LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – More Philhealth cards are being distributed in this province as part of the provincial government’s Christmas projects.

Governor Amado T. Espino said a total of 17,284 PhilHealth cards were distributed recently to the towns of Binmaley, Bugallon, Aguilar, Malasiqui, Calasiao, San Fabian, Mangaldan, San Jacinto and Manaoag.

This is still part of the Capitol’s developmental thrusts of providing health services mainly to the poor populace of the province, Espino said.

Pangasinan 2nd District Board Member Von Mark Mendoza said the governor is committed to enrolling all indigent families in Philhealth and in support of that, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved an additional P40 million for the purpose in 2011. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER NABBED

Policemen have arrested a young driver of a passenger van after hitting a mobile car in his haste to escape following a fatal motorcycle accident in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

Romano Mark S. Garjo, 21, was nabbed by policemen aboard the patrol car (SGB-843) which was hit by the van he was driving shortly after the vehicle dragged and run over motorcycle rider Ronnie C. Barroga in the area.

Garjo is a neophyte driver as he possesses only a student driver’s license after the freak accident, it was learned.

The suspect is a resident of Congressional Road, Barangay H2, also in Dasmariñas City. Police Officer 2 Jesus R. Bae, officer-on-case, said that the twin accidents occurred on Mangubat Avenue in Barangay Burol Main.

Bae said that the Isuzu van (XAP-625) driven by Garjo first hit the motorcycle (5527PP) that was driven by Barroga as the vehicle was traveling on the road leading to the Kadiwa market.

In his attempt to escape, Garjo hastily drove off and then bumped the parked patrol car. Barroga, 38, succumbed to head and body injuries at the De La Salle University Hospital in Dasmariñas. (Anthony Giron)

SON OF BATAAN BIDS FOR NAT’L S.K. PRESIDENCY

BAGAC, Bataan – The bid of Louise Gabriel del Rosario, newly-elected Federated president of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in Bataan, to head the national SK Federation is highly anticipated by the youth sector in this province.

Having run and won unopposed as Federated SK president for Bataan, the 16-year-old’s father, Bagac Mayor Ramil del Rosario, couldn’t be any more proud of his son’s feat.

Still, youth organizations in Bataan are hopeful that Louise, who has reportedly won support from different SK groups in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, will win the vote to lead the Federated presidents of SK on Jan. 7, 2011. (Mar T. Supnad)

B.A.L.S. SERVES 487,200 TO DATE

BAGUIO CITY – The Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) has served 487,200 learners as of this year even as its roadmap aims to reach out two million Out of School Children, Youth and Adults (OSCYA) by 2011 to significantly improve literacy among Filipinos, especially those in the countryside.

BALS Director Carolina Guerrero said that based on a 2009 survey, there are 40 million Filipinos that are either illiterate, out-of-school or have attended school but did not finish or those who drop-out of school.

She said the Alternative Learning System (ALS) is the Department of Education’s response in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of ‘Education for All’ as they cater to such group of Filipinos. (Dexter A. See)