BAGUIO CITY – Going to and from the Pine City in the North will soon be a breeze. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing the private operations of Kennon Road and Marcos highway — the two key gateways to the Cordilleras and Baguio City.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said a “business case” is now being prepared for the planned privatization of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway which could be the first Public-Private Partnership project up North.

“We are looking at what is the best option for government so that we could improve the maintenance and riding comfort of passengers and motorists,” Singson said. (Raymund F. Antonio)

Lechon Stars In Bangus Festival

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – This year’s celebration of the Bangus Festival in Dagupan City will be unique as Mayor Benjie S. Lim announced yesterday that it will be a Lechon Festival as well. To be featured in the festival are not just the city’s delectable bangus but an invitational cookfest for Dagupeño pig roasters who will come up with the Dagupan’s signature lechon taste.

In a recent result of the survey shows that the pig raised using the Profitable Indigenous System (PIGS) is the right type of pig to be used for the city’s own special lechon and this will be one of the highlights in the festival on April 24. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Bataan: Divine Mercy Shrine Up

Balanga , Bataan – Bishop Ruperto C. Santos will consecrate a newly-built church along Roman Highway in Balanga as the Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 15, coinciding with the Catholic Church’s observance of Divine Mercy Sunday.

Sitting on a land area of two hectares, the diocesan shrine has separate retreat houses for boys and girls, conference halls, and individual counseling rooms. Patterned after the Marian shrine in Lourdes, France, a grotto was constructed along a natural potable spring water. (Christina I. Hermoso)

Subic Freeport A Wifi Zone

ZAMBALES – Subic Bay Freeport is now a Wi-Fi Zone after the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) initiated a pilot project for a wireless local area network here. Starting April 5, visitors and tourists can now enjoy wireless Internet access powered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)-SubicTel.

Engr. Vergil Joseph Lansangan, manager of the SBMA Business and Investments Department for Information and Communications Technology (BID-ICT), said the pilot Wi-Fi Zone Project was intended to welcome visitors for the Holy Week with selected commercial and tourism areas as WiFi access points. (Jonas Reyes)

Catholic School Razed In Quezon

TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon — A Catholic school, one of the biggest learning institutions in this town, was razed by fire yesterday early morning, police said. Senior Superintendent Valeriano de Leon, Quezon Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the fire at the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy started at 4:35 a.m.

The fire was totally controlled at 6 a.m. after nearby town fire brigade responded to the fire scene. Fire investigators initially placed the cost of damage to property at P5 million. (Danny Estacio)