600 KILOS DOG MEAT INTERCEPTED IN BATANGAS

Padre Garcia, Batangas: More than 600 kilograms of dog meat loaded in a black Ford Ranger were intercepted in an operation in Barangay Quilo- Quilo here on Thursday night. Senior Insp. Renfredo Dacalos, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deputy provincial officer in Batangas, said they conducted the operation after receiving a report from Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. that dogs were being slaughtered in the area. Arrested were Emerson Balingawan, 36, and Glen Batacang, 30, both from Baguio City who claimed to be transporters who rented the vehicle but did not identify the dog trader. Initial information revealed that the trader pays P70 for each dog and sells the meat to restaurants in Baguio for P120P150 per kilo. The suspects were brought to the CIDG office in Batangas and are facing criminal charges for violating Republic Act 10536 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

BFAR OPENS FISHERIES SCHOLARSHIP

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ( BFAR) Region 2 is offering a scholarship program for degree training in fishery for school year 2018- 2019. Ronaldo Libunao, Region 2 scholarship coordinator, said 23 slots for Bachelor’s Degree in Fisheries have been allotted for senior high school graduates or graduating students. The scholarship is under two categories: Fisheries Industry Leaders Grant ( FILG) and Fisherfolk Children Educational Grant ( FCEG) for students whose parents or guardians are registered fisherfolk. The scholarship covers matriculation and related school fees and includes a monthly stipend of P4,000; on- the- job training support of P3,000; book allowance of P2,000; and graduation support of P1,500. A final qualifying examination for applicants is scheduled on February 24 at designated testing centers in the region. The scholars may enrol at the Cagayan State University in Aparri, Cagayan; Isabela State University in Roxas, Isabela; and Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Central Luzon State University and the University of the Philippines- Visayas. Application forms and list of

105 FIRECRACKER- RELATED INJURIES IN CORDILLERAS, REGION 1

BAGUIO CITY: A total of 105 firecracker-related injuries were recorded in the Cordilleras and Region 1 during the Christmas and New Year revelries. The Department of Health- Cordillera Regional Office (DoH- CAR) recorded 25 injuries from December 21 to January 5, while Police Regional Office-1 (PRO1) reported a total of 80 firecracker-related injuries from December 16, 2017 to January 1, 2018. Based on the monitoring report of DoH- CAR Regional Health Emergency Cluster under Jennifer Joyce Pira, of the 25 victims of firecracker-related incidents, 20 were active users while five were passive users. “Piccolo” caused blast injury to six persons, followed by the flying type “kwitis with five. Three were injured while lighting a fountain and two while lighting a “lusis.” The others were injured by other types of pyrotechnics. Abra, Apayao and Benguet had five cases each; Kalinga, four; Ifugao, two; and Mountain Province, one. Baguio City had three cases. Twenty-three of the victims were male and 15 were children (18 and below). The youngest victim was a six year- old boy from Bangued, Abra, who suffered burn injury from a fountain. The eldest was a 58 year- old man from Luna, Apayao, who sustained burn injury from “kwitis.” At the national level, the DoH declared 191 firecracker-related injuries, a 68 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. It credited the strong cooperation of local government units and other national government agencies in the “IwasPaputok” campaign for the reduction in the number of injuries and strict implementation of Executive Order 28, which regulates the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices. Police Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, PRO1 regional director, reported a “generally peaceful” crime situation and 57 percent decrease in firecracker-related injuries in Region I. The 80 firecracker-related injuries is 61 incidents “lower” compared to last year’s 141 incidents. Sapitula said there was one incident of indiscriminate firing compared to 12 last year and there were no deaths reported.