SAN JOSE, Antique — In commemoration of EDSA 1 People Power's 25th Anniversary, the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) has planted 100 fruit-bearing trees within the APPO premises.
APPO Deputy Provincial Director for Operations Art June Yotoko led the undertaking along with 18 APPO chiefs of police and personnel in planting 100 fruit bearing seedlings inside the camp.

“Planting more trees is our way of showing concern for our ailing environment and raising the awareness of the community that caring for the environment is everybody’s concern,” said Yotoko. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Maasin ok's P1 fare hike
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — The minimum transport fare in this locality has officially been increased effective this week by one peso, from P7.00 to P8.00.

City Treasurer Eleseo Costillas said the new set of fares contains a provision requiring 20% discount for student passengers and senior citizens based on existing national law.

“Rounders,” or those whose coverage are within city limits from Combado to barangay Mambajao, will collect R8.00 as the new minimum fare, while beyond that, or upon entering barangay Asuncion, the rate will be P9.50.

Aklanons treated for filariasis
KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — Sixty-five percent of Aklan’s population have been treated for filariasis in 2010, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here.

The PHO said such last year’s treatment is just the first round, as medicines for the disease is good for five years. Aklan was earlier found to be endemic for filariasis, making it a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) recipient for a 6.2 microfilaria rate.

Based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, a province with a microfilaria rate of 1% and above should avail of the MDA.

Governor calls for peace dialogue
BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. — Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon has reiterated his appeal for a dialogue with the New People’s Army (NPA).

“I am urging our brothers in the mountains to come down and talk,” said Marañon in his message at the commemoration rites for the 25th anniversary of Edsa Revolution in Bacolod City. “Let us not fight each other, but we should work together to solve poverty.

There can be no progress without peace,” Marañon emphasized. He explained that his reiteration for a dialogue with communist rebels is incorporating the essence of the bloodless revolution that toppled the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos and gave rebirth to Filipino democracy in 1986. (Tara Yap)

Bohol folk warned vs front groups
TAGBILARAN CITY, BohoL — The Philippine Army (PA) is warning communities here not to be easily swayed by offers of some non-government organizations used as fronts of the New People’s Army.
The warning was made by the PA’s 802nd Brigade Commander, Colonel John Bonafos during a recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting here.

“We have to change from fighting the enemy to winning the peace,” he declared.

The men charged with internal security operations in Bohol noted the existence of non-government organizations which put up fronts and later use innocent communities to advance their goal to organize the mass base in preparation for the revival of the armed group or re-entry of fleeing armed rebels from Negros.