BAGUIO CITY – Like other places in the lowlands, the country’s Summer Capital started to sizzle after the local weather bureau here recorded the warmest temperature this year at 28.5 degrees Celsius around 2 p.m.

Monday. The previously hottest temperature in the city was a few days ago at 28.2 degrees Celsius.

Still, the city continues to maintain its cool and romantic weather during the late afternoons and early mornings when the temperature ranges from 15 to 17 degrees Celsius. (Dexter A. See)

B.S.P. loans up in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signed yesterday an agreement with the provincial government, cooperatives, and donor institutions here to help small businessmen secure collateral-free loans from banks.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) creating the Pangasinan Credit Surety Fund (PCSF) was signed at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen at 2:30 p.m. Among the signatories were Monetary Board Member Peter B. Favila and Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. of Pangasinan.

Twelve cooperatives from Pangasinan have committed to join the PCSF with pledges totaling P4.2 million in contributions. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Cavite boosts child protection

TRECE MARTIRES CITY – The Cavite government has reorganized and strengthened the Council for the Protection of Children (CPC) which will spearhead the minors’ welfare and security program in the province.

Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. approved Executive Order (EO) No. 16-Series 2011 which contained, among others, the composition of the 24-man Council, its functions, funding and the monitoring and evaluation of the plans and performance of the concerned especially against child abuse, exploitation, and discrimination.

The council will be headed by the governor. (Anthony Giron)

Frat men fall in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – Two members of a fraternity group were arrested yesterday in Barangay Matimbo this town on suspicions of carrying out initiation rites that led to the death of their neophyte member.

Senior Supt. Fernando H. Mendez Jr., acting Bulacan police director, said charges of homicide are being prepared against the two – Marlon Mendoza,18 and John Lawrence Borja, 18, both members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, over the death of Ronel de Guzman, 20, of Hagonoy, last Friday in alleged hazing rites.

Two other fraternity members are still being hunted by police. (Freddie C. Velez)

Fish wipeout under probe

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – Governor Lilia G. Pineda ordered yesterday an immediate investigation to hundreds tons of dead fish floating along Pampanga River even as she instructed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s environment committee chairperson to conduct a hearing on the matter.

The governor issued the order as soon as she spotted the dead fish floating in the river as she passed by two coastal barangays in Masantol for a medical mission last Saturday. Multi-sectoral agencies are now investigating the mater, said Board Member Nestor Tolentino. (Franco G. Regala)