The provincial government of Iloilo has appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec-6) to grant its exemption request to give financial aid during the election ban. 

Fire authorities here have doubled efforts in disseminating fire prevention information in time for the observance of Fire Prevention Month this March.

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The municipal trial court has excluded 17 voters in the southern Iloilo town of Miag-ao.

Some 80 US military and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel and non-government organization representatives are set to kick off 'Operation Pacific Angel 2013 on March 4 in Negros Oriental. 

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The 8th Eastern Samar Peace and Development Forum, convened by the clergy here with major convener, Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez recently met with national agencies department heads who shared their major accomplishments so far. 

Country representatives of seven Developing Member Countries (DMC) lauded the successful implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) here, citing that such project was able to empower its beneficiary-communities into becoming active participants in local development. 

The National Statistics Office in Northern Samar has been conducting in various towns its 4th Level Training on the 2012 Census on Agriculture and Fisheries or CAF.

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Hundreds of Antiqueños joined the unity walk and prayer rally held at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park here over the weekend.

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Biliran province has launched the search for “Illegal Propaganda-Free” Barangays in the province.

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The female university student who figured in a scandal video has sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in determining who uploaded the sex video that has rocked a Cebu university. 

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The National Food Authority (NFA) has buffer stock good for 68 days based on Iloilo City and province’s residents’ consumption.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 (DSWD-7) nutritionist-dietician Melinda Cañares, who chairs the Technical Working Group of the Central Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee, was recently awarded by DSWD-7 as "Best Technical Staff – Professional Category” for being an exceptional worker with the highest degree of professionalism providing appropriate intervention in the needs of children, stakeholders and other intermediaries in implementing DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).

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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (SCCII) conducted a Product Development Program for tourism stakeholders in the province last January 30 - 31. 

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Seven graduating elementary pupils here passed this year’s National Competitive Examination of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System last Sept. 29, 2012 at the Northwestern Visayan Colleges (NVC). 

Sangguniang Panlungsod members here in a recent session unanimously approved a resolution granting a one month extension in the renewal of business permits for 2013 without any interests and surcharges. 

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) – The Kasadyahan Festival Regional Cultural Competition, a highlight of Iloilo’s  2013 Dinagyang Festival opened yesterday, showcasing the culture of Ilonggos and those in other parts of Western Visayas.

The misunderstanding on the issuance of media IDs for the 2013 Dinagyang Festival has been settled. 

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The National Food Authority (NFA) in Antique province surpassed its palay procurement target last 2012 by about 106 percent with a total of 185,643 bags purchased as against 175,000 bags annual target.

Some 116 public elementary schools here are expected to be benefited by the Text2teach program which is aimed at improving the quality of teaching English, Math, Science, and Values Education.

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In celebration of its centennial anniversary this year, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) has lined up series of activities this year that may include planning for a ten-storey twin-tower hospital expansion.

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At the start of the election period, a signing of a peace covenant has been scheduled in the considered election “priority area” in Eastern Visayas. 

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Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, Inc. and Northern Samar province will conduct a three-day cleft lip and cleft palate surgical mission at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital on February 20-22.

To establish an inventory of agricultural and fishery resources in this province to be used mainly by plans and policymakers, National Statistics Office (NSO)-Biliran statistics officer Rose Marie Lumbre said the NSO will conduct the 2012 Census on Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) from February until April this year. The 2012 CAF, she said, is a large-scale nationwide government undertaking aimed to collect and compile basic information on the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) recently destroyed 214 video carrera and moli-moli machines worth some P2.14 million confiscated in anti-illegal gambling raids in the city this year. 

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Devotees, including those named after St. Therese of the Child Jesus, gathered here for a concelebrated mass yesterday to mark her 140th birthday and prepare for the pilgrim’s relics third visit here March 5-7, 2013. 

The Collection Section of PhilHealth Regional Office-7 enjoins employers who have not yet adopted the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) in submitting their monthly remittance reports (RF-1) to attend the orientations set in 2013.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog yesterday underscored Filipinos’ need for more heroes as the country marked the 116th anniversary of national hero Jose P. Rizal’s martyrdom.

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An official from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 during the recent final helmet briefing bared that they will no longer issue Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers or Philippine Standards (PS) marks as they have already set the deadline for the accreditation yesterday.

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It was a pleasant surprise for security guards of Mandaue City-based Probe Security Agency, Inc. serving at Metro-Hyper, this city when last December 20, a number of them received over R12,000 in individual checks from Probe corresponding to payment of their regular and special holidays and overtime pay, from July 5 to October 31 this year. 

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Nearly 800 public school teachers from all Western Visayas divisions are set to take the National Qualifying Examinations for School Heads (NQESH) on January 20, 2013. 

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Region 7 has launched a program teaching basic entrepreneurial skills to female store owners in Cebu to improve their economic status.

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The Negros Occidental provincial government signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) Bacolod Chapter for a project named “Bringing Mental Health Services to the Community,” with the latter providing at least one psychiatrist and one psychologist for consultation treatments and follow up mentally-ill indigent patients at core referral hospitals at least once a month, while the provincial government will provide for honorariums and psychotropic medications for patients.

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To bring its services closer to clients, the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Livestock and Poultry Sector in Region 7 recently conducted mobile licensing services for some 60 handlers and transport carriers in the livestock and poultry trade in the province.

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Public school teachers here have something to look forward to early next year with the adding of P500 to their emergency cost of living allowance (ECOLA) in January, 2013.

