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COTABATO CITY -- The newest batch of 200 personnel from the Philippine National Police–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM) are the latest donors to the bloodletting activity of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) local chapter.

Rookie policemen, all with a rank of Police Officer 1, voluntarily trooped on Wednesday to the Maguindanao provincial police headquarters in Shariff Aguak town for the activity in honor of their fallen colleagues in the five-month battle to retake Marawi City from the hands of terrorists.

Six PNP-ARMM personnel died while 61 others were injured in the retaking of Marawi from the hands of Abu Sayyaf and Maute terror groups from May 23 to Oct. 23 this year.

"We are making our new personnel realize that their work is not all about protecting the public but also a career with compassion, dedication and charity works," Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said.

PNRC volunteers, led by medical technologist Ansari Lucas, supervised the bloodletting event.

The new police personnel are presently undergoing actual field assignment in Maguindanao's 36 towns. They will later be deployed to parts of the region. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- The Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Colight) and the local government of Cotabato have signed for the adoption of a project that will help prevent fire, electric pilferage and make village officials trained and certified electricians.

"If successful, the project could become a model in the entire country," Anna Lea Lee Nataño, Colight Human Resources and Reputation Enhancement head, said Friday of the project, dubbed as "Tatsulok."

"Tatsulok" (triangle) refers to three groups that composed the project – Colight, Cotabato City government and the "Liga ng mga Barangay" (Association of Village chairpersons).

Nataño said "Tatsulok" aims to address at least three areas that concern public safety, namely fire prevention, prohibit pilferage and improvement of the firm's services to its clients.

She said the firm needs the general public through the village officials in preventing pilferage and promote energy conservation.

"Communities and pedestrians are at risk of fire and electrocution when there are illegal connections," said Nataño after the Nov. 9 signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Colight Asst. Vice President and General Manager Judy C. Sanchez, Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and 37 village chiefs of Cotabato City at South Seas Mall convention center.

Nataño said electric consumers "will benefit if we have low system loss which translate to disposable income to families."

"Electricity pilferage is against the law," Sanchez said, referring to Republic Act No. 7832 or An Act penalizing the pilferage of electricity and theft of electric power transmission lines/materials, rationalizing system losses by phasing out pilferage losses.

"Countering electricity pilferage is everyone's responsibility (and) Colight cannot do it alone, we need the LGU and Barangay officials," Sanchez said.

"Tatsulok" has supporting programs that will benefit both the program proponent and the beneficiaries.

Under the "Kasangga program," the Barangay government will endorse two potential electricians to be trained by TESDA for 15 days, targeting National Certificate (NC II) licensed after schooling. Once completed, they will eventually become barangay electricians, also known as "Kasangga electricians."

The partners or "Kasangga" will help Colight in promoting electrical safety, become anti-pilferage advocates and most all "Kasangga ni Kap sa Barangay."

Another "Tatsulok" supporting program is "Oplan PBA" (Punong Barangay Awards), a Colight program to recognize Punong Barangay advocating anti-pilferage in his or her constituents. To be recipient of "Oplan PBA," there must be zero-pilferage case in his area of jurisdiction and must be consistent for at least six months.

Colight will also declare a village "pilferage-free" after choosing the chairperson as Oplan PBA awardee.

Also supporting "Tatsulok" is Colight's "BEST CAP," an acronym for "Barangay Electrician Skills Training Competency-building Anti-pilferage Project."

To avail of this supporting program, the village chief should be an "Oplan PBA" awardee to qualify. The village chair has the privilege to choose from his constituents' potential scholars to study under the Technical Education Skills Development Authority as electricians.

Colight will shoulder the cost, provides allowance and complete set of tools for the trade.

Added to all these are other community development projects that the Aboitiz firm will introduce in collaboration with partners.

For her part, Mayor Sayadi posted on her FB page the city government is determined to continue eradicating illegal acts in the city, especially pilferage or illegal tapping (of electricity) that causes fire and conflagration.

"We signed a MOA with Colight to help eradicate pilferage and unnecessary power interruption due to illegal tapping," Sayadi said.

She said under the project, the city government and the barangay government would help monitor and prevent illegal connections in their respective locality.

"Local officials will report to Cotabato Light any illegal electrical connection in the barangay," she said. "Cotabato Light will disconnect and penalize violators. I would like to remind Cotabateños that like monetary thief, illegal electrical connections are another form of theft," she stressed.

Sayadi further said illegal electrical connections could trigger fire in residential areas that may result to loss of lives and properties.

"So, let us all help prevent pilferage. Altogether, we jointly fight all forms of criminality and illegal electric connections in Cotabato City so we continue to grow and develop as a city," Sayadi said. The project commenced after the MOA signing. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and development (DSWD) in Region 12 has delisted nearly 2,200 households this year from the beneficiary list of the flagship conditional cash transfer program due to eligibility problems.

Bai Zorahayda Taha, DSWD Region 12 director, said Friday they removed the beneficiaries from their database as they no longer have family members who are qualified to avail of the assistance program.

She said they also found some names who had double entries in their database and were immediately removed.

The official said the delisted beneficiaries were no longer receiving direct cash assistance from the initiative, which is also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

"This is part of the continuing cleansing of our database of ineligible beneficiaries and our efforts to further strengthen its implementation in the region," she said.

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

But DSWD-12's operational jurisdiction includes Marawi City, which is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Citing their records, Taha said the delisted beneficiaries reached a total of 2,135 out of the 231,137 covered by the regular 4Ps.

She said they also purged 36 of the 22,894 households under the expanded or modified 4Ps in the region.

4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to "poorest of the poor" households to improve their health, nutrition and education.

It provides beneficiaries cash grants of P500 a month for health and nutrition expenses and P300 a month per child for educational expenses, as well as P600 in monthly rice subsidy.

The modified program covers families and children who are in difficult situations and those in "pockets of poverty" not covered by the regular 4Ps.

These are families that are either homeless or stay in the streets where they earn their living, indigenous peoples migrant families, victims of disasters and those in need of special protection like families with children who were abused, abandoned, exploited and orphaned.

Taha assured that they are continually finding ways to improve the implementation of 4Ps and ensure that its intended benefits will reach the "poorest of the poor" households.

She specifically cited the continuing rollout of the Sustainable Livelihood Program component, which was launched to help beneficiaries get into sustainable livelihood activities.

"We are working on how our beneficiaries can get jobs aside from the financial assistance. That's the reason why we have livelihood trainings for them," Taha said.

She said some of the beneficiaries want to land permanent jobs or go into viable livelihood ventures so they can eventually stand on their own.

Along with the 4Ps and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services or Kalahi-CIDSS, the SLP forms part the three-pronged anti-poverty convergence programs of the national government implemented through the DSWD.

In Region 12, the DSWD has allotted around P300 million for the implementation of the SLP.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- City officials are looking at the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) innovative "train-like bus" dubbed Hybrid Electric Road Train (HERT) as a viable option for the city's planned mass transportation system.

City Councilor Shandee Llido-Pestano said Friday the city government could utilize the road train as alternative mode of public transportation for residents of remote communities within the city's 26 barangays.

The HERT finally made its maiden road test in major streets and highways here last Wednesday in preparation its upcoming trial run.

Pestano was among the city officials who joined the road train's initial demonstration run from the city's oval plaza to Barangays Katangawan and Tinagacan.

"It would be a viable alternative transport that will really benefit our constituents as its operations will cover some remote barangays in the city," she said.

For the formal test run, which is targeted to begin before the end of the month, the road train will cover a total of 17 stops along the national highway from Barangay Tinagacan to the city fishport complex in Barangay Tambler.

It will take off at 4 a.m. in front of the Tinagacan Elementary School and will mainly cater to teachers, fishport and tuna canning workers in four round trips daily, with two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Pestano lauded the DOST for moving the HERT's test run to the city following a six-month trial in Cebu City.

The HERT, which was developed by DOST's Metals Industry Research and Development Center, is a "40-meter long train-like bus" that can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and is powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery.

The train consists of five interlinked air-conditioned coaches that can hold up to 240 passengers per trip.

It is powered by a generator set and a series of batteries, with each coach driven by an electric drive motor.

"It is an environment-friendlier mode of transportation compared to the common transport vehicles that we have. Emission of smoke is less and it is tested and proven to be commuter – friendly," said Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas-Nograles, who also joined the test run.

Nograles expressed support to the possible turnover of the road train to the local government after the test run.

DOST officials had signified to donate the HERT to the city government should the latter decide to eventually adopt it.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) here on Wednesday started printing and releasing driver's license cards with a five-year validity period.

Nurhuda Omar-Nurulla, LTO local licensing center head, said they prioritized the printing of cards for applicants from December 2016 until March 2017.

Nurulla said the local licensing office has a backlog of 23,000 cards and is targeting to clear it by the first quarter of 2018.

She said later on they will print license cards for applicants who applied after the month of March.

On Wednesday, they were able to print around 100 cards for drivers who applied for renewal of license.

Nurulla said the issuance of license cards was halted due to the delayed arrival of the plastic cards and printing machine from the LTO central office.

She said the new license card has special security features as well as the holder's information such as name, address, blood type and biometrics.

The printing is also being done at the LTO extension and satellite offices to fast-track the release of the license cards.

LTO client Son Gantalao was happy that he already received his license card after waiting for a year.

"I'm happy because the validity of the license is already five years," he added. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – City Hall will close down its sanitary landfill in Carmen, Tugbok District as it has already reached critical stage.

But it will only be closed down once a new site will pass government requirements as landfill area.

The Carmen sanitary landfill has been emitting foul-smelling leachate and seepage already polluting the Pangi River that have been subject of complaints from residents near the area. The leachate escaped the filtration pond where the waste materials pass through several layers.

While the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) with help from the City Engineer's Office is addressing the current problem by replacing the damage submersible pump in the landfill site, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said closing down the sanitary landfill would be a long-term solution.

The mayor said there are already sites identified but she cannot still say which area would be developed as garbage dump. The mayor said the prospect sites will be surveyed and must pass government requirements for sanitary landfill.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the city mayor's request to allocate PHP100 million for the purchase of an area for new sanitary landfill which would include a comprehensive solid waste management complex and waste segregation area.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio assured the residents near the Carmen sanitary landfill that the city government is addressing the problem. She said replacing the pump would be a temporary solution.The submersible pump will manage the leachate from the landfill.

Earlier, City Planning chief Ivan Cortez said the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is looking new areas in the north and southern part of the city that would measure about 15 hectares each -- 10 hectares for the landfill and five hectares for the waste-to-energy area.

CENRO is collecting 400 to 500 tons of garbage daily. She said the waste-to-energy unit can collect and convert all residual waste into energy that can be utilized by households. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Three drug personalities were arrested as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) continued without let-up the anti-illegal drug campaign in the region, a PDEA official said Thursday.

PDEA Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio identified the arrested drug personalities as Jabbar Nasser, 42; Adzmar Malali, 28; and, Abdillah Ahil, 27.

Authorities referred drug personalities as either drug pushers or users of illegal drugs.

Aspacio said Nasser and Malali were arrested in a buy-bust operation around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Kaumpurnah Zone 1, Isabela City, Basilan.

Confiscated from them were a gram of suspected shabu packed in nine heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets worth PhP4,500 and PhP500 marked money.

Aspacio said Ahil was arrested in another buy-bust operation around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City.

Aspacio said confiscated from Ahil were around five grams of suspected shabu packed in seven plastic sachets worth PhP15,000, illegal drug paraphernalia, and PhP1,000 marked money.

He said they were detained while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is determined to push through with the local peace talks with the New People's Army (NPA) after its liquidation unit killed a city police officer on Monday.

"It was unfortunate, but this drives me to continue the peace talks to avoid similar incidents in the future," the city mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio bared there is an ongoing investigation to get the identity of the killers, but did not divulge details of the findings.

On Monday, PO3 Wilfredo Garol, a member of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) assigned at the Intelligence Section of the Tugbok Police Station was shot dead by two members of the New People's Army (NPA) hit squad in Barangay Valencia, Tugbok District, this city.

Garol conveyed his wife, a teacher in a school in Valencia, on board his motorcycle. On his way back, the two suspects flagged him and asked for a free ride. But when they reached Purok 5 at Sitio Luman, Valencia the gunmen shot Garol several times resulting to his death.

DCPO chief Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum vowed that Garol's death will be investigated thoroughly to identify those behind the treacherous killing.

His death, Tagum stressed, will not deter the police in their commitment to an intensified fight against all forms of domestic threats posed by communist rebels or criminals.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero threw his full support to the localized peace talks although he cannot discount possible threats to the community.

"We cannot discount the fact that as your AFP, we need also to address the armed threats," Guerrero said.

Meanwhile, newly-installed commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) recognized the localized peace talks between the city and NPA in Davao City as he welcomed the initiative of the Mayor Duterte-Carpio to resolve the insurgency problem peacefully.

Asked if his command is willing to pull out the military troops in remote areas as a confidence-building effort, Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen Benjamin Madrigal said, "This will depend on what will be the agreement between both parties."

"We will have to consult our leaders who are actively engaged in the peace process, regarding this matter," he said.

Madrigal said that peace dialogues should be talked within the community.

Duterte-Carpio also expressed determination to push through with the peace talks despite the rejection of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), emphasizing her duty to pursue just and lasting peace in the city as the representative of the City Government of Davao.

She believes that this initiative can help achieve peace in the city although it depends on the rebels if they really want to talk peace.

The Davao City Peace Committee is given until November 2018 to work on the peace process. If nothing significant happens, the mayor will terminate the project.

As of August, the military recorded the death of six soldiers and a police in Davao region.

The NPA liquidation squad was suspected behind the spate of killings that was reportedly activated after military launched operations against them. Killed members of the military and police were two soldiers under the 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) in Compostela Valley Province; two from the 67th IB in Davao Oriental; a member of the Scout Ranger; and a police officer in Davao del Norte. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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CALAMBA CITY -- A total of 52 out of 54 villages in this city have organized volunteer teams to implement the revised guidelines of "MASA MASID" or "Mamamayang Ayaw Sa  Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Iligal Na Droga" program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG City Director Lenie Bautista said the revised guidelines adopt the multi-sectoral and mass-based approach, heightening community volunteerism to help eradicate the social menace and sustain peaceful, orderly and safe communities.

Barangay volunteers gathered here in four batches, composed of 13 village teams per batch for their two-day orientation seminar at the city hall on November 15-16.

"The program aims to promote synergy between the state and private sector to help rid the country of corruption, illegal drugs, criminality, violent extremism and other threats to peace and security," Bautista said.

She added that volunteers from civil society organizations (CSOs), such as faith-based, people's and non-governmental organizations have been enjoined to become part of community engagements through their village chiefs as chairpersons of the Peace and Order Committee of the village council.

Also, some of the village volunteer teams could become members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and the Barangay Peace and Order Council in the MASA MASID team (MMT), which will also mobilize recruitment for more MASA MASID volunteers (MMVs) in their respective villages.

She said that complementing the advocacy campaign to heighten the level of awareness on fighting corruption, illegal drugs, criminality, violent extremism and other threats to peace and security is the reporting system under strict confidentiality, to be established in various modes like drop box, email, text messages, hotline phones for information gathering and assessment for referral to the appropriate agencies.

Bautista, however, clarified that all reports from the volunteers go through a process by the Technical Working Group (TWG), which is composed of the DILG Field Officer as chair, with members from the Philippine National Police (PNP), local government unit (LGU) administrator, Liga ng Barangay (LnB) president, representatives of CSOs and faith-based organizations (FBOs), representatives of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council and City Peace and Order Council.

She pointed out that processed information on illegal drugs will be relayed accordingly to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA); on corruption, to the city legislative council or to the Civil Service Commission (CSC); on criminality, to the PNP; and on violent extremism and other threats to peace and security, to the Department of National Defense (DND) or the PNP, for appropriate action and monitoring.

Supervising the TWG is the Steering Committee composed of the City Mayor as chair with the DILG field officer, chief of police, and FBO representative as members.
Bautista also said that the program encourages community participation and partnership building with the government to achieve a drug-free and safe environment that "ought to be everyone's concern". (Zen Trinidad/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Sr. Superintendent Alexander Tagum led personnel in submitting to a surprise drug test conducted by the Regional Crime Laboratory on Thursday.

Tagum said it was a compliance to Camp Crame's directive's on Internal Cleansing Strategy.

The 216 personnel, including the City Public Safety Company, were the first batch to undergo the drug test among the DCPO's total of 1,895 personnel.

"The surprise drug test is also to ensure that no one among the officers and men of the DCPO are engaging in any illegal drug activity," Tagum said.

The drug testing, conducted at Camp Domingo Leonor lasted until afternoon, was the first under Tagum's leadership.

While he is still waiting for the results, Tagum said that officers found positive on the test will face criminal and administrative sanctions.

"Immediately they will be relieved from their present assignment and assigned to Admin Holding Center while undergoing a pre-charge investigation that will ultimately lead to his dismissal from the police service," he said. (Rhoda Grace Saron/PNA)



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PIKIT, North Cotabato -- Police authorities here impounded 148 motorbikes, mostly without registration papers and could have been used in criminal acts, amid an intensified manhunt against gunmen who have murdered at least 10 people for the past two months in the locality.

Chief Insp. Romy Castañares, Pikit police chief, said along with the impounded motorbikes were 48 passenger tricycles with dubious permits.

Chief Insp. Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the Philippine National Police regional office, said the campaign against unregistered motorbikes was an effort to prevent killings with suspects using motorbikes as escape vehicles.

Among the 10 persons recently killed were foreigners, a Pakistani and an American, who were shot and robbed of cash and valuables. The foreigners killed by highway robbers were 60-year-old food merchant Jeff Michael Keith, a retired US Marine serviceman and Pakistani buy-and-sell trader Etesham Ulhaq.

Keith, who was with his wife in delivering pastries and other food products, was shot dead and robbed of his Php200,000 cash on Oct 29, five days after Ulhaq was also killed and robbed of his Php12, 000 money collection.

Gonzales said aside from the campaign against illegal motorbikes, the police also provided manpower to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in anti-drug operations.

Several men, whose motorbikes were impounded, were also detained for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs.

"Appropriate charges are being prepared against them," Gonzales said. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano visited Marawi City Thursday to assess what intervention the Tapang at Malasakit Alliance could provide for the city and its residents after it was liberated on Oct. 23 from the pro-ISIS terrorists.

The two mayors handed over P10 million (P5 million from each city) as an aid to Marawi which is already undergoing rehabilitation. They also offered flowers, candles and prayers at St. Mary's for those who perished at the height of the armed conflict at the main battle area.

Davao Chief Information Officer Jefry Tupas said the two mayors, who wore red shirts to represent Tapang at Malasakit Alliance, visited the Malutlot Elementary School and City Hall. They recently led the launch of Tapang at Malasakit Alliance in Taguig.

