Poland appoints legislator’s wife as honorary consul

THE Republic of Poland appointed Carmel Ruiz de Luzuriaga Durano, the wife of Rep. Red Durano (Cebu, 5th district), as its honorary consul in Cebu.

Her function will be to promote friendly relations between Poland and the Philippines and protect the rights and interests of Polish nationals in Cebu.

Study, consultation needed

THE proposal allowing Cebu City to dump its garbage at the sanitary landfill in Talisay City needs to be studied and barangay officials have to be consulted, a legislator yesterday said.

“It cannot be decided by one person alone because there a lot of things to be considered here,” said Councilor Celiapo Cabuenas.

Fishers want ‘farm’ off isle

FISHERFOLK in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City want to go into seaweed farming.

The Ermita Fisher Folks Association (EFFA), in a letter to the Cebu City Council, said it wants to use two hectares off Shell Island, which is under the territorial jurisdiction of Cordova town, for the endeavor.

Access road to Toledo slumps after downpour

A LANDSLIDE occurred in a mountain village in Talisay City yesterday dawn, rendering a portion of the Toledo Wharf Road impassable to motorists.

Luckily, no pedestrian or motorist was pinned by mud and rocks that came cascading from a hillside in Barangay Manipis.

Koreans eye north Cebu for future power plant

REP. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district) said he offered his district as a site for a coal-fired power plant a Korean company plans to build in Cebu.

He said Daanbantayan is a strategic location for the proposed power plant, which has a capacity of 500 to 1,000 megawatts.

Sinulog funds not for donation, but sponsorship: city council

THE Cebu City Council has finally approved the release of the P14.5-million fund for this year’s Sinulog Festival.

In his committee report, Councilor Edgardo Labella, head of the committee on laws, said the amount will not be donated to the Sinulog Foundation Inc.

230 houses razed in Davao fire, 2 dead

DAVAO CITY -- Two persons were killed in a fire that burned down more than 200 houses in two coastal communities here early Saturday morning.

More rain this week, weather bureau says

CEBU CITY -- Strong winds brewing over the Pacific Ocean are likely to develop into a tropical depression that will head for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas this week.

Government ready to evacuate Pinoys in Egypt

MANILA -- Malacanang said Saturday that it is prepared to evacuate the 6,500 Filipinos working and studying in Egypt should political tension in the oil-rich country continues.

Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III has tasked the foreign affairs, defense and labor departments to draft contingency measures including the possible repatriation of 6,569 Filipinos in Egypt.

Task force probes warehouse blast

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An inter-agency task force has been formed by the City Government here to probe the warehouse blast that wounded 33 people, including two firemen, on Friday afternoon.

Superintendent Jaime Ramirez, chief of the Zamboanga City Fire Department, is heading the task force.

Gabriela chair lauds Aquino's RH stance

SUPPORTERS of the proposed Reproductive Health Bill here lauded the steadfast support of the Aquino administration for the bill's passage.

Following the second dialogue between the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Palace, Gabriela Davao chair emeritus Lyda Canson said the Aquino administration showed determination in having the bill passed in Congress.

Lawmaker calls for probe into 'send-off' gift exposé

SENATOR Francisco "Chiz" Escudero urged the investigation of all former chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the exposé of a retired colonel on the alleged P50-million "send-off" gift to former military chiefs.

Lieutenant Colonel George Rabusa, during a senate hearing, exposed the alleged send-off money given to former military chief Angelo Reyes.

Aquino names new Pagasa officials

MALACAÑANG announced Saturday new officials who will run the state weather bureau, five months after President Benigno Aquino III sacked its leader for allegedly giving way off-the-mark typhoon forecasts.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Dr. Nathaniel Servando will now serve as the acting administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Palace supports probe over send-off money issue

A PALACE official nixed possibilities of confusion with regard to separate investigations that will soon be conducted by two government agencies in connection to the send-off money given to retiring military generals.

"Si Secretary (Leila) De Lima at ang DOJ (Department of Justice) will be investigating yung claims ni (retired Lieutenant Colonel George) Rabusa. At yung sa DND (Department of National Defense) po kasi ang specific po sa kanila ay yung sa pabaon," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told radio station dzRB.

