P100 M for landfill
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The city council has approved a P100-million supplementary budget for the construction of the city’s sanitary landfill in preparation for the closure of its open dump. Edwin Dael, city local environment and natural resources office chief, said the landfill construction, which would be finished next year, would beat the deadline set by the Office of the Ombudsman for local governments to comply with Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Slid Waste Management Act of 2000). Dael said the city has identified a 44-hectare area in Barangay Pagalungan as site of the landfill. He said the city’s households and business establishments generate at least 560 tons of garbage every day. The city government, he said, would also require residents to segregate their trash once the landfill starts operating. —JIGGER JERUSALEM
2 hurt in chopper crash
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Two persons were hurt when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in the village of Macarascas here on Tuesday, a military and police reports said. Capt. Cheryl Tindog, spokesperson of the Western Command, said Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, regional police director of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), was among the helicopter’s 11 passengers. Mayor, however, was unhurt when the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after the helicopter developed engine trouble at 2 p.m. Supt. Imelda Tolentino, regional police spokesperson, said Mayor’s team was doing an aerial survey in preparation for an international conference in the city when the accident happened. —REDEMPTO ANDA
Dangao, Apayao health exec
Dr. Thelma Villareal-Dangao, provincial health officer or Apayao, died on Nov. 5 at the Philippine Heart Center. Her wake is at San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Tandang Sora, Quezon City until Nov. 8. Her remains will be taken to Kabugao town in Apayao where she will be buried. She is survived by husband Tommy, son Tom-Tom, father Teodulo Villareal, sisters Tessie Fernandez and Francia, and niece Thea Fernandez.