Labor office holds forum with labor groups

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon recently hosted a forum for labor representatives of the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC) from various companies across the region.

The forum, which adheres to the Aquino administration's "Tuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kaunlaran para sa Lahat," is an initiative of Regional Director Leopoldo De Jesus.

Poll body orders recount on Angeles mayoral race

ANGELES CITY -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division has ordered the manual recount of ballots in relation to the election protest filed by former mayor Francis Nepomuceno on May 24, 2010 against incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

The division, presided by Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, issued the order directing the transfer of ballots of 20 percent of the pilot precincts, or a total of 37 priority precincts out of the 185 contested precincts in the city, from the Angeles City Treasurer's office to the Comelec Philpost Warehouse in Manila within five days prior its actual recount.

Mayor wants illegal fishpens removed

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Macabebe Mayor Anette Flores Balgan on Wednesday challenged government agencies to free some 150 hectares of coastline from illegal fishpens that had encroached municipal waters here.

An irritated Balgan, during the briefing on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) at the Executive House of the Provincial Capitol, said her administration had been wondering why illegal fishpen operators have been allowed so close to municipal shorelines.

Pampanga city bags 3 major awards

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Three major awards were again received by the City Government of San Fernando for its best practices.

During the Monday morning flag rites at Heroes Hall, City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao and the City Council led by Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago turned over to Mayor Oscar Rodriguez the citations the city received from the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc. (CLGCFI).

Province optimistic on coastal management program

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Provincial Board (PB) on Wednesday agreed to pursue an agreement with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (Pemsea) for the implementation of an Integrated Coastal Management program.

Group holds environment forum

ANGELES CITY -- Green Youth Brigade, in cooperation with the Sigma Kappa Pi (Ekit) Fraternity Alumni Pampanga chapter, held last April 29 an environment forum themed "Climate in Crisis: What is the next step?" at the Coffee Academy in Balibago here last April 29.

Car dealer gunned down

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A car dealer on Tuesday was shot to death by unidentified suspects at his auto sales shop along Jose Abad Santos Avenue here.

Superintendent Luisito Magnaye, city police chief, identified the victim as Raul Mallari alias Matoy, owner and manager of K2M Auto Sales, a dealer of pre-owned cars most of which are luxury vehicles.

Guv eyes probe on fish kill in Pampanga River

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Governor Lilia Pineda on Monday has asked fourth district Provincial Board member Nestor Tolentino investigate the tons of dead fish floating along the Masantol portion of Pampanga River.

The governor personally saw dead fish floating along the Pampanga River while en route to two coastal villages in Masantol town for medical missions last Saturday.

New regional police chief installed

CAMP OLIVAS -- Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao formally assumed Tuesday the top post of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon, replacing Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima.

PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Raul Castañeda witnessed the change of command between the incoming and outgoing regional police director in behalf of PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo.

Hope springs for poor man with 12 kids

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Alejandro Fajardo, 42, could barely make ends meet with his meager income from occasional work as a construction worker.

From day-to-day, he would have to budget a few hundred pesos for food on the table to support his 12 children, majority of them still in school, as well as provide for his two grandchildren from his oldest daughter.

Pineda leads medical mission in 2 coastal villages

MASANTOL -- Not minding a 20-minute banca ride and the six-kilometer rough road travel under the sweltering heat of the midday sun, Governor Lilia Pineda over the weekend led Provincial Board members in delivering essential services of her medical consultants and medicines to two far-flung coastal villages in Masantol.

Morales cites value of IT in country’s progress

MABALACAT – Mayor Marino ‘Boking’ Morales has cited the importance of information technology (IT) to a developing country like the Philippines.

CEB slashes Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok fares

THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific holds a seat sale to three popular international destinations from May 3 to 4 or until seats last.

Tarlac to host organic farming conference

TARLAC CITY — The province of Tarlac is set to host late this year the annual gathering of organic farming practitioners, advocates and enthusiasts in the country.

Outstanding local government unit in Central Luzon named

OLONGAPO CITY -- Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. received three awards this city won at the 5th Recognition of Outstanding Central Luzon Local Government Units (LGUs) held at the Holiday Inn, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga recently.

Tax bureau intensifies mapping campaigns

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here on Tuesday started an intensified tax mapping campaign to raise local tax revenue and apprehend tax evaders.

Card shufflers nabbed

CAMP OLIVAS — Police recently arrested two card shufflers of an illegal gambling game in Tarlac City.

CDC prexy to employees: Think global

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) formally welcomed its new president, lawyer Felipe Antonio B. Remollo, in a ceremonial turnover rites held here.

Former CDC president Benigno N. Ricafort formally handed over the CDC flag to Remollo before CDC’s more than 700-strong workforce.

Congressman provides multicabs to villages

ANGELES CITY – First district Representative Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin on Sunday deployed at least P7.1 million worth of multicabs to different villages in his district.

The 25 units of multicabs were given to pre-selected villages in the city, and the towns of Mabalacat and Magalang.

Rape victim's family wants second judge out of case

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The lawyer of a rape victim from Angeles City filed a motion to inhibit a second judge from hearing the case, following impartiality issues cast on him.

Lawyer Jeffrey John Zarate, legal counsel of the Holy Angel University (HAU) student allegedly raped by his professor, filed the motion to inhibit against pairing Judge Gerardo Santos of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 62 in Angeles City.

City Hall employees’ minimum wage now P311

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Hundreds of employees of City Hall on Sunday celebrated following the announcement that their minimum wage has been increased to P311.

537 students chosen for summer job program

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 537 selected students from Central Luzon took part in the summer job program conducted by the Provincial Government in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) under the Special Program for Employment of Students (Spes).

City has new police chief

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Mayor Oscar Rodriguez formally introduced and welcomed its new police chief Superintendent Luisito Magnaye.

Masantol most wanted arrested

CAMP OLIVAS – One of the most wanted persons in Masantol town was arrested in an operation in Apalit, Pampanga over the weekend.

Minors nabbed for drug trafficking

CAMP OLIVAS – Three minors were arrested for drug trafficking during an entrapment operation in Olongapo City over the weekend.

Butil funds irrigation project in Sta. Rita

STA. RITA — The Butil Farmers Party has financed the construction of an irrigation network that will serve northern villages of the town and expected to improve farm yield.

Central Luzon dengue level critical

PAMPANGA -- The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office here has raised the alert level to critical following the surge of dengue cases in Central Luzon from January to April 16 this year.

In a media forum at Partyland on Monday, DOH Regional Director Rio Magpantay asked for media's help in disseminating information to raise awareness among its partner agencies, as well as heads of local government units.

Guv: 'Change us if we're not effective'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – "Change me and the board members if we are not effective."

This was the stunning statement of Governor Lilia Pineda over the weekend, as she told parents of honor students, public high school graduates, school principals and officials at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center not to re-elect them for ineffectivity.

Yabut won't back-out of congressional bid

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth District Board Member Ricardo Yabut said over the weekend that he will not back out on his aspirations to be at the House of Representatives come 2013.

Yabut, along with Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, professed separate intentions on their congressional bids, and will reportedly face returning Rimpy Bondoc for the lone fourth district seat.

Quota Pampanga cultural number hailed champion in Davao confab

DAVAO CITY — Quota International of Pampanga was adjudged as overall champion in the Quota International District Conference held at The Apo View Hotel in Davao City over the weekend.

According to third District Board Member Monina Laus, a member and founding officer of the club, Quota International of Pampanga bested other Quota Clubs from all over the country with their cultural dance interpretative of the folk song “Atin Kupung Singsing” at “Mekeni Pampanga”.