Rehabilition of waterways pushed

CABANATUAN CITY - The National Irrigation Administration is pushing for the immediate rehabilitation of “dead waterways” as part of a two-point measure to mitigate the effect to crops of releasing water from Pantabangan Dam in eastern Nueva Ecija.

Engineer Antonio Nan­gel, operations manager of the NIA-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, said that part of the water released from Pantabangan Dam would be channeled trough the Peña­randa River Irrigation System for irrigation purposes.

In his recommendation, Nangel also pushed for the rehabilitation of the so-called Patay na Ilog, a tributary of the Upper Pampanga River in Barangay Vega, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. The rehabilitation, he added, will lessen the pressure on the Pampanga River.

This after NIA personnel talked with barangay officials in Barangay Vega who told them that the release of water had caused damages to crops in Baranggay Vega, Bongabon, prompted the recommendation, Nangel explained.

Irrigation authorities decided to open the spillway of Pantabangan Dam when the water elevation rose to 220.8 meters, nearing the automatic spilling level, due to heavy water inflows brought by Typhoon Queenie. -Armand M. Galang

Army vs. NPA: 3 killed

CABANATUAN CITY - The hightened campaign by the government against insurgency resulted to the killing of three more suspected New People’s Army guerrillas under a certain Ka Rasul in a daytime encounter with military forces.

Five rifles were recovered in the firefight, which happened in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay Tayabo, San Jose City, about 7 a.m. on Monday.

Lt. Col. Joselito Kaki­lala, commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion, said that about 40 fully armed rebels figured in the encounter with the soldiers led by 2nd Lt. Jover Tutanes.

The fatalities were identified as Aries del Prado alias Bosyong or Ken from Villa Marina, San Jose City; a certain Henry from Quezon, Nueva Ecija; and Mar from Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

A rebel returnee who went to the funeral parlor identified the victims, said City Police Chief Supt. Peter Guibong.

Recovered from the encounter area were two M-16 Armalite rifles and one M-14.

In a separate incident, a troop led by 2nd Lt. Tony Pilas encountered some 12 rebels about 11:30 a.m. and recovered two more M-16 rifles. Kakilala said the success of these anti-insurgency operations depends on the cooperation of the residents. --Armand M. Galang

Same names, faces in 2007 elections

PALAYAN CITY -- The same familiar names - and faces- float for the 2007 midterm elections in Nueva Ecija.

Vying, for instance, for Cabanatuan City mayoralty post are Gov. Tomas Joson III and electric firm head Alvin Vergara. Joson is running in tandem reportedly with Ramon Garcia, a former member of the city council while Vergara is planned to be with the incumbent mayor Jay Vergara, his cousin and benefactor. Joson also has a son in his ticket for the city council, according to reports.

In Science City of Muñoz, incumbent Mayor NestorAlvarez has picked his brother, Dr. Efren Alvarez from whom he succeeded the position, as his vice mayoralty tandem.

Former Mayor Manolito Fausto vows a comeback against Mayor Nery Santos, Fausto has finished three terms and had to field his wife in the May 2004 elections.

In San Leonardo town, board member Nap Interior is in fighting stance against Mayor Marvin Martin for the top post in town.

Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson runs for governor this time with his nephew, senior board member Edward Thomas Joson for vice governor. They are facing third district Rep. Aurelio Umali and Joe Taruc, son of one of the dzRH's popular broadcaster, as governor and vice governor, respectively.-Armand M. Galang

Firm cuts off power supply in Central Luzon's "security command post"

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, PALAYAN CITY - The electricity service in this camp, which hosts the 7th Infantry ("Kaugnay") Division - has been cut-off and is currently running on single generator units of 7.5 or 8 kilovolts capacities depending on the area being served.

Although the power supply was cut-off effective Nov. 1, it was only known publicly the other day on questioning by the local media here.

Only last June, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has committed to set aside P1 billion for the anti-insurgency campaign of the government.The electricity needs of this 37-hectare camp - touted as the biggest boot camp the army is operating in the country - is being provided by NEECO II-Area 2, which serves 10 muncipalities and the city of Palayan in the central Nueva Ecija area.

