CEBU CITY, Philippines – As part of the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ “A decade of road safety campaign”, the Region 7 office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) held a surprise random drug testing of public transport drivers here.

LTO7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos said the testing aims to reduce road accidents in the region since a number of road accidents involves drivers who had taken illegal drugs.

“Every day, there are victims of road accidents and it seems that we are only treating this as ordinary incidents,” said Aguilos. He said drivers should be tested for drug since many of them take shabu as a stimulant that keep them awake for a long time. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

P10M to repair national road

DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – The provincial government of Negros Oriental has allocated P10 million for the rehabilitation and development of a portion of the Highway 2000 project in Barangay Pinalubngan in the northern town of Jimalalud.

The Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO) is scheduled to submit a working plan, with the project expected to start in the early part of June as soon as the newly purchased brand new heavy equipment will arrive.

According to Governor Roel Degamo, the P10 million allocation for Highway 2000 is taken from the P94 million surplus budget from the 20 percent development fund of the province. (PNA)

Summer job program

DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – A total of 160 public high school students in Dumaguete City completed a summer job program in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in line with Republic Act No. 7323, otherwise known as an act to help poor but deserving students continue their education by employing them during summer vacation.

Dubbed as Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), the summer job program in Dumaguete City started more than 15 years ago with a yearly allocation of 200 beneficiaries under a 60-40 percent scheme in the payment of their wages.

Sixty percent of their salaries will be shouldered by the local government unit and 40 percent by DoLE. (PNA)

Billboards demolished

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The city government of Iloilo will also go against illegal billboards hanging everywhere in this city.

Iloilo City Jed Patrick Mabilog said not one of these billboards is registered in the city since the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is the one in-charge of their permits, especially those measuring 25-30 meters.