Mayor lauds bidding of bulk water supply

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is optimistic that city residents and consumers of the city’s water district are assured of 30,000 cubic meters of water daily more with the bidding of the bulk water supply.

The Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) held the bidding for the bulk water supply on Tuesday. The additional supply is seen to augment the dwindling potable water supply services of the water district.

Military headquarters relocation plan shelved

THE plan to relocate the main headquarters of the 8th Infantry Division (ID) to another town in Samar has been shelved for good, Major General Mario Chan, commanding general of the division, said.

Local governments urged to work double time vs malnutrition

LOCAL government units (LGUs) must focus and work double time in addressing malnutrition problems in Eastern Visayas, now that only four years are left before the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a foreign-backed non-government organization said.

Plan International Philippines said the focus now must be on health, particularly malnutrition, as there is still a lot to be done to solve the problem.

Waterways clearing project launched in Tacloban

THE City Government of Tacloban, together with the technical working group of European Union-German International Cooperation Agency (EU-GIZ), launched the Clearing of Waterways Project on Monday at the Barangay 83-A Gym and Barangay 95-A Hall.

The project, which aims to clean up two of the major creeks in the city, Burayan River and Tanghas Lirang Creek, reportedly costs P3.2 million. It was funded by both GIZ (P2.8 million) and the City Government of Tacloban (P477,000).

Impeach raps vs SC justice sufficient in form

MANILA (Updated 12:26 p.m.)-- The House Committee on Justice found the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo sufficient in form Wednesday.

With a vote of 11-10-1, members of the House panel found the complaint sufficient in form.

P1M wasted in pesticide bottle ordinance

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Lack of government support resulted in the shelving of a project to protect the environment.

Napoleon Saavedra, vice president for External Affairs for Syngenta, said approximately P1 million was wasted on a campaign to dispose of pesticide containers.

Councilors want separate Baguio electric coop

BAGUIO City councilors are calling for a separate electric cooperative, as they project a reduced power cost due to less systems loss charges for the city.

Data from Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) show that it has a 9.8 percent systems loss. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) allows up to 14 percent systems loss.

Technical group submits draft autonomy bill

THE technical working group of the Third Cordillera Autonomy Act officially submitted Monday its final organic act draft to Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Regional Development Council (RDC) co-chair Dr. Virgilio Bautista said he is happy that the drafting committee was able to meet its deadline despite tight schedules.

Public told to brace for heavy traffic

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) advised the public to expect traffic congestions as several road repair projects are bound to coincide with the rainy season and opening of classes in June.

Baguio District Engineer Ireneo Gallato said that as early as last month, they already coordinated with concerned agencies, such as the police, barangays, water and power utility companies and jeepney operators, to prepare for traffic re-routing and congestions.

Lesbian-gay group lauds anti-discrimination bill

PRO-GAY Cordillera is looking forward to the success of House Bill 1483, also known as "Anti-Discrimination Act of 2010," filed by Representative Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna party-list.

The bill is an act defining the discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and providing penalties for the violators.

Police ready for return of transient students

THE Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) is set to mobilize not only its regular force but also volunteers to fully secure the thousands of returning transient students in this mountain resort.

Superintendent Engelbert Soriano, chief of the traffic division, said the BCPO's role in every school opening has become important since the city is now the educational center north of Manila.

Mayor urged to revive Blistt

SANGGUNIANG Kabataan president Karminn Yañgot urged Mayor Mauricio Domogan to spearhead revival of Blistt growth corridor concept.

Formulated more than 10 years ago by a group of European urban planners, Yañgot said with the fast-paced development happening in municipalities adjoining Baguio, the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (Blistt) growth concept should be revived anew.

Insecticide resistance management talk held

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- CropLife Philippines and Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (Irac) conducted a workshop on insecticide resistance management (IRM) in vegetables Tuesday.

The workshop, held in cooperation with the Department of Entomology and the College of Agriculture of Benguet State University, was attended by researchers, municipal agriculture offices, extension workers, company agronomists and extension staff.

Scavenger loses half an arm in accident

WHAT began as a usual workday at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill in Cebu City ended in tragedy for one scavenger.

The processing of wastes at the landfill was suspended for at least four hours yesterday, after Joselito Nuñez met an accident while cleaning one of the three biodegradable shredders in the facility.

Ombud junks anti-Red Tape case vs. Province officials over Balili papers

THE Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the complaint filed by environment lawyers against Cebu provincial officials over their alleged failure to provide them documents pertaining to a project that would be implemented at the Balili property.

Cebuana associate justice nominated for top position of anti-graft office

COURT of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Portia Aliño Hormachuelos is one of those endorsed as the country’s next Tanodbayan.

