by Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 31 (PIA) - - close to 25 students from Barangay Ayala joined the members of the Zamboanga Adventure Tourism and Eco Recreation Society (ZATERS) in its’ summer ender activity “mini amazing race” on May 28 at the Puerto Villa Beach Resort in Barangay Patalon, here.

PAGADIAN CITY — To verify the report on the alleged 19 victims of trafficking, the local committee on anti-trafficking and violence against women and their children (LCAT-VAWC) has called for an emergency meeting at the city mayor's office here on Friday.

PAGADIAN CITY — To avoid incidence of fire in schools especially in the school year 2011-2012, the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMSURECO-I) thru the 'Task Force Sugpo' (TFS) conducts "Brigada Electric Check" to various schools in Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City on May 30-June 3, 2011.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A total of 12,137 indigent senior citizens are entitled to receive the national government's social pension program here in Zamboanga Peninsula, officials said.

COTABATO CITY — Two soldiers held captive by communist guerillas in North Cotabato have been united with their families a day after they were freed by the guerillas.

DAVAO CITY — Acting on the appeal of their families, the New People's Army (NPA) released on Sunday the two Philippine Army soldiers they held captive since April 14, 2011.

CAMP SK PENDATUN — Eight persons were hurt in a fire that hit Bongao town, the capital of Tawi-Tawi on Saturday night, police said.

COTABATO CITY — Torrential rains that hit the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have submerged at least 10 towns in Maguindanao and eight towns in Lanao del Sur, a regional official said Monday.

DAVAO CITY — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the Davao Region are reminding parents anew to only hire services of legitimate carpools to ensure the safety and welfare of their children as the new school year starts next month nationwide.

CAMP PANACAN, Davao City — Two soldiers were wounded in a brief gunbattle Saturday between government security forces and communist-New People's Army (NPA) rebels at Sitio Caningag, Barangay Cabasagan, Boston, Davao Oriental, military reported Monday.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of Foreign Affairs consular office here apologized Tuesday for the delayed releases of passports that have angered applicants, with its head blaming a technical glitch on passport production by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Taking their cue from the successful implementation of the Department of Education's (DepEd) "Brigada Eskwela" program, South Cotabato officials have declared every Friday of the week as "Brigada Ahensiya Day" in the provincial government.