DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) office here confirmed yesterday that 15 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Region 1 have increased their tuition effective this school year. CHEd Regional Director Caridad Abuan said eight of these HEIs are in Pangasinan.

They are the Collegio San Jose Alaminos, Divine World College Urdaneta, College of Urdaneta, Malasiqui Agri College, Our Lady of Manaoag College, Pangasinan Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), San Carlos City College, and University of Pangasinan. Abuan said the increase in tuition was at 33.39 percent. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

‘Multipliers’ in play for security

TANAY, Rizal – Police and the so-called force multipliers who are composed of volunteer peace keepers along with municipal government personnel will work hand-in-hand in maintaining order in the vicinity of schools starting on the opening of classes in public schools today.

Chief Inspector Rizaldy Aquino, chief of police here said members of the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team (BPAT), traffic personnel of the local government unit and other volunteer groups, will form part of various teams which will augment the police in their anti-criminality campaign in time for the opening of classes. (Nel B. Andrade)

P1-M fund for youth training

BALER, Aurora – Senator Edgardo Angara office and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) have facilitated the release of some R1 million to the Rural Empowerment Assistance Development (READ) Foundation that will benefit 81 youngsters in this province.

The fund will be used to provide training and skills enhancement and entrepreneurship development to the project beneficiaries. DoLE Region 3 Director Leopoldo De Jesus said some R500,000 will be used for individual training-cum production on banana chips and other dried fruits while the remaining R500,000 will be used for a group project on vermi composting. (Franco G. Regala)

Anti-crime drive yields 3

ORION, Bataan – Police reported yesterday the arrest of three wanted persons under an intensified police campaign against criminal elements launched by Senior Superintendent Arnold D. Gunnacao.

Gunacao, Bataan Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, identified the arrested as Uldarico Buranday, 63, who is wanted for murder in Tacloban City; Evangeline Fernandez, 65, a suspected abortionist who allegedly yielded 10 pieces of Citotec drugs; and former Army Sgt. Mario Opiana, who also yielded drugs used to abort pregnancies. (Mar T. Supnad)

Tax collection

LAGAWE, Ifugao – The provincial government is pursuing administrative remedies and legal actions against some government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and other private companies operating in the area for the collection of unpaid franchise and real property taxes amounting to R213.2 million.

Provincial Treasurer Samuel Marinay said the revenue derived from the business entities could be used to bankroll the implementation of vital infrastructure projects that will spur the long desired economic growth in this world heritage province. (Dexter A. See)