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Monday, September 19, 2011

Aklan towns to get P22,050M projects through KALAHI

By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, September 19 (PIA) -- People of the municipalities of Libacao and Madalag are set to benefit P22,050,000.00 worth of various projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

In a press conference today held by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 in Kalibo, Leo Quintilla, Deputy Regional Manager said Libacao, which has 24 barangays, will get a total of P10,800,000.00 worth of projects while Madalag, with 25 barangays, will get P11,250,000.00.

Under the program, each barangay is granted P450,000 from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), funder of the program in Aklan.

According to Quintilla, the two municipalities are currently undergoing Social Preparation, done through a series of barangay assemblies and trainings participated in by barangay folks to determine what projects need to be priotized and implemented in their communities which could benefit the biggest number of constituents.

The social preparation is set to last for 6 months after which implementation of the people’s chosen projects will follow.

In Libacao, road improvements and Farm to Market Roads were listed as the top project much needed by 15 barangays, according to Reynante Lasay, Area Coordinator.

“Other barangays chose Day Care centers, potable water systems, reconstruction of storm-damaged irrigation facilities and a hanging bridge,” Lasay said.

Mary Grace Centino, Area Coordination of Madalag, also reported on the activities related to the social preparation for the program for Madalag.

Other DSWD 6 personnel who joined the press conference were Elizabeth Ferraris, Community Development Specialist and Manuel Reyes III, Regional Financial Analyst.

Besides Madalag and Libacao, future MMC areas in Aklan set for the KALAHI program implementation in 2012, are New Washington, with 16 barangays, Ibajay, 35 barangays, Tangalan, 15 barangays, Makato, 18 barangays and Batan, 20 barangays. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Friday, September 16, 2011

Planning workshop to further spur Aklan’s MSMEs

By Venus G. Villanueva



KALIBO, Aklan, May 11 (PIA) -- A workshop to plan and set directions for Aklan’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) here has been slated on May 19-20 at the Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center (GLCTTC) in Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan.



Participants in the 2-day planning workshop will include members of the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council (PMSMEDC) and key business persons and representatives in Aklan’s major priority sectors like tourism, indigenous fibers and crafts, agri-aqua and processed foods and furnishings including the bamboo industry sector, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr.



The workshop is necessary, according to Cadena, in order to localize Aklan’s plans at the provincial level since the framework for the plan had already been determined at the national level.



It will also be a venue for Aklanons to know the economic direction the province is taking as well as its priority sectors, through a message Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez will be giving at the opening program of the workshop on May 19.



Governor Marquez is the Chairperson of the Provincial MSMED Council.



Once formulated and updated, the plan will be in use from 2011 to 2016.



The planning activity in Aklan, spearheaded by DTI, will be conducted in coordination with the German International Agency (GIZ).



Some 40 to 60 participants are expected to attend the workshop. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Kalibo elderly gear up for Senior Citizens’ Week

By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, September 12 (PIA) – Kalibo’s senior citizens are more than ready to celebrate Senior Citizens Week by announcing that this early, they already have lined up activities for the observation, slated on October 1-7.

In a recent meeting held recently at the Office of Senior Citizens Association (OSCA) here, Aurelia Ignacio, OSCA Head, revealed that together with presidents of senior citizens of Kalibo barangays, they have already finalized the activities to be held to celebrate Senior Citizens Week.

These include a Thanksgiving Mass on October 3 at the St. Jude Thaddeus Church followed by a walk for a cause, dubbed “Alay Sa Nakatatanda” from the church to the Federation of Senior Citizens Center.

The senior citizens will also join in the “Baligya-Baligya Sa Senior Citizens Center” for those who have farm produce like vegetables, fruits and many others from their respective barangays which will involve displaying and selling their goods to their fellow senior citizens and the public.

On the same day, the winner in the search for “SeƱora 2011”, a fund-raising activity of their group will be proclaimed.

The activity will be graced by Kalibo Mayor William S. Lachica.

The senior citizens will also avail of free medical services on October 4 from Dr. Jocelyn Garcia and Dr. Melanie Tolentino, Kalibo Rural Health Physicians (RHUs), who will provide free consultations and free medicines and vitamins.

Ignacio clarified however, that only 10 senior citizens from each of the 16 barangay of Kalibo could avail of the free medical services as agreed during the meeting. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Wine-making seminar to make use of Aklan’s excess seasonal fruits

By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, September 12 (PIA) -- Aklan’s oversupply of seasonal fruits like rambutan, santol, duhat, bugnay and many others will soon be put to good use with the seminar scheduled here by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which will teach Aklanons to turn these fruits into wine.

Jairus Lachica, DOST-Aklan Provincial Director also said that besides wine-making, Aklanons will also be taught on how to turn coconut water into vinegar during the 2-day training-seminar slated on September 14-15 at the DOST PST Center in Kalibo.

