The long-awaited repair of the Plaza Rizal covered courts in Virac, which was left unattended for nearly two years since it was battered by super typhoon Rolly in November 2020, will finally start sometime next month.
Prioritized by Mayor Samuel Laynes right at the start of his second stint as chief executive, the repair and rehabilitation of the steel structure is being funded by P5 million from the LGU funds and P7 million secured by Laynes from the 2022 Calamity Fund of the provincial government through a resolution of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chaired by Gov. Joseph Cua.
Although it will not be completed in time for the celebration of the Kaaldawan nin Virac on Dec. 7, the Pasalinggaya Festival of Sorsogon Gov. Joseph Edwin Hamor, and the Christmas Cheers on Dec. 10, work will be prosecuted such that the events can proceed successfully at the same time.
At least three meetings have been held by the Cheers organizing committee chaired by Mayor Laynes, along with members of other major sponsors – Cathedral Parish, Catanduanes Contractors Association, Catanduanes Tribune, Catanduanes Tulungan Club, Abuab Auto Supply, Mountain Cares & Hikers Association, and Marriage Encounterers.
Based on the still tentative schedule, here are the performing groups: Dec. 10 – Immaculate Conception Seminary Academy (ICSA); Dec. 11 – Virac Pilot Elementary School; Dec. 12 – San Vicente ES and Capilihan ES; Dec. 13 – Palta, Magnesia and Hawan ES (PAMAHAW); Dec. 14 – Palta, Magnesia, Hawan and Antipolo High School (PAMAHAWAN); Dec. 15 – Taytay and Juan M. Alberto Memorial ES; Dec. 16 – Gogon ES, Calatagan ES & HS; Dec. 17 – Star Learners School; Dec. 18 – Virac Central ES & Cavinital ES; Dec. 19 – Catanduanes National High School; Dec. 20 – Buyo District; Dec. 21 – Pajo, Palnab, Antipolo, and Pajo Baguio ES; Dec. 22 – Catanduanes Colleges; Dec. 23 – Catanduanes State University Laboratory ES & HS; Dec. 26 – To be determined; Dec. 27 – Virac Neo Catecumenado; Dec. 28 – Angeli Domini Music Ministry; Dec. 29 – LGU Virac & TGP Partylist; and Dec. 30 – Provincial Government of Catanduanes.
The final schedule of nightly performers will be announced most likely by November.
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It is likely that recent reports of Land Bank account holders whose deposits have “disappeared” could be due to cybercriminals.
It was learned that as early as Aug. 22, 2022, the PNP Information Technology Management Service issued a memorandum to police units in the field regarding a phishing scam at LBP.
According to the police, cybercriminals created a website almost identical to a legitimate LBP website and then circulated on Facebook a statement purportedly from bank management regarding a P7,000 subsidy for account holders on its 59th anniversary.
The message contains a link that prompts unsuspecting victims to complete a survey for a chance to receive the subsidy.
Before receiving the promised sum, the victims are prompted to enter their personal account information on the redirected phishing website, with the info subsequently exploited by the cybercriminals, the report said.
Landbank has already issued a warning against such attacks and informed the public that it will never request account information or urge users to download a link to use their e-banking services.
Apparently, despite the bank advisory, some account holders have been divested of their money and are now waiting for the bank to restore the lost deposits into their accounts.
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WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE? An architect vacationing on the Riviera met an old lawyer friend and asked him what he was doing there.
The lawyer replied, “Remember that lousy real estate I bought? Well, it caught fire, so here I am with the fire insurance proceeds. What are you doing here?”
The architect replied, “Remember that lousy real estate I had in Mississippi? Well, the river overflowed, and here I am with the flood insurance proceeds.”
The lawyer looked puzzled.
“Gee,” he asked, “how did you start the fire?”