CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — An additional batch of 40 Philippine National Police (PNP) recruits took their oath of service on Monday at the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) headquarters, here. Chief Supt. Edgardo T. Ladao, PRO3 director, administered the oath after Supt. Flynn Dongbo, chief of the Regional Police Personnel and Human Resource Development Division (RPHRDD), presented the rookie cops. Of the 40 police recruits, 34 were males and six, females. Although given the rank of Police Officer 1, the 40 new PNP personnel will undergo further one-year training at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna. (Franco G. Regala)

MORE BUSINESSES

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported yesterday an increase in business name applications as compared with the same period last year, showing that many new business ventures are sprouting in the province. Pablito Budoy of the Quezon- DTI revealed that as of this date, there are 1,365 business applicants already registered and an additional 359 applications for new businesses. Budoy said these business ventures may create 3,968 new jobs. In Quezon, the eight towns recording the highest registered business applicants are Lucena City, Candelaria, Sariaya, Pagbilao, Lucban, Mauban, Gumaca and Tayabas City. (Danny Estacio)

DRUG-TESTING FOR BUS DRIVERS

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union — All bus drivers plying provincial routes will now undergo drug testing and be monitored by anti-narcotics agents, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed yesterday. Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., PDEA Director General, gave this directive to all PDEA Units. In this city, the PDEA is already coordinating with leaders of the transport sector for the adoption of an effective and regular implementation of drug-testing among long-distance bus drivers. “We will not wait until an accident happens on the road because the man behind the wheel is high on drugs,” the PDEA chief said. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

FRESH MANDATE

HERMOSA, Bataan — The more than 2,000 –strong employees of the Pantranco, a government-owned company and once the biggest transportation bus companies running in Central and Northern Luzon, elected over the weekend their Union leaders in a peaceful and democratic election of officers. Of the 21 candidates who vied for directors of the Pantranco board, 15 were elected by the employees to seat in the board. Elected members of the 15-man board were Romy Alfonso, C. Martin, R. Gonzales, C. Carulla, O. Estacio, J. Cruz, T. Ramos, M. de Leon, H. Navarro, M. Medina, Ofelia Manabat, H. Fabian, J. Tumanao, P. Barrientos, and L. Abadilla. (Mar T. Supnad)

ILOCOS JOBS

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — More job fairs are set in Ilocos in April this year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday. DOLE Regional Director Grace Ursua revealed Tuesday that jobseekers need not search too far anymore to find jobs because their agency and its social partners will bring them right at their communities. Job fairs for local and overseas employment are set in Bacnotan, La Union (April 4); San Quintin Gymnasium, Pangasinan (April 12); Sinait, Ilocos Sur April 26); and Bauang, La Union (April 27). (Freddie G. Lazaro)