Drivers reject student discount on weekends

JEEPNEY operators and drivers are appalled over the Department of Transportation and Communication's order to make student fare discounts applicable every day.

Cordillera Public Transport Affairs Office president Jonie Itliong said the transport sector will be affected by the memorandum order implemented by DOTC, which allows students to avail of the discount even on weekends and holidays as long as they have classes.

La Trinidad demolishes shanties in Peripinbato

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Mayor Greg Abalos led the demolition of 15 shanties at Peripinbato in barangay Pico to rid the area of settlers.

This is the first demolition order by Abalos issued Nov. 9.

Village chiefs to monitor mining, treasure hunting

BAUKO, Mountain Province - All barangay chairmen in this town are required to strictly monitor small-scale mining, treasure-hunting and related activities within their barangays to ensure that life and properties are safeguarded and protected in all the premises within the municipality.

Grain retailers appeal restoration of budget

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Officials and members of the Grain Retailers Confederation (Grecon) in Mountain Province joined their counterparts nationwide in appealing to President Benigno Aquino III and Congress to restore the National Food Authority's 2011 P8 billion budget.

This developed as the supposed budget of the NFA for 2011 has reportedly been transferred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to fund its Conditional Cash Transfer program.

Fires gut city houses

CLOSE to P1 million worth of valuables went up in smoke in two fires that occurred here on Nov. 16 and 17.

In the wake of the two incidents, City Fire Marshall Richard Villanueva reminds household owners to be vigilant and keep their houses fireproof by ensuring hoses for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and electric wires are regularly checked and that combustible materials are kept out of children's reach.

Supreme Court issues first writ of kalikasan

MANILA -- The Supreme Court (SC) issued Friday an environmental protection order, stopping the First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) from opening its 117-kilometer gas pipeline.

The order came after residents of West Tower Condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City asked the High Court to issue the writ of kalikasan and order the FPIC to regularly check the structural integrity of the pipeline.

Police summon 39 soldiers over botanist's death

KANANGA, Leyte -- An Army official and 38 of his men were invited to appear before a local police station for an inquiry on the killing of a renowned botanist and two other civilians.

The inquiry will be conducted as lawmakers and several groups demanded Friday an investigation on the death of taxonomist and ethno-botanist Leonardo Co, who have done pioneering and trailblazing studies in Philippine biodiversities.

Rainbow Warrior docks in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Rainbow Warrior, the vintage vessel of environmental activist Greenpeace, docked at the Makar Wharf here Friday as part of the "Turn the Tide Southeast Asia" campaign.

Statistics office denied conducting surveys

A NATIONAL Statistics Office (NSO) official disputed claims of a peasant group that the military was conducting surveys in several areas of Davao City in coordination with the agency.

Jaime Paller, NSO-Davao director, said Friday that not a single survey had been conducted by the agency in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Davao Media Freedom Day launching set

MEDIA practitioners in Davao are launching the First Davao Media Freedom Day on Tuesday, November 23, in commemoration of the first anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre.

The launching will be held at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Jacinto Campus from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Kidnapped South Cotabato trader released

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Kidnappers freed Friday a wealthy businesswoman they abducted in South Cotabato province early this week.

No travel warning vs HK over bird flu

THE Palace said Friday that it is premature to issue a travel advisory against Hong Kong in light of the reappearance of bird flu virus.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters that the Department of Health (DOH) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) are taking necessary measures to prevent the entry of the virus.

Legislator wants buses banned in Edsa

DAYS after the number-coding scheme on buses was implemented in Metro Manila, a lawmaker is calling for the total ban of buses along Efipanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).

Northern Samar Representative Emil Ong called for the move while proposing the abolition of all bus terminals along the highway to address the worsening problems on traffic and air population.

Probe on botanist's death sought

LAWMAKERS are seeking for an investigation on the killing of a renowned botanist as witnesses and human rights group blame the military's 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) for the incident.

Bayan Muna Representatives Teddy Casino and Neri Colmenares, as well as Anakapawis Representative Rafael Mariano filed separate resolutions directing the House Committee on Human Rights to conduct a probe on the death of taxonomist and ethno-botanist Leonardo Co.

Palace, bishops set dialogue on RH bill

MALACAÑANG met emissaries from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to lay the ground rules for the scheduled dialogue on the reproductive health bill next month.

