MARILAO, Bulacan — Around 300 former child laborers were given a treat by the government in partnership with SM City Marilao in a fun-filled celebration of World Against Child Labor Day held at the mall’s Event Center, here. The children were given educational packages, school bags, free medical check-ups and medicines, and hair-cut services. SM City Marilao employees also gave away slippers, toys, books and other school supplies to the children. Bulacan Governor Wilhemino M. Sy-Alvarado and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante also signed a pledge of commitment to further the protection of children against abuse. (Freddie C. Velez)

PANTRANCO BENEFITS

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Around 2,000 retrenched workers of the defunct government-owned Pantranco North Express Inc. received this week the second wave of payments distributed in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan; and Hermosa this province. The distribution of payment was personally led and initiated by Romulo Alfonso, president of the Pantranco Retrenched Employees Association (PANREA), and Jun Pascua, president of the Pantranco Employees Association (PEA), legitimate employees’ organizations, that have mandate from the former Pantranco employees and recognized by the government. (Mar T. Supnad)

JOBS FAIR

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The provincial government will be holding today (January 23) a jobs fair to accommodate more Pangasinenses willing to work here and abroad. The Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO) has set the jobs fair on the ground floor of Kalantiao Building, here. PESO Officer Alex F. Ferrer said that job openings include general workers and drivers for the Saudi Arabian Airlines Ground Services. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — “The best use of time will save a life,” thus said Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado in his keynote address during the Environment Summit at the Hiyas Pavilion Bulacan Convention Center last Thursday. Alvarado delivered an integrated and comprehensive report on the good practices of the province particularly in the field of disaster preparedness and mitigation and climate change adaptation. He said the provincial government is now pursuing a pro-active approach on disaster risk reduction and management programs and climate change adaptation. (Freddie C. Velez)

P.W.D. MASSAGE IN  B.P.O. FIRMS

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Two United States-based companies which are outsourcing jobs in the country are practicing their corporate social responsibility by supporting the livelihood projects of the city’s persons with disabilities (PWDs). This came as the group of PWDs working as massage therapists had been invited by at least two big call center companies to provide massage services to their respective employees and executives. Rose Bio, who is lame and dependent on her crutch, said she and her fellow PWDs are very thankful that private companies like Wellsfargo Delivery Services, a business process outsourcing company with its Philippine office based in Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and IBM Global Process Services Philippines with a branch at UP Technohub in Quezon City have invited them to provide their services. (Nel B. Andrade)