CHURCH BLAST KILLS 4 PERSONS, HURT 27

By Florante S. Solmerin

ANOTHER improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, this time just outside a Catholic church, on July 5, that killed four persons including a boy and hurt 27 other churchgoers the military quickly blamed to lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Cotabato City.

Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the fatalities include two soldiers, a lechon vendor and a boy whose names could not immediately made available. (continue)

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CORONA FACES CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL CHARGES JULY 6

BAGUIO CITY – Ma. Cristina R. Corona, president of John Hay Management Corporation, is set to face Eugene G. Galicia on July 6 at the National Labor Relations Commission here after Galicia filed a case of constructive dismissal charges against her last June 22.

Galicia named Corona, wife of Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona, as direct respondent to his labor case on the same day that he was dismissed as paralegal officer. The summons made by labor arbiter Monroe C. Tabingan ordered Corona to appear at 2:30 p.m. at the NLRC office here. (read on)

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BIO-DIESEL VENTURE WITH JAPAN TO RISE IN PAGUDPUD

by Cristina Arzadon

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte — On a huge tract of grasslands here will rise the first and largest coconut bio-diesel project in the country.

Last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Ilocos Norte started conducting site assessments in barangay Caunayan and found the area to be suitable for coconut plantation.

Juan de los Reyes, Jr., provincial environment and natural resources officer, said officials are itching for the project to take off because of the long term benefits that would redound to locals in terms of livelihood and income opportunities.

The massive plantation of coconuts is also environmentally-friendly as it will help reduce the greenhouse effect.

The project will be jointly undertaken by the Philippine BioEnergy Northern Luzon Inc. (BENLINC) and the Japan-based partner Pacific Bio-Fields Corp. headed by its president Moriaki Hayashida. (read more)

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MINING BRINGS ECONOMIC VIBRANCE TO RURAL AREAS SAYS SOLON

by Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The existence of large and small-scale mining operations in some parts of this vegetable-producing province has greatly helped in improving the economic conditions of people, especially those who seek sustainable sources of living.

This was underscored by Rep. Samuel M. Dangwa here who added the call of the militant sector for the stoppage of mining operations in the province, particularly in Mankayan town, because of their inclination that it is the root cause of the sinking areas there is ill-advised. (read on)

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NPC ASKED TO FULFILL COMPENSATION PROMISES TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

by dexter see

ITOGON, Benguet– Indigenous peoples, who were allegedly betrayed by top government officials to give up their valuable lands in exchange for compensation over the past six years, appealed to the management and policy-makers of the National Power Corporation (NPC) to release the P17 million compensation for their lands in barangays Ampucao and Dalupirip here which were submerged by the waters of the San Roque Multi-purpose dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan.

In their appeal letter sent to the NPC board, the Aritao clan, which has still at least  112 hectares of submerged properties that remain unpaid by the State-run corporation, said the kind-heartedness of NPC officials must prevail in approving the release of the P17 million compensation package so that they could already start a new lease in life since they have already suffered anxiety over the past six years waiting for the promised payment for their lands which were taken by the government for the megadam operation. (read more)

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TEODORO TO DESTAB GROUPS: CHOOSE ANOTHER PLAYGROUND TO PLAY YOUR GAMES

By Florante S. Solmerin

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has advised groups trying to create an atmosphere of chaos by using a divide-and-rule tactic in the military organization to look for another ground to play their sinister attempts. “Recently we have seen once again some sinister attempts to create division and disharmony among our ranks, pitting brother officer against brother officer.

We appeal to those who are doing this for their selfish or pity ends, chose another playground to play your games with,” said Teodoro, in ending his speech during yesterday’s 62nd foundation anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. (read more)

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ITDI RESEARCHERS DEVELOPS SOLAR WASTEWATER DETOXIFICATION

RESEARCHERS at the Industrial Technology Development Institute, an agency of the Department of Science and Technology trying to develop a technology using sunlight and ordinary cosmetic ingredient to clean industrial wastewater of pollutants, have successfully eliminated pesticides in contaminated water during initial tests.

Trial runs are onstream to treat wastewater contaminated with dyes used in handicraft industry. They hope to help cottage dyeing industries comply with strict regulations imposed by countries that rigorously monitor the environmental impact of exporters and their manufacturing activities. (read more)

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IFUGAO ADVANCES FOR CONVERSION OF STATE COLLEGE TO UNIVERSITY

By: Jeremy M. Gawongna

Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao – Supported by local communities and officials, Ifugao Congressman Solomon R. Chungalao and Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) President Dr. Serafin L. Ngohayon are now making a big push for the passage of a law supporting the establishment of a state university in Ifugao.

Authored by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr., the said law referred as Senate Bill No. 1224 is otherwise known as an “Act to Accelerate the Socio-cultural and Economic Development of the Cordillera Region by Establishing a State University in the Province of Ifugao to be Known as Ifugao State University (IFSU), Converting for the Purpose the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry into a University”. (read more)

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CZECH EXPERTS GIVE THUMBS UP FOR ASIN HYDRO REHAB

by aileen p. refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Experts from Czech Republic who conducted a feasibility study on the rehabilitation of the city’s mini-hydroelectric plants in Tuba, Benguet dished out a very promising assessment of the facilities.

This was bared by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. in his Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing. (read more)

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EBDANE ASKED TO PROBE DELAYS IN CORDILLERA INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

by Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY  – Construction industry stakeholders in the different parts of the Cordillera, who are already fed up with the serious delays in the processing of their documents, called on Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to investigate the alleged too much bureaucratic red tape being imposed by officials and some personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera.

At the same time, almost all small and big-time contractors, who requested anonymity for reasons which might result to their being harassed, claimed the undue delay in the processing of their project documents greatly affects their performance in the implementation of multi-billion infrastructure projects in the different parts of the region. (read more)

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