Water Supply in Zamboanga City

The Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) inaugurated Monday a Pump Booster Station at Barangay Talon-talon to provide adequate supply to residents in three barangays in the eastern tip of this city.

ZCWD Manager Leonardo Vasquez said the project costs over P25.7 million and took 11 months to finish.

The project includes a giant concrete 1,000 cubic meter water storage tank and a mechanical-electric system to pump water for consumers in the community.

The Pump Booster station will provide adequate water to 8,900 households or approximately 44,597 residents at barangays Talon-talon, Mampang and Arena Blanco.

Barangay Talon-talon is about 15 kilometers away from the main water reservoir and water distribution center at Pasonanca Park.

Work on the project started April 30 last year and was completed last week.

The first phase of the project consisted of laying out some 2,250 linear meters of 150mm primary pipes to which were attached the 1/2 inch pipes to households at homeowner expenses.

Previously, the water district delivered and sold water to residents in the barangay through tankers.

Residents bought water from these tankers at the rate of P11 per 200 liter drums.

The steady supply of water provided by the booster station will also provide water to the thousands of islanders in the Sacol Island group, who get their drinking water from mainland Zamboanga City.

Tagum: Palm City of the Philippines

Tagum city is popularly known as Palm City of the Philippines, Music Capital of Mindanao, City of Parks and the Home of Festivals.

But more than that, there is something that Tagum is also very proud of. It is the best destination for reflections and meditations as it offered various religious sites just located at the heart of the bustling city.

And thousands of people – both local and foreign tourists -- are expected to flock to these places as we observe the Lenten Season especially the Holy Week that starts on March 25.

First, the Christ the King Cathedral located at Gonzales Avenue, Sobrecary St., Magugpo South, is considered the biggest Catholic church in Mindanao. It lies in a two-hectare lot situated in the southern part of the city.

The structure was solely built from donations since 1993 that was designed like a castle. It was created to celebrate the silver jubilee of the diocese.

Guinness Book of World Records recognized its giant rosary as the "largest Roman Catholic Rosary in the world" with each bead weighing 35kg, a special project accomplished by the members of Knights of Columbus.

Assembly has a length of 85.5 meters and is made of Magcomo (Iron Wood), native to the mountain of Davao Oriental and Surigao de Sur. Felicisimo Luta, faithful navigator of the K of C – Christ the King Assembly, said "this project was in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Diocese of City of Tagum in 2005."

As pillars of the Church, the statues of Saints Peter and Paul will greet you upon entering the vicinity of the Basilica, an artistic works designed by Luis A-ac of Paete, Laguna.

Artist Kublai Millan made the bronze artistic designs of the "Calvary Cross" and the "Risen Christ." The faithful of the Diocese of Tagum dedicated this Mother Church to the glory of the King of Kings, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Diocese.

Another must-place to visit in the city is the Mary's Woods, a public shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary located at Barangay Magdum.

The shrine features the Station of the Cross from its foot to the top. Pilgrims have to climb a 75-degree hill to reach the top where the life-sized statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, measuring 7 feet, is found.

It is a perfect place for pilgrims to spend the Holy Week since climbing its 315 steps to the stop is a perfect way for penitence.

The Our Lady of Assumption Quasi Parish is also one of the favorite Visita Iglesia destinations in Tagum City.Also located at Barangay Magdum, the church serves 9 GKKs in the Diocese of Tagum.

It's sometimes referred to as "People's Church" since it stands inside a subdivision. The church has its own "Station of the Cross" where pilgrims can pray. Its main altar looks like a garden with falls and green plants.

The "Holy Rosary Shrine Oasis" located in Dominican Heights in a 10-hectare land is also a best place to go. It houses the "Regina Rosary Shrine" with 10-foot statue of the Queen of the Rosary conceptualized and built by a young artist from Naga, Jojo Barcena. The statue stands on top of a 59-foot hill in a 59 steps representing the beads of the Rosary.

Dagupan City Hall Scandal

A lady councilor has asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit for Dagupan to determine its actual financial status in the light of the entry in the trial balance of the city which indicated it has registered P1 million surplus last year.

Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez said the P1 million surplus is improbable considering that the city's realized income was only P541 million while the budget last year was P581 million.

Fernandez said there is something amiss in the claim of the city that it posted P1 million surplus when in fact it incurred a deficit of some P40 million.

She said when the majority in the council approved a P581 million budget last year, they assured the minority that the amount can be realized through intensive tax collections.

Canadian Investment in the Philippines

A Canadian firm has signified its intention to invest in the province for a biomass facility that would generate electricity for 10,000 to 15,000 households.

Roy Imperial, a close aide to Governor Lilia G. Pineda, said the Canadian investor is eyeing to construct two 215-megawatt power plants that will be housed either in Lubao or Floridablanca town.

Imperial said the proposed biomass facility would generate livelihood to Aetas, who will facilitate in planting grass that would be converted into electricity.

