ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — The Iloilo City’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be on heightened alert Friday to Sunday as people celebrate the Dinagyang Festival here. The move is a preemptive move in case any fire breaks out. To recall, in Jan. 22, 2012, almost 400 households were affected by a fire in three villages, Tanza Esperanza, Tanza Timawa and Malipayon Delgado in this city while the Dinagyang Festival awarding ceremony was going on. Fire Officer 2 George Deynon Jr. of the BFP’s Operation Division said the city  BFP is making sure no such incident will occur this year and is now ready for any possible fire call while the festival this year is going on.

D.T.I.-CAPIZ CITED 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Capiz was conferred by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) the CSC Seal of Excellence Award in Western Visayas last year. Capiz CSC Director lawyer Maria Lina Gonzaga said the agency was conferred the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence Award based on a survey conducted by the CSC. A survey in August, 2012 resulted in DTI Capiz’s garnering a final 93 percent rating equivalent to excellent, entitling the agency to the Seal and R75,000 cash award which Gonzaga said will be used to purchase equipment, materials and services that will further improve the agency’s delivery of frontline services.

P.N.P. CRACKDOWN 

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar (PIA) — Police crackdown on gun ban violators continues with the arrest of two Samarnons for violating the election gun ban 10 days since its implementation on Sunday, January 13. PRO8 Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Elmer Ragadio Soria said two of the violators were arrested in checkpoint operations in Samar. One of the violators, Enrico Espino y Cajepe, 55, a farmer, was arrested January 17 while carrying a caliber .22 air rifle with serial number 98221 with 18 pellets in a police checkpoint on the national highway in Brgy. Tominamos, Sta. Rita, Samar. The other suspect, Bonifacio Dalion y Rosana, 41, businessman, who had a loaded caliber .45 Colt pistol, was arrested January 16 in a checkpoint at Brgy. Migara, Calbayog City.

EARLY REGISTRATION

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — Public elementary and high schools in this province are ready for early registration by January 26, according to Schools Division Superintendent John Arnold Siena of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Antique. “This is a DepEd activity in which we tap various sectors in the community to achieve early registration objectives to prepare for the smooth opening of classes this June,’” Siena said, adding that “a committee has been created to ensure enrollment of children’s in kindergarten and Grade 1 and those getting into first year high school.”

FAKE PESO

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar (PIA) — A province-wide information drive is being conducted here by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-Tacloban branch personnel to help cash handlers detect counterfeit money. Facilitated by local bank managers, the program gathered municipal treasurers and other local officials, DepEd accounting staff, even private individuals. China Bank, Borongan branch manager Paul Oliva said Eastern Samarenos should be vigilant in spotting fake peso bills and be familiarized with genuine BSP-issued bank notes.