Fire and earthquake drills at SM Marilao

21 MAY 2013- A series of rescue operation was carried out by SM City Marilao’s Emergency Response Group as actual fire, earthquake and evacuation drill was staged during regular mall hours.

“We take this exercise seriously that is why we wanted it to be realistic as possible” on the statement made by Customer Relations Services Manager Jose Berong during the briefing done before the drill.

Weeks before the drill, shoppers, employees and tenants were advised of the simulation to ensure the welfare of each participant. Guaranteeing each and everyone’s safety, BFP along with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Marilao and mall’s building administrators checked the first aid and safety equipment, fire exit doors, fire hydrants location and evacuation route as well as the evacuation area.  Seminars on earthquake as well as fire safety and prevention were likewise taken by the ERG as a refresher course prior to the drill.

The actual fire, earthquake and evacuation drill simulation targets to increase and strengthen mall’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) preparedness, evaluate response capabilities and improve coordination among the tasked units during emergency situations.

Challenging mock-up situations such as traumatized customers covered and injured by falling debris, tenant employees suffering from burn and head traumas as well as severely injured victim with fractures were put up to enhance the mall’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) skills in mobilization, communication and response, as well as the ability to account for all the people within the affected premises.

A mock-up fire scenario also transpired at the entrance of the mall to demonstrate the different types of fire stream while performing the actual simulation of suppressing the fire.

After the drill, Bulacan Provincial BFP, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Marilao, Marilao BFP and Barangay Ibayo Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council lauded SM City Marilao for its preparedness and capability in handling disaster situations. This exercise is observed yearly by the mall to illustrate and practice the proper response before, during and after these hazards happen.

PNP creates TF Roura to look into the killing of San Miguel village chair

MALOLOS CITY—Bulacan police created a task force to investigate the recent killing of a village chairman in San Miguel town early Sunday morning as they vowed to go after the suspects.

Senior Superintendent Joel Orduna, acting provincial police director of Bulacan created Task Force Roura late Sunday composed of elements from the Criminal Investigation Detection Team (CIDT) based in Malolos City.

The task force is tasked to conduct a thorough investigation in the killing of Ronnie Roura, the chair of Barangay Poblacion in San Miguel town, and headquarters manager of John Alvarez, a mayoral candidate in the said town.

Superintendent Marcus Rivero, chief of San Miguel police said Task Force Roura started investigation on Sunday.

“We will implement the law without fear or favor,” said Rivero in an interview yesterday.

Citing investigation reports, Rivero said that Roura was killed around 4:30 AM on Sunday by two unidentified armed men.

Roura’s wife Lotus Marie was able to escape but suffered bruises in the process, while Manny Manabat, driver of a tricycle used by the Rouras suffered gunshot wonds.

Reports also said that Ronnie Roura suffered multiple gunshot wounds in different part of the body and in the head.

Lotus Marie said that after the suspects shot her husband, they shot Manabat, then shot Ronnie again, this time in the head.

She said she knows the suspects and can easily identify them, but declined to disclose identities yet.

In a separate interview, mayoral candidate John Alvarez insisted that the killing is politically motivated.

He told PromdiNews in telephone interview that days before the incident, Roura received threatening call from another candidate in San Miguel town.

Alvarez expressed apprehension that the suspects who killed Ro0ura are the same suspects who tried to kill him in February 2012, when his two body guards namely Roelito Vidal and Josefino Alvarez were killed.

Alvarez cited similarities in the modus operandi in both killings wherein the suspects shot the victims in the head after shooting them in the body.

Records obtained by PromdiNews showed that SPO2 Angelito Veracruz Liwag, PO3 Antonino Timoteo and PO1 Alex Dayao of San Miguel Police station were charged with multiple murders and frustrated murder in the 2012 ambush on Alvarez.  Dino Balabo

Diocese of Malolos takes hard line stand vs. candidates hostile on Church teachings

MALOLOS CITY—The Diocese of Malolos  took a hard line stand against anti-life and family candidates in the May 13 automated elections.

In a two page pastoral letter read in all parishes in Bulacan and in the City of Valenzuela, Bishop Jose Francisco Oliveros of the Diocese of Malolos advised parishioners saying “huwag iboto ang mga kandidatong laban sa buhay at pamilya.

Oliveros was referring to candidates who voted for the ratification of the Reproductive Health Law and those that are pushing for laws on divorce, same sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia or mercy killing.

