SM City to host Earth Hour

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The SM City San Fernando Downtown will be hosting its first Earth Hour event tomorrow, March 23, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

2nd Subic Bay Water summit opens

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The 2nd Subic Bay Water summit formally opened Thursday in a bid to formulate a doable action plan for the conservation and protection of Subic Bay and all its marine resources.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair Roberto Garcia said that the 2nd Subic Water Summit aims to translate the Declaration of Commitment agreed upon by participating agencies and local government units during the 1st Water Summit held January 2010 into a viable three-year program.

Apu Ceto hails SC ruling on RH bill

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Archbishop Paciano Aniceto hailed Wednesday the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision bucking the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.

The SC issued on Monday a status quo ante order suspending the implementation of the RH Law for four months, with justices voting 10-5 in favor of the stop order.

Guiao to go for a ‘3-pointer’ to clinch congressional race

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Vice Governor Joseller Guiao said he would go for a “three-pointer” or a tri-pronged agenda to clinch the first district congressional race.

Guiao said his platform priorities include the conversion of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) into an “authority;” the granting of benefits like retirement pay for barangay captains and councilmen; and uniting the whole district through reforms and change.

Butil lauds awardees of 2012 AgriPinoy Awards

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Butil Representative Agapito Guanlao recognized the recipients of the 2012 ArgiPinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards recently, urging sectors to contribute to the country’s rice sufficiency program.

The awardees that represented 10 provinces and 48 towns and cities, were chosen for their excellent accomplishments in fulfilling the targets set by the Department of Agriculture on rice production. This includes top rice producing provinces and municipalities, top irrigators’ associations, top small water impounding systems associations, and outstanding agricultural extension workers.

AC College to offer bachelor’s degrees

ANGELES CITY – The City College of Angeles (CCA) was granted government authority from Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to offer bachelor degree courses this coming semester.

In accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 7722 otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994,” CCA is now authorized to offer four-year courses effective this academic year 2013-2014.

Zubiri bet wants additional benefits for village watchmen, health workers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Former senator and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial bet Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will push for additional benefits for barangay police (tanods) and community health workers if he gets elected as senator this coming election.

Zubiri, speaking before the crowd of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in Pampanga, recognized their contribution in carrying out the health agenda of the government.

Drivers ask council to intervene on election of officers

CANDABA - Members of the Candaba-Baliuag-Bahay Pare (CBB) Tricycle Operators-Drivers Association (Toda) sought Wednesday the assistance of the Municipal Council here for the holding of election to replace their set of officers whose terms of office had already expired.

Cipriano Sanguyo, a CBB Toda member, said that based on their existing bylaws, the term of office of the key officers including the Board of Directors already ended December last year and the continuing vacancy has led to misunderstanding and disarray of the daily routine of the association.

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.