100 Luzon riders join 1st Sagada Enducross

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The 1st Sagada Moto Enduro Funrace gathered nearly a 100 riders from Luzon here at Maduto grounds of Barangay Ankileng on June 16.

Riders came from the towns of Bontoc, Tadian, Bauko and Sagada in Mountain Province; Tuba, Itogon, La Trinidad, Buguias and Mankayan of Benguet; Tabuk City, Kalinga; Ifugao; Quezon City, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan and Manila.

Participants thrilled the audience with their racing styles riding uphill, downhill, traversing muddy canals, overcoming obstacles at the race track along the Suyo- Balili Road.

A rider got points crossing the race per lap basing from time.

Mountain Province with its mountainous and natural terrains present potential sites for enduro motorbike riding.

Maduto grounds present a spacious oval to plant obstacles, challenging creeks to traverse, rocky surfaces to go over, and low to potential higher sloping uphill climbs.   

Organized by the Mountain Province Trail Riders Group (MPTRG), racing categories are Production, All China, 85 kgs and above, Underbone, Local Enduro, All Sagada, and Female category.    

Riders from Baguio, Manila, Bauko, and Bontoc won 1st prizes in the different categories at P3,000 for each winner including the 1st prize winner in the All Sagada category and female category.  

Second prize winners bagged P2,000 each; 3rd prize winners got P1,000 each while the 4rth prize winners took P500.00 each.  

Winners also got trophies and certificates of awards.

Winners in the production category were: 1st- Ryan Saguiyod of Baguio clocking in 15 minutes 57 seconds to 2^nd placer Roy Farinas  from Itogon  at 17:08 and 3rd Dondon Kisofen from Tadian following in close at 18:38. Fourth place is Jericho Oyo Poi  from Marikina.

For 85-kg and above category were:1st- Roy Farinas, 2nd- Jericho Oyo Poi from Marikina,  3rd- Kennan Yodong from Sagada   and  4th- Gian Lomong-oy from Sagada.

Underbone category winners were: 1^st placer Julius Marrero from Bauko who took the challenge at 29 minutes and 54 seconds followed far by 2^nd placer Giovani Domingo  from Tuba, Benguet.  

Third placer was Rain Hart Aguilar fromTabuk City, Kalinga and 4^th is Pike Soria from Bontoc.

All China Category was won by 1^st placer Kyle Domingo from Tuba Benguet who clocked in at 39:09 followed close behind by 2^nd placer Jefferson Sapul  at 40:03 and 3^rd by  Bryan Ron Rodriguez from Quezon City at 40:20. Fourth place is Jasher Bantic  from Bauko.   

Winners for the Local Enduro category were 1st- Remar Nise  from Taguig who did fast crossing at 12 minutes and 30 seconds followed far by  2^nd placer Kiefer Mangaoli from Baguio at 18:07. Third place is Reydel Bayaona  from Ifugao and 4th- Jessie Saguipel  from La Trinidad, Benguet.

Most of the winning riders particularly Saguiyod, Farinas, Kisofen,  Marrero and Domingo  won in other  enduro competitions  including those held during festivals at Tuba Benguet, Pangasinan, La  Union,  Bauko, Bontoc  and Tadian Mountain Province.

The All Sagada Category was won by 1st- Lanban Bolares, 2nd- Felix John Gansoen, 3rd- Ian Fritz Baniaga and  4th- Kevin Tauli.     

The Female category was won by 1st- Peja Maude Sagsagkho  from Bontoc, 2nd- Jikky Aranduque from Sagada and 3rd- Charmain Pablo from Bontoc.

Sponsoring host organizers are by the rules of  MPTRG are not allowed to join enduro competitions held in their respective locality.

Pioneering founder-member of MPTRG Gareth Likigan from Sagada emerged champion  in the local enduro category in the 1st Montanyosa Enduro Challenge held during the 2019 Lang-ay festival.   

Pioneering founder-member of MPTRG James Wandag  from Sagada who won in some previous enduro events held in Mountain Province said he hoped it will be another grand enduro event next year with the venue eyed for this national event to be held in Sagada.

Enduro crossing in Mountain Province began this year with the influence of Tadian riders and the game having started in Baguio City last year.

