CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A total of 545 new police will join the strong force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon. The new police recruits – 465 males and 80 females – took their oath at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Luzon headquarters here after Monday’s flag raising rites. Superintendent Danilo Florentino, chief of the Regional Police Personnel and Human Resource Development Division (RPHRDD), administered the oath taking to the new policemen who were given the rank of Police Officer 1 (PO1). (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

COFFEE FIESTA

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Coffee lovers are invited to attend a two-day event featuring the best of the coffee of the Cordilleras at the Benguet State University (BSU) on July 5-6. The Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC) based in the BSU will be spearheading the 1st Cordillera Coffee Farms and Industry through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) at the BSU gymnasium and covered court. With the theme “Bringing Cordillera Coffee to Greater Heights” and the slogan, “It’s more fun to drink coffee of the Cordilleras,” the Coffee FIESTA will formally open with Cordillera rituals and the beating of the gongs. (PIA)

WATER, FARM DEVICES GIVEN OUT

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Water pumps and grass-cutters were distributed recently by the provincial government in four municipalities as part of the programs for agricultural productivity, environmental conservation, and dengue mitigation. Each of the 17 barangays of Mangaldan, 15 barangays of Mapandan, 73 barangays of Malasiqui, and 77 barangays of Bayambang received one water pump installation and a grass-cutter unit with accessories. Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. said the delivery of farming equipment will go a long way in supporting the agriculture sector while at the same time teaching farming families to protect their territories against destructive activities and cleaning their surroundings to fight the spread of dengue mosquitoes. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

NO UNIFICATION

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Even before it gets finalized, the proposed unification of warring political leaders in the province collapsed over the weekend due to “unsettled” political variances between the two political groups in the province. As Governor Enrique Garcia said the unification talks had collapsed, Bataan 1st District Rep. Minia Roman, who belongs to the other political force, could not be reached for comment. Amidst the great political divide, one aspiring mayor said any political unification may only benefit the decades-long political families in this province. (Mar T. Supnad)

QUEZON FINISHES GEO-HAZARD STUDY

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — At least 306 villages from 14 towns in this province have already completed the detailed geological hazard assessment and mapping based on the recent reports from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 4 office. This assessment by the MGB will facilitate in identifying areas which are susceptible or vulnerable to rain-induced geological hazard. (Danny Estacio)