CAVITE, Philippines — Officials in Cavite will hold summit meetings which will tackle the much-needed traffic management and road safety measures in the province.

Vice Governor Recto M. Cantimbuhan confirmed this yesterday as he and the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (Provincial Board) members had a discussion on the proposed traffic summit meetings just before their regular Monday session adjourned for the Holy Week break.

Catimbuhan said the summit would aim to create plans and strategies that would ease the traffic flow as well as prevent road accidents in the province. (Anthony Giron)

S.K.N.F. sets priorities

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The National President of the Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation (SKNF) bared yesterday his priorities to nourish and develop kids and out-of-school youth throughout the country.

While SKNF President Assistant Secretary Louise Gabriel “Gabz” del Rosario, 16, plans to give priority to sports activities to develop the physical and mental health of the youth, he discouraged his provincial and city leaders from soliciting money from individuals and politicians.

He said SKs can raise funds through more decent means than soliciting donations. (Mar T. Supnad)

Baguio cabbies ask for susbsidy

BAGUIO CITY — Cab drivers in Baguio City and Benguet want government to include taxicabs in the fuel subsidy being offered by the Aquino administration, considering that they are also greatly affected by the continuous increase in fuel prices.

Taxi drivers and operators said their daily work has been rendered irrelevant because the high price of fuel has set them back from gaining decent income.

They urged President Aquino to include taxi drivers in his earlier pronouncement of a fuel subsidy program for public utility jeepneys and tricycles. (Dexter A. See)

Realty tax hike stays

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Capitol leadership stood pat yesterday on its decision to keep the provincial ordinance on revised tax rates imposed on real estate.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. said Pangasinenses have been enjoying a prolonged real property tax holiday “for the last eight years” and that it was time for the local government

to raise needed funds for public service programs.

Espino said the move to increase the said tax collections was “not a unilateral, whimsical act” but in compliance with the law “to implement the directive of the national government.” (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Devotion not paganism

MALOLOS CITY — An old woman who has been nailed to the cross for 15 years on Good Friday, said yesterday that the Catholic Church cannot control and refrain the devotees from the holding of bloody

Lenten rituals re-enacting the passion of Lord Jesus Christ because “it is the will of God, a leap of faith, and a way of conveying His message to us.

” Faith healer Amparo B. Santos also known as “Mother Paring” was reacting to the recent stern advice issued by some Catholic bishops to penitents and flagellants who perform bloody Lenten rituals by re-enacting the passion of Christ, to refrain from the practice, calling it a “pagan practice.” (Freddie C. Velez)