The Canadian investor has conducted initial study and close coordination with the Aeta community for the proposed biomass facility, he said.

Initially, at least 1,000 hectares unutilized land will be needed for the plantation of grass.

Imperial said the grass will be harvested every six months to generate biomass in the production of electricity.

Pag-ibig Online Housing Loan Application System

The Pag-IBIG Fund recently launched its Online Housing Loan Application System enabling members needing home financing to file their housing loan application with the Fund online.

And members here welcomed the latest Funds member's benefit services as user-friendly as they file past the computer-generated on-line facility at its branch here in the Halang commercial row along the National Highway.

"Applicants filing their housing loan application through our online facility will have a special lane in our branch offices and will be given priority over walk-in applicants," said Pag-IBIG president and chief executive officer lawyer Darlene Marie Berberabe.

Online filing of housing loan applications requires the Pag-IBIG Membership Identification (MID) Number or Registration Tracking Number (RTN) or the Temporary Identification of the member-applicant for log-in and security purposes.

Pag-IBIG members without the MID number yet can still get this by visiting the e-services section of the Fund website and follow the steps in the online membership registration.

The online housing loan application system assigns a unique reference number known as the Housing Loan Application Tracking Number.

Atty. Berberabe added: "What's great with this online facility is that the member-applicant can choose the date when to submit the required documents at his/her chosen branch office."

The Pag-IBIG top lady executive expressed that future versions will enable the member-applicant to choose the date and time of their submission, similar to the passport scheduling system of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Online Housing Loan Application System facilitates the sending of email and SMS notification to confirm receipt of submitted housing loan application and to remind member-applicants their appointment date.

However, applicants with incomplete details will be reminded to update through the Online Membership Registration before he/she can continue with the online filing.

Berberabe reminds prospective online applicants that they have to be ready with their information as to their loan purpose, mode of payment, desired loan term, and desired fixed pricing period.

She also advised member clients to provide their email address, cellphone number, home-ownership, years of stay in present home address, occupation, years in employment or business, number of dependents, gross monthly income, and their preferred Pag-IBIG office where application will be submitted.

The new system schedules a maximum of ten applicants per day.

Philippine Holy Week and Summer

The Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office (ZNPPO) has started intensifying its security in preparation for the Holy Week and summer vacation.

ZNPPO officer-in-charge Sr. Supt. James Buslig Mejia said that the closing of the school year this week and other occasions such as the observance of the Holy Week, town fiestas and Flores de Mayo are expected to generate an exodus of commuters and tourists to the province.

He said "the people will be traveling from one place to another which may pose peace and order concerns like traffic congestions, accidents and crimes."

Mejia said the ZNPPO has started its comprehensive security operations for the Lenten Season and Summer Vacation (SUMVAC) to ensure the safe, peaceful and meaningful celebration and vacation of local and foreign tourists who will be coming to the province.

"Whether there is threat or not, the PNP provincial command is not taking any chances, it is prepared and committed to provide security to everybody," Mejia said.

Mejia said he has already ordered all PNP units in the cities and municipalities to re-activate "Oplan Bantay Lakbay" to ensure the safe travel of motorists and commuters to their various destinations.

He also called on all municipal police stations throughout the province to intensify their Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) and Police Assistance Centers (PACs) to be established under the "Oplan Bantay Lakbay" in any strategic locations and major thoroughfares to serve as quick reaction points for police emergency and medical response, advance command post for traffic management and security operations.

Effect of Sabah hostilities on Philippine economy

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III warned Monday on the possible effect of the Sabah hostilities on the Philippine economy.

Aquino said that if the violence in Sabah would prolong, many of the estimated 800,000 Filipinos there might flee from the Malaysian state and will return to southern Philippines.

He said the government has to take care those Filipinos who will flee to the country and "this will surely affect our economy. "

Based on rough estimate, he said if about 160,000 Filipino families would return to southern Philippines from Sabah, the government has to allocate around 37 billion pesos (about 911.33 million U.S. dollars) for food and shelter alone for a span of one year.

He said other basic necessities were not yet part of the estimate that the government needs to earmark for the families who would be displaced further.

Over 2,000 Filipinos already fled from Sabah for fear that the Malaysian authorities would arrest them for allegedly supporting or aiding the followers of the Sulu Sultanate that invaded Sabah on Feb. 12 to reassert their claim over the minerals- and oil-rich Malaysian state.

"Which program are we going to suspend so that we can provide their (Filipino returnees) needs? What can we provide to other Filipinos who also need the state's attention?" Aquino said.

He again blamed those who instigated the Sabah invasion for their own self interest.

The president said he would not allow force to be used in addressing the Sabah claim as his administration is now conducting a study on the issue.

He said part of the study being conducted by the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Executive Secretary is to come up with "a road map towards a peaceful resolution of the Sabah issue."

Skyjet can take tourists to Virac in 40 minutes

Instead of spending a six-hour trip travelling to Virac and Caramoan Island from Manila passing through Naga City, sightseers can reach the place in only 40 minutes by taking a faster route.

