Gawad Kalinga distributes 17 houses

TRUE to their mission of leaving no one behind, the Couples for Christ Gawad Kalinga Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro has turned over 17 units of houses to 17 families in La Paz 1 Seaside Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

The 17 houses is the initial of the 35-unit community constructed with the assistance of the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) of Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District) Cagayan de Oro.

People living in disaster prone areas told to be vigilant

THE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Misamis Oriental on Thursday warned people living in disaster prone areas to be vigilant.

“Be vigilant. Watch the rivers and sea tides,” provincial vice Governor Norris Babiera, PDRRMC chair said, in the wake of almost every day rains expected to continue in the next two months.

Lawmaker urged students to watch ‘pork’ funds

SENATOR Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero exhorted students to account local Congressmen on their pork barrel.

Escudero was in Cagayan de Oro City recently as speaker of a student forum on leadership at downtown university here.

Gov’t hiring of nurses ends today

HIRING of unemployed registered nurses under the Registered Nurse for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RNHeals) ends Friday, the regional health department said.

RNHeals started recruitment of nurses last January 17, 2011 for deployment for various government hospitals and rural health centers in the various regions in the country.

Cagayan de Oro welcomes Chinese New Year

MEMBERS of the Misamis Oriental Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (MOFCCCII) welcomes the year of the metal rabbit with thanksgiving through their centuries old traditions on Thursday at a downtown mall here. The celebration started with a grand motorcade at 9 a.m. until participants reached the mall where dragon dance and throwing of candies and coins to shoppers became the central attraction.

PUJs can now collect additional P1.00 fare

PUBLIC utility jeep operators who applied for a P7.50 fare hike two years ago can now collect the new fare hike, the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) regional office here said on Thursday.

LTFRB assistant regional director Allan D. Guro said LTFRB approved the P7.50 fare hike two years ago but the fare was roll back after fuel prices then went down.

Urban poor slams power rates hike

THE city’s committee on urban poor criticized organizers of Friday’s public hearing on power rate increase for choosing a restrictive venue.

City Councilor President Elipe, chair of the city council’s ad hoc committee, said Thursday that the public hearing will be at Searsolin along Masterson Avenue in Upper Carmen at 2 p.m. Friday.

January rainfall 400% higher than in 2010

THE volume of rainfall in Metro Cebu last month was 400 percent higher than that of the same period last year.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa), the total rainfall in the area last month reached 400 mm. while that of January last year was only 80.9 mm.

Rizalino Ocampo to spend 2 months in prison for punching lawyer at hearing

AN Iglesia ni Kristo minister will spend two months and a day in jail after the court convicted him of serious disturbance for punching a lawyer.

This happened during a hearing on a libel case he filed against three reporters in 2000.

Slashing P40 taxi hike possible: LTFRB lawyer

THE number of taxi cabs in Cebu charging passengers P40 at the start of the trip has reached 500.

Lawyer Jose Douglas Sanson, chief transportation development officer of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7, said they sealed the 500th taxi meter yesterday.

City vet receives threats after test

THE Mandaue City veterinarian seems to be caught in a crossfire in the conflict between meat importers and local meat dealers.

Mandaue City Veterinarian Daisy Penetrante reported to the police that she has received death threats through text.

Cebuanos celebrate coming of Rabbit year

CEBUANOS welcomed the Chinese New Year last Wednesday night with the traditional lion dance and fireworks display.

The Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino joined the celebration in an event dubbed “Fire in the Sky,” which featured the Chinese culture and an eight-minute fireworks display.

LGU to buy more trucks

THE Cebu City Government has set aside about P100 million to buy garbage equipment, an official said.

The fund, said Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr., will help the Department of Public Services (DPS) dispatch enough trucks to collect garbage around the city, among others.

Make them pay: ABC head

THE Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) will seek the help of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LBP) and the City Council to pressure the villages to give their share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to the organization.

ABC president and T. Padilla Barangay Captain Michael Ralota has learned that some barangays no longer do this.

Taxis only allowed to pick up passengers in designated areas

TAXIS will no longer be allowed to park outside the pier to wait for passengers disembarking from vessels starting on Feb. 16. Instead, they will have to line up in designated areas inside the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) compound.

CPA personnel will wait for the passengers at the taxi stand. And, like the taxi lines in malls, they will be given forms that will bear the plate number and body number of the vehicle they will take.

CH wants tax lien on Velez titles

THE Cebu City Government will now proceed with the enforcement of civil and administrative remedies for the collection of taxes from Velez College.

This after Judge Gabriel Ingles of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58 denied Velez’s application for a writ of preliminary injunction.

