Atty. Guiller B. Asido of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority,  Bello requested the CAAP to make the necessary representation to concerned government offices in various airport terminals to cease and desist from collecting tax and terminal fees from OFWs.

Aside from the said government offices, the following airlines were also provided with the letter:  Air Asia, Air Asia Zest, Air China, Air Niugini, All Nippon Airways, Aiana Airline, Cathay Pacific, Cebu  Pacifir Air, China Airline, China Eastern Airline, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air, Dragon Air, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airline,  Etihad, Eva Air, Gulf Air,  Japan Airlines,  Jeju Air, Jet Star Asia, Jin Air, KLM Royal Duth Airlines, Kuwait Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Mandarine Airlines, Oman Air, PAL Express, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airlines Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei, Saudia Airlines, Skyjet, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air,  Thai Airways, Tiger Air, Tiger Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.(DOLE)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141488543730/dole-orders-airline-companies-to-stop-travel-tax-and-terminal-fees-collection-to-ofws#sthash.4604cD3E.dpuf

SSS urges pensioners to report banks that didn't credit P1,000 additional benefit on March 3

March 04, 2017
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QUEZON CITY, March 4 - The Social Security System (SSS) urged its pensioners to report immediately their depository banks that did not credit the P1,000 additional benefit to their accounts on March 3.

In a statement on the reported delayed bank crediting of the P1,000 additional benefit, Social Security Commission Chairman Dean Amado D. Valdez said SSS will validate these reports and if proven true, those SSS partner-banks may face suspension or cancellation of its accreditation with the agency.

The amount of P2.04 billion in additional benefit for pensioners was remitted by the SSS to its accredited banks last February 27, 2017.

Chairman Valdez said pensioners may report through the following channels: SSS Call Center, 920-6446 to 55; SSS e-mail, member_relations@sss.gov.ph; Facebook account, SSSPH. (PIA/SSS)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141488542810/sss-urges-pensioners-to-report-banks-that-didn-t-credit-p1-000-additional-benefit-on-march-3#sthash.PLkuVvuf.dpuf

ePLDT adopts SDN technology in data centers to further improve customer experience
By Aerol B. Patena

MANILA, March 3 (PNA) -- PLDT Group digital enterprise arm ePLDT has deployed its Software Defined Networking (SDN) technology in its data center network to further improve customer experience.

ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer Nerisse Ramos said SDN was vital for business to establish digital infrastructure amid emerging trends in information technology (IT), such as cloud computing, mobile technology, Big Data analytics and the rise of the Internet of Things.

“SDN will simplify configuration, control and management of enterprise networks. By enabling our VITRO Data Centers with SDN, our entire infrastructure can address these needs with enhanced efficiency, flexibility and security,” she added.

Data center networks are comprised of large number of switches and routers that direct traffic based on the limited view of each device making them independent from each other.

SDN is an approach to networking in which control of network policies and resources are decoupled through a single SDN controller. Organizations can utilize commodity hardware from various vendors without compromising performance.

“With this approach, traffic flow is managed through software, allowing optimization and tuning which is not available in traditional or locally-managed switches and routers. Clients who demand certain changes and updates to their subscribed service can now receive them immediately and in an efficient manner,” according to PLDT/ePLDT Head of Disruptive Business Nico Alcoseba.

Faster service delivery is achieved through SDN to services such as load balancers, firewalls, and Intrusion Detection Systems are placed appropriately on the traffic path which allows users to customize their services based on their needs. SDNs can handle increasing security demands that are not possible with hard-wired networks.

“With SDN, we can provide our services to clients faster,” Dave Simon, ePLDT Group Chief Technology Officer said. “Our previous provisioning standard to our clients may range anywhere between 5 and 15 days depending on the scope but now with SDN, our standard services can be provisioned to customers in a matter of hours.”

The shift to SDN technology is expected to provide high quality service and superior customer experience as it is expected to install 10 data centers by 2018.

According to a study by the International Data Corporation, the worldwide data center SDN market is expected to reach USD 12.5 billion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53.9 percent from 2014 to 2020. (PNA)

Life with the Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:1-2

Living like a sheep can bring you incredible peace of mind! The biblical shepherd knew everything about his sheep. He understood what foods were best for them and what would harm them. He knew when they should eat and when they needed their thirst quenched. The shepherd was an expert of the terrain and was aware of the best places for food and water. As long as the sheep trusted and followed their shepherd, they would always have their needs met at the right time. Their shepherd would give them the best that he had. Do you have absolute trust in your Good Shepherd? Do you value the nourishment that comes from Him more than any you might obtain from the world? Do you ever worry that God might be withholding from you something that you need? The Psalmist was convinced that he would “want” for nothing. By His very nature, the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep and would lay down His life for them (John 10:11). Have you allowed your focus to shift from the Shepherd to what the Shepherd gives you? If you find yourself “wanting,” it is not that your Shepherd is unable or unwilling to perfectly meet your needs. It may be that you lack the faith to receive all that He has to give. Could it be that you have become dissatisfied with what your Shepherd has been providing? Are you missing the joy that comes from having a Shepherd who cares for you? Return to Him and trust Him to meet the needs in your life that only He can.Henry and Richard Blackaby

Cayetano: war on drugs necessary to end poverty

The war against drugs is also a war against poverty, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano stressed on Friday (March 3).

“Poverty alleviation ang isa sa haligi ng programa ng administrasyong Duterte. But you cannot deal with the problem on poverty and joblessness without dealing with the problem on drugs,” he said in a press conference.

“Drugs put people in poverty. Drugs keep people in poverty,” he added.

