PILILLA, Rizal — The local government here has extended financial assistance to the victims of the Malaya thermal plant. Acting municipal social welfare office head, Rolly Vidanes told Manila Bulletin that the local government has provided financial assistance to the relatives of the fatalities in the SPC Power Plant accident that happened here on the afternoon of February 3. Vidanes said the people of this town, through Mayor Leandro Masikip, has extended assistance to the fatalities’ family as the local government is pushing for a thorough probe on the accident that resulted from the collapsed scaffolding inside one of the power plant’s smokestacks. (Nel B. Andrade)

PROPERTY CLASSIFICATION

HERMOSA, Bataan – Residents here have issued a petition to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to retain the conversion order of a property in Sumalo which is already classified as industrial, commercial and residential. The residents of Sumalo are current members of the Kasapiang Aalalay sa Sumalo na may Adhikain Mapaunlad ang Sarili at Pamayanan (Kasama) and have assailed the earlier petition of Sanamabasu to DAR  aiming to revert  the conversion of the Litton estate  citing vested self-interest as the real motive and does not stand for the real sentiment of the people of Sumalo. (Jonas Reyes)

D.E.N.R. BUILDING

CORTES, Bohol — To provide more accessible and prompt services to this province, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is building a new office in this town. DENR Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo recently led the ground-breaking of the proposed Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) building within the 9,427-square meter lot in this town. The two-story building with a project cost of P8.0 million to be undertaken by Belonta Construction and set to be completed within 300 calendar days will be occupied by PENRO Bohol and CENRO Tagbilaran City. (Phoebe Indino)

FLOOD CONTROL

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The approval of the R63.2-million funds for the repair of flood-control dikes here could help save hundreds of families living in five villages in this capital city, according to Governor Lilia G. Pineda. Pineda told the Manila Bulletin that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) approved budget to restore Pampanga’s damaged dike will directly salvage the city of San Fernando and nearby villages like San Nicolas, San Pedro Kutod, Santa Lucia and San Jose from possible massive flooding brought by heavy rains. (Franco G. Regala)

TRI-BOUNDARies

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos — Some R45.3 million worth of fully – grown Marijuana plants were uprooted and destroyed by the joint operatives from the police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the mountainous areas near Barangay Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, last January 31, 2013, it was reported Wednesday noon here. Chief Inspector Sosimo R. Racho, Chief of Ilocos Sur’s Provincial Anti - Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group (PAIDSOTG), told Wednesday that the sites of the 70 Marijuana plantations with a total land area of 3.5 hectares were located at the tri-boundaries of Ilocos Sur, Benguet and La Union. (Freddie G. Lazaro)