Joavan in CPDRC?

TO ENSURE Joavan Fernandez will not escape again, the police are mulling the idea of detaining him in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) instead of Talisay City Jail.

Joavan may be detained in Cebu City jail

CEBU CITY -- To ensure Joavan Fernandez will not escape again, the police are mulling the idea of detaining him in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) instead of Talisay City Jail.

Fernandez, 30, and two companions were arrested outside a beach resort in Moalboal town Monday morning, 12 days after the Talisay City mayor’s son escaped from detention in Talisay.

Schools get ready for classes

THE Department of Education (DepEd) has started training teachers for the opening of classes next month.

Emiliano Elnar, DepEd training and curriculum development head, said more than 800 teachers will undergo training in mathematics and another 900 will get training on handling grade 2 classes.

More Cebuano voters cast votes last week

MORE voters cast their votes last May 13 in Cebu Province than on May 10, 2010, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). An increase in voter turnout was also observed in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

But in Lapu-Lapu City, only 74.36 percent of registered voters—128,898 out of 173,341—cast their votes in 199 clustered precincts, compared to 80.5 percent in 2010.

Volunteers join forces in Brigada Eskwela

LEAKING roofs, crumbling seats, and unsanitary toilets greeted participants in the annual Brigada Eskwela activity spearheaded by the Department of Education (DepEd) in all public schools in Baguio City on Monday.

City Schools Division Superintendent Estela Cariño said that despite a limited budget for the annual repairs and maintenance of public schools, they have to make do with the available materials and help from parents and volunteers to ensure the needs of students and teachers are met once classes start on June 3.

Coloma asks critics: Give K+12 a chance

DESPITE several complaints from the academic sector, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said issues on the K+12 are just transitory effects.

He called on the administrators of higher educational institutions (HEI) to evaluate the concrete effects of the new system before complaining.

Guv to continue HEARTSS programs for province

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Governor Nestor Fongwan is bent on focusing on the programs for the province.

“We will maintain all existing programs we have started,” the governor said.

More scholarship slots to organic farming students

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) now offers more scholarship slots to students interested to pursue studies on organic farming.

The agency partnered with Benguet State University (BSU) to channel the scholarship opportunity to deserving students. The university was chosen as the implementing arm of DA on this grant because it is the only the school in the Cordillera offering a course major in organic agriculture (OA).

Mt. Province winners proclaimed despite complaint

BONTOC, Mt. Province -- Despite a complaint on the legality of the Provincial Board of Canvassers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed incumbent and reelected Representative Maximo Dalog, Governor Leonard Mayaen, and unopposed vice governor Bonifacio Lacwasan.

Comelec provincial supervisor Nicasio Jacob made the proclamation on May 14.

Smart sheds light on signal issues

SMART Communications clarified issues in weak cellphone signal suspected to be the cause of the late transmissions here.  

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the delay in proclamation for the province was due to late transmissions from Atok, Bakun, and Kibungan towns. 

DOE presents accomplishments on energy efficiency program

THE Department of Energy (DOE) presented its accomplishments for the Philippine Energy and Efficiency Project (Peep) May 16.

The DOE initiated the Peep to decrease electricity consumption; to reduce health risk associated with residual mercury and kerosene of grid areas; and to establish a certification process for energy and environmentally efficient commercial buildings.

Guv calls on cooperation of new officials

“NOW that the election is over, it's time to move on. Let us forget politics. We should unite and cooperate for the good of the province," said reelected Negros Oriental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Marañon acknowledged the statement of newly elected Vice Governor Eugenio Lacson, who assured the governor that, despite an opposition-dominated Provincial Board, they won't be obstructionists to Marañon's administration.

Sayson thanks Bacolodnons

OUTGOING Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson expressed Monday his gratitude to Bacolodnons despite his painful defeat to mayor-elect Monico Puentevella in the May 13, 2013 elections.

“My statement started with the word of gratitude because I wanted to emphasize my heartfelt thanks to all Bacolodnons for the chance they had given me to serve them,” Sayson said.

Bacolod water district mulls rate hike

THE Bacolod City Water district (Baciwa) is looking to increase its water rates before the year ends, according to general manager lawyer Julie Ann Carbon.

Carbon clarified the rate increase being sought by Baciwa is not in any way related to recent power price hike as petitioned by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), the energy provider of the water district.

