MALOLOS CITY – Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado led the distribution on Saturday of educational assistance to about 2,399 college scholars in the province, one of the activities marking the celebration of the annual Singkaban Fiesta.

It took almost eight hours to hand over the certificates and scholarship grants ranging from P2,500 to P5,000 to all the scholars in the program dubbed “Tulong Pang-Edukasyon, Gabay sa Bagong Henerasyon” which was held at the Bulacan Capitol Gym, this city.

For the first semester of the School Year (SY) 2010-2011, it was learned that the provincial government appropriated at least P7 million to cover the financial aids to the qualified scholars.

Alvarado said education is one of the seven-point development thrusts of the provincial government of Bulacan.

When he assumed the post as governor, Alvarado made this pronouncement “Bayaang ang mga tahanan ay lumaya sa kahirapan at ang mga mamamayan mula sa kamangmangan sa tulong ng edukasyon para sa lahat mula pre-school hanggang pamantasan, upang ang karunungan ang maghatid sa bayan sa rurok ng tagumpay at kaunlaran.” (Freddie Velez)

Angeles Mayor Bares Agenda
ANGELES CITY – City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan bared recently his eight-point agenda that would be the thrust of his three-year term. Pamintuan said the eight-point agenda is composed of plans and policies that will serve as the framework of his administration “for the welfare of the people.”

“Mandatory na magkaroon ka ng programa. Hindi basta-basta umupo ka, tapos bara-bara. Dapat may pagkakaintindihan ‘yung mga legislators saka ‘yung city. Kaya mayroon kaming kontrata sa mga mamamayan,” Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan's eight-point agenda, embodied in a “contract,” include affordable education, good governance, clean environment, economic development, health care, improved public market conditions, peace and order, and development of village facilities.

The contract was approved during the two-day Seminar Workshop Formulating the City’s Executive-Legislative Agenda held at Hotel Stotsenberg inside the Clark Freeport Zone. (Franco Regala)

Chopper Burns After Landing
NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – A military helicopter was totally burned after it made an emergency landing in a ricefield in Barangay Nagrebcan, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur after it encountered mechanical trouble on Friday afternoon.

However, all its seven passengers, including the pilot, were safe as they alighted immediately after the helicopter made a safe landing.

Col. Essel Soriano, commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade, the UH1H “Huey” helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was on its way to a mission to help the soldiers in the hot pursuit of escaping rebels involved in the encounter in the mountainous areas in Barangay Conconig West, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur when the engine trouble occurred at about 2:45 p.m.

It was reported that while on flight, smoke coming from the helicopter was seen by local residents, prompting the pilots to make an emergency landing in Barangay Nagrebcan.

The pilots and the crew, together with other passengers, immediately ran out of the aircraft before it burst into flames. The aircraft burned until most of its body parts melted due to the intense heat. “The chopper was on its way to help our troops in pursuing the rebels,” he said. (Freddie Lazaro)