According to Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative - Area 2 (NEECO II-Area 2) general manager Ramon de Vera, the power supply in the camp was cut-off at the request of Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, 7ID commanding general.De Vera said Gomez had himself requested the power cut-off as he had wanted to set the records straight as to how properly the account may be settled without compromising the operations of the various service units in the camp.Without going to details, de Vera said Gomez had partially settled the camp's P6.4-million electric bills as of September, which had accumulated over the years.

"The unpaid electric bills of the camp is now about P4-million," de Vera disclosed even as he said the general has promised to settle the full amount involved within the week.

Gomez, who assumed office here Sept. 11, vice now-retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., said that several camp commanders before him had tried to settle the account on a staggered basis, which had been approved by the power server. -Magtanggol Vilar

Ecija gov't creates tasks force vs meat smuggling

PALAYAN CITY - The provincial government has mobilized a special team "to prevent by all means" the possible entry of allegedly "tainted" frozen pork which formed part of a smuggled P40-million pork shipment from China which disappeared on Nov. 9 at the North Harbor in Manila and mysteriously landed in some places in Tarlac and Pampanga.

In this connection, Vice-Gov. Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson, immediately formed a composite team - named "Hoof and Mouth Disease task force" - composed of the provincial offices of the veterinary, agriculturist, health to monitor the entry and sale of frozen meat products which might be used in processing meat products as ham, sausages and others for sale this coming Christmas season.

He had also sought the assistance of the provincial police office, under Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Superintendent Alex Paul Monteagudo, to prevent the entry here of the hot meat.

"Tayo na nga lang sa buong Asia at sa buong mundo ang hindi tinatamaan ng bird flu. Kailangang tanggihan ang ganitong uri ng pagkain na maaaring 'tainted' with animal disease," Joson stressed.

It was learned that the pork shipment had no import permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry and no veterinary quarantine clearance. Consigned to the Asia Golden Arc marketing and brokered by SM Estrada, the hot cargo was earlier ordered confiscated after it was found "misdeclared as frozen mackerel." Originating from China, the shipment was stored at the Sigma Warehouse at the Harbor Center at the North Harbor I Manila after the same was seized by Customs authorities on Sept. 1. Joson had directed the personnel of the veterinary, and police offices to conduct thorough inspections of cargo trucks that might be used in transporting the hot items into the province.

Joson justified his action saying that there is a government ban on the importation of frozen meat from other Asian countries as China, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, North Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam "to prevent the entry into the Philippines of the dreaded bird flu and other animal diseases."-Magtanggol C. Vilar

DENR upbeat on anti-logging drive; cites support from Army, police

CABANATUAN CITY - Environment officials in Nueva Ecija are upbeat about their anti-illegal logging campaign, pinning hope on the “displayed support” from both the military and police agencies as political activities reportedly opened the gate for illicit activities in some areas.

This as Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joselito Blanco reported on Monday the apprehension of another vehicle (DNC-583) loaded with 880 board feet of assorted lumber by joint operatives from Army’s 33rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Barangay Sinasajan, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija.

The CIDG and 33rd MIB, led by Supt. Ferdinand Vero and Col. Leodegario dela Paz, respectively turned over the hot items to the Cenro office for proper disposition. Blanco noted that the latest apprehension was on top of the more than 7,000 bd ft illegally sawn lumber in two of Nueva Ecija’s critical areas over the weekend amid reports that the nefarious activities proliferate last week.

The troops earlier recovered 4,396 bd ft of assorted lumber in Barangay Las Piñas, Peñaranda town then in another operation, elements of theprovincial mobile group headed by Chief Insp. Nick Malazzab and DENR personnel found 3,580 bd ft in Barangay Concepcion, Gen. Tinio. Peñarada and Gen. Tinio are adjacent municipalities, southeast of Nueva Ecija and are both deemed critical in forest condition.

These areas are among places under total log ban.

Arroyo lauds PNP on Gringo capture

President Arroyo commended the police operatives who implemented the arrest of former military colonel and former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

In his statement, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the President extols the operatives from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for "the hard work that led to the arrest."

Part of Bunye's statement reads:

"This is another milestonethat brings to a close a broad conspiracy to destabilize the Government andis a harbinger of growing political stability underlying steady economicgrowth.

