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SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan -- Three suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with police personnel of the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) here Friday.

In a text message, Chief Insp. Norman Florentino of the Pangasinan Police's public information office, said the clash occurred in an area between Barangays Malico and Sta. Maria in the eastern Pangasinan town of San Nicolas.

Florentino said elements of the PPSC, Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 (RPSB1), and the Pangasinan Police's Regional Intelligence Group were conducting clearing operations in the area at around 5:20 p.m. when the clash happened.

The three were believed to be the same rebels who fought elements of the RPSB1 in the area last July 28 that resulted in the death of PO2 Aries Tamindong of Manaoag, Pangasinan. 

Recovered from the scene of the encounter were an improvised explosive device, trip wires that measured approximately 36 meters, an ignition switch, a submachine gun, a rifle grenade, and two assorted ammunition and magazines, among others.

There was no casualty reported on the government side.

Other rebels are being pursued by the police in coordination with the military. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) here has encouraged residents to eat chicken because Negros Occidental is free from avian flu virus.

To show that it is safe to eat chicken and other poultry products, DA-Negros Island Region Director Joyce Wendam on Friday led a boodle fight here where agency personnel and a group of farmer-raisers and producers consumed chicken dishes and boiled eggs with organic rice, tomatoes, and bananas.

Wendam said the bird flu outbreak in Luzon also caused the drop in consumption of chicken in Negros Occidental. It is manifested in the slight decrease in prices of chicken, she added.

"We are enjoining the people in Negros Occidental to help create and sustain a resilient poultry sector by patronizing local products amid the pressing industry challenges," the DA official said.

Wendam said the livestock and poultry industry is vital to the province's economy. Consumers play a critical role in sustaining it, she added.

Negros Occidental leads in native chicken production, with a yield of almost 5.13 million heads in 2016.

It also remains as the country's major gamefowl producer, with a production of 25,000 to 50,000 heads every month. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), the only Department of  Health (DOH) hospital in Negros Island, now offers kidney transplant after its first succesful surgery.

CLMMRH officials led by Dr. Julius Drilon, medical center chief, made the announcement Friday afternoon after the hospital's first successful transplant operation involving a 42-year-old female donor and a 39-year-old male recipient  from Bacolod City.

 Drilon said they want to show the community that they are capable and competent in performing serious medical operations.

 "It is part of the hospital's measures to address the general concerns of the community we serve," he added.

Drilon said the first kidney transplant was "subsidized," with the hospital shouldering some of the patient's expenses, including medical and professional fees.

 In Bacolod, at least 1,000 individuals are considered potential candidates for kidney transplant.

 For transplant cases, hospitals in Metro Manila will charge between PHP1.2 million and PHP1.5 million per patient with suitable donor, the doctor said.

Drilon said costs will be lesser at the CLMMRH being a government-run hospital. To further reduce costs, they are seeking accreditation from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the provision of Z Package benefits, which address health conditions needing prolonged hospitalization and expensive treatments that will be a burden to the family.

The CLMMRH hopes to obtain the accreditation this year, he added. "Through a good donor recruitment program, we hope to line up more patients who can avail of our kidney transplant services."

 Dr. Rose Marie Liquete, executive director of National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), said during the press briefing that PhilHealth Z package provides PHP600,000 in subsidy. (PNA)



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KIDAPAWAN CITY –- The Catholic Church in Kidapawan, North Cotabato has urged the New Peoples' Army (NPA) to free as soon as possible and without condition a police officer they abducted on August 14 in Makilala, North Cotabato.

The appeal was aired by Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo as he tasked three priests to establish communication lines with local NPA at the borders of North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

He said diocesan priests have contacted the rebels believed to be holding Police Officer 1 Bristol Catalan of Makilala town police office.

"We have made contacts, we are now waiting for results. I hope it is positive," Bagaforo told Church-run Radio DXND in Kidapawan.

Three priests were tasked to link with the communist movement for the safe release of Catalan, an active member of Basic Ecclesial Community of the Catholic Church in Makilala.

Catalan's wife, Jessa, has sought the help of Bishop Bagaforo two weeks after gunmen seized her husband while driving his two children to school on August 14 in Barangay Katipunan, Makilala.

Mayor Rudy Caoagdan of Makilala also sent emissaries to the rebels operating in North Cotabato, asking them to free Catalan, an intelligence officer of Makilala police.

Jessa also appealed to her husband's captors to free him since the family is dependent on his salary as source of income.

She said her children also stopped reporting to school and displayed signs of trauma since the abduction.

On the day he was abducted, the gunmen told Catalan's children that their father will be tried for his alleged anti-people and anti-communist stance.

In 2014, a police officer in Kidapawan City was seized by NPA rebels and executed him later. His remains were found buried in a shallow grave in the mountain village.(PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Government forces and Moro rebel group that signed a peace deal with the government have continued to hunt down ISIS-identified armed group in Maguindanao.

Under the 1997 ceasefire agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the latter must help the government get rid of terrorists in communities identified with the MILF in various parts of Mindanao.

For the past two weeks, the MILF had been pursuing the ISIS-flag carrying armed group, led by Esmael Abdulmalik of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao's second district.

Abdulmalik heads a faction of the BIFF thay pledged allegiance to ISIS.

A military intelligence officer said Abdulmalik, one of the lieutenants of slain Malaysian terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, was believed to be injured.

Abu Amir, spokesperson for the Imam Karialan faction of the BIFF, said Abdulmalik was injured in several clashes with the MILF's Task Force Ittihad (Unity) in remote villages of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Abu Misri Mama, speaking for the Bongos faction of the BIFF, said he has no report about Abdulmalik getting injured but his son, Abu Torayfe, sub-leader leader of the BIFF whose men were identified with ISIS, was reported dead.

Abu Torayfe was killed. He is the son of Commander Esmail Abdulmalik," Mama said. "We have no report that Abdulmalik was injured."

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said the police have been helping the MILF in locating the BIFF/ISIS group.

The Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade had been providing artillery assistance to the MILF's Task Force Ittihad and placed its forces on alert to thwart any possible retaliatory or diversionary attacks by Abdulmalik's men on civilians and "soft targets" in Maguindanao.

More than 50 fighters from both sides have been killed while dozens were hurt in the clashes between former comrades.

It started when the ISIS-flag carrying BIFF tried to encroach an MILF community in Barangays Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo by setting off improvised bomb that injured 10 MILF fighters.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The police have arrested four drug suspects as the anti-illegal drug campaign continues in Region 9, an official said Saturday.


The campaign is in line with President Roderigo Duterte's declaration of war against drugs in the country.


Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office (PRO-9) information officer, identified the drug personalities as Gerry Boy Miranda, 28; Ace Tablon, 37; Albert Tan, 34, and Rolly Cinco, 37.


They were arrested Friday in separate anti-illegal drug operations in different parts of Region 9.


Galvez said Miranda was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Fatima, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.


Tablon and Tan were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Barangays Divisoria and Tulungatung, respectively, in this city.
Cinco was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in Monching, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.


Galvez said the arresting officers confiscated from the suspects packs of suspected shabu, marked money and illegal drug paraphernalia. (TPGJR/PNA)



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LIBUNGAN, North Cotabato -- Police and military have launched a massive manhunt against two men last seen with a manager of a money remittance company who was later found dead in an irrigation canal.

Witnesses provided the Libungan town police office with vital information that identified the two men last seen leaving Alamada, North Cotabato on Thursday afternoon with Dexter Alan Capio, 30, manager of Palawan Pawnshop and Pera Padala center branch in the said municipality.

According to Senior Inspector Aniceto Acobo, Libungan town police chief, Capio's remains were found by residents dumped in an irrigation canal in Barangay Batiocan Friday dawn.

He was believed to have been mauled to death, a police official investigating the case said.

Acobo said the police are following up a lead that could identify the suspects and their eventual prosecution.

The police chief said Capio's relatives said he has no known enemies and that he has no threats to his life.

"We are exploring all other angles and identifying the people with him days before he was found dead," Acobo said in an interview.

Police ruled out involvement of the victim in illegal drugs.(PNA)



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LAOAG CITY -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Resiliency Office on Saturday said they are prepared to secure residents due to tropical storm "Jolina".

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lilian Rin assured that rescue equipment is ready "in any eventualities" in case the weather will worsen.

 "Tinitignan natin ang panahon at sa ngayon, beneficial pa ang ulan na dulot ng bagyo (We are looking at the weather, and right now the rain due to the storm is still beneficial)," she said. However, she emphasized the need for preparedness due to the unpredictability of the weather.

 The PDRRMC, including officials from the PSWDO, Philippine National Police (PNP), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), Sustainable Development Center (SDC), and Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET), have already pre-positioned food items, medicines, and non-food items like plastic tents and utensils.

 Relief packs are ready and supplies are also stationed at the resiliency clusters stationed throughout Ilocos Norte, she said.

 The 21 towns and two cities of the province have been prepared for the storm since Friday. 

 Dump trucks, rubber boats, ambulances, and other equipment needed during disasters  are stationed and ready to be dispatched in various strategic locations in the province.

 As of 8:00 a.m. Saturday, the weather bureau said typhoon "Jolina" has weakened  after crossing the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon.

 As of  press time, Tropical Cyclone Warning System (TCWS) 2 remains in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur while La Union, Apayao, Isabela, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra and Nueva Vizcaya are under TCWS 1. (PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- Continuing efforts to help recovering drug surrenderers (RDS) in Palawan stepped up on Friday with the implementation of the 16-week Community Enhancement and Livelihood Project (CELP) going to the northern town of Araceli.

Ma. Teresa Acda, provincial team leader of the CELP-Technical Working Group, said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to help 10 RDS in Araceli, a fourth class municipality in the province of Palawan, was signed by Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, Araceli Mayor Noel Beronio,  and other stakeholders.

"We're really focused on helping our RDS because they deserve clean breaks against drug dependency. We want them to have fresh outlooks in life, to have positive views of everything despite what happened in the past," Acda said.

She said like the RDS in Roxas, El Nido, Brooke's Point, and San Vicente, those in Araceli will also undergo moral and spiritual counselling, physical training regimen, livelihood lectures, and support of the community care team (CCT) to heal from addiction.

"If other municipalities can implement CELP, we believe Araceli can also do it through its mayor. We know we will see positive changes out of the 10 RDS," she said.

In his message, Socrates stressed the important need for Palawan in taking a stake to help the RDS fight drug addiction as an ill of the society.

"Ito ay isa sa mga nagiging ugat ng pinakamaraming krimen sa ating komunidad kaya ito ang tugon natin na isang programa para sa ating mga drug surrenderees (This is one of the root causes of many crimes in our communities so, in response, we have opened this project for our drug surrenderees)," he said. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial on Saturday said there's nothing more to fear about the bird flu virus as the 34 persons suspected to have been infected all turned out negative.

"We have no more fear, but we're still on heightened surveillance and monitoring," Ubial said. "Sentinel birds were also positioned in farms where fowls have been culled. Should these birds get infected, then we will review again whether bird flu is still around."

Ubial also said that although no human transmission has been reported yet, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and their neighboring provinces have been placed on heightened alert status as part of precautionary measures to avert any possible transmission of the virus.

"I also ordered the pre-emptive positioning of necessary commodities to protect humans from bird flu infection, such as personal protective equipment and anti-viral drugs, in Region 3 where Pampanga and Nueva Ecija belong," Ubial further said.

The Department of Health (DOH) is likewise working closely together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure that poultry and its by-products are safe for human consumption, Ubial added.

Ubial was in Cebu on Saturday to spearhead the groundbreaking ceremony of the DOH Regional Office Complex, Sub-National Blood Center, and the DOH-7 Warehouse at the South Road Properties here. Health Assistant Secretary Leonita Gorgolon also arrived for the affair together with DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas.

Also present were Rep. Raul del Mar of Cebu City's North District and City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos, who attended the occasion on behalf of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.  (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY --The PHP40.2 million Iloilo River Esplanade-Phase 3 in this city was opened to the public on Friday afternoon.

 The phase 3 of River Esplanade is an extension of two existing esplanades along the Iloilo River, the city's most frequented place where people gather, and health enthusiasts regularly jog and go biking.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon and Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) inaugurated the Iloilo River Esplanade-Phase 3.

In his speech, Drilon announced another esplanade extension that will be completed within 18 months up to two years.

The new extension will be built across Phase 3.

 The newly-opened Esplanade-Phase 3 called for the construction of a 200 linear meter riverside promenade along the Iloilo Diversion Road with paving blocks, slope protection, landscaping and other complementing structures such as seat wall, view deck, boating station, skating rink, activity area, anong others.

The construction of the project started in 2015.

 The 1.2 kilometer-Esplanade 1 was opened last 2012 while Phase 2 was completed two years ago.  (PNA)

 



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BUTUAN CITY—The country's second top police official hailed Caraga Region's law enforcers for their role in the country's fight against illegal drugs, terrorism and other forms of criminality.

Deputy Director General Ramon C. Apolinario, deputy chief for administration of the Philippine National Police, underscored the service of the men and women of Police Regional Office (PRO-13) in the "success of the government's fight against illegal drugs, terroristic activities and other forms of criminal and illegal activities."

Apolinario was the guest of honor in the 116th Police Service Anniversary Celebration at the PNP regional headquarters here on Friday, where he also led the awarding of officers, personnel and police units for their crime-busting performance.

Police units that received awards are:

—Surigao del Norte Provincial Police Office, for having the most mumber of arrests in the implementation of Project Double Barrel"

— Agusan del Sur Provincial Police Office, for having the most number of surrenderers in the implementation of "Project Double Barrel"

—Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Office, for having the most number of "high-valued targets" neutralized in the implementation of "Project Double Barrel"

—Dinagat Islands Provincial Police Office, for having the most number of accounted "watchlisted" illegal drugs personalities in the implementation of project "Double Barrel"

—Butuan City, for having the largest volume of confiscated "shabu" in the implementation of "Project Double Barrel"

Meanwhile, individual awardees were:

Sr. Supt. Rogelio Raymundo for "Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration"; Supt Excelso Lazaga for "Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations"; Insp. Allen Dogao, for "Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration"; and Senior Insp. Johncel Barrameda, for "Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations".

Early this month, the PNP also awarded RPO-13 as having the country's best Regional Police Strategy Management Unit (RPSMU), with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte handing the award to PRO-13 director Rolando B. Felix. (PNA/Noel B. Najarro)



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MARIVELES, Bataan -- Flash floods hit four villages here and destroyed a footbridge at the height of intermittent light to heavy rains Friday afternoon till midnight.

Floods washed away the footbridge connecting portions of barangays Ipag and Balon Anito.

Edwina Mia of the Mariveles Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said the affected barangays were Balon Anito, Baseco, Ipag and San isidro.

"The floods rose from above knee to chest deep from 4 p.m. (Friday) to near midnight in most of the low-lying areas," she said.

Some residents said flood subsided in their villages before 3 a.m. of Saturday.

Only nine families chose to be evacuated temporarily in the barangay hall but returned home on Saturday morning, Mia said.

 Hundreds of workers of multi-national factories at the Freeport Area of Bataan bound for home were stranded and waited for several hours for the flood to subside.

 Rodito Luyo, Ipag barangay chairperson, said they placed ropes in flooded areas to assist factory workers who were going home.

 The village head said floods rose up to waist-deep in Purok 3 to 6 in Ipag from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

 On Saturday morning, residents were seen busy cleaning their houses and the streets of thick mud left by the floodings.

 Smith Esturas and Albert Escurido, both residents of Ipag, said the floodwaters came from the mountain that overflowed the rivers in the area. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO) will be extending the distribution of dengue vaccines to different municipal health offices in the province due to low turnout of intended recipients.

 The CPHO on Saturday said the last day of distribution was on August 20, but since all vaccines have not been administered to its target beneficiaries, they will continue the distribution for one more week.

 The parents' fear of the vaccine's complications and side effects on the children is cited as reason for the low turnout.

 Report claimed that children who received the vaccine's first dose suffered from skin rashes.

 Another possible reason could be that most of those affected by dengue are children eight years old and below, while the vaccines are intended for those who are 9-14 years old,  CPHO added.

 The CPHO has again called on the parents to avail of this free vaccination and assured them of its efficacy to combat dengue.

 The CPHO said they were unable to fully convince the parents to have their children vaccinated since some recipients did manifest some side effects.

 Sought to comment on the reported side effects of the dengue vaccine, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said: "Right now, we could not make any conclusion with regards to the dengue vaccine because the pilot implementation is not yet over."

 "But there would be instances that patients will have dengue fever after being vaccinated because the dosage is still incomplete," said Ubial, who was in Cebu on Saturday to spearhead the groundbreaking ceremony of the DOH 7 Regional Office Complex at the South Road Properties. (PNA)



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SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan -- Mayor Rebecca Saldivar on Saturday assured the situation is already under control following the second encounter between government forces and New People's Army (NPA) members in remote Barangays Malico and Sta. Maria here in less than a month.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are continuously conducting clearing operations and intelligence monitoring,  Saldivar said.

"I am appealing to the public to remain calm, be alert and get involved against threat groups like NPA," Saldivar said after attending Saturday morning's Command Conference called by Police Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, and attended by different heads of police and military security units.

It can be recalled that three suspected NPA members were killed in an encounter between policemen and NPA troops at around 5:20 p.m. Friday in the boundary of Barangays Malico and Sta. Maria, San Nicolas town..

Earlier on July 28, PO2 Aries Tamindong of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 was killed in an encounter with NPA members .
The mayor also appealed not to believe baseless information or false news that are circulating, and rely only on official reports of proper authorities.

She urged the people of San Nicolas to always notify or report suspicious-looking personalities or incidents to the police.

"Rest assured that the local government, the PNP and AFP are determined to put an end to the deplorable acts of the enemies and will always ensure that the enemies will never threaten the peace and order of our beloved municipality, San Nicolas," she added. (PNA)



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CASIGURAN, Aurora -- The cost of damage to agriculture caused by tropical storm 'Jolina' in the northern part of Aurora was initially pegged at around PHP41.27 million.

