World’s largest flower discovered in Aurora forests

World’s largest flower discovered in Aurora forests CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- A team of biologists and biodiversity experts have recently found the world's largest flower, Rafflesia manillana in the thick forests of the Sierra Madre mountains in Aurora. Maximo Dichoso, executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office here, said that the Rafflesia manillana is in their list of threatened species and can be also be found in Mt. Natib in Bataan, Mt. Makiling in Laguna, Mt. Labo in Bicol, and on Samar Island Natural Park in Samar. Forester Max Millan, Jr. was accompanying a team of biologists from the National Museum of the Philippines led by Dr. Edwin Tadiosa when they found a Rafflesia bloom while surveying reptiles and amphibian inside the 5,000-hectare Aurora Memorial National Park. Millan said the flower is in full bloom, with a diameter of 17 centimeters. Considered critically endangered, Rafflesia manillana is a genus of tropical parasitic plants that do not contain a chlorophyll, and therefore, incapable of photosynthesis. Scientists estimate that there are 17 Rafflesia species distributed throughout Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, there are at least 11 recognized species of Rafflesia, four of which are found in Luzon. "The presence of such flower in the area only proves the rich biodiversity in Aurora’s forests," Dichoso said. Aurora Memorial National Park spans more than 5,000 hectares of mostly lowland dipterocarp forests in the Sierra Madre mountain range at the border of Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Rising to 1,000 meters above sea level, Aurora Memorial National Park is home to 19 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, and eight species of birds including the endangered Philippine Eagle. The park has been declared a protected area under Proclamation No. 744 of 1941 and was dedicated to the late first lady Aurora Aragon Quezon. In 2011, two species of forest mice of the genus Apomys were also discovered in the Mingan Mountains in Aurora. The biodiversity expedition found at least 304 species of plants and 142 species of animals thriving in the 17,000-hectare forests in Central Luzon’s tallest mountain, including six other plant species that can only be found in Luzon. (PNA)

DOLE recognizes Palayan City PESO

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Oct. 8 (PNA) -- The local employment office here was recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for facilitating thousands of job seekers and extending guidance to over 16,000 students, a ranking employment official here said on Tuesday. “The recognition will truly serve as an inspiration for us to work harder,” said Emmarie JP Martinez, chief of the city public employment services office (PESO) even as she expressed gratitude to the DOLE. The PESO got its first Best PESO award under component city category during the recent 13th National PESO Congress in Oriental Leyte Hotel and Resort in Palo, Leyte. This, after Palayan City PESO successfully assisted 6,212 job seekers under different employment facilitation schemes for local and overseas employment to create an astounding 109.75 percent placement rate, according to the DOLE. It also facilitated Career Guidance and Employment Coaching for more than 16,000 secondary and graduating students, the DOLE added. Martinez said that Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas is making sure that their services “are effectively delivered to our constituents.” The congress, carrying the team “PESO, Kabalikat at Gabay sa Disente at Matatag na Panghanap Buhay,” was led by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz. Among other awardees were PESO Zambales, under the helm of PESO Manager and Provincial Vice Governor Hon. Ramon G. Lacbain II, again hailed as Best PESO under the 2nd Class Province Category; and the DOLE Regional Office No. 3 and its Technical Support and Services Division for Employment and Welfare which received the Department’s prestigious Secretary’s Award. (PNA)