Enduro events were first held at Tadian during its 2019 Ayyoweng Festival held 1st  week of March,  2019 Begnas festival at Bauko held 2nd week of March and during  the 2019 Lang-ay Festival held first  week of April.

Gareth said enduro is good for the discipline it gives to the rider. He said no smoking is emphasized among the riders.It’s a total exercise with the muscles and the mind coordinating with the other, he added.

It’s not purely physical as one has to mentally gauge the distance and the foresight in overcoming the obstacles along the way, he said.  

We were only touring before and now it’s getting to be a competition. There is not much of a difference though because I still feel the stress and the thrill in riding, competition or not. Though enduro is more stressful, he added.  

James and Gareth are open for cause- oriented enduro activities. MPTRG has been doing  cause- oriented riding before they went into enduro.

Gareth saied they are also open for trainings for those who would like to learn motorbike and enduro riding.

Prizes for the winners of the 1^st Sagada Enduro funrace were donated by local sponsors including Yoghurt House, Ganduyan Souvenirs, Rock Inn, 7Js Souvenirs, Ayeona’s Souvenirs, Coda Lines, Log Cabin, Rusty Nail, Juniors’ Fabrications, Gabay Wines, Moonhouse, Rock View Hardware, Sagada Weaving, Sagada Guesthoue, e-dagdag Merchanidse. Sagada Hub, Sagada Caveman, Dako Bagano, Arturo Masferre,  Fely Capuyan Omengan, Rusco Aben, Inggo Ayban, Raymond Patacsil, Romeo Pagedped, Jones agpad, Aldwin Ayban and Felicito Dula.  

Other sponsors of the event were San Miguel Beer, Red Horse and Oppo.  

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Couple die in Apayao attack

CONNER, Apayao-- A farmer and his wife were gunned down here on Feb. 28.

 Police said Menardo Kaclay, 74, and his wife Leticia were shot several times by unidentified men who entered their house in Purok 5, Sitio Tawini, Barangay Talifugo at around 11:20 p.m. 

           Initial investigation showed that Leticia was watching TV at the house of her neighbor when she heard gunshots. She was shot as she approached the terrace of their house.

Probers said the gunmen entered the house through the main door, which was unlocked, and shot Kaclay.

Ten bullet shells for an M16 rifle and two of an unknown caliber were recovered at the scene.

An investigation is underway.

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8 Cordillera PNP offices cited for performance

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Center for Police Strategy Management director Chief Supt. Noel Alvarez Baraceros and National Police Commission regional commissioner Zenonida Francisco Brosas recently conferred here “proficient” status on eight Cordillera police officers for passing mandatory requirements for third stage of performance governance system. Baraceros, Brosas, Regional Advisory Council and RAC chairman Reinaldo A. Bautista, and police regional command conferred the following units for passing PGS:  Baguio City Police Office with highest rating of 95.72%, followed by Benguet Police Provincial Office with 94.36%; Abra PPO,94.05%; Kalinga PPO- 92.77%; Regional Mobile Battalion 15 (RMFB)-92.11%; Ifugao PPO-92.064%; Mountain Province PPO- 88.966% and Apayao PPO for garnering over-all rating of 87.03%.

Silver Eagle awards and certificates were received by the provincial directors of Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, and Benguet PPOs, battalion commander of RMFB-15, and Bagio police director with their respective advisory council chairman. Plaques of recognition were also awarded to members of PROCOR RAC who made regional police recipient of numerous awards in the completion of PNP Patrol Plan 2030.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, PROCOR regional director, expressed his gratitude to the RAC for their support and contribution to the command.

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Mom, 50 struggles to survive; seeks support for dialysis

By Ramon Dacawi 

BAGUIO CITY -- However you look at it, life is beautiful, and kidney patient Martina Pacatiw Macario continues to struggle to survive and live it the fullest.

Reason enough for her to ask this writer to feature her among the growing number of kidney failure patients asking that their stories be told, hoping a reader or two would reach out to help her cover the prohibitive costs of her thrice-a-week hemodialysis treatment in order to survive.

The 50-year old mother of five, originally from Tadayan, Pudong, Kapangan, Benguet, had squandered 20 years of her life in prison for trying to make a quick buck through sale of marijuana.

“I was released on June 29, 2010 after 20 years and one week in prison,” she recalled.