Engineer Elson A. Egargue, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said that this town, where the storm made landfall Friday night, was worst hit with an estimated agricultural loss of PHP34.3 million.

Egargue said the agricultural sector of Dilasag town was likewise affected by the tropical storm with an initial PHP5.69 million loss. Damage to livestock and fisheries sectors were also initially placed at PHP39,600 and PHP50,000, respectively.
The town of Dinalungan was also not spared by Jolina with some PHP1.19 million agricultural loss.

Egargue added that a total of 3,083 individuals or 881 families were evacuated in the towns of Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, Casiguran and Dilasag.

Meanwhile, he said the Villa Maria Aurora boundary to Bongabon, Nueva Ecija Road is not passable due to the swollen Labi creek at Barangay Labi, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

On the other hand, the Baler-Canili-Pantabangan national road, Baler-Casiguran national road, Baler to Villa Maria Aurora are passable to all types of vehicles.

Egargue said early preparation was made by the PDRRMO personnel with all mayors, municipal local disaster risk and management councils and other offices in the province for the possible impact of Jolina.

Prior to the tropical storm's landfall, Egargue said precautionary measures and other pre-disaster response activities were put in place, including the early prepositioning of 9,000 family food packs as well as non-food items.

Heavy equipment, medicines and medical supplies were also readied.

He added that medicines were on standby at the Provincial Health Office while those from the Department of Health (DOH) were prepositioned in northern Aurora.

Likewise, he said there was constant coordination with the different concerned offices. (PNA)



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CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan -- Four drug peddlers, including a couple, were arrested during a series of anti-drug operations by the city police here Saturday.

In a report to Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., city police chief Supt. Fitz Macariola on Sunday identified the arrested suspects as couple Arnel and Angeline Orabao, both 31 years old, residents of Barangay Graceville; Johna Ray Lopez, 18, single, a resident of Barangay Maharlika; and Liezel dela Cruz, 49, married, of Barangay Muzon, all in this city.

He said the couple was busted after selling PHP500 worth of shabu to a police undercover agent.

Ten more plastic sachets containing an estimated five grams of suspected shabu worth PHP8,000 were recovered from the suspects, together with the marked money, Macariola said.

Lopez, on the other hand, was arrested by another anti-narcotics police team after selling a plastic sachet of shabu to a police agent. Six more plastic sachets containing more or less two grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP6,000 were recovered from the suspect.

Dela Cruz, on the other hand, was arrested during a buy bust operation in Barangay Muzon where six plastic sachets of susoected shabu weighing more or less five grams were recovered from her.

The San Jose del Monte Police is set to file charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the "ComprehensiveDangerous Drugs Act of 2002" against the arrested suspects. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- Twenty-eight finalists out of 96 entries vie to represent Western Visayas to the annual national invention contests and exhibits (NICE), a platform to promote inventions, innovations and technologies.

The finalists will be showcased in the 2017 regional invention contests and exhibits (RICE) slated August 29-31 as part of the Science and Technology Week celebration in Western Visayas. NICE is organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST regional director Rowen Gelonga said they have finalists for categories utility model, creative research (Likha Award), and student creative research (Sibol Award) for high school and college. There were no finalists for invention (Tuklas Award) and industrial design categories.

Gelonga is hoping some of the participants will develop their research and development (R & D) output as DOST has various support for researchers and inventions.

"We are hoping that they can really further improve the technology so that they can be ready for market," he stated.

He added they are looking forward to the commercialization of viable technologies.

The exhibits, meanwhile, will highlight three areas being supported by the DOST -- disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), industry services and research, and development (R&D) activities related to agriculture and fisheries.

For the DRRM, DOST has requested the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Service Administration (PAG-ASA) to bring its storm chaser, a mobile facility that can track weather condition. Also to form part of the exhibit is the replica of 'Diwata,' the first Filipino-made satellite.

Virtual reality exhibits for industry services will be made available to allow visitors "to experience facilities and services in specialized centers in Manila," according to Gelonga.

TekTienda, a bazaar that will showcase micro, small and medium enterprises assisted by the DOST, is part of the exhibit.

The opening of the three-day event in SM City in Mandurriao is expected to be graced by Science Secretary Fortunato De la Peña. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- A school run by an organization has a different way of stirring children's interest to read by paying them when they visit the center and read during their free time.
Tancho Baes, executive director of "Hope for the Nation Philippines", said the children's reading club has a twist. The organization which Baes heads is an affiliate of global organization of Hope of the Nation in Canada.
"We pay our children to read with us with the objective that we want them to be fluent in English, have good reading comprehension and articulate communicator," Baes said.
But Baes stressed reading is just part of a whole approach which the organization adopted in transforming a community of informal settlers and making the children become leaders in the future.
He said the organization has an innovative school adopting the home school style of teaching the children. The kids learn at their own pace and each child has a laptop which they use while in school.
There are 150 enrolled in the school with two teachers and a principal who are also learning facilitators. He said he makes sure the school complies with the requirements of the Department of Education (DepEd) for they have students from pre-school to Grade 12.
Their long-term plan is to offer courses in public administration, governance, peace building. Part of the plan is to teach them the basics of law, economics, accounting, ethics, entrepreneurship and leadership.
"Our school is really different from other schools because our goal is to be able to raise these children to become like leaders where as early as 6 years old we want them to already think as leaders," he said.
"The bottomline really is that we want the kids to go into public service that is why in our school we offer courses in public administration, governance, peace building, economics, law because at the end of this program the profile of a successful child must have a heart for God, for this country and the passion to serve thus we have very different approach," he added.
In relation to the reading program, Baes said the school proceeds are deposited in the Hope Bank of the school that is run by children. The bank has a set of officers, board of directors and advisors selected from among the children as part of their training.
He said the initial money of P700 from the reading program has grown to P24,000 through their income generating projects. In 11 months of operating the said bank, the kids are planning to put up a convenient store soon with the help of the Church in Canada which pledged to provide the capital.
The children found a space which they will rent using their available money. Every Saturday night, Baes said the children hold a night market where they sell used clothing, food, and school supplies.
"They are starting to develop jewelry-making and trinkets also that they might sell here and even in Canada," he said.
Baes said the organization also works with the parents for sustainable income through urban container gardening. Already, owners of Nanay Bebeng and Chippens wanted the organization to supply them daily with 80 kilos pechay.
The container gardening, he said is being supported by the Hope Tours where they rent out van and the proceeds go to the gardening project.
"We are expanding our production area where we grow the vegetables in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes," he said. The organization already added lettuce in their garden.
He said they will be partnering with adjacent property owners whose area they could spare for their vegetable growing. The Agdao area is the organization's laboratory for technology transfer to children and parents and the bigger area is in Inangan in Calinan where they partner with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry and the Philippine Coconut Authority, he said.
Baes said the organization piloted the program on transformation in San Vicente, Agdao district with 1,500 families participating although they cater to eight other areas of informal settlers in the city.
"We want to develop a template in San Vicente where we can replicate it to other areas," he said, adding that the organization's vision is to see San Vicente as a transformed community that has a school, a house of faith and equipped with skills training programs for parents and children. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Six houses were totally destroyed while 14 others sustained partial damages after flashfloods swept riverside communities in four villages in Tupi town in South Cotabato on Thursday afternoon.

Emil Sumagaysay, Tupi Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said Friday a major river swelled starting around 2 p.m. and triggered flashfloods following heavy rains in the area.

He said the floods affected communities in portions of Barangays Acmonan, Linan, Cebuano and Bololmala that were traversed by a tributary of the Marbel River.

No casualty was reported due to the floods, he said.

"There was a localized thunderstorm so the rains were quite heavy in our upland areas," Sumagaysay said in a radio interview.

Citing their initial assessment, he said three houses at Sitio Datalta, Barangay Acmonan were totally destroyed and eight others sustained various damages as a result of the floods.

He said a house was also reported as totally destroyed in Barangay Bololmala and another in Barangay Linan.

In Barangay Cebuano, he said a house was totally destroyed while six others were partially damaged after being submerged in floodwaters and mud.

Sumagaysay said the displaced households in Barangays Acmonan Linan, Cebuano and Bololmala are presently staying with their relatives.

The others affected in Barangay Cebuano were able to return to their homes after the floods subsided on Thursday night.

Aside from the damaged houses, he said there were also reported damages to crops, especially pineapple, and several farm animals were washed away and drowned the floods.

"Our damage assessment is still ongoing and we received reports of damages to road networks, riverbank protection structures and other infrastructure," he said.

He said the local government gathered the affected residents on Friday morning at the barangay hall of Acmonan and provided them with food and other relief items.

Sumagaysay said the local government remains on alert due to the possibility of heavy rains, especially in the afternoon, and might trigger floods and landslides.

He noted that the four flood-hit barangays among the areas earlier identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as highly prone to weather-related disasters.

The other areas being monitored are upland and riverside communities in Barangays Lunen, Tubeng, Bunano and Simbo, he said.(AVE/PNA)   



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Residents here will get free public transport rides on selected routes for the entire month of September courtesy of the city government.

Restituto Facurib Jr., city terminal manager, said Friday the free rides are in line with the city's annual treat dubbed "Libreng Sakay Para Sa Mga Heneral."

He said that from Sept. 1 to 30, commuting residents will have a chance to avail of free bus, van and tricycle rides.

For the bus and van rides, he said residents travelling to nearby Koronadal City may get free passes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a "first come, first served" basis.

Facurib said the free bus rides would be available in selected units of the Yellow Bus Line, Husky Tours and Rural Transit that would be leaving the City Bulaong Terminal.

"They will open one free ride daily for the entire month," he said in a statement.

Another bus company, Mindanao Star, will offer 54 free seats for a single trip on Sept. 1, he said.

On the same day, the official said four 18-seater passenger vans accredited by the city terminal will also ferry 72 passengers for free.

Facurib said a coupon will be placed on the bus and van tickets to determine the lucky passengers.

Aside from this, he said passengers arriving at the city terminal on Sept. 1 will be treated to free tricycle rides, limited to one passenger per trip and only for destination within the city proper.

The city government offers the free transport rides in the last several years as tribute to the birthday of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on Sept. 1.

The initiative is spearheaded by the city terminal division of the City Administrator's Office and in partnership with transport companies and associations.

"The support from our transport association members and bus companies was overwhelming and we were able to also get some help from other stakeholders," Facurib said.

The month-long "Libreng Sakay Para Sa Mga Heneral" will complement with this year's Tuna Festival celebration, which is slated Sept. 1 to 5.

The city will also host on Sept. 20-24 the first-ever Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA culture and arts celebration dubbed Budayaw Festival.(AVE/PNA)    



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KORONADAL CITY -- House Speaker and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Secretary General Pantaleon Alvarez warned Friday of rampant illegal recruitment activities for membership into their party in exchange for money.

Alvarez, who led a mass oath-taking here of around 3,000 new party members, said they have received reports that some individuals claiming to be PDP recruiters have been visiting sitios and barangays to enlist new members.

He said the "illegal recruiters" were administering oaths and were issuing supposed party identification cards for undisclosed fees.

The recruits were promised of appointment as barangay officials, he said.

The official admitted that some of these recruiters were legitimate PDP members.

"They were recruiting members without the knowledge of the party leadership. They don't report how much they charge and earn from these," he said during the oath-taking ceremony at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center.

Owing to this, Alvarez said the party membership nationwide is currently undergoing reorganization.

He said their leadership decided to implement disciplinary actions on their members who were behind the illegal recruitment schemes.

To address the problem, he said they issued a memorandum that only authorized top leaders of the party to administer the oaths of new members.

These are PDP President, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III; Vice President, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi; and, the Secretary General.

"Those who did not take their oaths without their presence are fake members," Alvarez said.

He urged their new members, who underwent basic membership orientation and seminar before taking their oaths, to monitor such activities and warn their residents in their respective barangays.

The new PDP members were composed mostly of barangay chairs and councilors in South Cotabato and the second district of Sultan Kudarat.

The oath-taking ceremony, which was also joined by Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles, was facilitated by Deputy House Speaker and South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez and Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr.

Hernandez, formerly with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), transferred to the ruling party in May last year.

Alvarez credited the recruitment of South Cotabato's local leaders to the push made by Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

But Fuentes remains a member of the NPC, which is coalition partner of PDP and part of the House majority.

"We're not recruiting Gov. Fuentes to join us. That was requested by the NPC leadership and we're respecting that," he said.

Alvarez added that their party has decided this early to endorse Fuentes as their official candidate for governor in the 2019 local and national mid-term elections.(With Alejandro Saludo/PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) has temporarily suspended starting Friday morning all tourism activities in Sagada, Mt. Purgatory, and Mt. Pulag.

 Frances Ivy Carasi, Office of the Civil Defense Cordillera (OCD-CAR) information officer, relayed the advisory from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Park and Management Office as well as the local DRRMC.

 The advisory states that hiking, trekking, and caving at the three favorite destinations in the Cordillera Region are temporarily suspended due to the threats of tropical storm "Jolina".

 Mt. Pulag and Mt. Purgatory are both located in Bokod, Benguet, while Sagada is located in the Mountain Province.

 The provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province are presently under typhoon signal number 2, while Apayao province is under signal number 1.

 Classes have also been suspended as of Friday. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Tourist arrivals in Region 12 reached around 2.5 million during the first half of the year despite the declaration of martial law in May.

Nelly Nita Dillera, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 12 director, said Friday the figure was about 21 percent more as compared to the same period last year that only reached 2.06 million.

"This only shows that our tourism industry has continued to thrive despite the peace and security problems in our neighboring provinces," she said in a press conference.

Also known as Socksargen, 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.

A report released by DOT-12 showed that this city recorded the highest tourist arrivals from January to June with a total of 806,841.

Sarangani posted total visitors of 649,060, followed by North Cotabato with 303,488, South Cotabato with 259,965, Cotabato City with 126,814, Kidapawan City with 116,016, Tacurong City with 106,376, Koronadal City with 98,775, and Sultan Kudarat with 37,627.

But Dillera said the number of foreign visitors dropped by 55 percent or from 32,733 in 2016 to 14,893 this year.

In terms of day tourists, she said the figures increased by 47 percent or from 1,529,224 in 2016 to 2,241,137 this year.

But for overnight tourists or visitors who spend overnight in the area, she said the number only increased by 7 percent.

"We need to improve on this. We really wanted our tourists to stay and spend time longer in our destinations, and cities and provinces because that means they would be spending more money in these areas," she said.

Michelle Solon, chair of the Region 12 tourism council, said the increase in the area's tourist arrivals during the first half of the year showed that the area was not much affected by the prevailing martial law.

She said the situation on the ground remained "very normal" and the lifestyle of residents did not change.

"Nothing can stop the beauty of our region and in staying attractive. No matter what is the condition of the government, people will continue to come and experience our place," she added.(AVE/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – The city government on Friday launched a three-month test run of 30 public utility vehicles and four garbage collection trucks of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) to determine the viability and sustainability of using recycled cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

The biodiesel project is an initiative of the city government with the help of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (Jica) using the technology of recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. It is the technology offered to the city government for free by Biomass Japan Inc. and Shinozaki Transport Warehouse Co. Ltd.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led Friday's launching, said the test run will be for three months from September to November using four of the city's garbage trucks and 30 public utility vehicles of the Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC).

The mayor said the biodiesel fuel is sold at P16 per liter or lower by 50 per cent of the diesel fuel sold by fuel companies at P32 per liter. Duterte-Carpio said using the biodiesel fuel would benefit consumers and even the city government in terms of fuel expenses.

Under the project, the city government piloted the collection of used cooking oil from households and establishments from 10 barangays in the first district as collection points.

It will not only protect the environment but de-clog canals given that used cooking oil is dumped into canals. According to a survey conducted in 2009, 65 per cent of air pollution is attributed to the emission from automobiles, especially from jeepneys equipped with old diesel engine which emit exhaust gases.

Citing a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2005, the city government said that more than 30 per cent of water pollution is attributed to waste water from households including the illegal disposal of used cooking oil.

In December 2015, former mayor now President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order prohibiting the dumping of used cooking oil into the environment and tasked Cenro to collect used cooking oil from establishments and households.

Meanwhile, under the agreement, Jica will provide the equipment that will be used for the recycling process while the city government provides the site which is temporarily located at CENRO's composting facility in Maa.

According to Shegito Mizumoto, the trainor of Japan Biomass, the Davao city government is sole LGU recipient of the biodiesel project. JICA chose Davao as a pilot area for this project because of its efficient enforcement of local legislation.

Mizumoto said Biomass Japan will provide the training and the technology which costs about P10 million. But the technology is given to the city for free. Biomass Japan will install the facility and train the operational and maintenance staff of CENRO.

The machine can produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel per day. The 1,000 liters used cooking oil is equivalent to 900 liters biodiesel fuel. The project came following the visit of city officials to Japan in September last year for a five-day orientation and observation of Japan's biodiesel project.

In that visit, residents voluntarily brought their used cooking oil to a village hall where a container is provided for used cooking oil collection. The fuel generated from the technology is used by some companies in Japan.

Earlier, Director and Consul Tomoko Dodo of the Consular Office of Japan in the city said the success of the Bio Diesel Fuel production between Japan and Davao will make the latter a model city in the global arena since this is the first time that Japan will be bringing out this technology outside the country.

"We have done it in Japan and we are confident that this can also be done in Davao City. And if it is good then we want to expand to the other areas," Dodo earlier said. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Twenty-three barangays in Negros Occidental received a total of PHP7.4 million worth of financial assistance from the provincial government in series of releases this week.

As of Friday, three barangays of Manapla town were given a total of PHP1.5 million for the renovation of their respective barangay halls. Recipients were Barangay II-Poblacion, Barangay II-A, and Barangay San Pablo. Some PHP5.9 million in financial assistance was also distributed for the implementation of various projects in 20 more barangays. 

Ten of the recipient-barangays in Silay City -- Barangays 1,  2,  3, 5;  Guinhalaran, Balaring, Mambulac, E. Lopez, Patag, and Bagtic --  received a total of PHP2.8 million in assistance. The fund will be used for the rehabilitation of canals and drainage systems, repair of footwalks, rip-rap project, purchase of multi-purpose vehicles, and clean and green projects.

