DOST to conduct reviews for HS students

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that the number of passers for the DOST-SEI scholarship program has increased by 11 percent due to the review sessions they conducted to high school students last year.

DOST–CAR Director Julius Caesar Sicat said that 99 of 1,100 examinees in the region passed this year's exam, adding that “it is already a good number.”

DepEd conducts IP education seminar

A THREE-day Indigenous People (IP) Education Workshop was held at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Hall at the Baguio Museum which was attended by teachers and students here.

Organized by the LIN-AWA Center for Culture and the Arts, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), the workshop held last April 25 to 27, is the 16th of a series of workshops which aims to promote IP culture awareness and integration as part of the IP Education under DepEd’s K to 12 curriculum.

Councilor: Environment code will take time

THE environment code of Baguio City, which sets a direction for the management of the city’s land and water resources, air quality, solid waste and biodiversity, must not be rushed, a councilor said.

Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, committee chair on environment, made the statement after presenting the local measure to various stakeholders Friday.

Prov’l board asks MGB to extend Philex operations

THE PROVINCIAL Board of Benguet has asked the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to extend the four-month operation of the Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) for its displaced employees.

The provincial board recently passed on first reading Resolution 13 which stipulated the request to MGB. It is now up for second reading.

Youth-initiated forum highlights mayoral bets

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – A youth-initiated forum aimed to provide young voters with information on who to vote this coming election was recently held here.

La Trinidad Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) together with the La Trinidad Youth Ambassadors and the Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad 2013 candidates spearheaded the forum.

Town asks for status quo on new cadastral survey

ITOGON, BENGUET – The local government requested the Provincial Board to declare a status quo on the implementation of the new cadastral survey of the Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

Mayor Oscar Camantiles submitted his letter of authorization to the Benguet board stating their plea on the long rivalry of the two towns on territorial jurisdiction. He said a status quo must be declared on the new survey because of the alleged encroachment and overlapping of Kayapa on some parts of Itogon.

Females shine in PNP Scout training

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – The recent class of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Special Counter Operation Unit Training (Scout) in the region had the most number of female graduates.

This highlights the saying: “females are now closely invading the law enforcement profession that was previously dominated by males.”

1,932 applicants hired in Labor Day job fair

SOME 1,932 jobseekers were hired on the spot in various positions for local and overseas employment in the two-day Labor Day Job Fair last May 1 to 2.

Henry John Jalbuena, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regional director, said this signified the success of the two-day activity initiated by the agency with various partners.

Kalinga farmers urged to revive coffee farms

TABUK CITY, KALINGA - Farmers with existing coffee plantation in the province are encouraged to revive and improve their plantation and if possible, expand considering the possible economic gains they could acquire from their harvest.

Grace Baluyan, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director, stressed the move in a meeting with the stakeholders as she called the frontline agencies of the industry to look into this matter.

AFP boosts drive vs illegal logging

THE National Government has tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to boost the drive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) against illegal logging in Northern Luzon.

This came after two DENR-Northern Luzon officials were killed while carrying out anti-illegal logging operations in the region.

‘Operation Baklas’ goes on Round 2

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – The Commission on Election (Comelec) is in for another round of ‘Operation Baklas’ here a week before Election Day, an election officer said.

Comelec election officer Eugene Ramos said there are still erring candidates and parties who violated the existing election campaign guidelines. “Nung inalis namin ng hapon, the next day, meron na ulit naka kabit,” he said.

Precinct location still a problem for voters

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Voters here still have a hard time locating their respective polling precincts on Election Day.

In a series of voters’ education concluded last week covering 16 barangays here, the common question is what precinct to vote in, said Eugene Ramos, election officer of Commission on Elections (Comelec).

8 OWWA scholars graduate, 2 with honors

EIGHT beneficiaries of an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) scholarship program joined this year’s college graduation, two of them with honors.

Baguio City natives Gerome Ace Calicdan Dado, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management Accounting graduate from St. Louis University (SLU) and Celine Cabauatan Matunda, BS in Biology graduate from University of the Philippines graduated cum laude.

4 gun ban violators nabbed in Abra

BANGUED, ABRA - The Police Regional Office Cordillera (Procor) have arrested four persons for violating the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed gun ban with the seizure of assorted firearms and ammunition in a police checkpoint in Bangued.

The identified suspects are: Marjovie Sibayan, 43, Sector Head of Spartan Manpower Services; Isagani Joson, 42, jobless; Loreto Balucas, 38, farmer; and Leonardo Parado, 33, farmer, who are all residents of Lagayan, Abra.

Dog owners asked to put pets on leash

DOGS roaming around village streets could become a nuisance and endanger the public as they could bite and spread deadly rabies, Dr. Brigit Piok, city veterinarian said.

Piok reported some 1,208 dogs were caught by the City Veterinary Office impounding team. These dogs were eventually released when claimed by their owners while others will have to be euthanized.

