ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) — The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is set to release R11.3 million to 4,828 beneficiaries in this city, which is equivalent to their two-month worth of cash grants covering January and February, this week.

Distribution kicked off Monday with 50 recipients receiving their subsidy through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Records show that aside from the 4,828 beneficiaries, who were included under the Program’s expansion this year, Pantawid Pamilya also covers 2,812 other beneficiaries in this city who have been availing of assistance since 2008.

Boracay theme park to rise
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan (PNA) — A 300-square meter theme park is expected to be one of the attractions in this resort island.

Cebu City business magnate, Richard King, who is also chairman of the Crown Regency Hotel and Resort, said they are just finishing with construction at the resort before putting up the theme park which will showcase sharks, stingrays and other interesting sea creatures, a surf pool, kiddie interactive, adventure parks and a proposed aviary with a mini zoo.

King, who owns Crown Regency Hotel and Resort, has four resorts on Boracay.

Cebu scholarships program defended
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PNA) — Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, South district) defended the Cebu City Government’s scholarship program, following reports that some R12.5 million were wasted after one-fourth of the scholars dropped out, failing to enroll in the second semester.

Osmeña said he believes that the R12.5-million fund was not a waste at all.

“The important thing is I gave them (students) the chance to go to college. They are the poorest of the poor and I did something for them and I’m proud of it. At least I can say I gave them a chance,” he said.

Computer learning sites in Panay chosen
KALIBO, Aklan (PNA) — Selected Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo schools have been identified by the Department of Education (DepEd) as sites for the Pilot Computerization Learning Program in Panay.

Recently, the DedEd turned over the program package to Makato Integrated School and the Kalibo Elementary School (KES), the pilot sites in Aklan.

The package includes an inter-active (touch screen) white board, a host PC; desktop virtualization kit; access terminal; LCD monitors; projector and UPS. FC Computer Center here has been contracted to supervise the computerization program.

Iloilo gets business groups' support
ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PNA) — Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog is lauding the continuing efforts of such Filipino-Chinese business groups as the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Panay Inc. (FFCCPI), Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCII), and Chinese Business Club which have donated much in the development of Cebu.

He cited faster business permits processing which has been cut from months previously to currently just 15 days. Some 10,400 permits were processed this month compared to around 8,000 in the first quarter last year. Also, the FFCCPI and the Chinese Business Club have both donated motorcycles to the Iloilo City Police Office.