TUY, Batangas — Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is pinning its hopes of boosting communities’ agricultural productivity on a P34.5-million road project that will benefit mainly agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in this town. Engr. Rosauro Adapon, Batangas 1st district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said the farm-to-farm market road project will connect Barangays Bayudbud Toong with other villages. DAR Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes said the cost of transporting goods in the area will be significantly decreased, thus, increasing the incomes and productivity of ARBs in the area. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is partly funding the project with the help of Batangas 1st District Rep. Tomas Apacible. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

EARLY REGISTRATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PAGBILAO, Quezon — The Quezon Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division declared yesterday January 26 as the date for early registration for all public and secondary schools for school year 2013-2014. Schools Division Superintendent Tolentino G. Aquino said the early registration day aims to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of pushing education among so-called out-of-school children (OSC) and the out-of-school youth (OSY). The theme to achieve the MGD on universalization of primary (Basic) education is “Makapag-aral ay Karapatan Mo, Magpalista Ngayon Enero.” (Danny J. Estacio)

REBEL CAPTURED

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — Police operatives have captured an alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel tagged in an ambush in April 2012 in Barangay Tinablayan, Tinoc, Ifugao which resulted in the death of 11 soldiers. Colonel Loreto Magundayao, Army 5th Infantry Division spokesman, said yesterday that Rene E. Abiva, 23, a native of Barangay Bonfal, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, was arrested in Barangay Centro 4, this city. Abiva, a coordinator of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 2, has denied involvement in the attack. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

CHARCOAL CAPER

OLONGAPO CITY — The chief of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Olongapo City, warned yesterday illegal charcoal makers to stop their illegal activities even as she reported the confiscation of 80 sacks of illegally-manufactured charcoal for violation of Section 68 of P.D 705. Marife L. Castillo, CENRO head, reported that aside from confiscating the 80 sacks of charcoal, the suspects identified as Jonjon Saronda, Florante Reyes and Marlon Gantalao, have been charged and their Isuzu ELF truck impounded. (Mar T. Supnad)

TALONG FESTIVAL

VILLASIS, Pangasinan — As the No. 1 producer of eggplants (talong) in Region 1, this town’s fiesta which runs on January 15-20 will be highlighted by the “Talong Festival” on January 18. As the highlight of the weeklong celebration, the 8th Talong Festival here will treat tourists and the local residents to free eggplant-based delicacies in 21 participating barangays, said Mayor Libradita Abrenica. Cooking contests and eating of the famous “Pinakbet Kawa,” a local delicacy, will be staged alongside a talong mosaic design contest and street-dancing competition. Municipal Agriculturist Cornelio Atchuela said 85 percent of Villasis residents live on agriculture with eggplant as their main produce. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)