3 towns given P4.5M to stop marijuana growing
By Dexter A See
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Dangerous Drugs Board has given P4.5 million to three towns in this vegetable-producing province to make farmers in the three municipalities shy away from marijuana growing.
The amounts given to the towns were intended to fund legitimate livelihood projects that can provide income for the farmers.
The three towns received each P1.5 million from the DDB officials. These towns are Bakun, Kapangan, and Kibungan.
The funds are to be used to improve the sericulture industry, considered an alternative livelihood for the farmers who had earlier engaged in marijuana growing.
The funds given to Bakun and Kibungan serve as an initial capital for their sericulture projects, while the money given to Kapangan is for the continuing enhancement of the same project.
Kapangan has earned international recognition for the high-quality fiber it has been producing.
Earlier, the DDB gave R1 million to Kapangan as seed money for the town’s alternative livelihood program which is expected to encourage farmers to shift from the illegal cultivation of marijuana.
The alternative income source being introduced to the farmers is the production of yacon and cultflowers.
When the DDB saw that the sericulture industry in Kapangan has flourished, it again gave P2 million to the municipal government to strengthen the livelihood program.
The Cordillera office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has already declared Kapangan as marijuana-free after it conducted a series of validation activities.
Bakun, Kapangan, and Kibungan are noted marijuana-producing areas in Benguet.
In a related development, the DDB and the Cordillera PDEA are coordinating with the municipal government of Tinglayan, Kalinga, one of the marijuana-producing areas in the region, in the selection of a viable livelihood in the locality which would replace marijuana cultivation.
Most marijuana cultivators who have shifted to alternative sources of livelihood said the production of the marijuana is better because it does not entail extra time, effort, and money compared to the production of cultflowers, yacon, and mulberry.
Moreover, the price of marijuana is much higher compared to the alternative crops being promoted by DDB and PDEA.
They realized, however, that the marijuana cultivation is risky because it is against the law.
After 3 miners die in tunnel: Regulation of small-scale mining industry pushed
By Dexter A. See
ITOGON, Benguet — Regulation of the small-scale mining industry is now being pushed by concerned sectors. seven weeks after 16 miners were trapped inside the Antamok Goldfield tunnel here while three pocket miners were killed last week in the same mine complex due to gas poisoning.
The Nov. 9 accident has renewed focus on the problems facing the small-scale mining industry here that is providing livelihood to thousands of individuals in different parts of the province, as concerned sectors called on the government to regulate the lucrative but dangerous trade.
The three miners died inside a private mine tunnel owned by a certain Juanito Ansiong.
It is connected to the Antamok Goldfield mine tunnel, where 16 miners were trapped last September, killing six of them.
Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, regional police director, identified the fatalities as Virginio Alingjutan Singwa, 38, his brother Roel Alingjutan Singwa, 32, both natives of Mankayan, Benguet and Roger Rillera, 46, a resident of Upper Tram, Itogon, Benguet and a native of Bauang, La Union.
Investigation showed the three went inside the mine tunnel on Nov. 7 to gather gold ores.
However, Martin said their relatives got alarmed after the three never came out of the tunnel for three days, prompting the mine tunnel owner, in coordination with police operatives and rescue groups, to form a team to conduct search, rescue and retrieval operations last Sunday.
The rescuers were able to recover the bodies of the three men, all in an early state of decomposition.
Martin said the victims probably succumbed to gas poisoning inside the tunnel due to the alleged presence of poisonous gas which were not immediately detected by the miners.
The bodies were brought to a funeral parlor in nearby Baguio City for autopsy before they were brought home by their relatives.
Marijuana plantation raided in Benguet, La Union borders
KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Lawmen burned over P28 million worth of marijuana at plantations along the Benguet-La Union upland borders last week.
Some 18,500 fully grown marijuana plants pegged by the Dangerous Drugs Board to reach P3,700,000 and 6,350 marijuana seedlings valued at P254,000 were uprooted from 4,200 square meters and 1,260-square meter plantations here in sitios Tebteb and Balbalnag.
Some 25 kilos of dried marijuana leaves pegged at P625,000 were also found in the area.
A 31,000-square meter plantation in nearby Santol town in La Union where an estimated 114,000 fully grown marijuana plants valued at P22,800,000 were also uprooted as lawmen hauled some 30 kilos of dried marijuana leaves from the same site.
No cultivator was collared, said PDEA-Cordillera director Chief Insp. Edgar Apalla.
The eradication we carried out jointly with PDEA-Region 1, Police Regional Mobile Group – 1, La Union Police Provincial Mobile Group, 50th Infantry Battalion of the 503rd Brigade of the Philippine Army, La Union Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, Military Intelligence Group – 1 and Tactical Operations Group – 1 of the 1st Air Division of the Philippine Air Force.
An alleged pusher who hails from Kibungan town also in Benguet was also held with P425,000 worth of marijuana in front of the Buyagan Elementary School in Eastern Buyagan , La Trinidad town, Benguet on Nov. 8.
This, 10 days after the DDB handed over P1.5 million to the municipal government of Kibungan to start sericulture as alternative livelihood to marijuana cultivation in the area.
Randy Camada, 21, single, a high school graduate who hails from Palina, also in Kibungan was nabbed by anti-narcotics agents after he tried to sell 17 bricks or 17 kilos of marijuana dried leaves to a PDEA agent who acted as “buyer.”
Cases for illegal drug trafficking were filed against Camada before the Benguet Prosecutors Office.
Showing posts with label More News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label More News. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY
By Aileen P. Refuerzo
BAGUIO CITY – The city council Monday approved a resolution asking the Traffic and Transport Management Committee to submit an evaluation report on the results of the new traffic schemes being implemented in the city for several months now.
Proponent Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said the TTMC should make a final recommendation on these traffic designs to determine if these are effective or not.
“With the experiments having been conducted for several months now, the TTMC can make a recommendation as to whether the schemes are beneficial or not.
Tabanda noted one of the areas affected in the traffic rerouting is Marcos Highway, specifically the along the Campo Sioco area but that there have been several complaints regarding the implementation of the project, particularly on safety concerns.
Tabanda said she received reports that accidents happened in the area allegedly caused by the schemes and the barriers placed along the roads.
“Last October 5, a pastor named Edmund Foronda met an accident when his motorcycle collided with a traffic barrier which was set up as part of the traffic scheme along the Campo Sioco Area. To date, the pastor is still recovering from the accident,” Tabanda noted.
“There is an urgent need for the TTMC to determine the steps to be undertaken specially for of the safety of motorists who traverse these roads everyday,” she said.
As approved, the evaluation report “must take into consideration the easing of the traffic situation, environmental and safety concerns and including recommendations as to what routes should be adopted for the City Council to take the necessary steps to amend existing ordinances.”
High cement rates affect Cordillera gov’t projects
BAGUIO CITY – The implementation of public infrastructure projects in the Cordillera is being affected by skyrocketing prices of cement and construction materials caused by the economic slump and aggravated by the global financial crisis.
This was the contention of construction industry stakeholders who belied earlier claims by a multinational cement manufacturer that government projects have been saved by the stable prices of cement.
According to them, the rising prices of cement and construction materials have greatly compromised the implementation of quality public infrastructure projects in the region, thereby sacrificing good workmanship.
Instead of concreting a kilometer of road, the funds allotted for such purpose is just enough for 500 meters. Thus, funds allotted for various projects are no longer sufficient to complete a good project.
Aside from the skyrocketing prices of cement, industry stakeholders also questioned the alleged diluted pure Portland cement which is being projected as far more better than the proven Portland concrete mix.
