Kapampangan son gets dual scholarship

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — A Kapampangan student who passed the tough University of the Philippines (UP) College Admission Test has also received two major scholarships.

Mangio gets additional professional licenses

MEXICO -- Multi-awarded architect and The Lakeshore Estate master planner Nestor Mangio recently earned two new licenses from the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

Mayor urges village chiefs to comply with solid waste law

MABALACAT -- Mayor Marino Morales has urged barangay leaders here to comply with the conditions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Aquino 'recommends' 2 new Clark execs

CLARK FREEPORT -- President Benigno Aquino III has reportedly recommended two personalities for the Clark Development Corporation’s (CDC) top posts.

The President’s recommendation letter was reportedly read before Monday’s CDC Board meeting, where the names of Former Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo as president and Cezar Villanueva as chairman were mentioned.

Just P2 for an anti-dengue kit

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — For a maximum of P2, the mosquito-borne dengue disease will no longer be a threat to families in Central Luzon.

To stop the spread of dengue even during the summer season, officials from the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Luzon has launched the Ovicidal and Larvicidal mosquito trap (Ovitrap).

Transfer of science high school mulled

STO. TOMAS — Third district Board Member Ricardo Yabut on Wednesday said the Provincial Board is considering the relocation of the Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus (PSHS-CLC) from the Clark Polytechnic Compound inside the Clark Freeport to this town to give Kapampangan youths more access to quality education.

Yabut told Sun.Star Pampanga that the move came after PSHS-CLC Campus director Lilia Habacon wrote Gov. Lilia Pineda of the need to relocate the campus near major Pampanga towns to make it more accessible.

Ex-Subic Bay exec appointed BCDA head

OLONGAPO CITY -- Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo was appointed as chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) last Monday.

BCDA is the government agency tasked with converting former American Military bases into economic zones.

Lawmaker to distribute pedicabs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third district Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. is set to distribute 15 new pedal-driven cabs (pedicabs) to residents of Northville 14, along with selected indigents in this capital city.

Police all set for Holy Week 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- With thousands of tourists and folks expected to troop to Pampanga this Holy Week and summer vacation, the Philippine National has Police started Oplan SumVac 2011, establishing motorist assistance centers and checkpoints in strategic locations all over the province.

Rotary Club Angeles to celebrate 46th year of service

ANGELES CITY - The Rotary Club of Angeles City (RI District 3790) will be celebrating on Thursday, April 14, its 46th anniversary with the theme "Building Communities, Bridging Continents".

Education tops development council’s priority

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said the Regional Development Council (RDC) will prioritize education after budget resolutions were submitted during its recent half-day meet.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Luzon sent waves as it asked the RDC to approve some P7.2 million funding, reportedly for books, construction and repair of classrooms, and other improvements the agency is short of.

Clearing of Aeta ancestral lands in Floridablanca set

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Tribal leaders of Aeta communities in Barangay Nabuklod, Floridablanca met with Provincial Board member Nestor Tolentino here Tuesday in relation to an agreement seeking to develop 1,000 hectares of ancestral lands.

Tolentino, focal person for the said project, told Sun.Star Pampanga that the move is part of the ongoing implementation of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that states that the province will spearhead the planting of fruit-bearing trees, banana and vegetables, including other crops within the ancestral domain in the villages of Nabuklod (300 hectares), Camachile (400 hectares) and Mawacat (300 hectares).

Mall declared 'ready as ever' for disasters

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Authorities from the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office and officials of SM City Pampanga on Tuesday declared the mall as "ready as ever" for disasters like earthquakes and fire.

During the earthquake and fire evacuation drill on Tuesday, assistant mall manager Lana Erroba said the emergency and rescue teams from the mall are always on the alert to protect and help the more than 60,000 daily customers of SM City Pampanga in case of emergencies.

Guv to give support for Kampangan artists

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda on Tuesday told members of the Artist Association of the Philippines (AAP) Pampanga and Angeles City chapters that the Provincial Government will extend help on programs that promotes Kapampangan art.

Mabalacat cops recover hijacked truck

MABALACAT -- The town police on Monday recovered a truck, reported hijacked in Laguna province two days ago, in Barangay Dau here.

No trike fare hike in Angeles: transport office

ANGELES CITY – The Public Transportation Regulatory Office (PTRO) has announced that there will be no tricycle fare increases in this city as of the moment.

Pampanga university to confer Education chief

ANGELES CITY -- Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro will be conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Pedagogy by the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) today, April 13.

Binay, Escudero urge lawyers to help fight corruption

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Francis Escudero have urged some 2,000 lawyers who attended the biggest Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) convention to help the government fight corruption and help draft a law in order to fight human trafficking.

Dole wants strong bond between Tarlac traders

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has urged businessmen in Tarlac City to institutionalize best labor management practices among their group.

Historic railway station to get P5-M facelift

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The restoration of the historic Philippine National Railways station in Barangay Sto. Nino pegged at P5 million has earned the nod of authorities.

Mayor Oscar Rodriguez led the groundbreaking and time capsule laying for the restoration of the station during the commemoration of the 69th Araw ng Kagitingan.

Businessman files reply affidavit on libel suit vs newsmen

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Businessman Rene Romero on Monday filed his reply affidavit in connection with the P20-million libel suit against four staff of a local newspaper.

The move is in response to the counter-affidavits filed by respondents Caesar “Bong” Lacson, Joselilto “Joey” Aguilar, general manager Gener “Bong” Endona, and marketing manager Joanna Niña “Ning” Cordero last March 13.

Guv favors village registry system

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda is more inclined to the creation of a unique barangay registry system than the adoption of an identification card scheme.

Capitol’s Provincial Information Officer Joel Mapiles on Monday said the governor is pushing for barangay registry system to allow Kapampangan employers to register their transient employees. The barangay registry will also include brief profile of local residents.

Summer job for students launched

ANGELES CITY -- The City Government will launch the Special Program for the Employment of Students (Spes) this summer through its Public Employment Service Office (Peso).

Group finishes bamboo propagation seminar

LUBAO — Members of the Magalang Bamboo Growers Association (MBGA) on Monday finished their month-long seminar on Bamboo Node Training here.

Mall holds earthquake drill for tenants, staff

CLARK FREEPORT — SM City Clark held Monday a series of earthquake drills to make tenants and staff aware on how to respond when an earthquake strikes.

Med supplies distributed to villages

GUAGUA — Second District Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon on Monday started a series of medical supplies distribution in various villages here to strengthen community health at the grassroots level.

Rehab of Sto. Tomas school completed

STO.TOMAS - The Provincial Government of Pampanga with the local government unit (LGU) has completed the rehabilitation, upgrading, and beautification of the Sapa Elementary School (SES).

Police urged to continue ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ observation

CAMP OLIVAS — Central Luzon Police Director Alan Purisima is still encouraging his men to extend the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan.

Youth council officials get P170,000 sports aid

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. on Monday led the distribution of P170,000 cash assistance for the ongoing sports programs of various youth councils officers here.

City to allot P300-M for old market rehab

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Local officials here are willing to spend more than P300 million to rehabilitate the San Fernando old public market "in the name of competition."

Councilor Alex Patio, also chairman of the City Council’s committee on appropriations, said such a huge budget will be used to transform the public market into a three-storey building with parking space on the top floor.