Fire guts internet café, offices

AN EARLY morning fire gutted an internet café and other offices along Lizares Avenue Barangay 40, Bacolod City, resulting to more than P2 million in damages, based on initial estimates by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Arson investigators are still determining the actual cause of fire which reportedly started at the back of Marby’s Internet Café and immediately gutted the whole establishment.

Negros shows potential for drive, organic tourism

FORMER Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, currently the president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), said that Negros Occidental has great potentials for drive and organic tourism that could attract both national and International tourists.

Gabor led 70 AAP members for the three-day Fly-Drive Caravan that started last Friday, May 17.

Marañon orders all-out war vs gambling

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. ordered anew an all-out war against illegal gambling which he said is still rampant, especially in the northern part of the province.

"Now that the election is over, I am calling the police to concentrate on its campaign against illegal gambling," Marañon said Monday in a press conference at the Governor's Office.

Magno urges Tubillara to accept defeat

REELECTED San Enrique Mayor Mario Magno asked his opponent former Mayor Jilson Tubillara to accept defeat.

"He should be gentleman enough to accept defeat. Would welcome his support in our programs as a private citizen," Magno said in reaction to Tubillara's plan of filing a protest for recount against him.

Councilors promise best public service

MAGNIFICENT 7 reelected councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, and Sonya Verdeflor vowed to give their best for the welfare of the City of Bacolod.

Familiaran, Baribar and Verdeflor took their oath of office Monday before Judge Ray Allan Drilon in the presence of their families, some supporters and friends.

Man shot dead while watching TV

A MAN was shot dead while watching television in his house at Bigonia St., Purok Paghida-et, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, around 8:45 p.m. May 19, Sunday.

Police identified the victim as Gibson Villanueva who was allegedly shot dead in his house by unidentified suspects for unknown reason, police investigation shows.

Woman dies in hit-and-run

A WOMAN died in a hit-and-run incident last May 17, Friday at Araneta Street, Bacolod City.

Police identified the victim as Angela Sorayda, a rice cake vendor.

2 drug suspects arrested

TWO brothers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade by a team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

They are Michael, 35, and Arman Cavan, 42

Tumulak’s victory in race to council his ‘destiny’

HAVING been elected councilor was something Tumulak did not expect. Nor did he expect to get the third most number of votes among the candidates for the Cebu City Council in the south district.

The barangay captain of Basak Pardo described his success as destiny.

Get Palace involved, Davide told

GET Malacañang to help pay off the Province’s debts.

That was the advice Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale gave governor-elect Hilario Davide III during a meeting with the Capitol’s department heads yesterday.

Cortes to build P800M city hall

THE Mandaue City Government may have to spend P800 million to build a high-rise City Hall, which is one of the priority projects of reelected Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Cortes, said the amount is an initial estimate of architects consulted by the City.

NBI to close probe on ‘mauling’ of student with mom’s affidavit

“ALMOST done.”

This was how National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Director Antonio Pagatpat described their investigation on the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag inside Metro Gaisano Colon.

Court junks petition of nurses vs. VSMMC

THE Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) has junked the civil suit filed by a group of nurses in Cebu City, which sought to stop a state-run hospital from padlocking a property.

Judge Edgemelo Rosales dismissed for want of action the civil case for ejectment with damages and temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against Dr. Gerardo M. Aquino, chief of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Pregnant woman, 35, dies in bus accident in Barili

A PREGNANT woman died while two others were injured after they were hit by a multicab driven by a barangay captain in Barangay Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu yesterday.

This, as a three-year-old child died when a Ceres bus crashed into a barbecue stall along the national highway of Barangay Talisay, Santander, Cebu last Saturday evening.

Council to tackle new land use plan

THE Davao City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) is among measures that members of the City Council will tackle in Tuesday's regular session.

Councilor Arnulfo Cabling said the final draft of the Clup will introduce new features, like imposing administrative fines against violators.

BOC leaves City Council for Tuesday's session

MEMBERS of Davao City's board of canvassers (BOC) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) left the City Council on Monday to give way for the council's regular session today, Tuesday.

BOC chair lawyer Aimee Ampoloquio said Monday afternoon that the session hall was used for the canvassing of votes and proclamation of elected officials from May 13 until Monday.