Three Pangasinan mayors are organizing working groups to hasten the campaign to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as quickly as possible. Mayor Marcelo E. Navarro Jr. of Bani and Mayor Alberto R. Guiang Jr. of Burgos recently issued executive orders creating the local MDG Pathways Working Group in their towns to nurture the campaign. A similar order is expected to be issued by Alaminos City Mayor and League of Cities of the Philippines secretary general Hernani Braganza. The creation of the working groups is supported by the European Union-funded project dubbed “MDG Pathways: Cementing Pathways to Financing the MDGs,” which is being implemented by the La Liga Policy Institute (La Liga) in Pangasinan and Negros Oriental. The working groups will be comprised of the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, key department heads of the two towns, and sectoral representatives from local citizens groups. The order also identifies the local chief executives of the town as the chairman of the executive committee, the highest policy making body of the local MDG Pathways working groups. (Marvyn N. Benaning)

CAVITE: BIGGEST SOURCE OF LABOR

The labor force in Cavite is now over two million which, officials said, can be considered as the biggest in the Philippines. The literacy rate of Cavite at 96.62% is also the highest among the provinces in the country, it was reported earlier. Jesus I. Barrera, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, said that Cavite has a total labor force of 2,028,285, which comprises 64.60% of the household population whose ages are 15 years old and above. The total population of Cavite is 3,139,760 which is the highest in the Philippines, said Barrera. “The working force percentage of the population is likely the highest or biggest in the country,” said Barrera in an interview Friday. The official said the 2,028,285-strong labor force are into industries and agriculture and fishing, among others. With Cavite’s 96.62 literacy rate and high employment rate of 84.60%, the province can be a source of proficient, skilled and semi-skilled workers in the country and abroad. (Anthony Giron)

HOSPITAL GIVES BACK TO PUBLIC

A Tertiary hospital serving the northern tows of Bataan and nearby Floridablanca and Lubao in Pampanga will offer big discounts to patients as part of its public service commitment. Dr. Rolando S. Banzon, former head of the Bataan Provincial Hospital and now Medical Director of the Pampanga Medical Specialist Hospital (PMSH), said the special promotional discounts being offered to the public by the PMSH is in line with its celebration of its 5th Quality Year on November 3 to 8. The discounts cover diagnostic and radiological procedures, said Dr. Mildred M. Mariano, overall chairman for PMSH. (Mar T. Supnad)

HANJIN WORKERS’ SAFETY ASSURED

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz announced Friday that the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Region 3 created recently a Task Force to monitor compliance of Hanjin to labor standards, including safety and health regulations. Baldoz said the creation of the Task Force Hanjin is aimed at lessening, if not totally eradicating, accidents or deaths of the workers inside the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines (HHIC-Phils). (Franco G. Regala)