Duterte-Carpio earlier said the P5 million aid is sourced from the disaster funds of the city that was also approved by the City Council.

It will only be an initial assistance from the city. Davao City has a total disaster fund of P91 million disposable within the last two months of the year 2017.

"I initially planned to give P10 million, but we still have two months left. My priority is still Davao City. Maybe mid-next year or the same period, we will look on how they used the P5 million and we can give them more," she said in an earlier interview.

She called on other local governments to also extend help to Marawi City. She said it is within their duty as elected officials to help other cities that need help.

This is not the first time that Davao City extended help to cities affected by a disaster. It also sent aid to Bohol when it was hit by a strong earthquake, Cagayan de Oro during Typhoon Sendong, among others.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army chief Maj. Gen. Rolando Bautista said a government team has been allowed to enter the main conflict area since Monday for the post needs assessment to determine structures will be built or if the damaged buildings will be reconstructed or rehabilitated.

Bautista, however, said ground preparation for the relocation of evacuees is ongoing outside of the main conflict or adjacent areas in Marawi.

By December, he said, some houses could be initially turned over to some families.

According to Bautista, the security forces only allowed the post needs assessment team because the main conflict area is not fully clear.

Meaning, we need to see if there are still unexploded ordnance or improvised explosive devices considering that during the campaign not all were recovered as these were buried in the ruins, Bautista stressed. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- A 10-hour power interruption will hit some areas in Iloilo province on Sunday, said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

NGCP Visayas corporate communications and public affairs officer Michelle Visera said the power interruption is due to their annual maintenance activities of their 69 kV Sta. Barbara-Miag-ao line.

The power interruption will start at 7 a.m.

Power interruption will affect consumers connected to the Iloilo Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO) I, particularly towns of Sta. Barbara, San Miguel, Oton, Tigbauan and Miag-ao.

Affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions, she said.

NGCP gave an assurance to exert all efforts to restore power earlier or as scheduled.

Consumers connected to the Iloilo Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO) II from Pototan, Dumangas and Janiuay also experienced a nine-hour power interruption November 11 due to maintenance activities of Dingle Substation. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The turnover of over PHP143.98 million in loans, farm machinery and other support programs highlighted the sixth visit of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to Iloilo on Friday.

In his message during the turnover of farm equipment at the Western Visayas Agricultural Research Center in Hamungaya, Jaro district here, Piñol explained that coming back to Iloilo every now and then was a "fulfilment of a dream that my grandfather never achieved – better life."

The secretary led the mass distribution of some PHP75.1 million worth of farm machines to farmers associations from Antique, Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo.

These were 31 units of pump and engine; 25 units of four-wheel drive tractor; 35 floating tillers; eight transplanters and 12 cultivators.

"We really believe that unless we mechanize we will never be able to improve the productivity of our farmers," he said.

He cited that the lack of post-harvest facilities result to some 16 percent losses in grains and 40 percent in fisheries.

DA also acquired 3,000 bags each of hybrid and certified seeds worth PHP9.885 million and PHP3.879 million, respectively, and 6,000 bags of fertilizers worth PHP5.124 million.

In the morning, the secretary turned over the PHP30 million loan assistance fund for farmers of Hamtic, Antique and PHP20 million for those in Miagao, Iloilo. The amount is intended as loan assistance under the Production Loan Easy Access program handled by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

Piñol said that the PHP30 million for Hamtic represented the first tranche of the PHP300 million he has committed to Antique farmers.

Meanwhile, he promised PHP50 million to Miagao in addition to the cold storage facility that will be used by onion growers of the town and its adjacent municipalities.

The secretary said that DA has been fast tracking the release of support to farmers.

Regional offices were ordered that at least 90 percent of the fund released to them must be disbursed. Otherwise, unused fund will just revert to the Bureau of Treasury.

The failure to release the target fund would put question to their absorptive capacity while at the same time services intended for farmers were not delivered.

"We don't want to create bad impression in the budgeting system," he added.

He emphasized that they wanted all projects fast-tracked because "people are tired of waiting."

The secretary added that the "immediate delivery of services" is the trademark of the Duterte governance. (PNA)



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PIKIT, North Cotabato -- A detainee who bolted the North Cotabato provincial jail in Kidapawan City following an attack by armed men in January this year was collared Thursday with the help of local leaders here.

Chief Insp. Romy Castañares, Pikit police chief, said Rolly Anok, one of the more than 120 inmates of North Cotabato Provincial Jail who escaped jail in January, was arrested in Barangay Poblacion after local village officials tipped off the police about his presence in the area.

The arresting officers, Castañares said, also found a handgun from Anok who did not resist arrest when accosted along the town's commercial district.

Castañares said Anok, jailed on charges of violation of anti-drug law, will be turned over to provincial jail authorities while separate charges for violation of RA 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives) are to be filed against him.

More than 100 inmates fled the provincial jail in Barangay Amas on January 5 this year after armed men sprung out detained drug lord Melvin Casangyao at the penitentiary.

The leader of the armed band was identified as Esmael Nasser alias Commander Derby whose group is involved in robbery and extortion.

Casangyao allegedly paid Nasser PhP1-million to rescue him, with another PhP1-million waiting as added payment once he was out of the jail facility.

In May, Casangyao was rearrested in Kidapawan City while police killed Nasser in an anti-drug operation in June, also in Kidapawan City. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The City of Bacolod has partnered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of its initiatives to improve the local business climate.

The city government hosted a two-day SEC-Gender and Development (GAD) Investor Information Seminar at the Bacolod City Government Center until Friday attended by almost 300 participants from the academe, business organizations, and local government units.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the aim of his administration is for Bacolod to have a climate conducive for business to grow.

"I believe that in this business world today, corporations are somehow indispensable. I believe that the more corporations we have, the more it would indicate that there is more dynamism and progress, and development is naturally going to follow," he said.

This year, Bacolod is one of the top 3 finalists in the Search for the Most Business-Friendly City of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and The Top Philippine Model City for 2017 for being the "most livable urban center in the country" in a competition initiated by The Manila Times.

Officials of SEC, led by Commissioner Emilio Aquino, discussed various topics, including GAD's Role in Capital Market, Microfinance and Lending, Investment Scams, Investment Products, and Company Registration System.

Lawyer Andrea Lizares-Si, chairperson of the Provincial Council for Women, gave a lecture on sexual harassment.

SEC-Iloilo Extension Office Director RusselIldesa also warned participants against investing money in unregistered investment schemes operating in social media.

Most victims were attracted by the good proposal of scammers in sites such as Facebook, he added.

Ildesa added that an extension office of SEC will soon be established in Bacolod.

It was Leonardia, during his term as congressman, who authored the bill creating a permanent SEC office in Bacolod.

It became Republic Act No. 10785 or the SEC Bacolod Office Law after former President Benigno Aquino III signed it into law in early 2016.

Leonardia said he learned recently that more than 50 percent of all corporations in Western Visayas are based in Bacolod.

"The figures are big enough to justify that there should be a SEC office here. If we have SEC office here, that will facilitate business," the mayor added. (PNA)



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LEGAZPI CITY -- The Department of Education's (DepEd) office for Bicol will honor schools, school implementers and most active stakeholders in the region that have given invaluable support to the department's "Brigada Eswela" program.

The awarding ceremony will be held during the "Regional Brigada Eskwela Sharing of Best Practices" at the Iriga Plaza Convention Center in Iriga City on Friday.

Mayflor Jumamil, public information officer of DepEd-Bicol, in an interview Thursday, said the event would commend three schools considered as Hall of Fame awardees after continuously making it as best school implementers in three successive years.

These schools generated very high resources, with an increasing number of volunteers and expanded scopes of work and projects that benefitted the learners.

"Representatives of Juan M. Alberto Memorial School (JMAMES) of the Division of Catanduanes, Basud National High School of the Division of Camarines Norte, and San Antonio National High School of Iriga City will share their best practices that made them excellent in implementing the program," Jumamil said.

This year, schools from the Divisions of Camarines Norte, Iriga City and Masbate and the Divisions of Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Legazpi City and Sorsogon made it as Regional and National Awardees for the 2017 Brigada Eskwela.

The awardees for elementary schools Best Brigada Implementers are: Mamlad Elementary School of Albay, Barcelona Central School of Sorsogon, JMAMES of Catanduanes, Tulay na Lupa Elementary School of Camarines Norte, and Iriga City Central School of Iriga City.

For secondary schools, the awardees are Cagbacong High School of Legazpi City, Mary Perpetua E. Brioso National High School of Masbate, Basud National High School of Camarines Norte, Pamplona National High Schools of Camarines Sur, San Antonio National High School of Iriga City, and Aroroy National High School of Masbate.

The Best Brigada Eskwela were chosen based on the following criteria: cleanliness, orderliness, installation of learning kiosks and facilities, hand and sanitation facilities, environment-friendly facilities, and evident support of the community and education stakeholders.

"Those who made it to the standards were recommended to the BE National Validation Committee," Jumamil said. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is targeting a 10 percent increase in revenues next year with the implementation of its revised revenue code.

Alvim Batol, head of the Provincial Treasurer's Office (PTO), said Thursday the additional revenues would mainly come from the adjustments in various charges and fees levied by the local government.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board is expected to pass by next week the revised revenue code, which is already calendared for third and final reading.

Batol said they pushed for the passage of the revised revenue code which has not been reviewed and adjusted for more than five years.

"We have to find ways to increase our revenues to also cope with the present needs and the socio-economic situation," he said.

For this year, the provincial government has targeted collection of around P1.69 billion from local taxes and related charges.

As of the end of October, the PTO already reported total collections of P1.5 billion or just short of around P192 million.

Batol said they are currently on track to meet their tax collection target before the end of the year.

Last month, the Bureau of Local Government Finance feted Batol as the best provincial treasurer in Region 12 in terms of real property tax collection and third for business tax, fees and charges.

For 2018, Batol said the local government would focus on increasing its local tax collection as it moves to eventually become less dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government.

"There is a need for us to be more aggressive on our tax campaigns," he said.

The local government adopted various strategies to improve its efficiency in the collection of local taxes and the revenues of its economic enterprises and other income-generating facilities.

These include the provincial hospital in Koronadal City, three municipal hospitals, South Cotabato Sports Complex, South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center, and the Productivity and Technology or ProTech Center.

The local government had completed the initial rehabilitation of various facilities of the provincial sports complex as part of the move.

Expansions are ongoing at local government-run hospitals, which remain among the top income sources of the provincial government.(HST/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The University of Santos Tomas (UST) has started preparation for the initial development phase of its long delayed expansion campus here.

University officials, represented by Fr. Dexter Austria of the Office of the Vice Rector for Finance, has launched a series of consultations and public hearings for the first phase of the establishment of the planned 79.93-hectare university campus here.

Austria said the public consultations are among the requirements for the development of the site in Barangays Ligaya and Katangawan, specifically the approval of the location and clearance for its road networks and drainage canal.

The initial development works will be spearheaded by geodetic engineers from UST and its contracted firm DCCD Engineering Corp.

A statement released by the City Public Information Office said officials and residents of the two barangays covered by the project have expressed full support to the planned development works.

"This is the long hope of every constituent in Barangay Ligaya as we aim to become an urbanized area in the city. I hope that the engineers will materialize the design and concepts they have made," said Barangay Ligaya chair Romy Pagaduan

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has expressed full support to the development of the UST campus, which will be the first in Mindanao.

He said the opening of the university would eventually help bring in more major investments and economic activities to the city.

UST initially acquired the proposed university site here for P96 million in 1997 but its development was marred by land classification problems.

UST sought for the conversion of the site, which is classified as agricultural land, to institutional and received initial approval from the Department of Agrarian Reform in 2003.

DAR issued another order in 2008 "extending the development period of the site until 2013," according to UST's official publication Varsitarian.

The city council intervened in 2013 by passing Ordinance No. 15 that revised the zoning classification of the university site from agricultural to institutional.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has started preparatory works for the development of its planned halfway home for former and returning New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

Ma. Ana Uy, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said Thursday they are presently drawing up a development plan for the facility, which is targeted to open later next year.

She said the halfway home would be patterned after the operations of an existing facility for former rebels in Mati, Davao Oriental.

A team from the local government's technical working group recently visited the Mati halfway home to study its management and operation, she said.

Uy said they are set to meet with South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes to present their learnings and the initial development plan for the halfway home.

The Mati halfway home has been operating in the last 10 years and is manned by regular local government personnel, she said.

She said returning rebels are accommodated at the facility for six months to undergo a series of interventions like livelihood and leadership trainings before their formal integration into local communities.

"This is to ensure that the returnees will have no chance of going back to their previous groups and activities," Uy said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had signified to help fund the construction of the province's halfway home, which will be situated within a property in Barangay Morales that was previously donated by the local government to the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office.

The DILG has allotted grants of P5 million to local government units, including the province, that have signified to establish a halfway home for returning rebels.

A halfway home or house refers to the temporary residence that serves as the processing center for former rebels.

The facility could also be used to cater to other individuals in crisis situations such as victims of violence against women and children, juvenile delinquents, former convicts and times of disaster.

The DILG issued last June the guidelines that detailed the systems and procedures on the establishment of the "halfway homes," which is a component of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

 The CLIP started in 2014 and aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of former NPA rebels as productive citizens; enhance capacities of LGUs and national government agencies in the implementation and sustainability of the CLIP; and compensate and remunerate all surrendered firearms, including those coming from the NPA.

Seven former rebels have so far received financial assistance of P15,000 from the provincial government this year under the CLIP and four more are undergoing processing for the same benefits.(AC/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY - Joint elements of the police and military have arrested an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group in a law enforcement operation in the province of Basilan, an official said Thursday.

Supt. Restituto Pangusban, Isabela City police chief, identified the arrested bandit as Ustadz Warid Said alias Ibno Ayob, an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Pangusban said Said was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of serving warrant of arrest around 12:05 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Kumalarang, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.

Pangusban said the suspect has standing warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no recommended bail issued by a court in Isabela City.

He said kidnapping and serious illegal detention is penalize under Article 247 of the Revise Penal code of the Philippines as amended by Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7659.

The Abu Sayyaf Group was formed in early 1990s and is the most violent although the smallest group of lawless elements in the country. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Police Regional Office (PRO) XI has reiterated its call to all police officers to prepare for the intensified attacks of the New People's Army (NPA).

PRO 11 regional director Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan said, "We are telling our personnel that it's not your fault if there are NPA who attack a station but they should put up a fight."

"If you don't retaliate, whether there is a one-strike policy or none, that is an act of cowardice and you will not only be relieved, but you can also be removed from the police service," he added.

Based on their intelligence reports, Gaerlan said the rebels would conduct tactical offensives especially that the NPA is celebrating its anniversary next month.

Usually, he said that if the NPA rebels celebrate their anniversary, they conduct tactical offensives and attack government facilities.

"That directive of the NPA continues that is why we are maintaining our full alert status," he said.

Gaerlan also reminded all police officers to be more vigilant in their 'personal or official movement.'
Gaerlan's instruction came following the recent killing of a police officer on Monday in Barangay Valencia, Tugbok District, this city.

Gaerlan confirmed that perpetrators of the murder of PO3 Wilfredo Garol of Baguio Police Station were identified members of NPA. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)



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CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Joint elements of the Army's 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have arrested Thursday a couple and five others during anti-drug operation in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat.

Capt. John Arvin Encinas, Army's 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said military and PDEA agents collared Albije Biang, his wife and five other relatives who also served as illegal drug couriers.

Biang is considered the leader of an illegal drug group operating in eastern part of Sultan Kudarat province.

Seized from the suspects were five sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride weighing about 25 grams worth about Php30, 000, one M-4 rifle, one .380 caliber pistol, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia.

The suspects have been charged for violating RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and violation of RA 10951 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives.

Major General Arnel dela Vega, 6th ID commander, who has jurisdiction over Sultan Kudarat province, lauded the Army for providing manpower resources to PDEA-ARMM.

"The Army is in full support to the PDEA, which is now the lead agency in the government's war on drugs," he said.

The suspects are now detained at PDEA-ARMM lock up cell in Cotabato City. (PNA)



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BULUAN, Maguindanao -- The provincial governor here on Wednesday convinced local Moro clans locked in long standing family feud to finally smoke the pipe of peace.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, backed by police and military officials, witnessed the peace pact signing of at least seven heavily armed Moro clans who swore over the Quran to end their bloody "rido" (family feud) that have claimed lives of clan members.

The clans of Dagalangit, Malambut, Tomawis, Maricor and Aron had been at odds with the families of Minis, Bangon and Baroto for a long time.

They all belong to the Iranun tribe in the adjoining towns of Barira, Buldon and Matanog.

The settlement was also participated by the local police and the Maguindanao Task Force Reconciliation and Unification and the Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Mangudadatu lauded the clan leaders for heeding his call to end bloody clan wars that prevent development of Muslim communities aside from senseless cycle of violence and killings among clans.

Among the reasons of clan war were land dispute, misunderstanding and petty crimes that grew into family squabbles.

Mangudadatu also lauded the participation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) whose members and sympathizers were among personalities involved in family feud.

The peace pact signing and swearing before the Quran were held at Maguindanao provincial capitol grounds here. (PNA)



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SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao -- The mayor of this town has offered a Php50, 000 bounty for the immediate identification, arrest and prosecution of those behind the Nov. 9 burning attempt of a Catholic chapel here.

Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan said he offered the amount for any information that would lead to the arrest of perpetrators who vandalized and torched religious articles and statues of San Isidro Labrador chapel in Barangay Labo-Labo here.

Ampatuan condemned the attack, describing it as un-Islamic and an uncivilized act of lawless elements.

His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, Mindanao's first and only cardinal and head of archdiocese of Cotabato, also condemned the attack and urged local leaders and peace partners to help bring the culprits behind bars.

Quevedo said he was bothered by the incident, the third in Mindanao since May this year. On May 23, extremist Abu Sayyaf Group and Maute terrorist organization destroyed religious images and burned the Catholic cathedral in Marawi City.

In July, ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters destroyed images and religious articles of a chapel in Barangay Malagakit, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.

No one had claimed responsibility for the burning at 9 p.m. on Nov. 9 of the San Isidro Labrador chape, but authorities had their eyes fixed on the ISIS-inspired faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIIFF) under Commander Toraife operating in the peripheries of Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.

According to Quevedo, the destruction of the statues was "gravely disrespectful" of Catholic beliefs.

"Such a crime is most disturbing and provocative," he said in a statement.

Despite the attempt, the cardinal urged Catholic faithful not to destroy the solidarity of Muslims and Christians in Maguindanao that he and the peace advocates have been promoting for the past two decades.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao town police director, said local officials had sought the help of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in identifying the attackers.

Police investigators are currently looking at two possible motive of the attack. Tello said for one, there appears to be parties fighting over ownership of the land where the chapel is located.

