TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — Members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) recently met to formulate the city’s counter-disaster plan for August to December to make sure that concerned agencies and the local government will be able to appropriately respond to calls for help during the occurrence of natural calamities.

City Information Officer Olive Gacuya said the council has decided to utilize 70% of this year’s calamity fund for disaster mitigating, response and rehabilitation programs in accordance to a national policy mandating the utilization of bulk of the calamity funds for preparedness. (Dexter A. See)

New Zambales PD another Santiago

IBA, Zambales — Just two weeks after Zambales police provincial director (PD)-turned-whistleblower, Senior Superintendent Rafael Santiago Jr. was relieved from his post and replaced by Sr. Supt. Wendy Rosario, in an acting capacity, another Sr. Supt. Santiago Jr. has assumed the post as Officer-In-Charge (OIC).

Sr. Supt. Francisco Santiago, Jr., of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1988, replaced Rosario as OIC of the Zambales Police Provincial Office (PPO) as ordered by Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao, Police Regional Office (PRO3) director, who assured there was no pun intended when another Sr. Supt. Santiago Jr. was appointed to be Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.’s top police official after a controversial falling out with his ex-PD. (Franco G. Regala)

Quezon military, police team up

LOPEZ, Quezon — The suspect in the attempt killing of a retired army soldier was arrested the other day by a combined team of military and police operatives in Barangay Danlagan, here, the army reported Thursday.

Colonel Eduardo Año, commanding officer of the Army’s 201 Infantry Brigade, said explosive devices were found in the possession of suspect Alberto Macasinag, aliases “Ka JY” and “Ka Joey,” 45 and a resident of Barangay San Diego Bukid in Gumaca, this province.

Macasinag will face the court on charges of frustrated murder against retired Army Sergeant Francisco Alba way back in April, 2008. (Danny Estacio)

Rizal information probe cops trained

TAYTAY, Rizal — Police assigned to the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) finished a three-day seminar and workshop on media relations at Camp Crame in a bid to train information and investigation officers in dealing with the press.

Senior Inspector Bartolome Marigondon, PPO spokesman, said that topics in the seminar included the basics of news writing; functions and responsibilities of a spokesperson; protocols on crisis situation and journalism ethics, among others. Edwin Moreno, president of the Rizal United Media Practitioners, said reporters hope the seminar will foster a friendlier relationship between police and media. (Nel B. Andrade)

Health officials urge clean-up

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — The city health office here urged the public Thursday to practice cleanliness at home and in the neighborhood in order to fight the spread of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease.

Dr. Leonard Carbonell sought the support of city officials in campaigning for a clean-up drive and the destruction of possible water settlements that are the breeding ground of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)