The senator issued this statement following a recent remark made by Vice President Leni Robredo urging President Rodrigo Duterte to focus instead on the “bigger war” against poverty and not on the anti-drug war.

Cayetano in response stressed that the war on drugs is part of the administration’s comprehensive approach to get people out of poverty.

He pointed out how the poor are usually the primary victims of drug-related crimes and their communities are often the main targets of drug personalities. 

“If you say stop the campaign against drugs, kapag tinigil niyo yan, mawawala ang criticism ng extrajudicial killings… Pero you will see more poor children being raped, more family members being killed by family members, and you will see more poverty,” Cayetano said.


“There is no middle ground when it comes to the problem on drugs. Kailangan labanan mo talaga… Everyone knows that drugs are destroying lives,” he added.

The senator had earlier called for the resumption of the government’s anti-drug campaign and to turn it into the “people’s war against drugs.” 

He stressed the need for a more holistic approach to sustain and intensify the government’s initiative to end the drug menace, which he says threatens the people’s security.

“The Philippines and the Filipinos can benefit more if the relaunching of the campaign against drugs involves everyone and if we look at it in a more holistic way,” he said.#

Senator Cayetano wants more ‘holistic approach’ to anti-drug war

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano called for a more holistic and comprehensive approach to the people’s war against drugs following the administration’s decision to relaunch its anti-drug campaign.

In a press conference on Friday (March 3), the senator clarified that his earlier call was not just for the resumption of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s “Oplan Tokhang.” His call, he stressed, was for the government to continue its campaign against illegal drugs and turn it into the people’s war against drugs.

“I did not say we should relaunch Oplan Tokhang. I said we should relaunch the war on drugs and make it the people’s war against drugs. Let us make it more comprehensive… Everybody should have a role,” he said.

The senator appealed to all sectors in society to take part in the government’s fight to end the drug menace, which he said threatens the people’s safety and victimizes the poor.

“I-explain dapat natin kung ano ang role ng bawat isa - ng law enforcers, ng mga magulang, ng Simbahan, ng Health department… There is much more to be done and we need all the help we can get,” he said.

The senator once again defended the President’s anti-drug initiative following accusations that the Duterte administration is behind the alleged drug-related extrajudicial killings in the country.

Contrary to what is being portrayed in the international and local media, Cayetano said the President has never condoned any form of abuse in the implementation of his anti-drug program.

“What we're saying is human security is a must and extrajudicial killings are not State sponsored,” he stressed.

Cayetano said the criticisms thrown against the government are often due to the confusion with the facts and figures being gathered on the ground.

“Obviously, may gustong mag-exaggerate ng facts to stop the drug war,” he said. “Kung hihimayin talaga ang facts, hindi malayo ang nangyayaring patayan during the Aquino administration sa Duterte administration,” he pointed out.

The senator said the Church and media outlets are welcome to continue exposing incidents of abuses by rogue policemen in the midst of the anti-drug campaign. 

“But we have to separate legitimate issues from politics. Iba ang intention na ayusin ang police operations sa intention na tanggalin ang Presidente,” he clarified.

“The Philippines can benefit if the war on drugs is more comprehensive and if people look at human rights in a more holistic way,” Cayetano intoned.

DTI CHIEF ADDRESSES PH-CHINA INVESTMENT FORUM. Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez gave a speech on “A Strategy for Closer Philippine-China Relations” at the Philippine-China Investment Forum recently conducted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Philippines at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Speaking before 500 guests at a packed, standing-room-only hall, Sec. Lopez urged for greater foreign direct investments (FDI) in the local manufacturing sector as one way to further enhance the economic relationship between the Philippines and China in the wake of increased interest by Chinese investors after President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit. Also present at the event were National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General and Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia, the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, the Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Sta. Romana, and former Special Envoy on Trade and Investments to China and now Consulate General to Peru Francis Chua. (END)

PH’s economic priority deliverables in ASEAN
reaffirm inclusive growth agenda
 
The 31st High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) convened on February 15-16 in Manila, gathering high-ranking ASEAN trade officials to discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.

HLTF-EI Chairperson and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that ASEAN needs to remain strong and united as the region navigates and charts its course ahead “collectively as ASEAN.”

Representing the Philippines, Undersecretary for Industry Development and Managing Head of the Board of Investment Ceferino Rodolfo laid down the Philippine priority deliverables for 2017, highlighting the country’s agenda on inclusiveness and innovation with a focus on increasing trade and investments, integrating micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the digital economy, and developing an innovation-driven economy.

“Inclusiveness should be intrinsic to the ASEAN agenda. The AEC Blueprint 2025 development framework will be most effective if it results from inclusive and open multi-stakeholder participation, one that is informed by the perspectives of people, especially the marginalized,” Undersecretary Rodolfo said. 

The Philippines is taking the lead in seeking new policy interventions that are practical from the MSME perspective. These are expected to contribute towards helping MSMEs harness the opportunities presented by open and increasingly integrated markets. These initiatives range from free trade and trade facilitation, trade in services, investment, connectivity, and innovation:

Maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements (Self-Certification for MSMEs, and Substantial Conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP]);
Fostering a more facilitative and transparent trade in services regime and harnessing the contribution and global competitiveness of the ASEAN services sector (Conclusion of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement);
Strengthening the investment linkages between MSMEs and Multinational Enterprises or MNEs (FAST Action Agenda on Investment, Inclusive Business, Women and Youth Entrepreneurship);
Enhancing intra-regional connectivity and bolstering socio-economic growth in the regions (Launch of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-of Network);
Supporting an ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on technology and innovation (ASEAN Declaration on Innovation); and
Introducing more systematic and robust method for AEC compliance monitoring (ASEAN Trade Facilitation Indicators, Review Mechanism for AEC).