"We are also looking at possibility the extremists in Maguindanao were involved," he told reporters, adding a third party could have been involved to foment animosity among majority Muslims and minority Christians in Shariff Aguak.

Quevedo has urged the public, government officials, and the archdiocesan partners in the Bangsamoro peace process to help the security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice. He also called on religious leaders to condemn such abuses and "prevent religious bigotry, hostility and conflict". (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, has vowed to strengthen the conduct of community support program (CSP) in the operational area of each military unit to stop the recruitment activities of the New People's Army (NPA).

Madrigal replaced Brig. Gen. Perfecto Rimando Jr., who was the acting commander of the EastMinCom following the appointment of Gen Rey Leonardo Guerrero as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Interviewed at the sidelines of the turnover ceremony on Wednesday at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Camp Panacan, Madrigal said all units under the Eastmincom would continue its relentless efforts to reach out to the communities, especially the Indigenous People (IP), who are vulnerable to NPA recruitment.

The newly-appointed EastMinCom chief said he already talked with the unit commanders and directed them to be vigilant.

He also emphasized the support of the people in the communities for security is not only the responsibility of the soldiers but also the stakeholders.

"Isa sa mga hakbang natin ay patuloy yung ating community support programs kasi andapat mawala yung source nang bagong miyembro. Kelangan maliwanagan ang komunidad para hindi sumali sa movement kasi kahit anong gawin natin sa combat operations hindi to matitigil (One of our steps is to continue the community support programs because we need to stop the source of new members. The communities should be enlightened so they would not join the movement because whatever we do in combat operations (if new members get recruited, it would not stop)," he said.

He added the Army would focus its military operations to address troublemakers so that sources and victims of the extortion and NPA atrocities would stop.

Madrigal is also set to visit the brigade and battalion units to further assess the strength of the NPA in the area.

Meanwhile, present during the turnover ceremony were the 10th Infantry and 4th Infantry division commanders, brigade and battalion commanders, other security forces and stakeholders.

In his speech, Guerrero expressed his gratitude to the command and the local government officials, and stakeholders for the support they had given during his stint as Eastmincom chief.

"Madrigal is not a stranger in the command," Guerrero said. "He returns and bring(s) his knowledge in the area, "he added.

Madrigal was happy to return to Davao Region where he became the 701st Infantry Brigade under the 10TH Infantry Division.

"I feel a challenge and confidence to work with you, engage the stakeholders and improve the good relationship that we have established with interagency partners and the locals," he said.

This time, he said, he would like to embrace the peace and development with political leaders as with them "we can achieve peace, security, development and prosperity".

Madrigal is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Sandiwa" Class of 1985, Madrigal is currently the Commander of the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).

Prior to his appointment as SOLCOM Commander, Madrigal held key positions in the Philippine Army as commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan De Oro; assistant commander and later acting commander of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley before becoming the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.

He also held major positions in the AFP General Headquarters as Chief of War Plans Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, OJ5; Secretary Joint Staff, AFP; and Head Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff. (Rhoda Grace B. Saron/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The city government is ready for the month-long Pasko Fiesta celebration with a budget allocation of P17 million.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said it has always been the objective of the city to give back to the Dabawenyos every December through fun and entertainment that the Pasko Fiesta brings.

"Pasko Fiesta is designed to let the Dabawenyos enjoy the festivity," the city mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio will lead the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree on December 1 that also signals the start of the festivities.

This year, the city government doubled the prizes for some events to encourage more participants. The budget will also be used for the food packs of the security personnel who will help in maintaining peace for the entire celebration.

"This year's celebration is almost the same as last year's Pasko Fiesta, the difference is that we allocated bigger prizes for the events," Duterte-Carpio said.

Last year, only the first, second and third placers were given cash prizes. For this year, the city government will be giving away consolation prizes to participants.

There will be 22 events in the Pasko Fiesta, including the Lamdag Parade, Banda Dasig and Parada sa mga Parol, among others.

Pasko Fiesta organizers have scheduled activities for children; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT); indigenous people, senior citizens and persons living with HIV. (Funny Pearl Gajunera/PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – Negros Oriental will receive additional troops as part of region-wide policy of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento, acting provincial police director, disclosed Wednesday afternoon that other provinces in Central Visayas or Region 7 are already implementing this PNP policy.

Among this is the balance in the distribution of police personnel, that requires re-shuffling or re-assignment of police officers to positions that are suitable for their ranks, he said. 

Portento said additional officers will be sent here as part of the region-wide move.

He explained that the PNP is looking not only "after Dumaguete, but the entire province of Negros Oriental as far as the deployment of officers and non-commissioned officers". 

Portento said if he will have difficulty in the deployment, then the PNP Regional Office 7 will have to do it.

Portento was referring to the recent movement among police chiefs in Negros Oriental, including that in Dumaguete where the transfer of the previous police chief was met with heavy criticism from the city mayor and some city councilors.

The city officials had expressed disappointment over the relief of the former police chief Supt. Jovito Atanacio, who was replaced by Supt. Jonathan Pineda.

They noted that Portento did not give prior notice that Pineda would assume the post last Nov. 6, but the former said that Atanacio's transfer was imminent.

Portento expressed hope that the problem has been resolved, pointing out that the city officials are "professional enough" to understand that a decision has to be made.

Portento was referring to Atanacio's "overstaying" in his post,  having extended his regular tour of duty of two years by about three more months until his relief. 

Portento is hoping that the misunderstanding that transpired is finally over so that they can move on, including support of the city council to the new police chief because "constituents of Dumaguete City are relying on the support of the city council through him".

The city council had earlier announced it would withhold the budget allocation for the city police station unless Atanacio's relief has been ironed out. (PNA)



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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- Police on Thursday formally filed charges against a militant leader who allegedly threw stones at anti-riot policemen resulting in the injury of two police officers during a recent protest rally outside the RCBC compound in Barangay Balete, Tarlac City.

Charged with direct assault and serious disobedience and resistance to an agent or persons in authority was Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) chairperson Florida Sibayan, who, together with members of other militant groups, staged a rally Wednesday in commemoration of the Hacienda Luisita massacre.

While police authorities exercised maximum tolerance in preventing the militant groups, Sibayan and some 150 militant members reportedly became unruly and tried to forcibly enter the RCBC compound.

During the encounter, two police officers -- SPO1 Rolly Marzan, a member of Sta. Ignacia Municipal Police Station; and PO1 Arnold John Abella, a member of Provincial Public Safety Company PPSC; sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, another case of malicious mischief is also set to be filed against Sibayan and other militant members for destroying the RCBC's concrete fence with the use of sledge hammer and farm equipment, incurring a damage amounting to PHP1.6 million pesos.

Sibayan is presently under the custody of Tarlac Police Provincial Office. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opened the 13th Negosyo Center in Negros Occidental province on Thursday, this time in the southern municipality of Cauayan.

DTI-Negros Occidental provincial director Lea Gonzales said the opening of the facility is expected to boost the town's entrepreneurs, especially those engaged in producing virgin coconut oil, coco coir, "coconet" and other coconut-based products.

The Negosyo Center can help further develop the local industry through services it provides, among them entrepreneurship, product development and marketing training, Gonzales said.

"Coco coir is one of the agency's priority commodities in the province and coconut as raw material is abundant in Cauayan," she added.

The Cauayan facility is the fifth to be opened in the province this year after those in the cities of Sipalay, Bago and Himamaylan, and town of EB Magalona.

In 2016, the eighth Negosyo Center in the province was unveiled in Hinigaran town. Also opened last year were those in the cities of Bacolod, San Carlos, Victorias, and La Carlota.

The Negros First Negosyo Center at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Bacolod City was opened in 2015 along with those in the cities of Kabankalan and Sagay.

The host local government units provided the area for the facility, while the DTI took charge of the refurbishing, basic equipment, and training component.

The establishment of Negosyo Centers is provided under Republic Act No. 10644, or the Go Negosyo Act.

It provides micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ease in doing business, and facilitates access to grants and other forms of financial assistance, and shared service facilities (SSF), among others.

The law also seeks to ensure management guidance, assistance and improvement of the working conditions of MSMEs, and facilitate market access and linkaging services for entrepreneurs. (PNA)



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BAY, Laguna – A top executive of the country's largest micro-finance group disclosed on Thursday that he felt honored to be one of 143 other business leaders and pioneer mentors for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the ASEAN's 10 member countries.

Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder and chairman of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development-Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD-MRI), joined the business leaders and entrepreneurs during President Rodrigo Duterte's launch of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) at the Solaire Hotel in Pasay City on November 12.

"Being part of the launch of AMEN is an honor and privilege. It is an honor to share our knowledge to this generation's hopeful entrepreneurs and a privilege to play a greater role in uplifting the lives of our people," Alip said.

AMEN, considered as the largest mentoring program in the ASEAN region, is a regional private and public platform that will "promote and facilitate the exchange of entrepreneur mentors and best practice training modules for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises".

"I am really hoping to contribute to the development of our country in the best way that I can," he added, citing the President's leadership and determination to push for MSME development in the country.

The President graced the opening of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2017 and led the launch of the ASEAN Mentoring Program, assuring business leaders and entrepreneurs that he will make changes in the country's general appropriations act or the annual budget "to pour more money on these micro, small and medium enterprises".

The CARD-MRI said the ASEAN conference brings attention to business issues, investment opportunities, and directions for growth, especially for micro and small-scale entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia.

It welcomed the President's statement recognizing that "the basic unit of the economy has always been moved by the MSMEs".

In the ASEAN business gathering, the Chief Executive described it "an opportune time for government and business sectors, leaders across the regions who come together" and expressed optimism that "the ASEAN Mentors for Entrepreneurship Network would become a catalyst for inclusive prosperity that can be shared by all." (PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Oriental is conducting an investigation on the murder of a militiaman in Siaton town perpetrated by suspected members of the Communist New People's Army (NPA).

CHR provincial chief and special investigator, Dr. Jess Cañete, disclosed that the widow and two daughters of the deceased came to his office Thursday to seek help but  stressed that he wants everybody to cooperate in the investigation.  

"I need the cooperation of everybody to come out with a fair and objective investigation result" in relation to the death of Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) member Gelino Vailoces, 52 years old, who was killed by suspected NPA members in Barangay Mantiquil, Siaton the other day, he said.

According to the CHR provincial chief, while there is a letter from the Rachelle Mae Palang Command of the NPA claiming responsibility for Vailoces' death, this has yet to be validated.

Cañete raised three points in his investigation, namely, whether there was a violation of the International Humanitarian Law with the deceased being an SCAA; if the perpetrators are identified so murder charges can be filed against them; and the letter acknowledgment from the NPA that needs verification.

The Rachelle Mae Palang Command  (RMPC) claimed responsibility for the execution of a member of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA)  of the 12th CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) Battalion of the 79th IB based in Sitio Cuadra, Barangay Mantiquil in Siaton on Monday.

In an unsigned, undated statement, the NPA unit claimed that Vailoces was meted a death sentence for his active involvement in intelligence gathering against the NPA.

The statement also said other members of the SCAA or even civilians who are actively spying on the activities of the NPA will be meted the same penalty.

In an interview, Marialita Vailoces, wife of the slain SCAA, said that at least seven armed men abducted his husband Gelino while he was pasturing a cow and a carabao at 6 a.m. last November 13, 2017. 

An initial police report said that around 30 armed men had fetched Vailoces from his house that day.

Marialita narrated to the CHR provincial chief that she was also ordered to jump from their house after which the armed men went upstairs to get her husband's caliber .38 revolver.

The armed men also took their cellphones and the sling bag of Vailoces that contained PHP9,082 and Marialita's sling bag that contained PHP82.

Two hours later or at about 8 a.m. on the same day, Marialita said she heard bursts of gunfire which made her believe her husband was shot and killed.

She also relayed that before the armed men left, she was ordered to "disappear" and not to come back within three years, if not, she would be killed.

Marialita said she went to Sitio Avocado in Barangay Talalak in the adjacent town of Santa Catalina.

Another member of the SCAA, Antonio Fabillar, who recovered the dead body of Vailoces, told Marialita it was his dog who led them to the body of the victim.

The responding militiamen found the purported NPA statement near the body of the victim that sustained a gunshot wound at the back of his head and another on the right knee.

Cañete said the supposed claim of the NPA can be validated if members of the so-called RMPC would make a public pronouncement through the radio that it was indeed responsible for Vailoces' death.

The CHR investigator could not also file the necessary complaints in the absence of any identification of the armed men.

The slain SCAA member left 10 children, the youngest is three years old.

He was in the service for five years. His wife said she could not remember if he had enemies. (PNA)



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DAGUPAN CITY -- More than 10,000 farmers tilling 12,984 hectares of land in Pangasinan will benefit once the Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project  (ARISEP), costing more than PHP2.6 billion, is completed in December next year.

This was revealed by Ceferino Sta. Ana, project manager of ARISEP, a major irrigation project in Pangasinan, when he briefed participants to the Irrigation Stakeholders Summit at CSI Stadia in Dagupan City, Wednesday afternoon.

He added that ARISEP is Phase II of the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project (ARIIP).  Phase I is  already 100 percent complete and now irrigating some 18,000 hectares of farm lands in eastern and central Pangasinan.

 ARISEP, which was started in May 2015, is now 51 percent complete and set to be completed in 2018.

"Right now, we have 51 percent overall accomplishment and is  already one and a half year in implementation. That means, we have one year and two months to go," Sta. Ana told participants of the summit.

When completed, ARISEP will provide year-round irrigation to rice lands in eight towns of Pangasinan -- Natividad, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Sta. Maria, Tayug, Balungao, Umingan and Rosales. 

The project consists of rehabilitation and restoration of existing old irrigation line canals and construction of new canals.

Source of water for both Phases I and II of ARIIP is the San Roque Dam, the highest rock-filled dam in southeast Asia and the second highest in the whole of Asia.

When completed, the project would have a big impact on rice production in Pangasinan, which is already the third biggest rice producer in the country after Nueva Ecija and Isabela provinces. (PNA)



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CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan -- An armed suspected drug dealer was killed while his companion managed to escape after engaging lawmen manning a police checkpoint in a firefight in Barangay Muzon here Wednesday night. 

In a report to Bulacan police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., San Jose Del Monte (SJDM ) city police chief, Supt. Fitz Macariola, identified the slain suspect as  Baltazar Conrado Jr., 30, resident of Towerville, Barangay Minuyan here, while his cohort, who managed to escape, remained unidentified as of Thursday afternoon. 

Macariola said the armed encounter ensued when the suspects tried to evade the checkpoint conducted by elements of San Jose Del Monte City Police Station, together with a team from the PNP-Highway Patrol Group along along F. Halili Road in Barangay Muzon around 11:30 p.m.

According to Macariola, personnel of the SJDM City Police Station, together with elements of Bulacan Highway Patrol Group, were conducting checkpoint operation, when they tried to flag down the suspects on board a motorcycle.

Macariola said the two suspects tried to evade the checkpoint, drew unidentified handguns and fired at the police officers.

"This prompted the police to retaliate which resulted in the neutralization of Conrado, one of the suspects, while his unidentified cohort managed to escape, heading towards the dark, grassy portion of the road," he said.  

Macariola said Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) elements of the Bulacan Crime Laboratory  recovered one caliber .38 pistol loaded with two live ammunition and three fired cartridge cases; 11 small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected "shabu"; and a driver's license.

The recovered pieces of evidence were brought to the Crime Laboratory Office for examination. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on Friday asked Negrenses not to panic but remain alert amid the unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.

"Don't let your guard down," the governor said.

It has been three days since the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) hoisted Alert Level 2, or "moderate level of unrest" on Kanlaon Volcano.

Marañon also called for prayers, believing that "prayer is the best answer and solution."

The governor said concerned agencies continue to monitor the condition of the active volcano.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, PHIVOLCS said Kanlaon Volcano's seismic monitoring network recorded 10 volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours. The Thursday bulletin showed 217 volcanic earthquakes recorded so far.

"There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption," the latest bulletin stressed.

"The PHIVOLCS will advise us if there's a change in the situation," Marañon said.

On Thursday, concerned agencies discussed with local government units (LGUs) the identified gaps in the preparations for possible evacuation.

The meeting held at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Bacolod conference hall was led by Jose Roberto Nuñez, head of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Western Visayas; and Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division.

Caelian said that LGUs seen to be affected already laid their evacuation plans, including the setting up of drop-off points and evacuation centers.

He added that the LGUs were instructed to submit the list of what they need to OCD-Region 6 and the provincial government within the week.

Localities covered by the four-kilometer permanent danger zone are the cities of San Carlos, Bago and La Carlota; and the municipalities of Murcia, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Salvador Benedicto.

On Wednesday, the provincial government of Negros Occidental activated its Emergency Operations Center to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the activities of Mount Kanlaon.

Earrlier, Caelian said the public should be ready in case of evacuation especially those residing in danger zones.

"The public should be alert. I can't say they should not be alarmed because there's an alert level," he said. Preparations should be coupled with prayers, he added.

Caelian said they have a list of "most probable areas" that would be affected by the volcanic eruption, based on the simulation conducted. (PNA)



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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- At least 99 percent of the 1,259 drug-affected barangays of Pangasinan were already declared as drug-cleared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) with only nine barangays left to be cleared to date.

This was revealed by Chief Inspector Dominic Poblete, chief of operations of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO), who said the 1 percent comprises nine barangays (villages) in San Fabian, Mangatarem, San Carlos City and Dagupan City.  

There are 1,364 barangays in 44 towns and four cities in Pangasinan.

Poblete said of the number, 1,259 barangays were considered as drug affected since the start of "Project Double Barrel" implementation by the police on July 1, 2016.

This means 1,250 barangays or 99 percent of the 1,259 drug-affected barangays were already cleared so far, he added.   

At least 428 or 9 percent of the total 1,364 barangays of Pangasinan are not affected by illegal drugs.

Of the 48 towns and cities, only Sto. Tomas is drug-unaffected.

Drug-clearing operations are being done continuously in the nine barangays that have yet to be cleared under the Oplan Linis Droga launched by the Pangasinan police to make the whole province drug-free by year-end.

So far, already officially validated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as drug-cleared are the towns of Agno, Anda, Dasol, Laoac, Mabini, Mapandan, Natividad and San Nicolas as well as the city of Alaminos.

Malasiqui was among 33 other towns and one city are deemed drug-cleared by PPPO and recommended for validation by an oversight committee from the PDEA regional office.

All towns that are drug-cleared by the police must all go through PDEA validation first to make sure that none will slip back and become drug-affected again. 

The 33 towns and Urdaneta City have complied with all the requirements for drug clearing and for this they have been recommended by the PPPO to the PDEA for official validation, Poblete said.

Poblete remained confident that the target date of end of December this year for the province of Pangasinan to be declared drug-free will be met. 

He noted that since the start of Project Double Barrel, the police in Pangasinan have conducted a total of 1,666 anti-illegal drug operations where they arrested 1,780 drug personalities.

