TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) – Support for DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson’s call to implement the “right projects, at the right cost, with the right quality,” is in full force in the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Offce 8.

Director Rolando Asis said that as of May 20, 2011, the DPWH Region 8 Offce has a total P78.7 million total savings generated from 55 projects bid out and awarded at a total cost of P693.4 million.

Of the 60 regular infrastructure projects worth P1.2 billion, only fve have yet to be bid-out due to on going pre-construction documentation.

De Asis attributed such positive developments to the strict implementation of “open competitive bidding and transparency.”

A guy named Pacquiao shot

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – A man carrying the family name of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao was injured after he was shot by someone he was engaged in a fstfght following a verbal tussle in Brgy. Basak Sunday.

Ruben Pacquiao, 22, sustained a gunshot wound on his shoulder after he was shot by a still unidentifed man over a girl.

Pacquiao was able to get away,looking for help as the suspect also fed away. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Measures set vs A.I.D.S. spread

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines (PIA) – Dr. Babylin Drilon of the Sanitation and Healthcare of

the City Health Offce here told people who were at the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the Bacolod City Public Plaza recently said that the dreaded disease, HIV-AIDS could be prevented through ABCDE, that is, A- Abstain from sex; B- Be faithful to one partner; C- Careful sex with the correct and consistent use of condoms; D- Don’t use drugs and don’t drink and E- Early detection and Treatment.

Drilon asked that ABCDE be practiced to prevent AIDS and that peoplebecome advocates to prevent its spread.

Five L.G.U's funds all set

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines (PIA) – The Pantawid Pasada assistance for tricycle operators of fve local government units are ready for release, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Offce 8 Information Offcer Mr. Myles Colasito said.

“The checks of fve local government units (LGUs) ready for release pending approval of COA under pre-audit,” Mr. Colasito said.

Also being processed are checks of 37 other LGUs, the DILG Information Offcer added.

Capiz to observe flag day

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Philippines (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)– Provincial Offce in Capiz has directed all local government units in the province to observe this year’s National Flag Day (Araw ng Watawat) celebration on May 28.

"To make this year's celebration of the National Flag Day more meaningful, all local chief executives, in collaboration with the private sector, NGOs and POs, are enjoined to conduct simple and ftting programs and to encourage the display of the Philippine fag on or before May 28," the DILG memo said.

The National Flag Day celebration is in line with the 113th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippines on June 12.