ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, Philippines — The city government here is reminding the public, residents and visitors to prioritize safety in all their activities in welcoming the new year.

The public appeal was issued as Mayor Danilo Leyble instructed the Bureau of Fire Protection, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), village watchmen and all deputized persons in authority to watch against dangerous merrymaking such as setting off fireworks and firecrackers.

Leyble also met with distributors and vendors of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in the city to remind them to abide by existing regulations on the sale and handling of their products to avoid accidents. (Nel B. Andrade)

Pangasinan sends P3M to Mindanao

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial government here has extended a P3 million donation for relief and rehabilitation efforts in storm-ravaged Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan Cities, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. announced Wednesday.

His executive assistant Ramon Morden and public information officer Orpheus M. Velasco delivered the checks for P2 million and P1 million to Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Y. Emano and Iligan Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, respectively. Espino and the Provincial Board, led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim Jr., worked hand-in-hand for the immediate release of funds to help the victims. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Stuffed lechon

BAGUIO CITY — Alert jail guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) discovered a scheme to smuggle drugs stuffed in a lechon (roasted pig) into the city jail, here, last Christmas Eve, police said Wednesday.

Inspector Rommel Baswilan, deputy jail warden, said three minors tried to smuggle in eight sachets of alleged “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), stuffed near the nasal cavity of the lechon, intended for inmate Vener Nagen who is booked on charges of rape. The minors, aged 13, 15, and 16, were turned over to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for proper disposition. (Rizaldy Comanda)

Abreco links up with Aboitiz

BANGUED, Abra — The Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco) has forged a partnership with Aboitiz Power Corporation (APC) in its bid for massive electrification and rural development in the province.

Abreco General Manager Loreto Seares Jr. said Abreco signed a five-year power supply contract with the APC for the huge conglomerate to assist in power generation, distribution, retail, service, finance, transportation and manufacturing.

Abreco's linkup with APC fortifies its stature in the market as it heads toward diversifying into other economic ventures, said Seares. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Marinduque power enough til year-end

BOAC, Marinduque (PIA) — The National Power Corporation (Napocor) has assured the province of a stable power supply up to the end of the year. Napocor gave its assurance during a recent Sangguniang Panlalawigan session in which the issue on power interruptions in the province was tackled.

Former Congressman Edmund Reyes Jr., a consultant of Gov. Carmencita Reyes, told the board the Energy Secretary Rene Almendras has been briefed on the energy crisis Marinduque and that the Cabinet official is open to addressing the problems.