Pampanga city in LivCom Awards finals

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City of San Fernando has made it to the finals of the prestigious International Awards for Most Liveable Communities (LivCom) 2011 to be held at Songpa, Seoul, South Korea from October 27 to 31.

The city is on the shortlist of the Whole City Category E for communities with a daytime population of over 400,000. It joins Iloilo, Las Piñas, and Dagupan as a representative of the Philippines.

Capitol to support farmers needs on food production

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda disclosed on Thursday that Capitol is very much ready and capable to provide the needs of Kapampangan farmers on boosting local food production via farm mechanization and modernization.

During the Irrigators and Farmers Association Meeting attended by hundreds of farmers, agricultural cooperative leaders and officials of the Department of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Administration, National Food Administration and Department of Public Works and Highways at Max’s Restaurant in Villa Del Sol, this city, the governor’s revelation was met with delight, cheers and laud applause.

Village chief dies in drug operation

MABALACAT --- A village chairman in this town died during an anti-drug operation conducted by the agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Barangay Poblacion here on Thursday.

Marcelino Cruz, chairman of Barangay San Francisco, succumbed to cardiac arrest at around 2:30 p.m. the other day while he and other PDEA agents were pursuing suspected drug pushers led by Gerald Bondoc.

Bizman wants review of tenure bills

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) vice chair Rene Romero is calling government leaders to review the implications of the pending tenure bills in Congress to the business sector.

Romero said that there is a need to review House Bill 4863 – a consolidation of eight Security of Tenure Bills, Senate Bill No. 858 – “Security of Tenure Act of 2011” and House Bill 375 – “P125 Across-the-Board Daily Wage Increase.”

City gov’t partners with NGOs

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has signed an ordinance that would initiate a system of partnership between the city government and non-government organizations for local governance.

City Ordinance No. 295, otherwise known as “The Empowerment Ordinance of Angeles City,” will institute reforms in the city government structure wherein people can directly participate in local governance.

CDC renews contract with ‘Nayong Pilipino’ in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT – Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo has signed the renewal of contract of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF).

With the signing of the contract renewal, Nayong Pilipino will become more vibrant and attractive to tourists and guests in the coming months.

Export volume in Clark reaches US $1-B

CLARK FREEPORT -- Officials of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced that the total exports volume inside the Freeport during the first semester of 2011 has reached US$ 1 billion.

CDC President Felipe Antonio B. Remollo said the trend is expected to accelerate in the last two quarters and last year’s US$ 1.453 billion export figure will be surpassed.

Aquino to new PNP chief: Restore people's trust in cops, prevent crimes

MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III asked newly-installed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Nicanor Bartolome on Friday to make it a personal advocacy in improving the image of the agency while continuing the fight against criminals.

In his speech at the simple turnover rites in Camp Crame, the President told the new PNP chief to restore the confidence of the people in the police by cleaning their ranks from bribery and extortion.

CA lifts TRO vs Capitol on Ayala Land contract

THE Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cebu City lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued against the Negros Occidental Provincial Government as sought by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI), the aggrieved party in the sale and leasing out of the Capitol’s 7.7-hectare property awarded to Ayala Land, Inc.

Allocation for 2011-2012 sugar production bared

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), in its “Sugar Policy for Crop Year 2011-2012,” revealed the bulk of the 2.4 million estimated sugar production for 2011-2012 goes for B or domestic market sugar.

Eight percent will go for A or US quota sugar, while 20 percent will go for D or world market sugar.

Human rights commission to probe town killings

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will conduct an independent investigation on the recent killings in EB Magalona town, according to local CHR chief Romeo Baldevarona.

The move came at the heels of reports that an independent armed group is behind the recent killings in the town.

Murder raps filed vs 2 suspects in radioman’s slay

MURDER charges were filed Friday afternoon against the two suspects in the shooting to death of Iloilo-based radio blocktimer Neil Jimena.

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) Director Senior Superintendent Allan Guisihan Jimena’s wife and daughter were accompanied by Noppo policemen in filing the case against the two suspects at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office around 2 a.m. Friday.

Probe on leptospirosis cases pushed

ILONGGO Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is pushing for an inquiry into the alarming increase of leptospirosis cases in Western Visayas.

Santiago came up with Senate Resolution No. 583 that calls for an inquiry into the cases after she got the report of the Department of Health (DOH) that there are at least 290 cases and 29 deaths to date this year in Western Visayas.

Energy firm awards 120 scholarships

ENERGY Development Corporation (EDC) recently turned over scholarship grants to a total of 120 deserving high school students in Northern Negros.

On September 6, 2011, 60 students from Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School in Bago City and another 60 from the Minoyan High School in Murcia received their scholarship grants from EDC.

Council approves creation of OFW Coordinating Council

THE Bacolod City Council approved on third and final reading the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Sonya Verdeflor that will create the Bacolod City OFW (overseas Filipino workers) Coordinating Council and for other purposes.

Councilor Verdeflor, City Council chair on committee on labor and management and overseas workers, cited Section 3 of Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that states, “ The State shall afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all.”

