ARMM RELIEF OPERATIONS IN BUTIG CONTINUE

COTABATO CITY: As local executives gathered in Davao City for the 3rd ARMM Local Government Summit, Butig Mayor Dilanggalen Pansar chose to r (villages) that were occupied by the Maute group on November 30. Pansar and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Vice Gov. Haroud Al-Rashid Lucman Jr. led relief operations in affected areas. Lucman, also concurrent ARMM Social Welfare secretary, said “the sound of bombs going off can be heard from afar while our relief operations are ongoing.” The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 12 placed the number of internally displaced persons at 12,250.

BATAAN TO HOST 4TH APOSTOLIC CONGRESS

BALANGA City, Bataan: The World Apostolic Congress on Mercy ( Wacom) on Friday announced that Bataan is one of the four areas in the Philippines that will be visited when it conducts its fourth congress next year. Father Patrice Chockolski, Cure of Ars in France and Wacom secretary- general, made the announcement during a presentation and media briefing on the congress in Balanga City. Fr. Jhoen Buenaventura, media committee head for the diocese of Balanga, said the Philippines will play host in Wacom 4 from January 16 to 20, 2017. Religious advocates, priests and members of the laity around the world will come to this city for the fourth and final venue on January 20 after Manila Cathedral and University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Batangas and Bulacan. Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga and Wacom Asia Episcopal director, welcomed the French priest accompanied by Father Rosauro Guila, rector of Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy, and Father Prospero Tenorio, rector of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy.

MORE VOLUNTEERS JOIN BAGUIO'S ANTI- GRAFFITI DRIVE

BAGUIO CITY: A total of 61 volunteers from 31 barangay (villages) have undergone trainingseminars conducted by the Anti- Graffiti Task Force (AGTF) who will assist in an ongoing campaign against graffiti vandalism. Task force operations volunteer head Ross Goze appealed to other village chiefs to send their volunteers for training or they can visit or call their office at telephone numbers 442-4114 for scheduling. The Anti- Graffiti Code of the City of Baguio defines graffiti or vandalism as “any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, painting or defacement that is written, marked, etched, scratched, sprayed, drawn, painted or engraved on or otherwise affixed,..” The code also mentions other prohibited acts, as well as penalties for violators.