In all these operations, the police seized a total of 729.25 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and 663 grams of marijuana.

Poblete said there was no drug laboratory found in Pangasinan.  (PNA)



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LAPU-LAPU CITY -- In observance of the feast of patron Virgin of Rule (Birhen dela Regla), main thouroughfares in Lapu-Lapu City will be closed on November 20-21.

This was announced Thursday by the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System (CTMS), saying all major roads, especially within the vicinity of the Virgen dela Regla Parish, will be closed from 4:30 a.m. to midnight on those days.

However, private vehicles can enter areas near the church, where two parking lots have been available for parishioners for free.

Taxicabs will also be allowed access to streets near the parish only to drop their passengers but not to wait on fares.

"All passenger jeepneys and tricycles will only be allowed up to their respective terminals. They cannot enter the Poblacion," CTMS officer-in-charge Mario Napuli said.

Over 80 personnel from the CTMS and the Lapu-Lapu City Allied Force will be deployed to man the traffic and guide motorists during the two-day festivities.

Motorists and commuters are advised to just follow traffic rules and signages which will be put up along all the roads of the city.

People heading to Cordova town on those days are also advised to use the circumferential roads to avoid traffic congestion. (With reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has requested from the central office additional PHP2.4 million for centenarians who have not yet received their PHP100,000 cash incentives.

In an interview on Thursday, Judith Tanate, DSWD-6 focal for Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons said that the additional budget is intended for 24 centenarians in the region who are supposed to be beneficiaries of the incentive.

Six of the centenarians turned 100 years old in 2016 while 18 of them turned 100 years old in 2017. However, they were not included in the list of the agency.

Tanate said that they are still waiting for the approval of the DSWD office.

She said they would immediately distribute the incentives once the request would be approved and the budget would be downloaded to their office.

Tanate added that the 24 centenarians earlier requested from their office to be included in their list after they learned about the incentive.

They have already submitted the necessary requirements needed by the agency and have also been validated by DSWD-6.

To recall, DSWD 6 has identified 360 centenarians in the region in 2016 and 27 centenarians in 2017.

As of date, Tanate said that 348 of the centenarian-beneficiaries in 2016 and all of the 27 centenarian-beneficiaries in 2017 received their incentive.

DSWD is yet to distribute the cash incentive for 12 remaining beneficiaries who are all in Negros Occidental. They have yet to fully comply with the needed requirements of the agency.

She expressed hope to fully distribute the remaining cash incentives of the 12 centenarians before the end of this year.

The cash incentive given to centenarians is mandated under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarians Act of 2016. (PNA)



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SAMAL, Bataan -- Town Mayor Generosa dela Fuente has appealed to commuters and residents for understanding over the delayed completion of the Samal bridge that started construction sometime in September 2016.

The project is one of 10 bridges in Region 3 that Tokwing Construction Corp. is building as part of a package deal under the government's Design and Build Program.

Reportedly funded with PHP18 million, it is the first bridge project in the country under the program.

Tokwing Construction Corp., under contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3, has to finish the bridge by September 26, 2017 but the date was moved to November 25, 2017 as some problems have to be settled.

Contractor project engineer Chito Sampang said Wednesday that one lane of the bridge would be passable first week of December while the whole bridge would be totally traversable before the end of December 2017.

The mayor said she understands the problem of commuters but asked for patience and sacrifice.

"As a mother of Samal, my small wish for our constituents is to broaden their understanding. In development, there is a little sacrifice. Since we are already sacrificing, let us increase (it) a little bit (more) because there will be more convenience ahead of us. Be a little more (patient)," Dela Fuente said.

She admitted that the bridge construction was a little bit slow but what she could only do was to always remind the project engineer of the project's deadline.

Dela Fuente said the bridge would soon be finished but she had some issues to address with the contractor.

Bataan first district Engineer Erlindo Flores said the elevation of the bridge is high but would affect residents once the approach and transition to the bridge is elevated.

"I will talk with the project engineer on what is good to make it favorable to everyone so that the work will go on smoothly," Flores said. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Iloilo has prepared initial plans for the expected five to 10 percent increase of passengers this holiday season.

PCG-Iloilo commander, Lieutenant Ramil Palabrica, on Thursday said they are planning to activate the "Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" middle of December to ensure the hassle-free travel of commuters.

"Students and professionals are expected to go home, as well as individuals or families from Manila or abroad for the long holidays," he said in an interview.

Initially, Palabrica said they are planning to put up public assistance desks in every port in Iloilo.

They will also deploy additional personnel to inspect boats coming in and going out of ports to avoid overloading and possible unscrupulous acts of personnel who might take advantage of the heavy number of passengers.

Strict inspection of baggage will also be done to prevent entry of illegal drugs and deadly weapons.

Coast guard personnel will be on standby to respond to any untoward incidents.

An inter-agency meeting will be conducted starting first week of December to finalize all the preparations for the holiday season. The inter-agency is composed of the PCG, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA),Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), among others. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Iloilo has prepared initial plans for the expected five to 10 percent increase of passengers this holiday season.

PCG-Iloilo commander, Lieutenant Ramil Palabrica, on Thursday said they are planning to activate the "Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" middle of December to ensure the hassle-free travel of commuters.

"Students and professionals are expected to go home, as well as individuals or families from Manila or abroad for the long holidays," he said in an interview.

Initially, Palabrica said they are planning to put up public assistance desks in every port in Iloilo.

They will also deploy additional personnel to inspect boats coming in and going out of ports to avoid overloading and possible unscrupulous acts of personnel who might take advantage of the heavy number of passengers.

Strict inspection of baggage will also be done to prevent entry of illegal drugs and deadly weapons.

Coast guard personnel will be on standby to respond to any untoward incidents.

An inter-agency meeting will be conducted starting first week of December to finalize all the preparations for the holiday season. The inter-agency is composed of the PCG, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA),Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), among others. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- Proper interventions were provided to 68 children who are part of Iloilo City's 2,811 drug surrenders during the conduct of 'Operation Tokhang' by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Social Welfare Officer Merlyn Gison, focal person for child and youth welfare of the Iloilo City Council for Protection of Children (ICCPC), on Thursday said that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has reached out to children surrenderers.

"They were returned to their parents," she said.

Individually, they were subjected to a detoxification program as they were not included in the community-based rehabilitation program of the city government here.

They were also mainstreamed in organizations in the barangays where they belong, particularly the Pag-Asa Youth Association.

Others are in school while some opted to join the Sharing Computer Access Locally and Abroad (SCALA) of the CSWDO.

These are part of diversionary activities, she said.

While minors were returned to their parents, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) continues to monitor them, according to Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, spokesperson of the ICPO. (PNA)



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IMUS CITY, Cavite -- Southern Luzon State University's (SLSU) Alyzza Pontesor emerged as the overall champion, while her schoolmates Camille Tambunting and Ana Verdadero landed 1st and 2nd runner-up in the recent agricultural quiz bee at the SLSU campus in Lucban, Quezon.

Organized by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Calabarzon Regional Office, the quiz bee has drawn the participation of some 60 Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) state university 3rd and 4th-year students.  

ATI disclosed that the quiz bee is one of the highlights of ATI-Calbarzon's 2nd annual search for 'Kabataang OA' in observance of November as "Organic Agriculture (OA) Month" pursuant to Proclamation No. 1030.

Marites P. Cosico, Center Director of ATI Calabarzon, expressed optimism the ATI program will serve as a challenge, and motivate the youth to continuously improve and surpass their efforts in farming and fishing and lead them to their successful career.

The activity aims to create awareness on organic agriculture as well as boost enrolment in agriculture and agriculture-related courses offered by state universities and colleges in the Calabarzon region.

The SLSU contingent bested other contenders from Batangas State University (BatSU) – Lobo whose bet Jonnel Albania landed 3rd runner-up; Cavite State University (CavSU) Main Campus in Indang; Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU)–Siniloan campus; University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB) with student John Arrogante placing 4th runner-up; and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Mulanay, Quezon.

The top 10 students competed in the easy round where the top five contestants with the highest scores competing in the final round.

The top five battled individually through a hands-on demonstration of the procedure in preparing a kilogram of fermented fruit juice.

SLSU's Pontessor bested four others as this year's "Kabataang OA" with the five finalists receiving their respective cash prizes, medals, trophies and certificates of recognition from ATI Calabarzon. (PNA)

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ILOILO CITY -- Vice President Leni Robredo has challenged members of the Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women, (PFLCW) Inc. to be innovative and learn more on how to further improve the condition of women.

Speaking before PFLCW members from various parts of the country during the opening of their 15th assembly held in this city Wednesday afternoon, Robredo said that there are a lot of opportunities from the government.

"On the occasion of your 15th anniversary, I think it is an opportune time for us to realize that power is in your hands. There's a lot that you can do given the limited resources that we have. There's really a lot that you can do, given the environment we are working on," she said.

In her keynote address, she shared her encounter with abused women while working as a human rights lawyer before entering the government service.

Likewise, she talked about how the Naga City Council of Women was able to engage government in various activities that could empower women economically.

"The more economically empowered a woman is, the more she has strength to fight abuse," she said.

"We have to make sure that the skills they learned from the training that we gave are translated to livelihood, to jobs," she added.

In an experiment, they asked the city government of Naga to procure 30 percent of the local government requirement such as food and souvenirs during seminars from women's groups that have been trained on various livelihood skills. "This strategy has worked," she said.

"Opportunities came from the government. Government is still the biggest consumer and government is the one who can help," she stated, especially in areas where the presence of the private sector is not that strong.

"In Iloilo it wouldn't be too much of a problem because it is a bustling urban community already. But what about in the provinces where there are not enough industries," she cited.

The vice-president added that this year's assembly of the PFLCW is "a time to reflect on if what are those opportunities which we have not tapped yet."

"We want to see women break from the shackles of poverty because it is the number one culprit of abuse," she underscored.

The opening of the three-day assembly was also highlighted by the awarding of the Jesse Robredo Most Outstanding Mayor of the Year Award to Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle G. Climaco-Salazar.
"I could not think of a better mayor to receive this award than Mayor Beng," she said. The mayor she said played part in preparing her for the huge task ahead when she was representative of her district in Naga.

PFLCW is a national coordinating body of all the local councils of women in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD).

The three-day assembly that ends Friday also lined up speakers that would discuss about the localization of the Magna Carta of Women, participation of women in the process of national development, economic opportunities for rural enterprise and funding and business opportunities, among others. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is eyeing to pass the 2018 Executive Budget of the city government here before the end of this month.

The proposed PHP2.28-billion budget was endorsed to the council last Oct. 11 and was referred to the committee on appropriations, chaired by majority floor leader Eduardo Peñaredondo.

On Thursday, Peñaredondo said they hope to pass the budget by November 28.

Next year's budget is 10.6 percent higher compared with the 2017 appropriations.
Of the proposed budget, PHP1.28 billion or 58.29 percent will be sourced from local taxes; PHP912.90 million or 41.26 percent from its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share; and PHP10 million or .45 percent from the share in the Economic Zone.

Mayor Jose Espinosa, in a previous interview, said there is not much increase in next year's budget, citing that almost all of the offices have requested for "status quo".

"Basically, it's the same budget that was prepared previously but the income estimate based on the budget call was almost similar to 2017," he said.

The budget was prepared during the time of former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog but it was Espinosa who signed the endorsement to the city council.

In the five-year budget comparison starting 2014, the highest increase was in 2014 with 11.3 percent. The 2014 budget was PHP1.58 billion.

The budget increased by 10.9 percent in 2015; and 10.7 percent in 2016. This year, the budget was PHP2.09 billion. (PNA)



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INDANG, Cavite -- Cavite's upland town of Indang, which figured in history as the site where Magdiwang faction leader Andres Bonifacio was arrested and barred from establishing his own government and army, will celebrate its 22nd "Indang Day" festivities with street dancing, job and agri-fair, and grand parade from Nov 27 to Dec 1.

In an interview with PNA on Thursday, Indang Tourism Officer Marianito Nuestro said the festivities are in time for the town's 362nd founding anniversary, when it was established as a separate town from Silang in 1655 after some 70 years as a sub-ordinate barrio.

Nuestro said around 1,000 townsfolks and revelers are expected to join the annual festivities that reflect the town's main preoccupation with agriculture and agri-tourism, and now spruced up with commercial and service centers.

Indang Mayor Perfecto V. Fidel will lead the kick-off rites on Nov. 27 for the five-day celebration themed "Pagdiriwang ng nagkakaisang Indangeño para sa ating patuloy na pag-asenso (celebration of the united Indangeños for sustainable development)."

Fidel said the first day of the celebration would focus on the millennials and youth, with kiddie activities starting at 7 a.m. on Nov. 27 and a local rock band performing by 7 p.m.

Spicing up the festivities on Nov. 28 is a street dancing competition among 16 performing groups from Indang's elementary, junior, and high school students and a talent competition for the "Mr. and Ms. Indang 2017 Search" at 6 p.m.

A Cavite festivity will not be complete without the "karakol," a traditional religious dance procession, set on Nov. 29 from 1 p.m., to be followed by a local singing competition called "Tawag ng Tanghalan 2017" at 6 p.m.

On Nov. 30, town organizers are set to pay tribute to national hero Andres Bonifacio in simple rites at the Bonifacio Shrine starting at 6:30 a.m., marking the historic day the revolutionary Katipunan movement leader was arrested in Barangay Limbon here following his defeat in the assembly election at the Tejeros Convention.

On Dec. 1, around 36 barangay contingents featuring various floats made of indigenous and recycled materials for pro-environment motif will participate in the Grand Parade, where prizes are at stake for the best float.

The barangay beauty and personality pageant contenders for the "Mr. & Ms. Indang 2017" tilt will join the parade. The celebration culminates in the coronation night by 6 p.m.

Fidel and Vice Mayor Ismael D. Rodil will spearhead the town's Agri-Expo Trade Fair, which will showcase and market various Indangeño products from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

The town's celebration will also revisit the town's name origin "Inrang" or "yndan," a tree which was also called "Anubing" and was referred to as "Magdiwang" (celebration) town during the Spanish period.

The town was also known for its revolutionary name "Walang Tinag" (immovable), referring to the place's revolutionary character, with Bonifacio's arrest and as home to revolutionary figures like Severino Delas Alas, a member of General Emilio Aguinaldo's party during his retreat to Northern Luzon; General Ambrosio Mojica, a politico-military governor of the first Philippine Republic in Samar and Leyte; Hugo Ilagan and Jose Coronel, both Cavite delegates to the revolutionary Congress in Tarlac. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The Commission on Human Rights' office in Central Visayas (CHR-7) did not find enough technicalities that would merit an investigation on the deaths of two infants in Lapu-Lapu City after receiving a pentavalent vaccine last week.

However, CHR-7 chief investigator Leo Villarino said Thursday they are ready to help the victims' families should they seek assistance.

Villarino said all they could do to help for now is to monitor how the Department of Health (DOH) is conducting its investigation to determine the real cause of the infants' death.

Families of four-month-old Ghirvaughn Mereign Limpangog and three-month-old Ayesha Mae Suson blamed the vaccine administered to the babies at the Barangay Pajac Health Center as the cause of their death.

Ariel Igoy, grandfather of one of the babies who died three days after receiving the vaccine on Nov. 8, said Wednesday he would ask the help of CHR-7 after DOH-7 ruled that the deaths were not caused by the children's vaccination.

DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas on Wednesday said that their initial investigation showed that Limpangog and Suson died of pre-existing illnesses, as indicated in their death certificates.

However, Igoy said they want the DOH to dig deeper into their investigation, especially on the vaccine's side effects and how it was administered.

The pentavalent vaccine is given to children to prevent them from contracting diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and haemophilus influenza type B, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis. (PNA)



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REAL, Quezon – Personnel of the Coast Guard and local fisheries council have recovered some 360 kilos of fish from a boat abandoned off the waters of  Barangays Ungos and Poblacion in this northeastern town.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said joint personnel from the Coast Guard Stations in northern Quezon and the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Council (M-FARMC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) in this town were conducting their joint anti-illegal fishing operation on Nov. 14 when they spotted a passenger/cargo motorized banca adrift off Poblacion 61 in this town.

This prompted the joint team to board the motorized banca, M/BCA "Kevin 2," and discovered it was deserted with no fishing crew in sight.

Further inspection by the joint coast and local fisheries and agriculture authorities revealed that the vessel was loaded with plastic containers of fish.

A BFAR fish examiner confirmed that the fish haul were caught through blast fishing. (PNA)

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BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) awarded Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) to 26 farmer-beneficiaries in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.

DAR-Negros Occidental II, which covers the south, said 22 of these new landowners would share the total area of 22.9211 hectares formerly owned by the Philippine National Bank (PNB)-Binalbagan situated at SitioMambulan in Barangay Tan-awan.

About 10 hectares will be divided among four remaining agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) . The land is formerly owned by Luther Ramos located at Sitio Pandan of the same barangay, it added.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Elma Popioco, who led the CLOA distribution, challenged the ARBs to protect and defend their rights over the awarded lands.

"Your CLOAs are your early Christmas gifts from the DAR. You must protect and defend your rights over this land," Popioco said, as she appealed to farmers not to engage in illegal activities like the "ariendo" system or leasing out their lands.

Selling and leasing of lands are strictly prohibited by the conditions stipulated not only in the contract but in the existing agrarian laws and regulations.

DAR also urged ARBs to be responsible citizens by promptly paying their taxes to the city government and land amortizations to the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the DAR-Negros Occidental I, which covers the northern part of the province, reported low land acquisition and distribution accomplishment for 2017.

From the distribution target of about 5,000 hectares, the agency can only reach by about 2,500 hectares by the end of December this year.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Milagros Flores said this could be attributed to the challenges in the land acquisition and distribution (LAD), including the technical requirements delaying the implementation of the program.

Flores pointed out that the DAR is not the sole implementer of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The titles and CLOAs are available at the Register of Deeds, surveys with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and valuation at the Land Bank of the Philippines, among others.


"In 2012, we started to initiate a strategy that has eventually lessened the tendency of ARBs to sell or lease their awarded lands mainly through provision of support services before the giving of CLOAs," Flores said.

DAR- Negros Occidental I will work to double its accomplishment next year, she added. (PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's  (PDEA) office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is taking a different strategy in the war against illegal drugs, asking parents and guardians to take an active role in the lives of the youth to prevent them from trying and being addicted to illegal substances.

PDEA-CAR Information Officer, lawyer Joseph Frederick Calulut, said Thursday they believed that one effective way of keeping the younger generation away from illegal drugs is for parents to do their job well in their family.

He said that children with good and responsible parents or guardians have lesser chances of going into the illegal drug activity because they are given proper guidance and attention.

"Some of our drug offenders are young children or youth. When we ask them why they became drug offenders, they said they were neglected by their own parents or guardians and no one looks after them," Calulut said.

