BAGUIO CITY– The Cordillera office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) released over P2.4 million to 320 beneficiaries of the DoLE’s Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) and starter kit projects in different parts of the region to help them cope up with the effects of the global financial crisis. DoLE-CAR has spent about P2 million for its Starter Kit program which benefited about 281 home-based workers. For the Nego-Kart project, it distributed 39 Nego-Karts costing P400,000 to ambulant vendors who are mostly based in Baguio City. Lawyer Ana Dione, DoLE-CAR regional director, said both projects were piloted in Baguio City and Benguet, though for the starter kit there were also 21 beneficiaries in Tabuk, Kalinga. For this year, the project will concentrate more on the other provinces in the region. Dione explained that the Starter Kit program is a three-year project wherein they will also monitor the beneficiaries’ progress every six months. The Starter Kit and Nego-Kart programs provide assistance to informal sector or home-based workers up to a maximum of P50,000 per beneficiaries depending on their project proposals. (Dexter A. See)

Marijuana bricks seized

CAMP BGEN OSCAR M. FLORENDO, La Union — Police operatives seized 101 kilograms of marijuana bricks worth P2.525 million while manning a checkpoint in front of San Gabriel town’s police station in La Union before dawn last Friday. The lawmen also arrested four persons who were responsible for the shipment of the illegal drug. In a report reaching Region 1 police director Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares, Jr., La Union police director Senior Supt. Noli G. Taliño, said San Gabriel police led by Senior Insp. Eduardo Sarmiento flagged down for routine inspection a gray Toyota Hi-Ace van with plate number WSA 591 at around 1:30 a.m. While checking the vehicle, the lawmen noticed that the occupants were acting nervously. This prompted the police to check the vehicle’s compartment, resulting in the discovery of the marijuana bricks. Taliño identified the arrested suspects as Bony T. Santos, 34, and Francis Mogati, 22, both residents of La Trinidad, Benguet; and Lindel Camilo, 23, and Molitas Mariacos, 19, both from Barangay Lon-oy, San Gabriel, La Union. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Bulacan drug suspects held

CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan — Three alleged notorious drug peddlers have been nabbed by joint forces of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 3 (PDEA) and Marilao police Saturday in Barangay Poblacion, Marilao, Bulacan. Senior Supt. Edgardo G. Tinio, Bulacan provincial director, citing a report from Marilao police chief Supt. Lailene Amparo, identified the suspects as John Perillo, 42, separated, of San Miguel St., Barangay Poblacion 1, Gelliza Bides, 23, of 141-A Tangco St., Malinta and Carlito De la Cruz, 40, single, of Barangay Poblacion. All suspects, according to the report, were arrested after a week-long surveillance stemming from complaints of concerned parents in the area. Recovered from Perillo’s possession were two heated sealed platic sachet containing suspected Methampetamine Hydrocloride otherwise known as “shabu” and one piece of P500 bill, scissors, 24 pieces of plastic container and lighters. (Freddie C. Velez)