Ecija gets 11th biggest IRA in 2008

Nueva Ecija is ranked eleventh among the provinces receiving the biggest Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in 2008.

The province's IRA amounts to P1.036 billion.

Topping the list is Pangasinan with P1.362 billion; followed by Cebu, P1.330 billion; and Negros Occidental, P1.326 billion.

The other members of the so-called "billionaires' league"  are Bulacan, P1,183 billion; Quezon, P1.116 billion; Isabela, P1.110 billion; Palawan, P1.078 billion; Cavite, P1.053 billion; Batangas, P1.049 billion; and Laguna, P1.040 billion. ###
 
 

Onion research institute proposed

Third Dist. Rep. Czarina Umalli has introduced a bill creating the Philippine Onion Research Institute (Philorins) in Bongabon to promote and advance the local scientific and technological expertise in onion production to realize the agricultural product's potentials.

Umali, wife of Gov. Aurelio Umali and member of the House committee on agriculture, said that the Philippines supplies three fourths of the onion needs of Asia yet the government continues to import from Thailand and neighboring countries onion seeds and bulbs needed for production.

"For many years, the onion industry has been neglected despite its remarkable contributions to the country's wealth," Umali said in her bill's explanatory note.

She said that the problem lies in the lack of any comprehensive plan or program to develop the onion industry.

The research institute will have its central experiment station in Bongabon where 60 percent of the country's onion production comes from, and will acquire machinery and equipment and grant loans to planters.

The proposed institute will be governed by a five man board of directors to be appointed by the President, with three of them recommended by the National Federation of Onion Planters. ###
 
 

Ecija dioceses release joint pastoral letter vs. gambling

Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud and San Jose Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara signed a joint pastoral letter  last  December 15 -- the eve of the start of the nine day Misa de Gallo -- calling on local officials not to act as instruments for the promotion of gambling in the province.

The pastoral letter echoed an earlier one that the two bishops issued in June 2006 against the operation of small town lottery (STL) and jueteng and the setting up of a casino in the province.

The bishops said gambling teaches the citizens to rely solely on chance to  improve their lot.

Since the franchise of Green Two Enterprises to operate STL ended in July 2007,  attempts to reinstate the game has reportedly failed because of stiff opposition from the Catholic Church and misunderstandings among local politicians. ###
 
 

Ecijano receives Bagong Bayani Award

Franciso Roque of San Jose City was among this year's Bagong Bayani Award winners honored by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang.

The Bagong Bayani Award is an international search for country's outstanding overseas workers in four categories: Bagong Bayani Awards for Most Outstanding Employees, Bagong Bayani Awards for Community and Social Service, Bagong Bayani Awards for Culture and the Arts, and the Blas F. Ople Award Para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani.

Roque is a landscape engineer at the Public Authority in Agriculture Affairs and Fisheries Resources in  Kuwait.

He received the Bagong Bayani Awards for Community and Social Service together with Roberto Abella, a project and senior engineer in Libya.

The others who received their Bagong Bayani trophies from Mrs. Arroyo were Chitael Carmona, Vito de Raya, Cuadrato Gidoc Gaspi, Eduardo Gulmatico, Rolando Ocampo, Hazel Reposo, Jesus Sumook, Mary Jane Pajarillo Tupas, Josefina Villarey and Richard Gabriel. ###
 
 

GLIMPSES OF  CHRISTMAS 2007

Light plane crash-lands in Zaragoza rice field, 2 hurt

Two persons were hurt when their light plane crash-landed in a rice farm in Zaragoza last December 20.

The pilot, Indian national Sandeen Kimmar, 30, and his co-pilot, Jeffrey Mabbang, 26, of Tarlac City, were taken to a hospital in La Paz, Tarlac and later transferred to the Central Luzon Doctors' Hospital in Tarlac City.

Investigation showed that the two-seater Omni plane was flying over Zaragoza at about 10:00 AM when it experienced mechanical problems. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Barangay Valeriana, some seven kilometers from the poblacion.

The plane came from the Clark air field in Pampanga and was on a routine training flight

Witnesses said the plane circled several times before crash landing in the rice field. ###
 
 

Australian found dead in Santa Rosa farm

A 61 year old Australian national was found dead inside the Puyat Farm in Barangay Soledad, Santa Rosa last December 29.