"No one can make a mockery of the law by playing hide and seek with our lawenforcement agencies, and get away with it. We call on (former Senator Gregorio) Honasan’s companions to come out andface the music.

They will be accorded due process like any other Filipinoand there is no need for any quarters to cry persecution. Let the evidence be presented against him and let the courts decide his fate."

Ecija govt funds RP Baseball Team for Qatar

PALAYAN CITY -- They would not allow the Baseball team to be out of December Asian Games due to lack of funds. Thus the Nueva Ecija provincial government resolved to provide P600,000 to augment the team’s funding requirement of P1.2 million.

Philippine Sports Commission Chair Ricardo Garcia and Commissioner Robert Aventajado received on Wednesday the check from Gov. Tomas N. Joson 3rd and his son, senior Board Member Edward Thomas at the provincial Capitol here.

Joson said the provincial board, headed by his younger brother, Mariano Cristino "Boyet" Joson, passed and approved the resolution to grant the 22-man RP Baseball Team P600,000 upon learning through newspaper reports that the country could not send it for lack of sufficient budget.

The team has only P500,000 while the funding requirements for the December 1-15, Asian Games at Doha Qatar is P1.2 million.

Incidentally, among the Josons’ top sports projects include the Little League Baseball where the board member who also heads the Team Nueva Ecija Foundation is the provincial chair.

“Nueva Ecija has been a province of baseball and softball enthusiasts. In town and barangay fiestas, softball games lure audience more than basketball or any other sports,” the board said.

Vice Gov. Boyet, it turned out, has been a softball pitcher for San Beda in its NCAA Junior and Senior Teams while Gov. Tommy also played with the Juniors.

“We train here grade school tots and high schoolers for Little League baseball,” the board member noted.

Garcia meanwhile said the RP Team expects to reap at least five golds in the Qatar competition. -Armand M. Galang

PNP Chief warns politicians vs. private armies

ZARAGOZA, Nueva Ecija - "No armed private armies, please."

This was the soft refrain of the warning sounded by Philippine National Police Director General Oscar C. Calderon yesterday against politicians who will be gunning for positions come the 2007 elections.Calderon said that if the politicians should insist on putting up their own private armies they would surely be running afoul of the law and he said the police would apply the full force of the law no matter who gets hurt.

The PNP chief's warning gains special significance considering recent experiences where this province has been declared one of the Central Luzon region's election hot spots due to killings of some political personalities.He disclosed that they are having a tough time dissuading Mindanao politicians from resorting to the carrying of firearms due to the tense security situation in the area.

But, he said, the civilian security volunteers of the local politicians there are being required to be listed as police auxiliary groups.

The police auxiliary groups are being trained on the rudiments of responsibility of armed body guards securing local government officials, including the registration of firearms they are using.Calderon's appeal for sobriety in the coming elections attains special meaning since he hails from Nueva Ecija, being a native of Aliaga town, in the light of several violent incidents being linked to political rivalries in several towns in the province in the past.

Last year, however, Nueva Ecija has not been declared an election hot spot and a generally peaceful election has been held with only a few mayoral contests put to protests but has all now been resolved in the lower courts.Calderon was here where he formally graced the ground-breaking ceremony for the Zaragoza police station.Calderon was assisted in the formal ground-breaking rites by Zaragoza Mayor Teodorico Cornes, PRO3 director Chief Superintendent Ismael Rafanan, and Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Superintendent Alex Paul Monteagudo.

Meanwhile, according to Superintendent Roel Obusan, chief of the provincial police intelligence and investigation bureau, their province-wide campaign has resulted in the confiscation of several high-powered firearms and the filing of illegal firearms and explosives possession against their possessors.

Obusan has credited the police's mobile checkpoints in their successful campaign not only on illegal firearms possession but on various street crimes leading to arrests of suspects who have led them to the arrest of notorious enemies of the state. - MAGTANGGOL C. VILAR

Pantabangan water reserve decreased

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija - The historic release of water from the mammoth reservoir started on Tuesday as typhoon “Queenie” brought its water elevation to 220.78 meters as of Monday, closely nearing the spilling level of 221 m.

But authorities were quick to allay fears of flashfloods noting that the release is being made during the normalcy of weather and under controlled situation even as their men in the field closely monitor its effect on plants and crops for immediate adjustment.

