Inferno's description on Manila fictional: Palace

MALACANANG urged Friday the public to believe more on the testimonials of real people on the beauty of the Philippines than on the fictional character of an American novelist describing Manila as "gates of hell."

"We trust that ordinary readers will give more weight to the testimonials of real people who have enjoyed their stay here in our beautiful country over the experiences of a fictional character whose narrative is written for maximum effect," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Carp beneficiaries get medical aid

AT LEAST 1,000 family-beneficiaries of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) in Tabuan village of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental availed of the free medical and dental mission on Wednesday.

Gherelene Mae Rafols, provincial information officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Negros Oriental, told Sun.Star that aside from the Carp beneficiaries in Tabuan village, residents coming from neighboring barangays were also served by the medical team composed of 13 doctors, five surgeons, 10 registered nurses, three medical technologists, four registered social workers, and volunteers from “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko.”

Dumaguete among new wave cities

THE City Government of Dumaguete was recognized as one of the top 10 new “Next Wave Cities” for outsourcing locations in the Philippines.

The recognition was given by the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Office and the Information Technology and Business Process Association (ITBPA) of the Philippines for being one of the Top 10 Next Wave Cities for the year 2012, according to Syril Repe of the city government of Dumaguete.

Aetas get housing units

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 148 families from the indigenous communities in Floridablanca town will receive housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA), an official said.

NHA Project Manager Ines Gonzales recently said that some P14 million has been allocated for the Aetas, which for long time had not been getting fair benefits from government programs.

Guv happy on Pampanga as investors’ choice

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Re-elected Governor Lilia Pineda on Friday expressed happiness over the continuous choice of local and foreign businessmen to invest in Pampanga.

After leading the opening of UNIQLO, Japan’s biggest fashion brand retailer, at SM City Pampanga, the governor vowed the usual full support to such big ventures.

Hundreds join 2nd livelihood run

CLARK FREEPORT -- More than 350 runners and fitness enthusiasts on Thursday joined the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)’s 2nd “Pulayan para Queng Cabiayan” (livelihood run) held at the parade grounds of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC).

The fun run anchored on the theme “Manggagawang Pilipino: Handa sa Hamon ng Makabagong Panahon,” aimed to raise funds for the Industrial Peace Council.

Folks cry over plans to shelve Ibon-Ebon fest

CANDABA -- Local folks here were surprised with the recent pronouncement of incoming Mayor Rene Maglanque about his plan to abolish the celebration of Ibon Ebon Festival.

They said that the celebration may probably not able to help boost the local economy but it was able to send the message of cooperation and unity among the participating groups from all villages in town.

Solar power plant to rise in Ormoc

KOREAN project developer Young J. Soon, chief operations officer of the Phil Solar Farm-Leyte, Inc., revealed his intention to put up 30-megawatt solar power plant in Ormoc City.

The proposed site is in Barangay Dolores with an investment of $72 million (P2,997,360,000).

Yaokasin vows harmony with local officials

VICE Mayor Jerry Yaokasin assured the Taclobanon that he would create “bridges” to make sure that the executive and legislative branches would have a good working relationship.   Yaokasin, a former councilor, was proclaimed in May 2013 polls as the vice mayor of the city.

Gun ban continues until June 12

THE gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections will continue to be in effect until June 12, said the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional headquarters based in Palo, Leyte.

Police Inspector Romuel Nacar, information officer of PNP-Eastern Visayas, said the gun ban is still in effect until its eventual lifting in June 12, but the police will not end its aggressive campaign against loose firearms.

Brigada Eskwela promotes recycling

THE Department of Education (DepEd) banked on recycling of plastic waste and school environmental cleanup in compliance to Brigada Eskwela’s focus this year which is on environmental cleanup, solid waste management, among others.

Rebecca Ragrag, assistant regional director of DepEd-Eastern Visayas, said they continued on their project in filling up of empty plastic containers with cellophane and plastic wrappers which will be used as interior decors, school landscaping, and gardening by making cellophane-filled plastic containers a substitute for hollow blocks in garden plots.

CA stops field trials of genetically-modified eggplant

GOVERNMENT agencies have been stopped by the Court of Appeals from cultivating genetically-modified eggplant because of its threats to human health and biodiversity.

The CA Special 13th Division issued a writ of kalikasan on May 17, which stopped respondents such as the Department of Agriculture from further conducting field trials of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant and tasked them to protect and rehabilitate areas affected by the experiment.

De Lima: Cybercrime law to stand legal scrutiny

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said her department is readying changes to the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Act, which will be presented to lawmakers in the incoming 16th Congress.

De Lima refused to specify the "improvements" on Thursday but certainly the Department of Justice took cue from the consolidated petitions against Republic Act 10175, whose implementation has been blocked by the Supreme Court since October last year.

Public schools reminded of no-collection policy

THE Department of Education (DepEd) reminded Friday all public schools nationwide to strictly adhere on the policy of no collection of fees during enrollment when school year 2013-2014 opens on June 3.

Based on DepEd Order 41 series of 2012, "Revised guidelines on the opening of classes," Education Secretary Armin Luistro has directed all school officials that no fees shall be collected from school children in kindergarten up to Grade 4 anytime during school year 2013-2014. 

Army supports probe on 2 erring Palace guards

THE Philippine Army said it won't tolerate the wrongdoing of two of its personnel, assigned with the Presidential Security Group, who were arrested by the police on alleged robbery in Novaliches, Quezon City on Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, Army spokesman, said the Army leadership is supporting the ongoing investigation against Corporal Bobby Cepe Ates and Sergeant Marvin Gamba Gaton.

