SABANGAN, Mountain Province, Philippines – A memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the local government here and Hedcor was signed this week to push on with the proposed construction of a 13.2-megawatt (mW) hydro-electric power plant in Chico River. Mayor Donato L. Danglose, after signing the MoA with Hedcor Vice President Gregorio P. Jabonillo, said the power plant will boost the energy requirements of the province and increase the power that will be infused into the Luzon grid. (Dexter A. See)

‘KILAWIN’ DOWNS 16

BALLESTEROS, Cagayan, Philippines – At least 16 people were rushed to the Ballesteros District Hospital, here, on Thursday night after reportedly eating “munamon,” a native delicacy of fresh small fish known in most parts of the country as “kilawin.” Hospital director Dr. Nicasio Galano said the patients exhibited vomiting and experienced stomach pain and loose bowel movement. “They are all now in stable condition,” said Galano, adding that the fresh small fish they ate might not have been cleaned or prepared properly. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

NIGHT MARKET UP IN BAGUIO

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – To address rampant illegal vending the city, the local government approved a proposal for an experimental night market at the Baguio Athletic Bowl from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight. The Baguio City Market Authority (BCMA) said the night market will run for two months to study whether or not it will effectively rid the city of ambulant and illegal vendors on the sidewalks, roads, the central business area and even the public market. With the night market in place, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered a strict ban on illegal vending. (Dexter A. See)

HEALTH MEET IN BATANGAS

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – The Batangas Provincial Health Office (PHO) organized a province-wide Health Summit, here, recently which was attended by local chief executives and provincial, city and municipal health officers. The conference held at the Hotel Ponte Fino was intended to map out the health situation of the province and discuss strategic interventions needed to address gaps, align and synchronize priorities, and share good practices for replication, particularly those anchored on Governor Vilma Santos Recto’s HEARTS (Heath, Education and Environment, Agriculture, Roads, Tourism,Infrastracture ) program. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

AGING FOLK GET P500 AID

PANGASINAN, Philippines – Qualified senior citizens from Alaminos City are starting to receive their monthly P500 stipend from the national government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Friday. The 75 beneficiaries were the first batch who received their stipend among the 2,304 eligible elderly residents of Region 1 entitled to the monthly financial help. DSWD Regional Director Marlene D. Peralta said that DSWD will pay all the beneficiaries in cash pending issuance of ATM cards by the Land Bank of the Philippines. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)