A total of PHP2.05 million were released to eight barangays of Talisay City,  including  Barangays Zone 1, Zone 5, Zone 7, Zone 14, Zone 14-A,  Zone 15,  Concepcion, and Matab-ang. Their projects include construction of communal toilets, rehabilitation of drainage systems, de-clogging of canals, rip rapping of the riverbank, and purchase of multi-purpose vehicle.

Other recipients were Barangay Refugio in Calatrava with PHP500,000 for an electrification project and Barangay Maquiling in Sagay City with P600,000 for  a road concreting project.

Last July 26, the provincial government also released PHP2.725 million worth of assistance to 11 villages of Isabela town. The recipients were Barangay 2 Poblacion, Barangay 7 Poblacion, Barangay 8, Amin, Banogbanog, Cansalongon, Cabcab, Lima-lima, Maytubig, Riverside and Sebucauan.

Among the projects were the rehabilitation and improvement of water supply systems, improvement of barangay hall, and flood control projects.

Before this, the provincial government also released checks totaling PHP11.15 million to officials and representatives of 11 barangays in various local government units for their projects.  (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) to extend the shipment ban for poultry products, particularly gamefowl being transported to the province.

Dr. Renante Decena, chief of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said the Office of the Vice Governor sent the letter-request to the DA central office in Quezon City on Thursday.

The Negros Gamefowl Breeders Association and Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros is seeking extension of the one-month transport ban due to concerns that the transport of fighting cocks on the heels of the bird flu outbreak can affect the national cock derbies next month.

Gamefowl is considered the second largest industry in Negros Occidental, next to sugar.

As an "underground economy" of the province, it is producing 25,000 to 50,000 heads of ready-to-fight gamefowl each month.

Decena said that in Negros Occidental, the poultry ban extension is necessary for gamefowl because of the regular daily movement of stocks.

Negrense gamefowl breeders transport fighting cocks for derbies in Luzon, for instance. Fighting cocks are also shipped to the province at the same time.

With the upcoming derbies in September, breeders here are apprehensive that the lifting of the ban on poultry coming from Luzon could affect their stocks.

In support of this, the Provincial Board passed a resolution on Wednesday approving the request of the two associations to extend the poultry transport ban for one month.

Decena said the lifting of the ban is too soon, which makes gamefowl breeders uncomfortable.

 "It should be 21 days after the last day of stamping out," he said.

Decena explained that gamefowl should pass  two laboratory tests to confirm that the animal is  negative of bird flu, adding that the shipper should also secure a veterinary health certificate and shipping permit. (PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) announced on Friday plans of reviving a network of public information officers (PIOs) especially in the provinces to allow for a two-way communication between the Palace and the grassroots level.

Secretary Andanar made the announcement at a press conference during his visit Friday morning to Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental.

The PCOO chief explained that part of their visit is to revive the group of PIOs nationwide through the recent launching of the Provincial Communication Officers' Network.

In line with this, Andanar said they have already visited Surigao Del Norte, Agusan Del Norte, General Santos City, Sarangani, Pangasinan and the Cordilleras.

After Dumaguete City, the PCOO chief and his party will proceed to nearby Siquijor Island.

Andanar cited the importance of having PIOs in the municipalities and cities, and the need to bring them together under the provincial communication officers' network.

This, he said, is to make it easier to deliver the message of the President down to "purok" level or to the communities.
This will also open the line of communications between the provinces, through the PIOs, and Malacañang.

"This way we have a more vibrant communication," Andanar pointed out.

He also highlighted the importance of educating the municipalities that do not have PIOs because they are among the primary "source of information" that can help the national government in disseminating information to barangays and the local media.

Andanar also cited the establishment of Philippine Communicators Network (PHILCOMNET) during the incumbency of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 but did not pan out, but now he says "we will resuscitate, relaunch that network in the hope of being able to communicate easily" from top to bottom and vice versa.

Andanar also said they are here to meet with the local media because of the need to strengthen ties with them.

"Because the President time and again mentioned, especially during the campaign, the importance of decentralizing government. So when you decentralize government it is not limited to DPWH, PNP, AFP, etcetera, but we should also decentralize information", Andanar said.

The PCCO secretary said this is "to make everyone feel that there is government after all through the means of communication". (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)



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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- The town of Masantol in this province has been formally declared as the first municipality in Central Luzon to be cleared from illegal drugs.

This, as all of the 26 barangays of Masantol were cleared from drug infestation after complying with the parameters set forth pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No 3 series of 2017.

The awarding of the formal certification was held on Friday at the Benigno Hall, Provincial Capitol Compound, City of San Fernando here.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, director of the Police Regional Office 3, lauded the efforts of the local government of Masantol and police in its strong commitment to eliminate hard drugs.

 "Needless to say, I am in awe that while I am still the regional director of PRO3, one municipality under my watch has been declared drug-free and I am proud of this achievement." Aquino said in his statement.

He expressed optimism that more municipalities and even provinces in the region will soon be declared drug-free because of their intensified barangay drug clearing operations, in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Aquino asked the public to support them in their anti-illegal drugs campaign as it is not only their fight but also the fight of all to attain drug-free region. (PNA)

 



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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- This resort island is being eyed as a pilot site for the implementation of a waste-to-energy project that will use waste cooking oil (WCO) as substitute for diesel.

The project plans to employ Renergy, a fuel management device that enables the use of WCO as fuel for generators without chemical process.

Renergy is a technology from Japan but first implemented in the Philippines, said Jay Carandang, general manager of Renergy System Incorporated (RSI), the manufacturer of the technology.

Using Renergy, generators can run using 70 percent WCO and only 30 percent diesel. One energy device costs from PHP2 million to PHP2.6 million.

The project particularly aims to help in the management of WCO generated by various establishments in the world-famous island visited by over one million tourists yearly.

WCO, however, is considered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as hazardous waste.

At least 1,000 liters of WCO is collected on the island daily, said Carandang, based on a survey conducted by their firm in 2015. 

"This could be higher now because of the continued increase of restaurants and establishments on the island," he said.

The local government here is phasing out all diesel-powered engines in Boracay and will replace it with e-trikes which will need a consistent power supply.

"Renergy is a technology focused on the environment. It is a waste-to-energy initiative," said Carandang.

Carandang said the island-wide implementation of Renergy Project has been chosen as one of the priority projects of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an agency of the Japanese government that provides bilateral aid in the form of technical cooperation, loans, and grant aid.

Carandang said this is not, however, the first time the technology will be used on the island.

He said a resort in Station 1 is already using the technology since 2015.

The project, however, is still subject to the approval of the LGU of Malay which will be the implementing partner of RSI.

Once a memorandum of agreement between the LGU and RSI is signed, JICA will help finance the bulk of the project cost, said Carandang.

He said the project is in line with the Japanese government's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, particularly on reducing carbon emissions by minimizing diesel use. (PNA)



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SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The local government unit (LGU) here will donate a 1,500-square meter lot for the construction of the planned PHP88-million National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) building in Antique, the bureau's provincial director said on Friday.

NBI provincial director, Juan Ma. Damaso Autajay, said they are now finalizing the donation and surveying the proposed site in Dalipe village here.

He said that they are eyeing to have the Deed of Donation signed within the year. He added the PHP88 million construction budget will be funded by the NBI.

Autajay said their NBI satellite office is currently occupying a room at the Dalipe Tradetown here.

The NBI satellite office here was opened in 2015 to decongest the volume of clients transacting with the bureau's regional office in Iloilo City.

Clients from Aklan and Capiz provinces now prefer to transact with the NBI office here as it is easier for them to get their clearances and other documents needed.

Autajay said the new NBI office will be a big help in enhancing their delivery of service.

In an interview, Mayor Elmer Untaran said they are donating the land, as the intelligence bureau is important in the light of many investments coming in to the province. 

Untaran added that once completed, the NBI here would have one of the biggest satellite offices in Western Visayas.  (PNA)



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BALER, Aurora -- The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) has appealed to residents to be always ready as tropical storm "Jolina" is expected to hit the province Friday night.

MDRRMO chief Gabriel Llave, in a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting Friday afternoon, said they are now on full alert status and efforts are geared up to ensure the safety of the residents.

He said that at present, the MDRRMO is on standby to attend to possible damages that may affect the peoples' livelihood, infrastructures, and agricultural facilities in areas that might be hit by tropical storm "Jolina".

 He said MDRRMO also asked barangay officials of this town to monitor the weather and warn their communities regarding the situation.

Part of the preparedness efforts, he said, is an information drive on what precautionary measures people must take ahead of the storm.

 Llave likewise said the MDRRMO has already activated its 24/7 operation center and has assigned additional staff to monitor and ensure the dissemination of weather advisories thru SMS, radio messages, letters and website updates to barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils.

"We already activated one rescue team to monitor the weather disturbance especially in the evening," he said.

He added that his office has also released directives to the barangays, local fisherfolks federations and passenger vessels that they are not allowed to venture out at sea.

 He also urged the public to follow the safety tips like keeping all channels of communication open and ready – including having fully-charged mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other communication gadgets.

"We also conducted inspections of the town's identified evacuation centers, including our assessment and readiness of our search and rescue team in terms of manpower and equipment," he added. (PNA)



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LOS BAŇOS, Laguna -- Laguna mayors on Thursday acknowledged that their joint efforts with the police have yielded significant results in carrying out the President's war on drugs. 

However, the success also gave rise to several concerns aired during the August 23-25 "Panatag Summit" themed  "Kaligtasan, Kalusugan at Kapayapaan" at the Centro Mall Convention Center here.

They said the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9344, the alarming rise in the number of detainees, and  the lack of police investigators and policemen have continuously derailed their vigorous campaign against illegal drugs.

At this stage of the anti-drug drive, local government units have encountered serious problems in providing enough "shelters" for offenders.

Cabuyao Mayor Mel Gecolea said the police headquarters and the city jail used to be housed in a common place.  He said he was compelled to relocate the police headquarters just to accommodate the rising number of drug offenders.

 "Talagang sobra na ang dami ng mga nadarakip at kulang na kulang na kami sa kulungan (There is a large number of arrested suspects. We don't have enough prison cells to accomodate them)," the mayor told representatives of different national government agencies during the summit.

Mayor George Berris of Calauan said another concern brought about by the successful war on drugs in the province is the inadequate number of police investigators tasked to probe suspected drug users and pushers.

Sr. Supt. Cecilio R. Ison, provincial director of the Philippine National Police (PNP), admitted they have limited number of policemen, saying that the ratio has been placed at one policeman for every 1,532 people.

Likewise, the local chief executives said the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 must be amended or a special law crafted that would stop criminal syndicates from using minors in preying on innocent victims.

Mayor Berris pointed out that although a law provides penalties for crime offenders including the minors, "such will not help in putting an end to the involvement of minors in crimes because of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act."

As provided for under the same law, a minor who is 15 years of age or under at the time of the offense committed, shall be completely exempted from criminal liability.

But, if the age is below 18, investigators are required to check the level of the minor's discernment and if proven to have a sound wisdom of the crime, the minor offender will ace charges when they reach the age of 18.  (L.R. Principe/PNA)



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CANDABA, Pampanga -- Mayor Danilo Baylon on Thursday distributed 7,000 healthy chickens to his constituents in the riverside area here to prove that the town is free from avian influenza or bird flu.

 The mayor said the broiler chickens were raised in his poultry farms with properly maintained biosecurity measures.

 He said he transported the broilers with a shipping permit and veterinary health certificate issued by the Provincial Veterinary Office.

 Baylon added that he provides free chicken to his people even before the bird flu outbreak.

 Through his Danway Company, the mayor is regularly distributing broiler chickens to his constituents as part of the firm's corporate social responsibility and commitment to help the marginalized sector in his town. 

 "This is also to show that the broilers were not affected by the bird flu virus," he said.

  Thousands of residents flocked during the distribution as a way of supporting the mayor in promoting Candaba's bird flu-free campaign.

 At present, Candaba is one of the biggest producers of duck and chicken eggs in the country.  (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- A total of 200 business establishments in this city have never renewed their business permits, the Management Information and Computer Services (MICS) Office of the City Government said Friday.

These 200 business firms are among the 14,413 companies earlier identified by Mayor Tomas Osmeña as operating without business permits, the MICS added.

Business Permit Section head Claire Cabalda said the city is losing much money in taxes because of these delinquents.

However, she said the exact amount of loss has yet to be computed.

"I could not give the exact total loss of the City yet, because each permit and each type or nature of business has different computation," Cabalda said. "So, a huge computing job has yet to be done. We have to discuss this with the City Treasurer's Office."

Osmeña said there are about 30,000 business establishments in the city, but only half of them have business permits.

Last week, the mayor closed down the chain of restaurants of Rico's Lechon and Chuva Chuva Spa for operating without permits.

However, Osmeña said he is considering on granting the violators amnesty if they come forward and ask for it. (with reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)



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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- The 35 Miss World Philippines 2017 finalists showed up in their best swimsuit and resort wear for the "Beach Beauty" challenge at Savoy Hotel here.

The final winner for the said round will be announced during the Miss World Philippines coronation night on at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on September 3.

Seven ladies emerged on top for the "Beach Beauty Challenge" held late Thursday afternoon here.

Aklan's pride, 22-year-old Jona Sweett, is among the lucky seven chosen as outstanding in this challenge, part of the Miss World Philippines 2017 competition

The half-Australian beauty who was also crowned as Miss Earth Philippines-Ecotourism in 2015 said she hopes to bring home the crown for Aklan.

Aside from Sweett, also included in the top seven were: Cynthia Thomalla from Cebu, Zara Carbonell from Batangas, Jeanyfer Ozbot from Iloilo, Shiela Reyes from Valenzuela City, Janela Cuaton from Masbate and Teresita Seen Marquez representing Parañaque City.

Aside from the Miss World Philippines crown, three other titles are at stake this year: Miss Eco Philippines, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas, and Miss Multinational Philippines.

This year's Miss World Philippines winner will succeed Catriona Gray and will compete in the Miss World pageant in China in November. (PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) on Friday reported that 6,847. 72 grams of shabu, worth millions of pesos, have been confiscated in the continued anti-illegal drugs campaign here in the region.


The anti-illegal drugs campaign, which started last year, is in line with the anti-drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, PRO-9 information officer, said 55,880 drug personalities have surrendered as of Thursday, August 24, since July 1, 2016.

Drug personalities included pushers and users of illegal drugs.

Galvez said they have so far conducted 489,403 house visitations on the residence of suspected drug personalities.

She said that 2,609 drug personalities were arrested in the 1,922 anti-illegal drug operations they have conducted.

She said that 2,242 of the 2,609 arrested individuals are illegal-drug pushers while the remaining 367 are users.


She further disclosed that 67 drug personalities died in the anti-illegal drug operations after resisting arrest.

A total of 62 of the 67 are drug pushers while the remaining five are users.

Galvez said the anti-illegal drugs campaign in the region continues. (TPGJR/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The South Cotabato police has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) to further strengthen the province's anti-drug advocacy campaign among the youth sector.

Sr. Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said Thursday they decided to replicate DepEd's Barkada Kontra Droga or BKD program to enhance its anti-drug information and education activities in local communities.

"This is to expand our coverage and bring more focus to our anti-drug advocacy campaign," he said.

The BKD was among the flagship programs introduced by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) that advocates the development of the youths to serve as role models  for "a more productive and healthy life away from the ill effects of illegal drugs."

It is being implemented by DepEd in public secondary or high schools through the National Drug Education Program.

A program briefer said BKD is a "peer-based program designed as one of the preventive measures to counter the negative effects of illegal drugs," using information and education dissemination campaign and related activities.

To effectively implement the program, the DDB, in collaboration with DepEd, local government units and anti-drug abuse councils launched the annual search for outstanding program implementers in the secondary schools.

Alvero said they will continue to assist the DepEd in the program's implementation in local schools.

"At the same time, we will implement the program focusing on our out-of-school youths," he said.

He said they will tap as implementers the police officers who were assigned in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education or DARE program for elementary pupils.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, who chairs the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, lauded the move noting that it will help fill the gaps in their ongoing anti-drug advocacy campaigns.

To be more effective, she said the advocacy programs should cover learners from the elementary to the college levels.

"We will focus on addressing these gaps one at a time," the governor said.

She added that the local government will provide for the needed funds for the expansion of the BKD program among the out-of-school youths.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police operatives and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 12 arrested a  notorious drug pusher who previously surrendered to authorities under "Oplan Tokhang" and two other minors  in an anti-drug operation on Thursday in Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Lawyer Noel Morales, NBI-12 regional director, identified the suspects as Roy Lopez Deimoy, 35, and alleged minor cohorts who were named as alias Bong, 17, and0 Jun, 14, all residents of Barangay Maltana in Tampakan.

Armed with a search warrant, he said their agents and backup forces from the South Cotabato Police Provincial Public Safety Company stormed a house owned by Deimoy in Purok 6, Maltana at around 6:30 a.m.      

The search resulted in the recovery of 14 bundles of dried marijuana leaves, a pack of marijuana seeds, several disposable lighters and a roll of aluminum foil, he said.

Morales said the team arrested Deimoy and the two other minors who were also in the house.

'We received information from our civilian asset that the suspect was with the minors in repacking marijuana," he said.

The official said they sent the recovered evidences to the police crime laboratory for examination and evaluation.

He said they turned over the arrested minors to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 for custody.

Morales said Deimoy, who is currently under the custody of the NBI-12, would be charged with violation of Section 11 or possession of dangerous drugs, under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) named a senior officer to serve as the new director of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO).

Installed as the new acting ZCPO director during the turnover of command ceremony Thursday is Sr. Supt. Neri Vincent Ignacio, former chief of the Regional Comptroller Division of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera.

Ignacio, a native of this city, has replaced fellow Zamboangueño, Supt. Diomarie Albarico, who served as officer-in-charge of the ZCPO for a period of four months.

