Student from San Pedro High School drowns in Pampanga River

SAN SIMON -- Locals on Monday confirmed that a high school student drowned at the Pampanga River here after he lost his balance and accidentally fell off a boat.

Gerry Santos, a resident from San Pedro this town, identified the victim as Noel Tuazon, 15, a student from the San Pedro High School (SPHS) here.

Santos said Tuazon and his classmates were on a boat traversing the Pampanga River from Barangay San Nicolas and heading to SPHS to practice for a dance number.

“Malapit na po sila sa pampang nang bigla na lamang siyang nahulog sa bangka,” another resident here who witnessed the incident recalled.

Earlier, the Pampanga River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning Center advised residents along the banks of the Pampanga River to watch out for possible flooding as the river’s water level continuously rises.

Residents near the stretch of the river are currently preparing for another flooding season.

“Kapag nagtuloy tuloy pa ang ulan ay hindi na malayong umapaw ang ilog. Maganda na yung nakahanda kaysa abutan ng baha ang aming mga gamit,” Lito Lacanilao, a resident from Barangay Pasig in Candaba town said.

Among the barangays in Candaba that could be possibly be affected by the overflowing of the Pampanga River are Pasig, Buas, Gulap, Pescadores, Bambang, San Agustin and Paralaya.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on July 24, 2012.

Dengue rises in Santo Tomas town

SANTO TOMAS -- Some 30 individuals from Purok 1 in Barangay Moras Dela Paz in Santo Tomas town are now afflicted with the dengue virus, the mayor confirmed Wednesday.

Mayor Lito Naguit said the dengue cases have been recorded by the municipal health office for the past two weeks, leaving one casualty from the same barangay.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

He assured residents, however, that the Municipal Government is on top of the situation and is doing all the necessary efforts to prevent the prevalence dengue cases in the locality.

“Nag-purchase na po tayo ng mga gamot na kailangan natin sa paglaban sa dengue. Nagkaroon na rin tayo ng fogging activity sa Barangay Moras para sa ating mga kababayan doon,” he said.

The mayor also stated that canalization project in the said area is ongoing to make sure that water will not get stagnant especially this rainy season.

“Ini-encourage din natin ang ating mga kababayan na maglinis ng kani-kaniyang bakuran para mawalan ng lugar na pweding pamahayan ng lamok na may dengue virus,” Naguit added.

Earlier, Governor Lilia Pineda instructed various district hospital chiefs to treat dengue patients at no cost, as the same will be shouldered by the Provincial Government. -by Herbert P. Mapiles

Disneyland in Pampanga approved by the Palace

MALACAÑANG sees no reason to block Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin’s proposal to have a Disneyland at Clark Freeport. This developed as deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that President Benigno Aquino III had said at an energy summit that if a project is reasonable, then there is “no reason why we should not look into it.”

Valte added there is no reason to block the idea, as she pointed out that is “reasonable” owing to its multiplier impact on our economy, tourism and employment.

“That has to be studied. We get the general idea. It will bring in business and promote tourism, may multiplier effect ang ganoong project (but) we have to study it first,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

Valte reiterated that the President had earlier said that there is no reason not to look into a proposal if it is reasonable.

Earlier reports said Pampanga (1st District) Rep. Carmelo Lazatin is pushing to have a Disneyland theme park at Clark Freeport.

Lazatin has also asked the Department of Tourism to support his bid. He stressed that a Disneyland at Clark Freeport would boost tourism and increase government revenues.

Lazatin has written Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company based in Burbank, California, USA, to ask him to consider Clark for their next Walt Disney park, saying that Clark’s 4,400- hectare main zone and 27,600-hectare subzone will be the best place for a new Disneyland.

“Aside from the huge space it provides, the Clark Freeport Zone can be an attractive destination for Disneyland theme park because of the tax-free privileges given to locators,” said Lazatin in a letter dated April 11.

Lazatin also cited Clark International Airport, world-class airport which is expected to serve at least P1.6 million passengers this year.

“The airport will be making it easier for tourists to enjoy the amenities and entertainment Disneyland is famous for without the hassles of long travels,” he said.

Lazatin added that hotel accommodations will not be a problem as Clark has the best hotels in its roster where visitors can enjoy the hospitality Filipinos are known for.

The Pampanga solon stressed that the Philippines is a favorite tourist destination in Southeast Asia, with an average arrival of four million foreign visitors a year and for 2012, the government is eyeing to hit the 5-million mark.

“Together with our population of more than 90 million Filipinos, a Disneyland theme park in the Philippines could be a major income-generating site for your company,” he said.

Disneyland theme parks are the highest-earning theme parks in the world.

In 2009, the company’s theme parks hosted approximately 119.1 million guests, making Disney Parks the world’s most visited theme park company, ahead of the second most visited, British rival Merlin Entertainments.

In Asia, Disneyland theme parks are located in Hong Kong, Tokyo (Japan), and Shanghai (China).

-source

Farmer shot and killed in Candaba

CANDABA – Unidentified armed men riding in tandem shot and killed a farmer here in broad daylight Monday morning.

Superintendent Henry Flores identified the victim as Danilo Dela Cruz, 54, resident of Barangay Paralaya this town.

Initial investigation disclosed that the victim was riding his tricycle along the barangay road in Paralaya here when the suspects, on board of a Honda Wave, tailed him.

The victim’s vehicle was then overtaken by the suspects. It was at this point that one of them shot Dela Cruz on the head.

Local police here rushed to the crime scene after receiving information about the shooting, but the suspects have already fled.

Police found the victim lifeless beside his service tricycle, noting a single gunshot wound on the head.

A spent shell of unknown caliber of firearm was also recovered from the crime scene.

Police officer Leonardo Sombillo, officer on case, claimed they are currently conducting a follow-up operation for the immediate arrest of the suspects.

“Mayroon na tayong mga lead na pinag-aaralan pero bine-verify pa natin ito,” Sombillo told Sun.Star Pampanga in an interview yesterday.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on June 14, 2012.

Motive behind the ambush-slay of Arayat town Councilor Francisco Balagtas Jr.

CAMP OLIVAS – Police investigators are encountering difficulties in determining the motive behind the Jan. 5 ambush-slay of Arayat town Councilor Francisco Balagtas Jr., as no witnesses have come forward to help solve the crime.

Investigators are still looking for possible witnesses who could identify the suspects in the ambush-slay of the town councilor.

Senior Supt. Petronio Retirado, director of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office, said his men are still gathering information on the killing of Balagtas but with the absence of witnesses, “it will take us hard time to identify the killers.”

“As of press time, nobody wants to stand witness“, said Retirado adding there were information that several bystanders saw the suspects during the ambush slay.

Balagtas was about to board his Ford Everest (NDO-261) parked in front of Honda Motor Sport in Barangay Plazang-Luma, Arayat town when riders-in-tandem gunmen sporting crash helmets, appeared from behind and shot him at point blank range.

Police said the victim had just emerged from the session of the municipal council held at the Patio de Sta. Lucia Resto Bar and was walking to his SUV when the suspects drove past near him and opened fire.

Meanwhile, the flag at the municipal hall of Arayat and in other government offices in the town were placed at half mast as sympathy to the fallen local official.

Mayor Luisito Espino also directed the local police to conduct an in-depth investigation on the cold-blood murder of the councilor.

-source

SM City Pampanga 3 Day Sale

February 26 - 27 - 28
10AM to 10PM
Fri to Sun
Upto 50% off on selected items mallwide

Get a chance to win one of 12 ASUS laptops

Arayat Landslide

San Juan Bano, Arayat, Pampanga, Philippines