“While (she) was serving her sentence, she made effort to send money to her children who were then in the custody of her parents in Kapangan,”noted social worker Charity Mabini who made the social case study report.

In May, 2013, misfortune struck. She was rushed to a hospital and then to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center where doctors found her kidneys had totally failed.

To survive, she is now on thrice-a-week hemodialysis at the medical center, from 6 p.m. to 10 pm, on Mondays and from 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

To cut on travel costs, she dozes off late Monday evenings while sitting on a pew of the medical center’s chapel for the next session Tuesday morning.

It would be expensive and tiresome for her to travel home to Tayug, Pangasinan where her husband lives and then return for Baguio for her next session on Wednesday.

“I’ve been used to this schedule,” the former inmate said.

All her children are now married and trying to raise their own families. “They cannot extend support anymore to Martina since their incomes are not even enough to meet the needs of their own families,” social worker Mabini said.

Notwithstanding what she had undergone and her present and pressing difficulties, the will to live pushes her on, reason enough for her to ask that her plight be also written about, hoping a Samaritan or two would reach out to her.

Those who can help Martina may ring up her cell phone number – 09994699940. –

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Gov’t troops overrun NPA camp in Ifugao

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- Soldiers from the Army's 54th Infantry Battalion encountered around 30 New People’s Army guerrillas under  Nona del Rosario Command here at Sitio Abaka, BarangayDanggo around 2:30 a.m. Monday.

The engagement that lasted for 25 minutes led to e discovery of NPA encampment with 38 tents and confiscation of two  M16A1 assault rifles, two Icom radios, five bandoliers, two rifle grenades, eight backpacks, one pack ground marijuana, electronic devices, medical paraphernalia, subversive documents and personal belongings.

Ist Lt. Col Richard R. Cabanilla, civil military relations officer of 54th IB bared this saying the government side had no casualty.

Government troops said the NPA had numerous casualties due to scattered blood stains in encounter site but were taken away by their comrades who managed to escape due to darkness.

Lt. Col Nicolas J QuemadoJr, commanding cfficer of 54th IB cited operating troops and advised them to be vigilant while the combat operations were still ongoing.

He urged urged rebels to surrender and avail of Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government.

Pursuit operations are ongoing to track the fleeing rebels believed to be hiding in the jungles of same barangay.

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WW2 daring Fil-Am raid recalled
GEORGE TRILLO

CABANATUAN CITY — An austere celebration marked the daring raid conducted 63 years ago by Filipino-American forces on the Japanese concentration camp in Barangay Pangatian here. The raid resulted in the liberation of 516 prisoners of war.

Cabanatuan City Mayor Alvin P. Vergara and other government officials led simple wreath-laying ceremony last Tuesday at the "Memorare" historical marker which depicts the heroism of the Filipino-American forces in the rescue of the 516 Americans, British, Norwegian and Dutch POWs on Jan. 30, 1945.

Only four of the Filipino guerrillas, including Sgt. Benjamin Cayanga, now more than 80 years old, who participated in the attack on the Japanese camp, are still alive to relive that historic raid.
By the accounts of local guerrillas who participated in the operation at the Japanese POW camp, the daring rescue of the 516 POWs showed the bravery of the Filipino guerrillas.

The raid is considered a classic military operation in US military history.

Without doubt, the raid could not have been made possible without the participation the Filipino guerrillas.

The daring rescue by the joint forces of intrepid Filipino guerrillas and the 6th US Ranger Battalion of the 516 POWs is especially significant in that only one prisoner and two American rescuers died.

The planning and execution of the operation was so perfect — with the movements of each and every participant in the raid, and every angle leading to the military attack had been laid — that it left no room for error with the security and safety of the weakened prisoners the top consideration.

The operation was executed by Filipino guerrillas under the command of Capt. Juan Pajota, and Capt. Eduardo L. "Tatang" Joson, with the US 6th Ranger Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Henry Mucci, as the lead team.

Captains Pajota and Joson were commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Joson headed Squadron 213.
---
In Porac, Pampanga -- for helping his hometown and townmates rise from the ruins of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruptions, Philip Ella Juico, Dean of the De La Salle Professional Schools-Ramon V. Del Rosario Graduate School of Business, received the Outstanding Poraqueno Award from this town.

Juico, founding chairman of the Tindig Porac Development Foundation Inc., assiduously worked for the rehabilitation of Porac which was severely ravaged by the volcanic eruptions.