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Three Capiz government information officers are included in the Best Performing Information Officers in Western Visayas.

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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas  (PDEA-7) is now under Julius Navales who replaced Jigger Montallana who was transferred to PDEA’s main Manila office and is now the agency’s deputy personnel division chief.

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Naval in Biliran province will receive the Green Banner Award as outstanding municipality in Region 8 for the effective implementation of nutrition programs, projects, and activities. 

Work and family balance lies at the core of the ability of the family to provide economical and emotional support for its members, thus the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 recently conducted a special seminar on Strengthening Family Relationship to some 46 married employees with their spouses here. 

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M.T.S. M.O.A. - Out-of-school youth (OSY) and other interested individuals here now have a chance to undergo skills training for gainful employment after the provincial government entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Mobile Technology School (MTS) implementers in the province covering skills training on basic arc welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), beauty care, dressmaking, commercial cooking, refrigeration and airconditioning, consumer electronics servicing, furniture and cabinet- making, meat-processing, food technology, electrical installation and computer hardware servicing.

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NO PERMIT - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has stopped the rehabilitation of the old airport here upon discovery that the city’s building official has not issued a building permit for such work.

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SENIORS’ CONGRESS - The Annual Provincial Senior Citizens Congress in Biliran province last November 7, was successful with nearly 200 participants gathering at the provincial capitol compound.

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ORGANIC FARMING - To promote organic agriculture in the country, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala said the DA is now focused on actual organic production to get more adoptive results. Alcala was at the National Organic Agriculture Congress attended by some 2,000 delegates at the JCenter Mall here.

Visayas Newsbits

STUDENT WIZ - Civil engineering student Allyn T. Artates of Aklan State University – College of Industrial Technology (ASU-CIT) topped this year’s 21st Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) provincial elimination held at the National Statistics Office (NSO) here. Blas Solidum, NSO-Aklan statistics officer said the PSQ is an annual contest designed to assess the competency and skills of students in statistics as acquired from secondary education curriculum.

CENTCOM ACTION - With the observance of “Undas” and the long weekend ahead, Central Command (Centcom) is also beefing up security operations to ensure peace and order during the entire week.

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TEEN FORUM - The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) will partner with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation of this city for a roadshow forum on teenage issues, specifically on pregnancy and drug addiction on Nov. 16, with launching to be held at the University of Iloilo-PHINMA. 

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PHILPOST SERVICE - Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in seven Samar towns can now withdraw funds through the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost).

ASSESSMENT - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started to assess hot spot areas in Western Visayas for the 2013 midterm elections.

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Thousands of Ilonggo families in barangays located along the Iloilo City coast line including Barangays Libertad in Lapuz, Lapaz district, Pala-Pala along Rizal St., City Proper, and San Juan, Molo district celebrated Sunday their fiestas in time with the St. John the Baptist feast. 

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The city government here will honor a former school teacher who will turn 100 on June 30, with the Centenary Senior Citizen Award on Monday. 

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Iloilo and Guimaras provincial and municipal officials led by Governors Arthur Defensor Sr. and Felipe Hilan Nava of Iloilo and Guimaras respectively are in Toronto Canada for a Learning Exchange on Sustainable Bio-regional Planning.

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The Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) is urging government to diplomatically end the conflict with China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal as soon as possible.

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Some 700 Maasin City senior citizens got medical and dental services at the Office of Senior Citizens Association (OSCA) recently. 

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Aklan province has signified satisfaction with how President Benigno Aquino III ran the country’s affair in his first year of office.

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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas has asked DPWH Central Office for R137 million for the replacement of the damaged Calbiga steel bridge in Calbiga, Samar. 

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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) offers its Educational and Financial Learning Center (EFLC) for students who want to do research and further studies on economics and financial-related issues.

Teachers should not give “tedious and irrelevant” homework to their pupils, Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Assistant Director Carmelita Dulangon said, while asking pupils to always review their notes at home, so they will remember their previous lessons the next day.

The Department of Energy is warning motorists against buying gasoline from questionable sources as oil products from these outlets have not undergone quality control.

The Department of Energy (DoE) will hold Tuesday a briefing on the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) or the Pantawid Pasada Program here.

Visayas Newsbits

Twelve public high schools in the Antique province were recipients of computers from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) program.

Negros Oriental Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas recently signed an agreement with the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) for the Enhancement and Development Program for the Tourist Police.

Some 46 public high schools here are beneficiaries of government’s Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Phase 4 project implemented through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The Region 7 office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has noted an increasing trend of women working abroad based on its quarterly deployment abroad.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has clarified that the city government will provide relocation sites to informal settlers in the city affected by clearing operations along the Mahiga Creek. 

In line with the Aquino’s administration thrust to create more local jobs in the country, the Region 7 office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Friday, launched a skills intervention program to aid displaced female Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has suggested to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia a joint housing program for informal settlers in the city.

 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Rolando M. Asis has mandated district engineers in Region 8 to take measures to ensure “zero” fatality as Eastern Visayas braces for tropical storm Chedeng. 

Support for DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson’s call to implement the “right projects, at the right cost, with the right quality,” is in full force in the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Offce 8.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 7 office has turned over seven brand-new fiber glass patrol boats to coastal towns in the province.  

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 6 has assured that it will monitor the proper implementation of tuition fee hikes imposed by some schools this school year. Classes begin June 6. 

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is asking Ilonggos to unite in preventing the spread of the dreaded disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS). 

