SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — This Freeport will be one of the venues all over the world that would celebrate the International Coastal Cleanup Day, a global campaign that will help remove trash and debris from waterways and beaches. The International Coastal Cleanup Day will be held on September 25 wherein more than 75,000 volunteers from different parts of the country will participate to help clean the coastal areas of the Philippines. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza said that the preservation of Subic Bay’s coastal areas is a priority to ensure that the pristine waters of Subic Bay will remain for many more years. “We are cooperating with the Lighthouse Marina Resort to help us organize volunteers who are willing to clean up our coasts. They have already spearheaded the organizing of this event, inviting different locators who will help in the conservation,” Arreza said. Lighthouse Marina Resort chief Jun Avecilla said that the event would be simultaneously held and coordinated on a global scale. (Jonas Reyes)

MINDORO LEADERS OPPOSE POWER FIRM

CALAPAN CITY — Oriental Mindoro leaders composed of Congressmen Rodolfo G. Valencia and Reynaldo V. Umali, Gov. Alfonso V. Umali Jr., Vice Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor, board members, and mayors have unanimously opposed the application of Power One Corp. for the approval of its Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA), in the interest and general welfare of the province. The Mindoro leaders slammed the alleged irregularities in the earlier award of the ESA in favor of Power One Corp. and recently submitted to Chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz-Ducut of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The officials include Mayors Salvador C. Leachon (Calapan City), Graciano P. Dela Chica (Baco), Apollo E. Feraren (San Teodoro), Hubbert Christopher A. Dolor (Puerto Galera),  Maria Angeles C. Casubuan (Naujan), Alfredo G. Ortega Jr. (Victoria),  Rolando F. Arreola (Socorro),  Leandro P. Panganiban Jr. (Pola), Loreto S. Perez (Gloria), Ronaldo M. Morada (Bansud), Wilfredo L. Hernandez Sr. (Pinamalayan), Hercules A. Umali (Bongabong), Jackson C. Dy (Roxas),  Jose Ildefonso M. Maliwanag (Mansalay), and  Ernilo C. Villas (Bulalacao). The Mindoro leaders claimed that Power One allegedly failed to show sufficient proof of its technical and financial capability to develop the power requirements of Oriental Mindoro. (Diego Cagahastian)

NO RIZAL DENGUE OUTBREAK YET

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — In spite of the increasing number of dengue cases in the province and elsewhere in the country, the provincial health officials here is not likely to declare an outbreak of the disease yet. Dr. Iluminado Victoria, chief of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), said the absence of “clustering,” a term used by the Department of Health (DoH) on concentration of dengue cases in many parts of a community, an outbreak will not be declared even if the cases of dengue rose to 864 as of Monday all over the province. As of September 13, there were 16 fatalities recorded as a result of dengue in the province. Seven of the fatalities were from Antipolo, five from San Mateo, and the rest was recorded to have originated from Cainta, the PHO official said. Victoria said Rizal Gov. Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III has earlier ordered the PHO personnel to strictly monitor the cases in affected localities in the province to prevent the occurrence of an outbreak. The PHO is concentrating on their “pro active” measures in dealing with the illness.  (Nel Andrade)