MARIVELES, Bataan, Philippines — Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has cited the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) for its impressive performance over the past years. “FAB is doing well,” said Enrile to Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G. P. Custodio during the Budget Hearing for 2012 at the Senate.

“The FAB will be complementing the Manila port. It will be a synergy,” the Senate President said, noting the strategic location and deep harbor of FAB. Custodio, along with representatives from other free ports and ecozones, met with the Committee on Finance to discuss budgetary funds of FAB for next year. (Mar T. Supnad)

Pangasinan plans

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has announced the provincial government’s target programs for 2012, the highlight of which will be the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa. Espino spoke in front of more than 100 members of the Pangasinan media during a special forum dubbed “Media in Action at the Capitol” last Wednesday at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center.

 Next year, Pangasinan will host the Palarong Pambansa. “We are fortunate to host this important sports event on May 6 to 12 next year so we will now prepare the classrooms to be used by the athletes,” he said. Other programs include the upgrading of hospital facilities, distribution of learning books to various schools and promotion of cultural programs. The province will also commemorate the 67th Lingayen Gulf Landings on Jan. 9 next year, Pangasinan Day on April 9 and Pista’y Dayat on May 1. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Seafood plant

DAGUPAN CITY (PNA) — The P100-million Seafood Processing Plant in Barangay Bonuan Binloc here, bankrolled by the Korean government, has remained close but officials are optimistic it could reopen on or before early January next year after completing all the requirements sought by the Dagupan City government.

This was disclosed by Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the National Integrated Fisheries and Development Center (NIFTDC), who said the plant has already secured all the requirements demanded by the Local Government Unit (LGU) to ensure its reopening.

Like angels

BALANGA CITY, Bataan (PNA) — Believe it or not: Nurses, midwives and even security guards at the modern Bataan General Hospital (BGH) in this city have white wings. With their white uniforms, they look more like angels as they tended and even danced around a unique Christmas tree made of empty dextrose and medicine bottles and used syringes.

 They went on caroling in every ward not to ask for anything but to give joy and packs of fruits to patients. They flipped their wings as they joyfully sang Christmas carols with cartload of fruits in tow. The caroling group was composed mostly of the chief nurse, supervising nurses and midwives, senior nurses and midwives and some junior nurses.

Camp visit

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City (PNA) — This camp, which displays armored tanks and other military hardware, is fast emerging as one of the province’s tourist attractions, drawing not just curious passersby, but even school administrators who include Camp Aquino in their educational field trip.

On Tuesday, some 1,700 students from the Department of Education Ramos District on board 17 buses and accompanied by their parents and teachers experienced the thrill of visiting a military camp.