Said priorities are in line with the Duterte Administration’s 10-point socio-economic agenda. In particular, these will leverage the global competitiveness of the Philippines’ services sector in order to generate jobs and growth, as well as bring development to the South through rural and value chain development.

The Philippines also delivered to HLTF-EI the collective statement of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) Philippines National Organizing Committee, reflecting the people’s aspirations for an ASEAN that asserts peace and security, human rights, democratization, and broad-based economic, social and ecological justice.

Undersecretary Rodolfo highlighted the potential of civil society organizations as strategic and responsible partners in the process of ASEAN community-building, given their knowledge and reach at the grassroots level and cohesive international network.

Recommendations of the 31st LTF-EI will be the focus of discussions at the 23rd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and Related Meetings to be held on March 8-10 in Manila.

Composed of Trade Vice Ministers from the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS), the HLTF-EI functions as an advisory body to the economic ministers of the AMS, ensuring that all 10 AMS are on-track and on-time with the plans and programs intended to realize regional economic integration and achieve the vision of an AEC.

The AEC Blueprint was crafted to further advance ASEAN economic integration, envisioning a community characterized by the following: a) a highly integrated and cohesive economy; b) a competitive, innovative, and dynamic ASEAN; c) enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation; d) a resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN; and e) a global ASEAN.

ASEAN economies are expected to hold up reasonably well amidst the slowing of global growth, and the uncertain and shifting geo-political and economic landscape.

Forecasts from the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund place the region as the most dynamic part of the world with strong economic outlook for 2017 at 4.6% to 4.9% of GDP growth rate, vis-à-vis the 3.4% projected for the growth global GDP. The Philippines leads the region with a growth forecast of 6.8% for 2017.

ASEAN HIGH-LEVEL TASK FORCE WELCOMES PH’S ECONOMIC PRIORITY DELIVERABLES IN ASEAN.  The High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) convened last February 15-16 in Manila, gathering high-ranking ASEAN trade officials to discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025. Concrete recommendations from this meeting will feed into the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings on 8-11 March 2017 in Manila. In this photo are HLTF-EI leads from 10 ASEAN Member States: (From L-R) HLTF-EI Chair and Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi (Brunei Darussalam), Deputy Director General Suon Prasith (Cambodia), Director General Dody Edward (Indonesia), Director General Saysana Sayakone (Lao PDR), Secretary General Datuk Jayasiri Jayasena (Malaysia), Permanent Secretary Thway Thway Chit (Myanmar), Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo (The Philippines), Permanent Secretary Loh Khum Yean (Singapore), Permanent Secretary Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa (Thailand) and Director General Luong Hoang Thai (Viet Nam), with ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for AEC Lim Hong Hin.

PH confirms Japanese business engagement in P27.2 B-worth of Philippine Investment Projects
More infrastructure dev’t, jobs ahead

TOKYOâ€"Philippine-Japanese economic relations continue to expand as the Philippines successfully confirms PhP 27.2 billion-worth of business engagement commitments, following the three-day visit of the country’s top officials to Japan recently (28 February to 2 March).

At the sidelines of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - organized Philippine Business Forum in Tokyo and the 35th Annual Meeting of the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC) and the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee (PHILJECC),  Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez met with Japanese executives of top private firms who expressed interest in investing and expanding business activities in the Philippines.

Sec. Lopez met with Tsuneishi President Kenji Kawano to discuss the expansion plans of the company in the Philippines.

“These projects with Tsuneishi involve a 120-hectare ship reuse center in Negros Occidental, a biomass fuel project in Mindanao, and an international steel recycling facility that will be equipped with state of the art green technologies,” he said.

The projects with Tsuneishi are estimated to add PhP 5 B to the 10.2 B existing commitments & 6,000 to the 26,000 jobs expected for a total PhP 15.2 billion worth of investment pledges and direct and direct employment prospects for 32,000 workers in shipbuilding, biofuel and steel recycling industries.

Meanwhile, prefabricated housing components manufacturing company Ichijo Co. Ltd, also discussed with the trade chief its plan to expand its facilities in Cavite with the construction of a two-story warehouse, whose estimated value reaches nearly PhP 2 billion. The expansion would spell employment opportunities for 600 Filipinos.

“Ichijo’s competitive operations in the Philippines made its number 6 ranking closer to the standing of the industry frontrunner Sekisui House,” he added.

Furthermore, another Japanese company in technology solutions confirmed expansion of operations in the amount of PhP 10 B and 20 thousand new jobs on top of the existing 25 thousand strong labor pool.

Sec. Lopez also joined Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V. in a breakfast meeting with senior executives of Japan’s seven major trading houses namely Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd, Sumitomo Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz Corporation.

The Sōgō Shōsha group confirmed interest in forging partnerships with the Philippines in projects in diverse fields such as power generation, railway and transportation, water management and security.

Examples of such projects include a coal power plant with an estimated cost of over Php 75 billion, capacity enhancements of mass transportation, namely LRT Line 1 South extension, LRT Line 2 East extension, North-South Commuter Railway Project, possible development of transit systems in Davao, Cebu and Clark, and enhancement of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fleet of Multi Role Response Vessels (MRRV).

For the latter half of 2016 to 2018, the Sōgō Shōsha’s group of companies (including subsidiaries and affiliates) reported business engagement interests in projects amounting to P 201.15 billion in priority segments of the present government’s Philippine economic development plan.

