Guards on disputed land arrested for firing guns

POLICE arrested 11 security guards for illegal discharge of firearms at Purok 13, Le Jardin Subdivision in Bugac, Maa, Davao City, on Tuesday, the land that is caught in a dispute by settlers and the landowners.

Treasure hunter ordered to stop

THE City Government has issued a cease and desist order against a treasure hunter involved in a ground exploration without securing the necessary permits from the city.

The order dated August 15 was issued after inspection was conducted by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) on a private property owned by one Albert Saliot of Sagrada Familia Village in Barangay Calinan in Calinan District, this city.

Council to look into complaint against housing developer

THE Davao City Council is set to look into the complaint filed by homeowners of Deca Homes Resort Residences in Tacunan, Mintal, this city for problems on security, water supply, and garbage disposal in the subdivision.

The City Council on Tuesday approved on first reading a resolution to intervene in the rift between residents of Deca Homes Phase 5 and subdivision developer, 8990 Housing Development Corporation.

DILG citation to attract investors, tourists: Sara

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte yesterday said the recent citation given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to Davao City as one of the top performing local government units (LGUs) for 2010 based on the areas of good governance will attract more investors to the city.

Davao City's 5th rank among the top performing cities in the highly urbanized and independent component cities category is a good indication that Davao City can really be considered as a 'Matured City' not only in terms of good governance but also in various factors, she said.

Sara convinced no drug lab in city

THOUGH convinced that there is no illegal drug laboratory in Davao City, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said this should not stop authorities from continuously monitoring illegal drug activities.

This was the statement of Duterte despite the seizure of around 32 drums or about P1.5 million worth of chemicals used in the production of shabu in Sasa port by the Bureau of Customs on August 25.

141 municipal employees in Kapalong terminated

A TOTAL of 141 municipal employees in Kapalong town, Davao del Norte are now jobless after their contracts were not renewed this month.

The Office of Kapalong Vice Mayor Romy Estrada was, however, surprised to learn of the termination that includes three contractuals, four casuals, and 134 job orders.

Village chiefs want waste segregation

VILLAGE leaders in Baguio City on Tuesday support the City Government's move to address the problem on solid waste through the "no segregation, no collection" policy.

To try the feasibility of the scheme, Association of Barangay Councils president Joel Alangsab said the city has come up with the two-truck system to pressure village officials to discipline residents on segregation.

Police arrest shabu syndicate leader

A BIG time shabu drug lord who has made multi-millions for decades now finally fell into the hands of anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera Administrative Region late Tuesday afternoon.

Considered as the first breakthrough in the anti-illegal drugs trade in the highland region for decades now, the fall of Bernardo Oliveros, 56, leads to the neutralization of the dreaded Oliveros drug syndicate sought by authorities for two decades now.

Police ask parents to keep their kids safe

THE Baguio City police advised parents to keep a tighter watch over their children following the accidental death of a 17-year-old girl in the hands of a friend.

Baguio City Police Director David Lacdan said parents who are overseas contract workers should take extra effort to monitor the activities of their children as well as those who are taking care of them.

Valley marks Family Week

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipality of La Trinidad celebrates national family week with the theme, “Hamon sa Pamilyang Pilipino: Kahirapan ay Tugunan, Pagkapantay-pantay ay Kamtan.”

“Family week is a week-long celebration designed to promote and strengthen the Filipino family as well as advocate related issues nationwide,” said Irene Tagtag, municipal social welfare officer.

Block IV vendors told to vacate for makeover

MORE than 400 stall owners will be given notices this week to voluntarily vacate their occupied stalls to prepare for the rehabilitation of the Block 4 of the Baguio City market this month.

City market superintendent Policarpio Tamayo said the initial P12 million fund for the construction is already enough for the city to start rehabilitation of Block 4 as this has already been awarded to contractor Tryst Builders Enterprises.

Retail firm needs 152 for expansion

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Puregold Price Club Incorporation needs 152 employees for its La Trinidad branch which is set to open on first week of November.

The company is now holding a five-day job fair at La Trinidad gymnasium, which was started last Monday and will end Friday.

Tuba village chief seeks payment from city

TUBA, Benguet – Tadiangan village head Manuel Fernando is asking the City Government of Baguio to repair damaged footbridges and slope protection.

In the aftermath of the trash slides affecting Tuba town, the village chief penned a resolution asking Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan to allocate funds from the city's P93 million calamity fund to fix the Sinco Greenwood footbridge retaining wall as well as the box culvert type passageway and slope protection system here.

CSC backs smoke-free government

SMOKING in government premises, except in designated smoking areas is prohibited per Civil service Commission (CSC) Resolution No. 91-787.

CSC Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 2009 reiterated the commitment of the CSC to have a 100 percent smoke-free civil service.

Health department warns public on water borne diseases

THE Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development in Cordillera warned the public to be on the watch against water borne diseases, which usually rise after several days of strong rains.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, DOH regional director, said among these illnesses includes leptospirosis, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, cholera and dengue.

