KALIBO, Aklan — Twelve public high schools in Aklan were the latest beneficiaries of the Ayala Foundation-backed GILAS (Gearing-up Internet Literacy and Access for Students) program. Mario Derequito, Director of Ayala Foundation and Gilas Project Director, said the project aims to connect 6,600 public high schools around the country to the internet. Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores has expressed support by allocating R1.150-million as counterpart fund for the GILAS consortium.

The project is spearheaded by Ayala Foundation in partnership with cities and provinces and the Department of Education (DepEd). The main objective is to allow public high school students to gain access to computer laboratories with internet capabilities for research and interactive learning programs. A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the Ayala Foundation, DepEd and Miraflores. It was witnessed by town mayors, principals, school administrators and Presidents of parent-teachers association.

Derequito said, “We are happy with this partnership and the support of the local mayors and the community. Since 2005, more than 2,300 schools were wired to the internet, twelve of them in the province of Aklan. We have to give an opportunity to our students to get on in the competitive world with the Gilas-internet connectivity program.”

The MOA signing was attended by town mayors Charito Navarosa of Libacao. Ma. Lourdes Miraflores of Ibajay, Dominador Ilio, Jr of Malinao, Victor Fernandez of Lezo, Gene Fuentes of Tangalan, and Quezon Labindao of Buruanga, Asst. Division Schools Superintendent Dr. Concepcion Pelayo and Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Selwyn Ibarreta. (Boy Ryan Zabal)

Mayor orders review of mall security

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has instructed all police station commanders to assess the state of existing mall security after the brazen robbery by armed men of a luxury watch shop in Greenbelt 5 in broad daylight in Makati last Sunday. “We want stricter security so what happened (in Makati) won’t happen here,” the local chief executive said. He was alarmed because if incidents of robbery and violence can take place in broad daylight in a big city like Makati, then the more chances of this kind of incident could happen in Iloilo. Three big malls — SM, Robinsons Place and Gaisano — along with branches and other medium-sized commercial establishments are located in the city. Trenas met with all station commanders Wednesday to discuss tighter security measures. Checkpoints have been in operation since the past few days to further ensure peace and order in the metropolis.

Police acts on illegal fishing, logging operations

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, LEYTE — A fishing boat conducting illegal fishing activities in Leyte seawaters was apprehended by police operatives the other day, according to a police report.

PC Supt. Mario Sandiego, Easter Visayas Regional Director, Philippine National Police, Regional Office8, told reporters in an interview at his office here, that PNP operatives apprehended two fishing boats in territorial seawaters off the coast of Dulag, Leyte.

Sandiego disclosed that elements of the Dulag Police Station led by SPO2 Genaro Martin, while on seaborne patrol, intercepted two fishing boats with 22 crew members as they were engaged in illegal fishing by means of fine mesh net locally known as hulbot-hulbot. He added that the subject persons were brought to Dulag Police Station for proper disposition while their fishing paraphernalia was turned-over to the Department of Agriculture of Dulag, Leyte.

Meanwhile in Calbayog City, Samar, police operatives intercepted illegally cut lumber, that is, 162 pieces of 2x6x16 sawn lumber filed along the side of Hibatanag River with an estimated volume of 2,592 board feet. (Restituto Cayubit)