Ignacio, who now resides in Cainta, Rizal, said he will prioritize on the campaign against illegal drugs in line with the war against drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said crime prevention and other police-related functions will also be part of his programs as the acting director of the ZCPO.

The ZCPO under Albarico's command has seized three kilos of shabu worth PhP60 million and arrested three people, including an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in June, this year.

It was the biggest haul of the ZCPO in its war against illegal drugs this year in this city.

Senior Supt. Paro Olagera, the chief directorial staff of Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) presided the turnover of command ceremony on behalf of Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, PRO-9 director.

Beltran was on a provincial command visit to get first hand information on the prevailing situation in the provinces under PRO-9.

OIC-Mayor Cesar Iturralde, the ceremony's guest speaker, challenged the new acting city director to be tough in addressing crimes in this city. (EED/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Task Force Avian Influenza has continued its monitoring even as this city has been declared free from avian influenza.
Dr. Mario Arriola, city veterinarian officer, on Thursday said the monitoring is focused on the traveling or migratory birds since the month of September nears.
It has been noted that every September, migratory birds flock to the wetlands of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (ZSCMST), which also serves as bird sanctuary in this city.
Arriola said included in the monitoring are the wetlands in 18 of this city's 98 barangays.
He disclosed there were reported "questionable mortality" at a poultry farm in Barangay Cabaluay but laboratory analysis on blood samples taken yielded negative of bird flu.
He said they conduct periodic fecal analysis on Barn Swallows that flock daily and stay overnight on electric cables in the city's commercial center.
He said information campaign is also being intensified to drum up awareness on avian influenza.
The entry of poultry and poultry products including birds through the local port is being closely monitored by the concerned agencies. (TPGJR/PNA)

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COTABATO CITY -- A suspected member of big-time drug syndicate operating in North Cotabato was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Kidapawan City.
Director Gil Castro of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12 (PDEA 12) said John Ryan Alvarez of Diamond Street, Kidapawan City was among those in the PDEA drug watch list.
An agent of PDEA 12 posed as buyer and managed to secure methamphetamine hydrochloride from Alvarez who, his neighbors said, was into illegal drug pushing in the area.
Castro said Alvarez, 29, a businessman, was a member of "Simbulan drug syndicate" operating in North Cotabato and parts of Davao del Sur and Maguindanao.
"He (Alvarez) is in our wanted list, he belongs to a big time drug syndicate," Castro, who led the operation, told DXND-AM Radyo Bida in Kidapawan City.
Seized from Alvarez during the buy bust was several sachets of suspected shabu and P500 marked money.
Castro told reporters that the group was also involved in carnapping and gun-running and other crimes.
According to narcotics agents, Alvarez sourced illegal drugs from an unknown group in Matalam and distributed these in Kidapawan City and environs.
In nearby Kabacan, North Cotabato, police also arrested during anti-drug raid in Barangay Poblacion three drug peddlers who have warrants of arrest.
The police, armed with search warrants issued by Hon. Judge Alandrex Betoya, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 16, arrested Jojo Alon, 42, Allan Alon, 41 and Sukarno Beldik, 40, all residents of Barangay Poblacion.
Two other suspects included in the warrant managed to elude arresting members of the Kabacan police office during the 4 p.m. anti-drug operation. They were Elmer Ones, 43 and Joeboy Manuel, all of Barangay Poblacion.
Police operatives recovered five grams of shabu, paraphernalia and a motorbike and a tricycle used by the suspects in drug peddling.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared against the suspects. EOF/PNA

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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan --  Government peacekeepers here began on Wednesday the first of a series of community forums to spread awareness among residents on the threats of insurgency and terrorism.

 The 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDE) started the public forum in Barangay Buenavista, an outlying barangay north of the city, said Captain Jordan Mijares, civil military officer of the 3MBDE.

 Similar public dialogues will also be held in Barangays Bahile and Macarascas in the following days, he said.

 Mijares said the support of Puerto Princesa communities against threats of insurgency and terrorism is important to prevent any untoward incident which may affect the lives of innocent civilians.

"Insurgency is an ill of the society, and if not addressed, will affect our tourism industry. If this happens, our economy will be affected," Mijares said.

 Mijares added their campaign is also meant to increase the confidence of civilians in cooperating with the armed forces and the police in solving peace and order problems.

 He added that a similar campaign was conducted in July in the towns of Brooke's Point and Bataraza particularly in Barangays Saraza and Bono-bono. (PNA)

 



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — More than three months after the armed conflict in Marawi City, the threat level in the neighboring city of Iligan remains high, the city's chief of police said Thursday.

Senior Supt. Leony Roy Ga, Iligan city police director, said local authorities are still on high alert following advisory from the Philippine National Police (PNP) high command.
While armed extremist fighters are still engaging the government forces in Marawi, Ga cited credible reports of suspicious persons mingling with the evacuees.
"We receive intelligence reports from time to time, and we have to verify their veracity. But just the same we remain on alert," Ga said in an interview at the sidelines of the awarding ceremony held at the PNP-10 headquarters at Camp Vicente Alagar in Barangay Lapasan on Thursday.
Ga and the Iligan city police office are both awardees of the PNP. Ga was adjudged as the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations, while his office was awarded with the Best City Police Office.
The awarding ceremony was graced by Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the deputy chief PNP for Administration.
He said the donation of 10 Vios patrol cars and 14 pick-up trucks from the local government had boosted the morale of that city's police force owing to their all-out anti-crime operations.
Ga said the patrol cars are being used for urban police visibility while the pick-up trucks for securing the city's boundaries it shared with Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
With the influx of internally displaced persons from Marawi, he said the Iligan city police are always on the lookout for possible terrorists.

"In light of the Marawi conflict, we are doubling our efforts. Even during the start of the Marawi crisis, we had already anticipated that the next target is Iligan," he said. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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ILOILO CITY-- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has ordered a temporary suspension on the issuance of new sand and gravel permits in the province's five major river systems. 

The suspension order covers the Aganan, Jalaur, Sibalom, Suage and Ulian major river systems, said Defensor in a press conference on Thursday.

The governor said he signed on Wednesday Executive Order (EO) 227, declaring the temporary suspension or moratorium on the issuance of commercial sand and gravel (CSAG) and industrial sand and gravel (ISAG) small-scale mining covering new areas within major river systems of the province.

According to the order, "unabated extraction of sand and gravel along these river systems has resulted to the damage and deterioration of the structural integrity of bridges, irrigation dams, other public and private infrastructures as reported by the monitoring team of the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) VI, the status of the government infrastructures were damaged due to the massive extraction."

Defensor said that he also issued two other executive orders in line with quarrying. One is EO 226, an order regulating the use of backhoe in the extraction of sand and gravel materials in certain areas within river systems; and EO 225 which created an inter-agency task force for rapid river assessment of the major river systems in the province.

Arthuro Cangrejo, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said that there are 51 active quarry permit holders in the five major river systems: 19 in Jalaur; 14 in Ulian; seven each in Suage and Aganan; and four in Sibalom river.

He said that the task force on Thursday postponed assessment of the Suage river due  to the water's high level.  It was tentatively reset to August 31. The plan is also to assess four other rivers in the four succeeding Thursdays.

Under EO 225, the task force is responsible in assessing and profiling of the river systems in the province to determine the extent of the effect of the continuing sand and gravel extraction; determine the volume of materials still available as well as alternative sources of sand and gravel for ongoing and future construction projects.

"We will ask for supplemental budget for additional personnel to implement all ordinances, rules and regulations, executive orders issued in pursuant to or related to quarry operations," Defensor said.

He also planned to gather all barangay captains in the province to remind them of their obligations to protect the environment. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra has called on law enforcement authorities to help the local government in its drive to monitor and thwart extremist groups from radicalizing students.

Gandamra issued the appeal days after the Mindanao State University (MSU) reopened for the new academic year.

Gandamra said the government must step up measures to prevent radicalism not only inside the MSU campus, but local madrasahs (Islamic schools) as well.

While he does not advocate for the closure of madrasahs, the mayor said they must be "regulated" to prevent radical teachings from "spoiling the minds of the young students."

"We will not prevent the operation of madrasahs, but we will regulate and monitor them. This is to ensure that our children will really be guided with core Islamic values and not be swayed by extremism," Gandamra told local journalists here Thursday.

One way to effectively monitor and prevent radicalism is for government to strengthen its intelligence assets, he said.

In the Philippines and in other countries with Muslim populations, a madrasah operates as a school for the study of Islamic religion. It complements its own elementary and secondary curriculum with approval from the Department of Education (DepEd).

Gandamra said he sees the need to vet all individuals and groups interested in reopening existing madrasahs, brief them on the dangers of radicalism and institute measures so it would be prevented.

"This will form part of the rehabilitation of Marawi City," he said.

Gandamra said the local government unit has already coordinated with both the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make sure that all security measures during the first week of classes in MSU are in place. (PNA/Mark D. Francisco)



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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The provincial government here has started working on its tourism brand to strengthen the foothold of Pampanga as a premier destination for a "good life" and best food.

 Governor Lilia Pineda has created a technical working group (TWG) to craft the tourism branding that will help promote the province.

Lord Francis Musni, a local historian and consultant for Heritage Museum and also member of the TWG, said the brand should be sustainable and focus on the unique experience that the province can offer to local and foreign tourists alike.

 "We will be capitalizing on the unique experience that Pampanga has to offer, not only to Pampanga, not only to the region, to the Philippines and to the world. For the longest time, we are the oldest province since 1571 but for the longest time, we're just a stopover, pit stop for comfort room stops, for buying 'pasalubong' (souvenirs). If you get hungry along NLEX, they don't really stay. But Pampanga has a lot to offer. In short, Pampanga will be coming out to become one of the viable places for people to enjoy the good life. We will be repackaging Pampanga as a destination for a good life," he said in an interview on Thursday.

Musni added the central theme of the brand will give emphasis on food as Pampanga is known as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines."

"Central idea will be food because we can brag about it and we can get away with it because we know we have a very discriminating taste and this will work with food being the central theme. We would also be capitalizing on other good things that we have: efficient transport service, our synergy of roads, our connectivity to the airports and the ports and our hospitality as a people," he said.

 Aside from the tourism seal, the TWG is also working on the branding system for Pampanga-made products.

 Board member Anthony Joseph Torres, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Industry, and Commerce, said that product branding will raise the quality and marketability of local products.

 Torres said a team from the TWG will receive, evaluate and accredit applications for both products and producers in the province.

Once accredited, the product will bear the "Quality Seal" or the registered logo of the province on their packaging, he said.

 Meanwhile, Provincial tourism officer Arwin Lingat said the provincial tourism brand will be launched in December to coincide with the celebration of Pampanga Day. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is intensifying awareness on flying unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, urging sellers to also inform buyers of existing regulations by the Civil Aeronautics Aviation of the Philippines (CAAP).

This developed after two people were briefly held by the police for flying drones near a downtown hotel here during the Kadayawan Pamulak or Flower Float Parade last Sunday. They were released on the same day.

DCPO spokesperson, Sr. Inspector Ma Theresa Gaspan, said one is an employee of an airline company while the other is a wedding documenter. The two have requested not to mention their names.

However, Gaspan said the airline company employee showed a permit from CAAP as part of the Davao promotional video of its upcoming international flight.

The other, Gaspan, said was taking an aerial video for a pre-nuptial coverage. The person was not aware of the existing regulation.


In 2014, CAAP released a Memorandum Circular No. 35-21 of 2014 requiring drone owners to register their equipment "to bear the registration markings 'PR-U' followed by the assigned number 001 to 999, followed by a letter from A to Z." To be certified as a UAV controller, owners should qualify for a radio operator's certificate of proficiency: have been awarded a "passed" rating in an aviation license theory examination: have been awarded a "passed" rating in an instrument theory examination: have completed a training course on the operation of the type of UAV that he/she possesses to operate; and, have at least five hours experience operating UAVs outside controlled airspace.


The owners or operators, who will use drones commercially, must register with the CAAP and secure a certification to operate the drones. A Large UAV is an unmanned airship with an envelope capacity greater than 100 cubic meters; a Micro UAV has a gross weight of 100 grams or less; and, Small UAV has neither a large UAV nor a micro UAV.

Drones are not allowed because these can be used for surveillance. It must not be flown in crowded areas, restricted areas like airports, or no-fly zones like military camps or the presidential residence.

Last June, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) assigned at the residence of President Rodrigo Duterte apprehended two persons and were also briefly held at the Investigation Division of the DCPO for flying drones over the residence of the President at Dona Luisa Subdivision.

Gaspan said the PSG, however, decided not to file a case against them for humanitarian consideration.

She said the two were just playing and they were not aware of the regulation. Instead of paying a fine of P500,000, Gaspan said the family donated the drone to the DCPO.

The drone donated to DCPO has become a useful tool for its operation such as during the Kadayawan Festival.

Gaspan said that stores selling drones should also inform their buyers about the procedures and regulations before owning one.

"This is also one reason why we have to raise awareness about flying drones," Gaspan said in an interview Thursday. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the proposed establishment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) training academy in southern Negros could boost the security efforts of the province.

"If there is a Coast Guard academy, there will be patrol boats. It would be a big help," the governor said.

Marañon underscored the need to make the province peaceful, livable, and ready for further development following Task Force Buglas Orientation for Local Chief  Executives and Liga ng mga Barangay Municipal and City Chapter presidents held Wednesday.

Task Force Buglas is the anti-terrorism task force formed by the governor in June.

"We must be vigilant and prepared. We should guard every locality," Marañon added.

The Coast Guard is eyeing to put up more facilities in Negros Island as part of its maritime security strategy. Other facilities being planned include a training center, and additional stations and a sub-station, particularly in southern Negros.

Commodore Joel Garcia, officer-in-charge of PCG, who met with the governor during his visit here last month, said they want to strengthen Coast Guard's presence in Negros Occidental.

"We believe Negros is a very important island because of its proximity to Mindanao," he said.

Garcia added that Negros Island is a "good place to enhance the Coast Guard system" to provide support to neighboring regions, including Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

Marañon, for his part, stressed the need for the province to become peaceful to sustain its tourism industry, citing that Negros Occidental is the second most visited place in the country by Filipino domestic travelers in 2016, based on  the data released by the Department of Tourism and  Philippine Statistics Authority.

The governor  ordered the creation of Task Force Buglas in June to counter terror threat down to the barangays.(PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The City Council here has asked the City Agriculture Office to put in place protocols in handling bird flu cases.

The City Council on Thursday passed the resolution authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, who said the legislation aims to ensure that city's poultry industry will be protected.

Verdeflor cited the two recent cases of avian influenza that have been confirmed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Jaen and San Isidro towns of Nueva Ecija after a series of laboratory tests on specimens gathered from quails and layer chickens.

"It is imperative that our City Agriculture Office should be vigilant in monitoring this situation and should be prepared with the protocols in the handling of live chickens, ducks, dressed chicken and eggs in cases of bird flu to protect our poultry farmers and the poultry industry in Bacolod City," Verdeflor said.

With the  bird  flu  infection in several Luzon towns, chicken and other fowls within the one-kilometer radius have been culled to stop the virus from spreading while poultry farmers in the area were not allowed to raise chickens and ducks until after a 90-day period following international disease control protocols.

On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) lifted the ban on the shipment of poultry products from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao on certain conditions.

According to the DA, products must not be sourced within the seven-kilometer quarantine radius of bird flu affected areas in San Luis, Pampanga and in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija.

In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Veterinary Office earlier this week conducted an orientation for para-veterinarians (paravets) as part of the readiness plan against the avian flu virus.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Inspection Division, said the participants were oriented on bird flu, particularly on prevention of the virus from infecting poultry products.

Educating the paravets is part of the PVO's preparedness plan to enable them to help spread the right information to the grassroots level, he said. (PNA)



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BATAC CITY -- A joint resolution that authorizes President Rodrigo Duterte to create a task force to revitalize the country's garlic industry is gaining headway at the 17th Congress through the initiative of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and support of seven development agencies and four provincial governments.

Proposed by MMSU officers Dr. Prima Fe Franco, Junie Bucao, and Samuel Franco, the resolution, now in the hands of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, aims to arrest the present plight of garlic which is experiencing a dramatic price increase in the local market and the reported decrease in local production in recent years.

MMSU president Shirley Agrupis said one of MMSU's roles in the task force is the efficient operation of its Garlic Research Center which undertakes garlic applied research and development and location specific studies in Ilocos Norte, and the production of true-to-type foundation planting materials for the local farmers.

The Congress is now trying to annually allocate funds in the budget of MMSU under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) specifically for basic garlic research and development. For three years, the project shall have a total budget of PHP57.5 million.

The proponents said such move was done to address the garlic industry's numerous problems as production has not improved significantly during the past decades that resulted in farmers' low profitability.

Low production level has encouraged the importation of the commodity.

"To protect the industry, certain tariff and non-tariff barriers were imposed and these have resulted to smuggling," the proponents said, adding that these problems have reached the Senate and the House of Representatives which led to their committee hearings.

Once approved, one of the task force's mandates is to develop a mechanism to include garlic as a component of an alternative farming system.

Aside from MMSU, the agencies involved in this effort are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), and the provincial governments of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union. (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte is set to celebrate the 100th birthday or centenary of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) beginning September 6, Wednesday.

Born on September 11, 1917, Marcos' centenary immediately precedes the bicentennial foundation anniversary of Ilocos Norte in February 2018.

Organized by the Provincial Tourism Office under the Ilocos Norte government, this year's festivities will begin with the "Marcos Pa Rin!" Literary and Arts Festival, a two-day event that will celebrate the former president's achievements and national contributions while also encouraging the Ilocano youth to develop their skills through a set of contests.

Ilocos Norte Tourism Officer Aian Raquel said Thursday the opening celebration will engage the different school levels, from elementary up to college.

"The annual FEM Debates will be held with the Ilocos Norte Debate Society," Raquel added, citing there will also be competitions for singing, contemporary dance with OPM [original Pilipino music], and an oratorical contest.