Sr. Insp. Roger Sebastian reported that the fatality, James Reginald Dougall, had been living alone in the farm for the past ten years.

SPO1 Jun Adalem of the Santa Rosa police said the victim's body was found at about 3:00 PM.

It was learned that Dougall, allegedly a heavy drinker, had been ill for the past one week before his death. ###
 
 

Ecija extortion trap identified

The Presidential Task Force Kontra Kotong and Kolorum (PTF-KKK) has identified Barangay Obrero, Cabanatuan City as among the areas where petty extortion of drivers by law enforcers is allegedly rampant.

In a progress report to Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes, task force chair, the following were pinpointed as other areas in Central Luzon and North Luzon where extortion of drivers frequently happen: Cagayan to Manila Road; Baguio to Manila Road; MacArthur Highway; Block 85 Navy Resettlement in Capas, Tarlac; San Nicolas Public Market and the vicinity of BCC School in Angeles City; Santa Ignacia, Tarlac; and near Station  3, Dagupan City. ###
 
 

Tricycle driver charged with extortion

A 37 year old tricycle driver who passed himself off as a member of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was arrested in a an entrapment operation and charged with robbery with extortion.

Sr. Insp. Enrico Rigor, chief of the Provincial Investigative and Detective Management Bureau of the Nueva Ecija police office, identified the arrested suspect as Garry delos Santos Yabut of Barangay Sumacab Norte, Cabanatuan City.

Earlier, a 23 year old businessman from Sanciangco St., Cabanatuan City asked for the help of the police in arresting the suspect who allegedly introduced himself as Sgt. Serrano of CIDG-Manila.

The suspect reportedly asked for P30,000 in cash from the victim in exchange for the non filing of charges against him for allegedly selling fake goods.

The suspect forced the victim to shell out an initial P5,000 in cash, and even got two cell phones from him, and said he would return the next day for the balance of the money.

The victim sought the help of the police who in turn set up an entrapment operation against the suspect. ###
 
 

Barangay chair faces charges for hitting teener with gun

A barangay chair in Talavera faces charges for allegedly slapping and hitting with a gun a 16 year old high student.

The local police identified the suspect as Barangay Chair Eduardo "Edong" del Rosario. The victim was Lincoln Galang, a senior student of San Ricardo National High School.

Investigation showed that Galang's group engaged in a rumble with another group of students during a barangay students' night last December 14, prompting Bantay Bayan members to intervene.

When the warring groups were already pacified, Galang said del Rosario arrived and without saying anything allegedly slapped his face several times.

An armed Bantay Bayan member identified as Manny del Rosario reportedly pointed his gun at the victim's waist.

Investigators said that the barangay chair then pointed a .38 caliber pistol at Galang and then used it to hit him three times on the head, causing injuries.

Charges of slight physical injuries, grave threats and violation of the Anti Child Abuse law have been filed against del Rosario. ###
 
 

Ex-barangay chair, son involved in rumble

A former barangay chair, his son and a Bantay Bayan member are in hot water for participating in a rumble that happened in front of the chapel and barangay hall of Barangay Bakero, Cabanatuan City last Christmas eve.

Supt. Eliseo Cruz identified the suspects as former Barangay Chair Joselito delos Santos, 49; his son Nixon delos Santos; and Bantay Bayan member Renato Lopez, 43.

Investigators learned that the young delos Santos had a heated argument with Ricci Clemente, 40, that led to the rumble.

Aside from Clemente, among the injured were Anthony Clemente, 31; Rustan Alay-ay, 22; John Camua, 23; and Rebecca Camua, 40. ###
 
 

2 die in motorbike collision

An overseas Filipino worker and another person died when the motorcycles they were driving collided last Christmas Day along the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Highway in Barangay Sinipit, Bongabon.

Sr. Insp. Ernesto delos Santos identified the victims as Eric  Asuncion Acosta, 46, an OFW of Barangay Cruz, and Jefferson dela Cruz de Jesus of Barangay San Roque, both in Bongabon.

De Jesus was traveling southward on his Krypton motorbike while Acosta was driving his Bajaj motorcycle together with his son Jerry towards the town proper, when the collision happened. ###