MORONG, Rizal, Philippines — The cooking talents of the culinary students of various schools in this province will shine as they participate in the cooking competition that showcases the pangasius fish, a freshwater variety that is getting popular in the dining table of many today.

This came as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)- Rizal Provincial Office led by director Mercedes Parreno opens this year’s Fish Festival that features the Pangasius Culinary Fest 2011 at the Morong campus of the University of Rizal Systems (URS). (Nel B. Andrade)

New anti-flood projects up

DAGUPAN CITY — Several projects were lined-up by Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Gina de Venecia for the public after two typhoons that hit this city.

Expected for the first quarter of 2012 will be the construction and rehabilitation of the drainage system in Arellano Bani which is usually submerged in flood water during heavy rains; the cementing of the road shoulder from Dawel area to the Tanap bridge; drainage construction in Mayombo district from the junction in Perez Boulevard until Villaflor hospital; drainage rehabilitation of a section of Barangay Tapuac from Trauma hospital to Amado Street; and the Lucao-De Venecia highway. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

MOA defended

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Officials of the Department of Health (DoH) and Bataan Governor Enrique "Tet" Garcia defended the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the management and operations of the government hospital here.

As this developed, the House of Representative’s Health Committee headed by Rep. Alfredo Maranon, 2nd district, Negros Occidental, will review the MOA entered into between the DoH and the Bataan provincial government for the upgrading of the Bataan General Hospital and its conversion into a training hospital. (Mar T. Supnad)

Benguet LGU gets P3-M prize

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The national government released a total amount of P3 million to the provincial government here after it was conferred the 2010 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi for its supposed exemplary performance in local governance that had great impact to the people in the different parts of the province.

The conferment of the coveted award came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) evaluated the province based on its efficient administrative, social, economic and environmental governance. The P3 million cash award was sourced out from the Performance Challenge Fund of the DILG which is being used to reward local governments with superb performances in the delivery of basic services to the people and transparent governance. (Dexter A. See)

RDC urges Delta project revival

SAN FERANDO CITY— Officials of the Regional Development Council (RDC) appeal to President Aquino for the revival of proposed P8.8 billion worth of a flood control project to deter making Central Luzon a huge floodplain of 5.76 million people.

San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, concurrent president of Leagues of City Mayors of the Philippines said the reconsideration of the Pampanga Delta Development Program’s (PDDP) Phase II will be a “win-win situation” after the end-to-end havoc of typhoons Pedring and Quiel plagued 2.2 million residents of the region. (Franco G. Regala)