Divers clean up Mactan reefs

DIVERS gathered sacks of garbage they fished out of the sea, off Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

The divers conducted an underwater cleanup in the area last May 28, as part of the Save a Reef Project, an initiative that involves various activities—including an education drive in the community—aimed to protect and conserve coral reefs.

DENR exec urges public to save forests, water

Pollution, overex-traction of groundwater and degradation of watersheds are major threats to water supply, said an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"In the face of climate change, it is important that we should now adopt water conservation as a way of life, and not just during the summer months," said DENR 7 Executive Director Maximo Dichoso.

Let people decide on RH: Tomas

REP. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) believes that Congress should relinquish its right to decide whether or not to pass the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill and conduct a national plebiscite instead.

“Let the people decide,” he said.

I’m no puppy of Osmeña: Dizon on his support for Mahiga settlers

CEBU City Councilor Alvin Dizon defended his alliance with Mahiga Creek settlers, saying has always been closely working with the urban poor before he was elected councilor in 2010.

He was reacting to the statement of San Nicolas Barangay Captain George Rama that he is a puppy of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

Too abrupt, but behavioral changes worth waiting for

REP. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) is not fully convinced yet that Joavan Fernandez has reformed his ways.

“That remains to be seen. Only events will teach us on its hour,” said Gullas, a close political ally of Joavan’s adoptive father, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Environment office ex-employee charged

DAVAO CITY -- A former employee of the environment department in Davao is facing malversation charges for allegedly using government property for personal use and not returning more than P30,000 worth of items.

Charged with violation of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, otherwise known as malversation of public properties, was Ralph Anthony Taladua, a casual employee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' (DENR) Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (SMICZMP).

Transportation department well supported: Malacañang

MANILA -- Reports indicating that Transportation Secretary Jose "Ping" De Jesus left the President's Cabinet due to lack of support from Malacañang is completely false and unfair, a Palace aide said Saturday.

"That is not true. It is very clear that Secretary De Jesus wants to go back to the private sector so let's not put color into it and think of any other reason because he said it himself. He made it clear that he does not have a rift with the Aquino family and the President," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run dzRB radio.

Angeles City College to offer market-driven courses

ANGELES CITY -- City officials have commissioned education experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) in coming out with curriculum programs for the soon-to-rise Colegio Ning Angeles.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the City Government is working closely with UP for the development of courses that will be offered in the city college.

Guarantee fund for fishermen affected by fish kills sought

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Butil Representative Agapito Guanlao has filed House Bill 1773 to establish a guarantee fund designed to protect fishermen from huge losses of disasters like fish kills.

Guanlao told Sun.Star Pampanga that the guarantee fund will be known as the Sagip Fund. It was also designed to protect the agricultural sector.

Quarry fee hike looms

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A tax ordinance recently effected the increase of quarry fees from the current P300 per truckload to P350.

Board Member Crisostomo Garbo, chair of the Provincial Board committee on appropriations, said the tax ordinance No. 4 is now due for posting and it will be implemented soon.

Beauty titlist to allot cash prize for projects

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Newly crowned Mutya Ning San Fernando Ina Florence Yap said she will allot the cash prize she won in the beauty tilt to beneficial projects.

The tall and statuesque Filipino-Chinese beauty from Barangay Dolores and the daughter of slain businessman Florencio "Jack" Yap will set aside her career to become the city's first ever full time ambassador of goodwill.

Youths get livelihood assistance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) regional office recently extended some P1 million in livelihood assistance through the Rural Empowerment Assistance Development (Read) Foundation to benefit some 81 working youths from the province of Aurora.

Of the total assistance, P500,000 will be used for individual training for the production on banana chips and other dried fruits, while the remaining P500,000 will be used for vermin composting due to the province's rich organic lands.

Youth group helps in environment drive

MEMBERS of the Watershed Youth Management Council (WYMC) joined hands in making recycled posters for the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated's (DCCCII) campaign for Waste and Segregation Management.

Dr. Robert Puentespina, environment committee chair of DCCCII, spearheaded the activity at the K-Bro Restobar on Friday.

600 students benefit from city's summer jobs

THE City Government of Davao has facilitated the employment of 602 students under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (Spes) this summer through its Public Employment Service Office (Peso).

Peso manager Lilibeth D. Pantinople said students whose contracts ended last June 2 were given 45 days to work with pay.

Lawyer shot at home

A LAWYER landed in a hospital after he was shot by an unidentified suspect at Bell Air, Sasa, Davao City on Friday evening.

Senior Police Officer 1 Edgardo Layague, Sasa police station investigator, identified the victim as Cresdan A. Bangoy, 39, a resident of the same place.

