News

NAGA CITY, Feb. 27, 2010- As the countdown of the Tercentenary of the devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia continues, the Caceres Archdiocesan Tercentenary Committee, headed by the Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, DD, released the roster of activities for the remaining seven months before the grand novena week in September.

LEGAZPI CITY, March 2  - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said some 1,921 hectares were planted with trees in the Bikol region last year under the Upland Development Program (UDP).

The DENR in Bikol reported the trees planted were in the UDP priority sites for development and management such as Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) projects, Protected Areas, Mangrove and Coastal Areas, and Watershed areas.

LEGAZPI CITY (2 March 2010) - RICE FARMERS in a village in Oas, Albay endured sleepless nights and kept watch on a mercury bulb that drew thousands of Rice Black Bugs (RBB) or locally known as "itom na Tayangao" which had infested more than 690 hectares of ricefields in the third district of Albay province.

Albay Agriculture official, Ruben Limos, said the farmers are doing "light-trapping" which drew the bugs to the mercury light while the farmers gather the pest in sacks and dispose of them.

MANILA, March 3  - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has sent a team of police investigators to Bikol to conduct further probe of the ambush-killing of former jueteng whistleblower Wilfredo "Boy" Mayor last Saturday in Paranaque City.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said police investigators are now looking at three possible theories in connection with the case.

"The NCRPO director (Director Roberto Rosales) told me that he already sent investigators to Bikol because of other theories being considered that possibly originated there," said Verzosa.

VATICAN, Feb. 23, 2010-- Benedict XVI is expressing his concern and promising prayers after heavy rains last Saturday caused flash floods on the autonomous Portuguese island of Madeira.

In a papal telegram to Bishop António José Cavaco Carrilho of Funchal, sent through the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, he offered his condolences to the families of the dozens who died. The death toll was at 42 today, but search teams were still working to find 13 missing.

MANILA, Feb. 23, 2010- Another Catholic bishop warned voters against candidates who spend so much on their campaign ads to ensure victory in the elections.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said the voters should turn down candidates who are guilty of overspending instead of using their money to help the less privileged.

"We should not vote for these candidates because it's a sign that they are not worthy of the people's trust," Iñiguez said.

Attaining proper education in remote part of far away places is such a no ending sacrifice on the part of the parents as well as the children. Grateful enough to have a one room multiple grade school, the children mostly belonging to a very low profile formally, crave everyday for school almost (sad to say) a mile away from home.

SORSOGON CITY, Feb. 23 -- As the El Niño phenomenon prevailing in some parts of the country ravages agricultural crops, a Cebu-based fertilizer manufacturer has came up with a product that could help plants withstand water shortage due to the dry spell.

In a statement recently released here, Amebocyte Cell Company, Inc. (ACCI), manufacturer of Vegegrow Organic Plant Food & amp (adenosine monophosphate) said this product is a pure liquid organic fertilizer derived from marine plant extracts.

CAMP OLA, LEGAZPI CITY (24 February) - THE MOUNTING VIOLENCE in the province of Masbate has again claimed another life.

An elementary school principal in Barangay Nursery, Masbate City was reported to have been shot according to the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) at the PNP Regional Office-5 here, on Tuesday (February 23).

The Masbate police office identified the victim as, Ruel Doroja Gonzaga, 38, principal of the Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City.