BIÑAN CITY, Laguna, Philippines — Bishop Leo Drona of the Diocese of San Pablo City and Bishop Jesus Cabrera, the bishop protector and director for religious institute of the University of Perpetual Help System (UPHS), led Friday the blessing and inauguration of the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine, here.

The shrine is a living testimony to the Tamayo family’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as imparted by the grand matriarch of the clan and co-founder of the UPHS, the late Dr. Josefina Laperal Tamayo, who dedicated her 12 children and the UPHS to Mama Mary. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

Calumpit Bridge weak, but open

CALUMPIT, Bulacan — Good news for motorist and commuters plying the route of MacArthur Highway passing through this town – Calumpit Bridge in Barangay Gatbuca, which closed last week due to heavy deterioration, is now open.

Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado ordered it reopened to light vehicles after severely affecting business and domestic activities of residents. Alvarado requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the repair of the damaged portion of the bridge so that it can be used even by heavy vehicles. (Freddie C. Velez)

DAR projects in Quezon underway

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-Quezon) agrarian reform infrastructure support project (ARISP) is now on its third phase of implementation in three agrarian reform communities in the province. The said agrarian reform communities (ARC) are in Bulihan, San Antonio, Banadero-Libjo, Pollilo, and Carlgan in Burdeos towns.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Plaridel C. Vera Cruz of DAR-Quezon I said that in the ARC in Bulihan, a P25-million road project is already 73 percent complete and is expected to be finished early next year. (Danny Estacio)

Balanga upbeat on trade boost

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — With the recent successful entry of a big-time businessman who put up the Galeria Victoria Mall, the biggest business establishment yet in this city through a public-private partnership (PPP), Mayor Joet S. Garcia expressed optimism that more big-time investors will come in.

Garcia told a crowd of more than 1,000 employees of the Capitol that the government-initiated PPP will attract more traders to invest in this city, especially now that it is very accessible to Clark, Subic and Metro Manila through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. (Mar T. Supnad)

Clark Airport design tilt eyed

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Officials of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) disclosed Friday the plan of holding an international competition for the conceptual design of the Clark International Airport.

In a statement by BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said: “We are in search of an iconic design to do best blueprint to create a wider prospective to hasten the needs of an international necessitate aspirations of Filipinos and showcases the elements of functionality, safety and convenience.”

The guidelines of the contest will be released by the first quarter of 2012. Winning entry shall be chosen by a panel composed of reputable government leaders and prominent figures in the aviation industry. (F. G. Regala)