Rice harvest in Antique province is abundant and Antiqueños have nothing to worry about supply of rice in the coming months, said Gil Ibarra, National Food Authority (NFA) provincial general manager.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is asking Ilonggos to unite in preventing the spread of the dreaded disease, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS).

As part of the country’s commitment to the United Nations’ “A decade of road safety campaign”, the Region 7 office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) held a surprise random drug testing of public transport drivers here.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) recently launched a comprehensive program for education featuring the rehabilitation of dilapidated public school buildings, with 15 school buildings already identified.

A lighted candle that fell to the floor was believed to have caused the early dawn fire that razed three houses in Brgy. Camputhaw last Wednesday.

The Eastern Visayas’ Regional Nutrition Strategic Plan 2011-2016 envisions that by year 2016 and beyond Region 8 shall have become a nutritionally empowered region, where families are food-secured, well nourished and healthy.

 The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) is bracing for the annual regular inspection to be conducted by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) regional office here on May 9 to 20. 

The Northern Samar “Harampang” media group has celebrated last Monday World Press Freedom Day at the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar.

 Authorities here uprooted some 1,200 fully-grown marijuana plants in upland barangay Hagnaya last Monday. 

 The Premyo Sa Resibo (PSR) promo of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is offering new features along with instant, weekly and monthly prizes to gain more promo participants. 

 Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., 68, succumbed to lung cancer at 2:40 a.m. Friday in the intensive care unit of Chong Hua Hospital this city. 

The Philippine Army (PA) here will monitor rallies marking Labor Day Saturday.

 The Provincial Government of Cebu is willing to provide assistance and share experience to other provinces and local government units that would wish to follow the successful tourism program, Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbu. 

 Surgeons from the Philippine College of Surgeons-Panay Chapter provided some 250 boys in San Jose, Antique with free circumcision as part of its summer outreach program. 

 The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines opens its 10th satellite office today at the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office in Pawing, Palo, Leyte. 

  The Bureau of Internal Revenue office here is eyeing at least three more business establishments in its “Oplan Kandado” drive till the end of 2011. 

 The Provincial Environment and Management Office (PEMO) here has distributed over 63,000 seedlings to organizations, schools and individuals in an effort to green the province. 

San Francisco town in Camotes Island, Cebu has won the 2011 United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. This was announced recently by Senator Loren Legarda, chosen in 2008 UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Regional Champion for Disaster

Residents of Guiuan, Eastern Samar will benefit from a nine-day ongoing medical/dental/surgical mission organized by the Rotary Club of Australia which began yesterday until May 1.

 Construction of 90.4 kilometers new roads that would connect the central boundaries of the three Samar Island provinces is scheduled to start this year. 

 A store selling ready-to-wear (RTW) products and cellular phone units along Arnaldo Boulevard this city was padlocked by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) – Revenue District Office (RDO) as part of the BIR’s Oplan Kandado campaign last Tuesday. 

 Silay City’s Cultural Affairs Division, Community Affairs Division and Tourism Office spearheads the “2nd Taklas Dagnas sa Patag,” an environmental awareness campaign and cleanup of the Northern Negros Forest Reserve (NNFR) at Brgy. Patag, Silay City on April 28 to May 1, 2011.

 The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 6, including its six Provincial Science & Technology Centers (PSTCs) in Western Visayas have been recently recertified to ISO 9001:2008 for its quality management efforts. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to invest on quality product packaging if it wants to lure more buyers.

Governor Exequiel B. Javier of Antique and son, Antique lone district representative Paolo S. Javier assured constituents in Caluya town that they will provide P.4 million each to build four classrooms of the University of Antique-Caluya campus.

The plan to revive the Task Force Newsman in Negros Oriental is considered a welcome development for Dumaguete media members.
 

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is reminding all public officials and employees in Western Visayas to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) on or before the April 30, 2011 deadline.

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The National Statistics Office (NSO), Leyte Provincial Office here reported that residential buildings registered an area cost of construction of P7,344 while the area cost of non-residential building was estimated at P6,232 per square meter during the third quarter of 2010.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is set to release R11.3 million to 4,828 beneficiaries in this city, which is equivalent to their two-month worth of cash grants covering January and February, this week.
 

Lights shall be switched off at all offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 8 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on March 26 in support of the global observance of Earth Hour this year, DENR Regional Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. said.

Non-governmental organization, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is backing the national government’s National Greening Program through its Greening Philippines Program.

A German-funded Philippine Endangered Species and Conservation Project (PESCP) will be exiting in Panay Island this year, according to its manager Maria Ibabao.

Visayas Newsbits

A 12-member medical team from Cebu City’s Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) has flown to Japan to take part in the team formed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
 

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC)-7 in Cebu on Monday negated text reports that radiation leaks from a nuclear reactor in Japan may hit the country.

Officers and members of the PNP Eastern Visayas Press Corps will hold its general assembly and election of officers Tuesday afternoon in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Headquarters at Camp Ruperto K. Kangleon in Palo, Leyte.
 

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has resumed its processing of documents for returning Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) including new hires bound for Bahrain.
 

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and representatives of the six congressional districts of Cebu are set to meet next week to discuss the proposed redistricting of the province, which means adding or taking out towns or cities to adjust a congressional district.
 

Five barangays in Toboso, Negros Occidental have been named recipients of the government’s poverty reduction project, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI:CIDSS).
 

