SAN FERNANDO CITY, Philippines — Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda disclosed Friday, that her administration has approved the release of at least P80 million to fund the priority development projects in this province. Pineda said the budget will fund primarily reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, following the damage wrought by recent typhoons on public infrastructure and facilities. She said the P80 million from provincial government funds will be distributed equitably among the municipalities of this province after a meeting with their respective mayors. (Franco G. Regala)

Bucayu forms new task force

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union — The Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) launched Friday “Task Force Lambat,” an intensified drive against all forms of criminality, with emphasis on counter-measures against so-called “riding-in-tandem” criminals.

Chief Superintendent Franklin J.B. Bucayu, PRO1 director, instructed his deputy for operations, Senior Superintendent Mansue N. Lukban, to solidify the efforts of the chiefs of the regional QUAD divisions – intelligence, operations, investigation, and police-community relations to neutralize criminal activity through the new task force. (Freddie G. Lazaro and Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Statistics month

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Cavite has observed the 22nd year celebration of National Statistics Month (NSM) with simple activities for the youth in the province. NSM is being celebrated annually to promote awareness and cite the importance and value of statistics and ensure public support in lifting the quality of works in term of statistics in the country.

In Cavite, Provincial Statistics Officer Lucia Soneja and some officials from national and local agencies led the October 14 poster-making, essay-writing and oratorical contests that were held simultaneously at First Cavite Industrial Estate (FCIE) Conference Hall in Dasmariñas City. (Anthony Giron)

Order in Olongapo Mardigras sought

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Employees working at this premier Freeport urged Friday the organizers of the Mardigras in Olongapo City to ease the traffic situation caused by the annual event. The Mardigras, which falls in late October, usually runs for four days at the night entertainment district of Magsaysay.

The appeal might have been best expressed in a social networking site by one user who had posted: “Dear organizers of the mardigras: Before putting up your stage, Please consider people who want to go home early and people who want to go to work, too. It’s bad enough to be walking home at a rate of one step every five minutes. It’s even worse when you have to walk over pipes, wooden planks and other construction what-have-yous.” (Jonas Reyes)

Garments firm sets P8.74-M investment

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — The Clark Development Corporation announced that a garment firm is set to establish its regional operating headquarters inside the freeport zone.

In the Marketing Department’s investment and business updates submitted to Antonio Felipe Remollo, Smart Shirt (Phils.) Inc. is set to infuse P8.738 million for the regional facilities and other related activities of the garment factory.

The reports said that the Hong Kong/Chinese firm signed a sub-lease agreement recently with Philexcel Business Park.(Franco G. Regala)