He added that some drug users had admitted that they were influenced by their peers.

"The way how the youth think today is different. As a parent, we need to listen to them first to better understand them. Gone are the days when children listened, obeyed and submitted to their parents or to the authorities," Calulut said.

The PDEA officer said that the Cordillera region recorded 11 minors caught with illegal drugs, including two females, from Baguio, Benguet and Abra. Six of them served as drug couriers.

Last October, President Rodrigo Duterte gave to PDEA the primary responsibility of ridding the country of the illegal drug menace.

However, being undermanned with only 2,000 personnel all over the country, the PDEA is coming up with programs in partnership with other sectors to achieve its goal of solving the illegal drug problem.

Calulut said that to help them in their Information and Education Campaign, they partnered with agencies, among them the local offices of the departments of education, social welfare, and interior and local government,  including the municipal and barangay anti-drug abuse councils.

"We hope that with our partner agencies and the cooperation of parents, we could prevent the abuse of drugs among the youth," he said.

The country is observing Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week from Nov. 13 until Nov. 19 as mandated by Presidential Proclamation No. 124 issued on November 26, 2001.

The declaration aims to promote public awareness on the bad effects of prohibited drugs and to encourage public cooperation in the government's anti-drug campaign. (PNA)



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IMUS CITY, Cavite -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) opened a driver's license renewal satellite office at Robinson's Place here Thursday morning.

The new satellite office, located at the 3rd floor of the mall, was inaugurated by LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, LTO-Calabarzon regional director Eric Lenard Tabaldo, Imus City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi and Vice Mayor Ony Cantimbuhan.

In his remarks, Galvante said the LTO plans to open more driver's license renewal offices across the country to decongest the central and regional offices and serve their clients efficiently and expeditiously.

He said the new driver's license, which the LTO began issuing in October last year, could not be falsified due to 32 security features embedded in the card that could easily distinguish the fake from the authentic license.

The new license renewal office in Imus City is the third to be established in Cavite, after those in Dasmariñas and General Trias. Another office will be opened in Naic next year.

In the Calabarzon region, LTO satellite offices are present in Lipa City, Batangas; Antipolo City and Morong, Rizal province; and Atimonan, Quezon province.

During the inaugural activities, Maliksi was the first client to apply for the renewal of his driver's license, obtaining it in less than 30 minutes.

The renewal of a driver's license costs PHP700, aside from fees for drug test and other requirements.

The office is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Some 200 senior officials from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)  member countries are expected to converge in Bohol for the 25th meeting of its Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights on November 26-30.

This was revealed Thursday by Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) Director Jose Mario Espino, who said they are ready to provide security for the delegates, together with their counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and other government agencies.

At least 3,000 policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental will be deployed to the area where the meetings will be held, aside from the soldiers who will assist in the security.

"With the estimated number of 200 delegates, normally we are providing more or less 3,000 policemen," Espino said. "This will come from Bohol then augmented by the Regional Public Safety Battalion based in Cebu province, and we will also tap personnel from Negros Oriental."

Espino said they have not received any threat against the scheduled meetings, but should any threat arise, Task Force Cebu and Bohol would be ready.

Just like in the ASEAN meeting in the island town of Panglao last month, Espino said they would also continue patrolling the shores near the venue of the meeting.

The PRO-7 director is also not worried that the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will return to Bohol as law enforcers have been deployed all over the province. (With reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Several Cebu Provincial Board members are also set to join the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and pledge their allegiance in a mass oath-taking ceremony at the Plaza Independencia here on Friday.

Among these provincial legislators is Board Member Glenn Bercede of the 6th District who went to see Governor Hilario Davide III on Thursday and informed him of his plan to join PDP-Laban.

Bercede said he is the only remaining politician in Mandaue City or in the 6th District yet to join the PDP-Laban. His fellow board member from the 6th District Thadeo Jovito "Jonkie" Ouano has already taken his oath with the ruling party.

Bercede also revealed that PB members from the 1st, 2nd and 7th Districts would also take their oaths as new members of PDP-Laban on Friday.

They are PB Members Yolanda Daan and Raul Bacaltos of the 1st District; Edsel Galeos and Jose Mari Salvador of the 2nd District; and Christopher "Dong" Baricuatro and Jerome Librando of the 7th District.

Bercede said they would continue to support the governor and his programs even if they no longer belong to the same party.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, meanwhile, said PB Member Horacio Franco III would stay with the Liberal Party.

On the other hand, Danao City Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III, who is chairman of Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), said they would not join PDP-Laban since they have a local party Bakud, but they would coalesce or align with President Rodrigo Duterte's party.

Durano and President Duterte are second cousins. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The provincial government of Negros Occidental activated its Emergency Operations Center to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the activities of Mount Kanlaon which is undergoing moderate level of unrest since Wednesday.

Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, said the center is being manned 24 hours a day.

Caelian said the province's contingency plan for Mount Kanlaon is also in place.

On Thursday, the Capitol called for a Response Committee meeting to review the contingency plan and inform concerned national government agencies on the developments after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the volcano's status from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2, which means moderate level of unrest.

The meeting was also attended by officials of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 6 and representatives of the disaster risk reduction and management offices of local government units surrounding Mount Kanlaon.

Caelian said the public should be ready in case of evacuation especially those residing in danger zones.

"The public should be alert. I can't say they should not be alarmed because there's an alert level," he said. Preparations should be coupled with prayers, he added.

Caelian said they have a list of "most probable areas" that would be affected by the volcanic eruption, based on the simulation they conducted.

He added that based on hazard maps, effects like lava flow, pyroclastic materials, and lahar would hit Negros Occidental

Seen to be directly affected are those under the four-kilometer permanent danger zone, including the cities of San Carlos, Bago, and La Carlota and the towns of Murcia, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Salvador Benedicto.

Based on the pathway of lahar, localities that may be affected are the cities of San Carlos, Bago, La Carlota and Himamaylan and the towns of Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, La Castellana, Moises Padilla and Isabela.

The effects could vary, depending on the scenario, Caelian said. (PNA)



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SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The 10 barangays in Antique that are recipients of the potable water projects for this year are being urged to rush the submission of their documents so the projects could start in the first quarter of 2018.

Engineer Donee Ann S. Ruinata of the provincial office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said in an interview Thursday that 10 barangays in the towns of Caluya, Laua-an and San Remigio are recipients of the department's "Sagana at Ligtas Na Tubig sa Lahat" or "Salintubig".

She said that "Salintubig" is being implemented in the waterless barangays in a bid to provide local residents clean and accessible water.

In Caluya, Barangay Sibulo has been granted a PHP2-million budget. Barangays Atabay, Banbanan, and Bawang in San Remigio received PHP3 million each. Barangays Carawisan I and II and Insubuan in the same town have received PHP2 million each.

Laua-an town's water projects for its three barangays have received a total of PHP9 million and another barangay which Ruinata did not name has been granted PHP2 million.

Ruinata said the required documents consist of a copy of the resolution of the municipal council and a memorandum of agreement signed between the town's chief executive and the DILG.

"The local government unit should also provide the lot for the water system or if not, the Deed of Donation from a private lot owner," she said.

She added that in 2016, five barangays received the Salintubig projects in the towns of Bugason, Caluya, San Remigio and Laua-an. (PNA)



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CAMP GEN. MALVAR, Batangas City -- A suspected rapist from Oriental Mindoro was finally captured by joint operatives in Tanauan City after eluding arrest for more than six years.

Acting Batangas Provincial Director Chief Supt. Alden Delvas on Wednesday said the suspected rapist was Jomar Porcino Gardiola, 26, from Barangay Evangelista in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The felon is Rank No. 9 Most Wanted Person (MWP) of Naujan Municipal Police Station, but he evaded lawmen and moved to Barangay Balele in Tanauan City, where he was captured.

Delvas said the joint operatives were composed of the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 4A led by Chief Inspector Rolly Hilario S. Tagama and Chief Inspector Joel Paningbatan of Naujan Municipal police station, together with the Batangas Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) headed by Chief Insp. Apolinario I. Lunar.

With the support of Tanauan City Police Station personnel led by SPO1 Rowell Mendoza Maala of Warrant Section, the joint operatives launched their manhunt operation around 11:25 p.m. on Nov. 13 and captured the wanted person in Barangay Balele in Tanauan City.

According to Batangas provincial police public information office head, Inspector Hazel P. Luma-ang, the team served the warrant of arrest against the suspect for Criminal Case No. ‎12-10566 issued by Judge Tomas C. Leynes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 39 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on June 25, 2013.

Luma-ang said the rape case was filed by the victim Annabel (not her real name) on March 26, 2011 in Sitio Maligaya, Barangay Evangelista in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

No bail was recommended for the accused who is now detained at the police station jail. (With reports from Jojo C. Magsombol/PNA)



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CAMP GEN. PACIANO RIZAL, Sta. Cruz, Laguna -- Laguna cops took time off from their grueling duties by organizing their basketball league which opened Wednesday at the newly-built multi-purpose covered court at the police provincial command headquarters here.

Laguna police provincial director Senior Superintendent Cecilio R. Ison Jr. led the opening rites of the basketball tournament as part of the inaugural activities of the newly-built arena.

"We utilize the workplace as an ideal environment to provide opportunities for physical activity to our personnel to promote healthy behavior and physical fitness," Ison said.

 The police provincial office has organized the inter-office basketball league with seven competing teams of cop-players.

"This will also provide the opportunity to help our personnel in managing the stress in the workplace and help build camaraderie," he added.

 Ison also thanked the occasion's guest of honor, Laguna Provincial 4th District Board Member Joseph Kris Benjamin Agarao, who was instrumental for the construction of the covered-court project.

Agarao lauded efforts by the Laguna police leadership for hosting the tournament citing advantages of the complementing sports program for the police.

Player cops recited the "Oath of Sportsmanship" led by the chief of the Police Provincial Human Resource Development Branch prior to the game as Agarao officiated in the ceremonial toss to start the game. (PNA)

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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- A select group of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) has embarked on a 20-day business mission to Canada and the US from Nov. 12 to Dec. 2 this year.

The local entrepreneurs were accompanied by officials and representatives of the municipal government of Alabat, Quezon, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Calabarzon, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 4-A.

The delegation is exploring joint venture and market arrangements in the two countries.

"I am hopeful that this mission will equip our MSMEs at the same time provide better opportunities for market linkages, business networking, and knowledge on market trends and innovative product developments in these lucrative markets," DTI Calabarzon Regional Director Marilou Toledo, who heads the delegation, said.

The business mission will explore the possibilities through back-to-back (B2B) meetings, market outlet visits, and business matching sessions, Toledo said.

During the 20-day mission, a mini-exhibit featuring CALABARZON's banner products will be mounted at the Philippine Consulate in Toronto, along with a business forum to be attended by about 80 members of the Canada-Philippines Chamber of Commerce.

"This trip to Canada is built on the long-held strategic partnership with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), one of Canada's leading volunteer-based development organizations," Toledo said.

At the CESO anniversary event where she is set to speak during the business mission, Toledo is expected to highlight the strong, over-a-decade partnership with the organization in coaching, mentoring, and providing consultancy assistance to Philippine MSMEs.

Among the business programs set up under the partnership is the Building Entrepreneurs through Advisory and Mentoring Services (BEAMS), which taps local or home-grown experts, coaches, and mentors to assist in the shared service facilities (SSF) projects.

"I am deeply privileged and honored to participate in CESO's 50th-anniversary celebration in Toronto," Toledo said, adding that DTI Calabarzon had been one of CESO's strongest and most successful partners that had produced very positive results in strengthening MSMEs in the Philippines.

Joining Toledo on the government side of the mission are Director Susan Palo and Laura Jaraplasan of DTI's Laguna Provincial Office; Regional Director Alex R. Madrigal and Assistant Regional Director Lydia S. Manguiat of the DOST; and Vermielyn Ortiz of the Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation (PCRDF).

Representatives of Amstature Foods (noodle products), Terra Vida Agri-Ventures (turmeric products), and Escaba Food Products (tropical fruit preserves) form part of the entrepreneurs joining the Canadian Leg, while the USA East Coast Leg will be composed of Escaba Food Products, BlueMacay Food Manufacturing Inc. (food ingredients), and Terra Vida Agri-Ventures.

These enterprises were selected based on their exhibited capabilities and potentials to expand operations beyond the domestic market and have undergone the branding and brand development seminar.

Joined by DOST, the delegation will also explore on the marketability of macapuno-derived products, such as the macapuno powder as food ingredient.

Toledo said that DTI had consistently faced challenges to develop stronger MSMEs in Calabarzon and the constant push for the MSMEs to go beyond the local market.

"Bringing our entrepreneurs to an outbound trade and business mission is not new to our region. Venturing out into the global arena through innovative and globally-competitive goods and services, we in Calabarzon will now pave further market inroads to Canada and the US," Toledo said. (Zen Trinidad/PNA)



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DAGUPAN CITY--The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is now optimizing the use of all its existing water dams, numbering 357 in the entire country, for hydro-power and tourism purposes to further boost the economic development of the country. 

This was bared by NIA Director General  Ricardo Visaya, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),  when he spoke Wednesday during an Irrigation  Stakeholders' Summit participated in by local government officials and heads of irrigators associations in various parts of Pangasinan.

Among those in attendance were Governor Amado Espino III and Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil of the second district of Pangasinan.

Visaya cited the Pantabangan Dam which has a component for hydro power, aside from providing year-round water for the farms in Pampanga and Bulacan.

The Pantabangan Dam is now an important tourist destination and a hotel was already erected nearby, he said.

In a keynote speech during the summit, Visaya called on  interested investors to come to NIA and enter into a memorandum of agreement with  his agency if they want to tap some dams for hydro power and for tourism.

He said he is very confident  that some of these dams spread all over the country are capable of hosting hydro power plants and could become tourist destinations.   

Visaya said he does not know yet how much power could be generated from each NIA dam but is certain that this could soon fill up some of the power shortfall.

He said investors could share with NIA just 6 percent of the revenues that they could generate in their project.

Visaya told newsmen that if a dam would be used for hydro power, the cost of construction and maintenance would be shouldered by the proponent company while dams and its water would remain to be with NIA.

At the same time, Visaya announced the start of construction just two months ago of the huge Balog-balog Irrigation Dam in San Jose, Tarlac which seeks to irrigate the whole of the province.

Costing PHP15 billion, the project will be a source of hydro power aside from generating water for the farms year-round.

Visaya said the Balog-balog Dam project had long been planned and finally started under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The problem of road right of way and interference of local politicians caused the delay of the project planned way back during the administration of  then President Diosdado Macapagal, he said.

Construction of the project is now in full swing under the administration of President  Duterte as all obstacles that prevented the implementation of the project were finally ironed out through strong political will, Visaya said.

In a briefing during the summit, the AFP assured adequate security inside and around the project site.

Visaya belittled the capability of the communist New People's Army to launch an attack at the project site, saying the number of its members in the Tarlac-Zambales area had greatly diminished thro



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BACOLOD CITY -- Local government units (LGUs) surrounding the Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental are on watch after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the volcano's status to Alert Level 2 on Wednesday morning.

The new alert status means moderate level of unrest, according to the Kanlaon Volcano Bulletin 15.

In Bago City, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) said in its Facebook post that its contigency plan for Mt. Kanlaon is being reviewed.

The pre-disaster risk assessment would be the next step, it added.

Dr. Merijene Ortizo, head of LDRRMO, was also shown in a photo discussing the volcano's Alert Level 2 status with village chief HernaniAbindan of Barangay Ilijan, which is located at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon.

In La Castellana, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) reminded its residents in a Facebook post to keep safe amid the volcano's moderate level of unrest.

The MDRRMO also warned the public that "entry to five-kilometer danger zone is strictly prohibited."

"Kanlaon monitoring system record increased amount of volcanic quake probably magmatic in origin could eventually lead to eruption," it added.

Kanlaon Volcano Bulletin 15 stated that seismic monitoring network recorded 279 deep volcanic earthquakes for the past 24 hours since Wednesday morning.

"There has been no visible degassing or steaming from the active vent this year, although increased unrest could possibly develop into steam-driven or phreatic eruptions at the summit," it further stated. "There is probable intrusion of magma at depth which may or may not lead to a magmatic eruption."

The PHIVOLCS reminded the LGUs and the public that entry into the five-kilometer radius permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited due to the further possibilities of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft, it added. (PNA)



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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-10 (DSWD-10) said government agencies are finalizing the list of internally displaced persons (IDPs) before they could go back to Marawi City, amid reports of non-Marawi residents availing of assistance intended only for evacuees.

 At present, a team from the local government units and local and regional social welfare and development offices are conducting the mapping of houses in Marawi, especially those damaged due to the conflict, to verify the names of its owners.

 Reports have surfaced that many of those claiming to be IDPs—both home-based and those living in evacuation centers—are actually not residents of Marawi, said Virginia Cardona, DSWD-10 disaster management focal person.

DSWD-10 said at least nine Marawi barangays, dubbed as "Cluster 1," were now open to returning residents, namely, Basak Malutlut, Marawi Poblacion, Buadi Sacayo, Marinaut, Datu Saber, Moriatao Loksadato, Tampilong, Matampay, and Panggao Saduc.

As of Nov. 15, the DSWD-10 has recorded 182,014 IDPs in Northern Mindanao 20,268 of which are staying here, and 95,011 in Iligan City.

Cardona said many of the evacuees come from the towns in Lanao del Sur surrounding Marawi, who also fled their homes following the fighting between extremists and government forces there.

Like the IDPs from Marawi, these evacuees also received food packs and other assistance from government and private agencies, she said.

In fact, she added, many of them are holding more than one Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (Dafac), a document that evacuees must present to avail of the aid packages.

Cardona said unscrupulous individuals had exploited the aid distribution system because the DSWD didn't require proof of residency and other requirements.

"We just ask them their names. We understand at the time since most of them left their identification cards as they were in a hurry to leave their homes in Marawi," she said.

Upon returning to Marawi, evacuees must first register with their village chiefs for proper documentation so that they could avail of cash and non-cash assistance, said Norainie Altao, project evaluation officer of CSWD-Marawi.

"They (evacuees) must appear before their barangay chairman so they can be included in the barangay profiling or else they will not be included in the distribution of assistance," Altao said, adding that many of the village offices in Marawi are already functioning.

She said the returning IDPs are entitled to receive food aid good for one month and P5,000 in cash.

But the main concern of the IDPs, Altao said, is that they are finding it hard to go back to their hometown due to transportation expenses, although the city government of Cagayan de Oro had expressed its willingness to provide vehicles that would take them to Marawi. (PNA/Jigger J. Jerusalem)



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BACOLOD CITY --The City of Bacolod is eyeing an annual budget of PHP2.25 billion for 2018, higher by PHP250 million than its budget for the current year.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, who chairs the committee on appropriation and finance, said that after the proposed budget was approved on first reading, marathon hearings would be held on Nov. 20, 21 and 27.