The government is expanding conditional cash transfer (CCT) and PhilHealth coverage to reach the poorest of the poor Filipinos so that they can benefit in the country’s economic growth.
 

The Department of Tourism (DoT) will train tour guides in the province to address the scarcity of DoT-accredited tourist guides in Negros Oriental.

Capiz has two qualifiers to the scholarship program of the Philippine Science High School under the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

Aklan province has made a move to empower heads of the province’s senior citizens federation and the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) by making them undergo a capability building training.

The Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) has announced that all its 21 nursing graduates have passed the Nursing Licensure Examination held last December 2010.

In preparation for Women’s Month this March, the Gender and Development Inter-Agency Committee (GAD-IAC) has lined up various activities for the month-long celebration.
 

Over 700 Cebuanos joined in a post EDSA celebration event Sunday dubbed “The EDSA Run: A People-Powered Run to Build Classrooms” from the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City.
 

In commemoration of EDSA 1 People Power's 25th Anniversary, the Antique Police Provincial Office (APPO) has planted 100 fruit-bearing trees within the APPO premises.

Former Cebu City mayor and now South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña revived his call to sell the city-owned hospital following a freak accident that resulted in burn injuries to three newborn infants.
 

A P1.2 million fund from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has been allocated for the assessment of Señora River in Lazi, Siquijor.
 

A Chinese business organization, which has more than a thousand members in Cebu City has donated P500,000 to the Cebu City Government for the rehabilitation of Barangay T. Padilla and the Cebu City Zoo.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 is expected to come up with an enhanced version of maps that show details of areas prone to landslide and floods in Central Visayas.

The government’s food agency in Capiz is now intensifying its palay procurement in this province.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has finally granted the longtime request for income tax exemption of one of the biggest and most successful credit cooperatives in the province.

At least 1,000 tourism and hospitality management students will be converging in Cebu for the third annual national convention of the League of Tourism Students of the Philippines (LTSP).
 

Party-List group Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad) vowed to wage a continuous campaign against crime and corruption in government in addition to its commitment to intensify its drive against communist rebels.

A Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for the preservation of agricultural area in Dumaguete City has been submitted for the City Council’s evaluation and approval.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held a meeting to orient its members on institutionalizing the Disaster Risk Reduction Management System in Bacolod City.
 

A “bayanihan” effort towards reforestation and environmental protection in Capiz is being pushed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Roxas City, Capiz..

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Eastern Visayas is set to officially kick off its 2011 Tax Campaign on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, inspired by the patriotic tax campaign theme, “Buwis Mo Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”

If the United States Capitol has its "Statue of Freedom," then this city will also have its own "Statue of Ilonggo Pride."
 

Soldiers in Eastern Visayas were shocked and saddened by the death of their former Armed Forces Chief of Staff and Department of National Defense Secretary Angelo T. Reyes.
 

The San Carlos city government has launched an earth-based construction material known as Interlocking Compressed Earth Block (ICEB) or the San Carlos Enviro-Blox and inaugurated its resource center called the Philippine Earth Construction Resource and Reference Center Building recently.

The newly-installed Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) wants to double this year the P71.4 million the city-run hospital earned from its operations last year.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has come to the aid of farmers in Capiz whose rice lands were destroyed by recent floods in the province.

A significant increase in business tax collections has been recorded since the implementation of the one-stop-shop strategy of tax collection and business permits processing was conceptualized by Mayor Evelio Leonardia in his first term as Bacolod mayor in 1995.

Aiming to further boost its ecotourism, the Siquijor provincial tourism office is vigorously pushing its homestay program to accommodate more tourist visitors in the area.

A 20% increase in tourist arrivals in Boracay Island here in 2010 is seen by provincial officials as an indication that the province is fast on its way to reaching the 1 million mark in tourist arrivals earlier than 2013 as was originally targeted.

Governor Edgar M. Chatto led Tuesday the launching of the Regional Center for Information & Research on Climate Change during the opening of the 3-day Climate Change Forum at the Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Tagbilaran City.
 

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has acted with dispatch upon hearing that Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is poised to act on the sunken vessels at the mouth of the Iloilo River which are seen to be eyesores in the entry port of this southern city.
 

Cebuanos will welcome the Chinese New Year with a feasting and fireworks and the traditional tossing ceremony of the Yee Sang salad at the lobby of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel this Thursday, February 3.

One of the finest hotels in Iloilo City won a global award given in Spain recently.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said Friday it recently distributed 80 hectares of agricultural land to 29 farmers in barangay Gaway-Gaway, San Remigio town in northern Cebu.

After over 40 years of existence, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has a new refreshed brand identity as it goes on to uplift more lives in the community through a comprehensive approach championing best practices in community development.

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) Port of Cebu will appeal to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez to reduce the revenue collection goal of P9.3 billion for 2011 to P8 billion.

Officials of the Cebu City Public Library and Information Center (CCPLIC) Tuesday revealed that the library has received 1,568 volumes of books as donations from various individuals in 2010.

The appointment of Liberal Party (LP) members in Cebu to the national directorate is a strategy to strengthen the party in Cebu, said LP provincial chairman Hilario “Junjun” Davide III.

Hundreds of small rice farmers from Northern Samar’s 2nd District’s six towns fear a rice shortage and possibly famine and starvation as their rice fields are damaged after having been submerged by floods as a result of continuous rains.

Local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo were asked to exercise strong political will in effectively dealing with anti-illegal fishing in the province.

Cebu City officials have expressed objections to the plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 to build three new flyovers in the different areas of the city.

The Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health Central Visayas field office showed that there were lesser cases of dengue for the first two weeks of this year.

Resort-hotels in Mactan, Cebu are positioning themselves as a destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE), apart from being a favored leisure hot-spot for tourists in Cebu.

Ten local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas have core shelters being built under the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Around 1.4 million tourists flocked to the 799th Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival during its week-long celebration. Observers said tourists started arriving since January 10 until its culmination Sunday.

After the successful election of officers of the Media and Information Network on Nutrition (MIND) here, said officers of the new organization, together with the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) have laid out plans to strongly promote proper nutrition.

The Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office 6 has instructed all the division superintendents and other school officials to actively advocate for their priority program the K+12 (Kindergarten plus 12) which is intended to better prepare the students for future employment.

The regional consular office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is looking forward to the resumption of its mobile passport service with the plenty of requests it has been receiving from various local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo.

Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Tacloban City welcomed its newest member to the City Council.

Aiming to understand pressing environmental issues in Central Visayas, the new Regional Executive Director (RED) of the Region 7 office of the DENR is seeking a dialogue with stakeholders in Cebu City.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) has drafted an action plan for 2011 meant to advance its partnership and implementation of the Generation, Redemption, and Expansion of Natural Resources Initiatives in the (GREENIN) Philippines Program to the next level.

Mayor Michael Rama has denied the request of beer companies to sell their products at the Fuente Osmeña Circle, one of the major points during the Sinulog Festival on January 16.

Power distribution utility firm Visayan Electric Company (Veco) announced Friday it will officially be giving a five percent discount for senior citizens in Cebu City this month for their electricity consumption.

A P660-million modern medical center will soon rise at the Buhang-Balantang area in Jaro district in Iloilo to serve the health needs of people in the northern part of the city and province of Iloilo, including province’s central part.

An earthquake with magnitude 3.5 jolted Western Visayas last Tuesday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) satellite office based in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Some 130 participants from public and private sector are expected to gather in Iloilo City on Friday for the first Environmental Summit which will be hosted by the city government.

The BIR in Eastern Visayas was able to collect about P14.36 Million through Oplan Kandado in 2010. BIR Director Alert Alocilja said the BIR in Eastern Visayas padlocked 24 business establishments all over Region 8 through Oplan Kandado last year.

The Region 7 office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is asking persons with disabilities (PWDs) talented in art, and those who have connections with them to join next year’s Very Special Arts (VSA) International competition.

The Archdiocese of Cebu has declared a Year of Grace for the San Roqué parish in Barangay Yati, Liloan, Cebu, granting special blessings to any Catholic who visits the church next year.
 

The Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas will deploy over 4,000 policemen in the region Friday for the New Year’s celebrations, according to PNP-8 Regional Director, Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla.

Some 69 young people from Cebu’s 6th District will receive school cash assistance, from a portion recently released from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.

Expecting incidents of fire during the New Year celebration and the Sinulog festival, the Cebu City Fire Department has mapped out plans to ensure the immediate deployment of fire trucks during distress calls.

At least 122 residents were left homeless after a fire hit 17 houses in Barangay Cogon-Pardo, Cebu City, last Christmas Day Senior Fire Officer 2 Victoriano Mercado said no one was reported injured or missing during the fire that was tapped at 3:37 p.m. in Sitio Apple.

All firecracker retailers here have been confined to a single area to avoid fire accidents in the trade of firecrackers during the holiday season.

The Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) Awards will be implemented in all the local government units (LGUs) in the country next year.

Selling Palo, a town in Leyte, worldwide is the primary objective of the Christmas festival named Enchanting Palo, launched by the local government unit (LGU) recently.

To prevent occurrences of outbreaks due to contaminated water, the Cebu provincial government has called on all local government units to check their water sources regularly.

A tourism group will create an online portal allowing stakeholders, students, and those interested in the tourism industry to interact and discuss issues related to the booming tourism industry.

Seeing the importance of Noche Buena during the Christmas Eve, the World Vision, an international organization that help poor families’ worldwide has recently distributed more than 30,000 Noche Buena gifts nationwide where 4,200 were distributed in Cebu City.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has appealed to the public to respect the Supreme Court (SC) ruling acquitting Hubert Webb and six others who were accused of killing three members of the Vizconde family in June 1991.

Members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution authored by Councilor Ceasar Distrito urging Mayor Evelio Leonardia to stop the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) from imposing an increase in power rates in the city.
 

The rice allocation to preschoolers and grade school pupils will soon resume in the province of Antique following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the NFA and DepEd.

Roxas City has not been spared from flash floods that hit Capiz province after heavy rains that fell for the past three successive days. Twenty-two barangays in Roxas City affected by flash floods have been placed under a state of calamity.

A morning fire destroyed a boarding house made of "amakan," a bamboo product, in Sitio Tundan, Barangay Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu, displacing 16 families who were renting rooms in the house.

AirPhil Express, the budget-airline arm of Philippine Airlines, has expressed bullishness in the travel market of Cebu by next year that it mulls to increase more international routes out of the province.

The Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) has identified Plaza Hamabar, a favorite dating place for lovers on Mabini St. as among the city’s “pockets of beauty.”

A total of 221 passengers of M/V Love 1 were declared safe after the vessel ran aground in the Batan Sea Saturday morning.

Following the recent landslide and heavy rains in Naga City, the Region 7 office of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) has urged local government units that are considered high-risk in landslide and flashflood incidents to closely monitor their respective areas.

