Education department lauds Pangasinan project

THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday urged local government units (LGU) to emulate the “wireless” education project of the City Government of Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Man sued for raping 16-year-old neighbor

TWO counts of rape charges have been filed against a man who allegedly sexually molested his 16-year-old neighbor twice in Lubogan Toril, Davao City, last year.

Military, Navy in Davao light candles for peace

HUNDREDS of military and naval forces supported President Benigno Aquino III's call for peace and unity in the country in a ceremony at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Tuesday evening.

Captain Romeo Santiago O. Nebres, deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the candle-lighting ceremony is in preparation for the resumption of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) this month.

Ingredient to slow down global warming introduced

AN ACTIVE ingredient that makes plastic bags oxo-biodegradable as it undergoes biodegradation and fragmentation was introduced to the Davao City market on Wednesday.

Known as Biomate, the ingredient is distributed by Manila-based First in Colors Incorporated (FiC).

Police, tourism office team up to secure tourists

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) joined hands to ensure the safety of local and foreign tourists in Davao City.

Dubbed "Top Cop," or Tourism Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection, the program aims to boost tourism by attracting more tourists and further generate more jobs.

Court to issue arrest warrant vs 'uso-uso' driver soon

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao City is set to issue a warrant of arrest against an "uso-suo" jeepney driver who figured in a road mishap that killed 10 people and wounded 14 others.

Davao Sur allots P1M cash aid to flood victims

THE Provincial Government of Davao del Sur will distribute more than P1 million in financial assistance to 149 families affected by flashfloods that hit Barangay Darong in Sta. Cruz last January 17.

Jeepney driver shot dead

A PASSENGER-jeepney driver was shot dead by men on board a motorcycle Tuesday night at Km. 10, Sasa in Davao City.

Provincial waterways 'in sorry state'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) chief Art Punzalan on Tuesday expressed alarm over the gravity of water pollution plaguing rivers and channels all over the province.

Punzalan, during the public hearing on toxic waste and waste management presided by Provincial Board Committee on Environment Nestor Tolentino at the Capitol, presented a fully documented report showing the sorry state of waterways in the province.

Company launches 'green' program for customers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Laus Group of Companies (LGC) on Wednesday launched a green initiative program to instill environmental consciousness among new car owners and to bring back endemic tree varieties in urban areas here.

Plant native trees, not foreign variety - group

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Hortica Filpina Foundation on Wednesday urged civil-society groups and government agencies here to use native Philippine trees in various tree-planting activities here, stressing the difference between endemic and foreign tree varieties.

Mayor to defend IRA amendment in Congress

BACOLOR - Mayor Jomar Hizon will soon appear before the House of Representatives to defend House Bill 3711, which aims to exempt this town from the population formula used in determining the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the local government as provided by the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160).

Porac councilors want district hospital renamed

PORAC - The Municipal Council is urging the Pampanga Provincial Board to rename the Porac District Hospital here as "Jose Lapid Songco District Hospital" in honor of the late father of Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid.

Lawmaker: No plans for 2013

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Former three-term City of San Fernando mayor and third District Representative Dr. Reynaldo Aquino said he has no plans to return to the political arena come 2013.

Electric company director gets 2nd term

ARAYAT -- Pampanga 1 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Pelco 1)-Arayat director Ricardo Santiago secured a second term and his seat in the firm's board after winning uncontested in elections held Wednesday at the Central School of Arayat.

Guv: Fast-track tax mapping

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Governor Lilia Pineda has ordered the provincial assessor's office to complete its tax-mapping project in Pampanga by June.

University institute stages Chinese road show

ANGELES CITY -- The Confucius Institute at the Angeles University Foundation (CI-AUF) is staging a series of road shows in celebration of its first-year anniversary, according to AUF president and CI-AUF chairman Atty. Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles.

Gambling raps filed vs village chief

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Prosecutor's Office charged a village chief and several John Does for illegal gambling.

Malcolm Square barangay chairman William Domoguen is at a disadvantage after allegedly violating the Illegal Gambling Law.

Media practitioners storm Trinidad council

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Media practitioners filled the local town hall Tuesday morning to ask the City Council to lift the ban against a fellow journalist.

Radio announcers, journalists and television broadcasters came together to support veteran reporter Jimmy Laking, who was declared persona non grata by the local council in December.

Local Government agency's order hit

THE environment department hit the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum suspending evictions and demolitions of illegal settlers in watersheds and protected areas.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Clarence Baguilat said Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo's directive places their watershed protection efforts at a standstill.

Clan complains of illegal intrusions in ancestral land

SOME members of the Barot-Binay-an clan, ancestral land owners of a 40-hectare lot in Camp 7, fear their property might be the next Forbes Park forest and watershed reservation as it is now encroached upon.

Councilors' help on subdivision issue sought

RESIDENTS of Calgryp Subdivision asked the City Council Monday to urge the developers of the subdivision to repair the damaged road leading to the subdivision.

Military academy tries to keep cadets calm amid controversies

FORT DEL PILAR - The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is trying to keep the calm of cadets in the sea of controversies surrounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Abra violence continues with shooting

CAMP BADO DANGWA - A 20-year-old baker was the victim in another shooting incident in the province of Abra on Sunday by a lone 16-year-old suspect.

3 killed in Kalinga grenade explosion

TABUK, Kalinga -- Three people were killed and one was injured when a fragmentation grenade exploded in Barangay Pantikian in Balbalan, Kalinga, last Monday, police said.

Log ban imperils Apayao industry

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III's mandate for an indefinite log ban will affect logging concessions in Apayao and the local furniture industry.

QC officials visit Sadanga town

SADANGA, Mountain Province -- Quezon City Liga ng mga Barangay Chapter President Carlito Roque Bernardino led a delegation of thirty-three barangay officials, staff and their families in visiting some villages of this town.

Lagawe mandates businesses' compost pits

LAGAWE, Ifugao - The Municipal Government here ordered all businesses operating in the municipality to dig compost pits for compostable garbage before applying for or renewing business permits.

Corn farmer bags Gawad Saka award

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- A young farmer from this corn-producing municipality received an award for being an outstanding planter in the region for 2010.

Fare in Lagawe to increase next week

LAGAWE, Ifugao - A P1 fare increase will be implemented next week in this capital town.