CATBALOGAN, Samar — Faculty members and employees of the Samar State University (SSU) have petitioned CHEd Commissioner Nona Ricafort, who chairs the SSU board of trustees, to hold meetings at the SSU’s Catbalogan campus and not in Tacloban City for her to be familiarized with the university’s real problems. Led by Engr. Esteban Malindog Jr., the SSU Faculty and Employees Association said concerns have been aired on the exorbitant increases in tuition and imposition of other fees, and such problems as unfair distribution of teaching loads, non-issuance of janitorial supplies, dirty classrooms, offices and comfort rooms, among other issues. Malindog’s group also sought for a Congressional probe into income-generating projects of the University which, they said collected over P8 million in 2006 although the university’s share from this total amount was only reportedly 25 percent. SSU faculty and employees also sought action from President Aquino to help them resolve these and other problems.

COPS BANNED VS TOURIST BUS HITCHING

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan (PNA) — The Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO) has banned policemen from hitching on tourist buses normally operating from the Kalibo International Airport to Caticlan Jetty Port, which is the entry point to Boracay Island, and vice versa. Sr. Supt. Epifanio Bragais, Provincial Police Director, said a bus operator in Nabas town has already relayed to his office that they have ordered their bus drivers to stop allowing policemen from hitching with their buses. "The objective of this is to allow our tourist buses to transport tourists in the soonest possible time. The shorter their travel time, the safer they will be. I ordered policemen to stop hitching with tourist buses bringing them to their destination in the province. As policemen, they should find other means to get to where they want to go," said Bragais. Tourist buses which are usually air-conditioned are often chartered by certain travel agencies. "The only way that policemen could stop tourist buses while these are on their way is during legitimate police operations such as checkpoints," he stressed. Meanwhile, the Aklan provincial government is encouraging the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to come up with measures that would reduce the risks of tourists being held hostage while on board a motor vehicle. The proposed measures will be drafted in coordination with the PCG Auxilliary — Boracay. The PCG has assured that it is capable of implementing such measures and that they have such equipment as speed boats and other appropriate sea transport vehicles available to secure the protection of tourists traveling by sea.

P2-M EARMARKED FOR ANTI-DENGUE DRIVE

SAN FERNANDO, Cebu — The Cebu Provincial Government is earmarking P2 million for its intensified drive against the onslaught of the mosquito-borne disease dengue in the province. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the rising cases of dengue in Cebu and Central Visayas, with the onset of the rainy season, has prompted her to form the anti-dengue task force headed by 1st district Board Member Cerie Restauro. Garcia said while dengue cases in the province have not yet reached alarming levels, the provincial government has to act now to ensure the safety of children, who are mostly victimized by the killer disease. The P2-million anti-dengue fund will be used to mainly buy equipment and chemicals for killing dengue-carrying mosquitoes and destroying their breeding grounds, Garcia said. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)