The Philippine Mission garnered business leads valued at over Php 220 billion and employment prospects for over 30,000 workers from Japanese companies.

“These commitments are a testament of Japanese investors’ ever-growing confidence in the Philippines,” Sec. Lopez concluded, adding that today is the perfect timing to push for investment opportunities, especially since the Philippines experiences momentous economic takeoff in the region”.

ISELCO I offers free electricity installation to households

ALICIA, Isabela, March 1 (PNA) -- The Isabela Electric Cooperative (ISELCO) â€" I has called on household owners to visit the ISELCO â€" I offices and avail of the free electricity installation.

Virgilio Montano, General Manager of ISELCO â€" I. said the free electricity installation is a program of the Department of Energy - National Intensification Household Electrification that aims to ensure that all households within the service area of ISELCO I will be able to have electricity at their homes.

The program provides free wirings, installations, and other materials used for installing wirings inside the home.

However, Montano clarified that the electricity bill is not free but it will be paid by the household owner.

He said the Department of Energy will be paying the installation through its national intensification household electrification.

Montano said the ISELCO I management has already profiled the households without electricity and have already submitted to the DOE for funding this year.

He called on household owners in its area of operations that were not included in the list to visit the ISELCO I offices and be included as recipients of the program for 2018 implementation. (PNA)

Philippine Immigration steps up registration of overstaying, resident foreigners in GenSan, nearby areas

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) called on overstaying and resident foreign nationals based in this city and the neighboring areas to immediately renew their alien certificates of registration (ACR) to avoid possible deportation.

Pedrito Lopez Jr., alien control officer of the Glan immigration field office, said Wednesday foreigners only have until Friday, March 3, to process their ACRs or they will be flagged as overstaying or illegal aliens.

He specifically cited native-born Indonesians, which comprise the bulk of foreigners listed in their database.

Aside from Glan in Sarangani, he said they have monitored Indonesians residing in parts of Region 12, including this city, Tacurong City and Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat and Norala in South Cotabato.

An estimated 2,000 foreign nationals in the area have not yet renewed their ACRs at the Glan and General Santos immigration field offices and currently considered as overstaying.

Lopez said they are presently reaching out to foreigners who failed to appear before their offices for the January to February annual registration.

“There are really a lot of overstaying foreigners here in Region 12. Some already have their own families here but have not appeared or reported to us,” he said.

Foreigners usually enter the country through the international airports using pre-approved visas and visit passes.

Lopez said those from restricted countries usually get seven to 14-day visas that may be renewed or extended later on.

He said nationals of non-restricted countries get up to 30-day visas and could be extended later for several months to one year.

In the case of Region 12, he said there are foreigners, especially the native-born Indonesians, who had entered through the local ports or via the “backdoor.”

Lopez said the Department of Justice and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are now in the fourth stage of “alien mapping” for native Indonesians residing in the country.

Pending a final decision on the matter, he said they have been processing the registration of Indonesians in the area to legalize their stay.

“We’re working on the proper documentation of all foreigners presently staying in the area to make their stay legal and avoid possible problems later on,” Lopez said.

He added that they have expedited the registration process and they usually complete them in about 20 minutes.(PNA)

RAFI Micro-finance Bohol to hold assembly

To recognize and honor top performing clients, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance Bohol will conduct its second General Assembly at Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium, Tagbilaran City, Bohol on August 18.

The assembly, with the theme “Kakugi, Binhi sa Kaugmaon”, is expected to gather more than 1,500 women micro-entrepreneurs from all the municipalities covered by Tagbilaran, Talibon, Tubigon, and Ubay branches.

Through this gathering, RAFI Micro-finance acknowledges the support and loyalty of their clients, especially those who have stayed for five years or more. RAFI Micro-finance also seeks to strengthen its partnership with the nanays towards improving their businesses and financial condition.

The assembly will also be a chance for the clients to learn new livelihood methods and techniques through trainings to be conducted in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture of Bohol.

The program includes a mass, awarding ceremony, talent showcase, and raffle draw.

Four hundred participating nanays and their children can also avail of free medical services, such as consultation and cervical cancer screening, through RAFI’s Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) with the help of volunteers from Bohol.

Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI, providing financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information on RAFI Micro-finance, please contact 418-7234 loc. 707 and look for Val Gatchalian, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph

Talk on heritage churches held in Bohol

The University of Bohol played host to the talk entitled “Hidden Treasures: Spanishâ€"era Churches in the Philippines” last August 22, 2012.

The talk is organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Culture & Heritage unit and the Ortigas Foundation Inc. (OFI).

It focused on Filipino heritage churches built during the Spanish Period. These churches are featured in the traveling exhibit, dubbed, “Hidden Treasures: An Exhibit of Spanish-era Churches in the Philippines,” which is set to open in the Municipal Hall of the town of Maribojoc on August 23.

The churches are also featured in the book La Casa de Dios: The Legacy of Filipino-Hispanic Churches in the Philippines by Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ.

Beatriz Lalana, the main speaker of the talk, was one of the photographers of the heritage churches featured in the exhibit and in the book.

Dr. Jocelyn B. Gerra, executive director of RAFI Culture & Heritage, said that RAFI is glad with the partnership with OFI and the University of Bohol and hopes that the talk will be the start of more collaborative efforts between Bohol and Cebu that are working in the field of heritage.

Culture & Heritage, one of the focus areas of RAFI, aims to help communities understand, value and share their cultural identity with others. The foundation’s other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and Education.

