LUCENA CITY – At least 274 persons suffering from eye ailment or cataract were treated after a successful operation at the Quezon Medical Center (QMC) conducted by volunteer ophthalmologists, the City Health Office (CHO) said yesterday. One of the patients is CJ Gabriel, a resident of Barangay Ibabang Dupay here who benefited from the free eye surgical operation led Dr. Federico Mabulay in cooperation with City Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga under the Liwanag ng Mata Serbisyong Talaga program. The CHO reported that about 1,000 patients were screened, but only those who passed the medical check done by the health office underwent eye treatment. (Danny Estacio)

NEW CANDIDATE

TRECE MARTIRES CITY – A Liberal Party (LP) candidate has withdrawn his candidacy for Board Member (BM) in Cavite’s 5th District, the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) here said. Lawyer Irineo A. Anarna was replaced by Alberto G. Alvarez, a cooperative specialist, as LP BM aspirant in the district that comprises the towns of Carmona, Silang, and General Mariano Alvarez. Lawyer Juanito V. Ravanzo Jr., Comelec-Cavite supervisor, said Alvarez filed his certificate of candidacy (CoC) on October 29, after Anarna withdrew his bid last October 16 due to health reasons. Alvarez, 53, hails from Tartaria, Silang. (Anthony Giron)

FREE TRAINING

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) – The Naga City High School (NCHS) in Camarines Sur is the only school in Bicol allotted a slot in the ongoing 11th Computer Camp for the Blind organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide free training for blind students. The training which started last October 29 and to last until November 9, placed together representatives who are totally blind or with severe low vision from 42 public schools nationwide in a computer camp at the IBM Philippines’ Eastwood City Cyberpark in Barangay Libis, Quezon City.

BANAHAW WATCH

LUCENA CITY – Various environment agencies of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) under the Region-4A office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, technical staff from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) of Quezon conducted a thorough investigation and ocular inspection at the Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) and other quarry areas, and found out that no illegal quarry operations were being done in Sariaya town. Dondi M. Sarmiento, officer-in-charge of the Mining Environment and Safety Division of the MGB-4A, clarified that only quarry violations have been done by the quarry permit holders. (Danny Estacio)

FOREST DRIVE

BAGAC, Bataan – To ensure the continuity of forest protection, local officials and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have tightened watch over illegal logging and charcoal-making activities in the province, particularly along the forested areas of Mariveles and Bagac towns. Mayor Ramil del Rosario expressed full support to DENR provincial chief Amado Villanueva’s campaign against illegal logging activities as they noted the decrease of the problem with the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP), military, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens.  (Mar Supnad)