ROAD STABILITY. Road repair continues on Halsema Highway at the Mt. Data Cliff in Bauko, Mountain Province in this Feb. 5, 2023 photo. The provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) has set two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon daily, except weekends, as a window period to allow motorists to traverse the area. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - The Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) of Mountain Province has shortened the period that the Mt. Data Cliff portion of the Baguio-Bontoc Road will be open to motorists to give more time for road repair. Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, in a phone interview on Tuesday, confirmed that starting next week (Feb. 20), motorists may only pass through the road from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The current "window hours" are from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.; 12 noon to 1 p.m.; and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Sunday. The midday window hour was removed by the
VACCINATION. A child receives a vaccine during a "Bakunahang Bayan" session in Baguio City in this undated photo. The city government requires parents or guardians of pupils enrolling in daycare centers to submit a vaccination record as a basis for the counseling or possible jab of the child. (PNA file photo) BAGUIO CITY - The local government on Tuesday urged parents sending their children to government-run daycare centers to let their little ones undergo mandatory basic immunization. Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, in a phone interview on Tuesday, reminded parents that they would need to present the vaccination record of their children when enrolling them at daycare centers. "The submission of the vaccination record is mandatory and will be among the documents required to be submitted upon the enrolment of the daycare pupil," said Tabanda, who chairs the City Council's committee on health and sanitation. In case of failure to submit the vaccination record, th
TOURIST ATTRACTION. The Bolinao Falls is the most visited tourist attraction in Bolinao, Pangasinan in 2022 with 141,846 visitors, followed by the Balingasay River with 99,971. The tourist arrivals in the town in 2022 was twice as much as in 2021. (Photo courtesy of Bolinao Tourism Office) BOLINAO, Pangasinan - The number of tourists arrivals in Bolinao more than doubled from 301,589 in 2021 to 643,785 in 2022, the Municipal Tourism Office said Wednesday. In a phone interview on Wednesday, municipal tourism officer Mary de Guzman said of the 2022 figure, 181,934 tourists stayed in their accredited accommodation establishments, while 461,851 went on day tours in the different tourist attractions here. "Of the total number of tourist arrivals in 2022, 2,923 were foreign nationals while the 640,862 were domestic travelers," she said. The peak season of tourist arrivals was in April and May with 109,413 and 94,959, respectively, she added. De Guzman said the most visited attracti
SALT FARM TOUR. Candidates of the Mr. Tourism World visit the Pacific Salt Farm in Bolinao town, Pangasinan province on Monday (Jan. 30, 2023). The candidates held their talent competition in the town and toured different destinations. (Photo courtesy of Bolinao Tourism Office) BOLINAO, Pangasinan - The 25 candidates for the Mr. Tourism World have showcased their creative skills in a talent competition and have toured the famous destinations in this town. Bolinao town Vice Mayor Richard Celeste, in a phone interview on Tuesday, said they hosted the candidates for their talent competition here. "They have visited the Pacific Salt Farms, Cape Bolinao Lighthouse, and the river cruise at the Balingasay River," he said. The candidates witnessed the traditional way of salt making at the Pacific Salt Farms and the town's landmark Cape Bolinao Lighthouse. They also enjoyed the fresh seafood dishes while cruising the Balingasay River, the cleanest river in the region, he added. Ce
VACCINATION. Benguet and Ifugao in the Cordillera region are still under Alert Level 2 due to a low vaccination rate as shown in this May 31 report of the Department of Health (DOH) Cordillera. Dr. Amelita Pangilinan of the DOH- Cordillera said they will keep convincing unvaccinated individuals to get the jab. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot) BAGUIO CITY - Health authorities here continue toreach out to unvaccinated individuals, especially in Benguet and Ifugao which have registered low vaccination rates,to convince themtogetjabbed against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, assistant regional director and spokesperson of the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR), in a phone interview on Tuesday, said the DOH, in partnership with local government units,is doinghouse-to-house visits as well as "person-to-person" vaccination. "Kahit isang tao or iilan sila na hindi pa nabakunahan, kahit pa malayo sila pinupuntahan na natin