HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has appealed to the Senate to now tackle the anti-terrorism bill already approved by the lower chamber of Congress and sent to the Senate for action.

In a talk to newsmen at his residence here last Thursday, de Venecia said the whole world is waiting for the Philippine approval of the anti-terrorism bill.

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SAN NICOLAS – The slain lead of the Tignay Dagiti Mannalon a Mangwaya-waya ti Agno (Timmawa) was buried at the municipal cemetery last Saturday following necrological rites at the municipal hall here.

Before the interment however, the slain Jose Doton, 61, chairman of TIMMAWA, was honored by the town as a leader working to advance the interest of the farmers in his personal capacity.

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STA. BARBARA – Zinc, a vital soil nutrient essential for growth of plants has been found lacking in at least 2,000 hectares of agricultural lands in 24 towns of the province.

As a result of zinc deficiency, crop yield in agricultural lands suffered a decline from 25 to 30 percent in yield, according to provincial agriculturist Jose Almendares.

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EQUATORIAL Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo admitted that there are now some 3,000 Filipinos working in Equatorial Guinea, mostly in the petro-chemical industry.

He said having known and observed these workers and found them very qualified and experienced, he decided on a state visit to the Philippines.

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LINGAYEN – The provincial administration is set to open soon a first-ever Crisis Intervention Center (CIC) to serve the needs of individuals and families in dire trouble.

Emilio P. Samson, Jr., provincial social welfare development officer, said the CIC is a special unit operating on a 24-hour basis to provide integrated services such as immediate rescue and protection, provision of direct financial and material assistance, augmentation during disaster and referrals for immediate medical, legal, psychosocial services including temporary shelter to clients.

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TRAVEL and consultancy agencies are not authorized to recruit workers for abroad, an officer of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration stressed Thursday.

Legal officer Ferdinand Jose Merrera of the POEA regional office advised the public to refrain from transacting with such agencies since, he said, they do not have any authority to recruit people for overseas employment.

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In last week’s banner news “CIDG confirms jueteng return’, there were 31 arrests of jueteng violators, not 81, as erroneously printed in the subhead of the story. Our apology for the error and any misimpression it might have created. – The Editor

APPLICATION and issuance of travel clearances for minors traveling abroad have been simplified.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the amended guidelines should be a welcome development especially for frequent travelers.

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THE Summer Kindergarten Program (SKP) of the ecclesiastical district of Central Pangasinan of the Iglesia Ni Cristo has scheduled the graduation program of its little learners in the next two weeks.

For Dagupan City, one of the ocales composing Area 5, the SKP graduation has been set May 31 at the Calasiao Comprehensive School which hosts the ceremonies for all INC locales in Area 5 that implemented the kindergarten program.

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TELEPHONE cable line thieves, some of whom were successively arrested the past week thru an intensified public-police monitoring and arrest system, appear to have returned with a vengeance this year after lying low in the late part of last year.

“Bumawi sila. They struck almost three to four times a week. That is also true with the other telephone companies,” Edmund Pedro, Area Commercial Manager of the Digitel based in Dagupan said.

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