TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Plastic bags and Styrofoam may become things of the past in Cavite province. Even officials of Kawit and Rosario, two municipalities in Cavite's first district, have approved its ban in the area. Kawit joined the virtual provincial bandwagon against plastics and Styrofoam use. Mayor Reynaldo Aguinaldo and the Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Gilbert V. Gandia approved recently “The Selective Plastic Ban and Use of Eco Bag Ordinance in the Province of Cavite.” The Kawit ordinance was recognized by the Sangguniang Panglalawigan under Vice Gov. Recto M. Cantimbuhan. (Anthony Giron)

TOP-NOTCHERS

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — A resident of this city topped the Career Service Tests conducted by the Civil Service Commission last May in the region, while two others from Balanga and Orani town landed in the top 10. CSC records showed Diana Denise Tabernilla of Balanga City topped the Professional level in Central Luzon with a rating of 86.80 percent while Ruffa Alexis Roman, also of Balanga City, got 86.42 percent and Darren Indelible of Orani town got 86.09 percent or three examinees from Bataan are in top 10. Mariel Luzano of Bulacan placed first in the Sub-Professional level with a rating of 89.55 percent. According to CSC Regional information officer Diana Henson, a total of 1,141 out of 8,965 regional examinees or 12.73 percent passed the May, 2012 Career Service Tests. (Mar T. Supnad)

CRUCIAL BY-PASS ROAD NEARLY DONE

CANDELARIA, Quezon — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Quezon 2nd District Engineering Office (2DEO) is rushing to finish some minor work of the newly constructed 8.5-kilometer by-pass road to be opened soon to traffic here. District Engineer Cely Flancia inspected the project yesterday with members of media and explained how its completion will ease traffic congestion for motorists cruising between Manila and Southern Quezon and Bicol. The by-pass road will cut travel time by around 20 minutes compared to using the primary Manila South Road (MSR), Flacia said. (Danny Estacio)

G.M.A. DAY

GEN. MARIANO ALVAREZ, Cavite — Mayor Leonisa Joana B. Virata and the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) under Vice Mayor Percival C. Cabuhat have approved an ordinance declaring March 14 of every year, the municipality’s founding anniversary, as a special holiday. The Sangguniang Panglalawigan (Provincial Board) under Vice Governor Recto M. Cantimbuhan also approved the ordinance. The special holiday decree was contained in GMA’s Ordinance No. 2012-59. Gen. Mariano Alvarez or GMA is a first income class town in Cavite’s fifth district. It has 16 barangays (villages) and a population of 156,231 (based on Provincial Population Office record). (Anthony Giron)

REGION 1 GROWTH SLOWS DOWN

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The National Statistics Coordinating Board (NSCB) reported yesterday the real score of Region 1’s economic growth, saying it has slowed down in 2011 with a 3.0 percent growth as against the 7.1 percent in 2010. NSCB Regional Division Head Irenea B. Ubungen said this was brought about by the decelerated growths of the service sector and agriculture, Hunting Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) and the negative growth of the Industry sector. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)