ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) – Construction of three new bridges linking Leon, Cabatuan and Guimbal towns to the rest of Panay Island is about 77 percent complete and will most likely be functional by yearend, according to Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director for Western Visayas, Evelyn Baroso.

Baroso said the old bridges were destroyed when typhoon Frank hit Iloilo in 2008.

She said the new bridges are the P110-million bridge in Brgy. Ilaya, Leon; the P180-million E.Marcos Bridge in Brgy. Abiran, Cabatuan; and the P90-million Kamanggahan Bridge in Brgy. Kamanggahan, Guimbal, Iloilo.

Senior citizens get social pension

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) – The distribution of social pension to indigent senior citizens in Eastern Visayas is ongoing since its start in mid-May, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 8 said.

A total of 11,532 indigent senior citizens, aged 77 years old and above, not receiving pension or regular support from family or relatives, are sick, frail, or with disability, will get P500 per month, as part of Government’s support for food, medicine, and other basic needs of senior citizens.

Eastern Visayas with 11,532 senior citizens, ranks third in the region with the most number of senior citizens getting social pension. Bicol Region ranked first with 13,348 and Western Visayas followed with 12,981.

Land use forum on zoning

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) –- A regional land use forum to be held June 22 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel will be the first ever in Western Visayas to tackle the significance of zoning ordinance in land use and development.

Forum sponsors are Department of the Interior and Local Government-in Region 6, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and the Deutsche Gesellschaft for Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

The forum aims to local government units about to formulate their comprehensive land use plan by improving their zoning ordinances formulation, implementing and monitoring these for sustainable land use in their respective communities.

Capizeños to plant 300,000 trees

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) – Over 300,000 trees are expected to be planted and grown in Capiz this year.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dionisio Molina, Jr. said the 176,000 targeted trees to be planted in 235 hectares of land in Capiz for the National Greening Program are expected to be doubled in number with many local government units and private groups intending to also do the same.

Said Program will be launched in Capiz on June 29 with representatives from various sectors, including government and the private sector, attending.

July Nutrition Month in Biliran

NAVAL, Biliran, (PIA) – The Biliran Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) is planning activities marking July as Nutrition Month.

This was revealed by Dr. Alfonso Veneracion, Provincial Health Officer (PHO) of Biliran and the Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO). He said, the activities will be simple but with great impact to reduce the count of malnourished children in Biliran.