CEBU, Philippines — The Capitol has extended assistance to the family of Cebuano kidnap victim Virgilio Fernandez to ensure their safety and stay in Lamitan City, Basilan while awaiting development on his condition. Virgilio, an engineer who worked for Mace Construction, was reportedly kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits last Saturday.

A day after Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia announced that the province is willing to help, the victim’s wife Shirley and her three sons, Neil, Pierre and John Paul, approached her to ask for help in person. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Weighing scale checks go on

ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Inspectors of the city treasurer’s office (CTO) here are not letting dishonest vendors, especially in the city public markets, to use defective weighing scales and measures.

A year-round inspection of markets is conducted by the inspectors to ensure correct weights of goods purchased by consumers, according to city treasurer Katherine Tingson.

The task force anti-fraud unit of the city treasurer’s office has conducted frequent inspections at the central and termi-nal markets, including markets in city districts of Mandurriao, Arevalo, Jaro and Lapaz to ensure consumers protection, the city treasurer said.

Hospital boosts campaign vs T.B.

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) — To ensure tuberculosis-infected patients take medication religiously, the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Hospital (SOYMPH) health personnel have been taking extra effort to really see for themselves the patients taking medicines right in their homes.

In an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Southern Leyte, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Joselito Trumata said there's a dramatic reduction of the incidence of patients being admitted to the isolation wards of the SOYMPH.

Patients referred to isolation wards at the provincial hospi-tals are intended for persons diagnosed with highly communicable tuberculosis disease.

Bacoleños get free health aid

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines (PIA) — Thousands of Bacoleños availed themselves of the Bacolod Initiative Nurturing Good Health (B.I.N.G. Health) program under the administration of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus A. Sayson.

“To deliver medical services where our fellow Bacoleños are,” is the flagship statement of the BING Health Program, the mayor said. Services offered for free are Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Electrocardiograph (ECG), Urinalysis, Hematocrete consultation, and Eye Screening with free medicines.

L.T.O. boosts road safety campaign

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — For the safety of both the riding public and pedestrians, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it will intensify its drive to arrest motorists who openly defy the law against drunk driving, as well as those who make calls or text messages while behind the wheel.

Marlon Velez of LTO Western Visayas has guaranteed that apprehending team will not hesitate to pounce on drivers who intentionally ignore road rules which sometimes result to permanent disability or death to innocent civilians.