Over 200 NBI personnel have something to smile about

By Evelyn Macairan
If the Chipmunks who popularized the song "All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth" were employees of the National Bureau of Investigation, their wish have already been granted.

NBI Assistant Director Pedro Bulaong, in coordination with the Office of the First Gentlemen Jose Miguel Arroyo’s program "Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu," handed out some 200 pre-fitted dentures to bureau employees yesterday.

Presidential son Diosdado Ignacio "Dato" Macapagal-Arroyo and Assistant Director Bulaong distributed the dentures at the NBI gymnasium.

"We are grateful to the First Gentleman today, that in the spirit of Christmas, they would have free dentures," said Bulaong. There were at least 200 personnel at the NBI head office and Carriedo clearance center alone with missing teeth.

He said that about 270 NBI employees signed up for the program but only 175 could be accommodated in the first batch. The team of the First Gentleman finished and gave out 71 sets of dentures, 59 would have to undergo second fitting and the remaining are still being processed.

They would attend to the second batch on Dec. 27, Jan. 3 and 4. Bulaong said that when he was assigned at the NBI last September, he immediately noticed that some of the employees needed dentures.

"I asked the First Gentleman if he could extend the ‘Bagong Ngiti sa Dating Ngebu’ project to the NBI and he readily agreed." By providing them new teeth, they would be able to give them a reason to smile this holiday season, Bulaong said.

It can be recalled that the Manila Police District under the term of then Police Superintendent Bulaong was the first police station to avail of Attorney Arroyo’s program, benefiting at least 300 officers and personnel.