PASIL, Kalinga — This remote upland town of Kalinga is showing signs that it can have a roaring economy with its dramatic 2012 tax performance rate that exceeded by more than 400 percent its previous collection. Based on its 2012 municipal revenue collection performance report, Pasil had collected local taxes amounting to P2,754,172 compared to P624,886 in 2011. Mayor James Edduba attributed the impressive revenue efforts to the newly revised Local Tax Code of the municipality which was passed by the municipal council on December 5, 2011 after a series of consultation with the people and barangay officials. It took effect in 2012. (PIA)

BICOL MANGROVES

LEGAZPI CITY — More than 231,000 seedlings of mangrove trees have been planted in 52 hectares in adjacent barangays of Taopon, San Nicolas and San Pedro in Panganiban town, Catanduanes under the National Greening Program (NGP). The scope of the NGP does not only include upland but also urban and coastal/mangrove areas, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The mangrove project is being undertaken through the efforts of Rep. Cezar Sarmiento, the DENR, the Catanduanes Mangrove Planters Association, Inc., and residents with the assistance from Mayor Robert A. Fernandez. (PNA)

FATAL ACCIDENT

MALVAR, Batangas — Police filed yesterday reckless imprudence charges against a village councilman who allegedly sideswiped a 47-year-old pedestrian, resulting in the victim’s death, in Barangay Luta Norte, here. PO3 Joel Micosa Banta said the accident involving the Mitsubishi Adventure (XER-445) driven by Ruben Endaya, councilman of Barangay San Fernando, here, happened on Saturday at 9:15 p.m. on J.P. Laurel Highway. Endaya took the pedestrian, Teodorico Lanton, to the C.P. Reyes Hospital in Tanauan City after the accident but the victim died due to severe head and body injuries around 12 midnight. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

‘JUNKIES’ FALL

ABUCAY, Bataan — Police reported yesterday the arrest of two men found in possession of illegal drugs in this town and in Balanga City. Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zapata, Bataan police director, said Balanga City police nabbed one Christopher Salcedo in Sitio Ugong, Barangay Cataning, through a buy-bust operation, while police in this town arrested Antonio Sevilla of Barangay Gabon, by chance when the latter passed through a checkpoint in Barangay Calaylayan, here. Charges have been filed against Salcedo who yielded a sachet of “shabu” and marked money; and Sevilla who was found in possession of three teabags of marijuana. (Mar T. Supnad)

CAVITE ALARMED BY RISING SUICIDES

IMUS, Cavite — The Catholic Church and other concerned sectors have again expressed concern over the rising number of suicide incidents in this province. The Police Provincial Office (PPO) records showed at least two persons committing suicide monthly in Cavite in the last quarter of 2012. This figure rose in January this year with five reported suicide incidents. A priest said depression had triggered the suicides with the victims’ families citing health, money, marriage or love problems even among the youth. (Anthony Giron)