“Aklan has abundant fruits during certain seasons, like rambutans and santols which are only left to rot on trees during oversupply or sold at give-away prices in the market. These could be made into wine with the right technology and procedures,” Lachica said.

Lachica also said that coconut water, which is only thrown away, could also be turned or produced into vinegar.

Food processors, private individuals and entrepreneurs interested to produce wine and vinegar have been invited by DOST-Aklan.


The DOST will conduct the seminar in coordination with the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and Aklan Food Processors Development Cooperative (AFPDC).

The resource person will come from the DOST-ITDI. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

OWWA scholarship to benefit Aklanon students

by Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- Five Aklanon students will be benefitting from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) next semester through its OFW Dependent Scholarship Program.

Under the program, each of the five students will avail of P10,000 financial assistance every semester, according to Vivian Solano, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager.

Solano also said four (4) other students are set to take the qualifying examinations for the Education for Development Scholarship Program this November, also offered by OWWA.

The program is offered by OWWA to children or siblings of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are graduating from High School.

Those who get qualified for scholarship will receive P30,000 assistance from OWWA per semester, Solano said.

Meanwhile, Solano revealed that from January to August of this year, PESO-Aklan was able to help deploy 82 Aklanons to various jobs abroad.

Solano revealed that deployed Aklanons include nurses, machine operators, masons, carpenters and household workers to countries like Kuwait, Hongkong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“In August alone, 15 Aklanon nurses were deployed to the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia,” Solano reported.

In his regular report aired over the radio, Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez also shared this good news to the listening public.

Besides workers deployed abroad, PESO-Aklan also facilitated the employment of 96 Aklanons at partner establishments in Kalibo and in Boracay Island.

Solano said these Aklanons were either hired as management trainees, marketing representatives, cashiers, cooks, room attendants, sales assistants and others. (JSC/VGV-PIA 6 Aklan)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Poverty not always the root cause of crimes, says Kalibo VM

by Venus G. Villanueva



KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- Poverty is not always the main reason why children commit crimes, sometimes it is also due to the way parents take care of their children, according to Kalibo Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado.



Speaking before school children, teachers, parents and Aklan policemen at the recent launching of the “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program at New Buswang Elementary School, Regalado said parents have the biggest slice in the role of bringing up their children to be good citizens.



Regalado issued this call based on the observation that in Kalibo, young children often figure in police reports committing offenses in the community.



“Parents, it is your responsibility to take care of your children. At their young age, you must instill the goodness in them. The school, the teachers and the police are your partners in bringing up your children, but the responsibility of taking care of them and disciplining them belongs to you,” Ragalado told the parents in the crowd who attended the program.



Regalado also called on the police to be strategic partners in curtailing criminal acts committed by children through effective preventive campaigns, stressing that when children get reformed or are kept from committing crimes, this will cause a domino effect where children and students benefit down to the community and as a whole, the nation.



Regalado related that the municipality tried its best to help child offenders in the municipality, but the effort was not successful due to non-cooperation of parents and in some cases, the children.



“A year ago, the local government, together with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) met with child offenders and their parents. We told them we will help them send their children to school by shouldering their school uniforms and school materials. Sad to note, some parents refused, as they said they have no money to buy food for their children as well as tricycle fare in going to school,” Regalado said.



Other children, on the other hand, whose mothers were already begging them to go back to school refused, saying they already want to work and earn money.



With the attitude of the parents and the children, Regalado said the program never took off.



She expressed optimism, however, that the launching of the “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program this year will be a new beginning of working and helping together in the successful raising of responsible and law-abiding children.



“We salute the PNP in coming up with this program and we also commend the Department of Education (DepEd) for partnering this program, which only affirms that education is everybody’s business,” Regalado said.



The “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program of PNP Region 6 is a strategic school-based crime awareness program wherein policemen who were former teachers or graduates of BSED teach pupils in 30 - 60-minute lectures about crime prevention and awareness, child safety, welfare and development, patriotism and nationalism. (JSC/VGV-PIA 6 Aklan)

DOST to provide Mosquito OL traps to 4 Aklan barangays

By Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, September 9 (PIA) -- Four barangays in the province of Aklan will each be given Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal (OL) trap system by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) October of this year to help curb the incidence of dengue.

The Mosquito OL trap system, according to Jairus Lachica, Provincial Director of the DOST here, is a simple device that helps reduce the number of the female Aedes aegypti, the dengue virus carrying mosquito, by killing its eggs trapped in the lawanit strip of the trap.

Lachica said the four barangays that will receive the OL trap from the DOST are Estancia, Old and New Buswang in Kalibo, and Manoc-Manoc in Boracay, Malay, Aklan.

