Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Chief, lauded Saturday members of the 505th Search and Rescue Group (SRG) for their part in rescuing three fishermen whose boat capsized during the onslaught typhoon Basyang in Butuan Island, Daet, Camarines Sur. Rabena commended the PAF’s Southern Luzon Command of the 505th SRG under Colonel Andre Tayag for their swift response in locating and rescuing the fishermen. “This is what we have really been preparing for,” said Rabena. He said they have four rescue helicopters that are on regular standby mission should emergencies of this nature occur. “We are always ready to respond when needed,” the PAF Chief said. (Anjo Perez)

Julaton visits Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Right after the onslaught of typhoon “Basyang”, a hurricane of a different kind swept through this province with a warm welcome from its people – international boxing titlist Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton. On her first-ever visit in the home province of her parents, Julaton was met by no less than Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) women’s super-bantamweight champion looked pleased as she shook hands with excited Capitol employees. Wearing her pink spaghetti-strapped blouse and maong jeans, Julaton wowed the crowd not just for her accomplishments but for her true Filipina beauty. Born Luciana Bonifacio Julaton, the boxing champion traces her Filipino roots in Pozorrubio, the hometown of her grandfather Cesario C. Julaton. She is the first Filipina to win a boxing world title and has since collected at total of three. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Hard-working capitol exhorted

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan urged provincial government employees to continue to work hard as he echoed Gov. Amado T. Espino’s mission to make Pangasinan a “model province.” Baraan made the call as he welcomed newly-appointed Provincial Health Officer Ana de Guzman and newly-elected Board Member Mohamito Libunao of the province’s 4th District, as part of the Capitol. “All of us here are one family and we belong to a common mission: to make Pangasinan truly No. 1 one, so let us continue to work very hard,” Baraan said.

C.A.R. autonomy needs P75-B fund

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) needs at least P75 billion subsidy from the national government in the next ten years once the people ratify the third attempt of the region to establish an autonomous government. Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said this Saturday as he discussed some details of the 10-year subsidy plan. Domogan said the amount must be part of the provisions of the Organic Act to be crafted once the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Cordillera. This, he said, will ascertain that Cordillerans are ready to embrace self-governance in the future. Under the proposed subsidy provision, the autonomous region to be created will get P10 billion annually for the first five years and P5 billion per year for the last five years to fund the implementation of vital development projects that will be able to maximize the development of rural areas in the countryside. (Dexter A. See)