CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Electricity consumers in Nueva Ecija can breathe a sigh of relief as the Nueva Ecija 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEECO 1) announced that it would implement power charge rollback this month as part of the celebration of the National Electrical Safety Month. NEECO 1 will cut at least P.20 per kilowatt-hour in the electric bill of consumers in San Isidro, San Antonio, Cabiao, Jaen, and Gapan towns. The electric cooperative explained that the price cut was brought about by the reduction of generation charge of the First-Gen Hydro Power Corporation that supplies the energy source in the province. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

WASTE MANAGEMENT

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The local government here has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Mother Earth Foundation (MEF) for a comprehensive implementation of an ecological solid waste management (ESWM) program covering this city’s 33 barangays. Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan together with Sonia Mendoza, MEF chairman and Froilan Grate, president of MEF formalized the partnership by signing the accord with the city’s village chiefs in a ceremony held yesterday at the city council session hall. (Franco G. Regala)

MARIVELES: A.F.A.B. JOINS FLOAT PARADE

MARIVELES, Bataan — The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), with the municipality of Mariveles, recently participated in the annual Parade of Floats in celebration of Bataan Day at the City of Balanga, Bataan. “The float of Mariveles which represents the Freeport Area of Bataan was designed to symbolize the valor of our veteran heroes who died for our country and the bright future that the Freeport Area of Bataan embodies,” said AFAB Corporate Affairs Manager Francis Initorio. (Mar T. Supnad)

ARTS FESTIVAL

ANGONO, Rizal — Tourists both foreign and local, continue to arrive in this arts capital of the country town of the province as the local government celebrates its summer arts and sports festival. Mayor Gerardo “Gerry” Calderon said the municipal hall regularly welcomes tourists almost every day during the summer months especially now that the town is celebrating Summer Arts Festival 2012.  Among the latest visitors recently were six artists from Malaysia composed of Siund Tan, Muhammad Syahbandi Samat, Ng Swee Keat, Sun Kang Jye, Chong Ai Lei, and Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz. (Nel B. Andrade)

S.B.M.A. FORUM

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) met with neighboring local government units (LGUs) in an Open Space Technology Workshop recently at the Subic Bay International Hotel. The workshop was an open-type of seminar wherein the participants themselves determined the agenda that would be up for discussion the following day.  It was facilitated by Greg Forbes, a consultant at the Office of the President-Adviser on Peace Process. SBMA Director Bienvenido Benitez said the workshop aims for transformational leadership, institutional reform, economic stability and inclusive growth in the province of Zambales and Bataan, the municipalities of Subic, Hermosa and Morong, and Olongapo City. (Jonas Reyes)