Pangilinan: Senate plays role of truth body

THE Supreme Court may have junked the Truth Commission formed to investigate alleged corruption in the past administration, but Senator Francis Pangilinan said Saturday the Senate could fill that role.

He said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, with Senator Teofisto Guingona III as chairman, has already started looking into corruption in the military when Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the country's President.

'Poor' enforcement of labor standards hit

A MILITANT group said Thursday's accident involving 10 window installers in a suspended condominium project in Makati City could be traced to the government's lax implementation of labor and safety standards.

Santiago files bill vs political dynasties

UNDER a bill filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, only one member of each family may run in elections in each province as her measure seeks to enforce a Constitutional provision that prohibits political dynasties.

"To give force and effect to this provision, the playing field of the political arena should be leveled and opened to persons who are equally qualified to aspire on even terms with those from ruling politically dominant families," said Santiago.

City, smoke centers clear discrepancies

THE discrepancy in results of smoke tests by private emission testing centers (PETC) and the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo) is resolved.

It turned out many vehicles passed the tests administered by PETCs because of the four testing centers monitored by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), only one has a fully functional tacometer, the instrument used to measure the amount of smoke emitted by motor vehicles.

Review of medical technology law pushed

AN ILONGGO lawmaker proposed the review of the 42-year-old law that regulates the practice of medical technologists to make it attune to new developments in research, teaching, and special fields.

Iloilo Representative Janette Garin said majority of the sections of the "Medical Technology Act" (Republic Act 5527) no longer apply to present conditions since it was originally created to regulate the practice of laboratory professionals in the clinical laboratory settings.

Closure orders readied for erring establishments

NOT even half of the establishments found to be violating fire safety standards complied with warnings set by the Baguio Fire Department, an agency official said.

Baguio Fire Marshall Richard Villanueva revealed that of the 60 establishments they warned of temporary closure due to numerous violations of the Fire Code (RA 9514), only 17 complied.

Public works agency serious about another flyover

ANOTHER flyover is on the drawing board of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), intended to decongest traffic at the intersection of Buhagan (Bokawkan) and Naguilian Road.

Lion's Head vendors to be transferred

OWNERS of souvenir stalls at the Kennon Road Lion's Head should spend for the repair of their stalls if they insist on staying in their old vending areas, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

Itogon relocation to cost P5M

ITOGON, Benguet - Mayor Oscar Camantiles is exploring all options for those rendered homeless by Typhoon Pepeng in 2009.

Dominican Hill property remains with City

THE Baguio City Government retains its claim on the Dominican Hill property, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

50 Baguio cops assigned to tourist sites

FIFTY city policemen graduated Wednesday afternoon from the Tourist Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (Top-Cop) training simultaneously conducted in many tourist destinations in the country.

Mayor orders regulated parking on city streets

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan on Monday expressed his concern over traffic woes that might arise for the upcoming crowd-drawing activities in the city.

Hospital posts lowest occupancy last month

THE Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) posted the lowest occupancy in December for 2010, with only 86.30 percent, or 2,347 admissions.

Coding suspended anew

MAYOR Mauricio Domogan this week approved the suspension of the number coding ordinance following the expected arrival of foreign and local tourists for the Panagbenga Flower Festival celebrations here.

Government coordinating efforts in war vs terror

EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. assured Thursday that the government is doing everything to keep the public safe, as he urged the people to do their share by staying vigilant.

"While we are seriously concerned about the bombing, which definitely by design or not is terrifying, the Philippine National Police together with other agencies concerned... are already on top of the situation as they have been in the past," Ochoa said.

Pampanga town implements ID system for farmers

CANDABA -- The Municipal Government recently started the initial implementation of an "identification (ID) system" for farmers designed to facilitate a speedy transactions with concerned government agencies.

Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the ID system will also eliminate any form of corruption, particularly during calamity, whenever the National Government is providing assistance to farmers in the form of free seedlings, pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural needs.