BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A visiting seven-man delegation of the Royal Bhutan Police was impressed with the Baguio City Police Office’s (CPO’s) tourist-oriented police program which has become an added tourist attraction in this country’s summer capital.

Lt. Col. Minda Wangdi, Superintendent of the Royal Bhutan Police, said the tourist cops here could be used as their model once the Bhutan government decides to open its doors to tourism which could be an added bonus in charting its economic growth.

Wangdi said their team is on a five-day visit to study the best practices of police which they could replicate in their country. (Dexter A. See)

Capitol to put up libraries

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — The Cavite Sangguniang Panglalawigan (Provincial Board) is supporting Republic Act 7743 which mandates the establishment of public libraries in cities and towns and reading centers for the barangays.

Vice Governor Recto M. Cantimbuhan said that under RA 7743, the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) and the Department of Interior and Local Govenment (DILG) are tasked to lead the setting up of libraries and reading centers in the concerned areas.

Cantimbuhan said the Sanggunian will support it to promote education and elevate the literacy level of Caviteños. (Anthony Giron)

Ferry to cut travel time

DAGUPAN CITY — A ferry system which will link the cities of Alaminos in Pangasinan and San Fernando in La Union will likely cut travel time between the two cities and be a big boost to the tourism sector.

Mayor Benjamin S. Lim has been pursuing the program since 2007.

Lim said that in one year, a port will rise in the Calmay River area below the Pantal Bridge fronting the National Bureau of Investigation Office for the project.

“We have already started with our river cruise and later on with the ferry system in place more people will be coming to our city to shop, eat and do sight-seeing,” said Lim. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

New far road opens

MABALACAT, Pampanga — Governor Lilia G. Pineda led local executives and leaders of the business sector here at the ceremonial cutting ribbon of the P29-million farm-to-market-road project during its inauguration in Bical-Sapang Biabas, Mabalacat, this province last Friday.

The governor was received by Pampanga 1st District Representative Carmelo F. Lazatin, Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales and other local government agency officials.

The project was initiated by Lazatin for the road to be useful to the Department of Agriculture, which aims at helping local agriculture traders in the transporting farm produce. (Franco G.Regala)

Radial route now passable

Cavite may turn out to be the country’s top economic and tourism hub in the next few years with the newly-built seven-kilometer Radial-1 Expressway Extension and the set construction and rehabilitation of other highways in the province.

The new extension connects the 6.6 kilometer Manila-Cavite Expressway to Kawit, Noveleta and other areas in the first district of the province namely Rosario, one of the economic zones of the province, and Cavite City, the former capital. (Anthony Giron)