Engr. Freddie Toquero of the Pantabangan forecasting division, said the water is released at the rate of 135 cubic meters per second in addition to the regular release of 65 cms power generation allocation.

The water, he said, will go to rivers downstream of Pantabangan, from the town of Rizal through Bongabon, Palayan City, Cabanatuan City, Sta. Rosa to the upper Pampang river. The release, he said, will be gradual for at least one week until the elevation level is down to 219. The inflow is currently at about 170 cms, he noted.

Engr. Antonio Nangel, operations manager of the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Project which operates the dam, said the activity is a matter of preparing the dam for possible heavy inflow of more water when another typhoon comes.

“The release was not that strong,” Nangel said. “Kailangang magbawas tayo hanggang maabot ang 219 m para safe kung may dumating na bagyo,” he added, saying the release could even be increased to 300 cms should safety warrants.

Besides the normal water inflow brought by rainfalls on dam areas, water from Casecnan and Taan rivers go into it through an underground tunnel built under the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power project which is aimed at improving the irrigation and power capacity of the Pantabangan facilities.

Presidential Assistant for North Luzon Renato Diaz also allayed fears pointing the good news behind the increased water reserve. “The release will be controlled and well-supervised while the good thing is that our farmers are assured of enough water for the coming dry crop season,” he said.

Typhoon victim fished out

SAN JOSE CITY - Authorities have fished out on Sunday the body of a 22-year-old man who died of drowning on an over flowing creek due to heavy rains brought by typhoon “Queenie”.

Supt. Peter Guibong, chief of city police, identified the victim as Rocky Donia, a resident of Sitio Palasyan, Barangay Abar 2nd, San Jose City.

Investigation showed the victim was on his way home Saturday night from a drinking spree when his feet slid on a makeshift footbridge of bamboo sticks. The strong current from the overflowing creek drowned the victim, investigation also showed.

Josefino Cleofas, village head, said the water on the creek swelled due to heavy rains brought by “Queenie.”

Meanwhile the heavy rains brought by the recent typhoon brought to near maximum level the water elevation of Pantabangan Dam, according to irrigation officials.

Engr. Antonio Nangel, operations manager of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System which operates the Pantabangan Dam, admitted the water elevation reached 219.7 meters on Sunday, which is barely 1.3 meters below the automatic spilling level. -Armand M. Galang

Book on golden apple snails released; deals with pest management

Find out how a "miracle" creature became a nuisance to rice farmers through the book titled, "Global Advances in the Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails" (GAS).

To be launched on Nov. 14 at SEARCA Auditorium in Los Baños, Laguna, the book was edited by Dr. Ravindra C. Joshi and Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

The GAS, also known as golden miracle snail and golden kuhol, was introduced in Asia during the 1980s as supplement to the low-protein diet of the rural poor.

From South America, it was introduced to Taiwan as food source owing to its high protein content. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, sodium, riboflavin, niacin and iodine.

GAS derived its name from the golden delicious apple (a yellow to yellow-green apple with sweet, juicy, crisp flesh) owing to their likeness in color. Attracted to its color, the Taiwanese reared GAS in aquariums for display and cleaning fish's tanks as it feeds on aquarium scum.

However, as snails were produced for consumption and aquarium pet, they escaped into waterways and rapidly spread to Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, southern China, Japan, and the Philippines.

With only a few natural enemies to control them, the snails rapidly Developed into a serious pest in Asia's rice areas. Their fast growth and reproduction - females lay egg masses to a maximum of 500 eggs a week - leads to population levels that can destroy entire rice crop. In the Philippines, reported crop losses owing to GAS reached US$ 1 billion.

This is an alarming statistics for rice farmers, technicians, and extension workers. Researchers around the globe hope that the book can help them manage this pest. The book discusses the ecology and management of GAS, snail taxonomy (traditional and molecular tools), impacts of GAS on aquatic ecosystems and farmers' health, and pesticide abuse/misuse.

Some chapters also tackle its utilization as food and natural paddy weeder. GAS recipes from the Philippines, People's Republic of China, Cambodia, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and Myanmar were also included.

"This book compiled fragmented and scattered information on GAS," said Robert S. Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research institute.

