CEBU CITY — To bring its services closer to thier clients, the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG fund is expected to open more branches in the Visayas given its growing number of members. Victoria dela Pena, Pab-IBIG Fund Visayas group vice president bared that by next year five large offices will be opened in the Visayas area with Dumaguete City satellite branch now being a full pledge office. She added that the service offices in the cities of Talisay, Tagbilaran and Mandue will also be launched as a full pledge office while the branches in Carcar City and Toledo City are expected to follow. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

STABLE PRICES

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Iloilo said prices remain stable barely 12 days before Christmas. “The business establishments here are compliant with the suggested retail price (SRP),” said DTI Iloilo provincial Director Wilhelm Malones in a PIA interview. “We’re hoping this will continue up to the celebration of the holiday season.” Malones said noche Buena products sold in the city of Iloilo are based on the November 14 SRP. Noche buena products include queso de bola, ham, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, pasta, hamon de bola, fruit cocktail, among others. (PIA)

BOLLYWOOD EXPOSURE

SOGOD, Southern Leyte — Smile, Agas-Agas, you are on camera in Bollywood. This imposing structure may soon be featured as one of the location shooting for a Bollywood movie “Dhoom3,” an action-epic film series that depicts the adventures of a cop going after thieves. Bollywood is the entertainment, celluloid world of India, the counterpart of Hollywood in the United States. It all began with a communication from Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes of the Department of Tourism (DOT). The proposed filming project in the country was the output of a successful Philippine participation in the Locations Exhibitions Conference held in Juhu, Mumbai, India, recently. (PIA)

V.E.C.O. PARTNERS

CEBU CITY — To widen the options of their costumers in paying their bills, the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) has added two new third-party collection (TPC) partners, the SM Retail and Cebuana Lhuillier. “Forming partnerships with collection partners gives our customers a diverse array of payment channels to choose from and enables convenient and hassle-free payments,” VECO’s Billing and collection manager, Sandro Aboitiz said.  He added that such move is in fulfillment of VECO’s promise to provide only the best service experience for its customers. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

RED AND GREEN EVENTS HELD

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte — As part of the 77th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (afp), the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, led bloodletting and greening events. Major-General Gerardo Layug, commander of the 8th ID, said the bloodletting is the Army’s continuing commitment in serving the people and that the blood donation is intended for both the Army personnel’s use and the civilians’ medical needs. (PIA)