Instead of using 10 bags of pure Portland cement for one cubic meter of concrete mix, they are now using 12 bags to meet the strength of the pure Portland cement which means an added expense.
The problem is compounded by the reported 200 to 300 percent increase in the prices of construction materials such as steel bars, galvanized iron sheets and lumber, as well as the reported proliferation of sub-standard construction materials in hardwares and construction supply stores in the region.
Contractors and project implementers challenged concerned government agencies, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to work double time in monitoring excessive priced construction materials and cement to save the implementation of quality private and public infrastructure in the region.
A 40-kilogram bag of cement is now being sold at over P200 in the region compared to its previous price of P180 several months ago.
A number of contractors admitted they do not want to accept government projects now because of the alleged very low pricing by the government of construction materials which is not based on the prevailing market price. – Dexter A. See
MORE NEWS,KALINGA
P.2-M ‘hot’ rice seized
TABUK CITY – Lawmen intercepted two jeeps loaded with sacks of rice believed to be part of the buffer stocks of the National Food Authority along the national highway here on Nov. 10.
NFA authorities said the vehicles carrying 180 sacks of rice worth around P200,000 were apprehended at Bulanao village while their shippers were allegedly trying to smuggle them to Quezon town in neighboring Isabela province.
“After I received a text about the incident, I immediately ordered the NFA Kalinga to cancel or suspend the allocation of these three (NFA accredited rice retailers),” said Danilo Pastrana, NFA director for Cagayan Valley told newsmen.
Pastrana said an investigation on the incident will be conducted to prevent a repeat of such cases.
The seized sacks of rice, now in the custody of the authorities, were reportedly part of the government’s buffer stocks to ensure adequate supply for residents in the north-central Cordillera and neighboring areas this time when demand for rice is expected to rise.
The NFA rice, all originated from Kalinga-based government accredited Tindahan Natin operators or also known as Tindahan ni Gloria, was to be delivered to a private warehouse in Isabela, purportedly to have them repacked and sold at commercial price.
TABUK CITY – Lawmen intercepted two jeeps loaded with sacks of rice believed to be part of the buffer stocks of the National Food Authority along the national highway here on Nov. 10.
NFA authorities said the vehicles carrying 180 sacks of rice worth around P200,000 were apprehended at Bulanao village while their shippers were allegedly trying to smuggle them to Quezon town in neighboring Isabela province.
“After I received a text about the incident, I immediately ordered the NFA Kalinga to cancel or suspend the allocation of these three (NFA accredited rice retailers),” said Danilo Pastrana, NFA director for Cagayan Valley told newsmen.
Pastrana said an investigation on the incident will be conducted to prevent a repeat of such cases.
The seized sacks of rice, now in the custody of the authorities, were reportedly part of the government’s buffer stocks to ensure adequate supply for residents in the north-central Cordillera and neighboring areas this time when demand for rice is expected to rise.
The NFA rice, all originated from Kalinga-based government accredited Tindahan Natin operators or also known as Tindahan ni Gloria, was to be delivered to a private warehouse in Isabela, purportedly to have them repacked and sold at commercial price.
MORE NEWS, IFUGAO
Ifugao governor hits DOH ‘dud’ program
By Robie Halip
Lagawe, Ifugao—Calling the Department of Health’s banner health program a “dud,” Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. expressed his disgust over the turtle-paced implementation of the Fourmula One (F-1), a multi-million donor aid program designed to bring dramatic improvements in the health sector.
Baguilat criticized lack of concrete policies and guidelines of the DOH in managing the F-1 which is on its third year of implementation. “Under the F-1, we were told that speed, precision and effective coordination would be guiding principles in implementing the health sector reform agenda. None of the three is evident in the current implementation of the Fourmula One program.”
Ifugao is among the 16 provinces identified by this program as one of its beneficiaries.
A province-wide investment plan for 2006-2010 health was crafted in 2005 and finished in 2006 taking on the sectoral development approach for health. The approval of this plan though took 18 months which delayed the start of its implementation.
DOH likewise reportedly left beneficiary provinces hanging with their annual operations plan as they had not been coordinating with concerned local government units on the status of their annual plans.
Baguilat saiud he was irked with finger pointing by concerned offices of the DOH every time he went to the said agency to follow up the status of the AOP of the province.
The governor noted that while F-1 has clear policy thrusts and an agenda, some operational guidelines were incoherent and changed leading to delay in submission of the LGUs of required documents.
The Fourmula One is the implementation framework for health sector reforms in the Philippines for the medium term 2005-2010. It uses a sectoral development approach where it engages national agencies, local government units, external development agencies and civil society organizations in the implementation of health
reforms.
This program was created to unite all initiatives and funding for health in one package to avoid fragmentation of health programs.
But the aim to pool all resources was never realized as only the European Commission placed their support for this initiative.
For Ifugao, an annual budget of P22 million is allotted for its health programs with P15.8 million coming from the EC to be used mainly for infrastructures for health and procurement of equipments and ambulances.
The remaining P 6.2 million is the counterpart of DOH to be utilized for the conduct of training and seminars and formation of health groups in the communities.
“The DOH is now requiring us to prepare our 2009 AOP. Yet, only a fraction of the 2007 was released and none of the funds for 2008 yet has been given. This is not just true for Ifugao but for all the 16 provinces,” Baguilat added.
Adding to the inconsistencies is the delayed approval of the AOP required for all the beneficiary provinces. Ifugao’s CY 2007 annual operations plan was only approved last March of this year but the fund from the DOH counterpart was only released last quarter of 2008.
A part of the EC funding for CY 2007 was only likewise released August of this year which further delayed the infrastructure and equipment procurement part of the program.
The governor said there was technical corruption as the delay of downloading of the DOH counterpart results into a payment of a commitment fee to the donor agency including World Bank.
This fee is charged when the funds are not fully utilized at the end of the year. World Bank finances the DOH counterpart of F-1 through a loan.
The investment plan for health was programmed until 2010 but up to now no concrete projects were implemented due to the aforementioned lapses on the side of the DOH.
Baguilat called on the immediate action of the DOH on these matters saying time was running out with only two years left for the implementation of the investment plan made by the province.
“We hope that the Fourmula One program will not just end up like a race car with four flat tires” he said.
MORE NEWS, APAYAO
NPA mass grave found in Apayao
PUDTOL, Apayao – A mass grave of the traditionally Maoist New People’s Army rebels in the mid-1980s was recently discovered here in a remote village.
The grave contained skeletal remains of four persons, which the Army said were executed in an internal massive purge by the leadership of the Cagayan-Apayao-Ilocos Norte regional party committee during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, chief of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the victims could have been killed after being suspected as military informers.
In Camp Melchor De La Cruz, Gamu, Isabela, Dilodilo said combined Army and police personnel as well as local government officials and a representative from the Commission on Human Rights were taken to the burial site by two former rebels, identified as Ka Jun and Ka Benjie.
The two former rebels earlier informed Army officials led by Col. Remegio de Vera, 501st Infantry Brigade commanding officer, of the existence of the said mass grave, later discovered by elements of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. James Joven.
Ka Jun and Ka Benjie were reportedly party members operating in the Cain area with Ka Jun formerly being a top member of the Yunit Security in the area while Ka Benjie was a member of the NPA’s Regional Milisya ng Bayan operating in the Zinundungan-Marag-Paco Valley area, who later surrendered to the government through Pudtol Mayor Batara Lawat.
The former rebels identified the remains found in the mass grave to be that of their comrades identified only as Ka Rumol, of Lal-lo, Cagayan; Ka Raymund, Ka Freddie and Ka Kaloy, all belonging to rebel groups under the Cain regional party committee operating in the Zinundungan Valley complex, the once seat of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Northern Luzon area.
