CAMP GARCIA, Cavite — Some religious groups are helping the Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) conduct the much-desired honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) next year. This developed as Senior Supt. John C. Bulalacao, PPO director, assured peace and order in the province’s six cities and 18 municipalities with the police operations and security measures in place for the mid-term polls. In an unprecedented move, the Bible Baptist Group under Bishop Sonelito Cruz has offered their help to Bulalacao in terms of prayers, advises and mediation for the concerned individuals. Police have begun operating against loose firearms, private armed groups (PAGs) and other threat groups. (Anthony Giron)

INVESTMENT PLAN

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Finally, after a series of heated arguments, the Quezon Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has passed and resolved last Thursday the controversial Annual Investment Plan (AIP) in a special session called by lawmakers. The special session was temporarily presided by Quezon 2nd District Board Member Ferdinand Talabong in the absence of Vice Governor Vicente Alcala, who did not show up allegedly because of his strong opposition to the AIP. Board Member Lourdes de Luna Pasatiempo, who chairs the committee on budget and appropriation, called on her colleagues to pass the AIP, which later received a unanimous vote of approval. (Danny Estacio)

CAYETANO VISITING BATAAN, SAYS B.M.

ABUCAY, Bataan — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will soon meet barangay captains and Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in this province to know for himself how he could further provide assistance in the rural areas. This was revealed yesterday by Bataan Board Member Dexter Dominguez, popularly known as “Teri Onor” in the showbiz industry. Cayetano is set to visit Bataan soon as part of his visitation program throughout the country and upon the invitation of Dominguez. The provincial solon is known for tapping government fund sources for infrastructure projects in Bataan. (Mar T. Supnad)

FIESTA REPUBLICA

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda vowed yesterday support for the Fiesta Republica celebration to be held in Malolos City wherein Pampanga is expected to join the festivity of its neighboring province. Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad in his visit to Gov. Pineda presented the activities of the week-long celebration on January 17-23, 2013. Natividad said they invited Pampanga being one of the eight provinces who started the Philippine revolution during the Spanish Era and now represented as the eight rays of the sun in the National Flag namely; Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Manila, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. (Franco G. Regala and Freddie C. Velez)

BEAR CAMPAIGN

MARILAO, Bulacan — The Yuletide season has finally begun as SM Supermalls simultaneously lit and unveiled its iconic Christmas centerpieces earlier this week and launch a “care bear” campaign. SM mall here was transformed into a Christmas wonderland. SM encourages shoppers to put a smile on children’s faces by purchasing the SM Cares Bears of joy for only P100 and hang it on the Christmas tree of hope. Shoppers get to keep one bear and donate another while proceeds together with the cute bears will be donated to charitable institutions nationwide. The project will run until December 31. (Freddie C. Velez)