DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin S. Lim expressed Monday strong resolve in addressing seasonal floods in the city and opened the minds of his constituents to zonification as a means to protect lives, property, and the environment from natural disasters. “We are all guilty of not caring for our environment. Technically, even the government has been remiss for not being strict with zonification,” said Lim, who impressed upon local and regional officials at a meeting that adhering to the proper placing of structures and location of residents and business is the best way to prevent natural hazards. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Subic club aids waterless area

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales — Some 70 residents of a remote barangay in Morong, Bataan now have a potable water system after a group of photo enthusiasts from this premier Freeport donated a 1,700-meter reinforced water hose to the village. The Subic Shutter Club (SSC) Inc., their “Pamaskong Patubig para sa Timak” mission was aimed at helping residents of Sitio Timak install a water supply system since residents need to walk up to some 100 meters from the Sitio to a spring for their daily needs, said club president Alan Mauricio Fabricante said. (Jonas Reyes)

Laguna jobs fair at camp

CAMP GEN. PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna — Some 500 job applicants flocked Monday to the “Pamaskong Handog-Job Fair,” here. A joint project of the provincial Capitol and the Police Provincial Office (PPO), the job fair opened at 8 a.m. at this camp’s mess hall. Senior Supt. Gilberto Cruz, Laguna PPO director, said hundreds of employment opportunities in this province’s industrial and techno parks were offered. Cruz, who found out that some of those eyeing jobs were relatives of police under his command, thanked Gov. Jeorge “E.R.” Ejercito for lending assistance to the project. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

La Niña activates emergency team

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Following the forecast of the government’s weather bureau about the coming La Niña weather phenomenon in Luzon and parts of the Visayas this Christmas season, local disaster management personnel have set up plans to prevent untoward incidents that may result from the rains that the extreme weather condition is synonymous with. Chief of Police, Supt. Rodino Elfa, a member of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said police who have trained in rescue and emergency situations are placed on alert. (Nel B. Andrade)

New equipment due for hospital

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — An official from a non-government donor organization in the United States has confirmed the shipment next month of various medical equipment intended for use at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC, formerly Ospital ning Angeles) in this city. George Samson, chief executive officer of the US-based World Medical Relief Inc. (WMRI), during his recent visit, said that the container van carrying the hospital equipment and supplies will arrive in the Philippines in January. He said the shipment includes ultrasound and electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, hospital beds, wheelchairs, dental chairs, emergency carts, laboratory instruments and other medical supplies. (Franco G. Regala)