According to Raquel, it would be the first time for the celebration of FEM's birthday to feature traditional oration.

Also included are a pop-up exhibition of digital posters and art pieces in honor of Marcos, a quiz show, a "KalesArt"competition for horse-driven carriages, and a tour-guiding contest.

Organizers also hope to put together an Ilocano version of "The Pickers," a television show on the History Channel, featuring crowdsourced Marcosiana items, as well as the "Amazing Makoy Race." (PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Police authorities in this city have taken in custody a suspect allegedly involved in a shooting incident that wounded a forester of the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, chief of the City Police Office (CPO), said Thursday that suspected gunman Florante Saycon and his son, whose name was not made available, are now in their custody for allegedly shooting forester Joselito Eyala, 33.

Eyala, who sustained two gunshot wounds on his back and neck, was allegedly fired at by Saycon when he confiscated the latter's unregistered chainsaw they were using in illegally cutting down a first-growth tree that measures 50 centimeters in width near Barangay Bacungan shortly before sundown on Wednesday.

The victim was with other forest enforcers conducting patrol against illegal loggers near the Bacungan area when the incident happened, according to Cariaga.

"Eyala's team was in the area because they were investigating alleged violation of the Chainsaw Act (R.A. 9175). When they were about to leave, the shooting incident happened," he said.

The victim is confined at the Palawan Adventist Hospital.

Felizardo Cayatoc, provincial environment officer of the DENR, said Saycon fired at Eyala when they were leaving the area with the chainsaw. The other DENR team members run towards different directions to escape from the suspect.

The Saycons were arrested Thursday morning and brought to the Irawan Police Station for investigation and eventual filing of appropriate charges. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- A total of 1,901 private workers from Western Visayas have earned tenure due to the end contractualization (endo) campaign of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE 6 Regional Director Johnson Cañete said that 820 of these workers were regularized by virtue of the order of the regional director. The rest were voluntarily regularized by their employers. The figure covers the period from January to August this year.

During visits of their labor law compliant officers to a particular company, Cañete said they study the organizational structure including positions that can be contracted out and those that can be given tenure.

After the assessment, those with violations are given the chance to comply with the labor standards. If companies fail after a period of time, they will be called through a mandatory conference. Thereafter, an order will be issued wherein companies are bound to comply, he explained.

He added that legitimate contracting is allowed if workers do not perform core functions of the company such as security guards and janitorial services. "We look forward that voluntarily on their part, these companies will regularize," he said.

He also stressed that DOLE does not penalize companies because they are the ones providing employment. Instead, they are only called to "comply with labor standards."

Meantime, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that DOLE will intensify the campaign against contractualization as soon as they train enough labor law compliant officers (LLCOs). He revealed that DOLE has only more than 500 inspectors who are supposed to cover 900,000 business establishments nationwide.

President Rodrigo Duterte, he said, has already approved additional 200 LLCOs though he requested for 2,500.

He said that they have requested management association and labor groups to nominate volunteers who can be trained and deputized as labor inspectors to assist LLCOs.

Bello was here Thursday for the Charter Day job fair of Iloilo City. (PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) is setting aside P20 million to complete the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone (LEIZ) master plan and feasibility study in the next two years.

The trade department sees the blueprint as a key to attract investments to the proposed LEIZ designed to complement the 425-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate, the home to the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (Pasar).

DTI-BOI Executive Director Raul Angeles, who signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the Trade Department late Thursday afternoon at Hotel Alejandro said their office has already allocated PHP10 million for drafting of master plan and another PHP10 million to complete the feasibility study.

The plan will be done next year, while the detailed study is up for printing by 2019.

The two documents form part of the Copper Industry Roadmap, which aims to promote the integrated development and competitiveness of copper and other related industries in Eastern Visayas. 

"Both the master plan and study will be actively marketed by the BOI to local and foreign investors for the establishment of the zone," Angeles said.

The DTI-BOI has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Visayas State University (VSU) based in Baybay City, in the preparation of tender documents for the masterplan and study.

The deal calls for VSU to appoint project team members who possess the qualifications, educational background, and experience necessary to serve the project and consult with the BOI and Copper Industry Roadmap technical working group to develop the LEIZ master plan and study.



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LEGAZPI CITY --- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bicol on Friday morning cancelled sailing in the ports of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte due to Tropical Storm "Jolina," according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the province. 

Raising of storm Signal Number One prompted the PCG to cancel inbound or outbound sailing in these ports.

Hundreds of passengers, trucks, and passenger buses are expected to be stranded due to the cancellation of trips in the ports of Catanduanes and Camarines provinces.

The OCD issued the advisory to local disaster councils to prohibit fishermen in the coastal towns to go out at sea due to expected strong waves as "Jolina" intensifies. (PNA)

 



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TACLOBAN CITY – News about bird flu outbreak in Luzon has dropped the sales of chicken meat in Leyte province, small traders here confirmed Friday.

The bird flu scare, according to Tacloban market vendor Joelito Montesclaros, 46, resulted in more than 50 percent decrease in sales in the past two weeks.

"Before the news about bird flu outbreak, I used to sell up to 30 kilograms of chicken meat daily, but now it has gone down to less than 15 kilograms," Montesclaros said.

Despite the huge sales drop, the price of chicken in the wet market is pegged at P135 per kilogram, the vendor noted.

About 42 kilometers south of Tacloban, a chicken meat trader in Burauen, Leyte also expressed dismay over the bird flu issue.

"Though we are far from Pampanga, we are still affected because the people are scared to buy chicken meat. We can really feel the decrease in our sales," said Aurora Lagario, whose sales dropped to 10 kilograms from 20 kilograms last month.

Department of Health regional epidemiology and surveillance unit Roderick Boyd Cerro said there's no harm in consuming thoroughly cooked chicken meat.

"It is considered safe to eat the chicken meat. The one at risk are the people in contact with live chickens. People should not be afraid of eating it because the virus is found in the secretions of the chicken. It is found in its manure and sometimes in their eggs," Cerro said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) regional technical director Andrew Rodolfo Orais clarified that the region never had bird flu outbreak.

"Aside from strict quarantine measures, the DA, national government agencies, and local government units are closely guarding entry points to prevent entry of bird flu in the region," Orais said.

The farm department also asked local authories to check the measures in place for poultry operators to keep bird flu out of Eastern Visayas.

The DA also ordered the National Meat Inspection Service to make rounds of the outlets of poultry and poultry products and post signages certifying that all those sold in the market are safe to eat. (with reports from Madelene B. Perez, OJT/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY-- Former world champion Randy "Razor" Petalcorin of Davao City will fight Jetly Purisima of Gen. Santos City on September 9 at the Polomolok Gym in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
The 8-rounder bout is one of the undercards in the "Road to Stardom" fight card of the Sanman Boxing Promotions.
Petalcorin, who holds a record of 26 wins, two losses and 19 knockouts, captured the IBF Pan Pacific light flyweight title via a unanimous decision win against Arnold Garde last December 4 at Robinson's Gensan.
The 25-year-old Petalcorin, a former WBA world light flyweight champion, previously stopped Mark Anthony Florida in the 6th round last February 26 at the Lagao Gym in Gensan. Purisima (21W-23L-4D, 7KOs), on the other hand, is hungry to score a victory since he is already coming from five straight losses.
A former Philippine Boxing Federation light flyweight champion, Purisima was stopped by Raymond Tabugon in the 7th round in his last fight held last May 12 in Davao.The 29-year old Purisima also earlier bowed to Mike Plania, Lolito Sonsona, Jason Canoy and Genesis Libranza.
Meanwhile, pitted in the main event is IBF Youth super flyweight champion Jade Bornea (8-0, 5 KOs) defending his title against first challenger Jakkrawut Majoogoen (19-1-0, 11 KOs) of Thailand.
The main supporting bout is the championship fight for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Silver bantamweight title between Ben Mananquil (14W-1L-2D, 3KOs) of Gensan and Rhey Waminal (11W-1L-0D, 6KOS) of Thailand. (Lito delos Reyes/PNA

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ILOILO CITY -- Twenty-eight finalists out of 96 entries vie to represent Western Visayas to the annual national invention contests and exhibits (NICE), a platform to promote inventions, innovations and technologies.

The finalists will be showcased in the 2017 regional invention contests and exhibits (RICE) slated August 29-31 as part of the Science and Technology Week celebration in Western Visayas. NICE is organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

DOST regional director Rowen Gelonga said they have finalists for categories utility model, creative research (Likha Award), and student creative research (Sibol Award) for high school and college. There were no finalists for invention (Tuklas Award) and industrial design categories.

Gelonga is hoping some of the participants will develop their research and development (R & D) output as DOST has various support for researchers and inventions.

"We are hoping that they can really further improve the technology so that they can be ready for market," he stated.

He added they are looking forward to the commercialization of viable technologies.

The exhibits, meanwhile, will highlight three areas being supported by the DOST -- disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), industry services and research, and development (R&D) activities related to agriculture and fisheries.

For the DRRM, DOST has requested the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Service Administration (PAG-ASA) to bring its storm chaser, a mobile facility that can track weather condition. Also to form part of the exhibit is the replica of 'Diwata,' the first Filipino-made satellite.

Virtual reality exhibits for industry services will be made available to allow visitors "to experience facilities and services in specialized centers in Manila," according to Gelonga.

TekTienda, a bazaar that will showcase micro, small and medium enterprises assisted by the DOST, is part of the exhibit.

The opening of the three-day event in SM City in Mandurriao is expected to be graced by Science Secretary Fortunato De la Peña. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- A school run by an organization has a different way of stirring children's interest to read by paying them when they visit the center and read during their free time.
Tancho Baes, executive director of "Hope for the Nation Philippines", said the children's reading club has a twist. The organization which Baes heads is an affiliate of global organization of Hope of the Nation in Canada.
"We pay our children to read with us with the objective that we want them to be fluent in English, have good reading comprehension and articulate communicator," Baes said.
But Baes stressed reading is just part of a whole approach which the organization adopted in transforming a community of informal settlers and making the children become leaders in the future.
He said the organization has an innovative school adopting the home school style of teaching the children. The kids learn at their own pace and each child has a laptop which they use while in school.
There are 150 enrolled in the school with two teachers and a principal who are also learning facilitators. He said he makes sure the school complies with the requirements of the Department of Education (DepEd) for they have students from pre-school to Grade 12.
Their long-term plan is to offer courses in public administration, governance, peace building. Part of the plan is to teach them the basics of law, economics, accounting, ethics, entrepreneurship and leadership.
"Our school is really different from other schools because our goal is to be able to raise these children to become like leaders where as early as 6 years old we want them to already think as leaders," he said.
"The bottomline really is that we want the kids to go into public service that is why in our school we offer courses in public administration, governance, peace building, economics, law because at the end of this program the profile of a successful child must have a heart for God, for this country and the passion to serve thus we have very different approach," he added.
In relation to the reading program, Baes said the school proceeds are deposited in the Hope Bank of the school that is run by children. The bank has a set of officers, board of directors and advisors selected from among the children as part of their training.
He said the initial money of P700 from the reading program has grown to P24,000 through their income generating projects. In 11 months of operating the said bank, the kids are planning to put up a convenient store soon with the help of the Church in Canada which pledged to provide the capital.
The children found a space which they will rent using their available money. Every Saturday night, Baes said the children hold a night market where they sell used clothing, food, and school supplies.
"They are starting to develop jewelry-making and trinkets also that they might sell here and even in Canada," he said.
Baes said the organization also works with the parents for sustainable income through urban container gardening. Already, owners of Nanay Bebeng and Chippens wanted the organization to supply them daily with 80 kilos pechay.
The container gardening, he said is being supported by the Hope Tours where they rent out van and the proceeds go to the gardening project.
"We are expanding our production area where we grow the vegetables in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes," he said. The organization already added lettuce in their garden.
He said they will be partnering with adjacent property owners whose area they could spare for their vegetable growing. The Agdao area is the organization's laboratory for technology transfer to children and parents and the bigger area is in Inangan in Calinan where they partner with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry and the Philippine Coconut Authority, he said.
Baes said the organization piloted the program on transformation in San Vicente, Agdao district with 1,500 families participating although they cater to eight other areas of informal settlers in the city.
"We want to develop a template in San Vicente where we can replicate it to other areas," he said, adding that the organization's vision is to see San Vicente as a transformed community that has a school, a house of faith and equipped with skills training programs for parents and children. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Six houses were totally destroyed while 14 others sustained partial damages after flashfloods swept riverside communities in four villages in Tupi town in South Cotabato on Thursday afternoon.

Emil Sumagaysay, Tupi Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said Friday a major river swelled starting around 2 p.m. and triggered flashfloods following heavy rains in the area.

He said the floods affected communities in portions of Barangays Acmonan, Linan, Cebuano and Bololmala that were traversed by a tributary of the Marbel River.

No casualty was reported due to the floods, he said.

"There was a localized thunderstorm so the rains were quite heavy in our upland areas," Sumagaysay said in a radio interview.

Citing their initial assessment, he said three houses at Sitio Datalta, Barangay Acmonan were totally destroyed and eight others sustained various damages as a result of the floods.

He said a house was also reported as totally destroyed in Barangay Bololmala and another in Barangay Linan.

In Barangay Cebuano, he said a house was totally destroyed while six others were partially damaged after being submerged in floodwaters and mud.

Sumagaysay said the displaced households in Barangays Acmonan Linan, Cebuano and Bololmala are presently staying with their relatives.

The others affected in Barangay Cebuano were able to return to their homes after the floods subsided on Thursday night.

Aside from the damaged houses, he said there were also reported damages to crops, especially pineapple, and several farm animals were washed away and drowned the floods.

"Our damage assessment is still ongoing and we received reports of damages to road networks, riverbank protection structures and other infrastructure," he said.

He said the local government gathered the affected residents on Friday morning at the barangay hall of Acmonan and provided them with food and other relief items.

Sumagaysay said the local government remains on alert due to the possibility of heavy rains, especially in the afternoon, and might trigger floods and landslides.

He noted that the four flood-hit barangays among the areas earlier identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as highly prone to weather-related disasters.

The other areas being monitored are upland and riverside communities in Barangays Lunen, Tubeng, Bunano and Simbo, he said.(AVE/PNA)   



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Residents here will get free public transport rides on selected routes for the entire month of September courtesy of the city government.

Restituto Facurib Jr., city terminal manager, said Friday the free rides are in line with the city's annual treat dubbed "Libreng Sakay Para Sa Mga Heneral."

He said that from Sept. 1 to 30, commuting residents will have a chance to avail of free bus, van and tricycle rides.

For the bus and van rides, he said residents travelling to nearby Koronadal City may get free passes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a "first come, first served" basis.

Facurib said the free bus rides would be available in selected units of the Yellow Bus Line, Husky Tours and Rural Transit that would be leaving the City Bulaong Terminal.

"They will open one free ride daily for the entire month," he said in a statement.

Another bus company, Mindanao Star, will offer 54 free seats for a single trip on Sept. 1, he said.

On the same day, the official said four 18-seater passenger vans accredited by the city terminal will also ferry 72 passengers for free.

Facurib said a coupon will be placed on the bus and van tickets to determine the lucky passengers.

Aside from this, he said passengers arriving at the city terminal on Sept. 1 will be treated to free tricycle rides, limited to one passenger per trip and only for destination within the city proper.

The city government offers the free transport rides in the last several years as tribute to the birthday of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on Sept. 1.

The initiative is spearheaded by the city terminal division of the City Administrator's Office and in partnership with transport companies and associations.

"The support from our transport association members and bus companies was overwhelming and we were able to also get some help from other stakeholders," Facurib said.

The month-long "Libreng Sakay Para Sa Mga Heneral" will complement with this year's Tuna Festival celebration, which is slated Sept. 1 to 5.

The city will also host on Sept. 20-24 the first-ever Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA culture and arts celebration dubbed Budayaw Festival.(AVE/PNA)   



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KORONADAL CITY -- House Speaker and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Secretary General Pantaleon Alvarez warned Friday of rampant illegal recruitment activities for membership into their party in exchange for money.

Alvarez, who led a mass oath-taking here of around 3,000 new party members, said they have received reports that some individuals claiming to be PDP recruiters have been visiting sitios and barangays to enlist new members.

He said the "illegal recruiters" were administering oaths and were issuing supposed party identification cards for undisclosed fees.

The recruits were promised of appointment as barangay officials, he said.

The official admitted that some of these recruiters were legitimate PDP members.

"They were recruiting members without the knowledge of the party leadership. They don't report how much they charge and earn from these," he said during the oath-taking ceremony at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center.

Owing to this, Alvarez said the party membership nationwide is currently undergoing reorganization.

He said their leadership decided to implement disciplinary actions on their members who were behind the illegal recruitment schemes.

To address the problem, he said they issued a memorandum that only authorized top leaders of the party to administer the oaths of new members.

These are PDP President, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III; Vice President, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi; and, the Secretary General.

"Those who did not take their oaths without their presence are fake members," Alvarez said.

He urged their new members, who underwent basic membership orientation and seminar before taking their oaths, to monitor such activities and warn their residents in their respective barangays.

The new PDP members were composed mostly of barangay chairs and councilors in South Cotabato and the second district of Sultan Kudarat.

The oath-taking ceremony, which was also joined by Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles, was facilitated by Deputy House Speaker and South Cotabato second district Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez and Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr.

Hernandez, formerly with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), transferred to the ruling party in May last year.

Alvarez credited the recruitment of South Cotabato's local leaders to the push made by Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

But Fuentes remains a member of the NPC, which is coalition partner of PDP and part of the House majority.

"We're not recruiting Gov. Fuentes to join us. That was requested by the NPC leadership and we're respecting that," he said.

Alvarez added that their party has decided this early to endorse Fuentes as their official candidate for governor in the 2019 local and national mid-term elections.(With Alejandro Saludo/PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) has temporarily suspended starting Friday morning all tourism activities in Sagada, Mt. Purgatory, and Mt. Pulag.

 Frances Ivy Carasi, Office of the Civil Defense Cordillera (OCD-CAR) information officer, relayed the advisory from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Park and Management Office as well as the local DRRMC.

