SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that it has scheduled a 10-hour brownout in the three big towns Cagayan province for November 22, as a result of maintenance work on transmission lines. The 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. brownout will affect  the towns  Santa Teresita, Gonzaga and Santa Ana. “The cause of the brownout has something to do with the replacement of line hardware of selected wood poles along Magapit to Santa Ana 69kV transmission lines,” said Lilibeth P. Gaydowen, North Luzon public officer of the NGIP. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

YOUTH SUPPORT

CAINTA, RIZAL — The local government here has encouraged students and various youth organizations in this town to participate in its anti-drug campaign to create awareness on the negative effects of illegal drugs.  Joseph Buentes of the Cainta Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) said the week-long campaign is being supported by the Cainta Youth Council Against Drug Abuse, composed of students and out of school youth.  Also students from 30 elementary schools to colleges, both private and public joined the street parade to create awareness on the ill effects of prohibited drugs. Mayor Ramon “Mon” Ilagan said various youth organizations have pledged to support the local government’s program to make the town an illegal drugs-free community. (Nel B. Andrade)

C.C.TV. ORDINANCE

DAGUPAN CITY — The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) supports the move of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact an ordinance requiring business establishments to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) system before they can be issued permits. POSO chief Robert Erfe-Mejia said CCTVs can deter criminal activities and help solve crimes. However, Mejia said the requirement should only be mandatory for businesses that can afford it, like groceries and malls. The city government is also planning to install CCTVs in the central business district. (Liezle  Basa Inigo)

VILLAR PROJECT

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Residents of the REINA towns ( Real-Infanta-Gen. Nakar) will become beneficiaries of a project of former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar to use a decorticating machine to produce coconut peat and coconut fiber that can prevent soil erosion while at the same time giving poor families livelihood opportunities.  Speaking at the Cluster Conference of Language Learning here, Villar said, “The use of coconut net is a proven more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option as opposed to rip rapping slopes with the cement or other synthetic materials.” She cited Las Pinas’s experience of turning coconut waste into a livelihood resource. (Danny Estacio)

TOPS ANEW

CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Bataan has again been named the “Best Provincial Office,” the second month in a row that it achieved the award.  Senior Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona, CIDG regional officer, presented the commendation to Chief Inspector Melchor B. Cantil, Bataan CIDG chief, for obtaining the highest rating in the performance evaluation conducted by CIDG regional office to all CIDG provincial offices in Central Luzon for the month of October. The CIDG regional office was conducting monthly performance evaluation to all its provincial offices. (Mar T. Supnad)