Parts of Aurora and Nueva Ecija to experience nine hour power interruption tomorrow

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, March 13, 2013-National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that parts of Aurora and Nueva Ecija will experience a nine-hour power interruption tomorrow, March 14 from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. 

To be affected by the outage are customers of Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative (NEECO) II Areas I and II, and Aurora Electric Cooperative (AURELCO). 

“The brown-out is due to the repair of selected transmission line hardware along the Cabanatuan-Baler 69kV transmission line” NGCP Northern Luzon Public Affairs Officer Lilibeth Gaydowen said. 

Gaydowen reminded that customers of the two cooperatives should take necessary precautions and preparations for the scheduled interruptions. 

For inquiries, consumers are advised to contact NGCP through cellphone number 63-917-537-4781, or e-mail at corpcomm@ngcp.ph or lpgaydowen@ngcp.ph. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)

Aurora-based battalion tops 7ID rifle squad challenge

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, March 13, 2013-Aurora-based 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army topped the Infantry Rifle Squad challenge organized by its mother unit, the 7th Infantry Division (7ID). 

The group, headed by Lt. Col. Wilmar Galicia, obtained a total score of 716.68 percent. 

Second placer was the 24th Infantry Battalion while Ilocos Norte-based 81st Infantry Battalion was third. 

“The challenge seeks to assess the collective competency and cohesiveness of our squads as a unit in any situation that arises,” said 7ID Commander Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. 

“The infantry rifle squad is the smallest unit of the army. They are called the cutting edge of the organization because they are the ones who are in the front line and execute the plan in the accomplishment of the mission,” Catapang added. 

The challenge was divided into three phases with the first one focusing on required individual readiness skills of members namely physical fitness, general knowledge, and information communications (Harris portable, radio), and weapons. 

Second phase centered on squad organization and formation, map reading and land navigation, and patrol-based operation. 

And lastly, third phase included marksmanship (endurance firing), battle drills, and casualty evacuation (first aid). (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Mga kandidato sa Aurora, lumagda sa para sa SAFE 2013

Lumalagda si Vice Governor Gerry Noveras sa Peace Covenant para sa pagdaraos ng Secure And Fair Election (SAFE 2013). Nakamasid sa kanya sina (L-R) DILG Provincial Director Renato Bernardino, Aurora PNP Provincial Director PSSupt. Elmer Bantog, 48th Infantry Batallion Commander LTC Gilmar Galicia, COMELEC Acting Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Jocelyn Postrado, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo at San Luis Mayor & Lady Mayor Association of the Philippines President Annabelle C. Tangson. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

BALER, Aurora, Marso 13, 2013-Matagumpay na isinagawa sa bayang ito noong Martes ang paglagda ng mga lokal na kandidato sa peace covenant para sa hangad na pagkakaroon ng ligtas at parehas na halalan sa Mayo 2013.

Ang peace covenant para sa pagdaraos ng Secure And Fair Election (SAFE 2013) na idinaos sa Mount Carmel College covered court sa gilid ng simbahan ng Baler ay pinangunahan ni outgoing Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo na naghahangad na muling bumalik sa Kongreso at ni Vice Governor Gerardo Noveras na kandidato sa pagka-gobernador ng lalawigan at makakatunggali ang nakatatandang kapatid ng gobernador na si Baler outgoing Mayor Arthur Angara.

Ang covenant ay inorganisa ng Philippine National Police ng Aurora at Department of Interior and Local Government kasama ang Commission on Election, Philippine Army at sa pakikipagtulungan ng Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting-Aurora chapter.

Sa panayam sa provincial director ng Aurora PNP na si Police Senior Superintendent Elmer Bantog, umaasa ito sa matiwasay na pagdaraos ng halalan sa Mayo.

“Umaasa ang buong kapulisan ng probinsya ng Aurora na ang darating na election sa mayo ay maidaraos ng matiwasay,” sabi nito.

Maging ang PPCRV sa pangunguna ni Rev, Fr. Israel Gabriel ay umaasa rin an sa paglagda sa kapayapaan ay magkakaroon ng malinis na halalan at hindi magkakaroon ng batik ng kaguluhan..

“Maiwasan sana ang magbilihan ng boto sa anumang paraan, maiwasan rin sana ang matitinding personal na batikusan, mailahad sana ng maayos ng bawat kandidato ang kanilang mga plataporma sa isang maayos, makatao, at maka-Diyos na pamamaraan,” pahayag nito.

Ang peace covenant ayon sa pari ay isang magandang daan para maumpisahan ang halalan sa isang mas magandang paraan at maipamulat sa mga kandidato na ang election ay hindi sa panggigipit ng iba kundi sa pamamagitan ng malinis na halalan.

Nanawagan rin ito sa mga mamboboto na huwag matakot dahil sa panahon ng halalan aniya, ang mga mamamayan ang pinakamakapangyarihan.

Idinaan naman sa dasal ng kura paroko ng Baler na si Rev. Fr. Nilvon Co Villanueva ang hangad nitong maayos na halalan.

“Itinatalaga namin ang aming sarili na hindi kami magiging instrumento ng anumang pandaraya tulad ng pamimili ng boto, pamimilit, pananakot, paghahakot ng mga boboto at maling pamamaraan ng pangangampanya at ibang maling paraan para lamang makakuha ng boto,” dasal nito.