Through TPDFI, Juico rallied his townmates, including those residing in Metro Manila and elsewhere and civic-minded individuals, to pool their efforts and resources to help rebuild the town.

Under Juico’s leadership, TPDFI spearheaded the implementation of projects, notably establishment of resettlement communities for the displaced families, reconstruction of damaged houses, establishment of productivity and livelihood centers, provision of financial assistance to skilled workers applying for overseas employment, holding of medical and dental missions, and rip-rapping the Porac River dike.

The people of Porac responded positively to TPDFI’s rehabilitation efforts, and showed their ability to recover from the economic devastation wrought by Mt. Pinatubo through selfreliance.

They sustained and expanded the livelihood projects and other development initiatives introduced by TPDFI. Porac is one of the oldest towns of Pampanga. It is located at the foot of Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Abo near the Zambales boundary.

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Clark jobs /Firecracker blues
GEORGE TRILLO

BOCAUE, Bulacan – Call it history, but the series of explosions during the Yuletide Season which rocked this town is no laughing matter which could just be ignored to oblivion. Call it luck for the hundreds of people who were not hurt when the explosions started. Coming from different places in Region 3 and Metro Manila to this town particularly at Barangay Turo to buy pyrotechnic products for the New Year revelry, the visitors scampered to safety when the series of explosions started.

A report sent to Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Errol Pan by Senior Supt. Allen B. Bantolo, Bulacan police director, stated no one was reported killed in the explosion, but several persons, including an employee of Channel 7 television network, were hurt and taken to a hospital for treatment. The victims were not immediately identified.

Firemen fought the ensuing blaze, which raged for nearly three hours. Initial police investigation showed that the explosion started in the Malaparan Fireworks store.

An unidentified, smoking firecracker buyer allegedly threw a lighted cigarrette butt which accidentally dropped at the stocks of firecrackers in the store. The blast triggered a series of explosions in the other firecracker and pyrotechnics stalls. The ensuing fire destroyed at least 10 stores. Whew!

Katulad ng nangyari noong taong 2005 na walong kabataan ang namatay ditto sa Bocaue dahil sa pagsabog ng mga tindahan ng paputok sa kabilang lugar ng barangay ding ito; maiiwasan sana ang trahedyang ito kung natuto na ang mga tao at sinunod nila ang lahat ng babala ng health officials at ng ating kapulisan na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang paninigarilyo malapit sa mga tindahan ng paputok.
***
The continued confidence of investors in the management of Clark Development Corp. has resulted in an increase in the employment rate in the Clark Special Economic Zone to more than 6,000 new workers during a one-year period from May 2004 to May 2005. History, but this is a gauge that things are going for the better at the former American facility.

In a report submitted to CDC president Antonio R. Ng, the customer service department stated the number of jobs generated in the economic zone was at an all-time high of 34,652 workers as of May 31, 2005. Last year, Clark had only 28,674 of employees hired by 281 locators that have been reporting to CSD on the number of their employees. The CSD said the number of jobs in Clark from 2003 to 2004 was 28,274, up by 6,045 new jobs created in support of President Arroyo’s thrust to generate more employment opportunities for the masses.

Most of the workers hired belonged to the industrial sector inside the economic zone with about 3,715 new workers last year, followed by 1,050 in the tourism sector, and 651 hired in the information technology sector. The steady increase of employment opportunities in the economic zone could be attributed to the hike in investments recorded last year during which 85 new lease agreements were signed. From January to April this year, 30 new lease agreements were signed.

These are expected to provide more employment opportunities to residents of Metro Clark and neighboring towns. The new agreements also brought to P81 billion the amount of committed investments in the economic zone in the next five years. While others have embarked on expansion programs, several firms have geared to create more jobs this year as some 6,000 new employment opportunities are expected to be generated before year-end. Among the firms that are set to expand their operations are Hansa Toys Manufacturing firms, Yokohama Tire Philippines and Cyber City Teleservices Ltd. (CCTL). Cyber City will create some 1,500 job opening for its expansion programs from April to December, this year. More than 500 workers will be hired this year by Yokohama Tire Phils. in Clark, while 1,000 jobs will be opened within the year at Hansa Toys. Epixtar, another call center that will locate in Clark, will hire about 4,000 new workers.

