APARRI, Cagayan, Philippines – Some 20 dolphins were rescued and safely released at sea by fishermen in Barangay Palawig, Santa Ana, Cagayan last Friday.

Director Milagros Morales of the Cagayan Valley Region’s Fishery Center here received the report that fisherfolk in Barangay Palawig had captured the dolphins, prompting her to contact Agriculture Officer Richard Alebaña to verify the incident.

As Morales and Alebaña reached the coastal town, they witnessed fishermen releasing the captured dolphins, with lengths ranging between 3 and 3.5 meters.

Alebaña appealed to local fishermen to protect the endangered dolphin fish species and reminded them that slaughtering of such marine mammals are prohibited by law and punishable by 12 up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to P100,000. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Tarlac streets safer — police
TARLAC CITY, Philippines – Police authorities declared on Saturday the streets of this province a bit safer with the arrest of six suspected drug pushers allegedly involved in big-time operations.

The first to fall in a series of arrests was Rudy Custodio, alias “Daboy,” 33, of Sitio San Lorenzo Ruiz, Barangay San Jose, Concepcion, Tarlac.

In Camiling, Tarlac, police nabbed Darwin Hadloc and ex-Police Officer 1 Judy Serna Villanueva, a former member of the 312th Police Mobile Group. In another part of Camiling, Ricardo dela Peña and Beverly Casino were also collared for possession of illegal drugs.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Benigno Niro in a nearby barangay. All but one were booked with drugs charges and not granted bail. (Mar T. Supnad)

Dagupan to close 37 shops
DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – At least 37 business establishments inside the Malimgas Public Market and Magsaysay Fish Section have been ordered closed for alleged non-renewal of their respective mayor’s permits and non-payment of business taxes.

Mayor Benjie Lim ordered the closure of the establishments for what he said were clear violations of Section 117(a) of City Ordinance No. 1855-2005.

Only three of the 37 establishments paid their dues to the city before the team of Licensing, Inspection and Examination Division (LIED) of the City Treasurer’s Office implemented the closure order.

Licensing Officer IV (Division Chief, LIED) Bienvinido T. Bauzon said the city stands to generate P862,220.30 if the delinquent taxpayers settle their obligations. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Survival fund
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada has proposed the establishment of a People’s Survival Fund as typhoons, droughts, and other calamities brought about by effects of climate change continue to aggravate the living conditions of the people in the country, especially the poor.

These distressing effects of climate change were discussed recently in the community-driven campaign DEPENSA! by the international not-for-profit organization Oxfam and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. Participants agreed that government has to make immediate adjustments or prepare the citizenry to projected climate change impacts to put a national priority.

Tañada said the survival fund is needed to finance adaptation programs and projects of local governments and communities primarily on climate change consequences. (Franco G. Regala)