They said the four were sentenced to death and executed by means of bayoneting. The CPP-NPA’s “Operation Zombie” was allegedly launched in the mid-1980s to purge the party of perceived military deep penetration agents.
PUDTOL, Apayao – A mass grave of the traditionally Maoist New People’s Army rebels in the mid-1980s was recently discovered here in a remote village.
The grave contained skeletal remains of four persons, which the Army said were executed in an internal massive purge by the leadership of the Cagayan-Apayao-Ilocos Norte regional party committee during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, chief of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the victims could have been killed after being suspected as military informers.
In Camp Melchor De La Cruz, Gamu, Isabela, Dilodilo said combined Army and police personnel as well as local government officials and a representative from the Commission on Human Rights were taken to the burial site by two former rebels, identified as Ka Jun and Ka Benjie.
The two former rebels earlier informed Army officials led by Col. Remegio de Vera, 501st Infantry Brigade commanding officer, of the existence of the said mass grave, later discovered by elements of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. James Joven.
Ka Jun and Ka Benjie were reportedly party members operating in the Cain area with Ka Jun formerly being a top member of the Yunit Security in the area while Ka Benjie was a member of the NPA’s Regional Milisya ng Bayan operating in the Zinundungan-Marag-Paco Valley area, who later surrendered to the government through Pudtol Mayor Batara Lawat.
The former rebels identified the remains found in the mass grave to be that of their comrades identified only as Ka Rumol, of Lal-lo, Cagayan; Ka Raymund, Ka Freddie and Ka Kaloy, all belonging to rebel groups under the Cain regional party committee operating in the Zinundungan Valley complex, the once seat of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Northern Luzon area.
They said the four were sentenced to death and executed by means of bayoneting. The CPP-NPA’s “Operation Zombie” was allegedly launched in the mid-1980s to purge the party of perceived military deep penetration agents.
MORE NEWS, LA UNION
By Jerry Padilla
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – An official of the Department of Finance in Manila is being blamed for the delay in the auction of the M/TUG Sungai Julan 1, a Malaysian vessel involved in oil smuggling at the Poro Point seaport here in 2007.
Edward Baltazar, former head of the Port of San Fernando who ordered the seizure of the vessel, said his forfeiture order was affirmed by Secretary Margarito Teves but the implementation, which will pave the way for the auction, was allegedly delayed because the document remains at the office of the finance official.
"The forfeiture order has been twice affirmed by the (DOF) legal department and all process regarding the seizure has been done. It’s already for implementation," Baltazar said.
Records of the forfeiture decision have reportedly been transmitted to the finance official’s office last Sept. 1 but no action has been taken and is still pending as of this report.
On July 8, Baltazar’s lawyer filed a motion asking the official to inhibit from participating in the review of the forfeiture decision because the official was a former associate of the law firm representing the owner of the vessel.
The vessel, valued at about P110 million, was docked at the seaport here while the crew, seven Indonesians and five Malaysians, were already released.
Baltazar said the proceeds, if the vessel would be auctioned including its cargo of 77,058 liters of crude oil, would give additional revenue to the government.
MORE NEWS, NUEVA VIZCAYA
P40,000 fund for Nueva Vizcaya athletes stolen
By Joan Capuna
SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya – Exactly P47,500 intended for the training of student athletes in the province were stolen from two public school teachers here by three female thieves on Nov. 11.
Police said Brigida Esquida, 60, district supervisor of the Villaverde school district, and her companion, Elnora Legaspi, had just come from a branch of the Philippine National Bank along Benigno Aquino street here where they encashed a check worth P47,500.
The amount, from the provincial government’s Special Education Fund, was intended for the athletes joining the forthcoming annual provincial sports meet spearheaded by the Department of Education.
Since it was noon, the two teachers decided to have their lunch at an eatery along the national highway, just a stone’s throw away from the town’s police headquarters.
Upon reaching the restaurant, Esquida was suddenly accosted by three women whom she did not recognize.
It was only later that she discovered that her bag had been slashed and the money stolen.
“The three women may have espied on (Esquida) and knew that she was carrying a big amount of cash,” said Chief Insp. Corazon Valencia, this town’s police chief.
Recently, motorcycle-riding robbers took P1 million from a trader from neighboring Ifugao province after he had withdrawn the money from a Banco de Oro branch here.
By Joan Capuna
SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya – Exactly P47,500 intended for the training of student athletes in the province were stolen from two public school teachers here by three female thieves on Nov. 11.
Police said Brigida Esquida, 60, district supervisor of the Villaverde school district, and her companion, Elnora Legaspi, had just come from a branch of the Philippine National Bank along Benigno Aquino street here where they encashed a check worth P47,500.
The amount, from the provincial government’s Special Education Fund, was intended for the athletes joining the forthcoming annual provincial sports meet spearheaded by the Department of Education.
Since it was noon, the two teachers decided to have their lunch at an eatery along the national highway, just a stone’s throw away from the town’s police headquarters.
Upon reaching the restaurant, Esquida was suddenly accosted by three women whom she did not recognize.
It was only later that she discovered that her bag had been slashed and the money stolen.
“The three women may have espied on (Esquida) and knew that she was carrying a big amount of cash,” said Chief Insp. Corazon Valencia, this town’s police chief.
Recently, motorcycle-riding robbers took P1 million from a trader from neighboring Ifugao province after he had withdrawn the money from a Banco de Oro branch here.
MORE NEWS, DAGUPAN CITY
Cancer patient’s brod wins P1-M BIR ‘resibo’ raffle
By Jennelyn Mondejar
DAGUPAN CITY -- A 50-year-old hardware store manager here whose sister is undergoing cancer treatment won the first P1 million jackpot of Premyo sa Resibo Champion contest on October.
Napoleon Co never joined raffles before but something made him join the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Premyo sa Resibo contest last month.
The 50-year-old hardware store manager won the first P1 million jackpot of Premyo sa Resibo Champions Edition, in time so the money could be used in the treatment of his youngest sister.
Co’s youngest sister is undergoing treatment for colon cancer but they stopped chemotherapy treatment, as they did not have enough money. “Hirap na kami sa pagkuha ng panggastos – yung chemo treatment niya dapat 12 sessions pero huminto na kami sa pang-pito lang.”
When he received the P1-million check in Oct. 27, he still couldn’t believe he won the P1-million. He gave the check to his mother. “Tuwang tuwa siya dahil hirap na rin siya maglabas ng pera. Malaking tulong ito sa aking kapatid.”
Each chemotherapy session costs around P70,000. Co said his sister has been responding to chemotherapy, adding that he did not keep any of the winnings for himself.
The receipt that won him the jackpot prize was a P27,000 receipt for construction materials.
Co said he wasn’t doing anything that day but something urged him to join the Premyo Sa Resibo drive which is the BIR’s way of plugging tax leaks by encouraging consumers to demand a receipt and for stores as well as professionals to issue receipts.
MORE NEWS, BULACAN
Father, son team launches E-trike
By George Trillo
MARILAO, Bulacan – The first Filipino engineered and assembled electric tricycle (E-trike) was launched here last week,
The E-trike was designed and modified from a regular motorcycle with the sidecar of a regular tricycle by Antonio Aguilar, a former overseas Filipino worker, and his son Allan.
The Aguilars are both engineers by profession, but Allan is currently a municipal councilor of this town.
The elder Aguilar said the E-trike is powered by four 12 volts rechargeable batteries that can last for eight hours and can run 80 to 100 km.
He said charging time for batteries can be done on slower pace or six to eight hours, a faster pace of one to two hours.