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Jehovah’s witnesses/Cabanatuan PNP best in ‘relations’
GEORGE TRILLO

CLARK FREEPORT -- Pampanga Jehovah’s Witnesses will end their three-day annual district convention at ExpoPilipino in Clark Freeport today in line with the religious group’s vigorous campaign to invite all to see how vital Jesus Christ is to the life of each individual. Members earlier invited everyone in Angeles City, San Fernando City, Guagua, Magalang, Sta. Ana, Mabalacat, San Simon, Apalit, Sasmuan, Porac, Candaba, Arayat, Mexico, and Tarlac to attend their annual convention.

Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, and future activities were the focus of this year’s three-day event. The Witnesses’ special event will be highlighted by the distribution of an attractively illustrated invitation. Their goal is to extend a personal invitation to as many people as possible. The effort is very similar to what the Witnesses did last year when they invited people to attend their "Deliverance at Hand!" District Convention. It was a great success, contributing to a sizable increase in convention attendance worldwide compared with that of the previous year.
***
The Cabanatuan City Police Station is this year’s Region 3 awardee for Best Police Community Relations Unit and Most Friendly Police Station. The plaques for the two awards were handed recently to CCPS chief Supt. Eliseo Cruz by the Philippine National police and the National police Commission, respectively. CCPS was also last year’s Region 3 awardee for Best Police Community Relations Unit. It was learned from a police official in Camp Olivas , Pampanga that the CCPS has also been selected as Region 3’s Best City Police Station although official announcement has yet to be made.

Cruz said the station owes the awards to the men and women under his command. He said CCPS enjoys a good working relationship with the public through the support of the city government headed by Mayor Alvin Vergara. The city government, he said, had provided the station its essential facilities such as additional mobile cars, motorcycles, and supply of petroleum, oil and lubricant, special weapons and tactics costly accouterments, and other morale-boosting benefits. As a result, although undermanned, the CCPS, which has a total force of 181 vis-a-vis a large city population of some 300,000, has been able to serve the public efficiently and effectively as shown in its first-semester performance.

From 132 last year, the number of crime incidents in Cabanatuan significantly went down to 101 this year. Index crimes such as murder, homicide, rape, physical injury, robbery and theft similarly dropped from 60 to 48. The rate of the crime solution efficiency rose from 95 percent to 97 percent.

To maintain its remarkable performance, "we launched the weekly ‘Pulis Cabanatuan, Kabalikat ng Mamamayan" radio program through which the residents can air their requests for assistance, complaints, and other concerns or issues involving police matters," said Cruz, adding people can also communicate with the CCPS through his personal cell phone. Aside from combating crimes, CCPS also helps in the enforcement of the city ordinances that aim to make Cabanatuan a clean, orderly, and disciplined city.

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Inaugurating a WW2 hero’s memorial
GEORGE TRILLO

CLARK FREEPORT, Pam­panga – Grateful Filipinos would probably outdo today Americans in honoring the United States’ first hero during World War II.

Officials of Mabalacat, Pampanga led by Mayor Marino Morales and his tourism officer Guy Hilbero were among those who led here Dec. 10 the inauguration of the first ever statue of Capt. Collin Kelly Jr. in a new memorial commemorating his heroic death in Barangay Bical in their town on Dec. 10, 1941.

Morales and Hilbero authored the establishment of the 5,000-square meter memorial for Kelly whom the US military regards as the US’ first hero of the last world war. The Mabalacat government spent some P500,000 for the memorial.

“Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. (July 11, 1915 – Dec. 10, 1941). Born in Madison, Florida, he was a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress pilot who flew bombing runs against the Japanese navy in the first days after the Pearl Harbor attack. He is remembered as a war hero for sacrificing his own life to save his crew when his plane became the first American B-17 to be shot down in combat. Colin Kelly has been called the first American hero of World War II. For his extraordinary heroism and selfless bravery, Kelly was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,” the website wikipedia.org said.

Hilbero said the bronze fiberglass statue of Kelly here is “probably the only statue of the American hero in the world.” It was sculpted by Nicky Reyes according to a sketch prepared by local historian Dan Dizon.

“I initially thought of coming out with a statue and a memorial for him to honor his heroic legacy. And I thought it should be located at Clark near the now abandoned Kelly theater and cafeteria which here named after him by the Americans before they left their military base here at Clark,” he said.

