P11-M WORTH OF MARIJUANA PLANTS UPROOTED
CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur: Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and local police uprooted a total of P11-million worth of marijuana plants in the boundary of Ilocos Sur and Benguet. A total of 58,000 fully-grown marijuana plants and 2,000 marijuana seedlings were uprooted from three plantations sites at Mt. Agay at Barangay Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Mt. Litalit at Sitio Batangan, Barangay Takadang, Kibungan, Benguet. The said sites have a total estimated land area of one hectare. “Our marijuana uprooting operation was part of our Oplan: Everest II, which ultimately aim to eliminate this type of illegal drugs,” Ilocos Sur police director Senior Superintendent Noel B. Amoyen said.

WARAY WRITERS CONVENE TO PRESERVE WRITINGS
CATBALOGAN CITY: The National Commission for Culture and the Arts in cooperation with the local Katig Writers Network Inc. and the Leyte Normal University is set to hold Katig Han Sinirangan Bisayas: 2012 Regional Taboan Satellite Activity aimed at promoting the writings of writers from Samar, Leyte, Biliran, and Capul and preserving their literary heritage.

MAGUINDANAO TO STAGE FIRST SAGAYAN FESTIVAL
KORONADAL CITY: The local government, private entities, and residents are geared for their first Sagayan Festival with promises of colorful dances and a myriad of performances. Organizers said the staging of the five-day Sagayan Festival, which will start on Friday, Feb. 10, is a move to boost this Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao province’s ecotourism. Sagayan is a Muslim war dance traced from both Maguindanao and Maranao tribes. It depicts the steps of their hero Prince Batugan from wearing his armaments, the war he fought in, and his victory. Dancers carry a shield with shell noisemakers on one hand and a kris (double-bladed sword) on the other.

GOVERNOR SEEKS PNP, DPWH HELP FOR COMMUTERS
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: The governor of the province asked the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Philippine National Police as well as public works contractors to help in managing traffic flow along portions of the national highway in Bambang town. Governor Luisa Cuaresma Cuaresma made the call during the recent meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council saying, “commuters have been calling her regarding the ongoing traffic management along the rehabilitated portion of the national highway in barangay Abian and Tophill.” Police Senior Supt. Elmer Beltejar, police provincial director, vowed to provide PNP personnel in these areas in order to assist and maintain the proper and orderly flow of traffic.