Zamboanga has 30,816 PhilHealth beneficiaries

THE Zamboanga City Government has distributed Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cards to 3,755 new beneficiaries from the different sectors in the city.

The number of PhilHealth beneficiaries sponsored by the City Government has increased to 30,816 with the distribution PhilHealth insurance cards to the 3,755 new beneficiaries.

Saudi funds road-concreting project in Basilan

MALUSO, Basilan -- Governor Jum Akbar led Wednesday the groundbreaking ceremony signaling the start of the Saudi-funded road concreting project in this municipality.

16 traffic accidents per day in Iloilo

THE Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office (TMTRO) and Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo) said the city has an average of 16 cases of traffic accidents per day.

The National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB) collated the traffic accidents report, showing that from 2008 to 2010, traffic accidents and casualties are fluctuating.

New city hall to self-liquidate bank amortization

PORTIONS of the new Iloilo City hall will be leased out to private businesses and other government agencies, and income generated will be used to pay the monthly bank amortization, Mayor Jed Mabilog said.

Mabilog said the third floor, half of the ground floor, and the food court area are leasable spaces.

More infrastructure projects for Iloilo this year

A SECOND batch of major infrastructure projects amounting P276 million for Iloilo City was included in this year's regular budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Congressman Jerry P. Treñas said the projects he submitted will help the city become more competitive and investment-friendly.

No wage hike in Cordillera: wage board

THERE are no supervening conditions in the region to warrant a wage increase before or after Labor Day this year.    The seven-member Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in a meeting Tuesday ruled out any immediate need for a wage hike this year claiming an earlier additional P12 wage order last January is enough. Moreover, the board cited increases in transportation and basic commodities are only minimal.

Baguio suffers from low visitor turnout

ONLY A few people came up to Baguio during the Lenten break.

Initial reports from the Baguio Tourism Council field office showed only a few of the hotels here have been booked.

City inks pact with call center

THE public will see more of this call center company.

Soon, fare matrices, garbage cans, jeepney sign posts, vests of street sweepers and garbage collectors and waiting sheds will bear Sitel’s logo, a call center company based at the Loakan economic zone.

Photo lessons set in BenCab Museum

TUBA, Benguet – Photographer Tilak Hettige is offering a talk to Baguio photographers and enthusiasts.

Hettige is holding a photography workshop in BenCab Museum set on April 29 to May 1 dubbed “A Closer Look at Nature.”

Police report peaceful Holy Week in Baguio

HOLY Week observance in the Summer Capital has been generally peaceful, reports of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) showed.    BCPO Information Officer Insp. Karissma Sta. Juana reported observance of the Holy Week in the Baguio City has been peaceful despite a few incidents of theft and robberies in the city.    Sta. Juana said crimes have been averted primarily due to the numerous volunteer groups who helped augment the police force.   

Group bares BCNHS outstanding alumni

A RETIRED professor from the University of Brazil in Rio de Janiero and a member of a house providing non-government organization are among the five outstanding alumni of the biggest high school in this part of the country, which needs to correct its history textbook to determine whether it was founded in 1916 or 1919.   

Mayors urge to submit inventory of roads

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government urges municipal mayors in the region to submit inventory of roads located in their area of jurisdiction.    In a memorandum forwarded to all municipal local chief executives through regional offices of the agency, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Tuesday urged all local executives – governors, city and municipal mayors - in the country to submit local roads inventory in their respective localities to enable the government help improve and repair their local road networks.   

Benguet records 2 road mishaps during Holy Week

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Two road accidents were recorded in this province during the frenzy of the Holy week.    On Good Friday, April 22, a Victory Liner bus driven by Sandy Millora collided with a motorcycle at Caulcalan, Taloy Sur in Tuba.    Investigation conducted by Tuba police station showed that while the bus was ascending a curve on the way to Baguio, it exceeded and collided with the motorcycle going to the lowlands.    The motorcycle was pinned under the front left side wheel of the bus with the driver suffering a broken right foot.   

Ifugao governor enjoins folks to support autonomy

LAGAWE, Ifugao - Citing permanent identity as one of the best benefits autonomy can give to Cordillerans, the provincial chief executive enjoined his constituents to say "yes" to autonomy.     In an interview over the daily PIA Hour radio program, Gov. Eugene Balitang said one of the best reasons why Cordillerans should opt for autonomy is permanent identity.     “We had been clamoring for this opportunity in the past so we should not oppose it this time because we might not have any opportunity again in the future,” Balitang said.    

