In Batangas: P6 Billion Ecotourism

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) has started work on the first cove of its 13-cove Hamilo Coast ecotourism project in Nasugbu, Batangas, with P5 billion to P6 billion allotted for the construction and developments over five years.

The first cove, the 37-hectare Pico de Loro, will have 11 residential condominiums, country club, a promenade connecting all the buildings, a boardwalk with an al fresco entertainment area, facilities for snorkeling, swimming and other water sports, and a four-star hotel near the beach. (Business Mirror) ...click older posts to read more of today's stories, otherwise click home to access front page news...

In All Islands: Salary Increase

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - By July, civil servants will begin enjoying a 10 percent increase in their basic salary while uniformed personnel would get an additional P1,200 in their monthly allowance, Malacañang said on Thursday.

In signing Executive Order 611 dated March 14, President Arroyo cited the fact that the basic salary of government workers has not been increased since July 2001, and the subsistence allowance of uniformed personnel, since 1998 despite the periodic wage adjustments in the private sector. (Business Mirror) ...click older posts to read more of today's stories, otherwise click home to access front page news...

In Cebu: Snatcher Electrocuted

(Friday, March 23, updated) - A SUSPECTED snatcher was electrocuted while his companion was arrested during a running chase with policemen in barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City yesterday. PO2 Rey Manatad said two motorcycle-riding men snatched the bag of a tricycle passenger along ML Quezon Street and tried to speed away.

The bag's dangling sling, however, got entangled with the motorcycle's chains, stopping the wheels and throwing the two men on the pavement. Bystanders jumped on Arnold Bon Ardiente to arrest him, but the second suspect, Paul Owatan ran towards the interior of the barangay. When he ran into a corner, Owatan tried to climb a concrete wall but instead touched a live electrical wire. (Cebu Daily News) click older posts to read more of today's stories, otherwise click home to access front page news.

In Makati: Hackers

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - MAKATI POLICE will investigate the alleged protectors of arrested international telephone hacker Mahmoud Al-Nusier and at least 24 other Jordanians believed to be still in the country, an official said yesterday.

Dir. Geary Barias, chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, wondered why Al-Nusier and his accomplices were still here despite being arrested three times for telephone hacking.

Police documents reveal that Al-Nusier was arrested in Makati City on March 6, 1997, for cellular phone hacking. He was presented as a suspect in telephone hacking by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in September 2002, and two weeks ago was again arrested for the same offense. (Manila Standard Today) click older posts to read more of today's stories, otherwise click home to access front page news.

In Kalibo, Aklan: Vice-governor Straffed

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - The house of the vice governor of this province in this capital town was fired upon by a man who approached the house purportedly looking for the vice governor Wednesday evening. (The Manila Bulletin) click 'older posts' to read more of today's stories, otherwise click 'home' to access front page news.

In Bataan: No Worry

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - Samal Mayor Rolando Z. Tigaz said yesterday he was unfazed by reports that he would be suspended following the filing of graft charges against him and eight other town officials in connection with the construction of the P12-million public market here. (The Manila Bulletin) click 'older posts' to read more of today's stories, otherwise click 'home' to access front page news.

In Vigan: Budget To Sing

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - More Blanquita Pelaez types may soon come out in the open, as election day draws near, opposition-identified senators yesterday said, while Team Unity (TU) bets who are in the center of the Pelaez expose, appealed to the detained leader not to demonize them as this could have an impact on their candidacies.

Predictably, TU bet Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson accused deposed President Joseph Estrada of being the brains behind the Pelaez expose, saying that Estrada had given the mother-daughter team a “budget to sing.” (The Daily Tribune) click 'older posts' to read more of today's stories, otherwise click 'home' to access front page news.

In Zamboanga: 2,000 Deported from Malaysia

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - Another batch of deportees has arrived from Malaysia bringing to more than 2,000 the number Filipinos deported back to the country by the Malaysian government since January this year.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional information officer Fe Dela Cruz said the latest batch of Filipino deportees consist of 314 people that arrived recently aboard a ferry from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Dela Cruz said that of the 314 Filipino deportees that arrived, 232 are males while 82 are females. (Philippine News Agency) click 'older posts' for more of today's stories, otherwise click 'home' to access front page news.

In Clark: Multi-billion Investments Saved

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - Top investment firms inside this newly created Freeport Zone and Central Luzon officials thanked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for signing two laws here last Tuesday for the restoration of tax incentives and duty free privileges which saves multi-billion investments and jobs of the more than 49,000 workers in this former US Air Force facility. (Philippine News Agency) to read more of today's stories, click 'older posts' or click 'home' to go to main news list.

In Baguio: Hydro Power Plant Disappointing

(Friday, March 23, a.m.) - THE production of the Baguio City-owned Asin mini hydroelectric power plants is disappointing because this is far from the expected output projected when the City Government decided to take over the facilities, said acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

Bautista said he does not blame anyone for the low turnout of the energy produced but to increase production, the two other generators have to be repaired. He said funds would come from the trust fund remitted recently by the Hydroelectric Corporation (Hedcor). (SunStar Baguio) to read more of today's stories, click 'older posts' or click 'home' to go to main news list.