MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III wishes only the best for former girl friend Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad who will be marrying Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo on Sunday, January 22, in Cavite.

In an ambush interview, Aquino said: “The emphasis has always been to strengthen a family; we believe that a lot of the solutions to the problems that are built upon will be best addressed by a family that is strong, united, and caring for the children whom they will be bringing to this world. We hope that this will be the union that Roman and Shalani will be able to achieve. That they have found the right person in each other; that they will be blessed from strength to strength, and that they will be able to nurture the children whom they will be bringing into this world, who are responsible and productive citizens to our society.” (Madel R. Sabater)

Bulletin photog wins EPOTY award

Manila Bulletin lenswoman Cheryl Baldicantos bested over 10,000 photographers from 105 countries in bagging the highest commendation award for the Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) 2011 from Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management (CIWEM) based in United Kingdom. The EPOTY is considered one of the biggest environmental photo competitions worldwide.

The awarding ceremony and exhibition of the winning photos was held at the SW1 Gallery in Cardinal Palace, London last month. Baldicantos, staff photographer based in Cebu, said her winning photo, entitled “Welcoming Water,” depicts the struggle of men to adapt to the harsh changes in climate by cleaning water dam pipes from mud and silt after El Niño to welcome water once again. (Sarah Hilomen Velasco)

Pre-emptive evacuation

Rains brought about by the tail-end of a cold front threatened to bring floods in some parts of the Visayas, prompting local officials to undertake pre-emptive evacuation in low-lying areas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

The Office of Civil Defense-8 in Eastern Visayas, said that 85 families living in flood-prone areas in adversely affected towns have been evacuated. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez ordered preemptive evacuation of residents of Barangays Lower Nula Tula and San Roque. (Elena Aben)

Terminal fees

International travelers have something to be happy about this coming February as the airport management will revert the airport terminal fee back to the 2007 levels from P750 to P550. Airport General Manager Jose Angel Honrado made the announcement Wednesday as the five-year security development program will reach its five-year term limit this coming January 31, 2012.

Honrado explained that on February 1, 2007, the Manila International Airport Authority imposed a P200 in additional to the P550 terminal fee at the airport to fund the acquisition of state-of-the-art security equipment at the airport terminals and facilities. (Anjo Perez)

Bus compliance

Bus operators will have to comply with government’s directive to pay a fix salary rate plus performance bonuses for drivers and conductors working a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of work.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the circular, which prescribes a part-fixed-part-performance-based salary and minimum to maximum working hours of work for all bus drivers and conductors is set to take effect starting February 1. (Kris Bayos)