MORE NEWS, PAMPANGA

Honeydew melon grows well in Pampanga lahar areas, engineer says
By Lino Sanchez

PORAC, Pampanga – For sometime, there had been doubts about the soil condition of lahar-covered farms in Pampanga, but after studies and experiments, it was found that crops grow well on lahar lands.

This was demonstrated by an enterprising engineer.

Aeronautical and computer engineering graduate Iris Liwag, 31, a native of Nueva Ecija, was not a farmer by birth.

But one time, a friend convinced him to watch new farming technologies and agriculture produce in several Asian countries, including Taiwan and Japan.
Impressed by what he had observed, Liwag decided to develop a five-hectare, lahar-covered land in Barangay Mancatian, this town.

In the last two years he had "experimented" on honeydew melon. This year, Liwag harvested thousands of tons which he humbly described as a good start.
Selling at between R85 and R110 per kilo in the supermarkets, Liwag’s honeydew melon is sold at only R25-R30 per kilo. He said he has limited his market to ambulant vendors and some supermarkets in Angeles City.

"It is my little way of providing employment and meager income to those who are selling our produce," Liwag said. He also employes 10 farm helpers. They are the people who help do the work such as preparing the seed beds and harvesting the crops.

Liwag is contemplating on expanding his farm by another five hectares. "I am thinking of the market in Metro Manila," he said.

Although foreign buyers are willing to buy his honeydew melon, he said he would rather concentrate on the local market until he has come up with an efficient marketing system.

In the meantime Liwag is planning to introduce in his farm Japanese and Taiwanese melons.

"What is good with the variety that we now produce is that they do not easily spoil," he said. They retain freshness for several days or weeks provided these are well packed and stored, he said.

Liwag said there are still highlands in Pampanga that should be cultivated. With government assistance, many more people will invest in agriculture, he said.


CL bus operators dispute reports on fare increase
By George Trillo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- Central Luzon bus operators disputed reports last week that they have increased their fares unilaterally.

The P1.30-per-kilometer fare that the operators started to collect yesterday is still 15 centavos lower than the mandated fare of P1.45 per kilometer fare that was set by the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board more than two years ago, said Rely Jalbuna, spokesman of the Central Luzon-based air-con bus operators.
"Central Luzon has the lowest fare in Luzon, even with the P1.30-perkilometer charge that took effect yesterday," Jalbuna said.

"We were forced by the global conditions. The price of crude in the global market has surged to more than $ 100 per barrel, yet our fare structure has remained low. It was applicable when oil prices ranged from $ 24 to $ 26 per barrel," he said.

Jalbuna said bus operators, who are not yet implementing the mandated fare of P1.45 per kilometer, have been advised by the leadership of the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines to collect the mandated fare.

This would enable them to adjust to the increase in oil prices and the surge in operating costs without seeking a fresh round of fare adjustments from the government, he said.

Jalbuna said the bus operators will not petition for a fare increase after the gradual adjustment to the LTFRB-mandated fares.


Pecson Is new Magalang town mayor

MAGALANG, Pampanga – Pampanga police director Senior Supt. Keith Singian said effective tomorrow, this town will be functioning under a new mayor, after Mayor Lyndon Cunanan agreed to give way on certain conditions to businessman Romulo Pecson.

“Cunanan merely asked permission from the Department of Interior and Local Government that he be allowed to still use his office in the municipal hall until the Commission on Elections decides on their case on April 1,” Singian said.

“We have already resolved the dispute. Cunanan has agreed to allow Pecson to fully function as mayor starting Monday but he (Cunanan) asked that he be allowed the continued use of his office at the municipal hall at least until April 1,” Singian said.
Singian said that both Pecson and DILG authorities granted Cunanan’s request.
Pecson has been holding office at the registrar’s office separate from the municipal building since Holy Monday March 24.

The Comelec earlier required Cunanan and Pecson to appear before April 1 to resolve the electoral dispute between them, following a decision by the Angeles City Regional Trial Court declaring Pecson as the winner in the mayoral elections here last year.

Cunanan later appealed the RTC decision before the Comelec’s second division, but the division came out with a divided decision. While Commissioner Rene Sar­miento upheld the RTC verdict, Commissioner Nico­demo Ferrer dissented, saying that Pecson’s claim to victory was not clearly established and that a status quo should therefore be maintained so as not to disrupt operations of the local government.
Cunanan thus brought his case before the Comelec.

Tension heightened here starting Holy Monday after the RTC issued a writ of execution of its decision, but Cunanan refused to vacate his post as he cited that his case remained pending before the Comelec. -- DC