For more information about the “Hidden Treasures” traveling exhibit and other programs of the RAFI Culture & Heritage Unit, please call 418-7234 local 703 and look for Florencio Moreño II, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph

Comfort from the Shepherd

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

As a child of God you are never alone! Your Shepherd is with you at all times. You never have to call Him in to your situation. You never have to wonder where He is. You never have to fear that if things become too difficult, He will abandon you. He goes before you; He walks beside you; He comes behind you. He protects you securely. Just as He sees every sparrow and knows every hair that is on your head, so His gaze is constantly upon you (Luke 12:6-7). Even when you cannot see Him, He always keeps His eyes upon you. He comforts you with His strong presence in times of sorrow and grief. He leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not necessarily lead you around the valley as you might wish. There are times when your Shepherd knows that the only way to get you where He wants to take you is to lead you down the path that passes through the dark valley. Yet, at those times He walks closely with you, reassuring you throughout the journey that He still loves you and is with you. It is during those times that you experience His love and compassion in a deeper dimension than you ever have before.

You never need to fear evil. As intimidating as evil can be, there is nothing you will ever face that intimidates your Shepherd. He has seen it all and soundly defeated every form of wickedness. Evil never catches Him by surprise. Your Shepherd is always prepared and knows exactly when and where you will experience difficulty. Place your absolute trust in your Good Shepherd that He will protect you and demonstrate His love for you through the darkest valley.    Henry and Richard Blackaby

Cebu City villages given until March 15 to submit drug list

CEBU CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- Cebu City villages have until March 15 to submit the list of drug personalities in their respective areas to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7, an official said.

PDEA 7 Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz said only 14 of the 80 barangays in the city have so far complied with the directive.

He said a demand letter will be sent to all village chiefs who will fail to beat the deadline.

“But if they still fail to submit the list, then I have no choice but to inform our director general about it. Cases might be filed,” Ruiz said.

He said Cebu City barangays are their first target.

”Cebu City is in the center of the drug trade in Central Visayas. So we focus on Cebu City first,” he said.

Ruiz said the village chiefs from other areas in Central Visayas can also submit the list of drug personalities in their areas.

“There’s no stopping them from submitting a list to PDEA,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz earlier filed administrative cases against barangay officials of Ermita, Cebu City, who did not cooperate with PDEA 7 officers in a drug raid of a “shabu tiangge” (flea market) located 500 meters from the barangay hall on Nov. 6 last year.

Last January, the Ombudsman-Visayas ordered a six-month preventive suspension of all Barangay Ermita officials in Cebu City.

Serving the preventive suspension were Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta and barangay council officials Marky Rizaldy Miral, Antonieto Flores, Ryan Jay Rosas, Alio Tamundo, Domingo Ando, Maria Buanghug and Wilbert Flores. (PNA)
FPV/EB/EBP

Filipino chemists group recommends use of science in drafting laws

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The Philippine Chemistry Community has issued on Tuesday an official statement on the inclusion of precursor and essential chemicals as they urged Congress to use science in crafting laws particularly on the “Death Penalty Bill.”

In the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines website http://www.icp.org.ph, the full statement reads:

“The Philippine Chemistry Community, represented by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS), strongly urges our legislators to use SCIENCE in drafting laws.

House Bill 001, otherwise known as the “Death Penalty Law”, aims to address the scourge of dangerous drugs in Philippine society.

While we recognize this important concern, we oppose the provisions that equate dangerous drugs themselves with precursor and essential chemicals.

Because of their importance in industry, agriculture, health, education, and research, inclusion of these chemicals must be done with adequate scientific knowledge.

We wish to note the following important points:1. The bill does not define and identify what are precursor chemicals and essential chemicals. Virtually all precursor chemicals and essential chemicals are multi-use chemicals. Precursor chemicals may also be precursors to other important products, such as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, cosmetics, agro-chemicals, and others. Likewise, essential chemicals may also be essential for many other purposes, including household and health uses. The cost to the economy can be staggering. The proposed bill is not scientifically rational.2. Mere possession of a precursor chemical or an essential chemical is not equivalent to possession or manufacture of dangerous drugs. The proposed bill will criminalize legitimate users, and raise the cost of goods and damage the economy. This will also provide many opportunities for corruption.3. The bill equates pure substances with mixtures. It does not distinguish a compound that is relatively pure with its presence in an essential oil or spice at 1% composition. It will criminalize possession of many medicinal plants and cooking ingredients.

This topic of precursor chemicals and essential chemicals should be discussed extensively together with experts in the field and with industry manufacturers.

The PFCS is composed of four organizations: the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP), Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP), Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT) and Philippine Association of Chemistry Students (PACS).”

The official statement was signed by Dr. Armando M. Guidote Jr, president of the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS); Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit, president of Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP);

Dr. Nestor S. Valera, president of the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP); Dr. Jose M. Andaya, president of Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT); and John Michael Porca, president of Philippine Association of Chemistry Students (PACS). (PNA)
FPV/SEP/ICP OFFICIAL STATEMENT/EDS

Catbalogan City hosts UN-recognized LGUs from 19 countries

TACLOBAN CITY, March 1 (PNA)-- Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar province, will host the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) on April 5-7, 2017.

This is the first time the city will host an international event, according to Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan.

UCLG, the only local government organization recognized by the United Nations, enlists Catbalogan as its lone local government unit (LGU) member in Eastern Visayas region. It became a member in 2015.

“We want to showcase Catbalogan as a sustainable city. Even if it is a small city and was chartered a decade ago, we are a growing city. We want to maximize the event and help other local government units, the youth groups, and women’s groups to create connection with the international leaders,” Tan said.

There will be a presentation and a discussion on the Sendai Framework for action at the local level.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks. These are: (1) Understanding disaster risk; (2) Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; (3) Investing in disaster reduction for resilience and; (4) Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Framework was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.

