Catanduanes, Philippines

The country’s provincial governors have committed 50 percent of their internal revenue allotment (IRA) differentials amounting to P12.57 billion for food production.

The amount represents the IRA differentials due the local government units (LGUs) for 2001-2004.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, secretary-general of the League of Provinces, said last week that local officials fully support efforts by the Arroyo administration to head off rice shortage, and for the country to eventually attain self-sufficiency in rice.

Banking on the on-going massive government program to drastically increase rice production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the country is well on the way to attaining self-sufficiency in the staple crop in three years.

Catanduanes Tribune

An employee of the JC Cua Group of Companies landed in jail in Virac last week after he was discovered to have filched P94,000 from his boss’ ATM account.

Policemen arrested Isagani Gianan, accounting assistant of Eastern Island Shipping Lines Corp. and a resident of Comagaycay, San Andres, last May 12 after JCC administrative assistant Aldwin Soneja formally complained before the Virac police.

Catanduanes Tribune

The Philippine Rice Research Institute last week distributed Rice Extension Kits to 54 extension workers as part of the national government’s effort to increase rice production amidst a shortage of the cereal.

Governor Joseph C. Cua, represented by PBM Medin Zafe, joined PhilRice Technology Promotion team leader Diego Ramos and Provincial Agriculture Support Office OIC Willy Talay in distributing the kits to the workers, including 36 from the different municipal governments.

Catanduanes Tribune

The administration of Governor Joseph C. Cua has signified to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) its intention to oppose the approval of the controversial power supply agreement inked by Sunwest Water and Electricity Co. (SUWECO) with the board of directors of the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO).

Capitol sources said the governor has already submitted the letter to the ERC, just days after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan granted him authority to represent the provincial government as oppositor in any legal action relative to application for approval of the Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) now pending before ERC.

Catanduanes Tribune

VIRAC, Catanduanes–An Army soldier was killed while another was wounded when communist New People’s Army rebels attacked a group of government soldiers on a medical and dental mission on Sunday morning in Pandan town, some 95 kilometers from this capital town, sketchy reports reaching the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office said.

The reports did not state the circumstances of the encounter in Barangay (Village) San Isidro at 9 a.m.

The attack was confirmed by an official of the 9th Infantry Division who said the spot report he had was still sketchy but he claimed that the military unit was attacked as it was treating villagers of various illnesses.

Although the official already had the name of the lone fatality, he declined to release it to the media until after informing the family of the victim.

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