The bishop also encourage parishioners in the province not to vote for candidates who pushed for the establishment landfills in Bulacan along with those who are facing charges of graft and corruption, and involved in illegal mining, illegal fishing, and illegal logging.

Oliveros also specifically called on the laity not to vote for candidates who belong to political dynasty and who have a mistress.

“Ito ang aking panawagan salahat ng mga layko ang kusa at malayang pagtugon sa gawaing ito,” the bishop said in his pastoral letter where in he added, “dapat tumulong ang mga laikong kalalakihan at kababaihan namay mataas na katungkulan sa ating lipunan sa paghubog ng budhinh panlipunan ng botante at dapat silang kumilos upang hayagang suportahan ang pagkakahalal sa mga katungkulang pampublikong mga pinunong may wagas na katapatan.”

In the same letter, Oliveros explained that his call is not partisan, instead, it was a recognition to candidates who are supporting the teachings of the Church.

He also reminded parishioners that in choosing the bext candidates in the May polls, Catholics must have knowledge of the candidates, must inquire and must exercise responsibility.

In inquiring about a certain candidate, Catholics were reminded to consider the four “Cs” which stands for  conscience, character, competence, compassion and commitment.

“Marapat lamang na ang botanteng katoliko ay mapag-isip, mapanuri,at mapagsaliksik sa uri ng pagkatao ng isang pulitiko,”Oliveros said.

With regards to the vaunted Catholic Vote, he described it as an spiritual power that that must evaluate the social, political and cultural landscape.

Ang botong katoliko ay pagtutol,hindi pagboto sa mga pulitiko na ang programa at panuntunan ay laban sa pananampalataya at moral ng Katoliko,” he said.

Meanwhile, political old hands here said that the pastoral letter will affect candidacies of Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado and his wife Rep. Marivic Alvarado.

Aside from the perception that the Alvarados are building apolitical dynastry, Rep. Alvarado also voted in favor of the RH law.

Other candidates are expected to be affected by the pastoral letter is Bulakan town Mayor Patrick Meneses, scion of the political clan who ruled in the town for more than 50 years; and the reelection bid of Mayor Joan Alarilla of Meycauayan City who was charged withy plunder years ago; and Mayor Rolando Flores of the mountain town of Donya Remedios Trindad who was suspended last year for abuse of authority.

Political observers also believes that reelection bids of Mayor Orencio Gabriel who favored the construction of sanitary landfill in Obando town; and Mayor Feliciano Legazpi who is grooming his son as his running mate.  (Dino Balabo)

Ex-Board Member Raul Ople dies

HAGONOY, Bulacan—Former Bulacan Senior Board Member Raul Ople, the third son of the late statesman Blas F. Ople passed away on Thursday afternoon. He is 59.

Susan Ople, the youngest sibling of Raul said that her brother died of lymphoma, a form of cancer, around 4:30 PM at the Lung Center of the Philippines.

She said that the former Board Member is surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

His remains lies in state at the Chapel C of the Christ the King Church in Quezon City.  Internment will be announced later.

He left his wife Dolores San Juan-Ople along with children Marc, Carlo, Danielle, and Faith; and grandchildren Scarlet and John Gabriel.

The former Senior Board Member also left his siblings namely Luis, Blas Jr., Dalisay, Felix, Dionisio and Susan.

As this third son of the late statesman and Senator Blas F. Ople of this town, Raul was elected as Board Member of the first district of Bulacan in the 1995 election.

As a senior Board Member, he also served as vice governor of the province of Bulacan when former Governor Roberto Pagdanganan took a leave of absence when he served as care taker of the first congressional district.

The remainder of his tenure was served by then Vice Governor Josie Dela Cruz.

As a provincial legislator, Raul pushed for further development of the province through resolutions.

In 1998, he lost in the gubernatorial race against Dela Cruz who served as governor until 2007.

In the 2001 elections, Raul ran for the first congressional district of the province pushing for the creation of a economic zone in the province but lost to then Rep.Wilhelmino Alvarado who is now seeking his first reelection as governor of Bulacan.  Dino Balabo

Cabanas' call center to generate hundreds of jobs

MALOLOS CITY—Hundreds of jobs are expected to be generated by P60-Million facility that will house call center was inaugurated here on February 21.

Victoria Bustos, the President of the Dona Rita Realty Corporation (DRRC) said the four storey North Wing 4 (N4) Building will host a call center along with commercial offices for banks and others business establishments.