A marker on the base of the statue noted that Kelly “made his last take off from Clark at 7 a.m. Dec. 10, 1941, piloting a four engine Boeing B 175 (Flying Fortress heavy bomber). He and his crew flew to Aparri and attacked a Japanese light cruiser named Ashigara.”

“On returning, his plane was pursued by Japanese aircraft which set his bomber on fire and one waist gunner was killed. Kelly then ordered the remainder of the crew to bail out and all were saved. He tried to save his bomber by making a belly landing in Bical, Mabalacat, but he was killed when his aircraft crashed instead,” the marker noted.

Soon after his death during World War II, the US liberty ship SS Colin P. Kelly Jr. was named in his honor.

Hilbero said that henceforth, Filipinos and Americans will be honoring Kelly’s heroism Dec. 10 of every year at his memorial here. “The municipality of Maba­lacat plans to use the income it gets from its share from the payments of investors at Clark for the rehabilitation of the Kelly theater for cultural and art activities,” he said.
***
Board Member Pearl Angeli Erquiza-Pacada (1st district, Tarlac, Province) was elected national president of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines during the league’s annual convention held on Nov. 26-28, 2007 at a hotel in Malate, Manila. Only 36 years old, Pacada has the rare distinction of being the first woman elected as national president of PBMLP.

She is the immediate past secretary general of the PBMLP and incumbent vice president of National Movement of Young Legislators. She is also the president of the Tarlac council of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Padaca finished her business administration course at the University of the Philippines.

She also earned a master’s degree in public administration in the same school. She likewise completed a development management course at the Asian Institute of Management and a leadership course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. Other elected officials are Tito Gastardo, executive vice president; Jonah Pimentel, vice president of Luzon; Vic Maamgong, vice president for Visayas; Bai Nariman Ambolodto, vice president for Mindanao; Jaimer Jasper Lim, secretary general; Mariant Villegas, treasurer; Angel Baniqued, auditor, Erineo Sabulao, national press relations officer; and Ariel Arceo, national liaison officer.

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3 new major roads approved by Arroyo
GEORGE TRILLO

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — President Arroyo has ordered the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to build three more interchanges in the Pampanga portion of the P21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project. Well and good.

The President issued the order during a recent high-level meeting in Malacañang presided over by Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff according to president and chief executive officer Levy P. Laus of the Clark Development Corp.

The three additional interchanges are the Clark Logistics-2 Interchange, the Porac Interchange in Dolores and the Basa Interchange in Floridablanca. ThePorac, Basa, and Clark Friendship Interchanges were part of the original SCTEx project plan but had to be deferred for lack of funds. The Clark Logistics-2 Interchange will take the place of the Clark Friendship Interchange, according to a BCDA announcement. .

The BCDA had raised the necessary funding requirements to build the three interchanges. Access roads to the Porac and Basa Interchanges will be constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The high-level meeting was attended by Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council chairman Edgardo Pamintuan, presidential adviser for Central Luzon Rely Fajardo, City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez; Clark International Airport Corp. president Victor Luciano, Laus, and BCDA president Narciso Abaya.

Laus said CDC and the people of Pampanga were very thankful to the President for her decision on the interchanges which finally solved some disputes over the proposed road networks. The President’s decision on the three interchanges "will be a great boon to the investment and development in Pampanga and Central Luzon," Laus said. "It strengthened the unity of Pampanga leaders for progress and development." Luciano said that the approved construction of the three interchanges would solve traffic problems and contribute easier access to Clark Freeport.
***
In a related development Meycauayan, Bulacan, the top 30 users of the North Luzon Expressway were honored recently by the Manila North Tollways Corporation at the 1st North Luzon Expressway Top Accounts Appreciation Night.

The best-performing customers were chosen for their frequent and heavy use of NLEX by their fleet of vehicles. The usage was monitored on the many times they used NLEX’s toll collection badge.
Renie Ticzon, MNTC vice president for marketing, cited the companies’ "continuing support for NLEX," and underscored the significance of the appreciation night: "This occasion is MNTC’s special way of thanking our customers, and of assuring our support for their businesses."

