Buddhist leader on a visit for charity 
The Supreme Head of the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness Sakya Trizin (right), who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Philippine Airlines PR-897 from Taipei at 12:45 p.m. yesterday to conduct a series of religious activities and charity work, was met by his loyal followers that included Manila third district Councilor Bernie Ang (shown at H.H. Trizin’s left), whom he blessed upon arrival at the airport. H.H. Trizin, whose rank in the Buddhist religion is equivalent to the Pope among catholics, said it was a great joy for him to meet his brothers and sisters in the country, as he expressed hope that all different traditions and major religions of the world would come together with united efforts to make the world a peaceful and harmonious place to live in. He will be in the country until Aug. 9 and is set to pay a courtesy visit to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim today.
82 Pinoys back from Syria
A total of 82 distressed overseas Filipino workers returned home after staying more than four months in a safehouse in Damascus, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said.
OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said the conflict in Syria has reached its peak in recent months, prompting the agency to repatriate Filipino workers there.
The OFWs arrived on Emirates Airways flight EK334 from Damascus, via Abu Dhabi.
The OWWA repatriation tea headed by Dimzon met the balikbayan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and provided assistance to them.
OWWA personnel also briefed the repatriates about the financial packages and training benefits that the government offers OFWs.
All of the repatriated workers were provided temporary board and lodging at the OWWA headquarters in Pasay City, while their transportation back to their respective provinces were arranged. Conrado Ching
Parañaque moves vs beggars
Parañaque has stepped up its anti-mendicancy advocacy campaign in line the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) policy to stop mendicancy.
Parañaque City Mayor Jun Bernabe said mendicancy (or begging) endangers the life of mendicants and exposes them to abuse, indignities and degradation. The local government unit’s drive is in line with the provisions of Presidential Decree 1563, also known as the Mendicancy Law of 1978.
With the theme, Bata sa Tahanan, Hindi sa Lansangan! and Don’t Give, Don’t Buy! the Parañaque DSWD took the lead in information dissemination in schools, communities and commercial establishments in partnership with the city government, the Department of Education, non-government organizations and the business community. PIA
NWRB seals 734 deepwells to save groundwater
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has sealed 734 deepwells, most of which were illegal or non-beneficial, abandoned deepwells of water permittees, and issued 469 cease-and-desist orders (CDO) as of May 31, 2012 to some provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide.
NWRB executive director Vicente Paragas said sealing was done to lessen the depletion of groundwater in the cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region; in Baguio City; and in Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Laguna, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Rizal. The CDOs were issued to the above-mentioned cities, municipalities and to the provinces of Bohol, South Cotabato, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, La Union and Pangasinan.
Paragas further said the NWRB had a memorandum of agreement with local governments to monitor illegal deepwells in their respective areas.
The NWRB is the sole government agency for all the water resources of the Philippines that monitors water-use allocation. It regulates the use of water resources and allocates, conserves and protects them consistent with sustainable development through the regulation of a system of water rights, resolving conflict on water use and monitoring water rights grantees and illegal water appropriators.
