CADIZ CITY, Negros Occ. — Special education students in Silay City, Negros Occidental won first place in various categories during the 10th Paralympiada 2012, last January 27 at the Gustilo Memorial National High School grounds in Cadiz City.

First placer Ailyn Pacino won the 50 meter dash, category A; Connie Mohana in 50 meter dash category B, Ma. Elena Serion in 200 meter dash category B, and Andrelou Alarcon in pig hunting. Their coaches Fidello T. Selendron and Carla S. Barzo have 11 years teaching children with disabilities at the Silay South Elementary School, in Silay City. (Edith B. Colmo)

New Home

TALISAY CITY, Cebu — Subsequent to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), some 100 homeless elders and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will soon be housed in a new home.

The shelter, to be called “The House of the Lord,” to be built soon across the MOP monastery in Poblacion, will be part of the MOP’s services for homeless and abandoned elderly persons. The MOP is currently taking care of 30 indigent elderly in a make-shift center in Sawang Calero. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Iloilo Destinations

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo — The new Iloilo Airport should be marketed for Iloilo destinations and not as an alternative entry point for Boracay-bound tourists, said acting Department of Tourism in Region 6 (DoT-6) director Atty. Helen Catalbas who is asking Iloilo officials not to make the airport an alternative gateway to the already overcrowded Kalibo International Airport (KIA) in Aklan province, where Boracay Island is located.

This is in apparent reaction to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s earlier announcement that Iloilo is ready to serve passengers enroute to Boracay as KIA can no longer accommodate the influx of tourists going to the world famous beach destination in Malay town. (Tara Yap)

Proper Disposal

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental – Lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal, formerly Dangerous Drugs Board chairman, is urging judges, prosecutors, and law enforcers to observe proper disposal of seized drugs based on the law and not store these items in unsecured facilities. He said instead of destroying seized drugs after ocular inspection, which happens before the start of a trial, courts dispose the drugs together with seized drugs in other cases.

“This practice may be acceptable if the evidence is miniscule but if drugs, such as methamphetamine hydrochloride reach five grams it would be better if its disposed before the trial starts,” Oaminal said. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Green Brigade

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ. (PIA) — The provincial government here gave the Kanlaon Green Brigade supplies to help strengthen law enforcement and protection in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. led the turnover of supplies for the logistical support to the 140 Kanlaon Green Brigade (KGB) members.

The supplies included 140 pieces of boots, sweat-shirts, chargeable flashlights and raincoats; and food provisions like cans each for pork and beans, sardines and noodles, and coffee sachets.