THE Philippine Press Institute (PPI) has announced a training program for media practitioners on Avian Influenza, also commonly known as bird flu.

The new program, PPI said, follows the previous success of the Institute and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) partnership in ‘bringing children rights and welfare to the fore.’

The workshop, which is part of the Stay Bird Flu Philippines Communication Campaign, will include lecture-discussions on Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza, skills enhancement on writing about AI and bird watching activity (Olanggo Island for the Visayas and Candaba Swamps for Luzon).
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CITY Mayor Benjamin S. Lim joined former President Fidel V. Ramos and other outstanding Pangasinenses who were honored during the Kaluyagan nen Palaris (KNP) Awards and Recognition Night on December 21 at the Manila Hotel.

The former president led Pillar awardees including a posthumous award for the late Fernando Poe Jr.
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GOVERNOR Victor Agbayani urged Wednesday the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in coordination with the municipal social welfare offices of the affected coastal towns to complete the socio/economic documentation of the families of survivors, casualties and the missing.

The documentation is needed by the provincial government to determine appropriate relief and livelihood assistance to the victims of the sea disaster and their families.

Task Force Infanta headed by Lt. Colonel Gregory Cayetano of the Philippine Army, which spearhead the relief and rescue operations for the affected fishermen, has already terminated its work last December 27 after the safe return and recovery of 202 persons.

Some 55 more of the original missing fishermen are unaccounted for.
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THE voluminous mail matters including checks found mysteriously dumped in Bonuan, Dagupan City last December 19 came from Manila central post office and bound for Cabanatuan City when diverted.

Superintendent Mateo Casupang, deputy chief of police of Dagupan, said a fax message from the Philippine Postal Corporation last week provided the answers to the mystery behind those checks numbering more than 1,000 that were believed enclosed inside stolen registered mail matters.
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SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur – Though they failed to weave a four-kilometer sleeping mat as they promised, local folk here are still confident they have already installed a new world record to be etched in the Guinness book by coming up with a 2.4 kilometer long-by-more than one meter-wide mat during their first-ever Buri Festival last Wednesday.

Thousands of tourists and residents turned out in the main streets as well as the national highway to watch local folks in their buri-inspired costumes dance and parade the giant native mat which is believed to be the country’s and world’s longest ever.
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SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A total of 431 PVC (Polyvinyl Conduit) pipes converted into toy bazookas were confiscated by the police in the entire Ilocos region from different owners on or before the New Year.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said 263 of these were seized by the Pangasinan Police Office, 56 by La Union Police Office, 61 by the Regional Mobile Group, and 51 by the Ilocos Sur Police Office.

Not even one was seized by the Police in Ilocos Norte.
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SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Eight persons mostly teen-agers were killed and 16 others seriously injured when a trailer truck with a heavy container as backload collided head-on with an overloaded passenger jeepney along the national highway in barangay Central East in Bauang town at about 4 a.m. last Wednesday.

A report submitted by La Union Provincial Director Supt. Franklin Bucayo said the trailer truck was proceeding north while the passenger jeep came from the opposite direction when the two collided at a sharp curve along the highway.

Declared dead on the spot were Jay Boy Dundun, 14; Reggie Antonio, 16; Jessica Marino, 15; Ruby Jean Javier, Arlene Sapitula, 18; and Ricky Tomas, 18, all of sitio Ubolan,Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet, occupants of the passenger jeep.
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INTERIOR Secretary Ronaldo Puno has advised governors to focus on the elections in May this year instead of being distracted or immobilized by talks about Charter change.

Puno’s statement appears to be in reaction to a planned meeting of governors in the country called by the League of Provinces of the Philippines headed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson scheduled January 12 on whether they would continue to push for Cha-cha even as the May elections is approaching.
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THE Liga ng mga Barangay may see reorganization sometime this month, it was learned Friday.

Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim said he got the news, although unofficial, from the executive vice-president of the national Liga ng mga Barangay, Mario Ortega of La Union.

The date for the election of new officers was not clearly set yet however, he said, prompting him to write the Liga national president James Marty Lim for a clarification.

He also clarified that he was not favoring anybody from the Liga, be he the incumbent president, Eric Munoz of barangay Tambac, or the other hopefuls, Guillermo Vallejos of Barangay IV or Joaquin Reyes of Tapuac.

Vallejos was elected president during an attempt to reorganize the league last year. The national Liga refused to recognize the new set of officers.

The mayor tried to unify the group but his efforts failed. Munoz refused to vacate his post while his colleagues maintained their stand for a reorganization.

Most of the barangay captains were disgusted at the way Munoz was heading their Liga.

“Bahala na sila kung sinong pipiliin nila .. if they still like Munoz wala namang diperensya,” the mayor said. (DOS/PIA)