CAVITE, Philippines - The Cavite government is giving free computer education to young and elderly residents in a bid to uplift further the computer literacy in the province.

The Cavite Computer Center (CCC) in Imus town renders the free education, particularly for out-of-school youth and the underprivileged.

The CCC, headed by Camille Lauren V. del Rosario, is an extension office of the Provincial Capitol in Trece Martires City.

Admission Assistant Marvin Arbues said that CCC is open to residents who are 13 years old and above who wish to learn the computer technology. Arbues said the oldest enrollee is a 78-year-old resident. (Anthony Giron)

Japan Lions help build school
BAGUIO CITY – Filipino and Japanese Lions Clubs donated a $160,000 (around P7.5 million) for the construction of a two-storey school building for the Bonifacio Elementary School, here.

The donation was made by the Lions Clubs after learning that several of the public school’s buildings were too old and declared condemned structures by the City Engineer’s Office. It was learned that its main building was built way back in 1934, making it a pre-war structure.

The Nagoya Honmaru Lions Club, Lions Club International and the Pines City Lions Club pooled their available resources for the new building that would accommodate the increasing population of pupils every year. (Dexter A. See)

Aurora marks 32nd anniversary
BALER, Aurora – Aurorans will be commemorating the province’s 32nd founding anniversary on Feb. 19, with the celebration focusing on the promotion of eco-tourism and historical heritage.

Anchored by its theme “Broadening Aurora’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy,” the celebration is coupled with the launching of Baler’s maiden festival dubbed as “Kinagunasan.”

Michael Palispis, provincial tourism officer, said this year’s foundation day kicks off today with the opening of tourism and trade fairs which shall present documentation of various tourist destinations and display of hand-crafted products made of indigenous materials. (Ariel P. Avendaño)

Angeles to aid kidney patients
ANGELES CITY – Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan assured yesterday that certified indigent residents with kidney problems or renal failure will be given free medical treatment as soon as the city’s dialysis center is completed by April this year.

Pamintuan said a patient undergoing dialysis treatment spends around P5,000 to P7,500 weekly and another P2,800 for the dialysis filter.

“We’re studying how we can better help patients by cutting on the prices of dialysis treatment. If the patient will be certified as an indigent, we’ll work on giving the treatment for free,” he said. (Franco G. Regala)

P14.4-M marijuana found in Benguet
CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Joint operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) uprooted some 120,000 marijuana seedlings and 124,000 fully-grown marijuana plants in Barangay Badeo, Kibungan, Benguet province last Friday.

The operating troops had also arrested one of the suspected cultivators of the marijuana, estimated by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) to worth as much as P14.44 million. (Freddie G. Lazaro)