CABANATUAN CITY — Some 1,362 youths from Nueva Ecija have been employed by the provincial government this summer under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

DoLE Regional Director Raymundo Agravante said "throughout the years, the SPES in Region 3 has benefited countless of youth beneficiaries from the informal sector who wish to pursue and finish their studies and eventually land sustainable jobs.”

He said some 8,000 students stand to benefit from SPES, with P27.9 million budget in Central Luzon. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Women Heroes

CITY OF MALOLOS,Bulacan — Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region (A Foundation), Inc. joined hands with the Provincial Government of Bulacan in recognizing women through the Unsung Women Heroes Award 2012 held at the Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center this city. Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the award honors women who dedicated their time and effort to uplift the well-being of other women and girls in their communities.

Alvarado said, they are the women who, despite scarcity of resources and challenging conditions, engage in laudable projects that improve the lives of women and girls while inspiring and empowering other women. (Freddie C. Velez)

Bulacan Exhibit

CALUMPIT, Bulacan — The Provincial Government of Bulacan led by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado staged a five-day exhibit of beautiful decorative and medicinal plants dubbed as Halamang Bulakenyo held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) National Garden Expo from April 18-22 this year.

In an interview, Alvarado said the exhibit is part of the celebration of the Earth Day Big Event 2012 held at the CCP Liwasang Kalikasan, in Pasay City where the Bulacan Garden Association and Bonsai Plant Groups are the ones to boast their products. (Freddie C. Velez)

New Investors

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Clark Development Corporation has accumulated more than P43 million investments from the six firms that signed lease agreements with the state-owned firm for the month of February.

The CDC said that close to 100 workers are expected to be hired by the six firms in their first year of operations inside this Freeport zone. Among these investors are Pax Americana Food and Leisure Corporation with P30 million committed investments; Advantest Philippines, Inc. with P10 million investments.

Other newly signed investments were MStudy I-Communication Inc., JIMEI International Travel Company Inc., Smile Make Over Dental Clinic, Transmodal International, Inc., and Clark Dent Laboratory International Inc. (Franco G. Regala)

Senior Fitness

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Around a hundred senior citizens here benefited from the city government’s Physical Fitness Program spearheaded by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA). Dubbed as “Lakas Sigla Para Kay Lolo’t Lola,” the program is expected to help the elderly city residents regenerate their physical activeness to remain healthy.

The activity was held at the SM City Clark which started with the registration of the participants followed by a short program attended by the mall’s Assistant Manager Ana Datu. Prior to the participant’s engagement to the exercise, a blood pressure taking was made to ensure their readiness and resistance to the activity. (Franco Regala)