ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has acted with dispatch upon hearing that Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is poised to act on the sunken vessels at the mouth of the Iloilo River which are seen to be eyesores in the entry port of this southern city.

Mabilog said he has received notice from PPA Port Manager Fernando Claveria stating the agency will immediately act on the complaint against said sunken vessels that serve not only as eyesores but also cause massive siltation and impeding the flow of water to the open sea.

Cebu to host L.T.S.P. convention
CEBU CITY, Cebu — At least 1,000 tourism and hospitality management students will be converging in Cebu on February 20 for the 3rd annual national convention of the League of Tourism Students of the Philippines (LTSP).

Tourism and hospitality management students from colleges and universities around the country have confirmed participation in the one-day convention at the Cebu Grand Convention Center.

Speakers during convention include former Department of Tourism 7 Director Dawnie Roa, former National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) head Angel Bognot, and other key stakeholders in the tourism industry. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Flood control project almost done
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The first stage of the Iloilo Flood Control Project (IFCP) is nearing completion with only about close to 12 percent remaining of the entire package, a report from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Iloilo City disclosed.

The first stage of the project has two components, the first being undertaken by the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company and the other, which has been awarded to the China International Water and Electric Corporation.

Project Engineer Al Fruto said the first component is now 87.99 percent complete with a positive slippage of 7.44 percent while the second is already fully complete as of September 2009.

Uniformed cops mulled in P.U.Vs
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PNA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is considering assigning cops on board passenger buses and similar forms of public transportation to avert possible terror attacks and other forms of criminality.

PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas recently had a conference with his staff at the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office (NOPPO) to initially draw up an implementation plan on said scheme.

Southern Leyte L.G.Us win award
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) — Two Southern Leyte local government units (LGUs) ruled their respective categories in the 2010 Local Legislative Awards of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine Councilor’s League in Eastern Visayas.

Macrohon ascended to the regional champion level among 4th to 6th class towns, edging out the much-improved Babatngon, Leyte and defending titlist Cabucgayan, Biliran (2nd runner-up); and past champion Balangiga, Eastern Samar (3rd runner-up).