‘HANE FESTIVAL’

TANAY, Rizal — Festivities highlighting one’s love for the environment marked this year’s celebration of Tanay’s 406th Foundation Anniversary and the “2nd Hane Festival.” Mayor Lito Tanjuatco led local officials and residents in launching the twin activities last Friday with the theme: “Turismo at Kalikasan sa Tanay, Ipagmalaki, Hane!” A thanksgiving mass at the San Ildefonso Parish Church, the coronation night for Ginang Kalikasan and other awarding ceremonies mark today’s culmination of the annual celebration. (Nel B. Andrade)

MODERATE QUAKE HITS BATANES ISLES

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur — A moderately strong earthquake measuring magnitude 4.8 hit the Batanes Group of Islands the other night but caused no casualties or property damage, authorities reported yesterday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said here that the tremor occurred at 9:39 p.m. on Saturday with its epicenter located at 34 kilometers southeast of Basco, Batanes and with a depth of 33 kilometers. It was felt strongest at Intensity 4 in Uyugan, Batanes province. Intensity 3 of the quake was felt in Basco. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

FLYOVER DONE

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Lazatin Avenue and Jose Abad Santos Avenue in San Fernando City, Pampanga. The P373-million project is a modular steel type flyover composed of five spans on four piers with a total length of 195 linear meters and with total approach length of 120 meters. It was the French company Matiere S.A.S, which supplied the superstructure materials for this project. It was built in anticipation of the increase in population, improving business climate, and productivity in the areas served by Lazatin flyover, the DPWH added. (Raymund F. Antonio)

SMOOTHER POLLS SEEN IN DAGUPAN

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — City Election Officer Remarque Ravanzo expressed confidence yesterday that so-called “flying voters” will no longer be as significant a problem as in past elections, following new procedures employed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Ravanzo said the centralized database of Comelec may determine the whereabouts and pertinent data regarding a registrant. It also hinders a registered voter from being included in lists in other polling precincts, preventing flying voters from casting their ballot more than once on election day. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

FREE SERVICES

TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite — The local government here is giving free funeral services for the city residents. Information and Tourism Officer Lani Diesta said that all bona fide city residents are entitled to the benefit that Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and his administration rendered out with the approval of the amended ordinances for the concerned services. The approved benefit included free coffins and burial or cremation and columbarium. Observers said that the benefit is a big help to the needy in the city as raising the much-needed funds for funeral expenses would no longer be a problem. (Anthony Giron)