Police: Candaba town ‘peaceful’

CANDABA, Pampanga - Local police here recently clarified that this town is peaceful and its inclusion in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) watch list is not "accurate".

Superintendent Benjamin Medina, town's chief of police, in a previous interview said there are no recorded election related violent incidents in the Municipal Police Stations (MPS) here for the past few elections.

Folks welcome Pelayo's congressional bid

MACABEBE - Residents here warmly welcomed Candaba mayor and fourth district congressional candidate Jerry Pelayo during a consultative meeting held in this town Monday.

"Ang maganda kay Mayor Pelayo ay mayroon siyang bitbit na programa at malinaw ang gusto niyang mangyari sakaling maupo siya bilang congressman. Nakakatuwa dahil narito siya para makinig sa aming mga pangangangailangan," Mario Sunga, a resident of Macabebe, said.

Mabalacat exec faces graft charges

MABALACAT CITY -- Graft charges were lodged against Mabalacat Vice Mayor Noel Castro before the Ombudsman over the alleged illegal acquisition of a parcel of land in Sitio Talimundok, Barangay Bundagul, this city.

Noel Maglalang, a resident of Sitio Salazar in Barangay Bundagul here, lodged the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon on November 5, 2012.

Lazatin discloses Congress attendance

ANGELES CITY -- The camp of first district Representative Carmelo Lazatin revealed Lazatin's comprehensive attendance record in the House of Representatives from July 2010 to December 2012, in response to allegations from the camp of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan that the congressman is among the top absentees in Congress.

In a certification signed by House of Representatives Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap dated January 21 2013, it was revealed that for the third regular session of the 15th Congress, which covers the period from July 23, 2012 to December 19, 2012, Lazatin has only incurred five absences without notice in Congress.

Councilor: Porac needs master plan for cityhood dream

PORAC -- Councilor Mike Tapang said this municipality needs a master plan and a solid development blueprint to realize its "dream of becoming Pampanga's fourth city" in five years after Mabalacat, San Fernando and Angeles City.

Tapang, who is seeking re-election to the Municipal Council along with his "Magserbisyu Tamu Team Tapang" with village chiefs Larry Antido, Regin Clarete, Rommel Gopez and Caloy Sese, said a comprehensive master plan and development blueprint will have to be drafted and implemented in the coming years for the sand-rich quarry town to become a component city as envisioned by local officials.

Mayor to lead inauguration of footbridge

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The blessing and inauguration of the footbridge along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa) in Barangay Dolores is set on February 4 and will soon benefit pedestrians and ease traffic congestion in the area.

Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said the new facility will cater to students and pedestrians in the area and will provide a safe means of traversing the busy Jasa.

Angeles honors gender-sensitive villages

ANGELES CITY -- The City Government here recently recognized the excellence and innovation of several barangays for their campaign to become gender-sensitive and gender-responsive.

After eight months of the search, Barangay Balibago won the most outstanding gender-sensitive barangay, followed by Barangay Lourdes Sur East and Barangay Lourdes North West in second and third place, respectively.

P2-M service vehicles distributed to barangays

STA. RITA -- The distribution of service vehicles to this town’s 10 villages was completed, and it aims to boost each village's government's service capability to their constituents.

Mayor Yolanda Pineda led the turnover of four new vans here to barangay captains at the Sta. Rita Parish Church over the weekend. The service vehicles form part of the P2 million funds that aimed to provide the barangays with their own utility vehicles.

Ama party-list wants to establish National Senior Citizens Commission

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Aagapay sa Matatanda (Ama) party-list said Monday that it is pushing for the establishment of a National Senior Citizens' Commission.

Retired Justice Agustin Dizon, honorary chairman and first nominee of Ama, said they decided to participate in the 2013 midterm elections to promote the general well being of the senior citizens not only in Central Luzon but in the entire Philippines as well.

Mayor hosts city's 'vin d'honneur'

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan hosted Friday the City Government's version of vin d'honneur at the City College of Angeles (CCA) Covered Court.

Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting, members of the City Council, department and program heads of the City Government, businessmen from the Angeles City Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AC-FilChi), former-barangay and current barangay captains, representatives from the academe, business sector and other non-governmental organizations were among the guests during the post new year reception.

Lawmaker’s camp welcomes investigation

ANGELES CITY -- The camp of Representative Carmelo Lazatin welcomes investigation from any government body, third party, or any private citizen who wishes to look into the projects of the lawmaker.

2013 economy anchored on results of May polls

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) and businessman Rene Romero opined over the weekend that the "good and vibrant year" the private sector projected for economic year 2013 will still depend on the results of the May 13 polls.

Romero, who also co-chairs the Central Luzon Competitiveness Council, told Sun.Star Pampanga that "credible and peaceful elections" will buoy up the country's economy further, after its gains in the latter part of last year, just after the filing of certificates of candidacies of bidders for national and local posts.

Council lauds lawmakers for additional courts

ANGELES CITY -- The City Council has passed a resolution extending gratitude for the efforts of Senator Francis Escudero and Representative Carmelo Lazatin (first district, Pampanga) to create six additional Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches here.

In a resolution sponsored by Councilor Willie Rivera and Councilors Jesus Sangil, Alfie Bonifacio, and lawyer Arvin Suller, the City Council thanked Escudero and Lazatin for sponsoring Senate Bill 3056 and House Bill (HB) 5532, respectively.

Audit commission complaints filed vs lawmaker

ANGELES CITY -- Representative Carmelo Lazatin is facing complaints before the Commission on Audit (COA) in connection with the alleged overpricing of multi-cabs his office distributed to villages in the first district of Pampanga.