Like a regular tricycle, the E-trike can have four passengers including the driver with combined weight of 250-kg, and can cruise at a speed of 30 to 40 km per hour.
Each E-trike costs between P150,000 to P175,000, and goes with a battery charging kit with watt hour meter, ampere/voltage meter, built in automatic overcharge protection timer.
The younger Aguilar said they started building the E-trike about this time last year after Marilao Mayor Epifanio Guillermo challenged fellow municipal officials to come up with ways and strategies that can help protect the environment.
He said Guillermo’s exhortations challenged him and his father as they started working on the E-trike.
He added that the E-trike can help protect the environment as it uses no gas and oil, doesn’t emit smoke and is noiseless.
“Based on DOTC records, there are at least 2.8-million tricycles in the country and they far outnumber cars and jeepneys.
That means tricycles can be considered one of the major air polluters and the E-trike is our answer,” the young Aguilar said.
By George Trillo
MARILAO, Bulacan – The first Filipino engineered and assembled electric tricycle (E-trike) was launched here last week,
The E-trike was designed and modified from a regular motorcycle with the sidecar of a regular tricycle by Antonio Aguilar, a former overseas Filipino worker, and his son Allan.
The Aguilars are both engineers by profession, but Allan is currently a municipal councilor of this town.
The elder Aguilar said the E-trike is powered by four 12 volts rechargeable batteries that can last for eight hours and can run 80 to 100 km.
He said charging time for batteries can be done on slower pace or six to eight hours, a faster pace of one to two hours.
Like a regular tricycle, the E-trike can have four passengers including the driver with combined weight of 250-kg, and can cruise at a speed of 30 to 40 km per hour.
Each E-trike costs between P150,000 to P175,000, and goes with a battery charging kit with watt hour meter, ampere/voltage meter, built in automatic overcharge protection timer.
The younger Aguilar said they started building the E-trike about this time last year after Marilao Mayor Epifanio Guillermo challenged fellow municipal officials to come up with ways and strategies that can help protect the environment.
He said Guillermo’s exhortations challenged him and his father as they started working on the E-trike.
He added that the E-trike can help protect the environment as it uses no gas and oil, doesn’t emit smoke and is noiseless.
“Based on DOTC records, there are at least 2.8-million tricycles in the country and they far outnumber cars and jeepneys.
That means tricycles can be considered one of the major air polluters and the E-trike is our answer,” the young Aguilar said.
MORE NEWS, ISABELA
Isabela board okays 10% wage increase
ILAGAN, Isabela – Besides the usual yearend bonuses, provincial government workers are assured of early Yuletide perks after the provincial board passed a resolution for a 10-percent salary increase in their monthly take home pay.
Vice Gov. Ramon Reyes, who also presides over the board that approved the increase earlier this week, said the increase, which will be retroactive to July this year, was in line with President Arroyo’s executive order for salary increases of government workers.
Earlier, Ms Arroyo authorized all national government agencies and local government units to have a 10-percent increase in the salaries of their employees amid the then steady increase in oil prices.
“Had we not been able to pass the resolution, we wouldn’t have been able to make it retroactive to July. If we pass it next year, it would only be retroactive to January 2009,” Reyes said.
Last year, the provincial government’s more than 1,200 regular workers received P15,000 each as part of their yearend benefits on top of other government-mandated bonuses, while provincial executives, including the governor, vice governor and heads of offices got P20,000 each. – CL
MORE NEWS, ILOCOS NORTE
Pastor shot in Ilocos; kin fear for his life
BANGUI, Ilocos Norte – Relatives of a pastor now fear for his life after he was brought to an undisclosed health facility after gunmen fired at him on Nov. 6.
They said Dodie Gaces of the Great Commission Ministry, Inc. needs adequate police protection as the gunmen could repeat their intent to kill him.
Police said. Gaces was playing piano with his daughter in their home in Barangay Taguiporo in Bangui town when gunmen pumped bullets at them at close range.
The pastor’s daughter was not hit but Gaces sustained a bullet wound from a cal. 45 firearm on his chest exiting at his back.
Ilocos Norte police have no suspect yet, and neither could talk about what might have been the motive of the pastor’s killers.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte police director Senior Supt. Roman Felix was relieved from his post after complaints of unceasing killings and other crimes in the province of late.
Police officials said it was a regular rotation of police officers since Felix had been in Ilocos Norte for two years.
It was not known who replaced him at press time.
BANGUI, Ilocos Norte – Relatives of a pastor now fear for his life after he was brought to an undisclosed health facility after gunmen fired at him on Nov. 6.
They said Dodie Gaces of the Great Commission Ministry, Inc. needs adequate police protection as the gunmen could repeat their intent to kill him.
Police said. Gaces was playing piano with his daughter in their home in Barangay Taguiporo in Bangui town when gunmen pumped bullets at them at close range.
The pastor’s daughter was not hit but Gaces sustained a bullet wound from a cal. 45 firearm on his chest exiting at his back.
Ilocos Norte police have no suspect yet, and neither could talk about what might have been the motive of the pastor’s killers.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte police director Senior Supt. Roman Felix was relieved from his post after complaints of unceasing killings and other crimes in the province of late.
Police officials said it was a regular rotation of police officers since Felix had been in Ilocos Norte for two years.
It was not known who replaced him at press time.
Monday, November 10, 2008
MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY
3 ‘bolt cutter gang’ men now in city jail
BAGUIO CITY – Three suspected members of the “bolt cutter gang,” are now in jail here after they were nabbed by police on all Souls Day.
The notorious syndicate is known here for for robbery against business and financial establishments.
Chief Insp. Renaldo Pasiwen, chief of police of Precinct 7 told Senior Supt. Wilfredo D. Franco, city police director. the suspects tried to run away after being accosted while trying to break in at a pawnshop in downtown Baguio.
The suspects were identified as Gerald Baldo y Coten, 23, of Alab, Bontoc, Mountain Province; Ary Dumawawa y Bailo, 26, of Dalican, Bontoc, residing at Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet; and Roy Villalobos Bangangan, 38, of Dantay, Bontoc, a resident of km 3, La Trinidad, Benguet.
PO3 Stephen Palome, PO2s Andrew L Manacnis and Wilner F Wa-a including PO1 Eugene Manuel were on foot patrol in downtown Baguio when they were alerted that “a robbery was in progress at a pawnshop in the area.”
The trio tried to flee but the cops chased them until they were nabbed. The suspects reportedly bored a hole towards the pawnshop when lawmen chanced upon them.
A security guard in a nearby establishment positively identified the suspects as those who attempted to enter the pawnshop.
Franco urged other victims of the gang top file complaints against them. Charges are being readied against the three suspects.
Franco has already recommended COMPAC 4 personnel under Insp. Joseph Del Castillo of Precinct 7 for commendation.
File claims before it’s too late, DPWH tells project implementors
BAGUIO CITY – Project implementers and laborers who are still not paid by their principals must file now their claims with the Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways before it will be too late.
Mariano R. Alquiza, regional DPWH director bared this saying contractors of foreign-assisted projects in the region are required to secure clearances fro the regional office before they will be fully paid by the central office once their projects are completed.
Alquiza made the clarification after several sub-contractors of the P1.7 billion rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road complained to local politicians that the main contractor, CavDil, has not yet paid them for their accomplished works.
According to him, the claims to be filed by the unpaid project implementers and laborers will be submitted to the central office which will serve as one of the basis whether the contractor will be paid for the final billing after the project has been accepted by the Philippine government.
Several sub-contractors and laborers who were tasked to implement some of the project packages alleged CavDil didn’t them a total of P10 million for the projects.
They expressed fear that the project contractor would abandon its obligations in the cordillera as it is allegedly slowly moving its equipment to Palawan where it got another foreign-assisted project.
The rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road, which had a total project cost of P1.7 billion, was funded by a loan from the Japan Bank for International Coop. and it was implemented for a period of nearly four years.
Alquiza said they have tightened their rules relative to the obligations of contractors to their project implementers and laborers, thus, he will extend the needed assistance to the unpaid workers for them to be paid before the contractor could collect its final billing from the DPWH central office.
“We have to protect the interest of our project implementers who had been instrumental in our significant accomplishments in the region’s infrastructure development so that they will continue extending their valuable assistance to the office in the immediate prosecution of quality projects beneficial to the general public,” Alquiza said.
He urged contractors who have commissioned the services of sub-contractors and laborers to make it a point to settle their obligations so that they will not be given bad remarks for their simple refusal to pay their debts with those who helped them implement and complete their projects.
At present, the DPWH is now vigilant on erring contractors, thus, they will not be allowed to collect their final billing unless no sub-contractors and laborers will file their claims with the office.
Aside from the completed rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road , other huge projects being implemented in the cordillera include the rehabilitation of phases two and three of the Halsema Highway , the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road and the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road and the Cervantes-Sabangan secondary arterial road. – Dexter A See
DPWH warns erring crushing plant in Baguio: Vacate area
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY -- The regional Department of Public Ways and Highways has issued a final warning to a crushing plant to remove or relocate the plant within fourteen days before legal action will be executed.
Mariano Alquiza, DPWH regional director, said this crushing plant has been causing the Philippine government a loss of millions of pesos in damages to road structures and other facilities within the area due to its operation.
Alquiza issued his warning to the Caroline Francisco Crushing Plant, located along Dungon, Camp I, Tuba, Benguet recently.
Alquiza said, the crushing plant is located only about 200 meters from the bridge along Kennon Road, connecting Camp I to nearby La Union Province, under the law, crushing plants must be located one kilometer before and after a bridge.
Because of the proximity of the crushing plant and the diversion of the flow of the river, the DPWH has been constantly repairing environs of the bridge and rip-rap walls causing millions in tax payer’s money.
Instead of the funds being used for other projects, we now spend millions for repairs caused by the crushing plant, Alquiza said.
The DPWH has issued notices on June 26, 2007 and May 23, 2008 for Caroline Francisco to remove her crushing plant, located at the mouth of the Bued River in Dungon.
The structure has caused much sedimentation on the upstream further causing hazard to the bridge and road structures within the waterways, Alquza’s letter stressed.
Francisco is given fourteen calendar days upon the receipt of the letter to remove or relocate the structure or face legal actions, Alquiza said.
Despite the vehement opposition of the DPWH-CAR on the operation of the said crushing plant, the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) reportedly issued a sand and gravel permit to the operator which has now caused a friction between the two agencies.
Even residents living near the crushing plant expressed their opposition to the existence of the facility since it has been causing heavy pollution that is hazardous to the health of the people and the environment as well.
Alquiza said he stands firm on his decision to close the operation of the crushing plant due to the alleged threats it is posing to the stability of the road and other structures within the vicinity.
98 Baguio subdivision projects have no permits
BAGUIO CITY — City officials warned prospective buyers of house-and-lot packages of 98 subdivision projects in this mountain resort city and neighboring Benguet, saying these realty projects do not have certificates of registration and license to sell.
The warning was aired by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. who called on the developers, contractors, and subdivision owners to secure the permits from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board before they start selling house-and-lot packages.
Records of the city government show that at least 98 real estate and subdivision projects are without certificates of registration and licenses to sell but these are being advertised to attract buyers.
City official said there is a need to warn and discourage would-be buyers against transacting with the owners of the unregistered and unlicensed projects to avoid problems in the future.
Cosalan said there is a possibility of endangering lives of people if the activities of the developers are not supervised by concerned government agencies that are in charge of regulating the implementation of these projects.
The city government first approves the development permit and subdivision plans before the HLURB issues the certificate of registration and license to sell of a subdivision. The subdivision owners can sell the property only after they comply with these requirements.
However, the city official said there are still many unscrupulous individuals or corporations that alter the plans and uses of communities and zones as prescribed by law. -- Dexter See
California, Baguio concerts raise funds for patients
Ramon Dacawi
BAGUIO CITY -- Nurturing the culture of caring they planted for the sick here in the 70s, home-grown Baguio musicians last month belted out mostly folk and country, in two concerts on both sides of the globe.
Baguio boys and girls in Northern California netted $1,600 in “At the Crossroads” A Reunion” concert last October 11 in a church in Daly City. Last week, they sent the proceeds - $775 for a 26-year old student afflicted with vasculitis and an equal amount for the family of Mary Chan, who recently succumbed to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The remaining $50 will go to another patient, as per advice from lead singer Conrad Marzan and lead guitarist Richard Arandia. The two had set up the concert for-a-cause with Joel Aliping. Felix Tayaotao and other immigrants in the Bay Area.
Baguio-based musician-turned-columnist March Fianza, likewise handed to the DPS barangay council P19,800, the amount so far collected from “Songs for Mark Anthony”, a musical treat he organized last Oct. 28 at the Amarillo.
Together with succeeding collections, it will be for Mark Anthony Viray, a 10-year old boy who was back at the hospital last Tuesday for his next round of chemotherapy against cancer.
The kid, who just arrived with his widowed father from visiting his mother’s grave in Aringay, La Union, dreams of one day flying an airplane. Last August, he was diagnosed for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
His first two chemo rounds were bankrolled by former world karate champion Julian Chees, through Shoshin Kinderhelfe,. a humanitarian foundation he and his martial arts students established in southern Germany.
Chees, a former student of Edgar Kapawen of the Japan Karate Association, was here to visit his ailing mother when he learned of the boy’s medical plight and his dream of flight. Julian, originally from Maligcong, Bontoc, was back recently for the funeral of his mother Emilia.
Mary, elder sister of Jimmy and Pok Chan who used to host benefit concerts in the folk houses they managed, died while the Baguio boys in California were preparing for their reunion performance.
To save on the venue rental costs, priest and musician Leonard Oakes opened the doors of Holy Child-St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Daly. As did Amarillo proprietor Novie Balageo for the concert here.
Guitarists-vocalists Hector Cruz and Rene Aguinaldo drove all the way down from Canada to Daly to complete the cast with Estoy Aglit, Chat and Pendong Aban of Asin band fame, Janus Ananayo, Bryan Aliping, Miggs Meru, Kerri Somebang., Paula and Nadine Arandia, Fina Pengosro, Elana Aliping, Joshua and Heather Oakes and Kristen Pallano.
Arandia said they now call themselves, musically, “The Uncle Experience”. Whatever it means, they found uncles and aunts in California. Vic and Madeline Pengosro and Sobrena and Isabelo Somebang worked behind the scenes, Angche Sherpa offered his audio system expertise, and members of the BIBAK of Northern California and the Baguio Californians filled up the church.
Here, Fianza drew the talents of Cruise Control, Blue Graz, Shgakilan, Dalluyon, Munay, Mix Emotions, NTY Moves, performing lawyers Bubut Olarte, Rolly Vergara, Nes Mondok and Angie Cabrera, Sara, Alfred Dizon, Art Mina, Liza and Sumitra, Brix, Mike Santos and Co., Dick Oakes and home-coming Felix Tayaotao.
He found support from the DPS barangay council led by punong barangay Narcisa Laguitan, an anonymous donor-friend who bought P10,000 worth of tickets, friends in the police force, Cristy Angeles of SM Foundation, Jonie Itliong, sportsman Swanny Dicang and several others who came to donate.