As part of his proposed amendment of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Jerry Treñas is mulling possible criminal liability for parents with children caught engaging in illegal activities. Treñas said he is now finalizing his proposed bill to amend said law.

The Special Action Group Advocating for Rapid Reforms (SAGARR) is set to be deployed in the streets of Dumaguete starting January next year.

A new Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather station will be established in the port area of the municipality of Guimbal next year.

In its aim to aid members of media in tackling delicate health issues, the Department of Health (DoH) through the National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP) will be conducting a seminar for said purpose.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here is calling on government units (LGUs) to strictly implement laws that are meant to protect women and children.

Since February this year, inflation rate in Leyte has continued to slide down.

Air Philippines Express (Airphil) has ventured into offering a daily flight schedule from Cebu to Singapore and vice-versa with 180 passengers boarding an Airbus 320 Wednesday morning for the maiden flight to Singapore.

The PDEA 7 Tuesday said there are at least 3,000 drug personalities – financiers, pushers, drug lords – in Central Visayas area who are now the target of the its intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Skip Yowell, co-founder of the world's leading maker of daypack bags, in his aim to inspire students including small time entrepreneurs during his recent visit here, shared his experiences on how he and his cousin made a major success out of the JanSport brand.

Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) Fortune Towne campus will soon become a state university, as the Bacolod City councilors have endorsed the request of CHMSC Executive Director, for the conversion of this state college into a university.

This sleepy and once rebel-infested town in midwest Cebu is aiming to carve its name in the tourism map of the province as it opens its Tuburan Boulevard, patterned after Roxas Boulevard in Manila, the first project in this part of Cebu.

To counter the entry of cyber terrorism in the country, members of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 have attended a six-day Investigation and Seizure of Digital Evidence Course in an effort to fight acts of cyber terrorism.

In its effort to strengthen its advocacy against hunger and malnutrition, the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) has signed an agreement with the KBP to help in their said campaign.

Dr. Leriza Balopenos, Regional Animal Health Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture, Region 6 said starting this month they will focus surveillance on signs of bird flu in preparation for the period where migratory birds come into the country.

 For its best practices in local governance, Bacolod was nominated for the 3rd Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) Award by the Regional Search Committee (RSC) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through its National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) recently launched its “Bayanihan sa Barangay” program that seeks to help promote

 The provincial government of Aklan is looking at some P3 million in revenue from its 8th Product Showcase now ongoing in SM City, Iloilo from Nov. 15 to 21.

The new district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Lone District of Bacolod City has instituted reforms since Day 1 of assuming his office.

This year’s December 3 to 8 has been declared as “Sinadya sa Halaran” (SSH) Festival Week by the Roxas City Council in a unanimously approved resolution during its regular session on November 9.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Iloilo branch recently conducted a briefing on the anti-money laundering act attended by representatives from the banking sector, business, academe, government agencies and media.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) here assures the public that there is enough meat for everyone to last until the holidays.

The Provincial Government of Cebu has collected P1.4 billion in taxes for the third quarter of this year and the Provincial Treasurer is hopeful that they could reach their 2010 target of P2.086 billion.

The OWWA's Regional Welfare Office (RWO) in Iloilo City is in the process of strengthening its OFW help desks in various local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas.

A proof that President Benigno S. Aquino III is really serious about the promotion of public-private partnership is the announcement by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima that the public-private partnership program will be launched in the month of November.

The Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) has deployed more than 3,000 policemen all over the region up to November 2.

In anticipation of the massive exodus of people to the province for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the airport and the various ports in Cebu have beefed up their security to ensure an orderly and peaceful travel.

The whole island of Negros was generally peaceful during the conduct of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections Tuesday.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has revealed the possibility of an oil price rollback next week.

A mining exploration said to cost R6 million in this town was recently approved by the Region 7 office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB 7) of the DENR.

The Region 7 office of the DoST is expected to further improve the delivery of its services after this particular agency was accredited 1S0 9001:2008 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The National Statistics Office (NSO) will conduct surveys including Saturdays in sample households in the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras until October 30.

At least 130 incumbent barangay chairmen in Cebu City and Cebu Province are no longer qualified to run for reelection in the coming barangay elections, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 said Saturday.

The Philippine Retailers Association of Cebu (PRA-Cebu) vows that it will not bring up the prices of consumer goods this last few months leading to the Holiday Season.

The Antique Police Provincial Office is conducting close monitoring and evaluation of 10 barangays in the province placed under the watch list IN the 2007 barangay and SK elections.

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution asking Congress to pass the bill granting an increase in the salary of barangay health workers (BHW) as well as compulsory health insurance coverage.

At least 37,000 teachers and non-teaching personnel will be tapped to serve in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Central Visayas, the Comelec 7 said Tuesday.

Some P540 million worth of high impact projects will be completed under the supervision of Engr. Evelyn Barroso, the first lady regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas.

The PhilHealth in Western Visayas has a robust financial standing with its collection way above its 11.22 percent targed as of August this year, data from the agency’s Field Operation Division (FOD) showed.

The Leyte provincial government donated P2 billion worth of real property to Leyte Normal University (LNU) 89 years after being under usufruct.

Seeing the need to address common concerns on autism-related disorder, the Autism Society of the Philippines (ASP) , Cebu Chapter  will be conducting its first ever two- day regional conference which will take place in this city’s SM City trade hall.

