ILAGAN, Isabela — A grand motorcade was launched late this week, starting at the town’s biggest mall, to signal the official kick-off of the campaign for the cityhood of this capital town. Municipal officials, led by Mayor Jose Marie Diaz, barangay officials, government organizations, non-government organizations, the academe, schools, and other sectors in the locality, joined the motorcade as show of support for the cityhood of Ilagan. The campaign for Ilagan’s cityhood runs until August 9, while the plebiscite will be conducted on August 12. (PIA)

BARANGAY TOURISM

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The Balanga City Tourism Office urged yesterday barangay officials to scout not only for tourist destinations to develop in their localities but also livelihood programs that may attract visiting students and travel agencies. This was the advocacy promoted by Lolita del Rosario, assistant city tourism officer, as she spoke at the Barangay Week Program launching, conceptualized by Mayor Joet S. Garcia. The program aims to involve barangay officials and residents in developing a complete tourism experience for visitors. (Mar T. Supnad)

D.O.L.E., MAYOR GIVE STUDENTS’ SALARIES

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — A total of 252 beneficiaries of the city’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) received recently the remaining 40 percent counter partition salary from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan along with City Councilor Edu Pamintuan led the distribution of the cash remuneration to student-grantees and parents together with officials from DOLE at the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) here. “The 60% of their allowance were already given by our local government last June. What we are distributing now are the remaining 40% from DOLE,” said PESO Manager Adelina Deocales. (Franco G. Regala)

HELMET ACT

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — A lawmaker asked the Department of Trade and Industry  (DTI) to ease the woes of motorcycle owners and riders in having their helmets inspected. Senator Chiz Escudero said, “(The) DTI should regulate retailers and dealers of helmets so that they sell only accredited products. This, in turn, will spare motorists the hassle of having their helmets inspected and pasted with ICC stickers.” He said motorists may buy helmets from accredited retailers and dealers on the assumption that the products are in the market because these have already passed all product inspections and tests of DTI. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

BATANES IS NOW MALARIA-FREE 

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — After successfully maintaining zero malaria statistics for five consecutive years, the Department of Health (DOH) has declared Batanes as malaria-free province. Dr. Romeo Turingan, malaria control program coordinator, no cases of malaria were recorded in the province from 2008 to 2012. As such, Batanes has been cited as having the best malaria control program in the region, followed by Quirino province which has maintained a zero case of malaria case since 2010. (PIA)