Lamut bans smoking in public places

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Smokers would now have to be more restrained and self-disciplined as the Municipal Government imposed a ban on smoking in government offices, public schools premises and public utility vehicles in this town.    The passage of the municipal ordinance banning smoking in public places is in support to the anti-smoking campaign and the unrelenting effort of the local government unit to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of tobacco products.   

Ceneco denies contract with Manta

THE Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) disputes the claim of Manta Energy Inc. that it has a power supply contract with the electric company.

Ceneco general manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr. said Ceneco was compelled to issue a clarification because of an apparently all out and expensive media campaign of Manta to force Ceneco to accept a 22 megawatts (MW) power supply contract that Manta officials claimed Ceneco signed on 17 March 2009 with Manta under its previous name IN2Power.

Widow calls for arrest of ex-village chief’s killers

THE widow of former Pahanocoy village chief Eleuterio Salabas on Tuesday urged the local police to arrest her husband’s killers.

Elizabeth Salabas said despite the recent decision by Manila Regional Trial Court branch 27 finding suspects Clarence Dongail, Jimmy Fortaleza and Freddie Natividad guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the convicts roams free.

Church opposes digging at Kanlaon Buffer Zone

THE Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of the Bacolod expressed its opposition against the exploratory diggings by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) at the Buffer Zone of Mt. Kanlaon National Park.

SAC director Fr. Mao Buenafe issued the statement after EDC said it may dig more production wells at the area after its first exploratory project failed to come up with its targeted output.

Police to intensify monitoring vs human organ trafficking

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz on Tuesday directed the BCPO Intelligence Branch to intensify its monitoring on alleged human organ trafficking in Negros Occidental.

ERC urged to clarify Ceneco power contracts

REPRESENTATIVES from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will be invited to shed light on the power sales contracts entered into by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) with other power suppliers.

House inquiry on fuel price disparity pushed

A RESOLUTION directing the House Committee on Energy to conduct an urgent inquiry on the unusually high prices of fuel products in Negros Occidental and other cities and provinces outside Metro Manila was filed.

1,200 cattle from Australia to arrive in Negros

MORE imported cows from Australia are arriving in the province.

Audit commission questions Cebu health funds

CEBU CITY -- The Commission on Audit (COA) Cebu City suspended payment to a pharmacy that dispenses medicine as part of a program of the Cebu City Government.

State Auditor Eva Cabrera called the attention of the city accountant to the P2.23 million worth of medicines doled out by Pro-Poor Pharmaceutical through the City Assistance for Medicines Program or Camp, now called the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (Champ).

Police question delay in reporting Mandaue robbery

A POLICE official questioned a nine-hour delay in reporting an LPG station robbery and attempted arson case in Mandaue City, whose culprit remains loose and unidentified.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, director of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said the robbery took place at 2 a.m. and yet general manager Reynaldo Reyes only went to a police station at 11 a.m.

Comelec favors Soco’s poll protest vs. vice guv, orders ballots retrieved

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted defeated vice gubernatorial candidate Glenn Soco’s motion to retrieve ballots in 20 precincts in relation to an election protest he filed against Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

Soco filed the motion last April 15. The Comelec’s Second Division ruled in his favor four days later.

Margot seeks list of Pagcor-funded projects

CEBU City Councilor Margarita Osmeña has asked for a list of all appropriations charged to the City’s Pagcor funds to make sure the P4-million monthly aid to the City Government is not abused.

Deaf-mute tops HS class

FOR a person to grow, he should not stop learning.

A differently-abled student relied on this saying to give him strength whenever he came across people who have doubts about his capability to learn.

CPPO can help Pilapil probe

THE Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is willing to help in the investigation on the stabbing of Cebuana actress Pilar Pilapil by locating her companion who is now a suspect in the crime.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, officer-in-charge of CPPO, said they will coordinate with Camp Crame when they find Rosel Peñas, a native of Barili town.

Danao council readies recall petition

VICE Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and the 11 members of the Danao City Council yesterday said they are preparing their petition for recall against Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. for loss of trust and confidence.

In a press conference at the Danao City Session Hall, Nito Durano, chairperson of Bakud Party, said he has already consulted 22 of the 42 barangays and said majority of the people support the move to oust his brother-mayor.

Mayor goes to court vs. council

AFTER filing an anti-graft complaint against the entire City Council of Danao and asking the preventive suspension of all 12 of its members, Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. is not yet finished.

He submitted a petition for declaratory relief before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday and asked the court to stop the implementation and declare as null two ordinances and a resolution the council previously passed.