Distrito said that 51 percent of the budget would be sourced from the Internal Revenue Allotment amounting to PHP1.14 billion.

The rest would come from local sources, including real property taxes, regulatory fees, business permits and local taxes, totaling PHP1.10 billion, he added.

Based on the proposed allocations, 50 percent will go to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) - PHP1.12 billion; 28 percent, Personal Services - PHP629.18 million; 10 percent, Development Fund - PHP229,055 million; 5 percent, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - PHP112,500 million; 2 percent, Capital Outlay - PHP52.11 million; and 4 percent, Other Expenses, PHP95.12 million.

"We already informed the department heads that this time, we will exercise the authority granted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the City Council to provide funds to important matters and priorities that are not included in the proposed budget," Distrito said.

In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Board began the series of hearings for the proposed 2018 annual budget of PHP3.54 billion last November 8.

Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman of the committee on appropriations, budget, finance, ways and means, said they are holding budget hearings every Tuesday and Wednesday, aiming to wrap up the hearings before December.

"We're hoping that by the first week of December, we can pass the budget," Escalante said.

Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado Jr. said the proposed budget for 2018 is about 12 percent higher compared to the current year's budget, which is PHP3.15 billion.

Next year's proposed budget of PHP3.54 billion includes the allocation of PHP2.02 billion for the General Fund; PHP1.45 billion for the Hospital Operations Department; and PHP66.28 million for Economic Enterprise, based on the Total Annual Budget Summary report. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY – Lawmen on Tuesday seized firearms and ammunition during a raid at a house in remote Barangay Romangaob, South Upi, Maguindanao.

But the raiding team, composed of Police Regional Office–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and South Upi police personnel, missed their targets, local residents Resalito and Rey Trecero, who both managed to escape from the operation.

The team, however, withheld a certain Janeth Trecero who was left alone in the house that yielded one M79 grenade launcher, a .22-caliber rifle, five handheld radios, and assorted ammunition.

Senior Insp. Allan Sabdula, raiding team leader, said their operation was covered by a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court 15 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim.

Sabdula said the principal suspects, though still at large, would face charges for violation of RA 9516 or Illegal Possession of Explosives and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Joint police operatives recovered several explosives in an operation early Wednesday in a village here.

Chief Insp. Renato Salarda, chief of the Makar police station, said the explosives were found inside the house of couple Edon and Senalia Pendatun in Purok Maunlad, Phase 2 in Barangay Apopong.

Armed with a search warrant, he said they swooped down on Pendatun compound at past 4 a.m. along with elements from the city police's explosives ordnance disposal unit.

The official said they found three live rifle grenades and a hand grenade inside the main house of the Pendatuns. The search at the family's nearby old house yielded negative.

In an interview with reporters, Edon Pendatun denied owning the seized explosives, which were found inside a cabinet.

"I don't own any firearm or any weapon. I don't even know how to fire a gun," the 59-year-old suspect said in the vernacular in a radio interview.

He said he did not know where the recovered items came from and had no idea who placed them inside the cabinet.

Senalia reiterated her husband's claims and noted that she was surprised with the supposed recovery of the explosives inside their house.

But she admitted that they were often out of their house to attend to their business at the city public market.

The suspects and the recovered explosives are presently in the custody of the Makar or city police station number 02 here.

Salarda said the Pendatuns would be charged with illegal possession of explosives. (PNA)



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CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- At least 16 mayors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have completed an eight-day on-site schooling on federalism in Washington DC, United States of America from Nov. 6 to 13 and received first-hand account on how it works.

City Mayor Lawyer Christian D. Natividad on Wednesday said that the eight-day crash course was part of the program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in a bid to immerse local executives in the federal systems of different countries like US, Germany and France.

He said they studied different modules on federalism.

"We were immersed into their system so that we can personally experience how bureaucracy works in the US. We went to hospitals, social welfare centers, the state security force of the homeland security department," Natividad said.

The young mayor said he had been reading books on federalism but the experience added to his knowledge about this form of government and how could it be adopted in the Philippines.

"We were sent there to study and learn the system because we are the local executives practicing local autonomy," he explained.

He said that aside from US, they would also study the federal system in Germany and France.

"Our government is dedicated in making our country better and they are now sending local executives so that they can serve as trained mentors on the federal form of government," Natividad said.

The mayor also disclosed that they have talked to Filipino-Americans to learn how they have adopted to federalism in the US.

Natividad also said that the trip had given him the opportunity to tell Filipinos and the staff of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC the significance of January 23, 1899 or the anniversary of the First Philippine Republic.

"It's sad to say but it seems that not too many Filipinos remember the importance of the birthday of being free Filipino citizens of the Republic. Hopefully, this will be a fresh start as the Philippine Embassy in Washington promised that they will commemorate the upcoming celebration of the First Philippine Republic this January 23," he said. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Military artillery fires, backed by helicopter gunships, pounded on pinpointed lairs of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF) in Maguindanao on Wednesday dawn, sending targets on the run in the continuing offensive.

"We will sustain the offensive to flush them out in their hideouts at the peripheries of two towns in Maguindanao," Capt. John Arvin Encinas, Army's 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said.

Encinas said they are specifically targeting BIFF sub-commander Ismael Abubakar alias Commander Bungos, whose group had maintained a haven at the remote section of Barangays Meta and Timbangan of Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak towns, respectively.

Amid the offensive, Encinas said the Cotabato-Maguindanao-Isulan highway had remained open to motorists, as the Army's 603rd Infantry Brigade had set up key checkpoints to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

He said that they also coordinated the attack with their former adversary-turned-ally Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the area to prevent any misencounter.

"The MILF has been working with us side-by-side since our campaign against the BIFF and they also sustained casualties in recent firefights with the BIFF in the area," Encinas said.

No civilian evacuation has been reported yet in the ongoing military offensive.

This developed as the military is also pursuing BIFF forces under Esmael Abdulmalik alias Commander Toraife in the interiors of neighboring Carmen, North Cotabato.

The relentless operation against Toraife, whose faction has pledged support to the ISIS, has resulted to the displacement of over 200 families in the area.

"The Toraife group fled to North Cotabato province to escape the ongoing military assault. We are not letting up our operation against them," Encinas said. (PNA)



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CLARK, Pampanga --The country's hosting of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings gave a big boost to the tourism and economic image of Central Luzon, particularly the Clark Freeport.

Local officials and businessmen said the ASEAN Summit of the regional member-states and their dialogue partners have opened opportunities to Region 3 provinces in terms of business and tourism.

Alex Cauguiran, acting president of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), said the viability of Clark Airport was proven to national and international travelers and other stakeholders with the smooth and safe arrival of the ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners.

Cauguiran said their aviation facilities such as runways, taxiways, and ramps are comparable to those of other airports here and abroad.

"Our runway, taxiways and ramps can accomodate various types of aircraft, including the biggest passenger commercial and cargo planes in the world. The efficiency shown by our airport employees in welcoming the arrival of foreign leaders and their aircraft from landing, taxiing, disembarkation and parking of their aircraft up to their eventual departure have shown our capability," he said.

Cauguiran said with the ASEAN dignitaries arriving at Clark Airport, they are expecting goodwill with foreign commercial airlines and more passengers flying to Clark, which would definitely boost tourism.

He noted that Clark airport, especially the freeport zone, continues to expand and improve existing facilities like hotels and places of interest, to address the challenges.

"Clark airport now is connected to major tourist destinations in our country -- Mindanao, Cebu, Palawan, Bohol, Panay, Batanes, Bicol, and others. These are commonly the final destinations of foreign tourists arrival in our country. Further evonomic activities and developments will surely benefit our province, our region and our country in general, " Cauguiran said.

For Noel Tulabut, communications division manager of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the country's hosting of ASEAN Summit brings to fore the huge potentials of Clark on investments and tourism.

He said Clark Airport has also shown its readiness to become a premier gateway. "Its hosting of the landings of several heads of state has proven its compliance with global standards on aviation, security, service and many other aspects that make it at par with major and top-rated destinations in the world," Tulabut said.

For his part, Rene Romero, vice chairman of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., said the ASEAN Summit further boosted Clark Freeport's economic image.

He said the event brought in economic activities, some of which started as early as late last year.

Belle Manlapaz, an employee of one of the hotels inside Clark Freeport, said that since the country's hosting of the ASEAN Summit, some events of which were held in Clark, the number of visitors had significantly increased.

"The ASEAN Summit gave an opportunity for our province and the entire Central Luzon to show what we can offer," she added. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY – A cardinal from Mindanao has condemned the Oct. 9 desecration of a chapel in Barangay Labo-Labo, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, the second attack on a Catholic place of worship by unidentified men in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces this year.

In a statement, His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, DD, grieved on how unidentified men set ablaze the chapel and "maliciously" destroyed religious statues.

"This criminal act is an abhorrent desecration of a place of Catholic worship," Quevedo, the country's second cardinal, said.

The Shariff Aguak Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire occurred at around 9 p.m. on Nov. 9 inside the chapel located few meters from the national highway.

Moro residents nearby helped put off the fire that damaged the San Isidro de Labrador chapel.

"Has the ISIS ideology of destructive religious hatred and intolerance penetrated once peaceful rural area?" he asked.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but arson investigators are looking at the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that the government forces blamed for similar attack on a religious site in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato in June this year.

Quevedo said the destruction of the statues is "gravely disrespectful" of Catholic beliefs.

"Such a crime is most disturbing and provocative," Quevedo said as he hopes the incident would not affect the "harmonious" relationship between Muslims and Christians in the area.

The prelate also urged the public, government officials, and the archdiocesan partners in the Bangsamoro peace process to help security forces in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

"I urge our fellow citizens, government officials and partners in the Bangsamoro peace process to help our security forces to ferret out the individual or group responsible for this sacrilegious crime," he said.

He called on religious leaders to condemn such abuses and "prevent religious bigotry, hostility and conflict".

"I enjoin our Catholic faithful, laity, religious sisters and brothers and our priests to be always alert to the ongoing threats of violent extremism. "Be calm. Despite provocation, follow the Lord's injunction of peace and not revenge," he said. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of Sarangani is targeting to finally open by next month its newly-completed provincial hospital in Alabel town.

Sarangani Vice Gov. Elmer de Peralta said Wednesday they are currently finalizing the arrangements for the operationalization of the hospital, which would initially function as an infirmary level facility.

He said the local government is completing the requirements set by the Department of Health (DOH) for the issuance of the facility's license to operate or certificate of accreditation.

The license from the DOH is a primary requirement for the processing of claims from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. once the hospital begins to operate, he said.

"We're presently fast tracking the compliance of the requirements so it can operate by the first week of December," he said in an interview over Brigada News TV.

Aside from this, De Peralta said the provincial personnel selection board is currently processing applications for the initial 40 plantilla or permanent positions allotted for the hospital.

The new positions, which are composed of nurses and non-paramedic staff, were based on an ordinance passed recently by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board, he said.

The official assured that the funds for the hospital's operations, which will start with 18 to 25 beds, is already in place as set in the provincial government's 2017 budget.

The DOH and the provincial government have already spent around P150 million for the project, completed earlier this year.

The hospital's construction started in 2012 through an initial P50-million grant from the DOH's Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Another P75 million was later released as augmentation.

The agency allotted some P20 million for the acquisition of hospital equipment and P5 million for the construction of a two-story outpatient department and its operating room foundation.

Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao, Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon and Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao had committed an additional P200 million to facilitate the completion of the hospital.

When fully completed, the provincial hospital will have a capacity of 200 beds and operate as a tertiary facility.

It is expected to initially cater to patients from Alabel and neighboring Malapatan town, which have no government-run hospitals, and eventually those coming from other towns, Davao del Sur and this city.(PNA)



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KORONADAL CITY -- The city government has increased its incentives for organic farm products in a bid to encourage more local farmers to practice and venture into organic farming.

Emelita Miguel, city agriculture officer, said Wednesday organic producers in the city may now receive cash incentives of as high as P10 per kilo for validated produce reaching the local markets.

She said they offer an incentive of P3 a kilo for organic rice and P10 per kilo for vegetable products, except for squash and cucumber that are set at P2 a kilo.

Producers of organic chickens will get P10 a kilo and P5 per kilo for organic eggs as incentives, she said.

Miguel said their office is currently considering to include more organic farm products into the incentive program.

This includes organic pork meat products, which City Mayor Peter Miguel had promised to provide an incentive of P20 a kilo.

"Our goal is to develop more organic farming practitioners and further expand our organic farms," she said.

Since the program started about five years ago, around 200 organic farming practitioners in the city's 27 barangays already received cash incentives, initially offered at P2 a kilo for organic rice, from the local government.

Earlier this month, 13 farmers received cash incentives ranging from P3,000 to 16,000 for their organic produce.

Around 100 farmers are currently growing organic rice, vegetables and into swine farming that covers over 50 hectares of farmlands.

Aside from the cash incentives, Miguel said they also facilitate trainings for prospective organic farming practitioners through the Farmer Field School supported by the Department of Agriculture in Region 12.

Under the program, farmers undergo hands-on training on various organic farming practices and technologies for four months or 16 weeks, starting from land preparation to harvest stage.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) innovative "train-like bus" dubbed Hybrid Electric Road Train (HERT) made its maiden demonstration run on Wednesday morning in major roads here.

Dominador Lagare Jr., chair of the city council's committee on transportation, said the initial road test is part of the ongoing preparations for the road train's formal trial run here that could stretch to at least five months.

The HERT's road test, which started past 9 a.m. at the city's oval plaza, covered the area's main inner roads and the natio highway going to Barangays Katangawan and Tinagacan.

The passengers were composed of city officials and personnel led by Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas-Nograles and media practitioners.

Lagare said it would make another road test next week from the city proper to the city fish port complex in Barangay Tambler.

He said they have no timetable yet as to the start of the formal trial run noting it would depend on the road tests.

"After the initial road tests, the actual trial run will immediately proceed," he told reporters.

During the road train's stops in Barangays Katangawan and Tinagacan, Lagare said they asked the barangay councils for the list of passengers who would participate in the trial run.

Since the HERT is still on trial run, he said the passengers were pre-selected by the DOST and the local government.

The road train, which arrived here late last month following a six-month test run in Cebu City, will cover a total of 17 stops along the national highway from Barangay Tinagacan to the city fishport complex in Barangay Tambler.

It will take off at 4 a.m. in front of the Tinagacan Elementary School and will mainly cater to teachers, fishport and tuna canning workers in four round trips daily, with two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The HERT, which was developed by DOST's Metals Industry Research and Development Center, is a "40-meter long train-like bus" that can run at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and is powered by hybrid diesel fuel and electric-powered battery.

The train consists of five interlinked air-conditioned coaches that can hold up to 240 passengers per trip.

It is powered by a generator set and a series of batteries, with each coach driven by an electric drive motor.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Indonesian and Malaysian troops covered by the Trilateral Cooperative Agreement (TCA) on Wednesday ended their three-day port visit in the province of Tawi-Tawi.

Brig. Gen. Custodio Parcon, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, said the visiting forces from the two countries aboard Navy frigates arrived on Monday at the Naval Station Juan Magluyan in Barangay Batu-Batu, Panglima Sugala municipality.

Parcon said the delegate of the Royal Malaysian Navy is headed by Capt. Zahari Bin Samsuri and the Tentara Nacional Indonesia headed by Col. Nanan Isnandar.

They were welcomed by the men and women of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.

Parcon said the visiting Indonesian and Malaysian forces have engaged in series of activities in their three-day port visit from Monday until Wednesday.

This included a courtesy call to Tawi-Tawi Gov. Rashidin Matba at the provincial capitol.

On Tuesday, the visiting forces trekked the Bongao Peak where they shared a boodle fight type lunch with the Filipino troops.

They also joined in a series of goodwill games with the troops of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi in Panampangan Island on the same day.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the TCA "is part of our mechanisms to strengthen the maritime operations and curtail piracy and other crimes perpetrated by extremists through a limited trilateral patrol with Malaysian and Indonesian navy forces."

"We will sustain our strong cooperation with our neighbors to address our security challenges in areas of common concerns," Galvez added.

He said the consequential outcome of the cooperation would definitely curb smuggling, human trafficking, transshipment of drugs, piracy and high profile kidnapping.

"Surely, the commercial shipping corridors will be secured," he pointed out. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY -- The Army's 10th Infantry Division clarified that only two of the supposed four soldiers nabbed in a buy-bust operation against illegal drugs in Tagum City were legitimate members of their military unit.

This was clarified by 10th ID spokesperson,Capt. Jerry Lamosao, who identified the two as Corporal Cristiuto Macagubang Jr. assigned at the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Malagos, Baguio District and SCAA John Rey Mission, a member of Task Force Davao.

"Kadtong duha nagpaila lang nga sundalo og naay dala nga fake AFP ID (The other two were just posing as soliders and they brought along with then fake AFP ID), Lamosao said referring to suspects identified by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11 (PDEA 11) Cpl. John Louie T. Segovia, Sgt. Albin A. Binondo, who both claimed to ne assigned at the 10th ID.

He said the names of the suspects are not part of the Army's roster or in any AFP unit.

"The 10th ID does not tolerate the illegal activity of a soldier if there is any especially if it involves illegal drug," he said.

He said their division is conducting drug test in coordination with PDEA and some were already discharge from service.

"We cooperate with the authorities and encourage our troops and always reminded them not to be involved in illegal drugs," he said.

In an interview, Binondo admitted that he and Segovia are not soldiers. He added that their AFP Identification cards seized by PDEA 11 are fake.

Binondo said the identification cards were only given to them by a certain Jay-arr Capistrano and they paid P500 for it. He said Capistrano told them that they were given the identification cards as civilian agent but he refused to elaborate on the matter.

PDEA 11 officer-in-charge Naravy Duquiatan said PDEA is now closely coordinating with regards to the true identity of the two suspects.

Duquiatan said Binondo and Segovia will face additional charges of falsification of public documents and usurpation of authority.

Meanhwile, Macagubang, Mission, Binondo, Segovia and the alleged member of gun for hire, Regie Impas, were already submitted for inquest procedure for violation of sections 3 for selling and 11 for possession under Republic Act 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

They were arrested by PDEA operatives at Purok Talisay, Seminary Drive in Barangay West Magugpo, Tagum City over the weekend. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)



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NAGA CITY---Entrusted with a bagful of cash worth PHP3.4M by the treasurer of Tinambac town who withdrew the money from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) branch here, a government employee ran away with the cash intended for the Christmas bonuses of municipal employees and elected officials Tuesday morning, police said Wednesday.

SPO2 Tobias Bongon, spokesperson of Naga City Police Office, identified the missing employee suspected of running away with the cash as Melchor Abrazado.

Bongon said Ma. Teresa Betito, Tinambac municipal treasurer, reported the incident almost two hours after Abrazado disappeared. She said Abrazado, who accompanied her to the LBP, went out of the bank with the bagful of cash, saying that he would look for the driver of their vehicle.

