STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna — Some 1,500 motorcycles have been inspected by authorities during the launching of the “Clean Motorbike” campaign of the Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO), here, this week.

The campaign is aimed at curbing the proliferation of undocumented motorcycles, said Senior Superintendent Gilberto Cruz, Laguna PPO director.

Cruz said the drive, in cooperation with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), will help trace motorcycles used in criminal activities.

He added that they provide stickers with corresponding control numbers to all motorcycles traversing Laguna that are complete with the necessary documents for their vehicles.

The drive has led to the impounding of 35 motorcycles as of noon Friday. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

200,000 to Get Water Access

MABALACAT, Pampanga — The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the municipal government here will inaugurate a P150-million water facility project in this highly industrialized town to sustain the growing need for potable water of over 200,000 Mabalacat residents for the next 25 years.

Mabalacat Water District Chairman Deng Pangilinan said the Central Ground Water Reservoir at Barangay Camachiles in this municipality will be inaugurated on September 21 during a simple ceremony that would be led by LWUA chairman Prospero Pichay.

“The MWD central ground water reservoir will address the growing needs for clean and potable drinking water in the next 25 years and extend the water services to the waterless barangays,” Pangilinan said.

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and Mayor Marino Morales are expected to grace the occasion. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

AUF to Hold Cultural Fest

ANGELES CITY — The Angeles University Foundation Center for Culture and the Arts (AUF-CCA) is staging this year’s inter-collegiate cultural competitions on September 21, 22 and 23 at the AUF St. Cecilia’s Auditorium and SM City Clark.

Dubbed “Pinoy Living Treasures: A Toast to RP’s Modern-Day Icons,” colleges will compete in the pop band, vocal solo, choir, and dance categories with the lives and achievements of the following renowned Filipinos central to their performances: Henry Sy Sr. (business); Manny Pacquiao (sports); Lea Salonga and Liza Macuja (performing arts); Efren Peñaflorida (education); Rosa Rosal (public service); Josie Natori (fashion); and Dr. Fe Del Mundo (medicine).

Now on its 25th year, this much awaited cultural spectacle is expected to bring together students, faculty, personnel and alumni of AUF in an atmosphere of fun and healthy competition, says Boron Garcia, director of the AUF-CCA. AUF is considered the hub of culture and the arts in Central Luzon. (Franco Regala)

Drug Lady

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Elements of Angeles City police arrested an alleged cocaine peddler in an entrapment in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, on Thursday afternoon.

Superintendent David N. Poklay, Angeles City Police intelligence chief, identified the suspect as Rizza Gremio Badillo, 19, of Barangay Malabanas, Bobon, Northern Samar.

Poklay said, the operation stemmed from a tip-off that suspect was in possession of a package and looking for interested buyers of cocaine.

During the buy-bust operation, covert agents under Poklay found that the package contained cocaine. Badillo is now detained, pending the filing of criminal charges. (Freddie C. Velez)