P200,000 reward up for rapist's head

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda has offered a P200,000 reward to whoever can pinpoint the whereabouts of a suspected rapist who sexually harassed a dentist in Mexico town last month.

Pineda said the reward will hasten the manhunt operation currently being conducted by the Pampanga Police Office (PPO).

Group condemns assault on dentists

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Members of the Pampanga Dental Association (PDA) condemned Wednesday the robbery and sexual molestation attempt on a dentist and her assistant in Barangay Sto. Domingo Mexico town last month.

Dr. Enrico Sunglao, PDA president, said dentists -- not only in the province -- are now subjects of new modus operandi for sexual molestation and robbery.

Manila tollways firm to operate SCTEx

CLARK FREEPORT --- The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) is now the operator of the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

This developed after the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) forged a business and operating agreement with the MNTC last Wednesday.

Safety measures on highway sought

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Parents of San Isidro Elementary School students are calling on the Public Works department and the City Government to explore the possibility of constructing a pedestrian overpass along a section of the MacArthur Highway to ensure safety of pedestrians.

The request came in light of last week's accident involving a Grade 5 student of the school who died after being hit by a dump truck along the highway.

Food authority exec lauds municipal ID system

CANDABA -- National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Lito Banayo lauded Thursday this town's local government unit for being the first in the country to adapt a computerized identification (ID) system for farmers.

Banayo was guest of honor during the launching of the computerized ID system for the farmers held at the municipal hall here Thursday.

Capitol gets Local Government's nod on vehicles

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government on Tuesday got the approval of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the acquisition of 30 new motor vehicles, which include service units for board members.

During the Provincial Board's en banc session, Vice Governor Joseller Guiao said that in a letter dated July 19, 2011, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo granted the Provincial Government the acquisition of the vehicles as contained in a letter from Governor Lilia Pineda dated July 4, 2011.

Barangays, local governments urged to draft collection scheme

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth district Board Member Nestor Tolentino has filed a resolution urging barangay officials and heads of local government units (LGUs) to draft their respective schemes on the proposed P2 per day per household garbage collection fee.

The daily collection to be imposed on more than 293,000 households all over Pampanga with the exception of two cities and one town is expected to help in the P202 million fees the Metro Clark Sanitary Landfill or Kalangitan is collecting from the Provincial Government for garbage disposal.

Student group to support Hacienda farmers' rally

MABALACAT -- The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)-Central Luzon, an alliance of tertiary student publications, has expressed support for the July 21 protest-rally to be held at Hacienda Luisita.

In a press statement, the CEGP Central Luzon said hundreds of farmers and supporters from people's organizations, and the youth sector will be marching from Luisita Park to Tanedo Street at the city proper of Tarlac.

11,000 Tarlac farmers get assistance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Around 11,000 farmers affected by Tropical Storm "Falcon" in Tarlac province are set to benefit from the P1.5 million worth of certified seeds assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

DA Regional Director Andrew Villacorta personally handed "certificates of assistance guarantee" to the officials of the province's 16 municipalities, including those that declared a state of calamity, namely: Camiling, Concepcion, La Paz, San Clemente and Paniqui, for the implementation of the grant.

Labor office holds seminar for security guards

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon recently held an orientation and consultation to security agencies of Zambales province.

The orientation is part of Dole's ongoing orientations and consultations to various service agencies here in the region.

Flash flood hits three villages

HUNDREDS fled their homes early this week after torrential rains since Tuesday caused flooding in several east coast villages in Zamboanga City, a local official said.

The affected villages are Quiniput, Bunguiao, and Bolong, said City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo.

2 canning firm workers killed, another hurt

TWO workers of a canning factory based in Zamboanga City were killed while another was wounded in a shooting incident in a west coast village Thursday, the police said.

Superintendent Hado Edding, Police Station 9 chief, said the incident took place shortly afternoon Thursday at Purok 5, Recodo village, 15 kilometers west of the city.

Man burns tourist boat

PORT policemen arrested Wednesday a caretaker of a tourist motorboat after he set on fire a watercraft while moored at the local port in Zamboanga City.

Joseph delos Santos, 39, allegedly set on fire the motorboat to get even with its owner who failed to settle his obligation with him.

Zambo lawmaker favors amending PCSO charter

HOUSE Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Congresswoman Ma. Isabelle Climaco Salazar is in favor of proposals to amend the charter of the lottery operator, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Salazar, who is Zamboanga City's first district congresswoman, issued the statement amid the controversy surrounding the PCSO's donation of sports utility vehicles to some Catholic Church bishops who are using the vehicles for social action programs.

Ampatuan allowed to stay longer in hospital

MANILA (Updated 7:43 p.m.) -- Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on Thursday night allowed massacre suspect Rizaldy "Zaldy" Ampatuan to stay at the Philippine Health Center (PHC) until 12 noon Friday.