 The advisory states that hiking, trekking, and caving at the three favorite destinations in the Cordillera Region are temporarily suspended due to the threats of tropical storm "Jolina".

 Mt. Pulag and Mt. Purgatory are both located in Bokod, Benguet, while Sagada is located in the Mountain Province.

 The provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province are presently under typhoon signal number 2, while Apayao province is under signal number 1.

 Classes have also been suspended as of Friday. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Tourist arrivals in Region 12 reached around 2.5 million during the first half of the year despite the declaration of martial law in May.

Nelly Nita Dillera, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 12 director, said Friday the figure was about 21 percent more as compared to the same period last year that only reached 2.06 million.

"This only shows that our tourism industry has continued to thrive despite the peace and security problems in our neighboring provinces," she said in a press conference.

Also known as Socksargen, 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.

A report released by DOT-12 showed that this city recorded the highest tourist arrivals from January to June with a total of 806,841.

Sarangani posted total visitors of 649,060, followed by North Cotabato with 303,488, South Cotabato with 259,965, Cotabato City with 126,814, Kidapawan City with 116,016, Tacurong City with 106,376, Koronadal City with 98,775, and Sultan Kudarat with 37,627.

But Dillera said the number of foreign visitors dropped by 55 percent or from 32,733 in 2016 to 14,893 this year.

In terms of day tourists, she said the figures increased by 47 percent or from 1,529,224 in 2016 to 2,241,137 this year.

But for overnight tourists or visitors who spend overnight in the area, she said the number only increased by 7 percent.

"We need to improve on this. We really wanted our tourists to stay and spend time longer in our destinations, and cities and provinces because that means they would be spending more money in these areas," she said.

Michelle Solon, chair of the Region 12 tourism council, said the increase in the area's tourist arrivals during the first half of the year showed that the area was not much affected by the prevailing martial law.

She said the situation on the ground remained "very normal" and the lifestyle of residents did not change.

"Nothing can stop the beauty of our region and in staying attractive. No matter what is the condition of the government, people will continue to come and experience our place," she added.(AVE/PNA



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DAVAO CITY – The city government on Friday launched a three-month test run of 30 public utility vehicles and four garbage collection trucks of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) to determine the viability and sustainability of using recycled cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

The biodiesel project is an initiative of the city government with the help of the Japan International Cooperating Agency (Jica) using the technology of recycling used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. It is the technology offered to the city government for free by Biomass Japan Inc. and Shinozaki Transport Warehouse Co. Ltd.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led Friday's launching, said the test run will be for three months from September to November using four of the city's garbage trucks and 30 public utility vehicles of the Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC).

The mayor said the biodiesel fuel is sold at P16 per liter or lower by 50 per cent of the diesel fuel sold by fuel companies at P32 per liter. Duterte-Carpio said using the biodiesel fuel would benefit consumers and even the city government in terms of fuel expenses.

Under the project, the city government piloted the collection of used cooking oil from households and establishments from 10 barangays in the first district as collection points.

It will not only protect the environment but de-clog canals given that used cooking oil is dumped into canals. According to a survey conducted in 2009, 65 per cent of air pollution is attributed to the emission from automobiles, especially from jeepneys equipped with old diesel engine which emit exhaust gases.

Citing a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2005, the city government said that more than 30 per cent of water pollution is attributed to waste water from households including the illegal disposal of used cooking oil.

In December 2015, former mayor now President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order prohibiting the dumping of used cooking oil into the environment and tasked Cenro to collect used cooking oil from establishments and households.

Meanwhile, under the agreement, Jica will provide the equipment that will be used for the recycling process while the city government provides the site which is temporarily located at CENRO's composting facility in Maa.

According to Shegito Mizumoto, the trainor of Japan Biomass, the Davao city government is sole LGU recipient of the biodiesel project. JICA chose Davao as a pilot area for this project because of its efficient enforcement of local legislation.

Mizumoto said Biomass Japan will provide the training and the technology which costs about P10 million. But the technology is given to the city for free. Biomass Japan will install the facility and train the operational and maintenance staff of CENRO.

The machine can produce 3,000 liters of biodiesel per day. The 1,000 liters used cooking oil is equivalent to 900 liters biodiesel fuel. The project came following the visit of city officials to Japan in September last year for a five-day orientation and observation of Japan's biodiesel project.

In that visit, residents voluntarily brought their used cooking oil to a village hall where a container is provided for used cooking oil collection. The fuel generated from the technology is used by some companies in Japan.

Earlier, Director and Consul Tomoko Dodo of the Consular Office of Japan in the city said the success of the Bio Diesel Fuel production between Japan and Davao will make the latter a model city in the global arena since this is the first time that Japan will be bringing out this technology outside the country.

"We have done it in Japan and we are confident that this can also be done in Davao City. And if it is good then we want to expand to the other areas," Dodo earlier said. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Twenty-three barangays in Negros Occidental received a total of PHP7.4 million worth of financial assistance from the provincial government in series of releases this week.

As of Friday, three barangays of Manapla town were given a total of PHP1.5 million for the renovation of their respective barangay halls. Recipients were Barangay II-Poblacion, Barangay II-A, and Barangay San Pablo. Some PHP5.9 million in financial assistance was also distributed for the implementation of various projects in 20 more barangays. 

Ten of the recipient-barangays in Silay City -- Barangays 1,  2,  3, 5;  Guinhalaran, Balaring, Mambulac, E. Lopez, Patag, and Bagtic --  received a total of PHP2.8 million in assistance. The fund will be used for the rehabilitation of canals and drainage systems, repair of footwalks, rip-rap project, purchase of multi-purpose vehicles, and clean and green projects.

A total of PHP2.05 million were released to eight barangays of Talisay City,  including  Barangays Zone 1, Zone 5, Zone 7, Zone 14, Zone 14-A,  Zone 15,  Concepcion, and Matab-ang. Their projects include construction of communal toilets, rehabilitation of drainage systems, de-clogging of canals, rip rapping of the riverbank, and purchase of multi-purpose vehicle.

Other recipients were Barangay Refugio in Calatrava with PHP500,000 for an electrification project and Barangay Maquiling in Sagay City with P600,000 for  a road concreting project.

Last July 26, the provincial government also released PHP2.725 million worth of assistance to 11 villages of Isabela town. The recipients were Barangay 2 Poblacion, Barangay 7 Poblacion, Barangay 8, Amin, Banogbanog, Cansalongon, Cabcab, Lima-lima, Maytubig, Riverside and Sebucauan.

Among the projects were the rehabilitation and improvement of water supply systems, improvement of barangay hall, and flood control projects.

Before this, the provincial government also released checks totaling PHP11.15 million to officials and representatives of 11 barangays in various local government units for their projects.  (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) to extend the shipment ban for poultry products, particularly gamefowl being transported to the province.

Dr. Renante Decena, chief of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said the Office of the Vice Governor sent the letter-request to the DA central office in Quezon City on Thursday.

The Negros Gamefowl Breeders Association and Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros is seeking extension of the one-month transport ban due to concerns that the transport of fighting cocks on the heels of the bird flu outbreak can affect the national cock derbies next month.

Gamefowl is considered the second largest industry in Negros Occidental, next to sugar.

As an "underground economy" of the province, it is producing 25,000 to 50,000 heads of ready-to-fight gamefowl each month.

Decena said that in Negros Occidental, the poultry ban extension is necessary for gamefowl because of the regular daily movement of stocks.

Negrense gamefowl breeders transport fighting cocks for derbies in Luzon, for instance. Fighting cocks are also shipped to the province at the same time.

With the upcoming derbies in September, breeders here are apprehensive that the lifting of the ban on poultry coming from Luzon could affect their stocks.

In support of this, the Provincial Board passed a resolution on Wednesday approving the request of the two associations to extend the poultry transport ban for one month.

Decena said the lifting of the ban is too soon, which makes gamefowl breeders uncomfortable.

 "It should be 21 days after the last day of stamping out," he said.

Decena explained that gamefowl should pass  two laboratory tests to confirm that the animal is  negative of bird flu, adding that the shipper should also secure a veterinary health certificate and shipping permit. (PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) announced on Friday plans of reviving a network of public information officers (PIOs) especially in the provinces to allow for a two-way communication between the Palace and the grassroots level.

Secretary Andanar made the announcement at a press conference during his visit Friday morning to Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental.

The PCOO chief explained that part of their visit is to revive the group of PIOs nationwide through the recent launching of the Provincial Communication Officers' Network.

In line with this, Andanar said they have already visited Surigao Del Norte, Agusan Del Norte, General Santos City, Sarangani, Pangasinan and the Cordilleras.

After Dumaguete City, the PCOO chief and his party will proceed to nearby Siquijor Island.

Andanar cited the importance of having PIOs in the municipalities and cities, and the need to bring them together under the provincial communication officers' network.

This, he said, is to make it easier to deliver the message of the President down to "purok" level or to the communities.
This will also open the line of communications between the provinces, through the PIOs, and Malacañang.

"This way we have a more vibrant communication," Andanar pointed out.

He also highlighted the importance of educating the municipalities that do not have PIOs because they are among the primary "source of information" that can help the national government in disseminating information to barangays and the local media.

Andanar also cited the establishment of Philippine Communicators Network (PHILCOMNET) during the incumbency of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 but did not pan out, but now he says "we will resuscitate, relaunch that network in the hope of being able to communicate easily" from top to bottom and vice versa.

Andanar also said they are here to meet with the local media because of the need to strengthen ties with them.

"Because the President time and again mentioned, especially during the campaign, the importance of decentralizing government. So when you decentralize government it is not limited to DPWH, PNP, AFP, etcetera, but we should also decentralize information", Andanar said.

The PCCO secretary said this is "to make everyone feel that there is government after all through the means of communication". (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)



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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- The town of Masantol in this province has been formally declared as the first municipality in Central Luzon to be cleared from illegal drugs.

This, as all of the 26 barangays of Masantol were cleared from drug infestation after complying with the parameters set forth pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No 3 series of 2017.

The awarding of the formal certification was held on Friday at the Benigno Hall, Provincial Capitol Compound, City of San Fernando here.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, director of the Police Regional Office 3, lauded the efforts of the local government of Masantol and police in its strong commitment to eliminate hard drugs.

 "Needless to say, I am in awe that while I am still the regional director of PRO3, one municipality under my watch has been declared drug-free and I am proud of this achievement." Aquino said in his statement.

He expressed optimism that more municipalities and even provinces in the region will soon be declared drug-free because of their intensified barangay drug clearing operations, in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Aquino asked the public to support them in their anti-illegal drugs campaign as it is not only their fight but also the fight of all to attain drug-free region. (PNA)



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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- This resort island is being eyed as a pilot site for the implementation of a waste-to-energy project that will use waste cooking oil (WCO) as substitute for diesel.

The project plans to employ Renergy, a fuel management device that enables the use of WCO as fuel for generators without chemical process.

Renergy is a technology from Japan but first implemented in the Philippines, said Jay Carandang, general manager of Renergy System Incorporated (RSI), the manufacturer of the technology.

Using Renergy, generators can run using 70 percent WCO and only 30 percent diesel. One energy device costs from PHP2 million to PHP2.6 million.

The project particularly aims to help in the management of WCO generated by various establishments in the world-famous island visited by over one million tourists yearly.

WCO, however, is considered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as hazardous waste.

At least 1,000 liters of WCO is collected on the island daily, said Carandang, based on a survey conducted by their firm in 2015. 

"This could be higher now because of the continued increase of restaurants and establishments on the island," he said.

The local government here is phasing out all diesel-powered engines in Boracay and will replace it with e-trikes which will need a consistent power supply.

"Renergy is a technology focused on the environment. It is a waste-to-energy initiative," said Carandang.

Carandang said the island-wide implementation of Renergy Project has been chosen as one of the priority projects of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an agency of the Japanese government that provides bilateral aid in the form of technical cooperation, loans, and grant aid.

Carandang said this is not, however, the first time the technology will be used on the island.

He said a resort in Station 1 is already using the technology since 2015.

The project, however, is still subject to the approval of the LGU of Malay which will be the implementing partner of RSI.

Once a memorandum of agreement between the LGU and RSI is signed, JICA will help finance the bulk of the project cost, said Carandang.

He said the project is in line with the Japanese government's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, particularly on reducing carbon emissions by minimizing diesel use. (PNA)



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SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The local government unit (LGU) here will donate a 1,500-square meter lot for the construction of the planned PHP88-million National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) building in Antique, the bureau's provincial director said on Friday.

NBI provincial director, Juan Ma. Damaso Autajay, said they are now finalizing the donation and surveying the proposed site in Dalipe village here.

He said that they are eyeing to have the Deed of Donation signed within the year. He added the PHP88 million construction budget will be funded by the NBI.

Autajay said their NBI satellite office is currently occupying a room at the Dalipe Tradetown here.

The NBI satellite office here was opened in 2015 to decongest the volume of clients transacting with the bureau's regional office in Iloilo City.

Clients from Aklan and Capiz provinces now prefer to transact with the NBI office here as it is easier for them to get their clearances and other documents needed.

Autajay said the new NBI office will be a big help in enhancing their delivery of service.

In an interview, Mayor Elmer Untaran said they are donating the land, as the intelligence bureau is important in the light of many investments coming in to the province. 

Untaran added that once completed, the NBI here would have one of the biggest satellite offices in Western Visayas.  (PNA)



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BALER, Aurora -- The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) has appealed to residents to be always ready as tropical storm "Jolina" is expected to hit the province Friday night.

MDRRMO chief Gabriel Llave, in a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting Friday afternoon, said they are now on full alert status and efforts are geared up to ensure the safety of the residents.

He said that at present, the MDRRMO is on standby to attend to possible damages that may affect the peoples' livelihood, infrastructures, and agricultural facilities in areas that might be hit by tropical storm "Jolina".

 He said MDRRMO also asked barangay officials of this town to monitor the weather and warn their communities regarding the situation.

Part of the preparedness efforts, he said, is an information drive on what precautionary measures people must take ahead of the storm.

 Llave likewise said the MDRRMO has already activated its 24/7 operation center and has assigned additional staff to monitor and ensure the dissemination of weather advisories thru SMS, radio messages, letters and website updates to barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils.

"We already activated one rescue team to monitor the weather disturbance especially in the evening," he said.

He added that his office has also released directives to the barangays, local fisherfolks federations and passenger vessels that they are not allowed to venture out at sea.

 He also urged the public to follow the safety tips like keeping all channels of communication open and ready – including having fully-charged mobile phones, laptops, radios, and other communication gadgets.

"We also conducted inspections of the town's identified evacuation centers, including our assessment and readiness of our search and rescue team in terms of manpower and equipment," he added. (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY -- Catholics in this northern part of Luzon are excited to welcome the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima which is expected to arrive Thursday (Aug. 24) at the Badoc gateway, the boundary of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

From the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur, the pilgrim image will be toured in various churches of the Archdiocese of Laoag on August 24-27 as part of its worldwide tour to mark the 100 years anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal.

The image, which was blessed by Pope Francis, is believed to grant favors and manifest miracles.

Led by Bishop Renato Mayugba of Laoag, the Catholic faithful in collaboration with local government units and other officials here have scheduled mass and prayer vigils where the image will stop.

Mayugba said the pilgrim image will arrive Thursday afternoon at the Badoc gateway. A welcome Mass will be held on the same day at the Saint John the Baptist in Badoc, home of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, a local Marian devotion.

Afterwards, the image will be brought to the nearby Immaculate Conception Church in Batac City for an overnight vigil.

On Friday, the image will be brought to the Saint Joseph parish in Dingras town; the Our Lady Lourdes in Mangato; and Saint William Cathedral here in the evening.

It is also scheduled to visit its namesake, Our Lady of Fatima parish in Cadaratan village, Bacarra town on the whole day of August 26. 

On Sunday (Aug. 27), the image will stop by the Saint Jude parish in Pagudpud town and then to Our Mother of Perpetual Help parish in Pasaleng before going to nearby Cagayan province.

The clergy is encouraging neighboring parishes to take part in the religious activity by participating in the Holy Masses, praying the Holy Rosary especially during the overnight vigils, and veneration of the Holy image. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Big developers have continued to show confidence on the potential of Davao City's property sector -- pouring in huge investments to address growing demand of the market.

For one, the country's leading developer of sustainable estates that offers a diverse mix of quality residential and commercial development -- the Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) -- has once again partnered with an established homegrown developer, the Alcantara Group of Companies -- to develop a prime 25-hectare property into new destination that promises the comforts and convenience of city living.

Soon to attract Davao City's growing property market and retail investors is the so-called Azuela Cove, seen to become the city's prime waterside business and residential district.

"Over the years, Ayala Land has been committed to enrich the way we live and enhancing land nationwide," Jun Bisnar, vice president and chief operations officer of ALI Vismin Group, said in a statement.

"We focus on inclusive growth, sharing our expertise as a full line property developer to communities around the country as we remain a reliable partner in nation building."

Azuela Cove will be formally presented in a media launch slated Friday.

The project briefer indicates the P20 billion Azuela Cove is a brainchild of Aviana Development Corp, a joint venture company between The Alcantara Group and ALI.

For its initial phase, covering a five-year period from 2017 to 2021, the company is set to pour in a projected investment of P8 billion that will be utilized for land development, Cove and retail construction, development of Ayala Land high-rise condominium Phase 1 and the St. Luke's Medical Center.

From 2021 onwards, the company will pour in an additional P12 billion for Cove development, additional towers and retail construction.

The project is expected to generate some 13,000 jobs -- a total of 5,880 during the construction phase and 7,120 when fully operational.

Azuela Cove's Masterplan includes The Shops at Azuela Cove, a retail play with a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 4,000 sqm, which will be home to local food favorites as well as classic national and international dining establishments. At 1,700 sqm GLA, The Shops first phase offering will be launched in the last quarter of 2017. Another initial locator is Ayala Land Premier (ALP), which will spearhead the development of its first condominium towers in the district, all providing a pristine view of Samal Island and the Davao Gulf.

