LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — The government has allocated some P1.3 million for a sustainable intervention aimed at improving the plight of the youth in the Bicol region. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia said a series of trainings will ensure competency of the young generation for wage employment or “trabaho,” and self-employment or “sariling hanapbuhay” in their areas of residency or in other places. Garcia said that the series of trainings was initially launched last Feb. 12 in Donsol, Sorsogon with a total 50 youth beneficiaries qualified in the training for commercial cooking and welding. (PIA)

ILOCANO DAD, SON SHOT DEAD

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur — A 33-year-old father and his five-year-old child were killed yesterday morning after being shot repeatedly by unidentified gunmen on the national highway in Zone 2, Bantay, Ilocos Sur, police said. Senior Inspector Andrew Rabang, Bantay chief of police, identified the fatalities as Mardonio Pajarillo, a utility worker at the municipal hall, and his son, Mattia, 5. Pajarillo’s eight-year-old son miraculously survived the attack unscathed. Rabang said the victims were riding a motorcycle on their way to the Bantay East Elementary School around 7 a.m. Monday when the assailants opened fire at them. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

SENIORS’ PROGRAM

ANGONO, Rizal — The town’s elderly sector will soon become productive while having their leisure time right in their backyard of community. This came as the municipal government is in the process of empowering the senior citizens of the town with livelihood skills which will help them overcome boredom especially now that they are enjoying their remaining years. Calderon said the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, the local department in charge of the programs for the seniors said that there is a plan to educate the group on the eco-tourism programs of the town. (Nel B. Andrade)

FAST TRUCK KILLS VAN PASSENGER 

SANTA LUCIA, Ilocos Sur — One person was killed and three others were injured in a vehicular accident involving a Mercedes Benz van and an Isuzu forward truck along the national highway in Barangay Angkileng, Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur last Sunday. Chief Inspector Benedicto Cardenas, Santa Lucia police chief, identified the fatality as Gladyz Yaris, 20, an occupant of the van and resident of Barangay Samara, Aringay, La Union. The three injured were Nelson Paa, 38, the driver of the Isuzu forward truck, and his truck helpers Aronie Carmelo, 25, and Ronel Calso, 19. Probers said the truck lost control and sideswiped the oncoming van along the opposite lane. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

CARABAO CENTER

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija — Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has opened its $3-million worth of new state-of-the-art facilities in Nueva Ecija made possible via a grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica). The recently inaugurated facilities in Barangay Joson, Carranglan town consists of a bull farm, semen-processing center, and cryobanking revealed Libertado Cruz, the Center's director. The grant was made possible under the project, “Enhancing Livestock Sector Performance in the Philippines through an Institutionalized and Sustained Genetic Improvement Program (GIP)” inked by PCC and Koica in 2010. (PIA)