ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) — A 22-year-old student from SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Children this city came home triumphant after a grueling 10-day competition in Athens, Greece, bringing with him four medals solidly tacked on his breast.
Luis John Decolongon snatched three golds and silver in power lifting during the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games held June 25-July 4 in Athens, Greece. The games, which showcased athletic abilities by the handicapped, attracted 7,500 participants from 180 countries where 38 Filipinos also competed in six events.
Caticlan expansion
KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA) — News of the planned expansion of Caticlan Airport which will cover 2 barangays of Nabas has elated residents of this municipality, which is adjacent to Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. Caticlan, Malay is a jump-off point to Boracay Island.
According to Jessica Ignacio, Nabas Information Officer, 75% of the land to be used in the expansion will be in Nabas. The land requirement, according to Ignacio, will be provided by two Nabas barangays, Union and Rizal. People from the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) have started conducting coordination with the local government of Nabas for the airport expansion. (Venus G. Villanueva)
DoT 7 contest
CEBU CITY — Aiming to have new promotional materials for tourism, the Region 7 office of the Department of Tourism (DoT) Wednesday (July 6) launched its first-ever photo-contest that will showcase the unique culture of Central Visayas.
“Since we want to have fresh pictures on our promotional materials we decided to have a photo-contest that will involve both professional and amateur photographers,” said DoT7 regional director Rowena Montecillo. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
Chairman Mabilog
Iloiloloilo loilo City — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jesse Robredo defended the appointment of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as the new Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC 6) chairman. While Robredo cannot give specific reasons as to why Mabilog was appointed, he emphasized that he and DILG officials can work more efficiently with Mabilog.
Responding to the questioned raised by Iloilo provincial administrator Raul Banias on Mabilog’s hasty appointment, Robredo admitted that Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., who had a standing nomination as the next RPOC 6 chairman as early as September 2010, has more experience than Mabilog. (Tara Yap)
Malaysia tourists
CEBU CITY — Tourism stakeholders in Malaysia are aggressively urging Cebuanos to take advantage of the affordable airfare rates to visit their country.
“We see Cebu as an important market for Malaysia being a hub for the Southern Philippines and we are optimistic that with the low airfare rates and travel packages, we can get a significant number of tourists from Cebu,” said Zakaria Mohd Nani head of the Tourism Board Malaysia and deputy director for international marketing division (South East Asia). (Malou Mozo)