Betito said she entrusted the cash to Abrazado since he had accompanied her several times when withdrawing cash for the municipal government.

She said the bag was heavy with money so she gave it to Abrazado.

Betito said when she saw their driver near the bank, he told her that he did not see Abrazado.

Thinking that Abrazado would still come back, she did not immediately report the incident to the police and instead called Tinambac Mayor Ruel Tuy, who instructed her to report to the police.

Betito said she and her two other companions, the driver and administrative officer, frantically called up Abrazado in his cellular phone but failed to contact him.

Tuy, a first-time mayor, said Abrazado has been an administrative assistant under the Office of the Mayor for about 18 years now.

He said Abrazado has no record of dishonesty and he retained him in his office with his full trust.

Tuy said the family of Abrazado had been informed about the incident and a police task force was already organized to search for him.

He said 115 regular employees and the elected officials of Tinambac town are affected by the disappearance of Abrazado with the money intended for their Christmas bonus. (Juan Escandor Jr./PNA)



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DAGUPAN CITY -- The town mayor of Binmaley is seeking confirmation from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) that its men struck a natural gas vein while they were digging for a shallow well in Barangay Pallas, Binmaley two months ago.

"As mayor of Binmaley, I want to get confirmation to this kind of report," Mayor Simplicio Rosario said in an open forum during the Irrigation Stakeholders' Forum at CSI Stadia here Wednesday noon.

Rosario was among the town mayors in Pangasinan who attended the forum graced by NIA Director General Ricardo Visaya, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The mayor said the natural gas was reportedly found by NIA personnel while digging a well in a rice field owned by a farmer in Barangay Pallas, Binmaley for irrigation purposes.

"I am not yet positive about the report but if it is really true, then the local government must inform the proper government agency," he said.

Rosario was referring to the Department of Energy (DOE), which, he said, must conduct a technical study on the natural gas find.

This was not the first report on alleged discovery of natural gas in a ricefield in Binmaley.  (PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY — The City Prosecutor's Office under the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reported a 99.94 percent accomplishment rate in the disposition of cases from January to September this year.

City Prosecution service chief, Atty. Elmer Manuel Sagsago, in a report submitted to the city on Monday, said "we have a very high accomplishment rating and we are proud that we are able to serve the city of Baguio to the best of our ability."

The city prosecutor's office reported that there were nine cases pending at the end of December 2016 and that received were 1,541 new cases during the first three quarter of 2017, bringing the total number of cases to 1,550 during the period.

Of the number, the office resolved and filed 1,105 cases in court while there were 444 which were dismissed. Only one case was left pending by the end of September.

The office also received 484 complaints during the period. There were 460 informations filed in court while 24 were either dismissed or referred to other offices, recording a 100 percent disposition of complaints.

An inquest proceeding is an informal and summary investigation conducted by the public  prosecutor in a criminal  case involving  persons arrested  and detained without  the benefit  of   a warrant  of  arrest  issued by  the  court  for  the  purpose  of determining  whether  said  persons  should  remain  under custody and correspondingly charged in court.

The Prosecutor's Office also received 129 cases during the same period added with one pending motion at the end of January 2016 or a total of 130 motions.

Sagsago said 125 motions were resolved by the end of the third quarter, recording 96.15 percent of motions attended to.

The lawyer said the number of cases that have been reaching their office is continuously increasing and the lawyers are having a hard time trying to deal with the problem of investigating cases and at the same time prosecuting cases in court.

Contributory to the good accomplishment is the Baguio City Police Office's (BCPO) continuous arrest of criminals, preparing of evidence which the office uses in court and for punctually testifying in court.

Sagsago also mentioned of the important role of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) that has custody over prisoners and the active participation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWDO) on cases involving women and children in conflict with the law.

Recently, he said there were two new prosecutors who joined the Baguio office including four secretaries but just the same, the office staff are hard up in coping with the numerous cases.

"We have asked the city council if they can create new positions so that we can cope up with the work," Sagsago said. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Provincial Tourism Office will hold its annual "Eats Meets West" Culinary Festival on November 16-19 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol here.

However, the grand opening on Thursday will be held in Tuburan, Cebu to give the municipality the opportunity to showcase its homegrown coffee.

Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale are expected to grace the opening ceremony in Tuburan along with other invited guests.

The four-day 2017 "Eats Meets West" Culinary Festival features a "Food Forum" on Friday and a cooking competition among participating municipalities on Saturday and Sunday at the Capitol Social Hall.

Seven food experts have been invited to speak on different topics during the whole-day forum, which is open to the public.

Food experts Dr. Ame Garong of the National Museum, Chef Mike "Tatung" Sarthou, Teresa Ruelas, Eleonor Rivera, Vince Cinches, Cristino Villamor, and Ige Ramos from Manila will talk about the ancient diets of the Cebuanos, what Cebuano cooking really is, healing with food, organic farming, and food design, among other topics.

In the culinary competition, participating towns will vie for top honors in best appetizer, welcome drinks, dessert, main course, welcome lei, table set-up, and packaging. They will also compete for best interpretation of a Cebuano recipe from a 1923 cookbook of Maria "Señora Inday" Rallos.

"Eats Meets West" is a product of the Cebu Community-based Eco-Tourism Project of the Provincial Government that was started two years ago. (with reports from Michelle Bugtai/PNA)



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CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela -- The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) here is proposing the creation of an incident management team to take charge, not only during the time of disasters, but also in holding big events in the city.

CDRRM Officer Ronald Viloria said the incident management team would be tapped to ensure the continuous flow of traffic, security of delegates and secure the place of venues of the events.

Viloria said there were already national events conducted in the city and there was no system used in securing the delegates and manning the traffic but when an incident command system is in place, all concerns could be properly addressed.

He said concerned offices and agencies based in the city can take charge of traffic flow and security of delegates coming from the different parts of the country.

"The proposed incident management team will be composed of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Public and Order Safety Division, City Rescue 922 and other offices and agencies of the government will cooperate to ensure the safety of delegates in times of big events," Viloria said.

He cited the event held in the city last month, the National Public Employment Service Officers Congress, which was successfully held.

Another national event is set next week to be led by the Department of Science and Technology and the security of visitors would again be the responsibility of the city government, Viloria said.

The CDRRM official is confident that the city council of Cauayan will approve the creation of an incident command system to manage more big events that will be held in the city in the future. (PNA)



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DASMARIŇAS CITY, Cavite – This city police arrested suspected riding-in-tandem robbers along Molino Road, Barangay Paliparan 3 in this city for violating the 15-day ban on carrying of firearms for the duration of the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.  

Dasmariñas City police officers PO2 Ansbert Andres, PO2 Jeremiah U. Feliciano, PO1 Paul Greg Madula and PO1 German Cabudol III nabbed the two suspects, believed to be robbers at  about 4:20 p.m. on Sunday during their heightened police checkpoint operations "Oplan Sita" near the Molino Road gasoline station.

Police identified the two suspects as Mark Anthony Quirido Masbang, 24 and Menard Hamor Sabadez, 30, both residents on # 187 NIA Road, Barangay Salawag in this city.

Investigations disclosed that the suspects, aboard a red and black RUSI motorcycle without plate number, carried a small firearm during the checkpoint operations.

The law enforcers flagged down the suspects and demanded for the driver's license when they noticed the driver-suspect was jittery.


The police officers were prompted to frisk the suspect and recovered from his possession a caliber .38 revolver marked MHS which was referred to as one of the suspect's name initials.

Police have prepared appropriate charges against the suspects for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act and the security policy banning the carrying of firearms outside the residence for the duration of the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
(Rogelio Limpin/PNA)

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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had given the Palawan provincial government and its 23 municipalities copies of a map they could use to manage watersheds, determine flood-prone areas, and prepare for disasters.

Provincial Information Officer Gil Acosta, Jr. said Wednesday that the maps were turned over by the DOST through the Development of the Philippine Hydrological Dataset Watersheds from LiDAR Surveys (PHDWLS) on November 10.

"The provincial government and the LGUs (local government units) received maps that employed the Phil-LiDAR 2 technology to identify watersheds for their management and further protection, and that can be used to prepare for floods," Acosta said.

Phil-LiDAR 2 supplements current programs of national government agencies and helps LGUs in mapping the Philippines' natural resources.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing system that employs light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges – variable distances – to the Earth."

The light pulses, when combined with other data recorded by the airborne system, generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.

Acosta said with the maps, mapping experts in Palawan can examine natural and man-made environments with precision and flexibility to make models for use in geographic information systems (GIS), especially focusing on the management and control of watersheds.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) officer in charge Zaldy Ablaña said the maps could also assist the provincial government and the LGUs in planning and preparing emergency response operations when there are catastrophes.

"Municipalities can use this map to plan and prepare for times of calamities, like flooding," he said. (PNA)



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TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – Event organizers of the 4th Cavite MSMEs Business Conference  on Wednesday said the conference initially scheduled on Nov. 17 has been postponed to Dec. 6 at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) in Tagaytay City.

Event host Cavite, through its Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCLEDO), said the postponement was due to some changes in the conference resource speakers' schedule.

The conference will still highlight the role of human resource management as an important tool in productivity and efficiency.

Expected to grace the opening program are Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla as inspirational speaker, while Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, will deliver his keynote address.

PCLEDO head Alvin S. Mojica will open the gathering of local micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs).

The forum proper will discuss various topics such as Performance: The Key to Management Effectiveness, Labor Laws for MSMEs, Employee and Engagement as Enhancer to Productivity and Profitability, with resource speakers from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and well known organizational and business advisors.

Ma. Isabel N. Punzalan, president of Delfa's Food Products as one of the most successful business enterprises in Cavite, will share with participants her success story.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Noly Guevara is also expected to present the challenges confronting MSMEs and their support to the MSME sector.

Cavite's PCLEDO is mandated to implement programs and services in the promotion and development of cooperatives, MSMEs, and in encouraging enterprising activities in the province in consonance with national developmental thrusts, legislation and policies.

Conference participation comes with a minimal fee and interested entrepreneurs are advised to register in advance since no walk-in participants will be accepted.

Deadline for confirmation and payment is set on or before Dec. 1 while registration for the day-long conference opens at 8 a.m. on Dec. 6. (PNA)

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IMUS CITY, Cavite – Maynilad Water consumers in Barangays Anabu, Bayan Luma, Bucandala, Casadang Bago, Malagasang and Tanzang Luma in this city will experience interrupted water supply services from 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 until 7 a.m. on Nov. 17.

The water firm, in an announcement on Wednesday, said the water interruptions are due to water service upgrade involving interconnection of the two-foot-diameter primary line to the existing two-foot-diameter primary line and the installation of flow meter along Bayan Luma Road corner Patindig Araw Road.

The affected barangays are Anabu I-A to I-C, I-E and I-F; Anabu II-A to II-F,  Bayan Luma VIII and IX, Bucandala I to V, Carsadang Bago I, Malagasang I-A to I-F,  Malagasang II-A to II-C, II-E, and II-G and Tanzang Luma III, IV, and VI.

In its advisory, Maynilad officials pre-warned of a possible delay in the resumption of water service in the affected areas due to several factors.

These include the area's elevation, its distance from Maynilad's pumping stations and the volume of withdrawal from the water service provider's mainlines.

Maynilad is advising customers in these areas to store enough water for the duration of the water service interruptions.

For updates and concerns, clients may contact the Maynilad-Cavite Hotline at ‎1800-1000-92837. (PNA)

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IMUS CITY, Cavite – Maynilad Water consumers in Barangays Anabu, Bayan Luma, Bucandala, Casadang Bago, Malagasang and Tanzang Luma in this city will experience interrupted water supply services from 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 until 7 a.m. on Nov. 17.

The water firm, in an announcement on Wednesday, said the water interruptions are due to water service upgrade involving interconnection of the two-foot-diameter primary line to the existing two-foot-diameter primary line and the installation of flow meter along Bayan Luma Road corner Patindig Araw Road.

The affected barangays are Anabu I-A to I-C, I-E and I-F; Anabu II-A to II-F,  Bayan Luma VIII and IX, Bucandala I to V, Carsadang Bago I, Malagasang I-A to I-F,  Malagasang II-A to II-C, II-E, and II-G and Tanzang Luma III, IV, and VI.

In its advisory, Maynilad officials pre-warned of a possible delay in the resumption of water service in the affected areas due to several factors.

These include the area's elevation, its distance from Maynilad's pumping stations and the volume of withdrawal from the water service provider's mainlines.

Maynilad is advising customers in these areas to store enough water for the duration of the water service interruptions.

For updates and concerns, clients may contact the Maynilad-Cavite Hotline at ‎1800-1000-92837. (PNA)

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TACLOBAN CITY -- The ‎‎2017-2022 Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan (RDP) has included one chapter for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (DRR-CCAM), making it distinctive than plans of other regions in the country.

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy on Wednesday said DRR-CCAM is important to support the attainment of the region's twin goals of robust and sustained economic growth and reduced poverty and inequality in all dimensions.

"Given the region's vulnerability to disasters due to its geographic location facing the Pacific Ocean in the eastern portion and within the Pacific Ring of Fire, we saw the need to highlight this aspect by taking the initiative of providing a separate chapter for DRR-CCAM," Uy said.

Eastern Visayas is the only region in the country with separate chapter for disaster and climate change in the new RDP, stressed Uy.

The official believes that impacts of natural hazards have worsened poverty situation in the region as they destroy the people's source of livelihood.

"Since natural disasters are expected to be aggravated by the effects of climate change, the strategies for the medium-term will be geared towards enhancing implementation of actions related to disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery," Uy said.

"These strategies should be highlighted after lessons on the importance of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation (DRR-CCAM) have been learned after super typhoon Yolanda and other past disasters," he added.

The plan has presented 12 lessons learned from the super typhoon Yolanda that ravaged many areas in the region in 2013. These are vulnerability risk assessment and multi-hazard mapping, DRR-CCAM mainstreamed in various local policies and programs, environmental management, infrastructure system, risk financing and insurance.

Other post-"Yolanda" lessons learned are end-to-end early warning systems, local DRRM councils and offices, partnership and coordination among key players and stakeholders, disaster response operations, assessment and reporting of needs and damages, DRR and CCAM elements mainstreamed into human settlements, and comprehensive land use planning and zoning

The EV-RDP has twin regional goals of robust and sustained economic growth and reduced poverty and inequality in all dimensions by prioritizing on three sectors -agriculture and fishery, manufacturing, and tourism - as regional economic drivers.

The regional plan is considered as a partner of the Philippines Development Plan for 2017 to 2022 under the term of President Rodrigo Duterte geared towards achievement of "Ambisyon Natin 2040".

"Eastern Visayas will follow a development trajectory that will ultimately lead to the country and region long-term vision. The region will also contribute to the vision of national societal goal of laying the foundation of inclusive growth, a high thrust society and a globally competitive economy by the year 2022," Uy said.

The new RDP seeks to attain a 6.8 percent to 7 percent economic growth by 2022. (PNA)



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BATANGAS CITY – Police here have been serving as lecturers in anti-drug abuse seminars for students in line with its intensified information and education campaign about the ill effects of hard drugs not only in campuses but in the community as a whole.

Batangas provincial public information office chief, Jenelyn A. Aguilera, said the provincial government has lined up a series of seminars where members of the provincial police force serve as lecturers to high school students and their teachers.

Aguilera said that aside from police as resource speakers, representatives of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and Provincial Legal Office expound on the salient features of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The lecture series and seminars were organized by the provincial government through the Youth and Sports Division of the Provincial Assistance for Community Development Office in a bid to bring awareness on the drug menace among students, teachers and school officials.

Aguilera said that some 65 high school students, faculty and staff of Taysan National High School in San Jose, Batangas were among the seminar participants on Nov. 7 as the anti-drug abuse lectures would be sustained in other schools.  

She said Governor Hermilando Mandanas has fully endorsed the anti-drug information and education campaign and ordered the Youth and Sports Division to include training courses on youth leadership and volunteerism.

Mandanas emphasized education as among his governance thrust on HELP or Health, Education, Livelihood and Protection for constituents, especially among the Batangueño millennials.

 As part of his provincial administration's thrust, Mandanas also turned over the financial assistance fund support for students in the province's third district to Batangas State University (BSU)-Malvar campus through the provincial school board executive assistant Merlita Pasatiempo, to scale up the quality of education among the university's student-youths. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo City Festival Committee (ICFC) is promoting heritage tourism by getting the services of its former city tourism and development officer Benito Jimena.

Fresh from his trip to Vietnam, Jimena on Wednesday underscored the need to promote the heritage tourism in the city like what our Southeast Asian neighbor is doing.

He said the Vietnamese are "very keen on promoting the heritage tourism of Vietnam."

"We only take it for granted. In fact we only look at old houses as infrastructures but we don't appreciate. We have not linked it with what we have done before as a way of life," he said.

Iloilo City's Calle Real or the J.M. Basa Street, where array of restored heritage buildings can be found, was declared in 2014 as a heritage zone by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, this year's celebration of the Bonifacio Day and succeeding years thereafter will have the involvement of various sectors and not just a gathering of residents of Barangay Tanza Bonifacio every 30th of November.

"There will be a celebration, although we are still wanting of time, what we can do is look at the activities that we can muster but probably next year we can include it in our calendar of activities," he said.

Jimena said that activities of the city should be treated as "community collaboration."

"Without the cooperation of everybody, it will not be successful" he said.

As special assistant for festivals, he said that he would "be looking at the events of Iloilo City and make sure that there are people who will be doing the important things."

The council was created by the city government to plan and coordinate with all sectors for the successful conduct of festivals and other significant events. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday launched in this city a program seeking to encourage Ilonggos to share stories of hope to inspire and move people.

Dubbed 'Istorya ng Pag-asa,' the program is one of the core advocacy programs of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in partnership with local government units, schools and other organizations in the country.

The OVP partnered with the Assumption Iloilo for the program in this city.
In her speech, Robredo said that the program serves as "answer to the darkness enveloping the country" today with the manifestation of social media particularly Facebook that "polarized" people especially the youth exposed to social media.

"It is an attempt to change the conversation," she said,

"Rather than arguing on Facebook, we discouraged it. It is better to put stories of hope," she added.

During the launching, Robredo talked about Ilonggos who have inspiring stories such as as that of Honorato Espinosa, more famous as 'TyoTatoy', owner of the 'Tatoy's Manokan and Seafood' restaurant at Villa, Arevalo district.

Tyo Tatoy started small with just a table or two. His perseverance made the business grow and he now owns one of the famous restaurants in the metropolis, offering distinct menu and variety of food.

Robredo encouraged the Ilonggos to be part of the advocacy campaign by sharing more stories of hope.

