DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — This city has started branding its Dagupan Bangus to distinguish it from other milkfish products in the market and bid for a bigger local and global patronage for its distinct taste. Mayor Benjamin S. Lim said yesterday that putting the Dagupan Bangus in a class of its own is a long-time dream of the people of the city who continue to take pride in the quality of their fish production amid the start of operation of the Fish Processing Plant in Bonuan Binloc. “Our city’s bangus must be categorized to command a better price,” said Lim, adding that labeling their product will differentiate it from those coming from fish kill areas. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

P.W.D. Celebration

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — In observance of the 34th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week on July 17-23, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado has lined up activities for the differently-abled in this province. With the theme “Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities in Economic Development,” the activities organized by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Council on Disability Affairs aim to promote and develop innovative approaches and support human rights-based initiatives for the economic development of persons with disabilities (PWDs). (Freddie C. Velez)

Escudero Pushes Road Safety Bill

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — Senator Chiz Escudero is seeking the approval of a proposed measure that will increase the criminal liability of drivers of common carriers involved in road accidents in a bid to curb the growing number of deaths and injuries attributed to reckless driving. In a press interview here, Escudero said the passage of Senate Bill No. 2085 would instill discipline among bus drivers and ensure that passengers are safe during travel. Under his proposal, errant drivers face jail terms from four months and one day to six months to 12 years in cases of injury and depending on the extent or gravity of the injury, and 12 years to 20 years imprisonment in cases of death. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Waste Segregation

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan called on his constituents to support the advocacy of “proper waste segregation” and make sure waste materials are not dumped into the creek, to avoid massive flooding especially during rainy season. The mayor ordered the Solid Waste Management Board to strictly enforce the law on anti-littering and illegal dumping and implement segregation programs here. “Environmental offenders will be meted with severe fines and possible imprisonment if they didn’t comply with the said law,” Pamintuan said. (Franco G. Regala)

Fresh Mandate For P.E.A., Panrea

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The Union leaders of the Pantranco Retrenched Employees Association (PANREA) and the Pantranco Employees Association (PEA) were given a fresh and overwhelming mandate by the more than 2,000 former employees of the defunct state-owned firm. “We have been recognized by the courts, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the National Labor Relations Commission and even the commercial banks. But the best proof of it (our authority to represent former Pantranco employees) is the overwhelming mandate of the more than 2,000 employees,” a statement released by PANREA President Romulo Alfonso and PEA President Jun Pascua said. (Mar T. Supnad)