To cut on costs, snacks were paid for from funds from Freddie de Guzman, another Baguio boy in Canada who has been supporting patients here since three years back.
Outside the concert halls, that same anonymous friend of March had P4,000 delivered to the mother of John Mark Enriquez, a toddler who afflicted with medduloblastoma, or tumor of the brain. The boy turned four last Thursday.
From Hawaii, a lady who read another patient’s story on the internet sent $110 to Josephine Almeron, a 41-year old solo parent and security guard who is battling breast cancer.
A multi-titled sportsman added P1,000, and an equal amount for Angelix Felix Yambao, a close-to-three-year old baby stricken with hydrocephaly and epilepsy.
BAGUIO CITY – Three suspected members of the “bolt cutter gang,” are now in jail here after they were nabbed by police on all Souls Day.
The notorious syndicate is known here for for robbery against business and financial establishments.
Chief Insp. Renaldo Pasiwen, chief of police of Precinct 7 told Senior Supt. Wilfredo D. Franco, city police director. the suspects tried to run away after being accosted while trying to break in at a pawnshop in downtown Baguio.
The suspects were identified as Gerald Baldo y Coten, 23, of Alab, Bontoc, Mountain Province; Ary Dumawawa y Bailo, 26, of Dalican, Bontoc, residing at Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet; and Roy Villalobos Bangangan, 38, of Dantay, Bontoc, a resident of km 3, La Trinidad, Benguet.
PO3 Stephen Palome, PO2s Andrew L Manacnis and Wilner F Wa-a including PO1 Eugene Manuel were on foot patrol in downtown Baguio when they were alerted that “a robbery was in progress at a pawnshop in the area.”
The trio tried to flee but the cops chased them until they were nabbed. The suspects reportedly bored a hole towards the pawnshop when lawmen chanced upon them.
A security guard in a nearby establishment positively identified the suspects as those who attempted to enter the pawnshop.
Franco urged other victims of the gang top file complaints against them. Charges are being readied against the three suspects.
Franco has already recommended COMPAC 4 personnel under Insp. Joseph Del Castillo of Precinct 7 for commendation.
File claims before it’s too late, DPWH tells project implementors
BAGUIO CITY – Project implementers and laborers who are still not paid by their principals must file now their claims with the Cordillera office of the Department of Public Works and Highways before it will be too late.
Mariano R. Alquiza, regional DPWH director bared this saying contractors of foreign-assisted projects in the region are required to secure clearances fro the regional office before they will be fully paid by the central office once their projects are completed.
Alquiza made the clarification after several sub-contractors of the P1.7 billion rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road complained to local politicians that the main contractor, CavDil, has not yet paid them for their accomplished works.
According to him, the claims to be filed by the unpaid project implementers and laborers will be submitted to the central office which will serve as one of the basis whether the contractor will be paid for the final billing after the project has been accepted by the Philippine government.
Several sub-contractors and laborers who were tasked to implement some of the project packages alleged CavDil didn’t them a total of P10 million for the projects.
They expressed fear that the project contractor would abandon its obligations in the cordillera as it is allegedly slowly moving its equipment to Palawan where it got another foreign-assisted project.
The rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya road, which had a total project cost of P1.7 billion, was funded by a loan from the Japan Bank for International Coop. and it was implemented for a period of nearly four years.
Alquiza said they have tightened their rules relative to the obligations of contractors to their project implementers and laborers, thus, he will extend the needed assistance to the unpaid workers for them to be paid before the contractor could collect its final billing from the DPWH central office.
“We have to protect the interest of our project implementers who had been instrumental in our significant accomplishments in the region’s infrastructure development so that they will continue extending their valuable assistance to the office in the immediate prosecution of quality projects beneficial to the general public,” Alquiza said.
He urged contractors who have commissioned the services of sub-contractors and laborers to make it a point to settle their obligations so that they will not be given bad remarks for their simple refusal to pay their debts with those who helped them implement and complete their projects.
At present, the DPWH is now vigilant on erring contractors, thus, they will not be allowed to collect their final billing unless no sub-contractors and laborers will file their claims with the office.
Aside from the completed rehabilitation of the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road , other huge projects being implemented in the cordillera include the rehabilitation of phases two and three of the Halsema Highway , the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road and the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes road and the Cervantes-Sabangan secondary arterial road. – Dexter A See
DPWH warns erring crushing plant in Baguio: Vacate area
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY -- The regional Department of Public Ways and Highways has issued a final warning to a crushing plant to remove or relocate the plant within fourteen days before legal action will be executed.
Mariano Alquiza, DPWH regional director, said this crushing plant has been causing the Philippine government a loss of millions of pesos in damages to road structures and other facilities within the area due to its operation.
Alquiza issued his warning to the Caroline Francisco Crushing Plant, located along Dungon, Camp I, Tuba, Benguet recently.
Alquiza said, the crushing plant is located only about 200 meters from the bridge along Kennon Road, connecting Camp I to nearby La Union Province, under the law, crushing plants must be located one kilometer before and after a bridge.
Because of the proximity of the crushing plant and the diversion of the flow of the river, the DPWH has been constantly repairing environs of the bridge and rip-rap walls causing millions in tax payer’s money.
Instead of the funds being used for other projects, we now spend millions for repairs caused by the crushing plant, Alquiza said.
The DPWH has issued notices on June 26, 2007 and May 23, 2008 for Caroline Francisco to remove her crushing plant, located at the mouth of the Bued River in Dungon.
The structure has caused much sedimentation on the upstream further causing hazard to the bridge and road structures within the waterways, Alquza’s letter stressed.
Francisco is given fourteen calendar days upon the receipt of the letter to remove or relocate the structure or face legal actions, Alquiza said.
Despite the vehement opposition of the DPWH-CAR on the operation of the said crushing plant, the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) reportedly issued a sand and gravel permit to the operator which has now caused a friction between the two agencies.
Even residents living near the crushing plant expressed their opposition to the existence of the facility since it has been causing heavy pollution that is hazardous to the health of the people and the environment as well.
Alquiza said he stands firm on his decision to close the operation of the crushing plant due to the alleged threats it is posing to the stability of the road and other structures within the vicinity.
98 Baguio subdivision projects have no permits
BAGUIO CITY — City officials warned prospective buyers of house-and-lot packages of 98 subdivision projects in this mountain resort city and neighboring Benguet, saying these realty projects do not have certificates of registration and license to sell.
The warning was aired by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. who called on the developers, contractors, and subdivision owners to secure the permits from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board before they start selling house-and-lot packages.
Records of the city government show that at least 98 real estate and subdivision projects are without certificates of registration and licenses to sell but these are being advertised to attract buyers.
City official said there is a need to warn and discourage would-be buyers against transacting with the owners of the unregistered and unlicensed projects to avoid problems in the future.
Cosalan said there is a possibility of endangering lives of people if the activities of the developers are not supervised by concerned government agencies that are in charge of regulating the implementation of these projects.
The city government first approves the development permit and subdivision plans before the HLURB issues the certificate of registration and license to sell of a subdivision. The subdivision owners can sell the property only after they comply with these requirements.
However, the city official said there are still many unscrupulous individuals or corporations that alter the plans and uses of communities and zones as prescribed by law. -- Dexter See
California, Baguio concerts raise funds for patients
Ramon Dacawi
BAGUIO CITY -- Nurturing the culture of caring they planted for the sick here in the 70s, home-grown Baguio musicians last month belted out mostly folk and country, in two concerts on both sides of the globe.
