NAGA CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Following the recent landslide and heavy rains in this city, the Region 7 office of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) has urged local government units that are considered high-risk in landslide and flashflood incidents to closely monitor their respective areas.

Early this week, 12 houses mostly made of light materials and seven electrical posts were severely affected with the recent landslide damaging a total area of five hectares.

MGB7 Senior Science Research Specialist Abraham R. Lucero Jr. recommended the putting up of adequate barbwire fence to block off the affected area, deployment of barangay tanods near the perimeter fence and the provision of appropriate signages on the hazards in the area.

Lucero also suggested the construction of an access road by relocating the existing one as it is highly dangerous being situated within the landslide-affected area, and evacuation of families or households to safer areas. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

TACLOBAN GETS NEW POLICE CHIEF

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The chief of police of the Tacloban City District Police Office has been sacked by his superiors for the various unsolved crimes in the city which earned him the ire of businessmen and a top city official.

There was no formal turn-over of command to new police chief Senior Supt. Wilson Caubat as Senior Supt. Sergio Dimandal, former district director of the Tacloban City District Police Office, has left his post since last month after being relieved by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Office in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Caubat said he just assumed his post as new police chief since Dimandal is now in Parang, Maguindanao holding a new post in the PNP regional office.

He said he assumed his post as officer-in-charge of the Tacloban City District Police Office after volunteering for the post since there is no other qualified officer from Region 8 to hold the vacated post. (Nestor L. Abrematea)

NEW L.T.F.R.B. 7 HEAD NAMED

CEBU CITY, Philippines (PNA) – An executive of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has been appointed by President Aquino as the new director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7.

MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete, who announced Public Affairs Manager Ahmed Cuizon’s appointment as the new LTFRB 7 director, said it is “a big loss for MCIAA, but a huge gain for the LTFRB and for the country.”

Cuizon said he is duty-bound to follow the decision of the President, since MCIAA and LTFRB are both attached agencies of the Department of Transportation and Communications. Earlier, LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said Malacañang is processing Cuizon’s appointment so he can replace Benjamin Go who will be assigned in Cotabato.

FLOODS PROMPT CLASS SUSPENSION

ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – Elementary school classes in three towns of Aklan province were suspended as floodwaters rose due to heavy downpour Friday.

Division Supt. Victoria Laroza's office, however, clarified that she left to the discretion of elementary school principals in Banga and Numancia towns as well as in the capital town Kalibo the decision on suspending classes.

On Thursday, some schools in Kalibo started suspending classes due to floods which blamed on clogged drainage.

The Office of Civil Defense Regional Office 6 (OCD-6) reported that Aklan River did not overflow despite the heavy downpour.

The office also said villages most affected by the flooding were near the Aklan River.