. NEWS ROUNDUP .

5 would-be OFWs barred from leaving

FIVE would-be overseas Filipino workers (OFW) were prevented from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday, after they failed to convince Bureau of Immigration's monitoring group about their actual reasons for leaving the country.

Clodualdo Penera, the head of the Migrant Compliance and Monitoring Group said Roberto Abalos, Remelyn Almazan, Ferdinand Almazan, Divina Laurel and Victor Laurel were about to board a Philippine Airlines plane to Singapore when detained. He said preliminary investigation showed that the group's company identification cards and business cards were made up.

Under intense questioning, the five finally admitted that they were going to work as domestic helpers in Frankfurt, Germany and that they had paid P150,000 each to their recruiter whom they refused to identify.

Penera said that on grounds of misrepresentation, the five were offloaded from their flight and their passports and other pertinent papers confiscated. "Kawawa naman ang limang ito kung makaalis sila at mapunta lamang sa isang sindikato at makakaproblema na naman ang embassy natin kung papaano na naman sila papauwiin, he said. - Jay Chua

MMDA to clear Baclaran of sidewalk vendors anew

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to clear the Baclaran area anew of illegal vendors and other traffic obstructions as part of the ongoing preparations for the school opening next month.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said yesterday the campaign will have no letup starting this week.

The renewed drive was prompted by mounting complaints from people who frequent the area that revolves around the shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that roads leading to the place are again congested with illegal vendors and other obstructions.

Fernando said the vendors have again resurfaced after a recent clearing operation and they expect the number to swell even more, especially with those selling school supplies.

"Paunti-unti lang ang dating ng mga vendors at nang hindi na sila pinapansin dumagsa na at ngayon puno na uli ang Baclaran area ng mga vendors," a church devotee told Fernando.

Fernando said he and Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe are looking at plans to definitively end the vendor problem, one of which is to rent the upper floors of existing buildings in the area and allow the sidewalk vendors to sell their wares in stalls there.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno urged barangay leaders to help the MMDA in controlling the influx of illegal vendors in the area. He said most of those who sell wares in the sidewalks are not even residents of Parañaque. - Ashzel Hachero

Makati's month-long foundation day celebration starts today

AYALA Avenue will burst into colors and festive music today as Makati officially launches its month-long celebration of its 338th Foundation Day on June 1 with the traditional grand parade at the heart of the country's financial center. Award-winning dancers from the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo and other sister localities of Makati will join the parade.

Organizers anticipate some 5,000 revelers to fill the entire stretch of Ayala Avenue. They will be joined by city officials led by Mayor Jejomar Binay, key city officials, leaders of the Makati business community and the diplomatic corps. "We are celebrating Makati 's Foundation Day and our solid partnership with our sister cities and municipalities. The parade highlights the importance of bringing together all the local governments and recognizing their role in pushing progress and preserving our heritage," Binay said.

Floats from Makati City Hall, the barangays, participating private companies, and the sister localities will parade down Ayala Avenue with designs inspired by this year's theme, "Festivals!" The city's major partners are Ayala Land, Rockwell Land, the Makati Commercial Estate Association (MACEA), Jollibee, Globe, and Manila Bulletin.

The event will also feature clowns and mimes, marching bands, Higantes from Angono, unicyclists, stilt walkers, and other street dancers and performers.

Also today, the city will open a trade fair featuring products from Makati 's sister localities at the Glorietta 3 Tent, at the Ayala Center.

MMDA cracks down on erring bus conductors

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcement group has assigned six teams along EDSA - from Monumento to Pasay City - to crack down this time on bus conductors who are arrogant, inappropriately dressed, smelly and who behave like street barkers.

TEG chief Director Roberto Esquivel said the MMDA had been receiving complaints that unruly and stinking bus conductors have practically turned non-designated loading bays along EDSA into illegal terminals while bus units overstay at bus stops right under the noses of traffic enforcers and cause long queues that stretch for several kilometers during rush hours.

Esquivel said he will join his teams in apprehending erring drivers and conductors who could have their licenses suspended or revoked.

"Trabaho (ng konduktor ang) maniket, maningil at magsukli, hindi magbarker kahit saang lugar ng kalye. Trabaho din nila na tingnan ang mga kahihinalang pasahero na balak mangholdap sa loob ng bus. Dapat makagawa sila ng paraan upang maipagbigay alam sa malapit na police station ang ganitong pangyayari," Esquivel said.