ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Hundreds of cyclists representing different sectors of society trooped to this upland city Sunday to dramatize their support to the Catholic church’s activity recognizing the importance of the indigenous communities of the country.

Cyclists, including members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as cycling associations from all over Metro Manila and other parts of the country joined the advocacy bike tour activity dubbed as “Padyak Para Sa Katutubo at Kalikasan” which ended here before noon Sunday. (Nel B. Andrade)

OFW funds

BONTOC, Philippines— The Mountain Province Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Assistance Program, which was just implemented third quarter of this year, has already benefited 25 beneficiaries from the different parts of the province.

Based on the report of Executive Assistant Cynthia Taguiba, who is in-charge of the program, of the total beneficiaries, 15 are in Hongkong, three in Taiwan, two each in Dubai and Kuwait, and one each in Cyprus and Korea.

Only one male who works as a factory worker in Korea availed of the said program. Most of the beneficiaries are domestic helpers. Dexter A. See)

Greening Project

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (PIA) — The region will accomplish its target this year in the National Greening Program (NGP) even as it ranks seventh in accomplishments among regions in the country as of September.

‘We are right on track, we are slowly reaching our objective and I am positive that we will reach our objective,’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cordillera regional executive director Clarence Baguilat declared.

In the Cordillera region, the NGP program shall plant some 3,400,000 trees covering 6,838 hectares for a period of six years.

Price Freeze

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Alarmed by the expected profiteering by erring individuals and unscrupulous businessmen, the Cordillera office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here ordered a “price freeze” covering prime commodities in the calamity-stricken provinces of Ifugao and Mountain province.

Reports reaching the DTI-CAR here showed supplies of prime commodities in areas affected by the collapse of bridges and road cuts in Ifugao and Mountain Province are now at critical stages, thus, the need to impose the freeze on the existing prices of such products to avoid enterprising businessmen from taking advantage of the situation by unreasonably increasing their prices beyond the capability of local residents who will be caught in a bind. (Dexter See)

Center Purchase

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government will now have its own multi-million convention facility following the signing of a compromise agreement between Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and Roberto Vergara, president of the Government Service Insurance Corporation (GSIS), for the city to acquire the over 7,100-square meter Baguio Convention Center in exchange for the full payment of approximately P200 million that includes arrearages.

The compromise agreement will put to rest the conflict between the city government and GSIS following the alleged failure of the city to comply with its obligation to continuously pay the mandatory amortization . (Dexter See)