Students and environmental activists from Kalikasan-PNE yesterday dismantled election posters and paraphernalia posted and nailed to trees around Quezon City, a press release from the group said.

The posters belonged to many candidates, including a former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary. "These posters were nailed into the trees by irresponsible politicians and party-list groups," Meggie Nolasco, leader of youth environmental organization Student Action and Voice for the Environment, said.

The group appealed to these candidates to spare the trees, saying these anti-environment candidates are hurting Mother Nature at the expense of the few remaining trees in Quezon City, and afterwards supporting atrocious anti-environment policies and laws while in office, such as the Mining Act of 1995, Nolasco said in the press release.

"Not only are these politicians using too much paper and producing so much waste. Their campaign materials create lot of eyesores and litter by cluttering their posters in trees and parks around metropolis. They do not deserve our votes and to win in the coming election," he added.

The candidates include former Environment Secretary Mike Defensor and Prospero Pichay, known to be anti-environment politicians because of their bad environmental track record, the press release said.

The Nielsen Media Research Philippines found that Pichay spent P33.4 million in the first two weeks of the 90-day campaign on TV ads only, the biggest by any senatorial candidate during the period.

Aside from those of Pichay and Defensor, the group also removed the posters of Senator Edgardo Angara, Tito Sotto and Mike Zubiri from trees, as well as that of partylist groups such as AKSA, Aangat Ka Pinoy, AKBAYAN, Bagong Tao Movement, the press release added.*

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IN LA CASTELLANA
Groundbreaking held
for school building

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) stressed the importance of providing conducive environment to school children as he led the groundbreaking of the construction of a school building at the Don Felix Robles Elementary School in La Castellana recently, a press release from his office said.

Arroyo said the construction of the school building is part of his educational program that addresses the lack of classrooms, especially in remote areas in his district.

DFRES principal Cayetano Malabog thanked the solon for the allocation of P400,000 to the construction of the school building through his Congressional Initiative Allocation.

District supervisor Erlinda Palma also lauded the solon for the project.

Also present at the groundbreaking rites were Isabela Vice Mayor Melvin Ibañez, Councilor Ferdinand Elumba representing Mayor Enrico Elumba, La Castellana Vice Mayor Alberto Nicor, DPWH district engineer Lea Delfinado, and faculty of the DFRES, the press release added.*

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NHI to unveil freedom marker

National Historical Institute chairman Ambeth Ocampo and Gov. Joseph Marañon will lead the unveiling on March 29, of the NHI marker in Greenbeach, Brgy. Zone I, Pulupandan where American forces landed on March 29, 1945 during the World War II, a Capitol press release said.

Ocampo and Marañon will be joined by Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, Board Members Mae Javellana and Ike Barredo (4th District, Neg. Occ.), and Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia Jr.

A thanksgiving mass at 8 a.m. to be officiated by Msgr. Nicasio Melicor will precede the unveiling of the NHI marker, that will be blessed by Msgr. Guillermo Gaston, NOHCI board of trustees member, while the municipal council members will have a tree planting. Flowers will be offered by Vice Mayor Julie Seminio, Evelinda Mondia, Zone I Brgy. Capt. Nelita Mondia, and provincial first lady Aida Marañon, among others.

Roque Hofileña, NOHCI executive secretary, will read the historical notes on the landing of the American Liberation Forces in Negros Occidental, the press release added. Caption: This statue in Brgy. Zone I, Pulupandan will be blessed on March 29.*

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Miss Teen pageant night set

The Pageant Night of the Miss Teen Philippines Western Visayas contest will be held Friday at the University of St. La Salle, in Bacolod City, a press release from organizers said.

Now on its fourth year, the event is aimed at identifying a confident, intelligent and talented spokesperson to represent the youth of Region 6 in the Miss Teen Philippines international to be held in Manila on May 10.

Regional pageants are also being held in Davao, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Naga, Pampanga, Laguna and Metro Manila. Ticket inquiries may be made at the I and B Travel Office at Luzuriaga Street, in Bacolod or at Tel. Nos. 433-9745 or 0916-494-3847, the press release added.*

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