DAGUPAN, Pangasinan (PNA) — The National Greening Program (NGP) in Pangasinan does not only help reforest denuded mountains but it also provides income people of poor communities. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Leduina Co said since the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) implemented the direct community contracting scheme in year 2011, some 25-30 people's organizations were benefiting from seedling production.

AGRI LABORATORY

TUGUEGARAO City  (PNA) — Construction of the P73.5 million integrated agricultural laboratory in Cagayan is nearly completed, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced recently. DA communication officer Hector Tabbun, said the three-storey building is now 90 percent finished and will be operational on May 2013. The laboratory will provide facilities for soil testing, plant toxicology analysis, feed quality analysis, animal disease and diagnostic and milk and meat analysis. Cagayan valley has big potential lands to be converted into plantations as additional inputs of agricultural productions in the country.

JOB FAIRS

LINGAYEN — In line with the celebration of the National Statistics Month, the Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) will conduct two more Job Fairs on October 15 and 16 in western and central Pangasinan. PESO chief Alex F. Ferrer said the job fairs will be held at Golden West College in Alaminos City and at Robinson’s Place in Calasiao. As  expected , greater employment opportunity to Pangasinenses seeking to work either local or abroad. The PESO Chief said that aside from the local employers who expressed interest in hiring workers from Pangasinan, main highlight will center on the hiring of around 1,000 male workers by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company with no placement fee involved. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

BRIDGE REOPENED

SAN  FERNANDO CITY, La  Union — The Department of Public Works and Highways Region 1 announced  it has reopened the Buagao Bridge in Bangui, Ilocos Norte  to traffic. Typhoons and heavy monsoon rains delayed the completion of the bridge’s reconstruction which began in February this year. The delay in the reconstruction and the washing out of the detour road had severely hampered travel from Cagayan to the Mountain Province and back. It  was  also  reported  by  the  DPWH Region 1 that  a detour road was washed out by typhoon “Dindo” last June 28, 2012, which closed the road going to Cagayan and Mountain Provinces. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

ZUBIRI PLAUDIT

MAGALANG, Pampanga — Former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has lauded the leadership of Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda for her exemplary performance and good governance advocacy in the local affairs of the province.  Zubiri who graced the inauguration of birthing station and the Governor Bren Z. Guiao Dialysis Center in Dr. Andres J. Luciano District Hospital in Magalang yesterday said. “I salute Gov. Pineda. She is known as working governor who is always present especially during the time of calamities and even in regular days.” The former senator added, they have similar qualities in terms of leadership. She is working beyond words. “Most politicians are eloquent speakers but if you will look at their track record, medyo kulang,” said Zubiri.  (Franco Regala)