Eruption unlikely

LEGAZPI CITY--THE ALBAY Provincial Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) has told villagers to be always prepared for any volcanic activity even as government scientists have assured of unlikely eruption within the next few days.

Mayon had a progressing number of volcanic quakes: 87 for June 22 to 29, and 110 for June 30 to July 5.

There was swelling from 4 mm in January 2009 to 10 mm on July 5 at the Buang leveling line facing Sto. Domingo town.

Volcanologist Eduardo Laguerta warned against mountaineering activities within the recommended permanent danger zone.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the volcano was under alert level 1. Rey M. Nasol, Inquirer Southern Luzon

Spanish assistance

NUEVA VIZCAYA--THE SPANISH government has approved a P31.4-million health assistance to Nueva Vizcaya under a sisterhood agreement the province had forged with Bizkaia, an autonomous region in northern Spain.

Jimmy Calata, provincial information technology head and project coordinator of the Nueva Vizcaya-Bizkaia agreement, said the assistance would be used in building a 25-bed hospital in Aritao town that would service indigenous communities in the town?s upland villages.

He said Bizkaia officials had also approved the deployment of at least 15 nurses from Nueva Vizcaya to their hospitals. Ben Moses Ebreo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Peace projects

COTABATO CITY --TOKYO has approved P192 million worth of peace and development projects for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Governor Zaldy Ampatuan on Thursday said the approval of the fund was announced by Japanese Chargé d?affaires Hudenobu Sobashima.

He said part of the financial package will go to the construction of the Japan-ARMM Friendship Hall and Training Center and the purchase of a new set of equipment for the improvement of the region?s road network. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

Village head slain

BATANGAS CITY--A VILLAGE captain was shot dead by gunmen inside his house in Calaca town, Batangas, Monday, police said.

Batangas police chief Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian said Primitivo Rio, village captain of Quisumbing, was writing when the armed men shot him four times.

He suffered bullet wounds on his neck and different parts of the body.

Rio was rushed to Don Juan Mayuga Provincial Hospital in Lemery, Batangas, but was declared dead on arrival.

The suspects fled after the killing. Marrah Erika C. Lesaba, Inquirer Southern Luzon