VACCINATION IS PREVENTION

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- "Vaccination is prevention." Ito ang binigyan diin sa pagbubukas noong Nobyembre 18 ng Palayan City Vaccine Clinic sa City Health Center dito na itataguyod ng pamahalaang lunsod sa pakikipagtulungan ng Family Vaccine and Specialty Clinics (FVSC). Nanguna sa okasyon si City Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas, na sinamahan ng mga city counsilors at department heads na sumalubong kiana Chito San Agustin ni Dr. Alberto Gabriel ng FVSC na may 40 sangay sa buong bansa.

     "Mahalaga ng magkaroon ng ganitong klinika ang mga Palayanos upang mapaghandaan ang pangmatagalang epekto ng mga bakuna kontra sa mabibigat na klase ng karamdaman" pagbibigay diin ni Cuevas.

     Ayon kay San Agustin mga de-kalidad, mahahalaga at murang mga bakuna mula pre-natal,post natal at maging sa mga animal bites ang makukuha rito bukod sa libreng first 150 anti flu vaccines.

     Isinaad ni Dr. Gabrieel na nananatiling pangatlo ang Pilipinas sa buong mundo na may pinakamataas pa rin sa rabies incidence, sa kabila ng pangakong maalis na ang problemang ito sa 2020.

     Batay umano sa datos ng Animal Bite Treatment Centers ng Department of Health halos 90% ng biktima ng kagat ng mga rabid animals ay mga bata dahil madalas makipaglaro sa mga alagang hayop. - Jojo Deguzman

PHOTO CREDIT TO TV48

     

BIOMASS PLANT SA NUEVA ECIJA

    Isang consortium ng Korean at Filipino companies ang nagpahayag ng interest na mag-establish ng 'biomass co-generation poer plants sa Nueva Ecija na may potensyal na makapag-generate ng 1,600 trabaho sa lalawigan.

      Ayon kay NE Governor Aurelio Umali, tumanggap ng "Letter of Intent" (LOI) ang kanyang opisina mula sa Korean firm na Hankook B&P Co. Ltd. (HBPCL); Plant Engineering Co. Ltd. (SPECL) at Kepco Engineering & Construction Co. (KECC) na nakipag-tie-up sa Phil Bio Agri Industry Corporation (PhilBaico) para magsagawa ng mga pag-aaral para sa biomass power plant at biomass collection project sa pakikipagugnayan sa lokal na pamahalaan at tanggapan ng Agrikultura o'DA.

     Sa LOI na isinumite kay Gov. Umali ng kinatawan ng Consortium na pinangunahan ni Kepco project Manager Lim Yong Ha, sinabi nito na nais nilang simulan aang biomass projects at biomass power plants sa Pilipinas partikular sa Nueva Ecija, gamit ang bionass materials na gaya ng "rice hulls, rice straw, corn cobs, corn stovers, bagasse at coconut tree at residue fuel.

     Ang HBPCL, at HBTL, ay tanyag na mga kumpanya sa larangan ng paggawa ng "power generation boilers, industrial boilers at power boiler system, samantalang ang SPECL ay isang global plant engineering company na may 120 engineers at technical experts.

     Pinahintulutan ni Umali ang Korean consortium at PhilBaico na magsagawa ng "fesibility study' para sa proyekto at inatasan na rin sina provincial agriculturist Serafin Santos at ENRO Engr. Wilfredo Pangilinan na umasiste sa pagreresearch.

     Ayon naman kay provincial administrator Atty. Alejandro Abesamis, aabutin ng dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan ang 'feasibility study' at ang pagtatayo ng power plant ay matatapos sa loob ng tatlong taon. ang Korean at Filipino consortium ang unang dayuhang grupo na nagkaroon ng interest sa biomass facilities sa probinsya na tinaguriang "rice granary of the Philippines" dahil sa sagana sa "rice hulls" at iba pang agricultural wastes na kakailanganin sa nasabing mga proyekto- (Manny Galvez)

NE suffers P2.3-B damage due to Santi -- PDRRMC

The province of Nueva Ecija, considered the country's rice granary, lost a total of P2.3 billion worth of crops, infrastructure and flood control systems in the wake of typhoon Santi with the damage expected to breach the P3-billion mark because of the devastation on properties.

In a final damage assessment report by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a copy of which was obtained by The Star Friday, the total damage was placed at P2,388,900,715.34.

Dr Abraham Pascua, PDRRMC co-chairman, said the figure was arrived at after validating the field reports submitted by local government units in the five cities and 27 municipalities in the province. "This damage assessment report is final, official and validated," Pascua said.

The figure was considerably lower than estimates based on initial ocular inspection. Earlier, Gov. Aurelio Umali, PDRRMC chairman, said initial assessment placed the damaged at P2.7 billion.

But disaster officials said the actual damaged could shoot up to P3 billion if damaged to properties would be included as 75,914 houses were damaged in the entire province, which has been declared a calamity area.

Pascua said they could not possibly quantify yet the damaged on properties. Based on PDRRMC figures, the fourth congressional district comprising Gapan City and the towns of Cabiao, Gen. Tinio, Jaen, Penaranda, San Antonio, San Isidro, and San Leonardo accounts for the biggest crop damage of P741.8 million representing 33 percent of the province-wide total.

This was followed by the third congressional district covering the cities of Cabanatuan and Palayan and the towns of Bongabon, Gabaldon, Gen Natividad, Laur and Sta Rosa which suffered P549.57 million in crop damage and the first congressional district (Aliaga, Cuyapo, Guimba, Licab, Nampicuan, Quezon, Sto Domingo, Talavera and Zaragoza) which sustained P549.52 million in crop damage.

The second congressional district (Muñoz Cci. City, San Jose City, Carranglan, Llanera, Lupao, Pantabangan, Rizal and Talugtog registered the lowest crop damage at P385 million.

Crops cover rice, corn, vegetables, high-value crops and livestock. In term of rice, the province lost P1.9 billion, P3.7 million worth of corn, P141.2 million worth of vegetables, P160.9 million worth of high-value crops and P241 million worth of livestock.

Two cities and four towns lost at least P100 million worth of palay each. Cabanatuan was the hardest hit, losing P149.3 million worth of palay, followed by Sta Rosa (P129.4 million,) Guimba ((128.5 million,) San Antonio (P127.6 million), Gapan City (P109.8 million), and Cabiao (P102.7 million.)

In terms of infrastructure, damage was placed at P162.9 million involving P134.6 million worth of road networks and P28.3 million in flood control systems. Of the road networks, P84 million (68%) involve municipal roads and P50.5 million (38%) involve provincial roads.

Pascua said of the 75,914 damaged houses, some 15,930 were totally damaged while 59,984 partially damaged. This affected 111,915 families or 513,159 persons.

Jaen recorded the most number of damaged houses with 11,649 followed by Cabanatuan (8,656) and Zaragoza (8,371.)

Cabanatuan registered the most number of affected families with 32,897 or 161,896 persons followed by Aliaga (13,165 families or 72,324 persons,) and Zaragoza (10,689 families of 28,087 persons.) The provincial government has been distributing roofing sheets to the affected families.

PAALAM TITA CORY

"Salamat sa lahat lahat"

Guard foils rob; suspect slain

An alert security guard single handedly foiled a robbery attempt when he shot dead one of two motorcycle-riding robbers in Kapitan Pepe Subd. Here Saturday night.

Johnson Dulnuan, 24, driver-security guard of Diamond Money Changer shop, quickly drew his gun and shot one of the suspects when they blocked their path and announced the heist.

Police identified the fatality as Joseph Javier, 45, of Purok 2, Barangay Bonifacio, this city.

City police police chief Supt. Efren Ramos said Dulnuan. of Balawis, Banawe, Ifugao, was driving a van, accomplished by Hermie Angayon, money changer shop owner, two employees and Angayon’s son when the incident occurred.

Ramos said Javier, with a gun on one hand, approached them and declared a hold-up.

Dulnuan pulled out his 9mm pistol and shot Javier, killing him on the spot. Javier,s cohorts quickly fled. Recovered from the slain suspect were his gun and a mobile phone.
People’s Journal Tuesday, July 28, 2009 by Steve A. Gosuico

Hospital rapped for violating senior citizens’ law

The city hospital here has come under fire from senior citizens for allegedly collecting fees in violation of the Senior Citizens’ Law.

The Manuel V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital which is operated by the city government of Mayor Alvin Vergara was accused for allegedly charging fees for laboratory services which were otherwise provided free to senior citizens under RA 9257, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

One of the senior citizens, Ricardo Eraña said that hospital personnel collected from him payment for laboratory services when he went to the hospital on July 8. Eraña, a resident of Don Manuel Avenue, Kapitan Pepe Subdivision, said that when he went to the hospital for the laboratory examination, a midwife in the said hospital told him that services for laboratory examinations are indeed for free as provided for under the Senior Citizens’ Law.

However, a certain Danilo Bautista, medical technologist insisted that he should pay. He was correspondingly issued an official receipt numbered 8479094. he said that the benefits and privileges of card-bearing senior citizens under RA 9257 include free medical, dental, diagnostic and laboratory services in all government facilities.

In the card which was signed by Vergara and Office of Senior Citizens Affair Julie Rivera, each senior citizen is entitled – aside from free medical, dental, diagnostic and laboratory services to avail of 20 percent discount in purchase of medicines; 20 percent discount in hotels, restaurants, recreation centers, funeral parlors and similar establishments; 20 percent discount in theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, 20 percent discount on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory facilities; and 20 discount in fare for domestic, air, sea travel and public transportation.
Philippine STAR Tuesday, July 28, 2009 By: Manny Galvez

Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Leon Nilo de la Cruz include Nueva Ecija as election hotpots in Central Luzon, Bataan and Bulacan might also be included. De la Cruz cited reports af armed goons being maintained by politicians in the three provinces.

This, even as police Director General Jesus Versoza identified Nueva Ecija, Sulu, Abra, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Maguindanao as election hotspots, less than a year before the 2010 polls, saying these areas will be closely monitored by the police for possible election-related violence.

De la Cruz said he earlier recommended the inclusion of Nueva Ecija in his region as among the hotpots to be closely monitored by the police amid the province's history of election-related violence.

"Rivalry among political families there has remained intense," he said, citing the Joson, Umali, Antonino and Perez political clans.

Earlier, Versoza also said the police plan to address election-related violence by limiting the number of security escorts of VIP's to two each; requiring all security escorts to wear a duly-approved uniform; and imposing stricter penalties on unlicensed and unregistered firearms.

Umalis vs Josons in 2010

An Umali-Umali tandem against a Joson-Joson team-up is looming in the 2010 local elections, as incumbent Gov. Aurelio Umali is reportedly eyeing to tap his younger brother as his running mate against come backing former three-term congresswoman Josie Manuel-Joson and Vive Gov. Edward Thomas Joson.

Umali is considering his brother Anthony as his vice gubernatorial running mate under Lakas-Kampi-CMD banner to wrest control of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in 2010.

Earlier, the Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (BALANE) of Josons, announced the fielding of Josie Manuel-Joson, wife of former vice-governor Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson, as its standard-bearer for governor in 2010 with Edward Thomas as his running mate. Manuel-Joson is a former colleague of Umali in the House of Representatives.

Taruc V urged to run for Ecija gov against 2 others

The running mate of incumbent Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali is being wooed to run for governor as the race for the Capitol is shaping into a three-cornered fight in the 2010 elections.

Jose Taruc V, more popularly known as “Popoy” is being endorsed by Novo Ecijano politicians and church leaders to be the alternative candidate – or Third Force – in the province to oppose the reelection bid of Umali and that of come backing former three-term congresswoman Josie Manuel-Joson.

A signature campaign to convince Taruc to run has reportedly been launched in the province, one of which is spearheaded by the Kapatiran.

Taruc V, son and namesake of famed broadcaster Joe Taruc, ran for vice governor under Umali’s Lakas-CMD party but lost to the incumbent , Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson. His decision to run in 2007 led to a bitter falling-out between the elder Taruc and Joson’s father, former fourtime governor Tomas III but they reconcile3d after the polls.

While he lost out to Edward Thomas, the younger Taruc was credited with giving a good account of himself despite his lack of exposure as he lost to a scion of a political clan.

The younger Taruc, was appointed director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office by President Arroyo. At 31, he was the youngest director to be named to the PCSO whose incumbent directors include former chairman Manuel Morato.

Contacted bu The Star, Taruc declined to comment on his supposed gubernatorial bid but admitted he has been approached to challenge the reelection bid of Umali. He maintained that he and Umali remain friends although they have political differences.

The source said that if Taruc decides to run, it would be a big blow to the reelection bid of Umali as it would reflect on his leadership as chief executive of the province. “Of all the people surrounding Gov. Umali, it is only Popoy who can show the lapses of his administration,” the source said.
By Manny Galvez (Philippine STAR, June 25, 2009)

Best of CL in Intramuros a hit – DoT-3

The recent opening day of “The Best of Central Luzon: A Wellspring of Diversity” showcase held at the Clamshell I, Intramuros, Manila was by and large an outstanding feat if gauged from the profile of personalities and number of spectators that showed up to witness the most colourful and loudest cultural extravaganza ever staged at the history town of Manila. This was the announcement made by Regional Director Ronaldo Tiotuico of the Department of Tourism in the region. Tiotuico said that the opening ceremony was witnessed by no less that the principal author of the National Tourism Act of 2009 otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9593, Senator Richard Gordon as the guest of honor and speaker. The line-up of personalities was followed by the members of the diplomatic community led by Ambassadors Valeroi Gheorghe of Romania, Pieter Vermevlen of South Africa and Consul Ahimsa Soekartono of the Republic of Indonesia. The inaugural rite was made more significant with the presence of personalities like DoT Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab representing Secretary Ace Durano, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Executive Director Charito Planas of Nayong Pilipino, PTA Deputy General Manager Lydia Cosuco, DoT Regional Directors Louella Jurilla of Region IV, Bles Diwa of Region II and Martin Valera of Region I, including leaders of the travel and tourism sector such as the Association of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP), Pampanga Agents Travel Society (PATS) and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Pampanga (HARP). The affair was also attended by personalities from the local government units led by Mayors Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Candido Guiam III of Victoria, Tarlac, and Gregoria Manglicmot also of Tarlac. A host of more than 300 street dancing contingents from the provinces highlighted the rainy afternoon program that were led by the Mango Festival of Zambales, Ilang-Ilang of Tarlac, Pandawan Festival of Nueva Ecija, Pawikan Festival of Bataan and Drum and Lyre band of Olongapo City. The audience was serenaded the entire evening by the internationally acclaimed Koro Bulakenyo courtesy of the provincial government of Bulacan. The WoW Philippines Intramuros is a project of the tourism department which started in December of 2008 as a vehicle by which the regions in the country would be accorded the opportunity to showcase their tourism assets and potentials thru stage performances, street dancing showdowns, arts and crafts demonstrations, travel trade exhibits, among all other events and presentations -- all under one roof. The showcase will run from June 17 to July 5. The Central Luzon showcase is led by the indefatigable regional chairman Lydia Co from Tarlac City. She is ably assisted by the following tourism officers: Caeasar Quaison of Bataan, Asuncion Fronda of Tarlac, Dinia Quetwa of Bulacan, Librada Guevaraan of Zambales, Michael Palispis of Aurora, Carolina Uy of Nueva Ecija, Leny Manalo of Candaba, Noemi Garcia of Clark Freeport Zone, Nida Rojo of SBMA Tourism, Erlinda Lim of Olongapo City Tourism Council, and Wilfredo Toldanes of Tarlac City. Private sector participants include Greater Subic Tourism Development, Inc. and Clark Freeport Tourism Association, among others.
BY: Raymond C. Garcia http://www.centralluzondaily.com/index.php?action=article&n_id=2804
Photo: Jun J. Torres

Paaralan sa Nueva Ecija bukas-sara dahil sa A(H1N1) virus

JUN-JUN SY, GMANews.TV
06/11/2009 09:55 PM
JAEN, Nueva Ecija –Matapos buksan muli ang klase sa Hilera Elementary School nitong Martes, muli na naman itong sinuspindi nitong Huwebes ng umaga makaaraang magpositibo sa Influenza A(H1N1) virus ang isa sa mga estudyante rito.

Mismong si Jaen Mayor Santiago Austria at opisyal ng Department of Health ang nag-utos na suspindihin ang klase matapos makumpirma na magpositibo sa A(H1N1) ang isa sa mahigit 40 mag-aaral sa grade 6 na nilagnat simula noong nakaraang linggo.

Sinabi ni Autria na sampung araw na kanselado ang klase sa nabanggit na paaralan batay na rin sa direktiba ng DOH.

Nagsagawa na rin ng emergency meeting ang mga opisyal ng DOH at lokal na opisyal upang hindi kumalat ang sakit at matukoy kung saan nahawa ang mga estudyante.

Matatandaan na nilagnat, nagkasipon at nagkaubo ang mga mag-aaral noong nakaraang linggo, bagaman karamihan umano sa mga ito ay mabuti na ang kalusugan.

Dahil sa pag-aakalang karaniwang lagnat ang dumapo sa mga bata dahil sa pagpasok ng panahon ng tag-ulan, kinansela ang klase noong Huwebes (Hunyo 3) hanggang Lunes (Hunyo 8).

Dahil bumuti na lagay ng karamihan sa mga estudyante, nagpasya pamunuan ng paaralan na buksan ang klase nitong Martes, at kinansela muli nitong Miyerkules ng umaga nang makumpirma ang kaso ng A(H1N1).

Sa ulat ng GMA news’ 24 Oras nitong Huwebes, sinabing tinutukan ng DOH ang kaso sa mababang paaralan ng Hilera upang matukoy kung papaano nagkahawahan ng sakit.

Sampung specimen pa umano ng mga estudyante ang hinihintay ang resulta.

“Papaano nagkawa-hawa ang mga estudyante r’on, dito (sa Metro Manila) may nakuha tayong estudyante nag-travel abroad nakasakit. Sa Hilera, sa Jaen malayo yun, elementary o sino naman…kasi ngayon wala raw nag-abrod na mga bata…possibility puwedeng may dumayo r’on na nakahawa," paliwanag ni Health Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag. - Jun Jun Sy, GMANews.TV

Breaking News: DOH tracing 29 people who had contact with teenager with A(H1N1)

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/42653/Breaking-News-DOH-tracing-29-people-who-had-contact-with-teenager-with-A(H1N1)

11 of 21 confirmed flu cases discharged

Eleven of 21 individuals confirmed to have contracted the Influenza A(H1N1) virus have been discharged, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

Among those discharged was the country’s index case, a 10-year-old Filipina.

No new confirmed cases were reported for the past 24 hours, according to Duque.

The most recent confirmed cases, which were announced Monday, are just waiting to be discharged. They are three males aged 19, 45 and 51, and females aged 39 and 40.

“The five cases are mild in nature and are responding positively to treatment,” Duque said.

Of the 10 still under observation, three are students – two females aged 19 and 20, and a seven-year-old boy.

Since May 1, the DOH has recorded 345 suspected cases.

Of the total 292 have already been declared negative for the virus while 32 are still waiting for laboratory test result.

In Nueva Ecija, the medical officer of the education department said 29 students were advised to go on self-quarantine after they came in contact with a school staff member who is under observation for H1N1.

The staff member recently arrived from the United States.

Three of the confirmed H1N1 cases are from Nueva Ecija, said Dr. Wilfredo Corpuz, head of Task Force on A(H1N1) of Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in the province.

Two of them are recovering at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City and are expected be discharged soon\

Malaya Wednesday, June 3, 2009
By Gerard Naval and Jojo de Guzman

Top Nueva Ecija rice farmers honored

Ten Nueva Ecija farmers, who were adjudged top producers of hybrid rice this year’s dry cropping season, were honored at rites held last Thursday at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center.

Severino Payumo, 69, bested 45 other farmers in the province who participated in the “search for hybrid rice highest yielder,” chalking up a record harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare by planting the SL-8H hybrid rice variety.

The barangay captain of Buliran in Cabanatuan City, Payumo broke the record of 344 cavans per hectare harvested in May, 2005 by lady farmer Aida Badong of San Nicolas of Camarines Sur.

Payumo was followed by Ricardo Buenaventura of Tabacao, Talavera, who produced 266 cavans per hectare, and Severino Velasquez of Barangay Sta. Rita, Jaen, who harvested 230 cavans per hectare. They also planted the Sl-8H hybrid seeds variety.

Guimba has new vice mayor

Roseller T. de Guzman finally assumed as Guimba’s new vice mayor, dislodging his rival, Angelina DG. Dela Cruz from the posty.

De Guzman was installed as the new vice mayor after Guimba presiding Judge Napoleon R. Sta. Romana issued a writ of execution rendering as final and executory its Nov. 26, 2007 decision declaring him the winner in the elections. He won by 776 votes against Dela Cruz in the May 14, 2007 vice mayoral race.

He took his oath of office before Gov. Aurelio M. Umali at the Palayan City provincial capitol, said local election supervisor Leonardo Navarro.

Dela Cruz immediately vacated her office after being served the execution order by Sheriff IV Inocencio B. Garampil III. Dela Cruz filed an appeal on Dec. 3, 2007 with the Commission on Elections.

The Comelec’s First Division, on Feb. 21, 2008, dismissed the case for Dela Cruz’s failure to pay the appeal fee within the reglamentary period prescribed by the Comelec.

In order en banc resolution dated April 23, 2009, the poll body also denied Dela Cruz’s motion for reconsideration, paying the way for the Guimba RTC to grant De Guzman’s motion for the issuance of an execution order on May 19, 2009.
By Steve A. Gosuico
Photo: Dennis Javier

Nueva Ecija holds Swine flu summit

Provincial and regional health veterinary authorities, the police and poultry stakeholders drew up plans and other contingencies designed to check the entry of the dreaded Influenza H1N1 flu virus here the other day. The influenza virus summit, called by Gov. Aurelio Matias Umali, came at the heels of the H1N1 flu threatening to become pandemic as it swept from Mexico through the United States, Egypt, Germany, Canada and now in Hongkong and Japan. To date, about 2,300 people in 24 countries had reportedly been inflicted. There are 48 dead and 1,578 confirmed cases of A (H1N1) in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak. Umali said that the immediate detection of any swine flu cases is the key to effectively checking the spread of the dreaded swine virus, which if not immediately treated could cause our economic downturn. Lectures on preventive and regulatory medicines were made by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Benjamin V. Lopez; Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz, OIC of the Regulatory Division, Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Unit 3, San Fernando, Pampanga; Dr. Rio Magpantay, Center for Health Development, Region 3, San Fernando, Pampanga. Acting Provincial Veterinarian Willhelmina F. Morton presented the group’s action plan which consisted of setting up of quarantining checkpoints, strict monitoring and reporting of any suspected cases of swine flu virus and the isolation of positively identified affected hog farms. She emphasized the strict observance of hog farm management employing the use of foot chemicals at the pens’ entrances to avoid disease infestation of the hog farms’ denizens. For his part, Lopez said the utilization of simple personal health rules such as avoiding sneezing in public and constant washing of hands could avoid the spread of any influenza virus. In the same manner, he said the observance of the simple health rules for man would also apply to animals especially in hog farms, noting that the simple cold is one deadly virus that could spread like wildfire especially during the rainy season. In the same forum, Lopez said the success of any operations in the event of any calamity in swine flu would depend largely to the availability of local governments to secure the much-needed vaccines to combat the swine flu. He advised everyone to practice constant hand-washing to keep germs off and observe “cough ethics” by using tissue paper which should be disposed off right away. Avoid hand-clasping, too, he cautioned, and “beso-beso” should be held taboo for the moment in light of the infestation of the swine flu raging to become pandemic in proportion.
By:MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR
Photo: Quarantine officers enter a plane just arrived from the United States to check passengers at Narita International Airport on May 9, 2009. A Japanese student who has not been abroad recently has tested positive for swine flu in an initial examination, the first suspected domestic infection of the virus, the government said Saturday. (AFP/File/Toshifumi Kitamura)

New PANTABANGAN Municipal Hall

Pandawan Festival 2009

Pandawan Festival 2009

Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija

Philippines

April 30, 2009

Quirimit wins easy Marikina-Cabanatuan lap

It was supposed to be an easy stage, but Arnel Quirimit from Pangasinan made miserable for his younger, more aggressive foes.

Knowing this lap could be a virtual warm-up for the crucial, kill-or-be-killed Baguio climbs, the seasoned Quirimit now looms to be a serious threat to early leaders as he won Stage Four of the Liquigaz-LPGMA Tour of Luzon in heart-stopping fashion that ends in sun drenched Cabanatuan City.

Quirimit, stuck in the second group, gave chase and caught up with the lead pack in San Miguel, Bulacan, 30 kilometers to the finish line in Cabanatuan City.

Quirimit and Mark Julius Bonzo dominated this 4th leg Tour of Luzon but Lloyd Lucien Reynante held on to his six-second overall lead as the race geared up for the crucial Baguio leg Saturday.

1.000 N. ECIJA WORKERS ASSURED OF JOBS

One-thousand Novo Ecijanos workers have been assured of choice positions at the upcoming construction of a P300-billion “Entertainment City” which will rise at the reclaimed area by Manila Bay.

This disclosure was made by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairman Efraim Genuino at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in Palayan City during the kick-off rites for the province-wide “anti-illegal drugs campaign” jointly sponsored by the provincial government, the police, military, the judiciary and the local media.

Genuine disclosed to Novo Ecijanos the establishment of the P300-billion “Entertainment City” which will rise in the reclaimed area in Parañaque City and generate some 250,000 jobs.

Saying that he was pleased by the cooperative traits of the barangay leaders who collectively heeded the call to join war against illegal drugs, Genuino offered to Governor Aurelio Umali “the first quota of 1,000 Novo Ecijano workers who will work on the ambitious Entertainment City project.

Genuino said that the work on the premier investment project of the government will start in the second quarter of this year. This is expected to generate some 250,000 jobs.

Genuine said one of the pet undertakings of Pagcor is the fight against the drugs menace. He said it is also involved in the rehabilitation of the drug victims, noting that Nueva Ecija is one of the few provinces which had built a center for the rehabilitation of drug users.
Manila Bulletin
March 27, 2009
Magtanggol C. Vilar