Bataan, Philippines

MARIVELES, Bataan – The committee on economic affairs of Congress has approved in principle a bill seeking the conversion of Bataan Economic Zone here into Bataan Special Economic Zone and Freeport.

At the hearing attended by government officials and other stakeholders here, 2nd district Rep. Albert Garcia, author of the bill, outlined three vital points: only one authority to supervise the economic zone, freeport status of the zone and  funds appropriations. by Butch Gunio/Mamer Bañez

Journal Online

BALANGA CITY – Labor Secretary Marianito Roque has asked Professional Regulation Commission chairperson Leonor Rocero following a dialogue and a consultation with the Board of Nursing on the appeal of some 716 graduates of Northern Luzon and Bataan to extend the deadline for the filing of applications for the June 2008 Nurses Licensure Examination.

Roque said by virtue of the power and authority given him under EO no. 565 and 565-A, he directed the Commission to grant the appeal of the students by extending the filing of the applications for the Nurses Licensure Exam on June 1-2, 2008 by at least one day which shall be set and widely disseminated by the Commission.– by Raffy Viray

PhilStar

BALANGA City, Bataan: An official of a nursing review center in Bataan, nursing reviewers and parents on Monday appealed to the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) to grant an extension in the filing of application for the June 1 and 2 Nursing Board Exam after the administrative officer of Northcap Review Center in Baguio City ran away with P1.2 million in registration fees.

Lawyer Josephine Paguio, owner of Northcap Review Center in Balanga City, said Northcap-Baguio Administrative Officer Vivian Lazaro did not file with the PRC the application of 1,067 nursing reviewers from Northcap branches in Central Luzon and North Luzon, 271 of which come from Bataan. By Ernie B. Esconde, Correspondent

Manila Times

The Philippine Tourism Authority is negotiating with a foreign group for the joint development of Balicasag islet in Bohol and Corregidor Island in Bataan.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila told reporters that Tourism Secretary and newly appointed PTA acting general manager Joseph Durano had tapped an international group for a high-end resort development in Balicasag.

“Ace Durano has been talking to this international group for a joint venture project in Balicasag. I have also brought up the possibility of the same group reviving Corregidor,” said Favila.

Favila said the authority and Tourism Department had a number of properties in their portfolio that they wanted developed into world-class tourism sites via joint ventures.By Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos

Manila Standard Today

MARIVELES, Bataan: Members of the Philippine Council of Cheshire Homes for the Disabled (Philcoched) on wheelchairs, on board a bus from the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, joined 141 special children participating in the sports festival at the Dong-In-Tulay Center, a rehabilitation center for disabled persons.

The mini olympics held Thursday, the first sports festival for children with disabilities to be held in Bataan started with a motorcade around Mariveles and a program and games at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Alas-Asin, Mariveles.

Deaf –mute pupils from a local elementary school rendered a heart-warming interpretation of a prayer. A visually impaired child led in the singing of “Lupang Hinirang,” while some little children with disabilities held small Philippine flags.

What broke the house down were the dance numbers of other special children with hips and hands moving with the fast music, recalling a blind little girl and a deaf-mute small boy perform a folkdance.

A little boy, although hard in his speech did his best in leading participants recite the Pledge of Loyalty.

Jerrold Mangiliwan, a member of the Philippine Team in the recent PARA Games in Thailand, carried the sports torch and transferred it to children with disabilities until the big pot was lit to start the games.

Mariveles Mayor Jessie Concepcion said the mini-Olympics was held to show that special children and other disabled persons are part of society. “Kahit may kapansanan, kabilang pa rin sila sa lipunan na dapat matutong makisalamuha, maging kapaki-kapikanabang at hindi nila isipin na sila’y idle habang buhay [Though these children have disabilities, they still are part of society and need to learn how to be productive, and must not feel idle all their lives],” the mayor said. By Ernie B. Esconde Correspondent

Manila Times