TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Governor Jonvic Remulla has signed the P2,708,263,402 budget for 2013 that the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (Provincial Board) passed during a special session two months ago. The 2013 budget was higher by only P1,264,983 or .046 percent as compared with the 2012’s budget of P2,706,998,419. The excerpt and the new budget details, which Remulla, Vice Governor and SP Presiding Officer Recto M. Cantimbuhan and the board members (BMs) signed, were sent to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for scrutiny and approval. (Anthony Giron)

NEW CHIEF

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union — Senior Superintendent Manolito C. Labador officially assumed on Friday his new assignment as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO). “As I assume the job, I will do my best to secure all the candidates to avoid the occurrence of incident like what happened in Infanta,” said Labador, concurrent deputy director for operations of the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1). He replaces Sr. Supt. Luis M. Verzosa Jr. whose daughter, Maria Andrea Verzosa Meneses, is seeking an elective post in a town in Pangasinan. (Liezle Basa)

PHILHEALTH CAMPAIGN

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) launched here on Friday the “PhilHealth Shines: Social Health Insurance Educational Series” campaign as its priority program next year in Region 3. PhilHealth Regional Office III-Branch A Manager Arsenia Torres said the program will ensure that all Central Luzon residents have access to quality healthcare and the right knowledge and understanding of social health insurance. In line with the campaign, she said PhilHealth Region 3 will hold a three-day expo dubbed as “PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection” with marathons held simultaneously in Clark, Pampanga and Malolos City in Bulacan. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

SM WATCHES

MARILAO, Bulacan — Hundreds of parents, sisters and brothers enjoyed the opportunity to avail themselves of six cool colorful Christmas slap watches at SM City, here. Mall Information Officer Gladiz May Latiza said the Christmas promo at SM City Marilao, which runs until Jan. 31, 2013, qualifies any purchaser who collects six stickers on his or her frequency card. Each sticker is placed on the card for every P150.00 minimum single receipt food and beverage purchase. (Freddie C. Velez)

P.W.D. SUPPORT

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — The city’s visually-impaired and other physically-challenged musicians believe that more blessings are coming to all the donors who have helped them in their recent livelihood projects. Eljoy Lagan, an advocate of the rights of the city’s persons with disability (PWDs) said the support of some private groups and individuals and public officials to the city’s disabled musicians who are either rondalla performers, rock band players, and merely carolers, have helped the disabled not only in their daily needs, but also in developing their self-esteem. Among the private groups and individuals who have provided assistance to the city’s PWDs were Mr. James Lopez of San Miguel Brewery Incorporated; and San Miguel Corporation, Taytay, Rizal Office. Also supporting them are Governor Jun Ynares III; Vice Mayor Susan Garcia Say; Barangay Chairman Catalino Leyva of Dalig; Chairman Jojo Salen of San Isidro; Chairwoman Mae Biagtan of Bagong Nayon; and Rely Bernardo of the provincial information office and Ruben Victorino of the Ynares Center. (Nel B. Andrade)