PITOGO, Quezon — The regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in  Region IV-A of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has approved the proposed site for sanitary landfill facility (SLF) in this town. On the proposed plan site, the municipal government upon the study of local environment office suggested the barangay Gahangin and following the geological assessment been conducted by the experts from MGB. But so far, as of this date, the site covering two hectares land contains various trees including coconut trees. The establishing of SLF is based on Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which mandates the  local government unit to set up venue intended for municipal solid waste disposal facilities. (Danny Estacio)

WEAK TREMOR

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur — A 2.8 magnitude earthquake hit some areas in Ilocos Sur early this morning but no damage to property to be expected, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said here. Local Phivolcs Researcher Porferio De Peralta said that the quake happened at 5:00 a.m. Friday with epicenter at 61 kilometers southwest of San Esteban, Ilocos Sur with a depth of 18 kilometers. De Peralta said that the quake was tectonic in origin but no reported intensity in the affected areas and no aftershock to be expected. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

POWER OUTAGES

VIGAN CITY — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) set four separate times- schedules of one- hours of power interruptions on Saturday, January 5, 2012 affecting the 18 towns and one city in the second district of Ilocos Sur and the entire province of Abra. NGCP’s North Luzon Public Affairs Officer Lilibeth P. Gaydowen told Friday that the cause of the brownout has something to do with the annual preventive maintenance and testing (APMT) of power transformer #1 and its associated equipment and shifting/normalization of power from power transformer #1 to power transformer #2 (vice versa) of the Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) and the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO).  (Freddie G .Lazaro)

MASBATE AIRPORT

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has earmarked P15-million for the rehabilitation of the Masbate City Airport. Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuazon said expansion of the airport’s runway will increase the number of flights and could accommodate bigger planes. He expressed hope that following the budget approval, construction will immediately start. At present, the airport could only accommodate small commercial planes and with limited number of flights. Socrates as well as residents and businessmen in the province expressed optimism that the airport rehabilitation would spur business activities in the island province.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PNA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office will implement P5.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects this year to stimulate countryside development and bolster the booming tourism industry in Central Luzon. DPWH assistant regional director Loreta M. Malaluan said there are 174 projects listed for implementation starting this year which consist of the construction, upgrade, reconstruction and improvement of national roads.