LLDA BATS FOR NEW TACK VS. METRO FLOODS
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) is now pushing for the recommissioning of the Carmona irrigation facility to ease massive flooding in Metro Manila and municipalities surrounding Laguna de Bay.

Secretary Neric Acosta, presidential adviser for Environmental Protection and general manager of LLDA, said that they are seeking P50 to P100 million to recommission the 20-kilometer irrigation canal, which remained unused since its construction in the 1970s. “The amount will be used mainly in power consumption since we will be using pumps to drain the water from the lake to Manila Bay,” Acosta said in a press conference. The LLDA chief said that they have already discussed the project the Department of Public Works and Highways and the provincial governments of Laguna and Cavite, noting that it would be the “easier” and “quickest” solution to save properties and businesses affected by the persistent flooding. The Carmona irrigation facility—which was designed in the 1970s to serve agricultural lands in Cavite— runs from the Putukan-side of Laguna de Bay all the way to Naic town, and drains out of the Manila Bay. JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ

PNP URGED TO PROBE MINDORO POLL VIOLENCE
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has been asked to investigate cases of election related-violence in Bansud town, Oriental Mindoro province. United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Secretary General Toby Tiangco said on Monday that they have asked the PNP to take a necessary action on the incident. “I urge the authorities to capture the people who carried out these despicable acts. The persons responsible should be made to pay for their crimes,” Tiangco said in a statement. Tiangco said that Roy Modansa, a mayoralty candidate of Bansud in Mindoro Oriental province, under UNA, went to the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday to ask for help in behalf of his supporter Dominador Castillano who was kidnapped, threatened and severely beaten. In his complaint affidavit, Castillano said that he was on his way home when his motorcycle was suddenly blocked by an owner-type jeep and a motorcycle. He said that he was then blindfolded and taken to an unknown place where he was continuously beaten. According to him, one of his assailants asked him, “Modanza ka ba o Morada?” referring to incumbent Mayor Ronnie Morada and Roy Modanza who are both mayoralty candidates in the next year elections. NEIL A. ALCOBER

BICOL EXPRESS RUNS AGAIN
LEGASPI CITY: After six years without hearing and seeing a train, a full-train run will soon reach this Bicol tourist city again. Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay province said that he was hoping the resumption of Manila–Legazpi route be the start of the government program for railway modernization saying that Bicolanos have long been anticipating it as a big boost to economy. As this developed, Junio ‘Jun’ Ragrario, Philippine National Railway general manager, appealed to local officials in the region to clear PNR railways with squatters saying the PNR has also plans to operate commuter trains like the Light Rail Transit in Manila to commute the Legazpi–Naga City route which is 90 kilometers in distance. He said, however, that this can only be possible if the railroad tracks are fully rehabilitated, and free from squatters adding the Bicol express route would become a busy line. The Legazpi–Naga route may consume only two hours riding in a commuter train. MANNY T. UGALDE

THREE MINORS HELD FOR WEED
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga: Three teenage high school students were arrested for violation of curfew hours and illegal possession of drugs in Olongapao City on Saturday. Police identified the arrested minors as Cris Padawan, 17, 3rd year high school, of 48 Gumamela St., Barangay Cabalan, Olongapo City; Michael Rodrei Tulio, 15,3rd year student, of Lot 3, Block 1, Barangay Sta. Rita, Olongapo City; and Ron Jienald Deboda, 14, 3rd year student, of 22nd St., Brgy. West Bajac Bajac, Olongapo City. All three are students of Little Angel Study Center. The young suspects yielded a cigarette pack with one small heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected marijuana dried leaves and fruiting tops. FROILAN E. MAGTOTO