"We continue to build mixed-use estates around the country not only because of the country's economic growth, but also because of the continued trust and confidence of Ayala Land's customers," Bisnar said.

"Our focus on sustainability and our genuine partnership with communities, local governments, and other stakeholders sets us apart and helps us fulfill our mission." (NCB/PNA)



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SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique  -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas on Thursday turned over  PHP7 million worth of projects and  equipment to fisherfolks here.

BFAR Regional Director Remia  Aparri said these projects will help the livelihood of  fisherfolks in the province.

Antique, which is considered a tuna highway and top producer of seaweeds in Region 6, is being given interventions so it can graduate from being one of the poorest provinces in the country, she said.

 Mayor Elmer Untaran of San Jose de Buenavista said the projects from the national government will ensure that even the small fisherfolks will not be left behind by developments in the country.

 Turned over were 15 units of 30-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic patrol boats to all 15 coastal towns of the province; 20 units post-harvest kits to beneficiaries from Bugasong town;  230 units seaweed farm implements for the towns of Culasi, Pandan and Libertad; 10 units shallow water payao for fisherfolk associations in San Jose de Buenavista and Bugasong; and two units rainwater harvester for Roquenians Fisherfolk Association of Anini-y town.

Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta and mayors of the recipient towns were present during the turnover rites. (PNA)

 





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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- After getting the nod of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as trial site for its "train-like-bus" dubbed hybrid electric road train (Hert), this city will get another chance to be among the first in the country to test another transport innovation of the agency.  

City Councilor Dominador Lagare Jr., chair of the city council's committee on transportation, said Thursday DOST has offered to deploy in the city by next year the locally designed and developed hybrid electric train (HET).

He said the agency's officials made the offer after they personally conducted a survey and ocular inspection of potential routes in the city three weeks ago.

They specifically found the area from Barangays Tingacan to Lagao here as ideal site for the HET, he said.

The proposed site, which also covers portions of Barangay Katangawan, is traversed by the General Santos-Davao highway.

"The area extends like a straight line and they found it perfect for the construction of a railroad for the electric train," Lagare said.

He said the preparatory works for the project could start as early as January next year based on their initial discussions with DOST officials.

The DOST introduced and initially tested last year the five-car HET, which runs from 60 to 80 kilometers per hour,  on a stretch of tracks of the Philippine National Railways in Manila and Laguna.

Developed by the DOST's Metals Industry Research and Development Center, the HET was among the research and development projects pursued by the agency to address traffic congestion in urban areas.

The agency acquired the bogie for the train from Korean company Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Co., Ltd., but the train's body, parts, accessories and equipment were fabricated and built by local companies.

Meantime, Lagare said the DOST has started the process for the transport of the HERT from Cebu to this city.

"The bidding is currently ongoing for the transport of the road train that would cost P1.6 million," he said.

The HERT has just completed its six-month test-run in Cebu City and will undergo another trial run for five to six months here starting October.

The road train, which was launched by DOST in 2015, was designed by Filipino engineers and made with locally available parts, an agency briefer said.

It can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and is mainly powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery. It was designed as energy-efficient vehicle and does not need electricity and suspended cables to operate.

Lagare said the HERT's route will cover portions of the national highway from Barangay Tinagacan to the city fishport complex in Barangay Tambler.

He said it could eventually cover other routes within the city's downtown area and other barangays.

"We will be the first to deploy the road train commercially so the DOST is making the city as showcase area for this technology," he added.(AVE/PNA)       



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 is targeting to enlist an initial 200 out-of-school youths here for a series of trainings aimed to prepare them for gainful employment.

Yahya Centi, DOLE-12 assistant regional director, said Thursday the trainings are part of the ongoing implementation in the region of the agency's newly-launched Jobstart Philippines program.

Under the program, he said out-of-school and other disadvantaged youths in the city will have access to life skills trainings from local employers and eventually gain employment.

Centi said a number of local companies have signified to participate in the program, which is supported by the Asian Development Bank and the government of Canada.

Last week, some 38 employers and representatives from various companies joined an employer's forum organized by DOLE-12 in line with the program's rollout.

The activity was aimed to orient and consult local employers on possible partnerships with the government for the training of unemployed youths to enhance their employability and help prepare their integration into productive employment.

The participants were from the city's fishing industry, food sector, medical services sector, shopping malls, manpower agencies and car dealership.

Mary Joy Pasigan, Jobstart program officer, said the training program will benefit youths aged 18 to 24 years-old.

She the selected participants will be provided with stipends and there will be provisions for their training expenses.

"And what is more important is the assurance of immediate hiring and employment after completing the training," she said.

During the forum, she said the participating employers pledged to help train and eventually hire qualified applicants for their respective vacancies.

Among the job vacancies are for administrative and accounting staff, industrial skilled workers, sales and marketing staff, heavy equipment operators and automotive industry workers, she said.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera lauded DOLE-12 and its partners for the implementation of the program in the city.

He said the program is very relevant as it notes the importance of the youth in the community-building.

"We want our young in GenSan to be productive, responsible and employed. What better way than to integrate them to laudable programs such as JobStart," he said.(AVE/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The South Cotabato police has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) to further strengthen the province's anti-drug advocacy campaign among the youth sector.

Sr. Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said Thursday they decided to replicate DepEd's Barkada Kontra Droga or BKD program to enhance its anti-drug information and education activities in local communities.

"This is to expand our coverage and bring more focus to our anti-drug advocacy campaign," he said.

The BKD was among the flagship programs introduced by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) that advocates the development of the youths to serve as role models  for "a more productive and healthy life away from the ill effects of illegal drugs."

It is being implemented by DepEd in public secondary or high schools through the National Drug Education Program.

A program briefer said BKD is a "peer-based program designed as one of the preventive measures to counter the negative effects of illegal drugs," using information and education dissemination campaign and related activities.

To effectively implement the program, the DDB, in collaboration with DepEd, local government units and anti-drug abuse councils launched the annual search for outstanding program implementers in the secondary schools.

Alvero said they will continue to assist the DepEd in the program's implementation in local schools.

"At the same time, we will implement the program focusing on our out-of-school youths," he said.

He said they will tap as implementers the police officers who were assigned in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education or DARE program for elementary pupils.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, who chairs the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, lauded the move noting that it will help fill the gaps in their ongoing anti-drug advocacy campaigns.

To be more effective, she said the advocacy programs should cover learners from the elementary to the college levels.

"We will focus on addressing these gaps one at a time," the governor said.

She added that the local government will provide for the needed funds for the expansion of the BKD program among the out-of-school youths.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police operatives and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Region 12 arrested a  notorious drug pusher who previously surrendered to authorities under "Oplan Tokhang" and two other minors  in an anti-drug operation on Thursday in Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Lawyer Noel Morales, NBI-12 regional director, identified the suspects as Roy Lopez Deimoy, 35, and alleged minor cohorts who were named as alias Bong, 17, and0 Jun, 14, all residents of Barangay Maltana in Tampakan.

Armed with a search warrant, he said their agents and backup forces from the South Cotabato Police Provincial Public Safety Company stormed a house owned by Deimoy in Purok 6, Maltana at around 6:30 a.m.      

The search resulted in the recovery of 14 bundles of dried marijuana leaves, a pack of marijuana seeds, several disposable lighters and a roll of aluminum foil, he said.

Morales said the team arrested Deimoy and the two other minors who were also in the house.

'We received information from our civilian asset that the suspect was with the minors in repacking marijuana," he said.

The official said they sent the recovered evidences to the police crime laboratory for examination and evaluation.

He said they turned over the arrested minors to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 12 for custody.

Morales said Deimoy, who is currently under the custody of the NBI-12, would be charged with violation of Section 11 or possession of dangerous drugs, under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) named a senior officer to serve as the new director of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO).

Installed as the new acting ZCPO director during the turnover of command ceremony Thursday is Sr. Supt. Neri Vincent Ignacio, former chief of the Regional Comptroller Division of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera.

Ignacio, a native of this city, has replaced fellow Zamboangueño, Supt. Diomarie Albarico, who served as officer-in-charge of the ZCPO for a period of four months.

Ignacio, who now resides in Cainta, Rizal, said he will prioritize on the campaign against illegal drugs in line with the war against drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said crime prevention and other police-related functions will also be part of his programs as the acting director of the ZCPO.

The ZCPO under Albarico's command has seized three kilos of shabu worth PhP60 million and arrested three people, including an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in June, this year.

It was the biggest haul of the ZCPO in its war against illegal drugs this year in this city.

Senior Supt. Paro Olagera, the chief directorial staff of Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) presided the turnover of command ceremony on behalf of Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, PRO-9 director.

Beltran was on a provincial command visit to get first hand information on the prevailing situation in the provinces under PRO-9.

OIC-Mayor Cesar Iturralde, the ceremony's guest speaker, challenged the new acting city director to be tough in addressing crimes in this city. (EED/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Task Force Avian Influenza has continued its monitoring even as this city has been declared free from avian influenza.
Dr. Mario Arriola, city veterinarian officer, on Thursday said the monitoring is focused on the traveling or migratory birds since the month of September nears.
It has been noted that every September, migratory birds flock to the wetlands of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (ZSCMST), which also serves as bird sanctuary in this city.
Arriola said included in the monitoring are the wetlands in 18 of this city's 98 barangays.
He disclosed there were reported "questionable mortality" at a poultry farm in Barangay Cabaluay but laboratory analysis on blood samples taken yielded negative of bird flu.
He said they conduct periodic fecal analysis on Barn Swallows that flock daily and stay overnight on electric cables in the city's commercial center.
He said information campaign is also being intensified to drum up awareness on avian influenza.
The entry of poultry and poultry products including birds through the local port is being closely monitored by the concerned agencies. (TPGJR/PNA)

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COTABATO CITY -- A suspected member of big-time drug syndicate operating in North Cotabato was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Kidapawan City.
Director Gil Castro of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12 (PDEA 12) said John Ryan Alvarez of Diamond Street, Kidapawan City was among those in the PDEA drug watch list.
An agent of PDEA 12 posed as buyer and managed to secure methamphetamine hydrochloride from Alvarez who, his neighbors said, was into illegal drug pushing in the area.
Castro said Alvarez, 29, a businessman, was a member of "Simbulan drug syndicate" operating in North Cotabato and parts of Davao del Sur and Maguindanao.
"He (Alvarez) is in our wanted list, he belongs to a big time drug syndicate," Castro, who led the operation, told DXND-AM Radyo Bida in Kidapawan City.
Seized from Alvarez during the buy bust was several sachets of suspected shabu and P500 marked money.
Castro told reporters that the group was also involved in carnapping and gun-running and other crimes.
According to narcotics agents, Alvarez sourced illegal drugs from an unknown group in Matalam and distributed these in Kidapawan City and environs.
In nearby Kabacan, North Cotabato, police also arrested during anti-drug raid in Barangay Poblacion three drug peddlers who have warrants of arrest.
The police, armed with search warrants issued by Hon. Judge Alandrex Betoya, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 16, arrested Jojo Alon, 42, Allan Alon, 41 and Sukarno Beldik, 40, all residents of Barangay Poblacion.
Two other suspects included in the warrant managed to elude arresting members of the Kabacan police office during the 4 p.m. anti-drug operation. They were Elmer Ones, 43 and Joeboy Manuel, all of Barangay Poblacion.
Police operatives recovered five grams of shabu, paraphernalia and a motorbike and a tricycle used by the suspects in drug peddling.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared against the suspects. EOF/PNA

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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan --  Government peacekeepers here began on Wednesday the first of a series of community forums to spread awareness among residents on the threats of insurgency and terrorism.

 The 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBDE) started the public forum in Barangay Buenavista, an outlying barangay north of the city, said Captain Jordan Mijares, civil military officer of the 3MBDE.

 Similar public dialogues will also be held in Barangays Bahile and Macarascas in the following days, he said.

 Mijares said the support of Puerto Princesa communities against threats of insurgency and terrorism is important to prevent any untoward incident which may affect the lives of innocent civilians.

"Insurgency is an ill of the society, and if not addressed, will affect our tourism industry. If this happens, our economy will be affected," Mijares said.

 Mijares added their campaign is also meant to increase the confidence of civilians in cooperating with the armed forces and the police in solving peace and order problems.

 He added that a similar campaign was conducted in July in the towns of Brooke's Point and Bataraza particularly in Barangays Saraza and Bono-bono. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — More than three months after the armed conflict in Marawi City, the threat level in the neighboring city of Iligan remains high, the city's chief of police said Thursday.

Senior Supt. Leony Roy Ga, Iligan city police director, said local authorities are still on high alert following advisory from the Philippine National Police (PNP) high command.
While armed extremist fighters are still engaging the government forces in Marawi, Ga cited credible reports of suspicious persons mingling with the evacuees.
"We receive intelligence reports from time to time, and we have to verify their veracity. But just the same we remain on alert," Ga said in an interview at the sidelines of the awarding ceremony held at the PNP-10 headquarters at Camp Vicente Alagar in Barangay Lapasan on Thursday.
Ga and the Iligan city police office are both awardees of the PNP. Ga was adjudged as the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations, while his office was awarded with the Best City Police Office.
The awarding ceremony was graced by Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the deputy chief PNP for Administration.
He said the donation of 10 Vios patrol cars and 14 pick-up trucks from the local government had boosted the morale of that city's police force owing to their all-out anti-crime operations.
Ga said the patrol cars are being used for urban police visibility while the pick-up trucks for securing the city's boundaries it shared with Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
With the influx of internally displaced persons from Marawi, he said the Iligan city police are always on the lookout for possible terrorists.

"In light of the Marawi conflict, we are doubling our efforts. Even during the start of the Marawi crisis, we had already anticipated that the next target is Iligan," he said. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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ILOILO CITY-- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has ordered a temporary suspension on the issuance of new sand and gravel permits in the province's five major river systems. 

The suspension order covers the Aganan, Jalaur, Sibalom, Suage and Ulian major river systems, said Defensor in a press conference on Thursday.

The governor said he signed on Wednesday Executive Order (EO) 227, declaring the temporary suspension or moratorium on the issuance of commercial sand and gravel (CSAG) and industrial sand and gravel (ISAG) small-scale mining covering new areas within major river systems of the province.

According to the order, "unabated extraction of sand and gravel along these river systems has resulted to the damage and deterioration of the structural integrity of bridges, irrigation dams, other public and private infrastructures as reported by the monitoring team of the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) VI, the status of the government infrastructures were damaged due to the massive extraction."

Defensor said that he also issued two other executive orders in line with quarrying. One is EO 226, an order regulating the use of backhoe in the extraction of sand and gravel materials in certain areas within river systems; and EO 225 which created an inter-agency task force for rapid river assessment of the major river systems in the province.

Arthuro Cangrejo, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said that there are 51 active quarry permit holders in the five major river systems: 19 in Jalaur; 14 in Ulian; seven each in Suage and Aganan; and four in Sibalom river.

He said that the task force on Thursday postponed assessment of the Suage river due  to the water's high level.  It was tentatively reset to August 31. The plan is also to assess four other rivers in the four succeeding Thursdays.

Under EO 225, the task force is responsible in assessing and profiling of the river systems in the province to determine the extent of the effect of the continuing sand and gravel extraction; determine the volume of materials still available as well as alternative sources of sand and gravel for ongoing and future construction projects.

"We will ask for supplemental budget for additional personnel to implement all ordinances, rules and regulations, executive orders issued in pursuant to or related to quarry operations," Defensor said.

He also planned to gather all barangay captains in the province to remind them of their obligations to protect the environment. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra has called on law enforcement authorities to help the local government in its drive to monitor and thwart extremist groups from radicalizing students.

Gandamra issued the appeal days after the Mindanao State University (MSU) reopened for the new academic year.

Gandamra said the government must step up measures to prevent radicalism not only inside the MSU campus, but local madrasahs (Islamic schools) as well.

While he does not advocate for the closure of madrasahs, the mayor said they must be "regulated" to prevent radical teachings from "spoiling the minds of the young students."

"We will not prevent the operation of madrasahs, but we will regulate and monitor them. This is to ensure that our children will really be guided with core Islamic values and not be swayed by extremism," Gandamra told local journalists here Thursday.

One way to effectively monitor and prevent radicalism is for government to strengthen its intelligence assets, he said.

In the Philippines and in other countries with Muslim populations, a madrasah operates as a school for the study of Islamic religion. It complements its own elementary and secondary curriculum with approval from the Department of Education (DepEd).

Gandamra said he sees the need to vet all individuals and groups interested in reopening existing madrasahs, brief them on the dangers of radicalism and institute measures so it would be prevented.

"This will form part of the rehabilitation of Marawi City," he said.

Gandamra said the local government unit has already coordinated with both the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make sure that all security measures during the first week of classes in MSU are in place. (PNA/Mark D. Francisco)



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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The provincial government here has started working on its tourism brand to strengthen the foothold of Pampanga as a premier destination for a "good life" and best food.

 Governor Lilia Pineda has created a technical working group (TWG) to craft the tourism branding that will help promote the province.

Lord Francis Musni, a local historian and consultant for Heritage Museum and also member of the TWG, said the brand should be sustainable and focus on the unique experience that the province can offer to local and foreign tourists alike.

 "We will be capitalizing on the unique experience that Pampanga has to offer, not only to Pampanga, not only to the region, to the Philippines and to the world. For the longest time, we are the oldest province since 1571 but for the longest time, we're just a stopover, pit stop for comfort room stops, for buying 'pasalubong' (souvenirs). If you get hungry along NLEX, they don't really stay. But Pampanga has a lot to offer. In short, Pampanga will be coming out to become one of the viable places for people to enjoy the good life. We will be repackaging Pampanga as a destination for a good life," he said in an interview on Thursday.

Musni added the central theme of the brand will give emphasis on food as Pampanga is known as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines."

"Central idea will be food because we can brag about it and we can get away with it because we know we have a very discriminating taste and this will work with food being the central theme. We would also be capitalizing on other good things that we have: efficient transport service, our synergy of roads, our connectivity to the airports and the ports and our hospitality as a people," he said.

