She used to be a warrior against CO2-killers, a queen of world climate, a chancellor with a mission. It was not long ago that Angela Merkel seemed to have no other more important topic than climate. But today we are suffering from the severest financial crisis in 80 years and it obviously puts things, even the world climate, into perspective. Lars Seefeldt, reporter for ZDF, a German TV program under public law, recently hunted down the issue, and it is his interviews I am here referring to.

Last week, I brought out the unauthorized P2,085,000.00 election-timed loan that was released to an NGO (SPUKOI) on February 17, 1998, in aid of Cho Roco’s election as Robredo’s interim successor. And to this date, it remains unpaid. Thus, I called for an Ombudsman investigation for graft and corruption of all responsible officials for this loan. As well, the Sanggunian and the Naga City People’s Council should investigate this loan posthaste, acting not by blind loyalty to Robredo, but by their solemn OATH to our People.

Last Saturday , the nation took part in a global campaign to arrest global warming and to promote awareness of the threat of climate change. Earth Hour, an environmental campaign by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was successfully launched in Australia in March 2007 with around two million people and 2100 establishments joining the said campaign.

The Optical Mark Reader (OMR) that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will use for the automated elections system (AES) in the May 2010 polls has not been fully proven as tamperand fraud-free, will encourage wholesale cheating, and will not ensure a transparent and open election system...

IRIGA CITY--True to its mission of giving its students quality education and academic excellence, the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) has invited Vice President Noli “Kabayan” de Castro as its distinguished guest and speaker during the school’s 61st Commencement Exercises on April 2 at the university gymnasium here...

NAGA CITY--Senior citizens can now avail of the 20 percent discount on their take-out orders from the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) branch here following a court-approved compromise agreement between the food firm and the city’s Senior Citizens Federation...

LEGAZPI CITY--The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) has earmarked P2-billion loan facility under its Development Advocacy Program for Bikol this year. Mauricio Feliciano, LBP vice president and general manager for Bikol, said the amount would finance projects of priority sectors such as small fishermen and farmers (SFFs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

LEGAZPI CITY--Its all systems go for the RP-US Balikatan exercise beginning April 1, a ranking Philippine Army official said on Thursday. Army Col. Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 901st Army Brigade here, said that only humanitarian mission and civil engineering would be held in the selected barangays in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate...

PILI, Camarines Sur--The ban on shellfish from two coastal areas of Bikol is still imposed, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office here said in a warning. Shellfish ban is still imposed in Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon Bay, Sorsogon; the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate, all of Bikol region...

LEGAZPI CITY--The first soldiers of an estimated 6,000-strong US contingent have started arriving in Bikol, according to Bikolano Alliance for Nationalism and Against Balikatan (BAN Balikatan) spokesperson Jocelyn Bisuña. She said that around a hundred soldiers are now booked in several prominent hotels in the city, prompting organizers of the Magayon Festival to look for alternate housing for tourists.