The Asia-Pacific region has 19 member countries and they will send three representatives each country.

The mayor expects 150 participants from international and national delegation.

Tan will also speak about the role of Catbalogan in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on November 8, 2013. She said no local government can be independent especially during disasters. “We need the support of one another,” Tan said.

There will be pre-conference on local scale for the youth, women, and other local government units. There will be commitment to be submitted to the Secretariat.

The UCLG ASPAC is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia with its secretariat headed by Bernardia Tjandradewi. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR

Pres. Duterte to have private dinner with Cebu local execs

CEBU CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte will be having a private dinner with local officials and other stakeholders after the groundbreaking ceremony of the third bridge that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova town at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 2.

Arlette Capistrano, core group head of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), suggested to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña during a courtesy call to the mayor’s office on Tuesday to have 10,000 Roses Cafe in Barangay Day-as, Cordova, as the venue.

The groundbreaking will be attended by Pres. Duterte, Mayor Osmeña, Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Adelino Sitoy, Cordova Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC) chairman Manny Pangilinan, MPIC president Joey Lim and Rodrigo Franco.

Radisson Blu in Cebu City was also the proposed venue for the press conference that will take place after the private dinner.

But Capistrano said they were not sure yet if President Duterte would attend the press conference.

Sitoy, Osmeña and Pangilinan will deliver their respective messages.

Capistrano said she hoped the bridge construction will already start in July so this can be completed before Pres. Duterte’s term ends. (PNA)

Mayor Lani Revilla backs President Duterte’s 'DAD' campaign
By Rogelio Limpin

BACOOR CITY, Cavite, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla has expressed support for the mounting calls on “DAD” or “Duterte Against Drugs”- the anti-illegal drug campaign waged by President Rodrigo Duterte.

At the 47th birthday celebration of Cavite 2nd District Representative Strike Revilla, the Bacoor City Mayor declared "I and my family are truly supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte's fight against illegal drugs in the country.”

She stated that Cavite local officials, policemen and Bacoorenos have expressed support to the resumption of the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

The Bacoor lady chief executive reported that the "Tokhang" operation led by the city police chief Senior Supt. Christopher Olazo has resulted in the surrender of more than 2,500 pushers and drug users.

She also said that the Bacoor City’s police operations was cited and awarded as Cavite’s topnotcher in the biggest number of illegal drug surrenderers.

Mayor Lani also said that around 8,000 Bacooreños voluntarily participated and pledged in the local governments’ call on the President’s war on drugs, illegal gambling, graft and corruption.

"Ang pagkakaisa ang tunay na pagbabago at wala sa puso namin ang rumesbak kay Sen. De Lima,” (our unity is the real essence of change and it is not in our nature to seek revenge against Sen. De Lima),” Mayor Lani Revilla said.

She also wished the Senator (De Lima) will change her ways especially on what she did then to Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. who is now detained with another Senator Jinggoy Estrada for three years now in the same custodial center at Camp Crame, Quezon City. (PNA)
LAP/SEP/RL/EDS

SEC-Zambo office strictly implements Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned lending firms and individuals against doing business without the required authorization from the agency.

Lawyer Jesus Salvador Uro, chief of the SEC - Zamboanga extension office, on Tuesday issued the warning as he cited that Republic Act 9474 otherwise known as the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007 “is now being strictly implemented.”

The warning of Uro is in line with the public declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte against people, including Indians, engaged in lending business through the "five-six" scheme.

The "five-six" arrangement is usury as it entails money lent at 20 percent interest rate.

Uro said that under the law, only registered corporations with a paid-up capitalization of at least PhP1 million can be granted an authority to operate as a lending company.

Uro said that entities who engage in lending without the required authorization from SEC can be criminally prosecuted and punished with a fine of not less than PhP 10,000 and not more than PhP 50,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than 10 years or both, at the discretion of the court.

He said additionally, the SEC can administratively penalize any entity in violation of Republic Act 9474 with a fine of PhP 50,000.

He encouraged the public to report to his office any person or firm engaging in the business activities of a lending company without the required Certificate of Authority from SEC.

The SEC-Zamboanga office is located along San Jose Panigayan St. here. (PNA)

OCD-CAR conducts training for future DRRM educators

BAGUIO CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The Office of Civil Defenseâ€"Cordillera Regional Office (OCD-CAR) has completed a five-day Training for Instructors (TFI) course for future disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) educators in Tuba, Benguet.

OCD-CAR planning officer Dawn Lyndelle Fernando on Tuesday said the TFI course aims to train disaster managers on the use of three phases of basic teaching â€" informing, persuading and training.

Through this course, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) officers in Cordillera Region, created a way for the community to be informed and be vigilant with the possible disasters and incidents that might transpire in the country, Fernando said.

Trainers from Bureau of Fire Protection, experts from Region VII, OCD, Philippine Tactical Rescue, Philippine Red Cross-Baguio, Emergency Response Unit Foundation (ERUF), Baguio City Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS) guided the participants in the five-day TFI course.

Thirty-six DRR personnel from different local DRRMCs, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) joined the TFI training course.

The TFI trainees were given challenges and tests that may affect their performances while responding to emergency calls.

These will make the trainees master their presentations and come up with a back-up plan during the circumstances.

Fernando said the goal of the training is to have a pool of DRRM courses in the Cordillera Region which may be used by future instructors and be able to teach in their own municipalities or communities.

The more prepared and well-informed the citizens are, the less casualties there will be, Fernando said.

