ANTIPOLO CITY — The city government here has started doing some makeover of the major highways in this city in time for the upcoming activities in summer including the much anticipated investment summit.

Personnel of the City’s Clean and Green Department have initiated the cleaning of the center island along Marcos Highway from the Marikina-Antipolo boundary all the way to Masinag Junction.

The cleanup drive of the street sweepers yielded 100 sacks of dried leaves alone, not including the piles of rocks and dust that have been collected during the three-day cleaning operation of the city government personnel. (Nel B. Andrade)

Abra grows Japanese crop
BANGUED, Abra — The Japanese mushroom “shitake” is now grown by the people of Malibcong in Abra as one of their major sources of livelihood, helping improve the lives of local residents, especially those in far flung villages.

Provincial Agriculturist Jesus Villamor, Jr. said mushroom production in Malibcong is a project of the Farmers Association of Duldulao, a registered farmers’ organization which is being assisted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in collaboration with the Anglican Church there headed by Fr. Garneth Daowan, who serves as the project facilitator in order to help people establish a decent source of income. (Dexter A. See)

256 pass exam in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY — Alternative Learning System (ALS) Baguio Division Office head Art Tiongan has confirmed that Baguio is maintaining its very good standing record as far as the recently released result of the Oct. 3, 2010 ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) examination is concern.

According to ALS Baguio Division head Art Tiongan, out of the 631 takers, of the ALS exam, 256 passed, or a 40.57 percent passing rate. In the elementary level, 17 passed out of the 44 takers, while for the secondary level 239 passed, out of the 587 takers. (Dexter A. See)

Pangasinan Press Club holds polls
DAGUPAN CITY — The Pangasinan Press Club elected lawyer Gonzalo T. Duque, columnist of the local weekly Sunday Punch, as its president during the media club election held last Saturday at the Sanggunisang Panlungsod office here.

Duque’s group got 10 seats of the 15-man board. The opposing group managed to get only three seats. An independent managed to make it to the board. Ashok Vasandani of Northern Times was chosen executive vice-president.

The other officers are: Juanito “Jun” Velasco of Manila Bulletin, vice-president for print; Raul “Insiyong” Tamayo of Aksyon Radyo, vice-president for broadcast; Rhee Fer Hortaleza of Aksyon Radyo, secretary; Ike Palinar of Manaoag Chronicle, treasurer; and Jessie Perez of USATV, auditor. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Village chief stays alive
TAYOG, Pangasinan – A village chief survived an ambush by two still unidentified motorcycle-riding armed individuals on Monday as he was about to enter his house here.

Police identified the survivor as Leonel Zaragosa, barangay captain of Ded, Tayog, Pangasinan.

He was able to scamper for safety and seek police assistance after the attackers fled from the crime scene. (Dexter A. See)