Located at the Cabanas garden mall here, the N4 building was first designed as a three storey facility.

But it was expanded to four after local businessmen offered to rent its top floor for call center operations.

“It will easily generate hundreds of jobs to Bulakenyos,” said Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado who led the soft launching of the N4.

He said that increasing investments in the province is one of the signs of rising confidence of investors to the government.

Alvarado also hailed the DRRC which is being operated by children Donato and Margarita Santiago who founded the Bulacan Garden Corporation in the lat 1950s.

Citing accomplishments of the company, the governor described the DRRC as a catalyst in local development.

As a pioneer in local real estate development, Alvarado said that the Santiago family has greatly contributed to the province’s development.

This is through the construction of class A and Class B residential subdivisions here and in the town of Calumpit since the late 80s when members of the Santiago family decided to diversify their business interest from landscaping business of the Bulacan Garden Corporation.

The latest business venture of the DRRC is the Cabanas garden mall, a premier commercial center in this city which opened five years ago.

For her part, Fely Rodrigo, the Vice President of the DRRC said that investing in Bulacan is partly in compliance to their father’s advise.

She said that their father Donato Santiago reminded them to invest in Bulacan to provide jobs and spearhead development.

“Our fathers told us many times that business is now just about earning money but about helping others,” she said.  Dino Balabo

Suspended mayor dares Mar Roxas, DILG

Mayor Feliciano Legazpi, MD.

MALOLOS CITY—Interior and Local Government officials led by Secretary Mar Roxas and Central Luzon Director Florida Dijan were dared by the mayor of Norzagaray in Bulacan to fix problems they caused.

Some of the problems include lack of municipal fund especially for salary of employees in the last two months, funds for operation of the municipal government and continuing tension in town.

The problems stemmed from suspension of Mayor Feliciano Legazpi based on the resolution issued by the Ombudsman last November with regards abused of authority charge filed by the Municipal Budget Officer Yolanda Ervas against the mayor.

“They should come here and fix the problems they caused,” Legazpi said in a telephone interview referring to Roxas and Dijan.

He said that Dijan issued a suspension order for six month and one day against him last December, but he never received a copy.

A copy of the said order was secured by Vice Rogelio Santos who furnished the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) along with copy of his oath of office as acting mayor.

As a result, LBP stopped releasing Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to the Municipal Government of Norzagaray.

“We cannot withdraw from our funds and our employees have not receive their salary in more than two months, not to mention that we don’t have fund for the delivery of social services,” Legazpi said.

He insisted that order issued by Dijan last December is premature and stressed that the Ombudsman decision allowed him for automatic appeal by filing a motion for reconsideration.

Legazpi also vowed that he will step down from office of the DILG will be able to prove that he is already suspended.

He also said that since the election period officially started last January, there is a pre-existing order not to remove local officials from office.

“They must not turn a deaf ear on us, they cause this problem and the people of Norzagaray are suffering, they should be the ones to fix it,” Legazpi stressed.  Dino Balabo

BFP tags school kids in Guiguinto fire

MALOLOS CITY—Young students who played with fire on school grounds caused a fire that razed three classrooms in Guiguinto Central School 10 days ago.

In a belated report, Fire Chief Inspector Christopher Lumiwes, fire marshal of Guiguinto,  said their investigation points to school children.

He said that the still unidentified school children of Guiguinto Central School played with fire at the back of the building after school hours on February 9.

The fire later gutter a Marcos-type building in the said school compound and razed classrooms for first and second grade classes.

“Initially, we thought it was another case of faulty wiring, but investigation showed there were no problem with the electrical wires,” Lumiwes said.

He said that some students saw another group of students setting on fire dried leaves and flammable garbage at the back of the school building before the incident.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire that reached first alarm left at least P300,000 in damages. No one was injured.

After the fire, the BFP-Guiguinto drew stinging comments on social media after a video of the said incident was posted on Youtube.com.

Some of the comments focused on the late response, waterless fire truck and the inability of the local firemen to put out the fire.

Lumiwes explained that their fire truck had water in its tank, but the water pump failed during the incident, thus the waterless fire truck.

He also called on the local government unit to support the local firemen through procurement of additional equipment and regular repair of their existing fire truck and equipment.

Lumiwes admitted that it was their duty to prevent and put out fire, but they don’t have enough tools and their equipment needed regular repairs.

He also appealed to bickering local politicians to avoid blaming each other, and instead help improve the local BFP. Dino Balabo & Rommel Ramos