LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines — The Balili River, which strands from Baguio City upstream and connects this capital town and Naguilian, La Union, then categorized as Class A is wanting for clean and safe flowing water free of thrash and liquid wastes amidst the rapid urbanization which has now greatly affected the quality of water flowing to the major river system in Baguio and Benguet.

The Balili River with the Sagudin River in Baguio City as its headwater was categorized as Class A but technically failed to meet the water quality standards set, according to the Environment and Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (Dexter See)

Preventive measures

SAN FERNANDO CITY — A Pampanga Party-list representative Wednesday appealed to the National Government to create emergency and preventive measures to determine the imminent flooding in Central Luzon, that destroys billions in agricultural products.

Butil Farmers Rep. Agapito Guanlao stated before the House of Representatives recently, said that rice and corn crops and especially infrastructure wreaked by the twin typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" could not be speculate accordingly. In the previous damages reports of Typhoon Ondoy shows that it was registered only P8 billion in losses in rice crops and P108.9 million worth in infrastructure. (Franco G. Regala)

Angeles helps

SAN SIMON, Pampanga — Local officials from Angeles City conducted on Tuesday, a relief-giving operation in one of the towns in this province who still remains inundated with flood waters.

City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan together with Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting and other officials of this city has joined the national government’s relief efforts to help the local residents of San Simon, a municipality in Pampanga which was devastated by flooding in the past weeks due to typhoons Pedring and Quiel. (Franco G.Regala)

Barangay adoption

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Following the observance of the International Coastal Cleanup held recently, the provincial government design a local program on environment and cleaning program by staging a pilot project called “Adopt a Coastal Barangay” to answer the increasing garbage problem along shorelines in the towns of Quezon.

The Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) focal person Manny Calayag has said that although, there was an annual activity to clean up the shoreline but the problem is not directly addressed, on this ground, the idea to Adopt a Coastal Barangay, was born and it is with the coordination of Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (Danny Estacio)

Sufficient rice

BAGUIO CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) Baguio assures enough stockpile of rice for the Baguio-Benguet area that could last even up to December to sustain the expected growth in the demand of the staple food for the expected celebrations during the Yuletide season.

This was assured by NFA Licensing Officer Noel Dela Cruz launching the region’s commemoration of Consumer Welfare Month this October, citing that the existing stockpile of rice in their warehouses in Baguio, Benguet and San Fernando, La Union will be able to provide the supply of rice even. (Dexter A. See)