SEPTEMBER 26: ‘SAVE SIERRA MADRE DAY’
President Benigno Aquino 3rd declared September 26, 2011 as Save Sierra Madre Day on Monday. Proclamation No. 233, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on August 10, attributed the death-causing floods in 2009 to the continuous deforestation of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Save Sierra Madre Day coincides with the anniversary of the devastation of typhoon Ondoy to the Philippines last 2009. MIELYNE B. RAYOS

P100M SET ASIDE FOR UNSKILLED WORKERS
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday started the hiring process of the roadside maintenance jobs. Dubbed as “Trabahong Lansangan ng Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino,” the Public Works department said that the project aims to provide employment opportunities among the unskilled Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries of the Social Welfare department. DPWH has set aside P100 million from its 2011 budget for the project. JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ

6 LUXURY CARS INTERCEPTED
THE Bureau of Customs on Monday seized six luxury vehicles and 900 bags of natural stones. The bureau said that the seized 2007 Hummer H2, a black 2007 Lincoln Navigator, a blue 2008 Cadillac Escalade and three 2007 Cadillac Escalade in shades of ivory, white and black—loaded in three 40-footer container vans— had a combined value of at least P18 million. The bureau said that used cars were consigned to LG Miranda Transport Services with business address at Unit 1 and 4, Uniwide Coastal Mall, Tambo Paranaque City. The container van loaded with 900 bags of natural stones was to be sent to Oakland, California. The exporter, Major Stone International Enterprises, did not have the required Mineral Ore Export Permit from the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