Mindanao guvs want Armm polls to push thru

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Three Mindanao governors on Wednesday joined several lawmakers and groups opposing the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

Mines bureau stops accepting applications

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has deferred from accepting and processing new mining applications in Zamboanga Peninsula.

DENR information officer Roservirico Tan said the deferment in accepting new mining applications is in line with the directive of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Sulu coordinating council convened

SULU Governor Abdusakur Tan convened Wednesday various government agencies and stakeholders to draw plans to address natural calamities and other emergencies in the province.

No confirmation of franchise for 'uso-uso' vehicles

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will not issue a confirmation of franchise to utility vehicles known as "uso-uso" unless owners follow a certain condition.

The term "uso-uso" is coined from the word "uso", which means "goes with the trend." It is a jeepney rigged with an engine of a small truck, making it more powerful and faster than a regular jeepney. Several of these jeepneys have figured in road accidents.

Private firm to handle local pageant

A PRIVATE event coordinator will handle the Mutya ng Dabaw, one of the highlights of the three-day 74th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.

The City Government and city tourism office used to handle the local pageant.

'Love letter' causes stir at City Hall

A WHITE envelope left under the wiper of the pick-up issued to Acting City Administrator Zuleika Lopez parked along the City Hall Drive caused a stir Wednesday, as the driver who saw it thought it to be a threat letter.

The white enveloped was labeled: "Mayor of Davao Inday Sara D-30 by Commander White Lion, AFP."

Rebels burn mining firm's vehicles

FIVE vehicles of a mining company were torched by suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Bukidnon on Tuesday afternoon.

Major Eugene Osias, spokesperson of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said the two dump trucks, two backhoes and one pick-up were owned by the PhilPost Mining Company based in the province.

Halt of Digos quarrying ordered

THE Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) has ordered the stoppage of illegal quarrying in Barangay Kiagot, Digos.

'Chop-chop' shop busted

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Authorities swooped down on a suspected warehouse of carnapped and dismantled vehicles in Barangay Sindalan allegedly operated by members affiliated with the Dominguez Group.

The combined operatives of the City of San Fernando Police, Provincial Police Office, Highway Patrol Group and Pampanga PMG arrested McLester Reyes of 83 West 10th Avenue, Caloocan City during the raid.

Mayor's birthday wish: Remember Edsa revolt

ANGELES CITY -- Unlike the usual lavish birthday celebration of high profile personalities, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan celebrated his in a patriotic way.

Pamintuan celebrated his 62nd birthday together with the city's commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Edsa Revolution.

City ready to help solve waste woes

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Mayor Oscar Rodriguez on Tuesday expressed willingness to help in solving the province's problem on garbage and solid waste management.

Rodriguez's disclosures came after the City Government came under relentless fire from "environmentalists" who said he had denied all along the existence of an open dumpsite in Barangay Lara, this city.

Execs united in Pinatubo eruption commemoration

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Local officials in Pampanga banded together to commemorate the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, 20 years after a tragedy that devastated the province and its people.

Journalists told: Don't be complacent

ANGELES CITY -- Kapampangan journalists told fellow media practitioners not to be complacent about their safety following the series of killings from their ranks.

Pampanga Employment Website in the works

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The provincial Public Employment Service Office (Peso) here is setting the works for a Pampanga Employment Website that will give better access to job opportunities to local manpower in the province.

Police undergo criminal investigation training

CAMP OLIVAS -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Central Luzon Director Florida Dijan has called on police personnel in the region to serve the country with passion and loyalty.

Peso chiefs meet to realign programs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Public Employment Services Office (Peso) chiefs from all over Central Luzon converged Tuesday at Heroes Hall in this city to re-align important employment programs.

Revenue bureau kicks off tax info campaign drive

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here is set to officially kick-off its 2011 Tax Campaign on March 2 in bid to inform the public of their responsibility toward paying their taxes and the different programs offered by the agency.

Drugstores urged to honor discounts for PWDs

MEMBERS of the Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DSAP) are urged to honor discount privileges of persons with disability (PWDs).