DOH holds HIV surveillance

THE Department of Health (DOH) and other agencies held a random human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance to determine the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/Aids) cases in Cagayan de Oro City.

Since last week the Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance System (IHBSSS) and the group Tingog CdeO rounded up the different areas of the city to spot and identify persons engaging in men having sex with men (MSM), aged 15 and up, to achieve its research goal of 300 respondents in a period of one month.

Teachers complain of honoraria delay

PUBLIC school teachers in the city, who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in the recently concluded May 13 polls, are complaining of the delay in the release of their honoraria.

The teachers said they are disappointed over the disdainful treatment of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at them citing that the P4,000 stipend isn’t enough to compensate the extra work and sleepless nights they spent in the May 13 polls.

Fire hits MisOr vet office

FIRE hits the Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinary office on Luna corner Velez Streets in Cagayan de Oro Thursday afternoon.

Cagayan de Oro City Fire District’s initial investigation suggested a faulty electrical wiring may have caused the fire considering that the building is very old, said fire investigator Rosalito Caratao.

‘Riding-in-tandem’ suspects fall

TWO suspects, who are allegedly members of the dreaded riding-in-tandem groups, were arrested Wednesday evening in Jasaan town in Misamis Oriental, police reports said.

Police Officer 3 (PO3) Edilberto Gacita of the Jasaan police station identified the suspects as Wilborn Cabil, 27, a resident of Zone 2, Gusa; and Alex Redoblado, 25, of Ilaya, Upper Carmen -- both are barangays in Cagayan de Oro.

Gas station lost P11,000 to robbery

SOME P11,000 worth of cash and valuables were carted away from a gasoline station by six unidentified suspects on Wednesday evening along Masterson Avenue in Upper Balulang in Cagayan de Oro.

Police Officer 1 (PO1) Liezel Mejos, of the Carmen police station, said the suspects, who were on board two single motorcycles without plate numbers (red and white), carted some P11,000 cash from Shell gas station’s income for the day and two cell phones of the cashier, Leah Daayata.

Lawmaker hopeful FOI will be prioritized next Congress

A MEMBER of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) on Friday called on the Aquino administration to add the proposed freedom of information (FOI) law to its priority list in the incoming 16th Congress.

Reelected Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat Jr., a member of the House committee on public information, said the FOI bill is crucial to the government's campaign to eradicate graft and corruption.

Cebu village chief, widow of cop found dead

CEBU CITY -- The barangay captain of Mabini, this city, allegedly killed his rumored paramour before shooting himself to death inside his vehicle a few hours after he had thrown her body off a cliff.

The body of the woman was dumped in a cliff in Barangay Cansumoroy, Balamban, which is in the mountain borders of Cebu City.

Wanted: 5T teachers for public schools

CENTRAL Visayas needs more than 5,600 public school teachers this year, the Department of Education (DepEd 7) said.

The new teachers will augment the 44,234 currently employed by the National Government for Central Visayas.

Leonardia: Ride momentum of call center growth

CONGRESSMAN-ELECT and outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said Thursday that his administration has set the foundation and fundamentals of information technology-business process management industry or “call centers.”

This came following the recent elevation of Bacolod City as among the cities in the country classified as "center of excellence" by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO.

Leonardia denies ‘dropping’ VM Sayson

NPC-Grupo Progreso District Chair Bacolod City Mayor and Congressman-elect Evelio R. Leonardia on Thursday denied claims that he dropped his partner mayoralty candidate Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson during the May 13, 2013 polls to favor the reported "MoBing (Monico-Bing)" alliance on the eve of election day.

Leonardia said it is an impossible thing to happen because, based on figures, 96 percent of the voters who voted him also voted Sayson.

Cops ready for school opening

THE Philippine National Police in Western Visayas region are now ready for the opening of classes in June.

Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz said that more police will be visible near school campuses, terminals and commercial establishments as the opening of classes nears.

Capitol prepares salary adjustment notice

AFTER the passage of the 2013 Provincial Budget, all department heads at the Capitol have been advised to prepare the Notice of Salary Adjustments, according to Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan.

Pinongan said that each employee will be sent the Notice of Salary Adjustment, in line with the implementation of the last tranche of salary increase.

Army: Bets who paid campaign fees to NPA are answerable

POLITICIANS who will be proven to have paid the New People's Army for permit to campaign (PTC) during the recently concluded elections are answerable to the law, a military official warned Thursday.

Colonel Jon Aying, Commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said that all over the country, the NPA rebels were able to raise about P25 million from politicians for permit to campaign in what was claimed by the rebels as their controlled areas.

Bacolod SP urge bets to remove campaign posters

THE election is over but many campaign posters continue to greet the public until now.

The Bacolod City Council has approved on Wednesday a resolution directing the Department of Public Services through the Office of the City Mayor, all barangay officials and candidates, who participated in the May 13 midterm elections, to help and assist in removing all posters, election materials and political notices placed in non-Comelec poster areas, to make Bacolod City clean and neat.

Pagla-um petitioners ask Comelec to conduct plebiscite

Petitioners of Barangay Paglaum, through their counsel Lawyer Gemeno Ymballa, reiterated their appeal to the Commission on Elections to make the conduct of the plebiscite of Barangay Paglaum a reality.

This as the Comelec earlier promised to attend to the request of Pagla-um village residents for a plebiscite after the May 13, 2013 polls,