He noted the strong partnership between MNTC and its corporate customers: "You move people and goods, and we at NLEX ensure a seamless expressway, your trips are safe, while your costs are down." On the same occasion, MNTC president Jose P. de Jesus told the honorees and the audience that the NLEX "will maintain its excellence in service and road quality so we can always exceed the expectations of our customers."

The honorees belong to five categories. These are public utility buses; freight forwarding and trucking services; fast-moving consumer goods; construction, industrial products and supplies; and sales and distribution.

The PUB honorees were Baliwag Transit, Bataan Transit, E.S. Transport, Fermina Express, Five Star Bus Co., Genesis Transit, Partas Bus Co., and Victory Liner.

Freight, Forwarding and Trucking Services: Cargo Shipping Assistanceship, Hana Net Phil. Co., Quicktrans Cargo Moving Inc., SN Trucking Services, Transilver Freight Services Corp., and Wheelhouse Transport.

Fast Moving Consumer Goods: Big E Food Corp., Gardenia Bakeries Phil. Inc., and Marby Food Corp.Construction, Industrial Products and Supplies: JC Tayag, Lamco Paper Products Co., Moldex Group of Companies, Peaksun Enterprises and Export Inc., Phil. Hattori Construction and Development Corp., Pozzolanic Philippines Inc., Regan Industrial Sales Inc., Sysco Development Corp., and Trust International Paper Corp.

Sales and Distribution: Fortune Chest Trucking Corp., GD Canlas Trucking, Pais Carriers, and Salem Oceanic Industries. The Appreciation Night was held recently in the Teatrino Theatre Lounge in San Juan, Metro Manila.

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Pampanga OFW projects/ Passports for Tarlac folk

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- From indications, the provincial government and the private sector here are determined to ensure a better future for would-be and currently deployed Kapampangan overseas Filipino workers and their families as multi-sectoral efforts to consolidate all programs and services for the protection of their rights and welfare are being boosted.

The exponents of the Church-initiated Pampanga Inter-Agency Council for Migrants Concerns buckled down to work as it met for the third time last Nov. 20 to discuss the immediate formation of the migrants’ concerns committees on Information and education, welfare and protection, reintegration and sub-
committees on economic and family integration, as well as lobbying advocacy.

To lead in these committees are the provincial public employment services office and provincial social welfare development office respectively. Accordingly, the Pampanga Archdiocese Migrants Desk, lead convenor of PIAMCO, plans to take up with Gov. Eddie Panlilio the five-point Capampangan migrants agenda that it had earlier submitted to his office. This includes the establishment of a Migrants Desk or Office that would provide and facilitate the delivery of various forms of services to the OFWs and their families.

The PIAMCO initiative is in line with the provincial government’s intensified efforts to push for the advancement and better protection of the rights and welfare of would-be and currently deployed Kapampangan OFWs and families.
Last week, Gov. Panlilio signed a landmark memorandum of understanding with the POEA to strengthen and intensify the anti-illegal recruitment campaign in the province through barangaylevel information dissemination.

Fr. Arnie Serrano, director of Pampanga Archdiocese Migrants Desk and the presiding officer of the meeting, said "PIAMCO is very much like the provincial government’s PAMISAUPAN program. Its success lies on the commitment and the concerted efforts of all who have genuine concerns for our OFWs and their families."

Government agencies represented in the PIAMCO were the Department of Labor and Employment, National Labor Relations Commission, PhilHealth and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Also present were the representatives of the provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Skill Training and Development Authority, while the Pampanga Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneural Development Office and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office represented the provincial government.
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In Tarlac City, the Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Office No. 3 issued passports on Nov. 17 to some 500 applicants here in line with the program of the city government to assists its residents who intend to seek overseas employment or travel abroad.

This was made possible through the holding of a one-day passporting and releasing activity at the city hall held in cooperation with the DFA office in Region 3 headed by regional director Ernesto Belardo. City Mayor Genaro M. Mendoza said this is the fourth occasion wherein the city government, in cooperation with the DFA, had conducted passport processing and releasing in one day.

Belardo said Mayor Mendoza has taken the initiative to help his constituents avail themselves of the opportunity to have their travel documents processed right where they are residing, which also saves time, as well as expenses for meals and transportation. Lorrie Ledesma, Tarlac City Licensing Division chief, said this passport processing and releasing project of Mayor Mendoza had started last year, in cooperation with Director Belardo.

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