MARIVELES, Bataan, Philippines — Investors here cited the all-out support being extended to traders by a young solon, boosting further the confidence of businessmen to invest in Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB).

Hong Kong-based big time investor Raymond Tan, President of the Luen Thai Philippines, told newsmen that the support showed to them by Congressman Abet S. Garcia and Gov. Tet Garcia of Bataan had further attracted and motivated them to pour in their investment inside FAB, now the fast-growing industrial site in the country due to its strategic location and accessibility to Metro Manila, Clark and SBMA. (Mar T. Supnad)

Angeles City cites top teacher

ANGELES CITY — The local government here is set to recognize the achievement of a public elementary school teacher in this city who topped this year’s awardees of the 2011 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers. Marcela Jingco, an English teacher at the Angeles Elementary School in barangay Pulungbulo was awarded recently in Malacañang by President Benigno Aquino III.

The 2011 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers has awarded eight (8) public school teachers from elementary and secondary levels, and two (2) professors from University of the Philippines-Manila and University of Santo Tomas. (Franco G. Regala)

Safely evacuated

OLONGAPO CITY — Close to 25 families and 118 individuals on Wednesday were evacuated by city local officials in their temporary evacuation center in Sta. Rita barangay hall and school rooms due to a continuous threat from avalanche of mudflows with boulders, that buried at least 5 houses here.

Mike Pusing, head of Olongapo City Information Officer said Wednesday that Mayor James Gordon Jr. that since Tuesday he instructed the City Social Worker and Development to released immediately the financial assistance to the landslide victims. Pusing said the city mayor on Wednesday morning upon learning the threats on the landslide site, citing the recommendation reports of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) office here, immediately evacuated at least 25 families and 118 individuals to the safer grounds. (Franco G. Regala)

Eels emerging as rice pests

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Agriculture (DA) disclosed Wednesday that they will conduct a study on the management of rice paddy eels as rice farmers in at least three provinces in the country reported that these pests have been burrowing in their fields resulting in irrigation water seepage and affecting nutrient and weed management.

The said eels have emerged as crop pests in Isabela, Negros and this province, the Agriculture Department said. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Cavite provides

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — The Cavite provincial administration under Governor Jonvic Remulla is planning to provide 150 hectares of land where incoming foreign investors can put up their business. Remulla made the move as he sees that the available spaces in the province’s economic and industrial sites would not be enough for the establishments which the investors plan to set up in the near future.

Officials said that they expect investors to come in following the governor's recent trip to South Korea, other Asian countries and his planned visit to European countries this year. (Anthony Giron)