Baguio boys and girls in Northern California netted $1,600 in “At the Crossroads” A Reunion” concert last October 11 in a church in Daly City. Last week, they sent the proceeds - $775 for a 26-year old student afflicted with vasculitis and an equal amount for the family of Mary Chan, who recently succumbed to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The remaining $50 will go to another patient, as per advice from lead singer Conrad Marzan and lead guitarist Richard Arandia. The two had set up the concert for-a-cause with Joel Aliping. Felix Tayaotao and other immigrants in the Bay Area.
Baguio-based musician-turned-columnist March Fianza, likewise handed to the DPS barangay council P19,800, the amount so far collected from “Songs for Mark Anthony”, a musical treat he organized last Oct. 28 at the Amarillo.
Together with succeeding collections, it will be for Mark Anthony Viray, a 10-year old boy who was back at the hospital last Tuesday for his next round of chemotherapy against cancer.
The kid, who just arrived with his widowed father from visiting his mother’s grave in Aringay, La Union, dreams of one day flying an airplane. Last August, he was diagnosed for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
His first two chemo rounds were bankrolled by former world karate champion Julian Chees, through Shoshin Kinderhelfe,. a humanitarian foundation he and his martial arts students established in southern Germany.
Chees, a former student of Edgar Kapawen of the Japan Karate Association, was here to visit his ailing mother when he learned of the boy’s medical plight and his dream of flight. Julian, originally from Maligcong, Bontoc, was back recently for the funeral of his mother Emilia.
Mary, elder sister of Jimmy and Pok Chan who used to host benefit concerts in the folk houses they managed, died while the Baguio boys in California were preparing for their reunion performance.
To save on the venue rental costs, priest and musician Leonard Oakes opened the doors of Holy Child-St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Daly. As did Amarillo proprietor Novie Balageo for the concert here.
Guitarists-vocalists Hector Cruz and Rene Aguinaldo drove all the way down from Canada to Daly to complete the cast with Estoy Aglit, Chat and Pendong Aban of Asin band fame, Janus Ananayo, Bryan Aliping, Miggs Meru, Kerri Somebang., Paula and Nadine Arandia, Fina Pengosro, Elana Aliping, Joshua and Heather Oakes and Kristen Pallano.
Arandia said they now call themselves, musically, “The Uncle Experience”. Whatever it means, they found uncles and aunts in California. Vic and Madeline Pengosro and Sobrena and Isabelo Somebang worked behind the scenes, Angche Sherpa offered his audio system expertise, and members of the BIBAK of Northern California and the Baguio Californians filled up the church.
Here, Fianza drew the talents of Cruise Control, Blue Graz, Shgakilan, Dalluyon, Munay, Mix Emotions, NTY Moves, performing lawyers Bubut Olarte, Rolly Vergara, Nes Mondok and Angie Cabrera, Sara, Alfred Dizon, Art Mina, Liza and Sumitra, Brix, Mike Santos and Co., Dick Oakes and home-coming Felix Tayaotao.
He found support from the DPS barangay council led by punong barangay Narcisa Laguitan, an anonymous donor-friend who bought P10,000 worth of tickets, friends in the police force, Cristy Angeles of SM Foundation, Jonie Itliong, sportsman Swanny Dicang and several others who came to donate.
To cut on costs, snacks were paid for from funds from Freddie de Guzman, another Baguio boy in Canada who has been supporting patients here since three years back.
Outside the concert halls, that same anonymous friend of March had P4,000 delivered to the mother of John Mark Enriquez, a toddler who afflicted with medduloblastoma, or tumor of the brain. The boy turned four last Thursday.
From Hawaii, a lady who read another patient’s story on the internet sent $110 to Josephine Almeron, a 41-year old solo parent and security guard who is battling breast cancer.
A multi-titled sportsman added P1,000, and an equal amount for Angelix Felix Yambao, a close-to-three-year old baby stricken with hydrocephaly and epilepsy.
MORE NEWS, PANGASINAN
White lady’ tale in car mishap doubted
By Jennelyn Mondejar
ALCALA, Pangasinan – Local folk here said stories of a “white lady” which frequents a road here were figments of the imagination of the gullible.
This, after six people were hospitalized when the Nissan Frontier Navara they were riding in turned upside down after its driver allegedly saw the “white lady” crossing the street in Barangay Kisikis here before dawn last week.
Police quoted Jimmy Lanusa, 39, as saying that he was driving the brand new pick-up truck with five passengers when the “white lady” suddenly crossed the road, prompting him to avoid her.
The truck smashed into a parked mechanized farm tractor, locally known as kuliglig, and then into a mango tree, sending it turning turtle.
The victims were rushed to the Polymedic and Trauma Hospital in Villasis town.
Police merely shrugged off Lanusa’s claim on the “white lady,” saying it was just a tale good for All Souls’ Day.
Local folk said the driver might have fallen asleep and merely used the “white lady” tale to cover up his fault.
MORE EWNS, PAMPANGA
Bus driver in mishap faces homicide raps
By George Trillo
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Police filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries and damage to property against the driver of the passenger bus that rammed a Toyota Revo that killed five people Oct. 30 along the North Luzon Expressway in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
This, as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board grounded 10 units of the bus company that operates the Manila-Tarlac-Pangasinan and vice versa route.
Senior Supt. Keith Ernald Singian, Pampanga police director, said Mabalacat police filed the charges against bus driver Bernardo Santos, 34, of Mangaldan, Pangasinan who was among the more than 60 injured in the collision and who is still confined at the Angeles University Foundation Memorial Hospital.
The LTFRB field office in Dagupan City served the 30-day cease and desist order on the operator of Fermina Express pending the result of a separate investigation being conducted by the board.
The fatalities in the accident were identified as Ruth Diane Ferrer, 22, a law student of Ateneo de Manila University and driver of the Toyota Revo with license plate XHE-829, her companion Fr. Domingo Moraleda, 66, of Claret Formation School. Also killed were bus passengers Aurelia Orio Montera, 56, of San Juan City; Adela Padua, 63, of Quezon City, and a still unidentified female commuter.
Mabalacat police investigators said the northbound Fermina Express bus, driven by Santos, with license plate NYN-688 left Cubao in Quezon City and was on its way to San Carlos City in Pangasinan when the collision occurred at around 12 noon in Barangay Mabiga, Mabalacat.
Investigators said the bus was overtaking another vehicle and had occupied the lane of the Revo when the mishap happened.
“We will review the record of the bus company and if we find that it had already three accidents we have no recourse but to cancel its franchise to operate,” said LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion.
The LTFRB is also investigating reports that the bus was overloaded when the accident happened.
LTFRB officials have also suspended the operations of the Joanna Jesh Bus Lines that operates in Metro Manila after two of its buses were involved in an accident along EDSA in Quezon City, which killed one person and wounded two others.
Dengue claims lives of 40 persons in Central Luzon
By George Trillo
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Health in Central Luzon Tuesday that 40 persons, mostly girls under 15 years of age, died of mosquito-caused dengue fever in the region this year.
“It’s rather high,” nurse Marilou Pajarillaga of the DOH’s regional epidiomology service unit told newsmen.
Latest records have indicated 4,768 dengue cases in Central Luzon so far this year, even as Pajarillaga noted three dengue strains affecting the victims.
Pajarillaga said experts have yet to come out with some explanation on the fact that most of the fatalities are girls below 15 years old.
She cited statistics showing the deaths this year include four girls within the age bracket one to five years, 12 in the six to 10 bracket, 10 in the 11 to 15 bracket, three each in the 16 to 20 and the 21 to 25 brackets, and two aged more than 25.
This, amid figures showing only two boys in the fatalities under the one to five-year-old bracket, three in the six to 10 bracket, and one in the 11 to 15 bracket. No males above 15 years of age was reported to have died of dengue in the region so far this year.
