CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, Philippines – A total of 5,878 affected families or 31,143 evacuees from 51 barangays in Cagayan Valley coastal areas reportedly returned Saturday to their homes after disaster authorities lifted the hazardous threat of tsunami in all coastal areas in Cagayan Valley, Lt. Col. Rosendo Armas, spokesperson of Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), said.

Armas said since Friday night, the Army rescue teams from 17th Infantry Battalion based in Batanes and Cagayan Valley led by its commander, Lt. Col. Laurence Mina, have been deployed in various coastline areas to assist local authorities and evacuees from tsunami coastal affected towns of Abulug, Pamplona, Ballesteros and Buguey, all in Cagayan.

As of this time, Armas said the 31,143 evacuees in 51 barangays in various coastal areas in Cagayan have already returned to their homes after the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (CPDCC) declared that the hazardous threat of tsunami was over. (Franco G. Regala)

Cagayan holds special election
TUGUEGARAO CITY – After the cancellation of tsunami threat in the coastal towns in Cagayan province, the evacuees safely returned home and cast their votes on the special election on the vacated seat of the second congressional district of the province, a police official said.

Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police provincial director, said at least 1,215 forces from the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were already deployed in the different polling precincts in the 12 towns that comprised the province’s second district. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

 Ebdane backs Aquino agenda
IBA, Zambales – Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane. Jr., a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), vowed Saturdayy to support President Aquino’s peace and social agenda in the province.

The governor assured the President his wholehearted support his peace and social initiatives.

Philippine Army Camp Commander Brig. Gen. Irineo C. Espino earlier visited this province to push for the President’s peace and social initiatives. (Franco G. Regala)

Benguet boosts health plans
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet– The provincial government is stepping up efforts to boost the health and nutrition programs of the province by allocating funds to augment municipal programs in order to improve the living condition of people, especially those living in the countryside.

It has earmarked a P2.113 million as a yearly fund allocation to the Provincial Nutrition Council. (Dexter A. See)

Cavite to hold Women's Congress
IMUS Caviteavite – Officials here are celebrating National Women’s Month with the so-called Women’s Congress to be led by Sen. Loren Legarda on Tuesday at the Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Trece Martires City.

The special event is the third of a series that was set by the provincial government this month at the Capitol after the well-attended Cavite Organic Agriculture Festival last Friday and Saturday’s Mass Distribution of Educational Assistance where some 3,800 scholars received P5,000 cash each as help from the administration. (Anthony Giron)