DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Benjie S. Lim was  very grateful and has commended fellow Dagupeno Jose Esteves for a "job well done" following his re-election for the fourth time as mayor of Milpitas City, California last Tuesday (American time).  According to report Esteves, who is a Republican , defeated Rob Means by 72 percent of the total votes.  Esteves , 66 is a Dagupeno has achieved great successes in administering the affairs of Milpitas. He is currently on his fourth term as mayor, and will serve another term which he projects to be more "effective" and more responsible in fiscal management.

ECO-BAG

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The  New SM Eco-Bag was launched with the theme “ENGAGE to CHANGE,” at the Cyberzone Area of SM City, here. SM City Calamba, a strong advocate for the love and care to our environment, makes it a point to understand the need for Filipinos to be aware of and participate in sustaining the beauty of Mother Nature for future generation. Earlier this year, SM Supermalls launched its Eco-bag design contest focusing on the designs in relation to the “Four Elements of Nature” namely, Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

HELMET REGISTRATION

ANTIPOLO CITY-  The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) based in this city is appealing to motorbike users who have not registered their helmets with the agency to have their helmets inspected as soon as possible to prevent any inconvenience once the helmet law has been implemented starting January 2013. This came as DTI-Rizal Provincial Office is reminding single motorcycle riders to avail of the free inspection and evaluation of their helmets as soon as possible. Yesterday, the DTI-Rizal personnel conducted inspection and putting of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) or Philippine Standard (PS) stickers on approved helmets at SM City Taytay. (Nel B. Andrade)

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

TUGUEGARAO City, (PNA) – The Provincial Government Employees Housing Program (PGEHP) will extend housing assistance to qualified provincial capitol employees at a minimal cost. Mar Dela Cruz of the provincial planning and development officer, said a housing site in Penablanca with an estimated 1,450 lots is now being developed and 215 lots are earmarked for the capitol employees in Tuguegarao City.

The project located in Caring Norte, Tuguegarao City covers 39,545 square meters while the project in Patagueleg, Penablanca has an area of 345,760 square meters.

CULTURAL REVIVAL

TUGUEGARAO City, (PNA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the Mother-Tongue Based (MTB) program to start the revival of the endemic culture here seen by cultural experts as threatened. DepEd-02 Division Superintendent Gilbert Tong said the revival of the Ibanag culture is part of the government's program to preserve indigenous cultures, including its languages. Ibanag is one of the MTB languages now taught in Philippine schools. Tong said the division have asked language teachers to come up with several researches, initiate production of Ibanag literature, and to conceptualize projects all geared towards the preservation of the language. Various dissertations have reported that the Ibanag language is threatened as the studies reveal very few residents in the region use their mother tongue.