KORONADAL CITY (PNA) — The regional director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Region 18 based here has left the office and turned it over to the new head with a surplus collection of more than P84 million.

Lawyer Alberto Olasiman handed over the key to lawyer Rozil Lozares in a ceremony held at the Del Rio Splash Resort here over the weekend.

Speaking to the regional office staff and representatives from the district offices, Olasiman was emotional in extending gratitude to the government servants who provided him with the needed support.

Police screening

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) — Mayor Celso Lobregat now heads the Ad Hoc committee that will conduct initial screen-ing of police applicants.

The members of the committee are Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Moh.

Taha Arakama, City Schools Division officer-in-charge Pedro Melchor Natividad, Zamboanga City police director Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo and representatives from the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) as well as from the non-government organization (NGO) and civic groups.

The secretariat will “publish the list of applicants in at least five public places and through the local media, if any, to encourage the public to report any information relative to the worthiness of the applicant to become a law enforcer in their community.”

Caraga electrification

GENERAL LUNA – The seven electric cooperatives in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) pledged to support President Benigno S. Aquino lll’s rural electrification program.

The commitment of the electric cooperative general managers were voiced out during a meeting with Batanes Rep. Dina Abad and other national, regional and provincial top government officials here.

The electric cooperatives spread in the 5 provinces and six cities in Northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) are tasked to energize at least 102 far-flung sitios and puroks before the end of the year. (Mike U. Crismundo)

Blogging contest

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Oct. 1 (PIA) — Development workers in Mindanao will now have a chance to promote their inspiring stories and get recognition for their work.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is calling on individuals between 13 and 35 years old based in the island to join the RAFI-Triennial Awards (TA) Blogging Contest focused on the theme, “Shaping the Big Picture of Change.”

Submission of the blog entries, which started on Sept. 30, will end on Dec. 15, 2011.

Entrants are expected to do background research on the lives and works of RAFI Triennial awardees and finalists nearest their area and must ensure that their blogs are accessible until winners are declared in January 2012.

Surigao skirmish

SAN MIGUEL – A soldier was wounded while undetermined number of communist-New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were believed either killed or wounded in a skirmish late Friday afternoon between troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and communist terrorists at Sitio Kiskis, Barangay Siagao, in San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur province, police said.

The Surigao del Sur police reported that a unit of the 36th Infantry Battalion engaged heavily armed NPAs from 4 p.m. to sundown. (Mike U. Crismundo)