SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — As a response to protests from environmental groups in Central Luzon, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has stopped the cutting of hundreds of trees on the stretch of MacArthur Highway from Pampanga to Tarlac.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson issued an order Wednesday night to prevent employees of DPWH from cutting down more trees in Pampanga.

The felling of trees is part of the road-widening program of the government to accommodate the influx of tourists and investors arriving at Clark Freeport in Angeles City.

DPWH has allotted at least P440 million budget for the said rehabilitation project which aims to develop Clark as a premier business hub for foreign investors. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Sta. Rosa Bags 'Green Banner

STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna, Philippines — The local government here received their third Green Banner Award during Thursday’s National Nutrition Awarding ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Sta. Rosa City is among the recipients of this year’s Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) given by the National Nutrition Council to the local government unit (LGU) that has maintained good performance in managing their local nutrition plans.

City Nutrition Action Officer Carmencita Catindig said the city government's nutrition program is testament to Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno’s dedication in lessening health related concerns in the city. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

Dengue Cases Drop in CAR

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Center for Health Development (CHD) here reported Friday a steady decrease in number of dengue fever cases in this mountain resort city and the provinces of Benguet and Abra.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, CHD-CAR regional director, said although the provinces of Mountain Province and Kalinga are still on the epidemic threshold of the dreaded mosquito-bourne illness, there is a big possibility that the number of cases will go down in the next few weeks.

This follows an upsurge in dengue cases in the first nine and a half months of 2010 which raised the number of those downed by the mosquito-borned disease to 5,200. (Dexter A. See)

Explosives Seized

PADRE BURGOS, Quezon/CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan, Philippines — Military and police operatives found and seized hundreds of sacks of bomb-making chemicals in Bataan and Quezon provinces the other day.

In Quezon province, a total of 135 sacks containing ammonium nitrate were seized and three men were arrested while they were loading the explosive chemicals into a motorized banca in Barangay Basiao, this town, around 12:10 a.m.

Colonel Ed Año, Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade commander, identified the suspects as Michael Espnosilla, Pedro Villapena, and Brigido Villena.

Earlier the same day, 500 kilos of ammonium nitrate and explosives were seized and four suspects were arrested by police intelligence operatives in Limay and Mariveles towns. Sr. Supt. Arnold D. Gunnacao, Bataan police director, reported that the said explosives believed to be used in illegal and dynamite fishing, were allegedly stolen by the suspects from the plant of Orica Explosives Philippines in Lamao, Limay town.

Col. Gunnacao identified the arrested as Teresita Macapagal, alias “Tissa,” of Mariveles; Ricardo Acayan, Ernesto Paguio of Lamao, and Arman Celeste of Balanga City. (Mar T. Supnad and Danny Estacio)