Malacañang told to push RH bill

LOCAL advocates of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill in Iloilo City urged Malacañang to disregard the stand of Catholic bishops and pursue the bill.

The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has reportedly pulled out from the supposed third round of the series of dialogues on RH with Malacañang.

70 soldiers to receive new homes

AT LEAST 70 soldiers assigned in Negros Oriental will receive the certificates of ownership of their new homes on Thursday at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City.

Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, will turn-over the keys and the certificates of ownership to soldier-beneficiaries under the “Kalinga sa Kawal Housing Project” (KKHP).

Guv’s address gets good reviews from mayors

MAYORS who attended the first state of the province address delivered by Governor Roel Degamo Wednesday lauded the governor’s programs of government, which focused on the areas of health, education and livelihood.

Speaking before a packed Provincial Board Session Hall at the Legislative Building in Dumaguete City, Degamo promised concrete, meaningful solutions to current problems as he intends to continue the programs started by his two predecessors.

Coconut authority reactivates coco coir plants

THE Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Eastern Visayas has started re-activating coco coir plants to control steep and road slopes erosion in the region.

This, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) committed to buy geo-textiles to be used as materials in controlling steep and road slopes erosion.

Limasawa sets up electronic billboard on nutrition

THE sixth class island-town of Limasawa in Southern Leyte is setting up an electronic billboard devoted for nutrition messages as effort to bring down malnutrition rate to zero this year.

Mayor Melchor Petracorta said that they are not contented with the fact that they are the best performing municipality in Eastern Visayas in terms of combating malnutrition unless there are still underweight children in their island.

Military: Rebel leaders hiding in Samar

THE Army’s 8th Infantry Division theorized there is a significant presence of top New People’s Army (NPA) leader communing in the region’s hinterlands.

The military said this during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting in Catarman town in Northern Samar presided by RPOC Chairman Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla.

Mining bureau slammed over project approval

THE Leyte Provincial Board vented again its ire on the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) after the approval of mining project feasibility of a firm in MacArthur town in Leyte.

6 Cebuanos in NZ trapped in collapsed buildings

CEBU CITY (2nd Update, 4:41 p.m.) -- At least six Cebuanos were reportedly trapped in a building that collapsed in Christchurch, New Zealand after a massive earthquake Tuesday.

Dr. Ethel Uy, aunt of Rhea Sumalpong of Tuyan, City of Naga, Cebu, called up the office of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday to seek assistance for the trapped Cebuanos.

Hong Kong judge sides with Singson in cocaine case

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong judge on Wednesday agreed with a Philippine congressman that the cocaine he brought into the southern Chinese territory was for his personal use as he considered a sentence for the politician.

Rep. Ronald Singson was caught with 0.24 ounces (6.67 grams) of cocaine while transiting through the Hong Kong airport en route to the neighboring gambling enclave Macau in July. He has admitted to a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug. Under Hong Kong law, the mere act of bringing drugs in the territory amounts to trafficking.

14 Filipinos in NZ trapped in collapsed buildings

NEW ZEALAND (Updated 2:32 p.m.) -- At least 14 Filipinos were reportedly trapped in two collapsed buildings in New Zealand after Tuesday’s massive earthquake.

The confirmed death toll from Tuesday's magnitude-6.3 quake rose to 75 on Wednesday, and officials said it was almost sure to climb further. Some 300 people were listed as missing amid crumbling buildings in downtown Christchurch in the South Island city.

Philippines offers to fly citizens home from Libya

MANILA (Updated 12:33 p.m.) — The Philippine government raised the alert level for its nationals in Libya, offering to fly home 30,000 Filipino workers amid a bloody crackdown on protests calling for an end to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

City Health Office conducts leprosy orientation

THE Bacolod City Health Office, together with the Regional Health Office and Department of Health (DOH), held an orientation on leprosy Tuesday at Bacolod’s New Government Center.

The activity is in line with the celebration of DOH’s Leprosy Prevention and Control Week from February 21-27, 2011 with the theme “Promoting leprosy and human dignity towards a ‘leprosy free’ country”.