Local governments urged to update preparedness plan

THE government urged the local government units (LGU) Sunday to update their disaster preparedness plan and intensify efforts to educate the public about natural disasters, like the powerful earthquake that struck Japan last Friday.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said it is better to be prepared than be caught with their pants down.

Taiwan recruiters pin hopes anew on Roxas

THE Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (Pilmat) is hoping that the second attempt of presidential troubleshooter Manuel "Mar" Roxas II to mend ties between Taiwan and the Philippines would be successful.

"We are hopeful that the return visit of former Senator Roxas will iron out the kinks in the diplomatic row," said Pilmat president Jackson Gan.

Estrada wants Arroyo tried for corruption

PAMPANGA Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should face allegations of rampant corruption under her near-decade presidency, her predecessor and political nemesis said Sunday.

Aquino observes 'no-meat' on Fridays

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III continues to observe a "no-meat" appetite every Friday in observance of the Lenten season.

Senator files bill granting eligibility to local council members

SENATOR Teofisto Guingona III has filed a bill to exempt members of local government councils who serve more than one term from taking the civil service examinations.

Lapid bill proposes homes for the aged in each region

SENATOR Manuel "Lito" Lapid has filed a bill to create elderly-care centers in every region in the country to take care of poor and homeless senior citizens.

House passes bills for war veterans' welfare

A BILL establishing an office of Veteran Affairs in the United States is now on its way to the Senate following the recent approval of the measure at the House of Representatives.

Philippines welcomes 'failed' Day of Rage in Saudi

THE Philippine government on Sunday heaved a sigh of relief over the failure of the "Day of Rage" protest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Ground union hits PAL owner's ballooning wealth

AS IT gears up for protest actions against the management of Philippine Airlines (PAL), the disgruntled ground union said the carrier's owner grew his fortune by thumbing down on labor rights.

Health department urged to ban toxic baby bottles

CHILDREN'S health advocates urged the Department of Health (DOH) to order the immediate recall of baby feeding bottles containing a toxic ingredient called Bisphenol A (BPA), citing its high toxicity.

Education department fails to update members' service records

THE Department of Education (DepEd) admitted Sunday that it failed to meet the deadline imposed by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for it to update the service records of its members, particularly teachers.

Public Works agency to seek mayor’s help to cut trees

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — A Public Works official in Central Luzon said the agency will seek the help of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez for the removal of about 30 trees along the MacArthur Highway here.

Alfredo Tolentino, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director, said he will ask the mayor to help them convince groups opposing the Manila North Road widening project to stop its opposition to the cutting of trees from Pilar village up to the St. Scholastica’s Academy.

No cult killings in Angeles: mayor

ANGELES CITY – Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has denied spreading the news about the alleged "cult killings" in this city.

News about a satanic cult scouring the city - knocking on doors and apparently murdering innocent families - have placed fear upon the city residents these past few weeks. It recently spread like wildfire in text messages and social networking sites.

Court clears Capitol whistleblower

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A local court here cleared Archimedes Reyes from the libel and oral defamation charges filed by former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio and former Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu last week.

Reyes, Panlilio’s former chief of staff, is part of a “dream confidence team” that propelled the Panlilio administration during its first few months. But Reyes, together with most of the so-called trusted aides of the former governor, resigned after disagreements with Dabu.

Telco commission okays Globe-PLDT connection

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has given its nod on the long-delayed interconnection of Globe’s Innove and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

Lawmaker pledges completion of covered courts

MEXICO — Representative Aurelio Gonzales over the weekend promised residents of this town that he will facilitate the completion of all village covered courts here and in the whole third district by the end of his term.

Civic group to hold free eye surgery mission

BACOLOR — The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) will hold a surgical mission for indigent patients with pterygium problems at the Jose A. Datu Medical Center (JADMC) on April 30 to May 1.

Thousands benefit from Arayat medical mission

ARAYAT -- Some 3,000 indigents, mostly women and children, benefitted from the town’s monthly medical and dental mission held at the Barangay San Nicolas covered court here last Friday.

CEB offers P488 all-Visayas seat sale

THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific puts 19 Visayas routes on sale from March 12 until today, or until seats last, for travel from June 1 to July 31.

Monetary aid for OFWs from Libya now ready

REPATRIATED overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Libya may now claim their P10,000 financial assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) regional offices.

Vice mayor airs desire to resign again

VICE Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is again considering resigning from his post after the Ombudsman threatened some members of the Local School Board (LSB) of suspension.

Duterte said being the head of the LSB in 2006, he finds it his responsibility to "protect" its members no matter how.

Power fluctuation causes traffic mess

THE power fluctuation in some areas of Davao City is blamed for the glitch in the P720 million traffic signalization system causing serious traffic problems.

This was the reason given by contractor Efren Abratique to Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who approved the multi-million project back when he was still the city mayor.

More stories of woes, worries pouring out

MORE Dabawenyos shared their horrific accounts of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan and the tsunami that hit Sendai on Friday.

Dabawenyos from California and Hawaii on Sunday also shared their tsunami alert experience with through Facebook and text messages.

30 Pinoys stranded in quake-hit area in Japan

MANILA (Updated 2:42 p.m.) -- Government officials confirmed Sunday that almost 30 Filipinos, including 20 seafarers, are now stranded in Fukushima, one of the areas heavily affected by the magnitude-8.9 quake that hit Japan last Friday.

"They are in the hotel pero malapit sa nuclear plant doon," said Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Mayor to SC: Come out with final cityhood ruling

TACLOBAN City Mayor Alfred Romualdez said the Supreme Court (SC) should come out with a final decision on the cityhood issue, as “flip-flopping” could hinder the plans of the cities of the country.

Romualdez said the SC appears unsure whether the 16 municipalities are qualified to become cities.

Residents run to safety after tsunami alert

FAMILIES living in the coastal areas of Eastern Visayas have sought refuge to higher grounds as part of the safety measures due to the tsunami that hit Japan Friday.

In Borongan, hundreds of families living in the coastal areas run into higher grounds for their safety, Crescencia Quitorio, provincial information officer, said.

Workers want wage rate adjustment

WORKERS in western Leyte are proposing an adjustment of current wage structure while management group expressed concern that the move will add to the problem of increasing production cost.

In a recent public consultation in Ormoc City, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) found out the need to get the views of other stakeholders particularly in Samar province.

Lawmaker: An Waray activities not only for Taclobanons

AN WARAY Representative Florencio Noel reiterated the party-list’s activities are merely focused in providing the much-needed services of the people on a countrywide scale contrary to what his detractors assert as pure play of politics.

Tension grips special polls in Basilan town

SUMISIP, Basilan -- The special elections for the vacant mayoral post in this municipality was filled with tension Saturday as supporters of two candidates engaged in fights.

Police said brawls ensued twice while supporters of mayoral candidates Haber Asarul of the Lakas-Kampi and Boy Hataman of the Liberal Party were closely monitoring the conduct of the polls.

Remembering William

PO1 William Mangubat took to heart the Philippine National Police’s motto, “to serve and protect,” and lost his life in the process.

The 26-year-old rookie was shot in the head by two suspected robbers last Friday after he responded to a cry for help by a passenger of a multicab in Talisay City.