QC TO BAN PROVINCIAL BUSES
THE Quezon City local government will regulate operations of provincial buses in the city through an ordinance that is awaiting approval by the city council. The ordinance is designed to decongest traffic along EDSA, a major road that is being shared by six cities in Metro Manila including Quezon City. Under the resolution, the provincial buses can no longer enter the city but their terminals could still be used as ticketing and sales offices. Operators caught violating provisions of the ordinance will face fines and penalties. A public hearing is scheduled to give chance to all stakeholders for their opinion on the proposal.
ASG BOMB EXPERT DIES IN BASILAN
ZAMBOANGA CITY: An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bomb expert died when a bomb he was carrying accidentally exploded while he was evading government forces in the hinterlands of Basilan, Col. Cirilo Tomas Donato said. Donato, the Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade commander, added that the incident happened at about 10 a.m. on Thursday in Barangay Mangalut, Akbar town. He identified the slain Abu Sayyaf bomb expert as Mussana Jamiri, a cousin of Basilan-based ASG leader Nurhassan Jamiri. Donato said Jamiri’s group was fleeing toward Akbar as the government troops were closing in on them when the bomb exploded. He added that the group was involved in an armed clash on Tuesday in Tuburan town that resulted in the death of three soldiers and a militiaman.
CALABARZON POLICE SEIZE 536 LOOSE FIREARMS
CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna: Police Regional Office 4-A’s (PRO4A) massive campaign against various criminal activities in the region resulted in the confiscation and surrender of 536 loose firearms from June to August 22, 2016. Also recovered were 487 bullets and two hand grenades. Regional Director Valfrie Tabian said
KIDAPAWAN TROPICAL FRUIT FESTIVAL SET IN METRO MANILA
KIDAPAWAN CITY: This capital city of North Cotabato and other fruit- growing towns are staging a Fruit Festival in Metro Manila in October to showcase the exotic but highly perishable Marang and the new variety of Rambutan called Mount Apo Red. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he instructed Evelyn Laviña, undersecretary for high-value Crops, to coordinate with Mayor Joseph Evangelista for the staging of the Cotabato Fruit and Agri Festival. The project also aims to link the farmers' group to buyers in Metro Manila. Piñol said he also plans to get the fishermen in the BaSulTa area (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) to display their rich marine products in the festival for tie-up with other stakeholders.
MAGUINDANAO ACQUIRES NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENT
BULUAN, Maguindanao: The provincial government has acquired 25 units of heavy equipment that will help avert perennial flooding in conflict-torn areas. Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the equipment were purchased for P1.7 billion that was borrowed from the Land Bank of the Philippines. Two giant cutter-suction dredgers will be assembled in Liguasan Marsh and Buluan Lake. Two motor graders, two wheel loaders, a truck-mounted concrete pump, ten units of ten wheelers dump trucks, three crawler excavators, three cement transit mixers and two vibrator rollers or compactor were the other pieces of equipment acquired. Maguindanao is home to Liguasan Marsh, which sources water from its neighboring provinces--Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, South Cotabato and Bukidnon.