SINAIT, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — At least five tectonic earthquakes hit different Luzon provinces starting Wednesday until press time Thursday but there were no reported damages, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) satellite office based in Sinait town here.

Local Phivolcs Researcher Julius Galdiano said the latest recorded quake happened at about 5:50 a.m. Thursday with magnitude of 3.6. Its epicenter was located at 9 kilometers southwest of Tumauini, Isabela province with a depth of 46 kilometers. However, no recorded intensity felt in the affected area.

At about 12:57a.m. Thursday, a magnitude 4.0 quake rocked Zambales province with its epicenter traced at 163 kms southwest of Iba, Zambales province with a depth of 1 kilometer. Galdiano said last Wednesday, three quakes jolted Isabela and Ilocos provinces.

He disclosed that at about 12:52 noon last Wednesday, a magnitude 4.2 quake rocked Isabela province with its epicenter traced at 23 kilometers northwest of Tumauini, Isabela with a depth of 20 kilometers. Intensity 4 was felt in Mallig, Isabela province. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

N.F.A. ASSURES RICE SUPPLY

BONTOC, Mt. Province, Philippines — The National Food Authority (NFA) in the province assured the consuming public of sufficient rice stocks even as wholesale price of NFA rice has increased from the previous P23.50 to P25 per kilogram effective Dec. 7.

NFA Provincial Manager Celedonio Mendoza said the latest inventory of the present rice stocks showed that it could last until March next year, thus, local residents need not worry about the rice supply in the province considering that the supply will be replenished by the upcoming harvest season.

With the new price increase, Mendoza said the NFA accredited outlets will re-sell the basic staple food to end consumers at an increased price of P27, excluding the corresponding freight if brought to far-flung barangays, from the usual P25 per kilogram.

He said the latest government rice price increase is one of the measures the agency is undertaking to fulfill its mandated functions of ensuring grains supply and price stabilization, food security and palay procurement. (Dexter A. See)

CABBIES WANT P40 FLAG DOWN RATE

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Taxi drivers and operators in this mountain resort city and the nearby province of Benguet are now demanding a P40 flag down rate allegedly for them to cope with the rapid increases in the prices of oil and spare parts.

Their earlier demand was for a P30 flag-down rate.

The new flag down rate being demanded by taxi drivers and operators was a consensus of the nearly 4,000 operators who are managing the operation of taxi units in Baguio and Benguet.

With fuel priced at P40.60 per liter in the city, the taxi drivers and operators argued there is also a need to increase the prevailing fare. (Dexter A. See)

'CRACKER INJURY CASES RISE

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — True to earlier predictions by health authorities, the number of firecracker-related injuries started to surge with barely a day before the celebration of the New Year’s Eve revelry that will usher in the coming of the year 2011.

Based on records obtained from the Cordillera office of the Center for Health Development (CHD) here, there are already 21 individuals injured because of the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic materials from Dec. 21 to Dec. 29. (Dexter A. See)