MAGALANG, Pampanga, Philippines — Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda led concerned government officials in inaugurating the newly-completed P35 million Dr. Andres Luciano District Hospital, formerly known as Balitucan District Hospital, in Barangay San Pablo here.

The hospital is designed to provide needed medical services to residents of this town and nearby municipalities of Mexico, Arayat, Mabalacat and San Luis, among others. In her message, the governor said the completion of the district hospital is a dream come true for former Gov. Bren Z. Guiao and his son, the incumbent Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” Guiao. (Franco G. Regala)

Tribal army

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- The Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc, together with the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), proposed on Wednesday the creation of the “Eco Tribal Army” which will be composed of selected Dumagat tribesmen who will be trained and armed to protect the watershed from illegal loggers who are reportedly being backed-up by a group of heavily armed men while conducting illegal logging operations at the area.

BENRO chief Rustico De Belen said the Dumagats tribe, a cultural minority group living at the Sierra Madre mountain range, must be tapped to guard the watershed areas of Angat and Ipo dams in Norzagaray town to protect it from illegal loggers. (Freddie C. Velez)

Police recruits

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 3 will recruit 6,000 new policemen as part of the PNP modernization program and to boost the police capability in maintaining peace and order in Central Luzon.

The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3), under the supervision of Chief Supt. Edgardo T. Ladao, regional director, has started its preparation for the activation of city, provincial ad hoc Police Officer 1 (PO1) screening committees that will process the mandatory minimum requirement and other documents submitted by walk-in applicants. (Franco G. Regala)

Health reform

RIZAL PROVINCE- The provincial government’s health reform implementation has earned the nod of the Department of Health (DoH). The DoH’s Center for Health Development recognized the performance of the provincial government for being consistent in its programs on health reform based on the health department’s Health Report Card which was released recently.

The Health Report Card is a DoH tool that tracks the progress of health reform implementation among local government units (LGUs), including cities, nationwide. The report, which was received by Rizal Gov. Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares III shows that the province is among the top 10 performers nationwide as it registered output indicators above the national average on the number of fully immunized child, protein energy malnutrition and in the number of sanitary toilets. (Nel B. Andrade)

Bugallon Day

BUGALLON, Pangasinan – This town celebrates Thursday, Jan. 12, the 17th Bugallon Day in honor of former Gen. Jose Torres Bugallon who fought together with Gen. Antonio Luna during the Philippine–American War in 1899. Formerly called Salasa, this town was named after the town’s hero in 1921.

Executive Assistant ll Teresita Cancino said the town will also hold Thursday a carabao festival. Carabaos dressed in different clothes will be paraded, and the best-looking carabao gets the prize, Cancino said. (Liezle Basa Inigo)