ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office 6 will receive a share of new classrooms by next year, DepEd Secretary Armin A. Luistro said.

Sec. Luistro, who is here for the 13th Annual General Assembly of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions Inc. (APHEI) held in Central Philippine University, said that by next year, there would be around 40,000 classrooms that would be constructed and part of that would be in Western Visayas.

The DepEd secretary said that these new classrooms are intended to address the perennial problem of lack of classrooms all over the country. (PNA)

Iloilo capitol

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The restoration of the old Iloilo capitol is now underway after its architectural perspective was approved by the provincial government. Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said that architect Guillermo Hisancha has already presented to him the perspective and that they are now rushing the program of work necessary for the bidding.

Gov. Defensor said that the provincial government has already an approved initial budget of P20 million to be used to start the exterior restoration. “The old capitol will become a tourist attraction. It will be where the ceremonial hall will be situated,” the governor said. (PNA)

Carcar hospital to be improved

CARCAR CITY, Cebu, (PNA) – Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia inspected the 100-bed Carcar Provincial Hospital Wednesday, and said she expects the facility to be fully operational next month. “There has been considerable improvement and we will continue to push for more improvements,” Garcia said after the inspection.

The hospital is located in Barangay Poblacion II, Carcar City. Cebu Integrated Provincial Health Officer Cristina Giango said, at present, the hospital is utilizing 50 beds. By the time they finish the out-patient department (OPD) and secure the fire safety clearance, Giango said they will immediately apply for a full occupancy permit from the Department of Health (DoH) to allow them to use all the 100 beds at the hospital. (PNA)

Palay farmers insure their crops

BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) – Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon said some 5,000 farmers will be insured with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to protect their crops from unforeseen calamities.

Marañon met with the palay farmers, whose officials visited him Wednesday, and discussed the mechanics on how they could avail of the insurance.

The governor said at least 5,000 farmers will be insured amounting to P4.5 million. He said the PCIC might also provide a counterpart fund so that more palay farmers can be insured in the province. (PNA)

Funds for Leyte projects given

TACLOBAN CITY – P1.26 million in financial assistance for various infrastructure in several barangays of Tanauan, Leyte were recently downloaded by the e provincial government of Leyte here through the recent “Icot-icot ha Barangay.”

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, who personally led the rounds in six barangays in Tanauan and Tabontabon, said the financial assistances were released following the resolutions submitted by the respective barangays identifying their priority infrastructure projects. (Jack Gadaingan)