ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Residents here will have all the time to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday as the Office of the President declared the occasion a special non-working holiday throughout this city.

Proclamation No. 80, declaring December 8, 2010 as special non-working day in this city was signed last December 1, by Executive Secretary Pacquito N. Ochoa Jr. A grand parade to be participated in by various sectors in this city will highlight the Catholic feast day.

Local officials led by Mayor Danilo Leyble, and Representatives Romeo Acop and Roberto Puno are expected to lead the celebration which begins with the grand parade will start at 7 a.m. (Nel B. Andrade)

CALABARZON SECURITY UP

CAMP GEN. LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Chief Superintendent Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. announced Monday that the Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A) is all systems go for the implementation of intensified and well-coordinated security plan for the Yuletide season in Southern Tagalog.

Pagdilao directed all of his five provincial directors and cities and municipal police chiefs to supervise the implementation of the public safety and security operations in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Riza, Quezon) to prevent people from falling victims to crime groups.

He also ordered his commanders to provide assistance to the general public in anticipation of the upsurge of commuters, motorists and travelers in order to prevent congestion, accidents, robbery and other street crimes. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

SUBIC LEANS ON TOURISM CULTURE

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — “Culture of tourism is crucial to Subic’s economy.”

This was the statement made by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza as he urges leaders of the local tourism industry and communities around the Freeport to introduce and instill the culture of tourism down to grassroots level.

“While low-cost manufacturing initially fueled the growth of this former military base in the early 90’s, the emergent tourism industry here will be the next economic miracle for Subic Bay,” Arreza said.

“We would like to see every person in the community giving his share at drawing tourists in his own little ways, in line with the policies drawn by leaders of this industry,” he added. (Jonas Reyes)

HOUSE CLEARS ABRA ELECTRIC

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines — The House Committee on Cooperative Development has already cleared the Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco) of alleged irregularities.

Abra Electric Cooperative Board of Directors headed by their President David Guzman explained to Rep. Jose Ping-ay, House committee chairman and other congressmen during the House investigation that Abreco have been above-board in all its actions at the heels of complaints it has not been conducting general assemblies, its officials have been appointed irregularly, among others.

Earlier, Abra Rep. Joy Bernos asked the House to probe Abreco over controversies in the management of the electric cooperative.

Bernos had questioned that Abreco has not been holding its general membership assemblies for three years, hence its BOD and its general manager had been holding on to their positions illegally.

But Abreco General Manager Loreto Seares Jr., maintains no general assemblies were called in the past three years because the cooperative is on a transition. (Dexter A. See)