Nov 06
In the absence of personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform in Negros Oriental and without police assistance, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) belonging to the Villareal Caranoche Farmers Association (VILLACARFA) took physical possession of the 33.7-hectare Teves property in Caranoche, Sta. Catalina despite threats to their life.
The ARBs, headed by Romaldo Hoyohoy, entered the property early this morning, overpowered the security guards, put up tents, established foxholes, and have started plowing the fields.
The ARBs lamented the indecisiveness of DAR personnel in installing them since receiving their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in 1997.
Hoyohoy stressed they could not wait for the police to extend them assistance which was promised by DAR.
Task Force Mapalad staff member Ronald Lim said they are assisting the farmers in asserting their right as rightful owner of the property, which belonged to former 3rd district Rep. Herminio Teves and his family.
While some media personnel were interviewing the ARBs inside the property, successive bursts of gunfire were heard from a distance, that prompted three teams of the police to rush to the scene.
Responding police included those from the Bayawan Ccity police headed by Supt. Roy Abella, the 705th provincial mobile group headed by Chief Inspector Julius Muñez and Sta. Catalina police headed by Police Sr. Inspector Edilberto Jungco.
Sta. Catalina Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Elena Gara explained the installation of the ARBs is being held in abeyance until the order of finality is issued by DAR Secretary Naser Pangandaman.
Nov 06
The United Negros Driver Operators Center (UNDOC) has called on the business sector, stakeholders, labor sector, urban poor and fisher folks to a multi-sectoral hearing this week to discuss the proposed fare rollback.
UNDOC deputy secretary general Jesse Ortega said in a media interview that the rollback is “premature” and that it is not yet feasible to effect a reduction in the fare rates.
“We are not yet ready for the rollback unless prices for petroleum and oil products will reduce from P41 to P36 per liter…which is too reasonable and logical,” Ortega said.
The drivers’ associations based in Manila, Pampanga, Batangas and in the National Capital Region led by the National Council on Consumers Protection filed a petition calling for a rollback before the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Friday.
The LTFRB will meet the transport groups today for a hearing in Manila.
Porferio Clavel, LTFRB regional director, said that there is no petition made yet so “there will be no rollback”.
Last week, prices in diesel and gasoline dropped by P5 and P2 a liter, respectively.
Manila-based transport groups proposed for a rollback of 50 centavos to P1 in passengers’ fare but Ortega said it is not even “reasonable”.
Nov 06
Fire broke out early Wednesday afternoon at the chancery of the former Philippine embassy on 1617 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, DC, but the quick action of the area’s Fire Department saved the day, Philippine ambassador to the US, Willy C. Gaa reported.
No one was harmed and no other building was affected. Damage to the chancery was considered minimal.
The cause of the fire was being investigated as of press time, according to Assistant Secretary Claro Cristobal, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The Massachusetts property has long been vacated since the embassy transferred to another location in the U.S. capital.
According to Gaa, within 10 minutes of noticing smoke coming from the old nd abandoned building, Washington firefighters rushed to the scene, put out the fire and secured the surrounding area. Occupants of an adjacent building were asked to evacuate as a safety precaution.
Gaa complimented the Washington D.C. Fire Department for its prompt response. “This is very unfortunate, but, thankfully, no one was harmed and the Fire Department responded effectively in controlling the fire.”
