BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – As part of Mayor Joet S. Garcia’s “Gulayan sa Barangay” program, housewives in this city’s 25 barangays are now keeping themselves busy by planting vegetables and other cash crops that could be easily sold. Garcia said the city government launched the “Kaanib” and “Sagip Kalikasan” projects recently with the support of Bataan First Lady Vicky Garcia in Barangay Cupang Proper. The occasion was timed with ceremonial transplanting of vegetables for farmers’ field school on vegetable production, where vegetable gardens were put up at a vacant lot in the said village. City Agricultural Office Head Nerrisa Mateo said vacant lots which often end up as dumping grounds will now become productive by converting them into vegetable gardens. (Mar T. Supnad)

POST-DISASTER REPORT DONE

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – The city government reported Saturday the completion of its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (CDRRMC’s) post-disaster assessment that led to the identification of areas most affected by the onslaught of typhoon “Juan.” City Administrator Vladimir Mata presided over the recent meeting with the technical working staff of the former City Disaster Coordinating Council and different line agencies involved in disaster response relief operations. “It is important that the CDRRMC will be able to gather all the inputs and suggestions from the participants to strengthen the loose ends which the city was not able to do during the response operations.” Flora Mae Magalong of the PRC and Division Superintendent Alma Ruby Torio of DepEd commended the city for conducting the post-disaster assessment which they believe will lead to better preparedness and lesser risks in the event of future disasters. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

JAPANESE’S LAST TEE OFF IN LAGUNA

A Japanese tourist who enjoyed a day of golf in Laguna last Friday suddenly experienced abdominal pains on the way back to Manila and was dead on arrival at the Manila Adventist Hospital in Pasay City. Police said they have started an investigation on the cause of death of Motoichi Momura who was declared dead-on-arrival at the hospital on Donada Street at 5:15 p.m. The attending physician said there were no visible injuries suffered by the fatality. Prior to complaining of abdominal pains, Momura and his fellow Japanese friends had played golf at the Canlubang Golf Course in Laguna from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Police said an autopsy is underway. (Mitch Arceo)

JEEP HOLDUP SUSPECTS FALL

BOCAUE, Bulacan, Philippines – The quick response of police to two robberies in this province resulted in the arrest of two armed suspects recently, the chief of police of this town reported Saturday. Superintedent Ronaldo F. de Jesus identified the suspects as Rowell Villa, 19, and Juan Miguel Garcia, 20, both of Barangay Batia, Northville 5 this city. De Jesus said the two, who yielded a homemade 9mm pistol and a bladed weapon, squealed that their cohort who eluded arrest was a certain “Jimrex.” Senior Supt. Fernando S. Villanueva, Bulacan police director, said the three were involved in two passenger jeepney holdups the other night and had been positively identified by their alleged victims. (Freddie C. Velez)