CANDABA, Pampanga – Local officials here led by Mayor Jerry Pelayo took issue with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional officials for alleged "indecisiveness" on the use of the P15-million budget for the restoration of the weak portions of the vital Arnedo dike. This developed after DPWH Regional Director Ramon Aquino allegedly refused to decide on how to spend the allocation earlier released by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) pending consultation with Rep. Anna York Bondoc (4th district). Pelayo said that portions of the Arnedo dike in barangay Mandasig were scoured and weakened by recent floods caused by typhoons "Marce," "Nina" and "Yoyong." Earlier, Congresswoman Bondoc was reported to have claimed that she was the one who requested President Arroyo to release the R15-million budget for the flood-control projects in the towns of Candaba, San Simon, San Luis and Apalit. DPWH authorities were made to understand that Bondoc would decide on the use of the R15 million even as it was NDCC which appropriated and released it. Pelayo and other local officials said that as members of the local Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council, they are responsible for the allocation of the NDCC released budget "because the repair of the Arnedo dike is not a legislative but an executive function." (Fred Roxas)
Visayas
Drug suspect eludes arrest
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — A suspected drug pusher, whom police labeled as having contacts with the notorious international drug syndicate called 14-K, eluded arrest Wednesday afternoon when policemen raided his house in barangay Pajac, this city. Elements of the Region 7 office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG 7), however, arrested William Jasmin’s two alleged underlings and seized a pack of shabu, R500,000 cash, several shabu sniffing paraphernalia, and 100 sub-machinegun bullets. CIDG 7 chief Supt. Salvado Manga said his men seized only a small pack of shabu from the house of Jasmin because the suspect had sold several packs of shabu before the raid. Jasmin is classified by the police as a high-level drug pusher. The arrested suspects are allegedly Jasmin’s assistants and have also been involved in peddling drugs. (Mars Mosqueda Jr.)
Mindanao
Water rate hike proposed
DAVAO CITY — A rate increase proposed by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) will likely take effect in July this year, DCWD corporate communications chief Dominador Lopez told panelists of the regular Club 888 media forum yesterdayat the Marco Polo Hotel here. Lopez said the DCWD board is expected to approve the rate-hike proposal on April 29 after which a public hearing will follow. After the public hearing, DCWD will submit the proposal to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for approval. However, he declined to specify the exact amount of the increase. Per LWUA rules, water utility companies are allowed to increase rates from 20 percent to as much as 60 percent. Lopez said DCWD may conduct public hearings in the city’s three congressional districts once the board approves the proposed increase. Tentative schedules of the public hearings are May 15 at Almendras gym in District I, May 17 at Buhangin covered court in District 2, and May 25 at Mintal covered court in District 3. The existing water rate is P8 per cubic meter. Lopez said DCWD will increase its rate because its operations are severely affected by the constant increase in fuel prices. (Gil Abarico)
