COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Miranda is new 2th ID commander

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Brigadier General Glorioso Miranda, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters and Headquarters Support Command, was formally installed Wednesday as new chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID).

The 7ID has jurisdiction over Army Brigades and Battalions in Ilocos and Central Luzon and maintains a force in Mindanao. Miranda replaced Lt. Gen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo Iriberri who was promoted to commanding general of the Army last February.

Both of them are members of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. (Franco G. Regala)

Quevedo expresses optimism on Bangsamoro agreement

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo expressed optimism over the weekend that the newly-signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will bring peace in Mindanao.

Speaking here after visiting Sarrat town as part of his sortie to his home province (IlocosNorte) after his induction to the College of Cardinals in the Vatican, Quevedo hoped all rules and provisions of the CAB will be strictly followed to attain lasting peace, social justice and development in Mindanao. Governor Imee Marcos led the welcoming of Quevedo, who was also conferred the “Order of Lam-Ang.” -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Baguio SPED run raises P35 K for school deep-well

BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio City Special Education (SPED) Center staged its first fun run dubbed  “SPEDers run deep” last March 22,  drawing 660 participants despite limiting entries to pupils, teachers, parents, and alumni.

The race, which came in two waves – the 5-km and 3-km brackets , raised P35,000 for the school’s deep-well project.

The fun run traversed South Drive Rd., Outlook Drive Rd. and Cordillera House starting and ending at the school.

An awarding ceremony was held after the run where all finishers were given certificates of participation.

Meanwhile, the top three finishers for each category were given certificates of recognition.

With  minimal registration fees pegged at P100 for adults and P50 for children, the fun run was able to raise more or less Php 35,000.00 to support the construction of a deep-well within the school.

The deep well project will benefit the pupils and the teachers especially in providing better access of water for hygiene, sanitation, and toilet maintenance.

The school can also run its programs like the handwashing activity of the pupils, and watering the plants for the “GulayansaPaaralan.”

The SPED PTA Board headed by Mrs. Mary Rose E. Agustin initiated the project together with the faculty and staff under the leadership of Dr. Niño M. Tibangay. 

Volunteers from the Baguio City Police Office Station 8, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, and Department of Health 911 on Call manned the street crossings, water stops, and medical stations along the route. – Sheryline Bustarga

Baguio environment group to fence Busol watershed

BAGUIO CITY --- The Baguio Regreening Movement will construct a perimeter fence  to protect the Busol Watershed from further encroachment  by  illegal settlers.

According to ErdolfoBajadia, chairman of BRM, a total amount of P32.8 million is needed to fence the watershed with a length of 25,369 meters.

The fence will be made of concrete hollow blocks reinforced by a concrete post, making it very sturdy, he said.

An initial fund of P5 million from the BRM will be released once the fencing project will start, he said.

Balajadia urged civic groups, schools and individuals to help raise funds for the he fencing of Busol, the city’s biggest watershed.

‘The fence will help prevent intrusion of people in the watershed. It is everyone’s campaign to protect and take care of the watershed as it is  source of water and water is life’, Balajadia said.

The Busol watershed supplies 15 percent of the  water needs of the Baguio. -- Joseph Zambrano

Anglican sacrament receivers to plant “trees of life”

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Parishioners of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Luzon are required to plant a “tree of life” for every sacrament they receive.

This was the accord the Anglican Church faithful concluded during their recent convention, as their contribution against climate change and environment degradation.

Bishop Renato Abibico said when the child receives the sacrament of baptism and confirmation, parents and sponsors are obliged to plant at least one tree seedling either in private lots or on communal lands.

Newly wedded couples are also required to plant a seed to grow and be nurtured to live as in nurturing for a happy family, he said.

He said the priest assigned in the area shall take charge of monitoring the growth of the plants until when they pass the survival period or when they can be left to grow into big trees.

Priests to be ordained shall also also plant  “tree of life” to simultaneously grow as they perform their missionary service through the years.

“As the requirement becomes institutionalized in every parish, hundreds of trees are expected planted yearly that starts from the couple then to their children receiving the other sacraments,” Bishop Abibico said.

“The newly ordained priest having planted and nurtured his tree of life will also, as part of his missionary work, encourage parishioners to plant more trees.” -- Peter Balocnit

Peralta new Archbishop of Nueva Segovia

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – His Excellency Guiseppe Pinto, the papal nuncio to the Philippines, installed Most Reverend Marlo Mendoza Peralta as the new archbishop of the archdiocese of the Nueva Segovia in a ceremony at Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral last Monday. He was the seventh bishop here who replaced Bishop Ernesto Salgado.

The newly — installed Orlando Cardinal Quevedo with several Catholic clergies and local officials led by Ilocos Sur Cong. Eric D. Singson and Gov. Ryan Luis Singson were present.  -- Freddie G. Lazaro

DPWH-CAR activates motorist assist program

BAGUIO CITY--  In preparation for the expected influx of motorists in  this summer capita,   the Department of Public Works and Highways has activated  its motorists assistance program.

According to DPWH regional  director Edilberto  Carabaccan,  the ‘Alalay sa manlalakbay," which involves creation of  composite teams   dispatched along strategic roads going to Baguio, is now place.

He said DPWH personnel with equipment are strategically assigned along the stretch of the highways to give support to travelers.

Carabaccan said all roads going up   are well maintained and free from obstruction.

‘All roads going to the city are ready and safe to traverse. We have painted the road lanes to assist in drivers travelling at night’,  he announced.

Carabaccan  added that load limit in Kennon Road  will be strictly enforced on vehicles with more than 10 tons in weight  to prevent further deterioration and weakening of foundations of the bridges.

For safe travel, the DPWH also  advised  motorists  to check their vehicles especially their brakes before travelling.

 Drivers should  also obey traffic rules, regulations and speed limit, Carabaccan said. -- Joseph B Zambrano

DA-Cordi accepting applicants for youth internship program

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Agriculture – Cordillera is now accepting applications  for the Summer Youth Internship Program/Government Internship Program as part of the commitment of the agency to the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.

The agriculture department in the Cordillera region will be accepting 20 applicants composed of  five disabled, five out-of-school youth and 10 students.

Application is open to students (college/vocational/high school) and out-of-school youth aged 15-25 who are from the Cordillera.  They  must come from families with no relation, either by consanguinity or affinity  to the head of office and to any officials/employees within the  DA including Bureaus, attached agencies, corporations,  to give opportunity/priority to students and Out-of-School youth applicants.

Robert Domoguen, information officer of DA-CAR,  said that successful applicants will be working for the whole month of April only.

They will learn a lot and gain exposure in office and field and  they will also receive allowances.