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)