4,000 of 29,000 garbage bins missing: environment office

SOME 4,000 garbage bins purchased by the Davao City Government in 2007 are reportedly missing.

Lawyer Joseph Dominic Felizarta, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) officer in charge, said latest inventory showed that thousands of the city's garbage bins have been damaged or missing.

DILG to Rama: Relocate folks

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to strictly follow the law before uprooting urban poor families from the banks of creeks and rivers.

Before carrying out its clearing operations, Atty. Jesus Duque of DILG’s legal office said, the mayor should enforce provisions of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 or the UDHA and provide relocation.

100 villages to receive health wellness equipment

AT LEAST 100 beneficiary barangays in Davao City are set to be awarded a complete set of equipment for the establishment of barangay wellness centers from various local and foreign firms starting this year.

Pete D. Avila, marketing manager of Tiens, one of the major sponsors of the project, said the project aims to empower some chosen barangays in the country, particularly in Davao City, by providing them information on the benefits of oriental and traditional medicine.

4 hurt in another Bukidnon landslide

AFTER the landslides in Valencia City, another town in Bukidnon, this time in Kitaotao, was hit, leaving four people injured Sunday night.

The victims were identified as Genevieve Padilla, Jennelyn Cuarto, and a couple Tomas and Honoria Pansacala, who are both in serious condition.

DOF junked Cebu City mayor’s request to extend again city treasurer’s service

THE Department of Finance (DOF) has made a final decision on Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s request to keep City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva. And the answer is no.

The DOF disapproved the extension of Oliva’s service in Cebu City, her fourth.

Warden offers Bella star dancer role among CPDRC inmates

BELLA Ruby Santos could be the star dancer of the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

This was the offer of CPDRC Acting Jail Warden Alger Comendador to the homicide suspect once she surrenders.

LGUs ‘top violators’ of PWD laws: group

AS THE country celebrates the 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week this week, persons with disabilities (PWD) in Cebu find little to celebrate, saying much still has to be done to improve the accessibility of public places to PWDs and remove the discrimination that PWDs face in society.

They also say laws intended to help PWDs have not been strictly implemented.

3 City buildings get wheelchairs for easier access

THE Mandaue City Council has passed a resolution ordering all government offices in the city to provide wheelchairs for persons with disabilities (PWDs) who want to access the buildings.

The approved resolution, sponsored by Mandaue City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, aims to have “PWD-friendly” government offices.

2 men wreck tomb, dig in dark for treasure

TREASURE hunters did not spare a cemetery in their attempt to unearth untold riches, in the process destroying a tomb that covered the spot where treasure was supposedly buried.

Yesterday morning, some people living inside the Lorega-San Miguel Cemetery were surprised to find a man-made hole 12 feet deep at the back of the Cebu City Government’s ongoing City’s socialized housing project.

Mayor says heads may be severed

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama warned that heads of special bodies that are not at par with his standards will only be given a three-month renewal of their contracts.

He said this in a meeting with heads of offices yesterday.

PB hears RH Bill proponents, opposition

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) is still undecided on the Reproductive Health Bill.

Presiding Officer Agnes Magpale said they didn’t have to make a decision yesterday after hearing the salient points and commentaries on the proposed law from two Catholic medical doctors who have opposing views of the bill.

Guv eyes recall of lot donation

THE Provincial Board (PB) has authorized Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to take legal action in reclaiming a Province-owned lot along Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., Cebu City, which was occupied by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7.

The PB, in a two-page resolution that was adopted on mass motion during its session yesterday, stated that the Provincial Government is the registered owner of Lot 930, also known as Lot 3-A-1-B of the Banilad Estate.

CH execs vow to finish rehab of 2010 fire sites

FOURTEEN division chiefs and department heads at Cebu City Hall, including a representative from the private sector, promised yesterday to complete within one month the restoration and enhancement of F. Villa and T. Villa Sts. in Barangay T. Padilla.

They signed a memorandum of undertaking and commitment of support to Mayor Michael Rama, who called for the construction of a drainage system, road widening and improvement of the area, which was hit by a fire on Aug. 9, 2010.

23 Cebu City barangays benefit from DSWD’s 4Ps

GAMBLING versus uplifting family life.

Easy to choose a better family life, but some people are still susceptible to the seduction of gambling.

PNoy’s sister in Cebu today to turn over 10 classrooms

PRESIDENTIAL sister Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino-Abellada will be in Cebu today to turn over 10 classrooms to the towns of Pinamungajan and Minglanilla.

The Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP), a foundation chaired by Aquino-Abellada, will turn over the classrooms as part of its commitment to support the public elementary schools in depressed or disadvantaged communities in Cebu.

