Public market burned

NUEVA VIZCAYA -- Fire razed the public market of Maddela, Quirino, on Thursday just as preparations were under way for the celebration of the town’s founding anniversary that day.

Residents said the fire started at around 1 a.m. and lasted for more than four hours. The blaze engulfed about 90 percent of stalls in the market in Barangay Poblacion Norte.

“We were not able to rescue anything,” said vendor Conchita Bugne. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Bonus for employees

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Leyte provincial government employees will get their productivity bonuses for the year 2007 soon.

Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla made the announcement during the 110th Independence Day celebration on Thursday.

The provincial government has allocated close to P5 million for the productivity bonuses, which would be released within the week. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas

World’s longest grill?

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- In an attempt to break the record for a 1.7-kilometer long beef grill put up by Uruguay, which currently holds the title of hosting the longest grill in the Guinness Book of World Records, Puerto Princesa City will host a seafood grill on June 23 that a press release said would set a new record.

The bid is one of the highlights of the Palawan provincial government’s celebration of “Baragatan 2008,” according the release.

Chefs, food enthusiasts, members of civic, business and non-government organizations, representatives from the 23 municipal governments that comprise Palawan, and the people of Puerto Princesa will converge in a 3-kilometer long seafood grill along Rizal Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare.