SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales, Philippines — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) along with investors inside this premier Freeport made their holidays meaningful by reaching out to some of the indigent communities near the area.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the annual gift-giving activity is part of the continuing commitment of the SBMA and various groups inside this Freeport to share the blessings to nearby indigent communities every holiday season. “This is not any other donation or relief operation,” Garcia clarified. “This is sharing, in our humblest way, the blessings that Subic Freeport has received and will be receiving in the future.” (Jonas Reyes)

Contracts extended

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Hard working contractual and casual employees of the city government are expected to continue their employment as the local government here renewed their job contract for six months.

This came as the Human Resources Office of the city government has renewed the contract of the non-regular employees of the city government as of the first working day of 2012.

Following the renewal of their employment contract, the employees were urged by Mayor Danilo Leyble to enhance the kind of service they are giving the people. (Nel B. Andrade)

Anti-rabies shot for Bantay folk

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur — Rural health workers here are conducting anti-rabies vaccination of residents in Barangay San Julian West, Ilocos Sur to contain the manifestation of rabies infection symptoms. This developed when one resident identified as Roberto de Peralta, a barangay tanod, was diagnosed with symptoms of rabies infection and then died last month.

Maricel Alejandro, a volunteer nurse, said that the victim’s brother and 32 of their relatives, who were exposed to the victim, were already vaccinated. An assessment is underway for others who in the barangay who may also need vaccination. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Farming project to aid nutrition

PAGBILAO, Quezon — The National Nutrition Council (NMC) conferred recently the “Pabasa Nutrisyon Award” to Team Energy Corporation for their backyard farming project which was launched Monday in four villages in this town. The objective of the said project is to decrease the incidents of malnutrition in the places of Pinagbayanan, Mapagong, Ibabang Polo and Talipan village.

It will address the scarcity of nutritious food among families to make their children strong and healthy. With the help of municipal agriculturist officer, the family-participants were taught of proper use of organic fertilizer to boost yield of health foods. (Danny Estacio)

Dagupan budget hearings set – VM

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan —Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez urged the different department heads to appear before the City Council in order to expedite the approval of the city budget for 2012.

“It’s very difficult to approve the 2012 budget if they still refused to attend the regular session next week,” said Fernandez, who was referring to the P581-million proposed city budget this year.

The appearance of different department heads before the council during regular sessions is very important to justify their respective department’s proposed budgets, she added. (LIezle Basa Iñigo)