The next TFI training will be conducted in the second quarter of this year. (PNA)
LAP/ZST/JOJO LAMARIA

International photography awards honors Filipino lensman

DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -â€" A staunch campaigner for the protection of the environment, especially the oceans, and who is working for the protection of Tañon Strait between Negros and Cebu Islands, is one of the six Filipinos cited by the largest world photography competitions.

The judges of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards announced Tuesday in a media release that they “honour the work of Filipino photographer Danny Ocampo, whose image 'Fish Tornado' is commended as top 50 in the world in the awards’ Open Wildlife category.

Ocampo, oceans campaign manager of Oceana, spends a lot of his time in Negros Oriental, specifically in Dauin town and the world famous dive destination, Apo Island, which he considers a “second home”.

Over 227,000 images from 183 countries were submitted to the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards, a media release said Wednesday.

Danny Ocampo, who is based in Marikina City, is recognized as a commended photographer alongside the shortlisted photographers of the Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus competitions, all of which are also announced Tuesday, Feb. 28.

In the open competition, judges were looking for the best single images across ten categories, representing the finest contemporary photography today.

Ocampo is an environmentalist, animal lover and ocean lover (underwater photographer, dive master and windsurfer).

He has been working for environmental NGOs since high school on various issues.

He started diving in 1989 when he was 19 years old and started taking underwater pictures using a Nikonos III film camera.

Ocampo is also an advocate of ethical and responsible tourism, diving and underwater photography.

His commended image “Fish Tornado” was taken in Dimakya Island in Busuanga, Palawan and captures the schooling behaviour of Big-eye trevally residing in a marine protected area.

“I feel so honoured to get the recognition as one of the top 50 commended photographers in the Wildlife Category. I don’t usually have time to join photography competitions and I choose those that factor in responsible and ethical practices (especially for diving and underwater photography wherein manipulation has become the norm most of the times)”, Ocampo was quoted as saying.

“This recognition given to me by the Sony World Photography Awards hopefully will give me more opportunities to share my underwater images and promote my advocacy for responsible and ethical underwater photography”.

The category winners for the Open competition will be announced March 28, and the overall Open Photographer of the Year title revealed April 20 at an awards ceremony in London. Prizes include the latest Sony digital imagery equipment, and a USD5,000 cash prize.

As a commended photographer, Danny Ocampo’s image will be shown alongside the awards’ other commended plus the shortlisted and winning images at the Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr â€" 2017 Exhibition in London from April 21-May 7.

The commended image will also be given a global audience as it is published on the World Photography Organisation website.

Produced by the World Photography Organisation, 2017 sees the 10th anniversary of the Sony World Photography Awards and a decade-long partnership with its headline sponsor, Sony.

Each year, the awards recognize and reward the very best contemporary photography captured over the last year entered into any of the awards’ four competitions - Professional, Open, Youth and Student Focus.

With 49 nationalities represented, the 2017 shortlists reinforce the awards’ international appeal and unique ability to present the greatest images taken by photographers from all corners of the world on a truly global scale.

Each of the four competitions are judged anonymously by internationally acclaimed industry professionals, carefully selected by the World Photography Organisation. (PNA)
LAP/JFP/PR

SDC to seek LGU support in opposing reduction of children’s age with criminal responsibility

SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- Members of the Social Development Committee (SDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) target to get the support of local government units (LGUs) in opposing the reduction of the minimum age of criminal responsibility of children (MACR).

Social Welfare Officer III Katherine Joy M. Lamprea of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Field Office 6 on Tuesday said that the committee chaired by DSWD regional director Rebecca Geamala will be asking the RDC to come up with a resolution expressing opposition to the proposal likewise asking LGUs for their support.

Capiz Second District Congressman Fredenil H. Castro has a pending bill at the House of Representatives decreasing the MACR from 15 to nine years old.

The SDC believed that the said proposal when approve will deprive children of their childhood as well as growing up with their parents in a normal home setting, said Lamprea, who is also the secretariat of the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee.

Lamprea said that since they launched the one million signature campaign in Region 6 last December, they were only able to generate around 7,000 signatures, which is still way below the target.

“We also need resolutions from the LGUs opposing the House Bill,” she said.

Among the signatories were selected media practitioners from Western Visayas who affixed their signatures during the Media Forum held in Boracay island last year.

Lamprea said that they need to gather more signatures to reach the target before the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Correctional Reforms resumes on or before end of March. (PNA)
LAP/PGL/AJPETINGLAY/KVB

NORECO 1 properties for sale
Negros News, Sept 27 1999

Delinquent property covers some 3.7071 hectares with tax delinquency amounting to P2,375,598 million including interest, penalties and expenses of sale computed up to December 31, 1998, Provincial Treasurer Flory Sonjaco said.

For the meantime, Sonjaco said the sale shall be by oral bidding, calling for the bidder who offers the highest purchase price.

It was stated in the invitation to bid that if no bidder offers to buy or if the highest bid is for an amount not sufficient to pay the delinquent taxes, penalties and costs, the provincial treasurer of Negros Oriental or its authorized representative, shall have the discretion to buy the delinquent property in the name of the province for the exact amount of delinquent taxes, penalties and cost.

NORECO's delinquent tax from January 1, 1985 to June 30, 1987 amounted to P768,051, in addition to interest and penalties computed until December 31, last year amounting to P1,597,547, plus expenses of sale placed at P10,000.

Among the conditions in the sale of the property are, "The Provincial Treasurer of Negros Oriental of her authorized representative conducting the sale shall auction each delinquent property, but if no bidder offers to buy or if the highest bid is for an amount not sufficient to pay the delinquent taxes, penalties and costs, the Provincial Treasurer of Negros Oriental or her authorized representative, shall have the discretion to buy the delinquent property in the name of the Province for the exact amount of delinquent taxes, penalties and cost."