Arrest of erring drivers at Daalco to continue

THOUGH some operators of southbound mini buses have filed a petition for issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO) against eight Bacolod City and police officials before the Regional Trial Court, the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) will continue to apprehend the mini buses drivers who violate City Ordinance 187.

The ordinance stipulated the transfer of the southbound terminal from Daalco waiting station to Sambok terminal in Lopez Jaena. But some operator continue to use the Daalco station.

Senator scolds mayor on dumpsite tragedy

SENATOR Loren Legarda scolded Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and environment city officials after she visited the Irisan dumpsite.

“Officials need to adhere to the law. It’s pathetic as they can be held liable for incompetence,” said Legarda, a staunch environmentalist and chair of the Senate committee on climate change.

State investigation bureau files raps vs 4 murder suspects

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed murder charges against four suspects allegedly involved in the death of 16-years-old girl, who was found rotting in a ravine Monday morning, after three months of frantic searching.

The victim who was identified as Irish was reported missing since June 3. She was later found in a ravine along Marcos Highway early this week.

Burnham Park criminal lair discovered during clean up

A GROUP of photographers and policemen who held a clean-up in Burnham Park discovered havens for criminals in the area.

Members of the Baguio Commercial Photographers’ Guild Inc. cleared and cut tall grasses and sunflower shrubs along portions of Burnham Park near the Lions Club building, in front of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

Legarda seeks review of 1995 mining law

SENATOR Loren Legarda is seeking a second look of the Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, to suit the interests of affected indigenous peoples and host communities.

Legarda said the law needs revision so that issues on economic, social and environmental returns and safeguards will be addressed.

Cordillera seed inspectors also checked

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Seed inspectors from Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao and Mountain Province were also inspected and updated during the refresher training on inbred rice seed certification for seed inspectors of Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

The training held at the Agricultural Training Institute hall last September 7 to 9, was a collaborative effort of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU), Agricultural Training Institute of CAR and the Bureau of Plant Industry - National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS).

Family Week to foster stronger ties

EFFORTS to strengthen the basic unit of society are being addressed by the City Government in relation to the Family Week celebrations.

Committee on Social Services Chair Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda claimed strengthening family ties, communication and values within the family is important in reducing cases of violence among family members.

Highway from Pangasinan to Nueva Ecija proposed

DAGUPAN CITY —- A board member of Pangasinan has revived an old proposal for the construction of a highway from Barangay Carmen in Rosales, Pangasinan, all the way to Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya passing through the old Villaverde Trail that was carved out during World War II.

Sixth District Provincial Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani outlined the project as one of the highways to be built in Pangasinan under a consortium to be organized by several companies through the Public-Private Partnership concept.

Most wanted person in Ilocos region nabbed

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur - Operatives from different police units in the province arrested the most wanted person in the Ilocos region in an entrapment operation conducted in Barangay Punglo, Maria Aurora, Aurora province, it was reported here Thursday.

Police identified the arrested suspect as Benson Alviento, 38, of Barangay Paypayad, Candon City, who is a a suspected leader of a criminal syndicate operating in Northern Luzon provinces.

City marks Philippine Civil Service anniversary

BAGUIO City marks the 111th anniversary of Philippine Civil Service last September 5 with various activities, focusing on the theme, “Championing RACE (Responsive, Accessible, Courteous, Effective): Public Service Excellence at Full Speed.”

Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas during the Ugnayan and Balitaan ssured that the City Government will continue to strive to give ample and necessary benefits to government employees based on their performance.

Transport committee meets; tackles various issues

VARIOUS concerns were tackled by members of the Traffic and Transport Management Committee (TTMC) during their meeting last Tuesday at city hall.

The meeting was for TTMC’s job of declogging yet maintaining smooth flowing traffic in the city, specially within the central business district (CBD).

Bb. Baguio still open

INTERESTED individuals have up to this Monday, September 12 to submit their application forms for the Ms. Baguio 2011 contest.

Applicants must be single, 17 to 25 years old, five feet two inches tall (5 2”), at least a high school graduate, with good moral character and have at least one year of residency in the Baguio City.

Authorities focus crime prevention on youth

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Thursday confirmed that various government authorities have focused crime prevention measures to youths after the disclosure that drug syndicates have used minors and insane persons as couriers.

Concepcion Magale, a DSWD senior staff here who represented regional director Leonardo Reynoso in the "Kapehan sa Benguet", said the move would help their office safeguard the welfare of the youths and mendicants.

Bunawan suspends public viewing of giant croc

DAVAO CITY -- Local leaders temporarily suspended the viewing of the 20-foot saltwater crocodile captured in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur last week after the reptile manifested signs of stress.

Also, Bunawan Vice Mayor Sylvia B. Elorde said the public is temporarily barred from getting inside the park to see the croc nicknamed "Lolong" due to repair and maintenance works at the reptile's new home.

Pacquiao is too young to become VP: poll chief

MANILA -- Age will be the biggest hindrance in Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao's plan to become the next vice president of the country.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes on Friday said the boxing's pound-for-pound king is too young to be qualified to run for vice president in 2016.