Aquino yet to decide on 'two-strike' policy

A PALACE official said President Benigno Aquino III remained optimistic that his Cabinet members will hurdle the tough grilling at the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA).

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte maintained that the President has yet to decide whether it would sack appointees who will be rejected by the 24-member CA, which is composed of representatives from the House and the Senate.

House leader bares legislative priorities

BESIDES the reproductive health (RH) law, the House of Representatives' legislative priorities would also include amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) and providing a 12-year basic education.

Speaking before the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines Friday, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte tackled the legislative agenda of the 15th Congress as aligned with the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.

Terrorist groups 'operating' in NCR

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said terrorist groups in the country are now recruiting members to launch possible attacks in the National Capital Region (NCR).

NCR Command chief Arthur Tabaquero said several terrorist groups were now "operating" in the nation's capital, including the Jemaah Islamiyah.

Binay launches drive vs illegal recruiters

VICE President Jejomar Binay directed the creation of an inter-agency task force to go after illegal recruiters to combat human trafficking in the country.

Binay issued the order after he met with representatives from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Palace: No review of Laguna Lake project

MALACAÑANG said the controversial P18.7-billion Laguna Lake Rehabilitation Project remains cancelled, despite newspaper reports saying the deal is under review.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the clarification Friday following pronouncements from Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Rodrigo Cabrera that President Benigno Aquino III wanted some "revisions" in the project.

Climate change action plan nears completion

THE Philippines will soon unveil its climate change action plan that would set out recommendations on how to tackle the threat of changing environment on economic and social viability, a government official said Friday.

Heherson Alvarez, secretary of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), said his agency will serve as blueprint of all climate change adaptation and mitigation activities in the country.

Full scholarships in private schools mulled

ALL private colleges and universities will be mandated to grant full scholarships to at least 20 percent of its total student population once the House bill of a Taguig lawmaker is enacted into law.

Taguig Representative Freddie Tinga filed a measure mandating colleges and universities to provide scholarship grants to students particularly "the poor but deserving graduates" of public high schools.

New Wesmincom chief adopts peace-building approach

PHILIPPINE Army Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer has vowed to adopt peace-building as a general approach in resolving conflict, as he assumed Friday as the new Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) commander.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin installed Ferrer in a ceremony held at Camp Basilio Navarro in Zamboanga City and was witnessed by top civil and military officials in the region.

Marines to address spate of kidnappings in Cotabato

THE alarming rise in the kidnapping of civilians is the "true reason" the First Marine Brigade was transferred from Basilan province to Cotabato.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who was the guest of honor in the turnover of command ceremony at the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) headquarters in Zamboanga City, announced this Friday.

Soldiers rescue illegal recruitment victims

TROOPS from the military's Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ) have arrested two suspected illegal recruiters and rescued their 12 victims in Zamboanga City last Monday.

Colonel Buenaventura Pascual, TFZ commander, said the victims were rescued after they intercepted them aboard a commercial ferry Monday night at a local port.

Widower killed, nephew wounded in attack

A 66-YEAR-OLD widower was killed while his nephew was wounded in an attack in a west coast village in Zamboanga City, the police reported Friday.

New soldiers urged to instill discipline

SOLDIERS who just finished their jungle warfare and mountain operation course have been reminded of discipline taught during the four-month intensive training.

Army exec, 38 others invited in police inquiry

KANANGA, Leyte -- Police have asked an Army official and 38 others to appear before the local police station here for the start of a formal inquiry on the deaths of a well-known botanist and two other civilians.

Senior Inspector Joel Camacho, town police chief, said the invitation to Lieutenant Colonel Federico Tutaan and his men would help them on their investigation.

Council defers ‘plant before graduation’ bill

THE Bacolod City Council has deferred action on the proposed city ordinance of Councilor El Cid Familiaran to require all high school graduating students, either private and public schools to plant at least two seedlings as a pre-requisite for their graduation.

The idea was very noble according to Councilor Caesar Distrito because it will draw environment consciousness among the students.

Soliman spearheads anti-poverty roadshow

DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman met with local government executives of Western Visayas at Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo to discuss the implementation of the National Government’s core poverty reduction programs.

Councilor Em Ang and Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Sally Abelarde attended the said meeting.