Area of Cordova reclamation up by 20 hectares

FROM only 10 hectares, Capitol increased the area of its reclamation project in Cordova town to 20 hectares, but it has yet to secure an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) and the approval of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for the additional area.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said they hope to hold the “ground-filling” ceremony on Aug. 19, the same day the town’s P30-million roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) port project will be inaugurated.

Landfill operator wants P202 million as garbage fee

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC) who operates the Kalangitan Landfill is eyeing for a P202-million fee a year from the Provincial Government for the use of its garbage collection and hauling system.

The proposal came when Armando Garcia, MCWMC president and general manager, met with provincial and other local elected officials in Lubao town Sunday.

Mall security guard returns bag of cash, refuses reward

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A security guard from SM City Pampanga turned over Monday a clutch bag containing over P50,000 in cash and important documents found in a pushcart.

Security guard Ferdinand J. Mejia of Prestige Security Agency found a black clutch bag containing important documents, as well as $651 and P30,200 in cash inside a supermarket pushcart over the weekend.

Death of detainee provokes charges vs 8 Cebu cops

CEBU CITY -- Eight police officers will be slapped with charges of grave misconduct and may be dismissed from service following the death of a detainee of the Fuente Police Station earlier this month.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Garciano, chief of the City Investigation and Detective Management Branch, recommended to the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Central Visayas the filing of an administrative complaint against the police officers.

Woman shot dead at home

MABALACAT -- A 54-year-old woman was shot dead inside her residence at a resettlement site here Sunday afternoon.

Esmirna De Guzman, 54, of 14th Street, Madapdap Resettlement Center here, instantly died after sustaining two gunshot wounds on the chest.

Fisheries bureau told: Suspend fishpond permits issuance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth district Board Member Ricardo Yabut is set to file a resolution asking the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to temporarily suspend the issuance of permits to fishpond operators, particularly those in coastal areas in Pampanga.

Yabut told Sun.Star Pampanga in a phone interview Monday that the proliferation of fishponds in coastal areas like in fourth district towns has aggravated flooding and garbage problem.

City to find alternative routes for tricycles, pedicabs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government here is now identifying alternative routes and "backdoor" roads for tricycles and pedicabs affected by the reimplementation of Local Government's Circular 2007-01.

The circular "bans tricycles and pedicabs to operate on national highways utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kilometers per hour (kph)."

Man arrested for robbery

CAMP OLIVAS -- A man was arrested for carting away nearly P40,000 worth of gadgets from a religious leader's house in Mabalacat town.

Michael Rosailda was arrested by Bantay Bayan members of the Madapdap Resettlement center and was turned over to the local police over the weekend.

Cops nab 3 in 'pot session'

LUBAO -- Joint operatives of this town's police office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested three suspects during an anti-illegal drugs operation at Greenville Subdivision here over the weekend.

Police reports said the operation, which was conducted with the help of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (RAIDSOTG)-Central Luzon, resulted in the arrest of the suspects identified as Ursino Muli, 51, a resident of said place; Edwin Muli, 47, a resident of San Jose, Dinalupihan, Bataan; and Allan Quinto, 47, a resident of San Roque, Lubao town.

City exec vows supports to persons with disabilities

ANGELES CITY -- Acting City Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting expressed support to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week held Monday.

during the flag raising ceremony at the city hall.

Text drive vs criminality launched

ARAYAT -- In an effort to preserve the peace and order in this first-class municipality, the local government unit (LGU), in coordination with the local police and 30 barangay chairmen, launched Monday the "Isumbong Mo Kay Kap" text drive.

Mayor Chito Espino said the project aims to provide a means of communication between his constituents and their respective barangay chairmen, kagawads and barangay police regarding any forms of crime in their area.

Ampatuan allowed to undergo medical check-up

A PROMINENT suspect in the Maguindanao massacre case has been allowed to undergo a medical check-up outside his jail cell after he was given permission by a Quezon City court.

However, suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor Rizaldy "Zaldy" Ampatuan is required to return immediately to the Quezon City Jail Annex of the Metro Manila District Jail (MMDJ) in Taguig City.

Bedol set to appear before Comelec today

A DISMISSED Maguindanao poll official is scheduled to make an appearance before Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday morning, Sixto Brillantes, the poll body's chairman, said on Monday.

Statements made by Lintang Bedol before the whole body will be the basis whether the Comelec will proceed with an investigation on allegations of poll fraud in 2004 and 2007, Brillantes said.

Religious group rules out sanctuary for Bedol

A RELIGIOUS organization that has, among others, provided refuge to anti-government whistleblowers has refused to give the same privilege to a poll official accused of helping rig elections in Mindanao.

The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) on Monday ruled out the possibility of helping protect dismissed Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol.

Mindanao senator asked to resign

A MINORITY party has called on Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri to resign after allegations of cheating in the 2007 elections that reportedly favored the senator emerged last week.