NIA allots P210M to restore irrigation

TACLOBAN CITY -- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Eastern Visayas has allocated more than P210 million to restore various irrigation systems in Leyte and Southern Leyte.

Gloria Sevilla, regional engineering division chief of the NIA, said the irrigation systems serve more than 3,800 hectares of farm lots.

The P210-million project includes training for farmers. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas

21 Viet poachers caught, escape from cops in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Twenty-one crewmen of a Vietnamese fishing vessel caught illegally fishing in Balabac town in Palawan took advantage of the heavy rains and the absence of their guards to escape from captivity Monday night, but left two of their companions in the custody of the Balabac police.

Municipal officials of Balabac, led by Vice Mayor Haji Rudy Mohamad Ain, reported apprehending the fishing vessel Quang Mei Sunday while fishing in Philippine waters between Mangsee and Lombocan Islands.

While two of the vessel's occupants were being investigated by the Balabac police, their companions decided to make a run for it and escaped under cover of darkness and heavy rains. Redempto Anda, Inquirer Southern Luzon

Cops still clueless on minister’s murder

DIGOS CITY -- Police said they have no clue yet as to the identity of the killers of a church minister here on Sunday.

Pastor Vic Vicera, 36, died while being treated at a local hospital after he was attacked by four gunmen inside his home around 6:15 p.m.

Two others, who were at a meeting with the pastor at that time, were wounded. Eldie S. Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao

2 dead, 4 injured in Negros fire

VICTORIAS CITY -- A 15-year-old girl and a house help died while four others suffered burns in a three-hour fire Tuesday in Barangay 2, Poblacion, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Killed in the fire were Coleen Belgira, 15, and Liza Ferrer, 38. Carla Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

Woman dies after ambulance hits her

BACOLOD CITY -- A woman died after she was struck by an ambulance in Murcia, Negros Occidental near a hospital here Monday.

Purificacion Pineda, 74, died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here. The ambulance, driven by Rene de la Cruz, was rushing to the same hospital with a patient at about 4 a.m. Monday when it struck Pineda, said PO2 Docelio Pachoro of the city's traffic management unit. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

Atienza OKs cutting of trees in 169-ha Kanlaon area

Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr. confirmed on Thursday that he had authorized the processing of the application for a permit to cut trees filed by the Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp.

Atienza issued a memorandum on Feb. 20 allowing trees to be cut in a 169-hectare area of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in Bago City for geothermal energy exploration. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas