ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — The city government is calling on residents to avail of the one-day Social Service Caravan to be held today in Barangay Sta. Cruz. Executive Assistant for Social Services, Atty. Menchie Leyble will lead city hall officials and personnel in the Social Service Caravan starting at 8 a.m. at Villa Leyva II in Sta. Cruz in this city. Included in the outreach program are free birth registration for those born in the year 2010, 2011 and 2012, “Mayor Nilo on the Road’, free medical and dental assistance, free legal assistance, feeding program for children, free haircut and blood extraction for blood sugar reading.  (Nel B. Andrade)

MEDIA SECURITY

CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan — The Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman assured yesterday that the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) will take steps to boost security awareness and protection of media practitioners, especially in the provinces. “We’re continuously ensuring utmost security of media practitioners,” said Chief Superintendent Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. in his message relayed to local media in this province through police official, Harris R. Fama. Fama said Handbooks on Personal Security Measure for Media Practitioners which includes detection and threat assessment; detecting surveillance; personal and children security; security at home and workplace; vehicle and travel security, among others are being distributed. (Mar T. Supnad)

BAGUIO DISCOUNTS

BAGUIO CITY — Good news to Baguio weather lovers as well as local and foreign tourists. Baguio hotels are offering 30 to 50 percent discount on room rates with free breakfast. This city up in the mountains is made more enchanting with the mist the rainy season brings. The Department of Tourism-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) Director Pura Molintas, the rainy season is often the lean months for tourism in Baguio and in the Cordilleras because of the daily afternoon rains. But not many people know that this is the best time for honeymooners and for people who need to rest and to unwind to come up to Baguio, she claimed. (PIA)

LABOR PEACE

IBA, Zambales — A single settlement of some P2,094,606.98 by a hotel-resort company inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with 28 former employees in a Single Entry Approach (SENA) was peacefully disposed of by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Jerry Borja, DOLE regional information officer, said, “The employees, who were relieved after the company decided to streamline its personnel to prevent losses, sought for our help last month after learning that certain benefits from January to April this year were not accorded to them.” The DOLE-brokered dialogue reached an agreement for the payment of separation pay, 13th month pay, service charges, tax refund, vacation leaves, and unpaid salary. (Jonas Reyes)

A.B.C. PRESIDENT

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Barangay Captain Teddy Austria of Barangay Bliss took over the presidency of the powerful Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) from outgoing ABC president Benjie Merino effective July, this year. Austria will automatically become an Ex-officio member of the City Council based on local government code. The sharing of power was agreed upon between the two leaders after they were both nominated by the ABC members to become president of the barangay captains association in Balanga. (Mar T. Supnad)