Canalon, Comelec, Cardenas
Negros News, Sept 27 1999

PNP provincial director Pepito Banzon at once granted Benjamin's request to deploy a company-size escort during the transfer of the contested ballot boxes eventually on October 4.

Following the underestimated situation in its first attempt to transfer the ballot boxes, Benjamin said he now feels the necessity to raise its military escort from 15 combatants before to a company-size this October 4.

With the deployment of the company-size escort, Banzon believe that this would estabilize the situation and secure the transfer of the boxes without tension from the two parties concerned.

Comelec Chairperson Harriet Demetriou has given Benjamin the authority to use a reasonable demonstration of force in transferring the 102 contested ballot boxes from the Canalon City Hall to Dumaguete City.

The new head of the Comeles First Division gave the specific order after Benjamin consulted his superiors in Manila in the past few days following his failure to effect the transfer last Sept. 14.

Atty. Benjamin is now making arrangement, with Banzon for a company-size escort in their attempt to transfer the contested ballots.

In his consultations with his supervisors, Benjamin said he was told to opt for a company-size police escort.

Benjamin explained that they had underestimated the situation in their first attempt to transfer the ballot boxes.

The local Comelec office is getting ready for the second attempt after Comelec-Manila office now chaired by Demetiou turned down the motion for reconsideration for the second time filed by Vice-Mayor Jose Cardenas.(Richie Flores)

DOE condemns NPA attack on hydropower plant project in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The Energy department on Tuesday condemned the attack by communist rebels on a hydropower plant project in the village of Lumbayao in Valencia City, Bukidnon over the weekend.

Calling the Feb. 25 occurrence as unwarranted, "the attack was not a military installation, but a development project that seeks to contribute to alleviate the socioeconomic condition of the people," Department of Energy (DOE)Secretary Alfonso Cusi stressed.

In a statement released to the media Tuesday, Cusi said that the attack would stall the project’s construction time table set in the first half of 2019, and a setback in an effort to improve the quality of life of the people of Bukidnon.

“We are aiming to facilitate the development of all alternative and indigenous energy supply for the people of Mindanao. We want the people living there to feel the presence of progress, yet the NPAs are stealing that chance from them,” Cusi said.

According to the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, about 15 fully armed NPA fighters entered the proposed 10.6-megawatt Pulanai hydroelectric power plant site and confiscated the cellphone of workers, fired several shots after planting a couple of Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs).

A team from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal from the 8th Infantry Battalion was sent to go after the insurgents and disarm and recover the IEDs.

“The National Democratic Front has been urging the Duterte administration to resume the peace talk, but the NPA attack on a development project does not inspire confidence and sincerity of their desire to return to the negotiating table,” Cusi said.

Last December, President Rodrigo Duterte personally visited the site to grace the power plant’s groundbreaking and in his speech pleaded with the NPA to spare the project from attacks.

The President said the Pulanai plant, owned and operated by Repower Energy Development Corp., is one of the power generation facilities seen to boost economic activity in the area. (PNA)

NEGOSYO CENTER OPENS IN PARAÃ'AQUE. To encourage Filipinos to venture into business, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched the 10th Negosyo Center in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 452nd nationwide since its inception in 2014. In line with the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, the DTI launched Negosyo Centers nationwide to help MSMEs in providing access to information, business name registration, access to finance, access to market and access to training. In photo are (center-right) DTI-Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya and (center-left) Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez (END)

Cayetano, Oplan Tokhang, ibalik

"Ako’y nakikiusap sa ating Pangulo at sa PNP na i-relaunch ninyo ang inyong anti-drug drive."

Ito ang panawagang ginawa ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano sa administrasyon nang magsalita siya sa pagtitipon ng mga pro-Duterte supporters sa Quirino grandstand nitong Sabado (Feb. 25).

Sabi ng senador, kapag ibinalik ang "war on drugs" ay nais umano niya itong tawaging "people's war on drugs."

“Simula sa araw na ito February 25, araw ng rebolusyon at pagbabago, hindi na ito Duterte’s war on drugs, it will be the people’s war on drugs dahil po kasama tayo sa paglaban sa droga,” ayon kay Cayetano.

Sinabi niya ito sa araw ng ika-31 anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power Revolution.

Ayon kay Cayetano, 60 porsyento ng problema ng bansa laban sa krimen ay may kinalaman sa iligal na droga. Kaya hinimok niya ang Pangulo na ituloy ang sinimulan nitong pagbabago.

Noong suspendihin ang giyera sa droga, nagbalikan na naman umano sa lansangan ang mga durugista, ayon sa senador.

"Kapag bumalik ang mga pusher, kasunod na niyan ang patayan ng inosente. Kasama na diyan ang rape, ang nakawan," pagpapatuloy niya.

Muli namang ipinagmalaki ni Cayetano ang mga pagbabagong nangyari sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte, lalo na ang panunumbalik ng tiwala ng tao sa pulisya.

"Marami pang kailangang gawin. Hindi pa tapos ang pagbabago. Pero mas safe na ba ng inyong mga lugar? Kahit papano po ba, yung mga pusher sa inyong lugar, hindi ba takot na rin?," tanong niya sa publiko.

"Hindi ba kahit papano, ang pulis ngayon, kapag nakita natin, hindi natin tinatakbuhan natin palayo, tinatakbuhan natin papunta dahil alam nating tutulungan tayo ng mga pulis na yan?," dagdag ng senador.