Pajarillaga said that since January, Pampanga topped the list of the number of dengue cases at 1,838, followed by Bulacan with 1,195, Nueva Ecija with 740, Zambales with 393, Tarlac with 336, Bataan with 247, and Aurora with only 19.
By George Trillo
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Police filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and serious physical injuries and damage to property against the driver of the passenger bus that rammed a Toyota Revo that killed five people Oct. 30 along the North Luzon Expressway in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
This, as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board grounded 10 units of the bus company that operates the Manila-Tarlac-Pangasinan and vice versa route.
Senior Supt. Keith Ernald Singian, Pampanga police director, said Mabalacat police filed the charges against bus driver Bernardo Santos, 34, of Mangaldan, Pangasinan who was among the more than 60 injured in the collision and who is still confined at the Angeles University Foundation Memorial Hospital.
The LTFRB field office in Dagupan City served the 30-day cease and desist order on the operator of Fermina Express pending the result of a separate investigation being conducted by the board.
The fatalities in the accident were identified as Ruth Diane Ferrer, 22, a law student of Ateneo de Manila University and driver of the Toyota Revo with license plate XHE-829, her companion Fr. Domingo Moraleda, 66, of Claret Formation School. Also killed were bus passengers Aurelia Orio Montera, 56, of San Juan City; Adela Padua, 63, of Quezon City, and a still unidentified female commuter.
Mabalacat police investigators said the northbound Fermina Express bus, driven by Santos, with license plate NYN-688 left Cubao in Quezon City and was on its way to San Carlos City in Pangasinan when the collision occurred at around 12 noon in Barangay Mabiga, Mabalacat.
Investigators said the bus was overtaking another vehicle and had occupied the lane of the Revo when the mishap happened.
“We will review the record of the bus company and if we find that it had already three accidents we have no recourse but to cancel its franchise to operate,” said LTFRB chairman Thompson Lantion.
The LTFRB is also investigating reports that the bus was overloaded when the accident happened.
LTFRB officials have also suspended the operations of the Joanna Jesh Bus Lines that operates in Metro Manila after two of its buses were involved in an accident along EDSA in Quezon City, which killed one person and wounded two others.
Dengue claims lives of 40 persons in Central Luzon
By George Trillo
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Department of Health in Central Luzon Tuesday that 40 persons, mostly girls under 15 years of age, died of mosquito-caused dengue fever in the region this year.
“It’s rather high,” nurse Marilou Pajarillaga of the DOH’s regional epidiomology service unit told newsmen.
Latest records have indicated 4,768 dengue cases in Central Luzon so far this year, even as Pajarillaga noted three dengue strains affecting the victims.
Pajarillaga said experts have yet to come out with some explanation on the fact that most of the fatalities are girls below 15 years old.
She cited statistics showing the deaths this year include four girls within the age bracket one to five years, 12 in the six to 10 bracket, 10 in the 11 to 15 bracket, three each in the 16 to 20 and the 21 to 25 brackets, and two aged more than 25.
This, amid figures showing only two boys in the fatalities under the one to five-year-old bracket, three in the six to 10 bracket, and one in the 11 to 15 bracket. No males above 15 years of age was reported to have died of dengue in the region so far this year.
Pajarillaga said that since January, Pampanga topped the list of the number of dengue cases at 1,838, followed by Bulacan with 1,195, Nueva Ecija with 740, Zambales with 393, Tarlac with 336, Bataan with 247, and Aurora with only 19.
MORE NEWS, ILOCOS SUR
‘Dead meat’ downs 54 folk
SUYO, Ilocos Sur – Fifty four villagers who reportedly ate “double dead” meat during a wake in this upland town were hospitalized for diarrhea.
One died, a certain Dominguez Daplian, 36, of Sitio Dadtoco, Barangay Man-atong, Suyo, due to dehydration.
The rest of the victims were brought to local rural health unit and hospital for treatment. Health officials urged local folk not to serve such kind of meat as this is dangerous.
MORE NEWS, BULACAN
NFA settles P40 million debt with Bulacan tillers
By George Trillo
MALOLOS CITY – The National Food Authority office here has paid more than P40 million it owed to farmers’ groups and cooperatives for palay it procured last month.
Earlier, farmers in the province had complained about the delay in NFA payments, saying their families were already going hungry.
Eduardo Camua, information officer of NFA-Bulacan, said the agency has settled its obligations with the farmers and even has a standby fund of P11 million for more palay purchases.
He said the P40 million was paid for about 50,000 bags of palay, which the NFA had bought since last September.
The NFA-Bulacan office is targeting the procurement of 200,000 bags of palay, of which at least 180,000 bags have been secured.
The NFA has been aggressive in buying palay from Bulacan farmers in line with a directive from the Department of Agriculture to procure all the palay it could get to secure the country’s rice stocks for next year.
The NFA buys palay at P17 per kilo, about 50 centavos higher than that of commercial traders, and also offers a fertilizer subsidy of P1,800 to farmers’ groups who sell at least 50 bags.
By George Trillo
MALOLOS CITY – The National Food Authority office here has paid more than P40 million it owed to farmers’ groups and cooperatives for palay it procured last month.
Earlier, farmers in the province had complained about the delay in NFA payments, saying their families were already going hungry.
Eduardo Camua, information officer of NFA-Bulacan, said the agency has settled its obligations with the farmers and even has a standby fund of P11 million for more palay purchases.
He said the P40 million was paid for about 50,000 bags of palay, which the NFA had bought since last September.
The NFA-Bulacan office is targeting the procurement of 200,000 bags of palay, of which at least 180,000 bags have been secured.
The NFA has been aggressive in buying palay from Bulacan farmers in line with a directive from the Department of Agriculture to procure all the palay it could get to secure the country’s rice stocks for next year.
The NFA buys palay at P17 per kilo, about 50 centavos higher than that of commercial traders, and also offers a fertilizer subsidy of P1,800 to farmers’ groups who sell at least 50 bags.
MORE NEWS, AURORA
NPAs, army troopers clash; many wounded
By Mar T. Supnad
SAN LUIS, Aurora -- Fifteen fully-armed communist rebels led by Benjamin Peralta A.K.A. Gani/Egan/Otoy clashed with elements of the army troopers of 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and police at Sitio Sablang, Barangay Diteki here lasts week resulting to the wounding of a number of rebels.
Joint elements of Aurora Police Provincial Mobile Group , 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company, 7ID, PA led by one 1Lt. Nicholas and 48th Infantry Battalion, 7ID, PA led by a certain 1Lt. Ariel chanced upon the rebels.
As soon as the rebels were sighted, an army report said they immediately fired at the approaching troops, triggering 15 minutes of running gun battle.
The rebels reportedly retreated to the nearby forested areas, leaving behind three heavy firearms and ammunitions, the army, adding that they were able to confiscate an assorted 5000 board feet of illegally cut good lumber.
The army based in Fort Ramon Magsaysay said, it inflicted undermined number of wounded on the enemy side as indicated by bloodstains on the enemy’s route of withdrawal.
No casualty was reported on the government side.
Government troops recovered two US rifles cal 5.56 M16 rifles, one Cal. 45 pistol, one fragmentation grenade, two handheld radios, one bag pack full of uncooked rice, canned goods and personal belonging, one live ammo of M203 grenade launcher, bandoliers for M16, assorted food stuff, voluminous subversive documents, personal effects and assorted medicines. The recovered firearms are now in the custody of Aurora PPO for safekeeping.
“We are continuously conducting pursuit operations and establishing military presence and full force in the area to preempt illegal activities,” said Gen. Natalio Jayson, commanding officer, 48th IB.