SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — Hundreds of Antiqueños joined the unity walk and prayer rally held at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park here over the weekend. Participants in the event later pledged to support the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful elections. Rev. Father Edione Febrero and Pastor Rey Obligar led the interfaith prayer, which centered on exhorting the voters to maintain the dignity of the democratic traditions of the country and the exercise of suffrage for the attainment of the conduct of free, fair peaceful conduct of midterm elections on May 2013.

VILLAGE REWARDS

ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The city government here is giving cash rewards to village officials who are actively campaigning against illegal drugs. This was disclosed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog after presenting a certificate of commendation and a P5,000 cash reward to village chieftain Felix Ventura of Barangay Sinikway, Lapaz district, Friday. Ventura was instrumental in the recent arrest of a shabu dealer in his locality. In the citation, Mabilog said Ventura is worthy to be emulated by other village officials for his bravery and dedication to his work. The citation and cash reward are among the efforts of the city government to boost the peace and order campaign.

SIQUIJOR EXAMS

LARENA, Siquijor (PIA) — The Philippine Army (PA) calls on young Siquijor residents to join the Army and register for the examinations on March 2 at 8 a.m. at the Siquijor Capital Square, Siquijor, Siquijor. Sgt. Wenceslao Cainglet of the Army Recruitment Office-Visayas said this is the first time that the PA comes to Siquijor to offer the examination because it saw in the past, young residents had been coming to Manila to take the exam. “We want to help interested individuals from spending much for their travel,” Cainglet added. Instead of applicants going to Cebu or Manila, officers of the PA bring the exam to the island.

SAFETY DEVICE

BORONGAN CITY (PIA) — Each car owner must buy a pair of the Early Warning Device (EWD), said Nars Tabalnero, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) provincial head, in an interview. The order, she said, is included under Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 229, signed by Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres, to prevent road accidents of all road users. The EWD, she said, now becomes a mandatory accessory of all vehicles, because it is a very important device in preventing road accidents. She said that common observations have it that, whenever a vehicle is stalled in the road, drivers just make use of banana leaves or twigs of trees.

WRITERS’ FORUM

TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) — At least 40 seasoned writers from Eastern Visayas gathered Saturday at the Leyte Normal University, this city, for the second Katig Writers Regional Taboan highlighting the National Arts Month celebration in Eastern Visayas. According to Harold Mercurio, National Committee on Literary Arts (NCLA) coordinator for Eastern Visayas, the participants came from Leyte provinces, Biliran, Samar provinces, including writers from Capul in Northern Samar. “The Regional Taboan aims to continue to develop the writings in Waray, Cebuano, and Inabaknon because these are the three languages spoken in the region,” Mercurio said.