The book is published by PhilRice, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and DICTUC.

The book will be sold at US$52, developing countries other than the Philippines; and US$102, developed countries. It has a special launching price of Php 995 for Philippine buyers only.

For more information, please contact Chona Suner-Narvadez at (044)456-0112. - PhilRice News

Gov't troops unearth illicit sawmill in disaster- stricken town of Aurora

DILASAG, AURORA - Government troopers hunting down insurgents have overrun P4-million worth of illegally sawn hard wood and equipment in a clandestine sawmill at the mountain top of calamity stricken town of Dilasag, Aurora, the military reported on Friday.

Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala , commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion, said in his report to 7th Infantry Division commander, Major Gen. Juanito Gomez, that his men recovered at about 6 p.m. Tuesday some 152,000 board feet of red and white lawaan, three power generators, two planer machines and a wood-cutting machine.

The volume was determined by the community environment and natural resources officer James Martinez of Casiguran, Aurora.

A follow-up investigation, Kakilala said, showed that the sawmill, located at Barangay Dilaguidi, Dilasag, was purportedly connected with a firm that allegedly transport the hot items via ships and barges that occasionally dock at Barangay Dyanit, also of Dilasag.

Some residents were reportedly employed to cut and saw the trees.

Kakilala said the activity was "not a handiwork of ordinary illegal loggers.” He added: “Well-financed and organized syndicate.”

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo ordered a full-dressed investigation on the logging activities and ordered her staff to institute charges against the culprits should evidences warrant. - Armand M. Galang

Ecija's Umali ready for the 2007 polls?

Rep. Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija's third district heads series of medical mission in different places, including those outside the territorial boundaries of his congressional representation, percieved to be aimed at bolstering his chances of winning the guernatorial post in the forthcoming local elections.

Chairman of the administration party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, for Nueva Ecija, Umali vows to introduce a new system of politics in the province, over a 110 kilometers north of the Manila.

He reportedly first positioned himself for the gubernatorial race in 2004 but his party, headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo forged pact with his local rivals.

Hot lumber recovered in Ecija towns

CABANATUAN CITY: Combined police, military and environment forces have recovered over 7,000 board feet of illegally sawn lumber in two of Nueva Ecija’s critical areas over the weekend, officials reported on Tuesday.

Joselito Blanco, community environment and natural resources officer from South-Nueva Ecija said that elements of the Army’s 33rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade first overrun a suspected drop off point where they recovered 4,396 board feet of assorted lumber in Barangay Las Piñas, Peñaranda town.

In another operation, police special operations group under Supt. Roel Obusan and DENR personnel found 3,580 bd ft in Barangay Concepcion, Gen. Tinio.

Regidor de Leon, Regional Executive Director for Central Luzon, maintains an intensified drive against illegal logging activities, including mere transport of hot forest products as imposed by the agency under Sec. Angelo Reyes.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Indira Dayupay also expressed alarm over the resurface of illegal logging operations in their municipality that is crossed by the Sierra Madre mountain range and Donya Remedios Trinidad Watershed area that covers Angat Dam.

But besides Gen. Tinio and Peñaranda, provincial environment and natural resources Rafael Otic said they never ceased from tightly guarding the entire Nueva Ecija where loggers from adjacent provinces pass through.

Junkshop owners warned against buying,selling electric wires

CABANATUAN CITY - Selling anything worth P50,000 for only P5,000, is something fishy.
That was how Senior Supt. Alex Paul I. Monteagudo, chief of the Nueva Ecija provincial police office, illustrated a case of anti-fencing before hundreds of junkshop owners from all over the province the other day.

Monteagudo met with all junkshop owners, along with all the chiefs of police in Nueva Ecija’s 32 towns and cities in a conference called by the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) amid the increasing cases of looting of aluminium wires and parts of the firm’s transmission tower.

Jose M. Bautista, officer –in-charge of Transco Nueva Ecija-Aurora Branch, said the company sought police assistance to arrest the problem which create trouble not only to the government’s fund but also poses dangers to people.

“Most of these materials were acquired by loan and the government are still paying for them,” Bautista said. He did not elaborate.

