BAGUIO CITY — A total of 23,683 rice farmers in different parts of Cordillera stand to benefit from the over P66.1-million rice subsidy earmarked by the national government for them to sustain their living during the lean months from July to September.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director for Cordillera Leonardo C. Reynoso said the food subsidy program is intended for small-scale farmers in the region who were already screened by the DSWD-CAR and local governments for them to be able to be recipients of the dole-out funds in order to help them hurdle the lean season. (Dexter A. See)

Pangasinan: Bible to be transcribed

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Pangasinenses will start transcribing the Holy Bible into the local dialect by hand today, marking this important event with a motorcade from the St. Therese Church in Rizal to the old St. John the Evangelist Chapel, here, where the transcription will take place.

Bishop Renato P. Mayugba said the endeavor dubbed “Handwritten Unity Bible (HUB)” aims to en-hance solidarity among Christians. Its theme, a quote from the Bible, “May They Be One” is a call for unity among believers.

The project will also increase awareness on the importance of local dialects in propagating the faith. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Bataan: L.T.O. clean-up drive

PILAR, Bataan — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) here headed by Reynaldo J. Cortez has launched a major clean up drive in and around the LTO’s premises as directed by the Regional office.

Cortez told LTO Director Oliver Macaspac that in compliance with the director’s memorandum dated May 30, 2011, regarding “Big Sorting and Big Clean up Day,” he led the following implementation of Quality Workplace Program in his District Office.

Cortez said the premises also underwent repainting and the physical rearranging to make it more convenient to those processing their LTO documents. (Mar T. Supnad)

Rizal: Citizens vie for A.L.A.B.

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — This province’s high achievers will be honored in a ceremony to highlight Rizal Province’s 110th Araw ng Lalawigan celebration at the Ynares Center, here, today.

Rizal Governor Casimiro “Jun-Jun” Ynares III and Capitol officials will give citations to Rizal’s distinguished personalities as part of this year’s launching of Anak ng Lahing Bayani (ALAB) ng Rizal.

Awardees of the ALAB include the late National Artists Maestro Lucio San Pedro and Carlos “Botong” Francisco; and Rapper and TV personality, the late Francis Magalona. Other awardees are those who have gained achievements in their respective fields. (Nel B. Andrade)

Cavite: Six held for drugs

IMUS, Cavite — Four men and two women were arrested in anti-drug operations that were conducted in four towns of this province, a weekend police report revealed.

The successive arrests were made after Senior Superintendent John Cresencio Bulalacao, officer-in-charge of Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO), ordered his officers to monitor intensively the operation of suspected drug pushers in the area, particularly those in the anti-drug watch list.

Among the areas that are being monitored by the CPPO are Cavite City, Naic, Tanza, Dasmariñas City, Bacoor, Imus and General Mariano Alvarez (GMA). (Anthony Giron)