Police: Letter may provide lead to suspects in plantation burning

POLICE are looking into a letter that was found inside a cabinet at Dole Stanfilco after the Thursday burning of a 200-square meter banana plantation in Sitio Banarao, Barangay Talandag, Tugbok District, Davao City.

The handwritten letter addressed to a certain Michael Molina, plantation manager, may provide a lead to the suspects.

Marcos' burial in Aquino's hands after all

DESPITE instructing Vice President Jejomar Binay to decide on the proposal to confer a hero's burial to the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos, President Benigno Aquino III will still be going over the recommendations before making a move on the matter.

Reports earlier indicated that Binay has recommended that the former President be given full military honors for his burial.

Capiz guv bewails delay of RoRo projects

CAPIZ Governor Victor Tanco deplored the delay in the implementation of French-funded, sea-based infrastructure projects despite government's intentions of cancelling them due to alleged onerous provisions.

Saying the delay goes "against public welfare," the governor said the protracted deliberation on the viability of French Modular RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off) project puts socio-economic development on hold.

Philippines lowers alert level in Bahrain

WITH political tension starting to subside in Bahrain, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lowered the crisis alert level in the oil-producing kingdom from level two to one.

The Bahraini Royal Palace announced on May 31 the lifting of the state of emergency and invited opposition groups to join wide-ranging talks on political reform.

Bill to penalize parents who engage kids in prostitution

PARENTS or guardians who allow their children to be used in solicitation or prostitution may soon face a penalty of one month to six months imprisonment once Congress approves a bill filed by a Manila lawmaker.

Under House Bill 4555, Representative Carlo Lopez is seeking criminal charges for parents, adopter, guardians or persons exercising special or substitute parental authority over children under parental custody found to be begging or engaging in prostitution.

Senators to debate on new copyright bill

A MEASURE to strengthen the Philippines' copyright law will soon be tackled in Senate plenary after it recently passed the committee level.

Senate Bill 2842 under Committee Report 38 was submitted in substitution of the bills separately filed by Senators Manny Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Antonio Trillanes IV, Lito Lapid, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Edgardo Angara, and Loren Legarda.

Abu Sayyaf bandits seize new victim

THE number of kidnap victims in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province have increased to two as the bandits have staged a kidnapping anew in that province.

Kidnappers charged

POLICE have filed kidnap-for-ransom and serious illegal detention case against two people, including a rebel leader, tagged behind the kidnapping of a young man in Lamitan City, Basilan province.

Lamitan City police chief Edwin Placio said the case was filed Friday against the suspects identified as Nadzmir Abubakar alias Marvin and Arasad Jion, an alleged commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Police chief issues anti-criminality tips

ZAMBOANGA City police director Edwin de Ocampo has issued eight helpful anti-crime tips to avoid from falling victims of criminalities as the classes for school year 2011-2012 open Monday, June 6.

De Ocampo said the public, especially the students, should know ways to protect themselves from lawless elements apart from the authorities' crime prevention actions.

Strengthening of crop insurance corporation eyed

THE House committee chaired by a Zamboanga City lawmaker has endorsed five bills seeking to strengthen the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) in providing security for farmers and fisherfolk in the countryside.

Second district Congressman Erico Basilio Fabian said the House committee on government enterprises and privatization endorsed the bills to a technical working group headed by Buhay Party-list Congressman Agapito Guanlao for refinement and consolidation.

High Court will end cityhood issue: lawmaker

CEBU CITY -- Representative Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district) is optimistic the Supreme Court (SC) will finally put a closure to the cityhood issue of 16 new cities when the SC en banc convenes this week.

The High Tribunal is set to hear the second motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) questioning again the constitutionality of the 16 cityhood laws.

Capitol to avail of P86-million loan

THE Provincial Government is availing of an P86.3-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Bacolod branch to purchase various equipment.

The Provincial Board, during its regular session last Wednesday, approved the resolution authorizing the availment of the loan and also authorizing Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to enter into a contract of loan with the DBP.

Army mulls detachment in EB Magalona

NEGROS Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) Director Allan Guisihan and Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, newly designated 303rd Brigade commander, have agreed on the possible setting up of a detachment in EB Magalona town.

This after about 30 suspected New People’s Army rebels burned two farm tractors owned by a sugar planter in the area.

Graffiti prevention measure pushed

THERE is a move by Councilor Caesar Distrito to push for the prevention of graffiti in the city by regulating the sale of aerosol spray paint and wide-tipped markers to minors.

Graffiti is a major public nuisance and destructive of the rights and values of property owners as well as the entire community, according to Distrito.

Peso to hold Jobs Fair

THE Public Employment Services Office (Peso) will hold a series of jobs fair from June 9-17, 2011 at the New Government Center.

Peso Manager Moises Dela Cruz said that on June 9, Danasa Manpower will open its doors to accept applicants for domestic helpers for Taiwan.