Visayas Newsbits for September 4, 2014

[admin]

BORACAY MASSAGE WORKERS
Boracay Island – Massage therapists working at popular resort destination of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan are facing problems over licensure issues. The local government of Malay town wants to require them to undergo a training that will be conducted by Department of Health (DOH) as part of the accreditation process. However, the practicing massage therapists have already been trained and accredited by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Ely Arensol, specialist of TESDA-Aklan provincial office, confirmed that Boracay-based massage therapists have complained of the separate training and accreditation required by the Malay local government. According to Arensol, the requirement is an added cost to the massage therapists. To prevent the issue from escalating, TESDA-Aklan will intervene to help. (Jun Aguirre)
ASSISTANCE FOR REBELS
Taclogan City –* Three former rebels from this province received financial assistance from the government during the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting of Leyte, held here yesterday. Earlier, eight other rebels also received financial assistance under the same program, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla told reporters during the press briefing. It was learned from Gov. Petilla that the former rebels received P65,000 each as financial assistance from the OPAPP-DILG, composed of the P15,00 for the immediate assistance and P50,000 as livelihood assistance. The rebel returnees also received Philhealth cards. Petilla said that his office also extended another P10,000 and a sack of rice to rebel returnees as basic assistance.** (Restituto A. Cayubit)
POLICE ON ALERT
The start of the “ber†months has placed the police on alert as an increase in crime is observed during this period. Chief Supt. Josephus Garrote Angan, director PRO6, has directed all unit commanders, especially in highly urbanized areas, to implement intensified security measures to deter street criminals* from preying on the public.“With the entry of ‘ber’ months, we expect that there is an upsurge of crime particularly crime against property.* This is usually manifested as we come closer to the yuletide season,†Angan** said. Earlier Angan issued directive to implement anti-crime measures which were proven effective in the past to bring down crime. Among these are greater police visibility and a more aggressive drive against loose firearms, criminals riding in tandem, and the arrest of wanted persons. To assist the directive, 601 newly-recruited policemen were deployed to the different police stations in the region. (Edith B. Colmo)
SIPALAY QUARRYING
Bacolod City – Residents in Brgy. Nabulao, Sipalay City, recently complained to the Office of the Governor of the province of Negros Occidental that there is quarrying in their area. Atty. Jose Valencia, Provincial legal officer, and concurrent executive officer of Task Force Ilahas, Bantay Dagat and Task Force Bato, said he summoned some members of the sangguniang panlungsod of Sipalay and residents to discuss the problem. He has also sent a team to verify the situation. It was reportedly discovered that the company doing the quarrying lack documents for such an operation. The residents, though, fear that the quarrying might reach the tilling ponds of Sipalay Mines, and may cause soil erosion. (Edith Colmo)