Ampatuan was set to be returned to his maximum security prison in Taguig City at 6 p.m. Thursday when the court granted his request for hospital confinement until completion of all his medical exams not later than 12 noon, Friday.

Mayor eyes peaceful resolution of water district row

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has reiterated his stand on the ongoing row between the board of directors and management of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

The city mayor said he is very much open to discussion leading to resolution of disagreement at the MIWD and advocates a peaceful way to realize the sustainable and sufficient water supply in the city.

3 universities join city to clean air

THREE big universities in Iloilo City have joined the City Government in an air emissions inventory and data gathering on air pollution.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and officials of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Central Philippine University (CPU), and University of San Agustin (USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to implement the Asean-GIZ "Clean Air for Smaller Cities" Project financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

City to host 4-day food, wellness fair

THE 4th Food Expo and Conference (Foodcon 2011) and the Wellness Expo 2011 in Western Visayas will be held on July 27-30.

Foodcon 2011 project director Octaviano Botavara said the event offers a complete and comprehensive coverage of the food industry with strong support from different government agencies and private industries in the region.

Treasurer stabs to death village chief

SAN CARLOS CITY -- A treasurer of Barangay Mestizo, this city, is facing a murder charge for stabbing to death a village chief early morning Tuesday.

Federico Hermogino, 67, stabbed several times, using his folding knife, village chief Alberto Manzon, 66, inside their barangay outpost.

Local governments urged to preserve environment

A CONSULTANCY firm tasked to assist the drafting of the Samar Island Tourism Master Development Plan called on local officials to focus on "conserving and preserving" the environment and build support infrastructure facilities for the island to attain its tourism potential.

Berkman International project manager Elizabeth Espino said major tourist spots in the three Samar provinces are natural-made, which will pave the way for the island to become the country's major destination in the future.

Insurgency in Eastern Visayas to be neutralized by 2013

A TOP official of the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas said the insurgency problem in the region could be neutralized by 2013.

Colonel Victor Espeneli, deputy commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division (ID), said the insurgency problem will be solved not only through military operations but also by opening up roads and bridges in towns where the armed group New People's Army (NPA) still exists.

Support for disaster preparedness program sought

THE Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Eastern Visayas is soliciting public participation on disaster preparedness, as the country marks the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

Rebels rescue inmate, abduct 4 jail guards

DAVAO (Updated 1:02 p.m.) -- About 200 New People's Army (NPA) rebels blocked the vehicle of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bukidnon Thursday morning, rescued an inmate and abducted four jail guards.

The vehicle came from Ozamis City and was on its way to Davao del Norte when blocked by the rebels in Kitaotao town around 3:30 a.m.

Labor asks CAR lawmakers to back P125 wage hike

CORDILLERA workers are urging legislators in the region to support House Bill 375 or the P125 across the board wage hike pending before the House of Representatives.

Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera spokesperson Nida Tundagui said they are optimistic the region’s lawmakers will back the region’s workers need for a significant wage hike nationwide.

Abalos reiterates stand on gambling

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Mayor Greg Abalos reiterated his stand on gambling and said he does not want to see illegal games in the town.

Abalos said the game “salisi” during wakes has no place in the municipality and will order the police to stop it.

Guv vows to attend probe on sedition rap

KALINGA Governor Jocel Baac promised to show up during next week’s rescheduled preliminary investigation of sedition rap lodged against him by the National Press Club (NPC).

The charges were filed against him for allegedly “barging” into the government-run DZRK Radyo ng Bayan in Tabuk City last month and hitting radio broadcaster Tabanganay with a microphone.

Lawmakers address problems of Public Works

CORDILLERA Administrative Region representative are finding ways to solve problems brought about by the Department of Public Works and Highways’s (DPWH) programs of work, which result to agonies of road repairs during the rainy season.

Baguio Representative Bernardo Vergara in his State of the City Address said together with Benguet Representative Ronald Cosalan, House Committee Chair on Public Works, already consulted DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to change the implementation schedule of infrastructure projects.

Military school celebrates Cordillera Day rites

THE PHILIPPINE Military Academy Cadet Corps paid tribute to their Cordilleran brothers and sisters as they celebrated the 24th Cordillera Day last July 15.

Benguet State University Kontad, its cultural dance group, showcased dances from Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Benguet.

Police nab gun-for-hire member

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – A suspected member of the Maala Group, a criminal gang involved in gunrunning, gun-for-hire and extortion in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union, was arrested by police along Brookspoint, Aurora Hill, Baguio City last Saturday.

In his report to Chief Superintendent Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 1 Police Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, chief of the 1st Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (1RCIDU), identified the suspect as Manuel Murao Rivera, 43, a resident of Barangay Barraca, Bangar, La Union.

Shilan eco-park plans under study

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – An eco-tourist destination is in the making if plans push through.

Mayor Greg Abalos said the 44-hectare land at Shilan could be converted into an eco-tourism adventure area.