Umaasa naman ang mamboboto na si Aling Oping Ruidera ng San Luis, Aurora na dumalo at nakinig sa programa na tutuparin ng mga kandidato ang kanilang nilagdaan.

Wala namang nakikitang problema sa kasalukuyan ang Acting Provincial Election Supervisor ng COMELEC Aurora na si Atty. Jocelyn Postrado at maayos diumano ang kanilang ugnayan sa PNP at AFP.

Nanawagan rin si Postrado sa mga rehistradong botante na lumabas at bumoto sa Mayo. “Ang pagboto ay libre, pag hindi kayo bumoto, itinatapon ninyo ang karapatan ninyong bumoto,” sabi nito.

Dumalo rin sa naturang programa si DILG provincial director Renato Bernardino, 48^th Infantry Battalion commander LTC Gilmar Galicia, mga hepe ng pulisya ng bawat bayan at mga lokal na kandidato sa probinsya at bayan. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

CENTRAL LUZON CAN BE A MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORT HUB, SAYS EDGARDO “SONNY” ANGARA

Central Luzon can be the anchor of a multi-modal transport hub after a major uplift due to its “land, sea and air power “ and proximity to Metro Manila, Team Pnoy senatorial candidate Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said today.

Angara urged development planners to view Central Luzon as a region massively endowed with air, sea and land transport resources that are “enviable and irreplaceable.”

“There is not much in our development planning that is focused on these awesome transport resources and how to make the most out of them,” he said.

“On sea resources , there is Subic Bay. On air power, there is Clark International Airport and the smaller airport at Subic. On land transport resources , there is the NLEX and the SCTEX. No other region in the country is as endowed with that kind of transport assets and resources ,” he added.

A multi-modal transport hub serves as a central place of connectivity where multiple forms of transit come together seamlessly.

Central Luzon or Region III comprises seven provinces, namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

Angara, a lawmaker from Aurora, stressed that the human capital to prepare Central Luzon for a modern role as a global or regional transport hub is already present in the region.

Central Luzon, he said, has a thriving center for aviation training, with most of its universities and colleges offering logistics and engineering courses, aircraft maintenance and merchant marine training. Also, its being a tourism site complements the region’s resources.

“Central Luzon belongs to the old civilization and is a land of history,” Angara said.

EDGARDO “SONNY” ANGARA LAUDS MASSIVE INDUSTRIALIZATION IN BULACAN

Team PNoy senatorial candidate Edgardo “Sonny” Angara today lauded the provincial government of Bulacan for its massive initiative to spur economic growth and create employment opportunities not just for residents of Bulacan, but also other provinces in Central and Northern Luzon.

Angara cited the One Bulacan Program for Rapid Industrialization and Development (One Bulacan PRIDE) which was launched this month as part of the Aquino administration’s thrust of achieving rapid and inclusive economic growth by increasing productivity, enhancing human capital and ensuring equitability.

“The people of Bulacan already have much to showcase, owing to their rich history and status as the ‘Northern Gateway of Manila,'” Angara said.

“But there’s now more to be proud of and look forward to, given that Bulacan has been chosen to pilot such initiatives where government and private enterprise work together towards industrialization and development,” he added.

The One Bulacan PRIDE project will capitalize on the province’s strategic location and proximity to the National Capital Region (NCR), and promote the further expansion of existing industries in Bulacan, among them jewelry – and furniture-making, garments, and mining.

As part of the initiative, a modern food processing and packaging facility within the vicinity of San Rafael and San Ildefonso will be set up to capitalize on the province’s agricultural wealth and aquaculture.

Likewise, a Technohub in Malolos will also be established in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a venue for the development of local technologies for enhanced agricultural production, manufacturing and other high-impact industries like information and communications technology (ICT).

There is also a proposal to develop the Angat After-Bay Regulator Dam into an Eco Park and Water Sports Complex.

“Thiss program seeks to hit the industries that have the highest potential for creating jobs and economic opportunities for the most number of Filipinos—manufacturing, agri-business, IT-BPO and tourism,” stressed Angara, chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

The Harvard-trained lawmaker filed and sponsored numerous bills that seek to support job –generating industries such as House Bill (HB) 248 which strengthens the national extension system to accelerate agriculture and fisheries development; HB 500 which establishes a Young Farmers Program to promote agriculture and fisheries as attractive careers to the youth; and HB 2840 which requires all provinces and highly urbanized cities to establish at least one technical vocational and skills training school.

He is also an author of the Tourism Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9593), which declares a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development; and a proponent of RA 10151, which supported the IT-BPO industry by repealing Articles 130 and 131 of the Labor Code, which prohibited women from taking on night-work.

“To anticipate the many jobs that could be created, universities and tech-voc training centers should beef up their programs that will complement the industries the One Bulacan PRIDE project aims to promote,” Angara said.

“Schools would only do well if they partner with the provincial government and the private enterprises that will be enticed to com e in. Such partnerships can ensure that education in Bulacan will definitely lead to employment,” he stressed.

With such a multisectoral approach to development, Angara said, Bulacan will definitely become a province that Filipinos, not only Bulakeños, can truly be proud of.

Angara and the rest of Team Pnoy senatorial candidates are campaigning in Bulacan. They attended political rallies at the Meycauayan Plaza in Meycauayan and Bulacan National Agricultural School in San Ildefonso in the morning. In the afternoon, the group will proceed to two more rallies at the Guiguinto Municipal Gym and Malolos Sports Complex – Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School.