The newest, and service-oriented airline in the Philippines, Skyjet can take tourists to Virac in 40 minutes with a total time from Manila to Caramoan by air, land and boat travel, all in two hours only.

According to Skyjet president and CEO, Joel Mendoza, the entry of Skyjet will help boost local tourism and showcase unique cultural attractions of Virac, Catanduanes.

Caramoan Island is widely known as the venue of Survivor USA and is part of Camarines Sur, not Virac which is the nearest way to get into the island.

"We study the time from departure in Manila until we arrive at the island of Caramoan and it took us a total of two hours compared to the other route that takes them six hours from Legaspi to Caramoan vice versa," Mendoza said, in a statement.

"This means that there is potential to increase tourists to visit Virac, he said, adding that Caramoan resorts are already accepting tourists from both sides because they are prepared to handle the demand."

Virac is now recognized as a world-class surfing destination by the International Surfing Community where lies the Puraran Beach.

"[We are] geared to tourism. Our culture is so rich, [we] need to invest in it," Mendoza said, explaining how he targeted places that were not entirely economic-driven but getting there.

"I'm not here to compete, I'm here to create more traffic," he added. "We should start where our asset is."

Skyjet Airlines launched its first scheduled service by flying to Basco, Batanes, on December 14 last year and achieved success in supporting the Batanes local community by providing alternative income through Cultural Tourism.

Flights from Manila to Busuanga in Palawan (four times a week) began early February, while flights to Caticlan began this month. Next flights lined up will be to Virac and Surigao City.

The aircraft, used by the Royal Family of London, is a utilized British Aerospace manufactured 4-engine BAE-146 series 200 (94-seater) and series 100 (76-seater) jet aircraft– called a whispering jet for its quiet engines.

City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)

The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution directing the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to explain and report on the alleged dumping of solid waste and waste water at the Bulacao River.

Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the council's committee on environment, expressed alarm about the matter, saying that garbage will pollute the river.

Cabrera said reports reaching her indicated the dumping of garbage beside the sanitary landfill in Barangay Inayawan, this city. The landfill has been closed in 2012.

In her resolution, Cabrera said that under City Ordinance (CO) 2234, which created CENRO, the office is mandated to report to the council the status of bodies of water and recommend legislation, policies or programs for environment management and waste and pollution control.

CENRO head, Engr. Randy Navarro, said the garbage allegedly being dumped at the Bulacao River are from a private materials recovery facility (MRF) in Inayawan.

Araw ng Dabaw Motocross Challenge

Daredevil Donark "The Rocketman" Yuzon of Iloilo City lived up to his lofty billing as the country's No. 2 rated motocross rider by ruling the Araw ng Dabaw Motocross Challenge held March 16-17 at the Crocodile Park Complex in Ma-a, this city.

The 30-year-old Yuzon, who represented Team Phoenix, won both the Pro and Expert divisions in the two-day event held also as the first leg of the Phoenix Mindanao Moto-X Series.

Yuzon, a native of Iloilo, trailed in the first lap of the five-lap final race of the Pro event before grabbing the lead in the second. But Tagum City-based Kimboy Pineda, also of Team Phoenix, again took back the lead after an overshoot by Yuzon.

Yuzon, who rode on his Kawasaki KXF450, however, gained back the driver's seat in the third lap and never looked back for the victory.

Pineda settled for second place followed by Jeven Legrada and Jesse Pineda, both also of Team Phoenix as third and fourth, respectively.

Yuzon, who won in Bukidnon last week, also pocketed the Expert division followed by Jesse Pineda, Glen Lapus of General Santos City, Lagrada and Timoy Olmoguez of Davao in that order.

"Sasali din ako sa next leg ng Phoenix," said Yuzon, who will also compete in the Palawan International Motocross next week.

The second leg of the Phoenix Mindanao Moto-X Series presented by Cyclomax and organized by Bok Mata will be on May 5 in Butuan City. The first leg was supported by Kurmat Enterprises, Sankai Japanese Restaurant, Sign Factor, Kawasaki, Honda, KTM Davao, Toyota Davao, Sarap Toyo,

Kamikaze Dual Sport Riders Club, Nature's Spring Water, Lipovitan, Colt45, MKI Inn, 95.5 Hit Radio, 92.3 Wild FM, Jevri Trading, Adan Co, Philsaga Mining, DTRO, Lipovitan, Sumifru, Mac Cycle Mart, Chowking, Tagum Trio Lumber, Kirbymate and ETG Sand & Gravel.

On the other hand, 16-year-old Abu Mata also of Team Phoenix shared the limelight by winning both the 250cc and Rookie divisions.

Mata beat Winston Fernandez of Midsayap to the finish line in the 250cc. Third was Jaspher Banot of Don Marcelino followed by Davao's Tristan Galanto and Bonjo Lagrada.