SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — Representatives of various sectors from farmers, fisherfolk to senior citizens are expected to participate in a convergence road Thursday organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the province of Nueva Ecija.

DSWD Regional Information Officer Evelyn Manalo said the road show seeks to integrate the various programs of the agency, including the Pantawid Pamilya, Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K), Social Pension for indigent Senior Citizens, Cash-for-Work program for small scale farmers and fisher folk, and supplemental feeding so that they will be able to properly respond to problems and empower communities and families. (Franco G. Regala)

Motorbike donation

TAYTAY, RIZAL — To beef up the capabilities of policemen here, the local government here has donated motorbikes for their use in patrols and for responding to calls for assistance. Supt. Arthur Masungsong, Taytay chief of police, received five Honda Wave motorcycles from Mayor Joric Gacula during a simple ceremony earlier this week.

Masungsong said the new motorbikes will be used exclusively and strictly for the police station’s anti-criminality drive or to respond to any emergency situation and not for personal use of policemen. “The support of the local government has been motivating us to work hard to serve the people,” policemen said. (Nel B. Andrade)

Science tutor in hot water

TAYUG, Pangasinan — A teacher faces charges of child abuse for allegedly whipping the back of the legs of 40 students last July 1. Police said the students and their angry parents trooped to police station to file a complaint against Gloria Juanitez Callejo, 60, science teacher in Grade VI of the Agno Elementary School.

Some of the students earlier went to the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital to have treatment for the injuries from the alleged whipping. The students claimed that Callejo whipped them for getting low scores. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Lactation rooms

ANTIPOLO CITY — Mothers who still breastfeed their babies can bring them to City Hall. The government has allocated two lactation rooms for the exclusive use of mothers who want to breastfeed their baby while at City Hall. The establishment of the City Hall’s first ever breastfeeding rooms is part of the activities in commemoration of Nutrition Month, according to the office of Mayor Danilo Leyble.

Dr. Antonio Reillo Jr., city health office chief, told Manila Bulletin that lactating mothers need not worry about their privacy inside the lactation rooms located at the main City Hall building and at the GAD Center. (Nel B. Andrada)

New classrooms

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Some 178 new school classrooms will be built with funding from the Department of Education and two congressional districts in the province. The DepEd will provide P10.46 million for the building of new classrooms in the two districts of Palawan as part of its regular school building program.

Representative Antonio Alvarez of the 1st District of Palawan allocated P58.98 million for the construction in 96 classrooms, 67 for elementary and 29 for high school students. Representative Dennis Socrates of the 2nd District allocated P51.90-million for 82 classrooms in eight towns, with 61 for elementary and 21 for high school students. (Ferdinand F. Castro)