The Cebuana’s name joins that of 38 other nominees for the top position of the Ombudsman’s office, as the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) closed last Monday the window for applications and nominations to the post left by Merceditas Gutierrez.

City dads to intervene for Mahiga residents

CONTRARY to the mayor’s stand, some Cebu City councilors will push for the release of financial assistance to families displaced by the clearing operations in Mahiga Creek, and will help them with their application for a relocation site.

Body of Cebuano nurse in NZ quake identified

THE remains of Cebuano nurse Rhea Mae Sumalpong have been identified, nearly three months after she got buried under the debris of a building that collapsed during an earthquake in New Zealand last Feb. 22.

Sumalpong’s remains were the last to be identified among the nine Filipinos who died during the earthquake.

8 rice dealers legit importers

THE National Food Authority (NFA) 7 yesterday said the eight rice importers, who were allegedly involved in questionable transactions as reported by a national daily, are legitimate retailers.

NFA 7 information officer Ma. Lucia Rosales said Radegonda Vallejo, Chevy Bacaltos, Edisa Cabuenas, Jugy Obando, Jerome Tan, Othoniel Acquiatan, Marivic Ventura and Glenn Ernest Pacana had licenses to import rice in 2010.

Mayor-elect denies takeover plans

SENIOR Supt. Patrocinio Comendador yesterday said he received reports that mayor-elect Joel Quiño’s supporters will try to take over the Compostela Municipal Hall again.

Quiño denied the allegation, saying someone fed the acting provincial police director with wrong information.

4 prosecutors cleared of misconduct rap

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has absolved four government prosecutors of a misconduct charge.

Graft Investigator Mona Chica Cabanes-Gillamac found no evidence to indict Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, Assistant City Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas and Talisay City Assistant Prosecutor Jennilyn Forrosuelo for allegedly violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Nat’l Gov’t allocates P833M to Region 7

SOME 4,205 classrooms are needed to accommodate 210,359 incoming kindergarten pupils in Central Visayas, according to the Department of Education (DepEd) 7.

The department will need P2.785 billion to construct these classrooms, and another P210 million for school furniture.

Guv discusses passage of add’l budget with PB

A SUPPLEMENTAL budget ordinance worth “over P100 million” is expected to be passed next month. And Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale will reportedly manage the funds.

Gov. Gwen Garcia said the bulk of the money will be used for personal services, the Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF) of each Provincial Board (PB) member and other items that must be funded by a supplemental ordinance.

Gunman cuts short birthday of 32-year-old

A MAN celebrating his 32nd birthday last Monday was killed on the same night in Sitio Bas, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

Mario Bantasan was shot several times in the chest. He was rushed to the Gullas Medical Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

2 suspects in Cebu lawmaker's robbery arrested

CEBU CITY -- In less than 24 hours, police arrested two robbery suspects and recovered almost all the jewelry stolen from Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Julian "Teban" Daan and his wife, Yolanda.

A non-stop hot pursuit operation by a six-man police team resulted in the arrest of Ramses Abatayo, 29, in Barangay Basak, Cebu City at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Ilocos Norte athlete sets new javelin record

LINGAYEN – An athlete from Ilocos Region set a new record in the javelin throw, a track and fields event, at the recent Palarong Pambansa 2011 held in Zamboanga del Norte.

Stephanie Cimatu of the Ilocos Norte Schools Division broke the old record with her 41.27-meter distance record, which is equivalent to a gold medal, Nelson Ladia, in-charge of the athletics record of Region 1 during the Palarong Pambansa, said.

Birth registration for poor kids free in Ilocos Norte

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Region 1 Field Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched free birth registration program in Ilocos Norte dubbed as “Isulong ang Karapatan ng Bata, Magpatala.”

Pacquiao asks public to support Church efforts vs RH

FILIPINO boxing champ Manny Pacquiao urged the public to support the Catholic Church, which is opposing the reproductive health (RH) bill.

Pacquiao said he is in favor of the Church's advocacy since he believes in its teachings.

Impeachment vs SC justice set

THE House Committee on Justice will proceed with its impeachment duties, as it is scheduled to determine sufficiency in form and substance of the complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo Wednesday.

“The agenda tomorrow is the determination in form and substance of the impeachment complaint. I have seen the document sufficient in form if you compare this with the case of the Ombudsman complainants,” justice committee vice-chair and Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Farinas told reporters noting the number of congressmen who filed the complaint.

Survey: Gov’t slow in handling Maguindanao massacre case

FIVE in 10 Filipinos expressed dissatisfaction with the way the government is handling the infamous Maguindanao massacre case, a new survey by independent pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

This is a five-point jump from last November’s 46 percent as the survey also showed that President Benigno Aquino III’s action towards the resolution of the case was “poor”.