MANILA, Philippines — Impressed by its performance over the past year, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile cited the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). “FAB is doing well,” said Enrile to AFAB Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G. P. Custodio during the Budget Hearing for 2012 at the Senate.

“The FAB will be complementing the Manila port. It will be a synergy,” the Senate President said, noting perhaps the strategic location and deep harbor of FAB. “You’re a breath of fresh air,’ said Sen. Frank Drilon, chairman of the Committee, to Chairman Custodio after the hearing, as he expressed satisfaction over the positive development of FAB. (Mar T. Supnad)

Gov: Abide by 'cracker law

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado pushed Thursday for the strict implementation of the law on the regulation and sale of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices to ensure public safety and to protect the fireworks industry.

 Alvarado said that as mandated by the law, the police should strengthen the implementation of monitoring and seizing the smuggled imported fireworks. The illegal fireworks proliferating in the market during the Yuletide season were confirmed as the major cause of fireworks accidents, thus, resulting in injury and death. (Freddie C. Velez)

‘Project Unity’

SUBIC, Zambales — Some members of the new board of directors of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently visited this municipality in hopes of finding a partner in Subic Bay Freeport’s economic development.

The SBMA directors who are members of the SBMA’s “Project Unity” committee lately met with Subic Mayor Jefferson Khonghun to discuss concerns in the local community, including the agency’s relationship with local government units.

 “This is an opportunity to get to know you, and for you to get to know us as well,” SBMA director Bienvenido Benitez, who is Project Unity chairman, told Khonghun during the meeting. (Jonas Reyes)

Sariaya all set for CLUP

SARIAYA, Quezon — For the first time, the municipal government is now on its final road for public acceptability of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) following the series of consultations conducted in this town. Sariaya Quezon Mayor Boyet Masilang said Thursday he is optimistic that the proposed CLUP will be implemented soon.

The only requisite for its implementation is the municipal ordinance to be passed by the Sangguniang Bayan. Masilang said his office has already identified proper division of idle land and useful lands intended for commercial, agricultural, residential and tourism. (Danny Estacio)

Dagupan adopts QC tax practice

DAGUPAN CITY — The city government here may now adopt the Quezon City’s best practices in the collection of real property and business taxes after a one day in-house training, City Administrator Vladimir T. Mata said Thursday.

Members of the Tax Collection Division of the City Treasurer’s Office participated in the best practices seminar of Quezon City in a bid to boost revenue collections here. The lecture was on real property tax (RPT) collection strategies, implementation of idle land tax, remedies on RPT delinquents, administrative and legal remedies, auction sale, business tax assessment practices and collection strategies, among others. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)