MANILA:
The arts and culture community, members of media, advertisers, IT experts, TV executives, cinema producers, publishers, advertisers, and the business sector, civic groups and church, including top government officials involved in the war against poverty, graft and corruption, are coming together for a cultural summit.Led by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the two-day meet, dubbed "Cultural Summit on the Power of Arts and Media in Breaking the Cycle of Corruption and Poverty," will be held from May 23 to 24 at the Clamshell 2 in Intramuros and at the Manila Pavilion on UN Avenue, Manila.
Health care
MANDALUYONG CITY: Mayor Neptali M. Gonzales II has allocated R10.5 million to ensure efficient and quality health care delivery services, particularly for the poor. Gonzales said the fund will be used into the renovation of buildings, procurement of facilities and equipment for 26 health centers attending to the needs of city residents. He expressed optimism that the additional centers will pass the stringent evaluation criteria by Department of Health under its "Sentrong Sigla" program aimed at providing quality health care services. Following the death of Ciara Marie Abalos, 19-year-old daughter of City Congressman Benhur Abalos, he declared the month of April as Infectious Disease Awareness Month, urging health personnel to inform the public of the threats and how to protect themselves from infectious diseases. (Anna Liza T. Villas)
Jobs for the people
NAVOTAS: The job fair held recently by the city government, led by Human Resource and Management Office (HRMO), provided some 500 residents with employment, Mayor Toby Tiangco said yesterday. The applicants were assured of jobs after passing the tests and interviews conducted by various representatives from different companies. Tiangco expressed confidence that the project could mitigate the rising unemployment rate in the city. He even encouraged HRMO local office to coordinate to all concerned agencies and establishments to ensure the jobs fair be held at least once every quarter of four times a year. (Ed Mahilum)
Snatcher mobbed
MALABON: Lennon Ramos, 35, was beaten by a female dentist, Dr. Ma. Catherine Flores, whose cell phone he allegedly snatched the other day. Flores told police she was on board a Recto-bound jeepney when Ramos, a co-passenger alighted and then quickly turned around and grabbed her Sony Erickson K-700-i cell phone at the corner of J.P. Rizal and C-4 road. The female doctor turned out to have had training in self-defense. She chased the suspected snatcher, cornered him and, with the help of a mob that joined her, gave the cell phone grabber a severe beating. (Ed Mahilum)
MAKATI: The city government has signed a memorandum of agreement with three non-government organizations to help reformed former drug dependents lead a new and productive life. Signatories to the agreement were Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who is also head of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), and the officials of the Brighthouse Industries Corp., the Makati Club, Restaurant and Entertainment Association (MACREA), and the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA). Brighthouse is an employment agency that provides janitorial and manpower services. MACREA is a group of operators and owners of clubs and restaurants and entertainment establishments in the city. The MOJODA is a federation of jeepney operators and drivers associations. Under the agreement, both Brighthouse and MACREA will help provide employment to former drug users in various establishments as recommended by MADAC.
