SANTA, Ilocos Sur — A total of 50 new typhoon-resistant houses are set to construct in Barangay Pasungol this town through the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to restore the lives of storm-surge victims here. Region 1 DSWD Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo told Thursday that the housing program was formally launched in a simple groundbreaking ceremony at the CSAP site last March 29, 2012.

“With Santa Mayor Jeremy Jesus Bueno III, we awarded during the ceremony the P 3.5 million to the members of the Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance,” Castillo said. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

A.F.A.B. Celebrates With New Logo

MARIVELES, Bataan — The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) has adopted a new brand that will serve as the official logo of the Freeport Area here. “This celebration highlights the AFAB’s shift into a higher gear as it introduces the FAB’s new Brand to the world,” said AFAB Corporate Affairs Manager Francis Initorio.

“The new Brand reflects the FAB’s goal to become the Future’s Answer to Business” he added. Attended by thousands of Bataenos, the celebration started with a fire dance number with percussions/drums exhibitions. Surprise raffles and prizes were also given to lucky revelers, while Boracay Rhum flowed freely to bring the night’s celebration to a fever pitch level. (Mar T. Supnad)

Satellite Campus

STO TOMAS, Pampanga – The Pampanga government has allotted some P25 million for the establishment of Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) satellite campus in Barangay Moras del Paz in Sto. Tomas town.

This was bared by Governor Lilia G. Pineda and Dr. Enrique Baking, president of DHVTSU during the recent signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the start of implementation and operations of the state university here. With this, the provincial board has approved the budget for DHVTSU Sto. Tomas campus. Pineda said that the initial funds will be used for the development and reconstruction of the buildings. (Franco G. Regala)

N.F.A. Posts High Import Record

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – The National Food Authority (NFA) has earned a record-high R1.14-billion income from Private Sector Financed (PSF) Importation after its successful bidding for 190,000 metric tons of imported rice. NFA said a total of 109 bidders participated in the open portion of the PSF importation through the NFA’s Tax Expenditure Subsidy (TES).

“The open and transparent bidding process showed that government will earn more as compared to the cartelized and monopolistic practice of allocating through a first-come, first served method, where service fees are low and fixed, and the participants are virtually pre-selected,” said NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Peaceful City

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — Police ensured yesterday the peace and order situation in this city as the influx of tourists this summer season begins. Superintendent Rolie Saltat, chief of the local police, said there are very “rare incidents” reported to police and that any recent stories about a supposed serial killer were only manufactured by pranksters.

Saltat said there are no unwarranted apprehensions happening in the city and described as “exaggerated and sensationalized” accounts the stories of crime in the city. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)