MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Due to the flooding caused by days of heavy rains, classes were suspended from preschool to college levels in low-lying areas of this province early yesterday morning. Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado cited reports from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Liz Mungcal as the basis for suspending classes. Classes were suspended in this city, Meycauayan City, Obando, Baliuag, Bulacan, Bocaue, Calumpit,Hagonoy, Paombong, Plaridel and Pulilan. (Freddie C. Velez)

SPECIAL SCHOOL GETS NEW SPACE

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently signed an agreement with the Quiz Bee Early Learning Center, giving it bigger facilities to address the school’s rapid growth. The Quiz Bee Early Learning Center is run by the Quiz Bee Foundation, which is the proponent of the annual National Quiz Bee, a prestigious scholastic competition participated in by some of the brightest students in the country. The SBMA agreed to give the school the rights to lease Bldg. 1154, located on Palm Street at the Gateway Park here, to provide more rooms to accommodate 50 students, said foundation president, Gloria Palarca Tayag. (Jonas Reyes)

NEW BUILDINGS

LAGAWE, Ifugao (PIA) — The Physical Facilities and Engineering Division (PFED) of the Schools Division of Ifugao has completed the inspection of 45 new school buildings in the province based on the report to Schools Superintendent Estella Carino. PFED Coordinator Honorio Pumihic said that of the 45 projects located in the different municipalities here, 30 were financed under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the government and 15 under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) of the Department of Education (DepEd). The 30 completed school buildings funded under the QRF have a total of 66 classrooms with four classrooms in the secondary level and 62 class rooms consisting of 26 elementary school buildings.

ANTIPOLO MOVES AGAINST RED TAPE

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — In making sure that local government employees are serving the public true to the provisions of laws pertaining to civil service, the municipal government here has scheduled a two-day seminar for its front line employees next week. Mayor Danilo Leyble said pursuant to the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007, the city government elevates its customer service to a culture of excellence by conducting a 2-day live-in seminar-workshop, “Customer Service: A Culture of Excellence,” at the Cloud 9 Sports and Leisure Center, on July 24-25. Facilitated by the City Human Resource and Management Office (CHRMO) led by Amy Quezada, the seminar’s primary objective is to enhance the quality of public service. (Nel B. Andrade)

TECHNOKLINIK FOR LAGUNA FARM FOLK 

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 4A in collaboration with the provincial agriculture office has conducted a series of Agri-Pinoy Technical Briefing and Technoklinik in Laguna the latest of which were in the fourth class municipalities of Victoria, Mabitac and Magdalena. More than 200 farmers and agricultural extension workers attended the activity aimed primarily on creating awareness on current programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) anchored on the Agri-Pinoy Framework.