ORANI, Bataan, Philippines — Saying its members were losing millions of pesos, the Fishponds’ Owners Association in Central Luzon appealed on Monday to the Department of Public Works and Highways to dredge clogged waterways. Melandro Ramos, President of the Central Luzon Small Scale Aqua Culture (class A) Association, said the fish pond industry has been severely affected by the shallow waterways.

“The rivers have become too shallow for boats to navigate,” Ramos said. The fish pond owners’ plight is further aggravated by the lack of information from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources every time the waters are polluted due to the sudden emergence of bacteria that cause fish kills, he said. (Mar T. Supnad)

New bridge

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — Residents and commuters expect a bigger volume of traffic passing the town once a new bridge is built. The Villamil Bridge, costing P91 million, a Spain-assisted project, will be built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), through the Third Engineering District.

Marieta Mendoza, OIC District Engineer, said the construction of the bridge will entail a little sacrifice from the people of Calasiao, and the motorists, because they will have to make a detour of at least three kilometers, Mendoza said. The new bridge will be longer than the old one and may encroach on the area where Kamibing vendors set up their stalls, Mendoza said. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Firecracker injuries

MALOLOS CITY — A teenage boy and a 47-year-old man were injured by firecracker in Hagonoy and San Miguel towns last Sunday. Police said a piccolo cut and burned the right hand of Dexter Danan, 13, of Barangay San Roque, Hagonoy.

A wayward firework exploded near Nestor Santos of Barangay Baritan, San Miguel, hitting him in the neck. Officers of the Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Incorporated (PPMDAI) urged the public to buy only quality and safe firecrackers to ensure that no injuries or fire-related accidents will occur as the New Year nears. (Freddie C. Velez)

Airport design

SUBIC FREEPORT — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will hold an international competition for the design of the Clark International Airport.

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said the agency is searching for an iconic design that would best represent the aspiration of Filipinos and would showcase the elements of functionality, safety, and convenience.

Guidelines for the contest will be released by the first quarter of 2012. A panel of government leaders and well-known personalities in the aviation industry will chose the winning design. (Jonas Reyes)

Benguet vegetables

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan Monday said local farmers are delivering daily three million kilograms of fresh Baguio vegetables to various markets in Luzon since a week before Christmas Day.

"This represents 300 percent increase of the demand of one million kilograms of our products brought about by the Christmas holidays.

Many consumers need more of our carrots, cabbages, potatoes and others for their food," Fongwan said. (PNA)