CL bags awards in Rice Achievers Awards 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Central Luzon provinces and local government units have carted awards in the recently concluded Rice Achievers Awards that aims to recognize efforts of the Department of Agriculture and the local government units in the rice sufficiency program of the National Government.

DA regional director Andrew Villacorta told Sun.Star Pampanga that the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija bagged the awards in the provincial category, bringing home P4 million each under the program will be used to further boost agricultural initiatives in each of the provinces.

Tarlac village chairman loses P1-million cash, valuables

CAMP OLIVAS - A barangay chairman in Barangay Calingcuan, Tarlac City, lost more than P1 million in cash and valuables after falling victim to the “Akyat Bahay” recently.

In a belated report here, Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus, Tarlac police provincial director, said Barangay Calingcuan chairman Rolando Tolentino, 66, reported to police that his house was robbed by three armed men.

Man killed, 2 others hurt in Aurora explosion

CAMP OLIVAS - A 37-year-old man was killed while two others were wounded when a rifle grenade exploded in front of them in Barangay Pingit, Baler, Aurora.

In a report here, the lone fatality was identified as Jay Cuento, 37, a resident of Barangay Pingit, Baler town.

Burned body recovered in Tarlac

CAMP OLIVAS – An unidentified burned body of a man believed to be a salvage victim was recovered in a farm located in Sitio Padlana, Barangay Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac recently. A belated report stated that the burned body was found by a certain Mark Valdes, a resident of Barangay Iba, San Jose town at the De Guzman Mahogany Farm of said barangay.

Clark bomb threat a ‘hoax’

CLARK FREEPORT -- A bomb threat, which sent hundreds of employees away from a building occupied by a call center, a bank, and a convenience store at the Berthaphil Industrial Estate II here, turned out to be a hoax.

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) vice president for operations Frank Madlangbayan said a phone call about a bomb planted inside the commercial building was received by the Public Safety Department before 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Mexico mayor welcomes COA findings

MEXICO -- Mayor Teddy Tumang said Tuesday that he welcomes the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) for the year 2007 to mid-2010.

‘Visita Iglesia’ visits Pampanga

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The three-man exhibit of veteran journalists Bong Lacson, Peter Alagos, and Deng Pangilinan called "Visita Iglesia: Edifices of the Kapampangan Faith Revisited" visited SM City Pampanga on Monday.

Now on its second year, the more than 100-photograph display of 16 churches and four chapels in Pampanga has toured the SM Mall of Asia, SM City Southmall, and SM City North Edsa.

Clark Airport receives awards

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Clark International Airport has won the 2013 Routes Airport Marketing Awards (Asia Heats-Under 20 Million Passengers category).

Clark International Airport president Victor Jose I. Luciano received the award during the 11th Routes Asia gathering in Mumbai, India on Monday.

Capitol to identify Bataan-Pampanga fishing boundary

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fourth district Board Member Nestor Tolentino said the Provincial Government is set to establish a marker that will establish the territorial water boundary between Pampanga and Bataan.

Tolentino said the Provincial Board approved an ordinance allocating a particular budget amounting to at least P1.5 million for the purpose.

Filipino-Chinese group donates school buildings

THE San Fernando Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (SFFCCII) donated three classroom buildings in San Fernando City and another in Bacolor town as part of their ongoing Barrio Schools program.

SFFCCII president Eddie Chua told Sun.Star Pampanga that they were able to inaugurate classroom buildings in Barangays Pulung Bulu, Baliti and Bulaon and in Barangay Maliwalu in Bacolor town.

Foundation launches training program for local livelihood

STA. RITA -- The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) will launch a fruit-tree propagation training program at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the City of San Fernando to provide locals with alternative means of livelihood.

KDF president Benigno Ricafort told Sun.Star Pampanga that a half-day event will feature talks from resource speaker Bernie Dizon. The program aims to promote a more productive greening project that will also benefit locals.

Mexico mayor given deadline to act on COA findings

MEXICO, Pampanga -- The Commission on Audit (COA) has given Mayor Teddy Tumang 60 days to act and implement its recommendations on findings of its recent examination, particularly the restitution of P149,133,819.18 “in favor of the Municipality of Mexico by persons determined to be liable.”

Lazatin: Loans above board

ANGELES CITY -- The camp of first district Representative Carmelo Lazatin said the loans incurred by his administration, when he was the city mayor, were above board.

Lazatin issued the statement in reaction to statements accusing him of alleged irregularities.

City: Interests of Fernandinos above all

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Members of the fourth City Council of San Fernando said on Monday that their most recent award as the Philippines’ best Sangguniang Panlungsod -- the Hall of Fame distinction -- is due to their “common ground taking the interests of Fernandinos above all.”

Capitol spends P260 million in education

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government has spent some P260 million for the education of students in Pampanga, particularly in the construction of school structures and facilities, and scholarship grants.

Governor Lilia Pineda, during her first 30 months in office, implemented the construction of at least 183 classrooms with appropriate comfort rooms and six covered courts amounting to P179,242,962.

Board member calls on cops to advance women’s rights

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Third district Board Member Monina Laus has urged officials of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office to advance the rights and welfare of women in line with the celebration of the Women’s Month.

Laus said police officers are in the forefront of cases and incidents dealing with abuses against women.

Fisherfolk get support from BFAR

MACABEBE -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has provided assistance to the fishermen in Masantol town.

