DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines —This city which was devastated by the 1990 killer-quake has yet to learn ways on how to deal with such disasters, officials said Monday as a training started for the Technical Working Group of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

The five-day training at the BSL Hall, City Schools Division here will be for Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS) is being supervised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum is also expected to arrive and be one of the trainers particularly on how to assess the situation during earthquakes. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Sports fest

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Almost a thousand members of the Philippine Association of Local Treasurers and Assessors (PHALTRA) participated in the 1st National Sportsfest of the (PHALTRA), Inc which formally opened recently at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

The sportsfest dubbed, “1st National Sharing of Best Practices on Treasury and Assessment Operations and Wellness Program” and sponsored by the provincial government, kicked off with the Governor’s Night as its initial activity at the Sison Auditorium highlighted by the Danggoan Cultural Show. (LIezle Basa Iñigo)

P12.5-M investments pour into Clark

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Three IT-related projects with an estimated cost of P12.5 million in investments will soon operate inside this free port zone, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced Monday.

CDC President Felipe Antonio Remollo cited the Marketing Department report identifying these firms as GFL Systems Clark, Inc.; Quick Apps Clark, Inc.; and Trixan Support Services.

They have signed their agreements with Berthaphil Busienss Parks, Inc. and Philexcel Business Park for the establishment of their businesses, Remollo said. (Franco G. Regala)

Women beware of scent sellers

ANGONO, Rizal — Police here issued a warning to the public to be careful in dealing with people who are selling perfumes especially to women. This came as the police recently uncovered the modus operandi of some individuals who are reportedly offering to try the scents they are selling but are actually looking for female victims as their prey in their criminal activities.

Supt. Ruel Vacarro, Angono police chief, warned women to refrain from dealing with the con artists who pose as sellers of perfumes, which are actually toxic substances that cause dizziness and unconsciousness. At this point, the victim will be robbed and even raped. (Nel B. Andrade)

CAR has 79,816 poor households

BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) database, which the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) launched last week, has listed about 79,816 poor households or about 34.08 percent of the 234,233 households assessed in the region.

The NHTS-PR is a data management system that would identify who and where poor households are for the delivery of social protection programs. A detailed list shows Abra has 47,138 poor households; Apayao – 10,838; Benguet – 14,180; Baguio City -3,767; Ifugao – 12,229; Kalinga – 13,605; and Mountain Province – 30,866.