Cabanatuan City cops arrest more women involved in illicit drugs

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Oct. 9 (PNA) –- Women, once regarded as the “weaker sex,” are getting bolder nowadays with some of them getting involved in illicit drugs activities. This cropped up as more women drugs personalities busted by the local police in separate drug-bust operations the past days. City Chief of Police Superintendent Pedro D. Soliba said that most of their recent accomplishments on anti-illegal drugs campaign involved women. "Based on the trend of our recent arrests involving drugs, there are now more women getting into illicit drug activities," Soliba said. He identified those women reportedly involved into illegal drugs as Melody Francisco, 17, single, and resident of Barangay San Josef, Sta. Rosa, Jennifer Magno y Vicente, 42, married, resident of Barangay Bantog Bulalo, this city who were arrested Monday. Confiscated from were four plastic sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu with an estimated P10,000 market value while Magno yielded two plastic sachet of shabu said to be worth P4,000. Likewise, he said the police busted Liberty Disomimba alias “Jen,” 30, married, temporary resident of Barangay Vijandre, this city, while in possession of 51 pieces plastic sachets containing shabu, and three pieces of P1,000 bills marked money. A native of barangay Tala, Caloocan city, Disomimba is suspected as a drug courier who delivers shabu to her clientele in the city. Soliba said that another woman was arrested in drug-buy bust operation on the same day. The suspect was identified as Merry Princess Quinto, 24, single and resident of Gabaldon town. She yielded 44 pieces of heat-sealed plastic sachets containing shabu. The suspects were charged with violation of Sections 5 (sale) and 11 (possession), of Article II, of Republic Act 9165, The Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)

Pantabangan given 1-mo to pay obligations to First Gen By Joann Santiago

Pantabangan given 1-mo to pay obligations to First Gen By Joann Santiago MANILA, Feb. 13 (PNA) -- The local government of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija has been given one-month starting Wednesday this week to pay its P8.7 billion unpaid bills to First Gen Hydro Corp. (FGHC). Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla on Wednesday said the deadline was agreed upon during a meeting that he attended along with Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Matias Umali, Pantabangan Mayor Romeo Borja Sr. and FGHC representatives Tuesday. He said the provincial government has donated P2 million to pay part of the municipality’s debt. Another P1 million was also donated but this will be paid next week. Also, the municipal government has paid P1.6 million and asked for a month or until March 12 to fully pay its obligations. However, the next bill will be issued February 26 wherein FGHC will be billed another P1.7 million. Petilla, however, requested FGHC representatives to reconnect the electricity connection in Pantabangan Wednesday while the debt issue is being resolved. He said the FGHC representatives agreed with the plan but “they just have to clear this up with the higher ups.” He, on the other hand, stressed that even if the power in Pantabangan was reconnected “this is just mitigating action and not a guarantee that they will have electricity in the future.” “We will continue to negotiate. This is not an energy problem but a financial and local government problem,” he said but stressed that the issue is “still my problem.” Relatively, FGHC spokesman Dennis Gonzales said a reconnection notice has been issued about 2:30 Wednesday for the municipality of Pantabangan. He, however, is not sure whether power was reconnected because there was technical problem earlier in the day. Asked until when the electricity supply will last, Gonzales said it will continue unless the local government defaults in the payment. “For the time being they have power but we will issue disconnection notice a day after the due date if they fail to pay their obligations,” he told PNA in an interview. FGHC operates the 132-megawatt Pantabangan-Masiway hydro power plant, which supplies power in the municipality. It acquired the plant from the government through an auction in November 2006. It cut off supply to the Pantabangan Electric Services (PAMES) 12 noon Monday due to the latter’s failure to pay its bill from July 2012 up to this month amounting to P8.7 million. Gonzales said PAMES’ power requirement is about 0.6 megawatt a month. (PNA) DSP/JS/ABB

Nueva Ecija bets sign peace pact

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Novo Ecianos, in a rare opportunity, witnessed on Tuesday Governor Aurelio Umali sharing a space with First District Rep. Josefina Manuel-Joson to release a couple of doves that symbolize peace. The two were rivals in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections here. The release of doves, coupled with dozens of balloons and lighting of candles were held at the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park here as part of ceremonies for the signing of peace covenant, a campaign to ensure a safe and free elections on May 13 this year. City Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara, meanwhile, had a handshake with Umali's brother, third district board member Anthony Emmanuel Umali after months of trading barbs over the former's advocacy of converting this city into a highly urbanized city which the latter strongly opposed. Senior Supt. Crisaldo Nieves, acting director of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office, said he felt the sincerity of "everyone" who participated the activity that started with a kilometer of "unity walk" participated in by representatives of candidates from four political districts of Nueva Ecija as well as representatives from the non-government and government organizations. "I think they were very sincere. In fact, their mere attendance is an indicator of their sincerity," Nieves said of politicians from the camps of Umali, Joson and those running as independent candidates. Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud, head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the province, said the convergence of various political personalities and voters was "a clear expression of one desire" of every Novo Ecijano and every Filipino citizen for a peaceful life. After lighting candles, the participants then released the balloons and signed a covenant on tarpaulins in front of the crowd. In separate interviews, both Umali and Joson said their respective camps will not create any violence. "We want to assure you that our camp would fulfill the covenant," Joson said. Umali, on the other hand, said he has proved his love of peace since then. Nueva Ecija is a traditional election hot spot until the 2010 elections. It was named, however, as one of 15 provinces under priority areas by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the May 13 polls. (PNA) FFC/ZST/MEG/PS/ABB