 Aside from the tourism seal, the TWG is also working on the branding system for Pampanga-made products.

 Board member Anthony Joseph Torres, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Industry, and Commerce, said that product branding will raise the quality and marketability of local products.

 Torres said a team from the TWG will receive, evaluate and accredit applications for both products and producers in the province.

Once accredited, the product will bear the "Quality Seal" or the registered logo of the province on their packaging, he said.

 Meanwhile, Provincial tourism officer Arwin Lingat said the provincial tourism brand will be launched in December to coincide with the celebration of Pampanga Day. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is intensifying awareness on flying unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, urging sellers to also inform buyers of existing regulations by the Civil Aeronautics Aviation of the Philippines (CAAP).

This developed after two people were briefly held by the police for flying drones near a downtown hotel here during the Kadayawan Pamulak or Flower Float Parade last Sunday. They were released on the same day.

DCPO spokesperson, Sr. Inspector Ma Theresa Gaspan, said one is an employee of an airline company while the other is a wedding documenter. The two have requested not to mention their names.

However, Gaspan said the airline company employee showed a permit from CAAP as part of the Davao promotional video of its upcoming international flight.

The other, Gaspan, said was taking an aerial video for a pre-nuptial coverage. The person was not aware of the existing regulation.


In 2014, CAAP released a Memorandum Circular No. 35-21 of 2014 requiring drone owners to register their equipment "to bear the registration markings 'PR-U' followed by the assigned number 001 to 999, followed by a letter from A to Z." To be certified as a UAV controller, owners should qualify for a radio operator's certificate of proficiency: have been awarded a "passed" rating in an aviation license theory examination: have been awarded a "passed" rating in an instrument theory examination: have completed a training course on the operation of the type of UAV that he/she possesses to operate; and, have at least five hours experience operating UAVs outside controlled airspace.


The owners or operators, who will use drones commercially, must register with the CAAP and secure a certification to operate the drones. A Large UAV is an unmanned airship with an envelope capacity greater than 100 cubic meters; a Micro UAV has a gross weight of 100 grams or less; and, Small UAV has neither a large UAV nor a micro UAV.

Drones are not allowed because these can be used for surveillance. It must not be flown in crowded areas, restricted areas like airports, or no-fly zones like military camps or the presidential residence.

Last June, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) assigned at the residence of President Rodrigo Duterte apprehended two persons and were also briefly held at the Investigation Division of the DCPO for flying drones over the residence of the President at Dona Luisa Subdivision.

Gaspan said the PSG, however, decided not to file a case against them for humanitarian consideration.

She said the two were just playing and they were not aware of the regulation. Instead of paying a fine of P500,000, Gaspan said the family donated the drone to the DCPO.

The drone donated to DCPO has become a useful tool for its operation such as during the Kadayawan Festival.

Gaspan said that stores selling drones should also inform their buyers about the procedures and regulations before owning one.

"This is also one reason why we have to raise awareness about flying drones," Gaspan said in an interview Thursday. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the proposed establishment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) training academy in southern Negros could boost the security efforts of the province.

"If there is a Coast Guard academy, there will be patrol boats. It would be a big help," the governor said.

Marañon underscored the need to make the province peaceful, livable, and ready for further development following Task Force Buglas Orientation for Local Chief  Executives and Liga ng mga Barangay Municipal and City Chapter presidents held Wednesday.

Task Force Buglas is the anti-terrorism task force formed by the governor in June.

"We must be vigilant and prepared. We should guard every locality," Marañon added.

The Coast Guard is eyeing to put up more facilities in Negros Island as part of its maritime security strategy. Other facilities being planned include a training center, and additional stations and a sub-station, particularly in southern Negros.

Commodore Joel Garcia, officer-in-charge of PCG, who met with the governor during his visit here last month, said they want to strengthen Coast Guard's presence in Negros Occidental.

"We believe Negros is a very important island because of its proximity to Mindanao," he said.

Garcia added that Negros Island is a "good place to enhance the Coast Guard system" to provide support to neighboring regions, including Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

Marañon, for his part, stressed the need for the province to become peaceful to sustain its tourism industry, citing that Negros Occidental is the second most visited place in the country by Filipino domestic travelers in 2016, based on  the data released by the Department of Tourism and  Philippine Statistics Authority.

The governor  ordered the creation of Task Force Buglas in June to counter terror threat down to the barangays.(PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The City Council here has asked the City Agriculture Office to put in place protocols in handling bird flu cases.

The City Council on Thursday passed the resolution authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor, who said the legislation aims to ensure that city's poultry industry will be protected.

Verdeflor cited the two recent cases of avian influenza that have been confirmed by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in Jaen and San Isidro towns of Nueva Ecija after a series of laboratory tests on specimens gathered from quails and layer chickens.

"It is imperative that our City Agriculture Office should be vigilant in monitoring this situation and should be prepared with the protocols in the handling of live chickens, ducks, dressed chicken and eggs in cases of bird flu to protect our poultry farmers and the poultry industry in Bacolod City," Verdeflor said.

With the  bird  flu  infection in several Luzon towns, chicken and other fowls within the one-kilometer radius have been culled to stop the virus from spreading while poultry farmers in the area were not allowed to raise chickens and ducks until after a 90-day period following international disease control protocols.

On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) lifted the ban on the shipment of poultry products from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao on certain conditions.

According to the DA, products must not be sourced within the seven-kilometer quarantine radius of bird flu affected areas in San Luis, Pampanga and in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija.

In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Veterinary Office earlier this week conducted an orientation for para-veterinarians (paravets) as part of the readiness plan against the avian flu virus.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Inspection Division, said the participants were oriented on bird flu, particularly on prevention of the virus from infecting poultry products.

Educating the paravets is part of the PVO's preparedness plan to enable them to help spread the right information to the grassroots level, he said. (PNA)

 

 



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BATAC CITY -- A joint resolution that authorizes President Rodrigo Duterte to create a task force to revitalize the country's garlic industry is gaining headway at the 17th Congress through the initiative of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and support of seven development agencies and four provincial governments.

Proposed by MMSU officers Dr. Prima Fe Franco, Junie Bucao, and Samuel Franco, the resolution, now in the hands of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, aims to arrest the present plight of garlic which is experiencing a dramatic price increase in the local market and the reported decrease in local production in recent years.

MMSU president Shirley Agrupis said one of MMSU's roles in the task force is the efficient operation of its Garlic Research Center which undertakes garlic applied research and development and location specific studies in Ilocos Norte, and the production of true-to-type foundation planting materials for the local farmers.

The Congress is now trying to annually allocate funds in the budget of MMSU under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) specifically for basic garlic research and development. For three years, the project shall have a total budget of PHP57.5 million.

The proponents said such move was done to address the garlic industry's numerous problems as production has not improved significantly during the past decades that resulted in farmers' low profitability.

Low production level has encouraged the importation of the commodity.

"To protect the industry, certain tariff and non-tariff barriers were imposed and these have resulted to smuggling," the proponents said, adding that these problems have reached the Senate and the House of Representatives which led to their committee hearings.

Once approved, one of the task force's mandates is to develop a mechanism to include garlic as a component of an alternative farming system.

Aside from MMSU, the agencies involved in this effort are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), and the provincial governments of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union. (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte is set to celebrate the 100th birthday or centenary of Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) beginning September 6, Wednesday.

Born on September 11, 1917, Marcos' centenary immediately precedes the bicentennial foundation anniversary of Ilocos Norte in February 2018.

Organized by the Provincial Tourism Office under the Ilocos Norte government, this year's festivities will begin with the "Marcos Pa Rin!" Literary and Arts Festival, a two-day event that will celebrate the former president's achievements and national contributions while also encouraging the Ilocano youth to develop their skills through a set of contests.

Ilocos Norte Tourism Officer Aian Raquel said Thursday the opening celebration will engage the different school levels, from elementary up to college.

"The annual FEM Debates will be held with the Ilocos Norte Debate Society," Raquel added, citing there will also be competitions for singing, contemporary dance with OPM [original Pilipino music], and an oratorical contest.

According to Raquel, it would be the first time for the celebration of FEM's birthday to feature traditional oration.

Also included are a pop-up exhibition of digital posters and art pieces in honor of Marcos, a quiz show, a "KalesArt"competition for horse-driven carriages, and a tour-guiding contest.

Organizers also hope to put together an Ilocano version of "The Pickers," a television show on the History Channel, featuring crowdsourced Marcosiana items, as well as the "Amazing Makoy Race." (PNA)

 



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ZAMBOANGA CITY  -- Four people were buried alive while three others survived in a landslide caused by heavy downpour in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a police official said Wednesday.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-9 information officer, identified the fatalities as: Jeffrey Lamparas; Sannylito Tuquib, 21; Danilo Balicoco, 53; and Adrian Ledesma, 30, all residents of Purok 5, Barangay Tigbangagan, Kabasalan.

The survivors were identified as Ernacio Catipay; Joel Longgaquit; and, Joe Ledesma. They sustained injuries.

Galvez said the landslide occurred at around 5 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Peñaranda, Kabasalan.

She said the victims, who were rubber tappers, were resting in a shack located on a hillside when suddenly the soil eroded and buried them alive.

She said the victims sought shelter in a shack due to heavy downpour triggered by inclement weather.

The retrieval operations ended at 4 p.m. Tuesday when the body of the last of  fatality was recovered. (TPGJR/PNAA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY  -- The Army on Wednesday turned over the rescued Vietnamese sailor to Vietnam authorities who visited the headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) in this city.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, and Rear Adm. Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) command chief, handed over Do Trung Huie to Senior Captain Pham Than Tra, Vietnamese assistant defense and armed forces attache (Dafa)), and Ngo Tuan Anh, Vietnamese Embassy third secretary, at around 10 a.m. Wednesday at Westmincom's Laong Laan Hall.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Westmincom information officer, said the Vietnamese officials and Huie are expected "to fly later Wednesday back to Vietnam where his family is waiting for him."

"We are happy that Mr. Huie is finally going home to his loved ones," Galvez said.

"We will exert all means to find and rescue the remaining kidnap victims who are still with the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group)," he added.

Filipino troops rescued Huie on Sunday, August 20, on Mataja Island, Lantawan, Basilan province.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits seized Huie together with five others aboard a bulk carrier, MV/Royal 16, on November 11, 2016 near Sibago Island, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.

The bulk carrier, which was loaded with cement, was sailing to Davao City from Vietnam when the Abu Sayyaf bandits, aboard on speed boat, hijacked the bulk carrier.

Huie's companions were identified as Pham Minh Tuan, Tran Khac Dung, Hoang Trung Thong, Hoang Van Hai, and Huang Vo.

They were kidnapped by the group of Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Alvin Yusop alias Arab Puti and that of the late bandit leader Alhabsy Misaya, and Basilan-based sub-leader Radzmil Jannatul alias Kubayb.

Vo, 22, the vessel's second mate, escaped on June 16 when government troops raided an Abu Sayyaf camp at the boundaries of Ungkaya Pukan and Sumisip towns in Basilan province.

On July 5, the decapitated remains of Thong and Hai were discovered by the residents in Sitio Compound, Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan.

Petinglay disclosed that there are still 18 hostages in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu.

Of the 18 hostages, 14 are foreigners consisting of six Vietnamese, seven Indonesians, and a Dutch birdwatcher. The remaining four are Filipinos. (TPGJR/PNA)



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LAOAG CITY -- The third-class municipality of Solsona in Ilocos Norte is the latest recipient of a new national government program which aims to uplift the living conditions in disadvantaged communities.

Through its Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will provide PHP15 million to the mountainous town of Solsona located in the easternmost part of Ilocos Norte.

The town is frequently hit by typhoons, resulting to heavy damage in infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

According to town mayor Alexander Calucag, his constituents are grateful for the release of the ADM fund which will be used to construct additional farm-to-market roads in remote villages.

Specifically, the program fund can be utilized for the provision of water system, evacuation facility, local access roads, small water impounding systems, and sanitation and health as  "catch-up mechanism" to assist municipal governments in empowering depressed communities.

With a budget allocation of PHP19.43 billion as provided under Republic Act No. 10924, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the ADM program for 2017 in support to the national government's goal for inclusive growth. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY - - The committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will be deliberating on two proposed ordinances  that will look into the sanitation of children's play stations and arcades, and tattoo and piercing body shops in Iloilo City.

City Councilor Candice Magdalane A. Tupas, who is a doctor by profession initially recommended the provision of free alcogel or hand sanitizers "to prevent diseases" in the areas. 

"Children use their hand and put them in their mouth, hence the hand-foot and mouth diseases, also airborne diseases like chicken pox," said Tupas, chair of the committee which passed the ordinance on first reading during their regular session on Tuesday afternoon. 

She said some mothers have already complained that their children acquired certain diseases after playing in play stations. 

 Tupas also pushed for another ordinance that will set guidelines in the operation of tattoo and piercing body shops.  She emphasized the proper use of needles, necessary to prevent human immunodeficiency virus –acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS). 

Meanwhile, Councilor Joshua Alim also pointed out the need to strictly implement the anti-smoking ordinance, especially in places closer to children's play areas. (PNA)

 



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BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan  -- The 35 candidates vying for Miss World Philippines 2017 arrived here Tuesday night for their Beach Beauty Challenge on Thursday.  The event which is open to the public will be held at Savoy Hotel. 

Aside from the beach challenge, the candidates are also expected to conduct a beach cleanup activity on this premier tourism island.

The event is  being sponsored by the Local Government Unit of Kalibo through Councilor Juris Sucro.

Meanwhile, Jona Sweett, 22 from the capital town of Kalibo is among the 35 ladies competing for the crown.

The 22-year-old beauty queen, whose father is an Australian, was also crowned as Miss Earth Philippines-Ecotourism in 2015.

This time, Sweett wants to bring home the Miss World crown and bring another honor for Aklan.

 Miss World Philippines coronation night is slated on September 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- While Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has lifted the ban on poultry and poultry products from Luzon following the outbreak of avian flu in San Luis, Pampanga, the North Cotabato provincial council is eyeing to put up animal checkpoints on all entry points of the province.

Ironically, the agriculture secretary's brother was the one who recommended to the provincial council the setting up of animal quarantine checkpoints in the province's seven entry and exit points.

"This is aimed at preventing the possible entry of avian influenza virus to the province," Boardmember Socrates Pinol told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Wednesday.  He made the statement on the day the agriculture secretary lifted the ban.

He added that his move was to ensure the poultry industry of North Cotabato will not be affected by the virus should it re-occur.

Geographically, North Cotabato has at least seven entry points through national highways.

In coordination with the Department of Agriculture provincial office, Pinol said animal quarantine should be established in the towns of Tulunan which borders with Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.  This is the road linking Kidpawan City to Sultan Kudarat via Maguindanao.

Another is in the town of Makilala in North Cotabato and Bansalan in Davao del Sur, portion of the North Cotabato-Davao highway. Quarantine checkpoint is also recommended in the towns of Carmen in North Cotabato and Maramag in Bukidnon and in Banisilan town in North Cotabato and Wao in Lanao del Sur.

A checkpoint manned by veterinarians and police and military authorities should be established in the towns of Pigcawayan in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao. This road network connects North Cotabato to Cotabato City and Maguindanao.

A road less travelled but normally used by traders transporting large cattle and other animals should have one checkpoint.  It will be at the boundary of Midsayap in North Cotabato and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.

North Cotabato, according to Boardmember Pinol, is thousands of kilometers away from Pampanga but added that if there's no animal quarantine inspection area there's a possibility of contamination.

A report from DA bio-security experts showed that the Avian Influenza cases in San Luis, Pampanga and in San Isidro and Jaen towns in Nueva Ecija have been contained in a seven-kilometer radius made Sec. Pinol lift the ban.

In his Administrative Circular, the Da chief allowed the shipment of dressed chicken, fresh table eggs, cooked duck eggs (balut), day-old chicks, game fowls and others provided these are covered by veterinary certificates issued after tests are conducted by bio-security personnel.

Shipment of fowls, poultry and poultry products coming from inside the 7-kilometer radius of San Luis, Pampanga and the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija will not be allowed.

Pinol said all shipments must be covered by health certificates and quarantine clearances and Quarantine Stations in all airports and ports of the country are directed not to allow passage to poultry and poultry products without the necessary clearances.

The agriculture secretary said the lifting of the ban was made after he consulted with stakeholders of the poultry and egg industry.(PNA)



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SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- Crime incidents in Maguindanao have dramatically dropped to its lowest since Mindanao was placed under Martial Law following the Marawi siege three months ago, a police official  said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao provincial police director, told reporters the crime incidents have been reduced by as high as 80 percent as compared to the time when martial law was not in place.

"I cannot provide exact figure but crime incidents have dramatically reduced due to martial law," Tello said, adding that no reported human rights violation arising from the declaration of military rule had been reported since May 23.

On May 23, President Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law to prevent the supporters and sympathizers of Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups from terrorizing communities outside Marawi City.

Tello said the presence of more checkpoints on major highways and the pro-active stance of the police, along with the military in Maguindanao's 36 municipalities contributed to the crime volume reduction.

Tello would not claim credit for the reduction of violence and petty crimes in Maguindanao and lauded the stakeholders across the province.

"Credit should go to all the stakeholders, meaning every one of us," he said.

Tello lauded the public in general and law enforcers in particular, including force multipliers in every town. 

The daily information drive of the municipal office to its constituents was also a major factor "because the public is informed and helped the police identify and eventually arrest persons involved in illegal drugs who were also involved in other crimes."

Tello also advised the public to continue supporting the police and military authorities in crime prevention.

He reminded everyone to cooperate with the local police in highway checkpoints and urged the public not to be worried about the martial law as this is primarily aimed at restoring law and order.

"If you have not done something illegal, they you have nothing to be afraid of, as simple as that," Tello said, adding that the police continues its cooperation and partnership with the 6th Infantry Division in the fight against outlawed and ISIS inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

"Your police cannot do it alone, we need the peoples support," Tello said.(PNA)



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