BFAR Assistant Regional Director Lilian Garcia led the distribution of four motor engines and 100 fishing nets in a turnover ceremony held at Colegio De San Lorenzo, Masantol town.

Mabalacat women get gifts on women’s month

MABALACAT -- Some 300 women from all over this town received gift items during the Women’s Month event over the weekend held at Xevera Mabalacat. 

The event aims to provide a venue for consultation on women’s concerns and issues, gender empowerment, rights protection and awareness through mutual cooperation among stakeholders.

Zambales to host national mango congress

IBA, Zambales -- Zambales will host its 15th National Mango Congress, an annual convention of stakeholders of mango industry in the Philippines.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said this is the first time that the mango congress would be held in Zambales.

Lazatin slams Pamintuan for abuse of authority

ANGELES CITY -- Representative Carmelo Lazatin (first district, Pampanga) said the camp of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has been abusing authority by allowing the mayor’s political party, Partido Abe Kapampangan, to use government-owned materials during its gaming events.

In a letter addressed to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., Lazatin said that Partido Abe has been holding bingo gaming events in several barangays in the city: Barangay Santo Domingo (March 9), Malabanias (March 14), and Cuayan (March 16), where photos and video footage show that the tents, chairs, and tables used in the events are owned by the City Government.

Angeles’s debts: P76.6M in 2003 to P311.5M in 2007

ANGELES CITY -- The total official debt of the City Government of Angeles rose from P76.6 million in 2003 to P311.5 million in 2007 or by a whopping P234.9 million during the term of Representative Carmelo Lazatin as city mayor.

City Administrator Dennis Albert Pamintuan said Lazatin placed the Angeles City Government in a very bad fiscal position when he served as local chief executive.

Pampanga has lowest forest cover in Philippines

CLARK FREEPORT -- The province of Pampanga now ranks among the provinces with the lowest forest cover in the Philippines, a designation that presents a challenge to water utilities and sectors here to reassess conditions of its watersheds and look into possible environmental initiatives to keep water supplies adequate.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio told members of the Pampanga Association of Water Districts over the weekend that water districts play the most crucial role.

Groups to formally communicate with BIR on zonal valuation

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Various groups affected by the implementation of zonal valuation are set to formally communicate anew their concerns and “opposition” to the zonal valuation implemented by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last March 11.

After meeting officials of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., real estate brokers, businessmen and investors at Heroes Hall over the weekend, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez told Sun.Star Pampanga that the groups agreed to re-negotiate with the internal revenue office to find another “win-win solution” and reconsideration on the zonal values that are about 800 percent higher.

Angara supports call to develop Clark airport

CLARK FREEPORT -- Senator Edgardo Angara vowed to support the call of traders, non-government organizations and local officials in Pampanga for the full development of Clark International Airport.

Angara signified its support during a recent meeting with members and officers of the Alliance for the Development of Central Luzon and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (PamCham).

Quarry workers arrested for violating law

CANDABA -- Local police here have formally charged suspected illegal quarry workers recently arrested for violating pertinent provisions of Republic Act 7942, also known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Leny Manalo, municipal government administrator here, ordered an intense campaign against illegal quarry activities within the locality, following reports from residents about the indiscriminate extraction of filling materials and damages sustained by the roads in areas covered by the quarry operations.

Maniago to hold on-the-spot painting with Manila artists

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Master painter Rafael Maniago will be the guest artist at the Think and Try Nursery School in San Antonio Village, Makati City, on April 1 for an afternoon of showcasing the renowned master’s skills in portraiture.

Maniago will be demonstrating his legendary surreal, hyper realistic and impressionist styles in an on-the-spot painting event that is expected to be participated in by artists from Manila and neighboring provinces.

Councilors finish master’s degree

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Five city councilors here recently finished their studies under the Master in Development Management and Government graduate program at the University of Makati recently.

In a statement sent to Sun.Star Pampanga by the City Information Office (CIO), councilors Rosemary Calimlim, Ralph Daniel Henson, Jaime Lazatin, Alex Patio, Noel Tulabut, Arnel Sicat joined some 259 graduates of the program.

UNA bet, veep laud Pampanga execs

CANDABA -- Senatorial candidate Migz Zubiri and Vice President Jejomar Binay over the weekend lauded Governor Lilia Pineda and fourth district congressional aspirant Mayor Jerry “John Lloyd” Pelayo for their programs and concern for Kapampangans.

During the 57th birthday celebration of Pelayo at Ms. Earth Park here, which was jived with the sortie of UNA bets, Zubiri noted that the prime health care program of Capitol headed by Governor Pineda has benefitted thousands of indigent patients that is worthy of emulation.

Binay joins Pelayo's birthday celebration

CANDABA -- Vice President Jejomar Binay joined on Saturday Mayor Jerry "John Lloyd" Pelayo's 57th birthday celebration held at the Ms. Earth Park in Barangay Mandasig this town.

Binay was welcomed by the Candabeños and Pelayo's district leaders from eight municipalities adjacent to Pampanga River.

City all set for ‘Maleldo 2013’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government of San Fernando on Friday announced that all is set for the staging of “Maleldo 2013” or the annual observance of Holy Week on its 51st year.

Maleldo executive committee chairman Councilor Jimmy Lazatin said some 50,000 local and foreign tourists are expected to troop to the three “crucifixion” sites in barangays San Juan, Sta. Lucia and the main “Golgotha” area in San Pedro Cutud where the “Via Crusis” will be played starting at around 11 a.m.