Indigenous peoples' congress slated September 9-10

SENATOR Loren Legarda, the chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, will lead the assembly of indigenous peoples (IPs) of Luzon at the Quezon Hall, Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City on September 9 to 10.

“This will serve as a forum to consult our IPs whether our proposed legislative measures will adequately address the challenges they face,” Legarda said.

Tabuk qualifies for good housekeeping award

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - The Provincial Government of Kalinga and the City Government of Tabuk have qualified to receive the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Kalinga Director Francisco Gamatero said both are expected to receive the award for observing good governance in their local planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management and budget execution, procurement, and resource mobilization last year.

Kalinga coffee cookies now in the market

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - The locally produced Kalinga cookies are now in the market.

Produced by Sally Pepito of Bantay, Tabuk, the Kalinga Coffee cookies have already gotten the thumbs up of business consultants who are pushing for the production of locally produced goods.

Poverty intervention program reaches Kaling town

TANUDAN, Kalinga - The Pumiyaan project, a poverty intervention program of the Provincial Government and national agencies in the province, is slowly edging its way to poor areas of this town.

Governor Jocel Baac, chairman of the Provincial Poverty Reduction Program, gathered participating offices and agencies to identify from a shopping list of priority projects they can implement in the four pilot barangays of Tanudan covered by the convergence of services.

Folks try squash flour making

TABUK, Kalinga - Some 25 folks, mostly women, will train on squash flour making in preparation for the opening of a veggie-flour business.

The training is a tie-up project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which provides for the trainor from its Industrial technology and Development Institute, Kalinga Apayao State College and provincial government for the funding.

Farmers urged to operate fishponds

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Fishery officials urged farmers to engage in fish farming to raise fish sufficiency in the province.

Senior Agriculturist John Anniban of the Provincial Fisheries Office said the province is dependent on fish supply from Cagayan, Isabela and other provinces, and encouraged farmers to operate fishponds in order to create market supply of the basic household food.

Philandering lawyer faces disbarment

BAGUIO CITY -- A lawyer is now facing a disbarment case for being a womanizer and a possible child abuser.

In a complaint with the Commission on Bar Discipline, complainant Jane (not her real name) claimed lawyer Ernesto delos Santos not only got her pregnant, refused to marry her, but also molested his own daughter.

Government, MILF proposals 'may not be too far apart'

PLANS for establishing peace in Mindanao as proposed by the government and the Philippines' largest Muslim guerilla group may not be too far apart from one another.

President Benigno Aquino III pointed this out on Wednesday, adding that both parties should continue discussions regarding their disagreements about the draft comprehensive peace agreements.

Realignment of funds from cash transfer program sought

INCREASED funds allotted for a program that gives cash to poor families should be realigned to the departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, and Labor and Employment, progressive lawmakers said on Wednesday.

The funds, once realigned, will help create more jobs, support livelihood programs, address shortages of books and chairs, and upgrade health programs in public schools, said the lawmakers, all members of the Makabayan coalition in the House of Representatives.

Only 2 security guards assigned during 'ballot switching'

ONLY two security personnel were assigned to the Batasan Pambansa premises on the night election returns (ERs) were exchanged in 2005 to favor then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This was the testimony of Antonio Collera, chair of the Internal Security Group of the House of Representatives, who appeared before members of the House panel looking into the alleged break-in involving members of the Special Action Force (SAF).

Mine firm to clear 3,900-ha forest

GENERAL SANTOS -- Foreign-owned Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) will clear 3,935 hectares of forest and arable lands when it starts mining operations in the mountains of Tampakan in South Cotabato, company sources said.

The mining company said it will need at least 1,450 hectares for its actual open pit mining activities, more than two thirds of which will be cleared and cut for the pit and for waste rock storage facilities.

Cash transfer program may be disallowed during 2013 polls

THE Aquino administration may be disallowed from implementing a program that gives cash to poor families during the 2013 elections.

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the disbursement of public funds is illegal under the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

Jobs cuts seen in Zambo, Gensan sans tuna agreement

FAILURE to renew a fishing agreement with Indonesia could kill the Philippine tuna industry, Mindanaoan Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Wednesday.

An agreement with Indonesia, first signed in 2001, commits the two countries to cooperate on "marine fisheries capture" and conservation. A new five-year agreement was signed in 2006 and is set to expire in December. Negotiations to renew the fishing agreement are expected to start in November.

Ambassador to China to return for more CA hearings

THE congressional Commission on Appointments suspended Wednesday confirmation hearings on the appointment of businessman Domingo Lee, designated ambassador to China, over concerns regarding his ties to Taiwan.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the CA committee on foreign affairs, said Lee's "closeness to Taiwan may become an irritant to China as we know the political differences between them."

Arroyo husband denies involvement in jueteng

FORMER First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo denied involvement in illegal numbers game "jueteng" after leaked cables from website WikiLeaks implicating him in its gambling operations.

In a press statement, lawyer Innocencio Ferrer said that his client was never involved in jueteng or smuggling.