John Sladky, former chairman of Barangay Agapito del Rosario, recently wrote a formal complaint letter to Assistant Commissioner Winnie Rose Encallado, head of regional COA based in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Mabalacat residents hit Public Works department

MABALACAT CITY -- Residents along the MacArthur Highway here assailed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for implementing a road widening project without prior notice and compensation of affected properties.

The residents, led by Lawyer Anthony Manalang of the Public Attorney's Office in Angeles City, aired their complaints in a letter sent to the City Council here.

Board Member 'curious' on election hotspots

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Reelectionist second district Board Member Salvador Dimson Jr. on Friday expressed "curiosity" over the towns of Lubao, Guagua and Sasmuan being placed by police under the elections "hotspot" watchlist recently.

Mayor awards cleanest, brightest villages

ANGELES CITY -- Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan recently awarded the winners of the "Buenas Angeles 2012," the search for the cleanest and brightest barangays of the city, at Marquee Mall's Event Center last January 24.

Pamintuan congratulated all the winners and commended all barangay captains and kagawads in their efforts to make their area beautiful not only during the event but also throughout the year.

Election officer reminds candidates on security rules

CANDABA -- The municipal elections officer here recently reminded local candidates that they are only entitled to two police or military security details in relation to the upcoming midterm elections.

Maria Rosario Lalic said that under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution, including rules and regulations, incumbent officials are allowed to the services of law enforcers to ensure their safety during elections period.

Gumba is new water district prexy

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- City of San Fernando Water District general manager Jorge Gumba was elected as new president of the Pampanga Association of Water Districts (PAMAWD).

He vowed to strengthen the groups’ corporate social responsibility programs with its member water utilities in Pampanga.

Mayor thanks DPWH for tail dike works

STO. TOMAS -- Mayor Joselito Naguit of this town thanked over the weekend the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the ongoing works at the San Fernando-Minalin-Tail Dike.

Several villages in the town of Santo Tomas were submerged with floodwaters after the dike was breached during the heavy rains brought about by southwest monsoon last year.

Lawmaker: Scholarship program continues

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Third district Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. assured Sunday the scholarship beneficiaries that he will continue with educational assistance program.

Gonzales issued the statement following reports that beneficiaries have stopped receiving their assistances.

Town completes P2M service vehicles for barangays

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Municipal Government here has completed the distribution of service vehicles to its 10 barangays, in an effort to boost the delivery of basic services of the villages to their respective constituents.

Mayor Yolanda Pineda led the turnover of four new vans here to barangay captains at the Sta. Rita Parish Church over the weekend. The service vehicles form part of the P2 million funds aimed to provide the barangays with their own utility vehicles.

Capitol to hire barangay social workers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda said Saturday that she is planning to employ social workers in all barangays in Pampanga.

Pineda said barangay social workers (BSW) will focus on the implementation of the socials development programs and projects by the Provincial Government and various local government units.

Water district donates to typhoon victims

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Employees of the City of San Fernando Water District have donated some P30,000 to Baganga Water District in Davao Oriental to help in the speedy rehabilitation of the water supply facilities of families affected by Typhoon Pablo.

City of San Fernando Water District general manager Jorge Gumba said employees contributed their own money for the assistance fund in response to the Philippine Association of Water Districts’ (PAWD) call to help in the assistance efforts in the area.

Power to be interrupted in Floridablanca

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The San Fernando Electric Light and Power Company (SFELAPCO) has announced that power in its Floridablanca franchise area, including Basa Air Base, will be interrupted on Tuesday, January 29, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In an advisory sent to Sun.Star Pampanga, SFELAPCO Corporate Communications Officer Irwin Nucum said the power interruption is based on the work schedule of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

3 suspected rebels nabbed; guns seized

CAMP OLIVAS -- Three alleged members of a break-away group Hukbong Mapagpalayang Bayan (HMB) were arrested Friday for illegal possession of firearms and assorted ammunition.

A barangay chairman from Nueva Ecija was likewise arrested in a separate raid conducted by combined personnel of the Regional Operations Special Task Group (ROSTG) and Philippine Army.

‘Continue proclaiming the Word, professing the Faith’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- As the National Bible Week culminates Sunday with the “Bible Collecta” in various parishes of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, the religious and lay faithful are urged by the Catholic Church to “continue proclaiming the Word and professing the Faith” embodied in the Holy Book.

According to Rev. Fr. Jesus Layug of the Archdiocesan Commission on the Biblical Apostolate or ACBA, the Holy Bible must continue to be in the center stage even as the celebration of National Bible Week, which started on January 21, ends today, January 27.

Butil launches P2-M milk feeding program

ARAYAT, Pampanga -- The Butil Farmers Party, in coordination with the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Municipal Government of Arayat, launched the first-ever P2 million worth community-based Milk Feeding Program here.

The event was led by Butil Representative Agapito H. Guanlao, at the Glorietta Center in Barangay Plazang Luma here.

Dong distributes P90,000 startup fund for entrepreneurs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. led the distribution of P90,000 to 18 beneficiaries who would like to start up their own micro businesses here, as part of his “Sulong Trabaho nang Dong Gonzales” (STRA-DG).

Each of the beneficiaries received P5,000 as startup capital for their businesses. The beneficiaries are expected to start food cart businesses, sari-sari stores or use the finances to increase capital on their existing businesses.

Thousands gather for INC Unity Games

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Thousands of brethren from the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) recently gathered at the Pampanga Sports Complex in this city for the elimination round of the Church’s Central Luzon leg of the Unity Games 2013.

According to Brethren Joel Mapiles, who is also Capitol’s Provincial Information Officer, the 2013 Unity Games is a multi-sport and multi-region event and the largest athletic competition hosted for members of the INC.