CONCEPCION, Tarlac, Philippines (PIA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III was expected to grace last night’s awarding ceremony of the “5th Belenismo sa Tarlac” at the Jesus R. Lapus Memorial Sports Complex in Concepcion town.

Aquino was to personally bestow the distinction to the winners of the competition’s six categories namely diorama high school, diorama personal, church, monumental, grand municipal and grand non-municipal. Belenismo was conceived in 2007 by the Tarlac Heritage Foundation and Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church to restore the religious and social significance of the belen (nativity scene) as a symbol of Christmas.

Calasiao bridge to be rebuilt

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — Engr. Marieta Mendoza, officer-in-charge (OIC) of this Engineering District, revealed Saturday that the P91-million Villamil Bridge construction project here will push through this month after being delayed by the onslaught of back-to-back typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” last October.

The Spain-assisted project under the Foundation Specialist Contractor will address the problem of the dilapidated bridge which, Mendoza said, is over 50 years old. She said the construction materials and equipment will arrive on Monday, ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony on December 12 to be led by Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

SRS program to aid employment

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — A senior alderman in this city, who introduced a Skills Registry System (SRS) program for easier job placements, is eyeing a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to support the program.

Councilor Ramil Talaga said the objective of the SRS is to create a database by instructing barangay residents ages 18-65 to register their skills and expertise that would be submitted at the City Public Employment Service Office (CPESO). The CPESO will post the record at the website of Phil-job.net for access to likely employers. (Danny Estacio)

CIDG to watch against abortion

ORION, Bataan — The chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in this province vowed Saturday to continue protecting the citizenry and the rights of the unborn as he warned abortionists that they will be targeted by the CIDG.

Chief Inspector Rogarth B. Campo’s warning, though, does not come without action. He reported a covert operation in which four of his operatives posed as people seeking an abortion in Barangay Wakas, here. Their operation resulted in the arrest of one Michelle Reyes and a certin Rosalie Borres who reportedly tried to sell a banned drug used as an abortifacient. (Mar T. Supnad)

RATTF 5 bares 11-month report

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) — The Regional Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (RATTF) 5 disclosed recently its accomplishment in the drive against human trafficking in Bicol over the period of January to November this year.

In the joint meeting of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) Sub-Committees on Human Trafficking and Sub-Committee on Crimes Against Public Morals of the RATTF 5 last November 29, the RATTF 5 reported arresting 42 people involved in the transnational crime with most of them collared in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.