Flood threats unite Cebu mayors

CEBU CITY -- Metro Cebu mayors will meet at Casino Español Friday to brainstorm on common problems, like the floods that hit at least 13 barangays and caused traffic jams last January 25.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said it’s good to know that Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who called for the meeting, is as concerned about the drainage problem. Garcia also meets the mayors on Friday at the Capitol for the Provincial Development Council assembly.

Sandiganbayan clears Pedong of graft charge

THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed an anti-graft case filed 17 years ago against former Mandaue City mayor Alfredo “Pedong” Ouano for the allegedly overpriced purchase of a parcel of land in Barangay Looc.

Ouano confirmed the dismissal in an interview last night, adding that the anti-graft court's First Division gave credence to their defense that the lot in question was actually worth more than what the city government paid for.

PB grants guv authority to lend P9M to Camotes power coop

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia can now go ahead with granting a loan to an electric cooperative to solve the power crisis in Camotes Island.

The Provincial Board (PB), in a special session yesterday, gave her the authority to lend P9.1 million to Camotes Electric Cooperative (Celco) so they can pay for the advance payment the National Power Corp. (Napocor) requested.

Alegria ‘politicized Pantawid program’

THE husband of a defeated mayoral candidate accused Alegria town officials of using the National Government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for their political advantage.

Dr. Gilberto Magallon said that Mayor Emelita Guisadio and other officials threatened to remove from the program those beneficiaries who are members of people’s organizations.

Mandaue jeepneys fail vs. ban

A GROUP of jeepney operators and drivers in Mandaue City failed in its bid to stop for 20 days the implementation of ordinances banning public transport from entering and loading passengers in Cebu City’s major thoroughfares.

Judge Gabriel Ingles, of the Regional Trial Court Branch 58, denied the request for a temporary restraining order of the Kahugpungan sa Mandaue Jeepney Operators ug Draybers Association Inc. (Kamjoda).

PRO 7 surprises cops with drug tests

TO CLEAN up the provincial police ranks, Senior Supt. Erson Digal had two cops from Tabuelan Police Station undergo a drug test yesterday.

Digal, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), told reporters that the surprise drug test came after a barangay captain informed him that the two police officers use drugs regularly.

Aquino orders logging ban

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III ordered a logging moratorium and formed an anti-illegal logging task force after provinces were devastated by flooding and landslides.

Aquino signed Executive Order No. 23 highlighting the responsibility of the State to protect and preserve the forests in order to prevent hazardous flooding and keep citizens away from danger.

DA gives vegetable seeds to typhoon affected farmers

TABUK, Kalinga – The Department of Agriculture distributed assorted high value vegetable seeds as part of its recovery program to farmers affected by the long dry spell and damages from Typhoon Juan last year.

According to Teresa Desay, High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) Program Coordinator of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), 534 kilos of vegetable seeds were handed to the municipal agriculturists (MAOs) who would do the distribution.

Cold weather to remain

THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) here Wednesday said that the ideal cloudy weather here with a temperature range from 10 to 20 degrees Celsius will remain as the northeast monsoon affects the area.

Weather forecaster Letty Dispo said although lower temperatures than that of 9.8 degrees Celsius Tuesday could not be foreseen, “our city will remain cool due to the effects of the oscillation of the Siberian winds from the countries near the north pole which are snowing.”

Ibaloi Park eyed as carnival site by group

A BUSINESS group from the National Capital Region is eyeing the Ibaloi Park as site of a carnival.

The carnival, operated by Global Dimensions Incorporated is planning to hold its activities coinciding with the month-long celebration of the Panagbenga.

DA allots P45 million to develop region’s organic farms

GOING organic for the agriculture sector is the only way possible for sustainable development to be attained.

The Department of Agriculture –Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recently reported they have allocated P45 million for the development of the region’s organic farming industry.

College scribes in Luzon-wide press tilt

COLLEGE students all over Luzon will see whose pen is mightier.

Around 700 student journalists from Ilocos to Bicol Regions convened at the Baguio Teachers Camp Thursday for the three-day Luzon-wide Tertiary Schools Press Conference organized by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

Gun ban in effect for Panagbenga

THE Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR) has imposed a month-long gun ban in Baguio City starting Tuesday as part of the security measures for the annual flower festival popularly known as “Panagbenga.”

Superintendent Leon Talleo, PRO-COR spokesman, said all permits to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) was suspended starting Tuesday.

Warlordism won’t happen in Cordillera

HOSTILITIES which usually occur in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) will not happen in the Cordillera even under an autonomous set-up.

This is the assurance given by the Regional Development Council in the continuing series of information campaign for Cordillera autonomy.