MARIVELES, Bataan — Local leaders here headed by Mayor Jesse Concepcion has prepared various activities as foreign and local tourists are expected to witness the celebration of a month-long revelry for its 68th Liberation Day and Town Fiesta. The fiesta had kicked off with the Association of Christian Churches in Mariveles Night at the People’s Park and will culminate on Feb. 24 with a street dancing, variety show and fireworks display. Municipal administrator Luis Gonzales said upcoming events are the Senior Citizens Night on 20; Municipal Employees Night on 21; Mutya ng Mariveles on 22; and cultural shows La Torre and Serenata on 23. (Mar T. Supnad)

FIRST RESPONDERS

ANTIPOLO CITY — Knowledge and techniques on dealing with law violators are being taught to village peacekeepers, known as “barangay tanods” to enable them to perform  their role as first responders in crime incidents that usually happen in their own community. This came as the local government and the Philippine National Police have tied up to share their resources for the project that aims to educate the village peacekeepers on the aspects of crime prevention and control. Supt. Manuel Placido, chief of police here, said that the village peacekeepers of Barangay Dalig attended a lecture and seminar on Arrest Procedure and Handcuffing Techniques. (Nel B. Andrade)

PAMPANGA HIKES FUNDS FOR LOANS

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Provincial Government of Pampanga is eyeing to increase its allotment of R39 million for its loan assistance so that farmers and small traders would keep away from “share loans” who charge unconscionable interest rates, Governor Lilia Pineda said yesterday. The governor had initially allotted R10 million for the program which increased to almost four-fold in less than two years. Pineda said the assistance fund would be executed through the Negosyo king Panyulung Program (Business for Development Program or NPP) of the Provincial Cooperative and Entrepreneurial Office (PCEO). (Mark Manuel)

OPLAN: ‘BERDE’

CAMP RIZAL, Laguna — Task Force “Oplan: Berde’” composed of police, soldiers and representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted forest protection operations for one week in this province. Senior Supt. Pascual Munoz, Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, their the task force’s efforts resulted in the confiscation of assorted logs includes good lumber, round logs, flitches with an estimated sized of 7,334 board feet (184 pieces), bandsaw, and a bandsaw engine. The total amount of the logs and equipment seized in towns of Kalayaan and Cavinti reached R227,000. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

ESPINO’S S.O.P.A.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. reported all his achievements for the last five-and-half years in his State-of-the-Province Address (SOPA) delivered the other day at the Capitol here. He said 2012 “was really a banner year for the Pangasinan” when the province bagged the most coveted “Gawad Pamana ng Lahi” considered as “mother of all governance awards” as Region I champion. The award made Pangasinan one of only ten provincial nominees to the first-ever National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)