LUCENA CITY, Quezon — To encourage local and foreign tourists to visit, the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) and SM City Lucena have partnered in promoting festivities and tourist attractions here through a project dubbed “Hello Quezon.”

Tourism Officer Alberto Bay Jr. and SM City-Lucena Public Relations Officer Lilibeth Azores said the program is one way of promoting the beauty, festivals and products of Quezon. Among the festivities which are mostly visited by local and foreign tourists are the Arana’t Baluarte of Gumaca; Bulihan Festival of Sampaloc; Agawan Festival of Sariaya; Hambujan Festival of Dolores; Tagultol Fishing of Atimonan; and Maubanog Festival of Mauban towns. (Danny Estacio)

New Limay Power Plant Banned

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia revealed yesterday that a new power plant is set to be constructed in the area occupied by the mothballed Bataan Thermal Power Plant (BTPP) in Barangay Luz, Limay town, this province. Garcia said construction will begin once the BTPP, owned by the National Power Corporation (Napocor), is cleared of cleared of scraps and other materials.

But first, Mayor Ver Roque said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PNCC) will have to “assess the impact of demolishing its (BTPP’s) structures and facilities to the balanced and healthful ecology” and for the safety of the public particularly those living in the area. (Mar T. Supnad)

Heat Stroke

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasainan — Intense summer heat has resulted in several cases of heat stroke especially among children and senior citizens in this province, reports from hospitals revealed yesterday. In this city, a 12-hour power interruption last Thursday followed by sudden 15-minute to 30-min. brownouts have aggravated the ordeal of residents.

Medical experts warned that heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Aurora Youth Get Summer Jobs

BALER, Aurora — Some 360 tertiary and secondary students including out-of-school youth (OSY) started yesterday a 20-day summer job under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Jointly funded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Provincial Service Employment (PESO) under the Provincial Employment, Sports, Culture and Arts for Youth Development Office (PESCAYDO), the program is aimed at providing substantial financial assistance to the students and youth sector which can be used for school expenses particularly during enrollment.

The students will be receiving a daily earning of P219.45 and will be assigned to various government offices nearest to their place of residence. (Ariel P. Avendaño)

Tourists' Safety

TANAY, Rizal — As tourist arrivals in this town continue, police and local government unit (LGU) personnel are doubling their efforts to provide security to the thousands of tourists who come to different summer destinations in this town.

Supt. Felipe Abigan, chief of police, said he has deployed uniformed policemen in major tourist destinations including the place called Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia, or Regina RICA for short, where a giant statue of Virgin Mary can be found on the mountain of Barangay Sampaloc, in this town. (Nel B. Andrade)