Ilonggo leaders here laud the move of President Benigno Simeon S. Aquino III’s for continuing pro-poor projects like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s), which is a conditional cash grant given to the poorest of the poor Filipinos, despite such program being started by the previous administration.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is disappointed over the  preferential treatment given by the Capiz Provincial Jail to a top drug personality prior to his escape from the facility last weekend.

Construction of a P352-million rice processing complex will start in Pototan, Iloilo province before the end of the year.

The Region 7 office of the Department of Health (DoH 7) is set to aid some 51,000 indigent individuals in Central Visayas through enrolling them in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The mayor of this town is urging contractors to speed up completion of the construction of the road leading to the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park (SNBNP), a famed tourist attraction located in Basey, Samar.

Six communist rebels belonging to the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) were recently arrested violating the election gun ban in Sibalom, Antique.

Basey town in Samar has opened its bagsakan center for agricultural products produced by farmers and fishermen of the town.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) intends to partner with the academe for the formation of a junior chamber aimed at educating the younger generation on the value of entrepreneurship.

With the increasing number of Filipinos going abroad, the Region 7 office here of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 7) is mulling to create family development activities that will foster a strong bond between family members given the various impacts of distance gap.

DSWD 7 is mulling to create family development activities that will foster a strong bond between family members given the various impacts of distance gap.

Two towns in Antique province are officially included in Package 3 of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ASISP) Phase III of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Members of Cebu’s media, celebrating the 16th Cebu Press Freedom Week this week, were challenged to provide the public with the right information and warned against working merely for the money.

Police here have again scored against the proliferation of marijuana after uprooting some 3,000 fully-grown marijuana plants in this town as well as in Carmen Tuesday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has released nearly P4-million cash assistance to upland farmers in Bugasong, Barbaza, and Patnongon towns in this province.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and other government officials will be discussing possible ways by which the country will be able to recover from tourism and other economic setbacks after the August 23 Rizal Park hostage crisis.

Following the success of its first coastal cleanup drive, the Cebu’s Islands Group has widened its campaign by inviting more volunteers to join the activity, particularly as it jives in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup celebration.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) here said Asians topped the list of tourists who visited the world-famous Boracay Island as of July this year.

A total of 50,858 farmlands were distributed to 15,839 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in this province through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Household salt being shipped to Eastern Visayas region may not contain the required iodine content as set by the Food and Drug Administration.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) 6 Officer-in-Charge Rhea Glynda Calantas has clarified that there are countries prohibiting the collection of placement fees from workers.
 

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is retaining the Chairmanship of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), giving the first lady governor of Cebu her third term as RPOC head.

The tree planting dubbed "Piyesta sa Kakahuyan" spearheaded on Saturday by the provincial government of Iloilo at the Maasin, Iloilo watershed area is meant to be a symbolic activity of a bigger project undertaken in the province.

The DoLE 7 said because they lack inspectors, it can only inspect 4,000 of the 54,000 business establishments in Central Visayas to see if these firms are paying their workers the minimum wage.

Antique province has drawn up plans to join in the global initiative, International Coastal Cleanup, which will include cleaning up of shorelines in some towns.

A dozen more Bohol towns are in the list of Government’s Social Subsidy Program with residents from Alicia, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Carmen, Carlos P.Garcia, Dagohy, Getafe, Inabanga, Mabini, Pilar, Trinidad and Ubay join Danao, getting in the provincial list of soon-to-be beneficiaries of said Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The Region 6 office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 6) is now actively pushing for the utilization of engineered bamboos.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has tasked the Province's Engineer to conduct a survey of the town after Mayor Adelino Sitoy sought assistance from the Capitol on his plan to build a roll-on, roll-off port.

Cebu’s dancing inmates gained international fame when a video clip of their mass dancing of the late Michael Jackson’s “Thriller" was posted on YouTube.

A recipient of the prestigious Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service returned to Negros Oriental after the awarding ceremonies scheduled on Tuesday was postponed to a still unknown date.

Faculty members and employees of the SSU have petitioned CHEd Commissioner Nona Ricafort, who chairs the SSU board of trustees, to hold meetings at the SSU’s Catbalogan campus and not in Tacloban City for her to be familiarized with the university’s real problems.

Ilongga lady solon, Rep. Janette Garin (Iloilo, 1st District) has pledged support for the divorce bill, stressing that “as a lawmaker advocating for reproductive health and women’s rights, I strongly support the passage of House Bill 1799.”

The Cebu City Council has finally given the green light for the opening of the Cebu South Coastal Road Project subway after approving rules and regulations governing the use of the tunnel.

The BPPO is mulling the possibility of training street stray dogs, known as “askals,” to become drug-sniffing dogs.

The Region 7 office of the Department of Health (DoH 7) through the NNC recently awarded eight LGUs in the region to recognize their best nutrition practices.

The provincial office of the National Irrigation Administration, based in Catbalogan City, has conducted a test run of a P725-million irrigation project in Basey town.

In an effort to help at least 250 indigent patients, the Region 7 office of the DSWD has signed a pact with the PHIC for health packages.

The newly elected Congressman Sergio Apostol (2nd District, Leyte) said he will prioritize infrastructure projects for his district.

The P57 million budget allocation for the Food-for-School program implementation in Western Visayas is now available and ready to be transferred to the NFA.

The Iloilo Boarding House Commission is continuing its inspection of boarding houses in Iloilo City.

The DPWH in Bacolod City warned cargo trucks operators plying northbound areas in Negros Occidental to strictly observe road load capacity.

