BATANGAS CITY — Batangas Representatives Hermilando Mandanas and Sonny Collantes have joined Batangas City Mayor Vilma Dimacuha in exhorting all geodetic engineers in Region 4 to face the challenge of computerization in the practice of their profession to further boost the economy of the Southern Tagalog region.

Mandanas, Collantes, and Dimacuha are the prominent leaders of Batangas who will join the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines (GEP) Region 4 in their 37th annual regional assembly and election on March 4-5, 2011 at the Pontefino Hotel in this city.

The group is headed by Engr. Edgardo N. Aguilar, president, who said there is great promise in computerization of geodetic engineering that will add accuracy and ease to the tasks of geodetic engineers all over the country. (DCC)

Student wins regional quiz
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — A third year Accountancy student from Holy Angel University (HAU) in Angeles City bested other 26 contenders in the recently concluded regional finals of the National Quiz Bee.

Giemo Lee Ilagan of Holy Angel University (HAU) won the three-round regional competition that tackled on general information and international affairs. While 1st and 2nd runner up respectively were Michael John Alvaran of Baliuag University and Erlyn Pontalan of Colegio de San Gabriel Archangel. (Franco Regala)

Distressed O.F.Ws assisted
CANDON CITY — At least eighteen Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with four children had personally expressed their gratitude to Senator Manny Villar for the assistance he provided to them by the help desk he set up for distressed OFWs.

In a press statement received Wednesday here, the said OFWs, through the work of Migrante International, were rescued from Khandara Bridge in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

They were repatriated by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) last month and they sought the help of Sagip OFW for the payment of their transportation cost in going to their home provinces, mostly in Mindanao. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Pangasinan rice supply
DAGUPAN CITY — National Food Authority in the province assured the public that rice supply would be enough until next harvest. "The total rice stock in western Pangasinan is good for the next 123 days, NFA said.

Assistant Manager Dionisio Rivera of the western Pangasinan branch based in Lingayen said the latest estimate of 1.6 million bags to include the 660,000 bags at NFA warehouses will be sufficient to meet the daily demand of 155,000 bags a day until the next harvest season. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Rizal A.F.P., P.N.P. ink pact
TAYTAY, RIZAL — Military and police personnel here have inked a pact that aims to provide the needed support to the local government units jointly in the preservation of peace and order in their respective localities.

This came as the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) hosted the creation of the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) and the signing of an agreement related to the functions of the police and military, yesterday morning.

The signatories in the agreement are PPO director, Senior Supt. Manuel Cesar Prieto of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and 16th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato of the Philippine Army (PA).