Monteagudo also instructed his men to exercise their visitation power to establishments within their respective jurisdiction in tracking down the suspects. “For the junkshop owners, you have no option but to surrender the things illegally sold to you or call the attention of the police in the event you sense something fishy,” he stressed.

A junkshop owner from the far town of Cuyapo admitted having accumulated a large volume of aluminium wire from his day-to-day business but said his contact in Metro Manila refused to buy them from him. He asked if the government can buy his goods.

But Monteagudo said reiterated the junkshop owner would better sacrifice the money he used in purchasing the illegal items by surrendering them than be charged for it. -Armand M. Galang

It's Christmas time

It's Christmas time. Entrepreneurs from Barangay Tabuating, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija are back to work, producing colorful lanterns in this foto taken by the Nueva Ecija Journal. (Armand M. Galang)

Besides Christmas, politics add color to Novo Ecijanos' lives

NUEVA ECIJA,: Besides Christmas, the election season is now in the air, both for tha national and local political arena, including Nueva Ecija.

Just as the national opposition, in the higly politicized society of the Philippines, announced its initial line up for its senatorial bets for the May 2007 synchronized local and national elections, Nueva Ecija politicians from the provincial down to city and municipal levels are reportedly positioning themselves for the exercise.

All ears were at the first major party meeting among members of the influential Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija (Balane) led by Gov. Tomas N. Joson III at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in Palayan City last Oct. 30.

Speculations were that the governor would not push through his plan to run for the mayorship of Cabanatuan lest his younger brother Mariano Cristino would loss the votes the camp of Mayor Jay Vergara would deliver.

Vergara has his cousin, power firm manager Alvin Vergara, as pet for the mayoralty post.

Oscar Nieves, information officer of the NUeva Ecija Capitol, laughed off the issue.

Former policeman and city councilor Nonong Cecilio is now a commong feature at the National Bureau of Investigation-Field office insode the old capitol compound were people troop daily, apprently to let them feel his presence. He expressed intention to run for the Cabanatuan City council.

Bunso Roque, a former member of the council, is reportedly eyeing a return to the post.

Observers, meanwhile, are not all sold that Mayor Ernesto Natividad would stick to the Balane. He used be with the Joson's archrival, former Rep. Julita Villareal of fourth district. He switched party affiliation while the city was rocked with controversial cases of assassinations.

Yes, Paeng" boy is alive!

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City --Opps, no candlesand flowers for this innocent on All Souls' Day.

While 6-year-old Ian Biarez of Barangay Dimaseset, Dinapigue, Aurora was trully swept away by the strong current, along with his mother Jocelyn,28, with their house during floodings brought by Typhoon "Paeng",he's alive.

Reports showed the boy sustained injuries anf fractures but has survived. His mother, however, was confirmed dead.

There was no immediate information regarding othermembers of this family. He was found after the family's shelter, made of light materials and woods, beached in the area.

The mother and son tandem were the first reportedcasualties on Monday, the day Paeng wrought havoc in many prots of Northern Luzon.

In Aurora province alone, six persons were confirmed dead while 34 were injured, according to the military's monitoring base.

Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala, commander of thePhilippine Army's 48th Infantry Battalion also saidthat thousands of families from the municipalities of Dinapigue, Casiguran and Dinalungan all of Auroraprovince, have been affected.

In his report, Kakilala identified tha fatalities as Roxanie Mae,5; Aurora Sabel,7, and Joel, 36; allsurnamed Heseta; Shiena Mae Marzan,7; Alipio Reynan,70 and Jocelyn Biarez,28, of Barangay Dimaseset, Dinapigue.

Spanish gov't extends financial help to Aurora province

BALER, Aurora - The Spanish government has committed P15 million in developmental grant aid to the provincial government to finance various projects in the province.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo said that the assistance falls under the socalled Poder Y Prosperidad del Communidad Project (Poder), a Spanish-funded community driven project implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through financial aid of the Agecia Espanola de Cooperacion International.

The program, seeks to empower local communities, reduce poverty and improve local governance by adopting the DSWD's strategy anchored on Kalahi-CIDDS (Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services).

Angara -Castillo said the amount will be used in constructingday-care centers, water systems and flood control systems in 12 barangays in the province. -Armand M. Galang