Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday announced that Congress will initiate an immediate review of the 1995 Philippine Mining Act and integrate the strongest possible safeguards for the environment and safety standards for mining communities.

De Venecia's announcement came after he, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other top Cabinet officials met with archbishops and bishops who have been calling for rigid mining standards and environmental protection.

The four bishops of Negros Island -- Vicente Navarra of Bacolod, Jose Advincula Jr. of San Carlos, Bishop John Du of Dumaguete and Bishop Patricio Buzon of Kabanklan have been calling on the president to stop large scale "environmentally destructive mining."

Two children rescued
from freak show
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Mother Editha with Michael and Micah at the DAILY STAR office two years ago*

Remember Micah Urbanoso, the monkey-like child that DAILY STAR readers had helped to recover from illness about two years ago?

Police and social workers late Thursday rescued now 10-year-old Micah, and her brother Michael, 15, from a carnival in Barangay Isio, Cauayan, where they were caged and displayed in a freak show, where crowds laughed and jeered at them, Kabankalan City social welfare officer Adelina Tomaro said yesterday. Micah, whose features and actions are like that of a monkey, and her brother who has similar features, were thin, dirty and smelly when they were rescued by policemen and social workers from Kabankalan City and Cauayan town, from the Lotlot Perya owned by Carlos Guinanao, Tomaro said.

Manila-based Negrenses
to help build GK houses
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

A group of Manila-based Negrenses, among them former Miss International Aurora Pijuan, will help build Gawad Kalinga houses today in the Brgy. Vista Alegre-Granada relocation site and will officially launch the Kalinga Ilonggo at 4 p.m. at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol Building in Bacolod City.

To help construct houses, aside from Pijuan, are Bimbo Salazar, Elaine Torrejon Dichupa, Valentine Araneta and other alumni of the High School Class '67 of St. Scholastica and La Salle Bacolod. Gov. Joseph Marañon and GK national director Tony Meloto will be at the launching of the Kalinga Ilonggo.