AURORA, Philippines – The Japanese government has extended financial assistance to two projects in the province of Aurora with a combined worth of P780 million.

According to the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura will first grace the ground breaking ceremonies of the “Project for Improvement of the Aurora Memorial Hospital” in Reserva, Baler, Aurora.

The Aurora Memorial Hospital, which costs approximately 1.09 billion Japanese Yen, or approximately P509 million, is funded under the Japan’s Grant Aid Program.

It will be the only hospital in Aurora that can perform surgical procedures, thus reducing the number of patients transferred to other provinces. (Roy Mabasa)

PINATUBO VICTIMS GET LAND TITLES

PAMPANGA, Philippines – 302 families in Pampanga who where displaced by the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991 have been successfully relocated by the government.

This developed after Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Jejomar C. Binay awarded lot titles to the 302 qualified families from the villages of Bacolor, Mabalacat and Angeles City who were affected by the massive volcano eruption.

According to the National Housing Authority (NHA), the families are now “safely and securely resettled” at the Camachile Resettlement Project in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“The Camachile project, which occupies a total land area of 26.80 hectares, was acquired in January 1992,” NHA said. (JC Bello Ruiz)

CERTIFIED SEEDS FOR RICE FARMERS

TABUK, Kalinga, Philippines – Rice farmers in the province of Kalinga found relief from heavy damage inflicted by super typhoon “Juan” to their crops that were on their vegetative, flowering, and harvestable stages last October with the distribution of 12,532 bags of certified rice seeds subsidy from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under its calamity assistance program.

Provincial agriculturist Gerry Jose said 11,231 bags fall under the 50-50 subsidy or farmers will pay half of the cost per bag amounting to P600, while 1,301 bags are covered under full subsidy.

Farmers allotted with the 50-50 subsidy are those who have chances of recovery covering an affected area of 11,231 hectares, while those under full subsidy are without chance of recovery coming from an affected area of 1,301 hectares. (Dexter See)

D.O.T.C. HEIGHTENS CORDILLERA DRIVE

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Cordillera Administrative Office of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC-CAR) here is trying to humanize the harsh penalties by trying to legitimize the operation of at least 1,000 colorum vans and taxis operating in the different parts of the region to prevent the occurrence of a transport crisis that will affect the general welfare.

However, Celina Claver, DoTC-CAR director, said the rapid growth in the region’s population has also resulted in the bigger demand for public transport. (Dexter See)

COMPUTER UNITS FOR 7 LIBRARIES

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The National Library of the Philippines (NLP) turned over seven KOHA computer units to seven public libraries in the province in ceremonies held recently at the Pampanga Provincial Library.

Provincial librarian Bessie D. Makabali said that the computer units were turned over by the NLP to the city and municipal libraries of Guagua, Floridablanca, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Angeles City, and the provincial library here. (Franco Regala)