Army test fire rounds of mortar

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City - Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino witnessed the test firing on July 19 of 4o rounds of 60 mm and 81 mm mortar here as part of the ongoing investigation on the controversial Tipo-Tipo incident.

Of the 40 rounds fired, at least two of them misfired or a dud.

Tolentino said mishandling or poor storage can be blamed for it.

PhilRice launches online course for agri extension workers

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija - A prime rice research institution in the country has opened the door of digital technologies to agricultural extension workers whose age range from 40 to 60 with at least 16 of them currently taking up the one-and a half month online course on rice production technology.

Dr. Leocadio Sebastian, Executive Director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute based in Baranagay Maligaya here, the introductory program is being offered “to primarily run-test the viability of the e-learning system as well as to gauge the learning curve and readiness of their clients (extension workers) in this kind of learning platform.”

The current enrollees are agricultural extension workers from Cabanatuan City and the Science City of Muñoz, both in Nueva Ecija, who are each required a farmer-cooperator. The cooperator’s farm, another official explained, serves as the enrollee’s experimental field where he or she will apply his/her acquired knowledge.

Diadem Gonsalez of PhilRice Communication Division said that the online course program uses a blended pedagogical approach which deals with the Minus-One Technique (MOET) is composed of a series of lessons and discussions as well as field works. MOET is defined as the easy and cheap way to diagnose the nutrient deficiencies in the soil.

Online discussions are done through forums and chat, is supplemented with the use of texting or short messaging system “to facilitate better interaction despite geographical disparity.”

“With this pilot test, we hope to hear feedbacks from them (extension workers) on how the system works and on how we can improve it to better serve them,” Sebastian said. He added : “We envision to offer both onsite and online trainings in the near future to give our clients more learning options.”

Last July 6, the participants were taught of the basic uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as computer and internet.

Umali swears in to office

Ecija top cop given 3 months to improve peace and order

PALAYAN CITY -- Newly installed Nueva Ecija police director, Senior Supt. Agrifino Javier, has three months to reshape the peace and order situation in the province, following the series of assassinations after the May polls, that is if the provincial governor would have his way.

In his first day in office, Gov. Aurelio Umali underscored that he has every intention to rewrite the political history of Nueva Ecija, particularly the elimination of political violence.

Javier, who took over the helm of the Nueva Ecija provincial police office on June 30, is reportedly the personal choice of Umali. A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1985, Javier is perceived to be efficient at solving crimes having served at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Umali said he wants the police to solve not only the recent killings because its “closure will not be enough to allay fears.”

Javier admitted that he received a similar directive from the PNP chief, Director General Oscar Calderon, which is to solve the series of violence.

Among the victims of assassination after the May 14 election were Mayor-elect Alfredo Vendivil and Vice-Mayor-elect Virgilio Vendivil of Lupao town, First Nueva Ecija Engineering district engineer Pacifico Berin, barangay captain Miguel Sta. Ana, village watchman Florentino Alberto Jr. and Victor Ramos, all of Barangay Dos, Quezon.

Last Monday night municipal engineer Mauro Balajadia, 47, of Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, was killed by still unidentified suspect. Investigation showed the victim was about to enter his compound riding a car (CRR-675) when repeatedly shot by two motorcycle-riding suspects about 10:30. Javier said they have some new leads to the killings in Quezon but he refused to elaborate further lest their ongoing investigation be jeopardized. --Armand M. Galang (The Manila Times)

Joson to support Umali but...

PALAYAN CITY - Vice-Governor Edward Thomas F. Joson of the influential Joson clan who won in the recent elections vowed on to cross party lines “if only for the best of the people.”

Joson, son of former four-term Gov. Thomas Joson, who himself lodged a protests versus Cabanatuan City mayoralty rival Mayor Alvin Ver­gara, presides over the Sang­guniang Panlalawigan with a majority of board members as political allies.

Gov. Aurelio Umali has only one party mate in the 13-member provincial board, board member Joseph Ortiz from the province’s second congressional district.

Umali is the chairman of Lakas-Christian Muslim De­mocrats in the province, while Joson belongs to the family-founded Bagong Lakas ng Nueva Ecija that coalesced with President Arroyo’s Ka­balikat ng Malalayang Pilipino (Kampi) shortly before the May elections.

Umali, however, visited with Joson and shook hands at the latter’s office on Monday, the first working day for the newly elected local officials.

The governor said he did not expect political alliance but he expressed belief they could agree for undertakings that will benefit the people.

“Tayo’y handang sumuporta sa mga programa basta’t para sa kapakanan ng ating mga mama­mayan,” Joson said, but he added: “Pero kung ito ay may halong katiwalian at para sa pansariling interes lamang, e labis na itong panloloko, hindi na uubra sa atin ’yon.” - Armand M. Galang