RSOTG nets 456 guns in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Jan. 16 (PNA) -- The Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG), a team to oversee preparations for the safe and free (SAFE) midterm elections on May, has netted 456 assorted firearms through conduct of checkpoint operations, implementation of search warrants and knocking on doors of gun owners in the province, a ranking police official said on Wednesday. Chief Supt. Wendy Rosario, RSOTG head, said the anti-loose firearms operations will continue even as there is no private armed group in its list yet. "All private armed groups in Nueva Ecija have been previously delisted," Rosario said. Of the figure, 50 firearms, involving high-powered and low-powered were confiscated through checkpoints and Oplan Bakal; nine were recovered in armed encounters and service of search warrants; 388 (103 high powered and 285 low-powered) were voluntarily surrendered and nine were confiscated through Comelec gun ban. Rosario asked the public to inform the team of any politicians that employ security agents or personnel since all police escorts have been recalled. "Let us all work together to show the real Nueva Ecija which is peaceful," he said. This as the Regional Police Office (RPO) replaced on Tuesday Senior Supt. Walter Castillejos as director of the provincial police. He was replaced by Senior Supt. Crisaldo Nieves in a brief ceremony held in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. Castillejos who served for only seven months here will be brought to Camp Olivas. Nieves urged his men to serve without fear or favor. (PNA)

DOT considering potentials of Fort Magsaysay as tourism destination

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, Jan. 21 (PNA)-- The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the Department of Tourism (DOT) recently conducted a visit here to look into the potentials of this vast military camp as one of the tourist destinations in the province. Brig. Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., commander of the 7th Infantry Division, said the recent visit of the TIEZA/DOT technical working group was highlighted with a briefing about the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation area (FMMR). With a vast area covering the FMMR, the 7th Infantry Division has come up with an idea of making it as one of the tourist destinations here due to its natural features and strategic location. The FMMR was created by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Number 237 signed on December 19, 1955 with a total land area of 44,970 hectares. It is composed of the Cantonment area, training circuit, Kalinga sa Kawal off-based housing for military personnel, jathropa plantation, National Training Center (Balikatan area), and the Libingan ng mga Bayani. During the briefing, proposed projects and activities were discussed like wall climbing, trekking/hiking, downhill mountain biking, camping, motocross riding, 4x4 off-road driving, zip-line, and horse-back riding. Other activities proposed on the coastal areas of Dingalan, Aurora as part of the FMMR include kayaking, scuba diving, wind surfing, jet-skiing, para-sailing, and beach volley ball, among others. During the ocular inspection of the proposed site for an eco-tourism park, it has been noted that FMMR has the potential to be an ideal tourist destination due to its vast area and natural terrain features that include mountainous areas, natural lakes, and coastal areas. The camp can be used for educational tour, sports activities like golf, mountain trekking, swimming, running and leisure walk. ”We will see the death of insurgency and the birth of peace, prosperity and development in Regions I and III”, Catapang said. “We will also make the 7th Infantry Division as one of the tourist destinations here in Nueva Ecija,” he added. Fort Magsaysay, the home of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, has a vast land area known for its eco-friendly environment. It has an amazing variety of flora and fauna enveloped by rainforest and trees. (PNA)