President-apparent Benigno Simeon Aquino III will induct into office Iloilo City’s new set of officials in June.

Soon to be proclaimed new congressman of Iloilo City’s lone district, City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas said he will pursue or file an entirely new bill calling for the redistricting of this city into two congressional districts.

 The CIDG 7 is set to file charges against two alleged pimps in connection with a raid inside a bar in downtown Cebu that resulted in the rescue of at least 17 commercial sex workers.

Cebu City Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador Jr. said he did not see the need to initiate a peace covenant among the local candidates in Cebu City for honest and peaceful May polls.

Saying she was tired of being beaten up incessantly by her live-in partner, a woman in her early 30s stabbed her lover dead after a heated argument inside their house in Barangay Guizo in Mandaue City.

The “Operation Zero Potholes” program of the DPWH in Eastern Visayas is now in full swing.

A retired Philippine Navy serviceman lose 13 years of freedom after he was found guilty of possessing illegal substances, a stick of weed and two grams of dried marijuana leaves.

The SIAP announced the arrival of four Cabinet officials from Indonesia, whose agenda is to study the prospects of the local seaweed processing industry.

The Region 6 office of BoC issued a hold departure order against “MV Trai Thien 66” from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam after it was suspected to have transported illegal drugs.

The provincial government launched the “Habal-habal sa mga Eskwela”, a 100 percent subsidized transportation system for indigent students living in remote villages.

The City Council here has approved the P483.8 million 2nd supplementary budget (SB) that includes funding for senior citizens and other social welfare programs.

The Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. launched its second Philippine-made solar car aptly named “SIKAT” on December 19, 2009.

The provincial government of Negros Oriental conducted a full-blast investigation regarding the complaints against the Provincial Bids and Awards (PBAC) committee.

The Comelec Provincial Office has transmitted the first automated election returns to its Central Office in Manila last Wednesday’s successful automated elections field testing.

Cebu City’s mayor, vice mayor, councilors and some 6,000 employees will get a 25-percent salary increase starting this month.

Poor Aklan residents are reportedly benefiting through cheaper health services from the thriving tourist industry in this resort island.

Close to 1,000 nurses from Western Visayas benefited from the Nurses Assigned in Rural Areas (NARS) program.

Reaching out to the community is an intensified effort presently undertaken by the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) under its new leadership — Police director Sr. Supt. Epifanio Bragais, Jr. Meeting with the Muslim community, and initiating feeding project.

Twelve public high schools in Aklan were the latest beneficiaries of the Ayala Foundation-backed GILAS (Gearing-up Internet Literacy and Access for Students) program.

The Supreme Court, in collaboration with the Society for Judicial Excellence, has awarded the Don Antonio P. Madrigal Award for Outstanding Municipal Trial Court in Cities to judge Yvette Marie Dedel-Go, Presiding Judge of MTCC Branch 4 at the Chief Justice Ramon Avancena Hall of Justice.

The Cebu City Council convened a special session Sunday and approved a P10-million fund for the city’s preparedness program.

To fully implement health reforms and programs, Aklan province is implementing its five-year P1.014-billion Province-wide Investment Plan for Health backed by international support agencies and partners of the Department of Health.

During its 2nd National Congress attended by around 280 representatives from its different chapter members all over the country, the COOP-NATCCO party-list bared its national campaign strategy for earning another seat in Congress.

The Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas is determined to stop the spate of killings in the second district of Samar province that has alarmed authorities and residents.

A 62-year-old American was allegedly robbed and killed inside his house in this city Wednesday afternoon while his Filipina wife was busy shopping at a nearby mall.

Within two months, the modern three-storey Aklan Police Provincial Office building will soon rise inside Camp Pastor C. Martelino in Barangay New Buswang.

Key players in the micro-insurance industry in the Philippines recently benefited from a workshop conducted by the German Technology Corp. aimed at strengthening the sector in the country.

The Region 7 office of DENR, through its Mines Geosciences Bureau and the National Bureau of Investigation, recently seized 12 truckloads of sand and gravel materials in Minglanilla, Cebu.

A one-year-old girl who was wounded in a rebel-military encounter in Northern Samar last May 30 died in the hospital on Monday.

In Catbalogan, Samar, a communist rebel and 19 members of the MILF have returned to the fold of the law.

CEBU CITY – The Central Command (Centcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now checking the list of the Order of Battle (OB) in their units after a militant leader here filed a petition for Habeas Data to produce the alleged documents that allegedly included him in the OB. Paul Rodriguez, regional chairman of the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, recently filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court to force the military and police officials to produce the alleged documents that were made as basis for his inclusion in the OB.

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – Citing his vital role in the historic Peoples Power Revolution in 1986, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has been invited to be the guest of honor and speaker during the 16th Commencement Exercises of the Mactan-based Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) on March 21.

KALIBO, Aklan — The provincial government of Aklan is keen to develop the 6.5-hectare Aklan Calangcang Sports Complex in Makato town, for the hosting of the regional athletic competition in 2010. Provincial Engr. Victory Fernandez said the funding for the construction of the sports complex would be taken from the P55 million loan of the provincial government from the Land Bank of the Philippines. “The sports facility will rise in the 10-hectare lot in Barangay Calangcang in Makato, Aklan.

CEBU CITY — Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) said he will question the Land Transportation Office (LTO) ban on renewal of registration of sports utility vehicles (SUVs)and luxury cars.