Metro Briefs: June 19, 2019

Makati students get free socks to pair with new shoes

MANILA, Philippines — New shoes deserve new socks. In a statement on Tuesday, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the city’s 84,000 public school students would be getting three pairs of socks to go with their new school shoes.

“New socks go perfectly well with new school shoes. We want our students to be dressed smartly from head to toe, without added cost to their parents,” she added.

The socks are the latest addition to the free school items the city’s public school children — from preschool to senior high school—receive yearly from the Makati government under Project FREE or Free Relevant Excellent Education.

These also include a free set of school uniforms, leather shoes, rubber shoes and school supplies.

This year’s bidding records showed that the local government allotted more than P157 million for the purchase of leather shoes and socks, a contract awarded in May to Pasay City-based Amsor Enterprises.

On the other hand, Mitsui Trading Philippines Ltd. Co. in Caloocan City was paid P148.8 million for the viral “Air Binay 2.0” rubber shoes.

“If our students feel good in what they wear to school, they will also feel confident and motivated to be active learners in class,” Binay said.  —Dexter Cabalza

Convenience store manager arrested for harassing clerk

MANILA, Philippines — The assistant manager of a convenience store chain was arrested on Sunday evening for allegedly harassing his subordinate several times at their workplace in Valenzuela City.

The police arrested Alvin Adan Macaspi, 26, who worked in a convenience store on Pio Valenzuela corner McArthur Highway in Barangay Marulas.

His alleged victim, an 18-year-old store service clerk, said that Macaspi had been harassing her since April.

She claimed that on Sunday, he groped her backside twice and brushed his arm against her chest, prompting her to ask for help from  authorities.

Macaspi was charged by the police with multiple counts of acts of lasciviousness and unjust vexation. —Nikka G. Valenzuela

Navotas’ graduates get cash gifts under city ordinance

MANILA, Philippines — To help them as they go job hunting, this year’s graduating class of Navotas Polytechnic College were given a cash incentive of P1,500 each on Tuesday.

The cash assistance from the Navotas City government for the 1,097 graduates was in line with City Ordinance 2019-3, endorsed by Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo.

According to the ordinance, graduates of public elementary, secondary and tertiary schools in Navotas will receive a cash gift from city hall starting this year.

Over 6,000 elementary and high school students, on the other hand, each received P500 and P1,000, respectively.

“We want to encourage the Navoteño youth to finish their schooling in elementary and senior high. We also intend to help college graduates, who will soon look for jobs, [by] supporting their preemployment needs,” said Geronimo.

According to Mayor John Rey Tiangco, the city “puts a high premium on education.” —Nikka G. Valenzuela