Notorious robber falls

A NOTORIOUS thief who victimized more than 11 establishments in Baguio City in the past three months was recently apprehended by personnel of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO).

Senior Superintendent Jesus Cambay Jr., BCPO director, identified the suspect as Jeffrey Antonio Soriano, 34, a native of Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

Vice Mayor Seares takes over Bangued’s reins

GOVERNOR Eustaquio Bersamin administered the oath of office to Bangued Vice Mayor Allan Seares by virtue of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) giving the go signal to take over the position of Mayor Ryan Luna on Friday afternoon.

In a letter dated May 2, DILG regional director John Castañeda through provincial director Cresencio Calina replied to Seares on his query asking for the opinion of the agency if he could assume office while Luna is temporarily unable to discharge on his official duty.

Stall owners advised to sue Okuda

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET -- Vice Mayor Romeo Salda said a meeting with recently concluded strawberry trade fair stall owners resulted to advising the group to file charges against organizer Masahiro Okuda. 

Salda said the Strawberry Festival executive committee was convened April 24, but did not meet a quorum, forcing Mayor Greg Abalos to delegate Salda to preside over the late meeting.

1st metrology lab to rise in Cordillera

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) plans to build the first metrology laboratory in the Cordillera this year which could benefit the general consumers and the industry players.

Regional Director Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat said the proposed metrology laboratory would soon rise in La Trinidad where they plan to inaugurate the building this month and hopes to be fully operational later this year.

City toasts SK federation president

THE City Government toasted Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) president and councilor Karminn Cheryl Dinney Yangot for graduating at the top of her class at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.

Yangot graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology.

MP survey: Electorate vs vote buying

BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE -- Will the electorate vote for the candidates who buy their votes? 

A survey done by the Montanosa Press Club showed respondent-voters will accept the money but don’t necessarily vote for the candidate whom the money is intended for.

Baguio caught between 2 garbage haulers

CITY government officials of Baguio are in dilemma on which contractor to choose to haul more than 120 tons of residual garbage produced by the city daily.

Committee on Laws Chairman Councilor Richard Cariño revealed on Monday the non confirmation of a memorandum of agreement entered by the city last August 8, 2012 to private hauler Maria Rhodora Flores of N4th Enterprises, which currently hauls residual wastes to Urdaneta City engineered sanitary landfill.

Pol bets receive endorsements

SEVERAL groups have begun endorsing candidates and parties in Baguio City in the homestretch of the campaign for the midterm elections.

Some three organizations have already signified their support for incumbent Rep. Bernardo Vergara and Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the rest of Timpuyog ti Baguio party.

Abalos airs side on trade fair allegations

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Strawberry Trade Fair at the market area here has ended with stall owners given a three-day extension.

In reaction to earlier news reports, Mayor Greg Abalos and trade fair organizer Masahiro Okuda furnished Sun.Star Baguio with their prepared press release but declined to grant a face-to-face interview.

3 Benguet towns called landslide prone areas

AMONG the 10 identified landslide prone areas in the Philippines, three sites are in Benguet, namely: Tublay, Bokod, and Buguias.

Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional director, revealed the central office had just released the result of its study on the identification of landslide prone areas in the country and Benguet has three sites.

Jueteng den found in Maharlika building

FRESH from a successful anti-illegal gambling drive in La Trinidad Tuesday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Cordillera (CIDG) again nabbed 12 suspected jueteng (illegal numbers game) bet collectors on Thursday in Baguio city.

Itogon backs bid to up LGU income

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Itogon aldermen are backing Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.’s bill amending the local government code in a bid to generate more income.  

In a resolution, the entire council supported proposed senate bill numbered 118 and 119 entitled "An Act amending Sections 284 and 286 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991; and "An Act amending Section 290 and 291 of RA 7160,” otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

Hydro plant proponent reveals projects

THE Cordillera Hydroelectric Power Corporation (Coheco) revealed several corporate social responsibilities (CSRs) if ever its proposed hydro project will be accepted in Kibungan.

Coheco lawyer Jingboy Atonen said that their projects include livelihood, massive reforestation, scholarship grants, continuous medical and dental missions, irrigation, and construction of access roads and public buildings like schools and health facilities.

Barangay councils trained on child abuse cases

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Governor Nestor Fongwan ordered the training of various barangay councils to handle cases against children and women.

“This is to protect our children and teach them [village council] to handle cases,” he said. 

Search for Cordillera Gawad Kalasag on

THE regional search is on for the Gawad Kalasag Award, an honor given to best government office (GO), non-government organization (NGO) and individuals who have shown heroic acts in time of disasters and calamities and in working on disaster risk management (DRM).

Alex Uy, chairman of the Cordillera Region Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC), said they are presenting the award as a recognition scheme in its search for excellence on DRM and humanitarian assistance.