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NGCP assures uninterrupted power supply on election day
Easter Sunday Buy
A parent examines angel costumes up for sale near the St. Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City on March 25, 2013. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo
Shabu’ in burger triggers closure of SouthCot jail By Allen V. Estabillo GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews) — Jail authorities have temporarily shut down the South Cotabato Detention and Rehabilitation Center to visitors following a supposed attempt by a visiting minor to sneak in a sachet of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu hidden in a hamburger on Monday afternoon. Felicito Gumapac, acting
jail warden, said Tuesday the illegal drug was discovered by a jail guard at around 4:15 p.m. while inspecting a plastic bag containing some hamburgers that was brought by a 13 year-old boy for one of their inmates. The official said jail guard Alexies Barmido noticed the stashed shabu sachet during a routine search on the boy and his belongings as mandated for all visitors of the facility. He said the boy was sup-
posedly visiting a relative identified as Jonas Garfin, who is one of the jail’s trustee inmates. When accosted, Gumapac said the minor pointed to a woman waiting outside the jail as the owner of the packed hamburgers containing the banned drug. He said the woman, whom he only identified as a former inmate named Cheryl or Che-Che, hastily left the area aboard a motorcycle. The minor was placed
under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development pending further actions on his case. Gumapac said they have launched a deeper investigation into the incident and were specifically determining if other inmates are involved in illegal drug activities inside the facility. He refused to make a conclusion regarding the alleged involvement of one of their trustees, saying it See SHABU/p.11
C A G AYA N D E O R O CITY—The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) yesterday assured the timely and uninterrupted transmission of adequate electricity a week before, on election day, and a week after election day. NGCP, however, cannot guarantee that there will be enough electricity from the power generation and distribution sectors on the week prior to, on and days after the May 16 election. “NGCP alone cannot guarantee na hindi po magkakaroon ng brownout in Mindanao or any part of the country. Dapat tulong tulong po ang generation sector, supply at distribution sector sa ilalim ng Department of Energy. Tulong tulong po kami. Each of us plays our own part to ensure na ma-minimize ang brownouts,” said lawyer Cynthia P. Alabanza, NGCP corporate communications officer. A l ab an z a s ai d t hat NGCP is preparing for the mid-term election “as if this is a coming typhoon or disaster.” “Like in a disaster or typhoon, we don’t know how it will affect the grid,” she said, adding that NGCP is presently conducting inventory of all its resources, facilities and people “to make sure that if something will happen [on election day] we can immediately restore power.” However, without the cooperation of the other members of the “Energy Family”, NGCP’s preparation will be to naught.
“Even if we guarantee the transmission, walang kwenta yon kung wala kaming pararaanin o kung magtitipid ng magtitipid ang generation sector,” she said. Alabanza likened NGCP to an air traffic controller in a one-runway airport. “NGCP is the systems operator much like an air traffic controller in an airport where you only have one runway. Because of the many planes landing and taking off, there is a need to control traffic. And in the power sector, we are that traffic controller. What NGCP can do is to make sure that the highway is open and wide enough to allow all electricity to pass through without congestion or bottlenecks. But we can only do this if all members of the Energy Family cooperate to make sure there is adequate power,” she stressed. No collusion with other players: She denied allegations that NGCP, along with other key players in the power sector are colluding to create an artificial power crisis, especially in Mindanao. “It does not make ense for NGCP to hold any supply. The less we transmit the less we earn. It does not make any economical, technical, financial sense for NGCP to collude with anyone,” she said. The EPIRA prohibits NGCP from having any financial interests with any power generation company or power distribution utility. “Technically, yes, we See NGCP/p.11
Make Holy Week A Time of ANALYSIS: Kids of Summer Reflection for Self And Country SCHOOL may be out for the summer, but that does official radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation not mean kids cannot keep on learning. Whether your Inc. (RAFI). A PARTYLIST representative encouraged the millions of Christians in the country to observe the Holy Week as a moment of personal reflection even as it also urged the people to use the solemn period to analyze the situation of the nation. The Holy Week commemorates the passion,
death and resurrection of Christ and is observed by most Christians around the world. The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia. “The Holy Week offers us a time to reflect on our lives and change for the better,” said Bayan Muna See Country/p.11
children’s interest is on cooking, arts, or sports, there are many activities that will be perfect for them to do during summertime. “Summer is the time to bring out the best in our children. It is an opportunity to enhance the individuality and uniqueness of a child. There are many activities that will cultivate the potentials of children whether at home or in workshop centers,” Gwen Lucero, assistant administrator of St. Michael’s Play Garden, said during the during the March 23 episode of “Pagtuki”, the
She mentioned that there are a variety of summer workshops or activities―such as music, dance, crafts and arts, theatre, or sports―which children can choose from. “As much as possible, families should not spend money to send off their children to workshop centers. The most important thing is the quality time and communication we give to our kids. Child-inclusive activities, such as doing household chores are great bonding See SUMMER/p.11