The "Istorya ng Pag-asa" campaign was first launched by Robredo in Cagayan de Oro City. It will also be launched in key cities in the country like Baguio, Naga, Legazpi, Sorsogon, Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete and Palawan. (PNA)



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LUCBAN, Quezon – Mayor Olivier Dator vowed Wednesday to sustain the town's "Shelter for Youth Offenders and Crisis Center", which he described as the province's pioneering shelter for youth offenders and children in conflict with the-law (CICL).

Celebrating the shelter's 4th anniversary, Dator said it presently houses 70 youth offenders and five CICLs, and also caters to abandoned children, mentally-challenged persons, and abused or battered women.

He thanked Assistant Secretary Dennis Hernandez of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for facilitating additional funds for the shelter's rehabilitation and the improvement of its facilities.

The mayor and his wife, Acel, led the shelter's anniversary celebration, which was also graced by representatives of Alona Party-List Rep. Anna Marie V. Suarez, Quezon Rep. Trina Enverga, and DSWD Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno.
Dator likewise expressed his appreciation for the support of Quezon provincial social welfare office head Sonia S. Leyson, Lucban Councilors and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) officers and village officials who attended the occasion. (Gideon Belen/PNA)

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BAY, Laguna – The Center for Agriculture and Rural Development-Mutual Benefit Association (CARD-MBA) has been cited as one of the leading mutual insurers by the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) during its biennial conference in London, United Kingdom.

Flordeliza Sarmiento, managing director of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), disclosed this Wednesday following the ICMIF biennial gathering last month when the Asia Oceana Association (AOA) General and Board of Directors Meetings were held to assess previous year's accomplishments

 "We, in the CARD MBA and CARD MRI as a whole, celebrate this kind of recognition because this reflects our collective effort to cater to the microinsurance needs of our clients," Sarmiento said.

ICMIF is the sole global representative body of the cooperative and mutual insurance sector which provides services and activities on market information, networking opportunities and leadership development, and global advocacy.

"On behalf of CARD MBA, we are honored and grateful to ICMIF for the undying support to mutual and cooperative insurance companies like us and for being our partners in our mission to eradicate poverty," she added.

According to Sarmiento, the ICMIF has reviewed its latest key statistics report for 2016 which recognized CARD MBA as one of the leading companies in premium growth and global market share.

 The key statistics report is an annual overview of ICMIF members' collective financial performance.

Data showed that CARD MBA was spotted 22nd  out of 30 companies from different countries in terms of "Largest ICMIF Members" with a total of USD 49,043 premiums in the emerging markets.

 CARD MBA also placed 19th out of 30 companies from different countries on the "Fastest Growing ICMIF Members" with a premium growth of 26.6 percent in the emerging markets.

Moreover, CARD MBA was recognized as the 7th out of 30 companies from developed countries and emerging markets with "Fastest-Growing ICMIF Members" in terms of life insurance. (PNA)

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BAGUIO CITY— Residents here see positive things happening after the country's hosting of the 31st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit and related meetings.

Raquel Lachica, a court employee, said there is a lot of positive things that can result from the just concluded ASEAN summit, "seeing how the Philippines has emerged as a very prominent voice not just in the ASEAN but in the whole world as well."

As a Filipino, she takes pride that President Rodrigo Duterte is carving a niche for the country in the international community even while pursuing an independent foreign policy.

Dr. Reynaldo Bautista, a businessman, also praised the government for the smooth and safe summit that made ASEAN's 50th anniversary this year truly a "golden celebration both in substance and form."

He likewise lauded all the Filipinos who contributed to the success of the Summit.

On the other hand, police Superintendent Gemma Braganza, deputy chief of the regional headquarters support group, is confident that the benefits of the country's hosting of this year's ASEAN events will trickle down to the ordinary Filipinos, especially those working overseas.

He said the strengthened ties with neighboring countries could mean more job opportunities abroad and more local products being exported.

For his part, Bauko, Mountain Province Mayor James Pooten congratulated the country for the successful summit hosting. At the same time, he expressed hope "all gains gained as a result of the summit will trickle down to us living in remote municipalities" and that the "Chinese government would finally respect the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) recognizing the Philippines' sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal".

Meanwhile, James Palicdon, an employee of the Benguet Electric Cooperative, believes the country gained in terms of tourism and from the treaties signed on economy and peace and order, during the ASEAN Summit.

The country hosted the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings from November 12-14. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) will conduct a fun run on November 24 to encourage public to stay away from illegal drugs.

Dubbed "Illegal Drug Awareness and Resistance Education (I.D.A.R.E) to Run 2017," the activity will be held in Pavia, Iloilo.

In an interview Wednesday, IPPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Rolando Araño said that the fun run is expected to raise public awareness on the ill effects of illegal drugs and eliminate the problem in the communities in the province.

"Since the PNP (Philippine National Police) is no longer leading the anti-drug operations, we are now focusing on the demand reduction of illegal drugs," he said.

Araño said they aim to gather over a thousand participants to join the activity.

The fun run activity is divided in three categories: 3K, 5K and 7K run. Registration fee for students is PHP50 while PHP70 for professionals.
Araño said that registration is now open. Proceed during the activity will be used to support other drug awareness activities of the IPPO. (PNA)



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BANGUED, Abra – An inter-agency group composed of government law enforcement units is validating the latest list of politicians reportedly involved in illegal drugs downloaded by Malacañang, with 21 of them coming from this province.

Julius Paderes, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Abra provincial director, who represented their regional office during the Joint Regional Development Council - Regional Peace and Order Council (RDC-RPOC) meeting here Wednesday, said about 60 percent of the "narco-politicians" are at the barangay level, while the others are occupying higher positions. He, however, declined to give further details.

He said the list was handed down by the PDEA-Cordillera regional office this week with an order to validate the names and check on their involvement in the illegal drug trade in the province.

"We will come up with pieces of evidence to prove or dispute the existence of the names in the list," Paderes told members of the RDC-RPOC.

He said that with the names having come from President Rodrigo Duterte, they really need to work on it and provide the Chief Executive an accurate feedback.

The validation, he explained, is being done with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Baguio City Mayor and RDC-RPOC Chairman Mauricio Domogan advised the PDEA to exert all available and necessary effort in validating the names to make sure that those who are not really in the illegal drug activity would be deleted from the list and cleared.

"It is unfair to submit names of persons, especially if there is no definiteness in their involvement," Domogan said.

In the first few months of the Duterte administration, 79 names of individuals from the Cordillera were reported to be engaged in illegal drugs and they were subjected to validation. Some surrendered to avail of the government's rehabilitation program, were continuously monitored and upon compliance with the reformation program, have either been cleared, downgraded or delisted.

Also in the meeting, PDEA asked RDC-RPOC to help transmit to the local government units in the region the need for their support in the country's war against illegal drugs by providing relevant information.

Duterte had placed the war on drugs in the hands of the PDEA, leaving the PNP in the backseat.

However, with only 81 PDEA personnel in the Cordillera region, the agency needs the community's involvement in the anti-drug campaign by providing relevant information. (PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY -- The government on Thursday awarded cash assistance to six former rebels in the province who are recipients of local integration programs.

The six rebel returnees received PHP807,000 cash and livelihood aid from national government agencies and Northern Samar provincial government.

The livelihood assistance to former members of the New People's Army is meant to help them start a new life. Before receiving the assistance, the six returnees completed basic business management and livelihood skills seminar.

Under the local social integration program of Northern Samar, a rebel returnee receives PHP10,000 worth of immediate assistance and PHP30,000 worth of livelihood assistance.

Northern Samar Vice Governor Gary Lavin led the awarding assisted by acting provincial social welfare and development officer Jenny Darish, and representative from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Maricel Bantilo-Balasolla.

Brig. Gen. Mario Lacurom, commander of the Army 803rd brigade based in Catarman, Northern Samar, called on rebels in the region to surrender and reintegrate with the community to avail government services.

By laying down their firearms and surrender to the government, rebels are expected to enjoy a normal life with their families, he said.

Lacurom also thanked the provincial government and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process in providing assistance to rebel returnees.

Also during the program, a rebel returnee who requested anonymity thanked the government for the assistance.

He said that surrendering to the government is a great realization on their part that their decades-old armed struggle is not only futile and deceptive, but also a big waste of time.

The returnee vowed to use the assistance prudently and vowed never again join communist rebellion.

Aside from assistance given to a former rebel, the provincial government also offers monetary reward to any civilian who facilitates the surrender of a rebel under the Provincial Ordinance No. 5 series of 2011.

Under the ordinance, the facilitator receives PHP10,000 for the surrender of a rebel with firearms and PHP5,000 without firearms.

Rebels are still present in Northern Samar, said report from the 8th Infantry Division said.

Eastern Visayas region has 32 NPA-infested towns. At least 10 of these areas are in Northern Samar -- San Isidro, Victoria, Bobon, Catarman, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Laoang, Palapag, and Lapinig. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo City Community College (ICC) is looking forward to benefit from Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which was signed into law last August.

School administrator Ma.Mathilde T. Octavio on Wednesday said that ICC was the only local college in Western Visayas recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 2016.

"Since the program will be coursed through CHED, one of the requirements is that the school has to be recognized by the commission," she explained.

She added that they are just waiting for guidelines since the free tertiary program was first implemented in state universities and colleges. She hoped that it would be next school year.

ICC's population this school year is below 500 due to the full-swing implementation of the K to 12 program. Way back 2015, its population reached almost 800.

Students are paying a minimal fee of PHP100 per unit or around PHP3,000 per semester. The remaining fees are being shouldered by the city government.

Students can also avail of academic scholarship provided they meet the grade requirement or apply as working students by rendering some 200 hours of volunteer service in exchange for free tuition.

Private sector is also helping students under the Adopt-A-Scholar program. Majority of students in ICC are from indigent families in the city.

ICC offers Bachelor of Arts in Office Administration and Bachelor of Science in Travel Management.

Octavio said that the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act would further help lessen the dropout rate of the college which is less than 20 percent.

Currently, ICC is working to become a member of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation, a private body that accredits local colleges and universities and lobbies for benefits that are available at the Commission on Higher Education, she added. (PNA)



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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – City cops are continuing their probe on two robbery incidents where perpetrators broke car windows known as "basag-kotse" which victimized two foreign nationals in separate incidents in only a week at the parking lots of two malls in this city.

City police chief, Supt. Sancho Celedio, reported on Wednesday that the latest incident involved a 52 year-old Chinese businessman whose car windows were smashed while the vehicle was parked around 9 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the SM City Calamba mall parking lot on Real Street here.

On Nov. 8,  the same modus was also reported by a Singaporean electrical engineer after robbers carted away his passport, laptop and other valuables inside his vehicle parked at a Waltermart parking lot in Barangay Makiling in this city.

 Case investigator, Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Nicanor Panghulan, identified the latest victim as Albert Wong, Chinese businessman from Quezon City while the other victim was 60-year-old Singaporean Tang Peck Lam, a professional engineer from Makati City.

Investigation disclosed that Wong parked his Audi vehicle unattended around 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the SM City Calamba parking space and proceeded to the mall for business transaction.

When he returned to the parking area around 9 p.m., Wong discovered that the left window glass of his vehicle was broken and discovered that his car key, house key and cell phone worth PHP 5,000 were missing and reported the incident to the mall guard who in turn called up the police station for assistance.
 
Latent prints taken from the scene are now subjected to fingerprint examination and AFIS comparison for possible identification of the suspect.

Initial investigation also disclosed that at the time of the incident, a roving guard was also assigned to man the area but there were no CCTV cameras installed.

On the other hand, Tang parked his Toyota Innova in front of the Jollibee fastfood branch in this city's Watermart-Makiling mall, leaving the car unattended while he took his breakfast around 10 a.m. on Nov. 8.

Tang said he proceeded to Sta. Rosa City for a meeting and later emerged from his meeting only to discover that his laptop and other valuables in the vehicle were missing and the vehicle's back window was smashed.  

He and a colleague went back to the Jollibee parking lot in Calamba City and discovered the broken glass debris scattered at the site where he had earlier parked his vehicle.

The victim said his wallet, Singaporean passport, laptop worth PHP 25,000; remote hard disk worth PHP 20,000: handphone with a Singapore SIM card valued at PHP 10,000; and small bag containing hand tools were stolen. (PNA)

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ILOILO CITY -- The management of the Iloilo International Airport has assured that this early they are now considering all necessary preparations for the influx of passengers this holiday season.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Airport Manager Ma.Mecine T. Reyes said they would carry out "Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" in December to give passengers safety and hassle-free trips.

Public assistance desks will be established in the airport while increased police visibility will surely be a welcome respite for passengers.

Reyes said they are expecting a minimal increase in the number of passengers coming in and going out of the airport next month.

Currently, the airport has an average of 20 domestic flights and one international flight daily.

"During December, it might have an additional of two to three (local) flights daily," she said.

Meanwhile, an improvement at the airport is expected under the current administration.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas earlier said the PHP30.4 billion improvement of the Iloilo International Airport is among the big-ticket projects included in the "Build, Build, Build" program of the current administration.

Reyes said the proposed improvement of the airport is still with the NEDA.

She said that the extension of the airport runway and expansion of the terminal building to accommodate more passengers are just among their priorities for the improvement. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The management of the Iloilo International Airport has assured that this early they are now considering all necessary preparations for the influx of passengers this holiday season.

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Airport Manager Ma.Mecine T. Reyes said they would carry out "Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" in December to give passengers safety and hassle-free trips.

Public assistance desks will be established in the airport while increased police visibility will surely be a welcome respite for passengers.

Reyes said they are expecting a minimal increase in the number of passengers coming in and going out of the airport next month.

Currently, the airport has an average of 20 domestic flights and one international flight daily.

"During December, it might have an additional of two to three (local) flights daily," she said.

Meanwhile, an improvement at the airport is expected under the current administration.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Western Visayas earlier said the PHP30.4 billion improvement of the Iloilo International Airport is among the big-ticket projects included in the "Build, Build, Build" program of the current administration.

Reyes said the proposed improvement of the airport is still with the NEDA.

She said that the extension of the airport runway and expansion of the terminal building to accommodate more passengers are just among their priorities for the improvement. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Iloilo City wants the national government to take over the electric distribution utility firm here until such time that a company qualified to handle distribution comes in.

A resolution was passed during the council's regular session Tuesday "vehemently denying the renewal of (the) franchise of the Panay Electric Company" (PECO) and urging the national government's takeover.

Majority Floor Leader Eduardo Peñaredondo, however, abstained, saying that the resolution was "hastily prepared" and other groups, such as the business sector, were not consulted.

House Bill No. 6023, which seeks to renew the franchise of PECO — the sole franchise to distribute electricity in Iloilo City for another 25 years — is pending before the Committee on Legislative Franchises of the House of Representatives.

PECO's franchise will expire in 2019.

The SP resolution, authored by Councilor R. Leone Gerochi, cited that PECO, in several cases lodged with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) by cause-oriented groups, was "declared to have overcharged its customers on several occasions and seems to have a penchant for overbilling its consumers".

He disclosed that PECO was ordered to refund PHP631 million and to date, it has yet to be completed.

Gerochi also pointed out the "poor customer complaint service and erroneous and inconsistent meter readings thus, causing inconvenience to their consumers".

"There is a lack of transparency in so far as the operations of PECO are concerned," the resolution stated, adding the company has been operating for 90 years.

Meanwhile, Peñaredondo, in registering abstention, added that his colleagues passed their resolution but they "did not think what's next".

Instead, he said he agrees with the proposal that the refund for the consumers, which is about PHP124 million, would be used as money to buy shares of stock from PECO.

The money, he said, must first be audited to ensure its veracity.

"They have some misgivings, some violations of their franchise.

Consumers can use (the amount) as leverage so that their operations would be transparent," he explained.

Members of the council will leave for Manila next week to attend the public consultation in Congress regarding the renewal of PECO's franchise slated Nov. 22. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The provincial government of Negros Occidental signed a memorandum of agreement with VMA Global College and Training Centers Inc. and its partners for a six-month scholarship grant for 13 maritime students.

Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division head Karen Dinsay said on Tuesday the scholarship grant is worth PHP2.3 million.

The signing rites, held at the Provincial Capitol here Monday, was led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., VMA Global College President John Orola, Phoenix Maritime Corp. General Manager Lucas Jacinto, Leonis Navigation Co. Inc. Director Ronnie Tagat, and Island Overseas Transport Corp. Manning Department chief Lorenzo Araneta.

The 13 Negrense scholars, who are already mechanical engineers, will avail of the scholarship grant under the "Study Now, Pay Later" Bridging Program of the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program to be able to work in the maritime industry.

This is an opportunity for them to become chief engineers and earn a bigger income to help their families, the governor said at the signing ceremony, which was witnessed by Dinsay and Elizabeth Salabas, chairman of the VMA Global College Board of Trustees.

The scholars were Larry Flor Jr., Carlo Miguel Magallanes, Keenith Estoza, Joelex Christian Geronaga, Reymond Colacion, Marc Anthony Dolendo, Jefferson Tenebro, Greg Huervas, Franz Andi Tumbos, Ross Flores, Marvin Cloyd Rosal, Raymund Entierro, and Jastin Corridor.

After a six-month study at VMA Global College, they will earn a bachelor's degree in Marine Engineering.

It will be followed by a two-month apprenticeship in their respective sponsoring maritime companies. (PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Officials of One Cebu Party, the original coalition partner of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Cebu, welcomed the oath taking of over a thousand political leaders o Friday here.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Deputy House Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia said the mass exodus of political officials and leaders in Cebu to the fold of President Rodrigo Duterte's coalition for genuine change is the product of the PDP-Laban leadership's efforts to unify the political forces in Cebu after the 2016 elections.

"We fully support the political masterstroke of (House) Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as PDP-Laban secretary general and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Sec. Michael Dino in consolidating all political forces that have now seen the light and switched their support from their old parties and loyalties to the administration of President Duterte," Garcia said.

Garcia, who is the founder and president emeritus of One Cebu, said she and other party leaders from all over the province including secretary general Pablo John Garcia will go in full force to the Plaza Independencia on Friday to show their support to their members who will be taking their oaths as well.

"This new found unity can only be good for Cebu," Garcia further said. "One Cebu was founded in 2007 to consolidate the then-unprecedented political unity in the province. One Cebu is hopeful that this mass oath-taking will once again usher in a new era of political unity in Cebu."

More importantly, however, One Cebu is hopeful that beyond political convenience, this new united force will rally behind and help institutionalize the priority programs of President Duterte.

Among these programs, Garcia said are: federalism; the war against drugs and criminality; war against poverty; and the redistribution of the nation's wealth to the Visayas and Mindanao through infrastructure projects.

Expected to join the mass oath-taking are the mayors from the 2nd and 7th Congressional Districts of Cebu who are all moving to the PDP-Laban from the Liberal Party.

Tuburan Municipal Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr. and his political rival Daphne Lagon in the 3rd District are likewise reported to be switching to the PDP-Laban and will take their oaths. (PNA)



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