Earlier, two barangays each from the provinces of Negros Occidental and Capiz also got theirs from the DOST.

“The Mosquito OL trap is one of DOST’s finest invention in 2011, conceptualized to benefit most Filipinos,” Lachica said.

The invention underwent a successful laboratory and field tests in the cities of Marikina and Quezon City and subsequently rolled out by the DOST in Tacloban February of this year.

During the Leyte launching, 2,800 kits were distributed to household participants for use for six months.

The DOST also allocated 2,800 kits for each of the 17 regions including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

NCR, on the other hand, were provided 5,200 kits due to the high volume of dengue cases, according to the DOST.

Meanwhile, based on the latest records provided by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here, the cases of dengue from January to August of this year dropped by 78% compared to the cases last year.

For the 8-month period this year, Aklan registered a total of 156 dengue cases while last year for the same period, there were 714 cases. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Thursday, September 8, 2011

CSC to civil servants: “Thank the people you serve”

By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, September 8 (PIA) -- As the country celebrates the 111th year of Philippine Civil Service this month, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Field Office here called on government employees to thank their clients who come to their office “for they are the reason why we are here.”

“When people continue to go to our government offices, this means government employees are still needed by these people, so they should be served with courtesy and respect,” said Evelyn Ejar, Director II of CSC-Aklan Field Office.

Ejar added that clients must be made to feel 100% satisfied with the service they obtained from the government office upon leaving.However, in instances where they cannot obtain the service they need, they should not also feel put out, because they were entertained with courtesy.

The CSC also revealed that service in government offices is continuous during the day.

“There is already a “No Noonbreak” policy in government offices, to make sure that anyone who comes during lunchtime or minutes before lunchbreaks gets entertained or served,” Ejar said.

For this to be possible, employees should take turns in taking lunch so there will always be someone left in the office to serve clients.

Ejar said offices must remain open during this period.

She also called on clients that should there be violation committed by government employees, they (clients) should not hesitate to file cases against these employees.

The country has the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) and other laws to discipline employees, according to Ejar, assuring at the same time that due process will also be observed should there be instances of complaints or cases.

This year, with the theme “Championing R.A.C.E.: Public Excellence at Full Speed, the CSC will be holding during the month Honor Awards, Fun Run, and Trade Fair.

In Aklan, personnel officers will be conducting Mangrove Tree Planting to observe the 111th year of Philippine Civil Service. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Aklan’s CCT grantees get P10.77 million

By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, September 6 (PIA) -- A total of P10.77 million was distributed recently to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program from the province’ 6 towns by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Conditional Cash Transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely-poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education.

In his recent report of the past month’s activities of the province aired over a local radio station here, Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez revealed that a total of 8,705 beneficiaries of the program received their cash grants from the towns of Libacao, Nabas, Balete, Altavas, Makato, and Tangalan.

Libacao, according to Governor Marquez, has 2,083 beneficiaries which received a total of P2.83 million in cash grants; Nabas, 1,303 beneficiaries, P1.5 million; Balete, 1,54l beneficiaries, P2.4 million; Altavas, 1,231, P1.3 million, Mkato, with 1,348 beneficiaries and a cash grant of P1.38 million and Tangalan, with 1,199 beneficiaries - P1.59 million.

Meanwhile, the governor also reported that the DSWD has released a total of P5.15 million to 3 Aklan municipalities under its Cash for Training/Work Program.

These towns include Kalibo, with 182 beneficiaries which received a total of P446,466.00; Malinao, 926 beneficiaries, which received P2.37 million and New Washington, 911 beneficiaries, P2.33 million.

The program involves provision of temporary employment to small-scale farmers/fishermen and their families who need assistance during the lean months.

In August too, some 288 Senior Citizens social pensioners received P1,500 each from the DSWD for April-June 2011 totaling in the amount of P432,000.

These senior citizens came from Batan, Kalibo, Tangalan, Makato and Numancia, according to the governor. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

DOLE tries new way of resolving labor conflicts

by Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here is employing a new way of resolving labor-related problems through a faster, peaceful and cheaper means.

This is via the Single Entry Approach (SENA), which facilitates the meeting/dialogue between the aggrieved/wronged employee and the employer right at the DOLE Provincial Office-designated desks manned by trained personnel.

According to Joeuella Casimero, DOLE-Aklan Information Officer, the new program is an inexpensive and faster way of resolving labor conflicts.

“The service requires that both parties appear in office, with the goal of solving the conflict within 30 days,” Casimero said.

Since its implementation in December 2010, DOLE-Aklan said 12 cases have been filed with the office, with 50 % of these resolved peacefully, while the rest were referred to other appropriate offices.

Casimero said most of the problems brought to their attention involved termination, suspension, unclaimed salary/wages differentials, not adhering to minimum wage law, closure, and non-remittance of social benefits like SSS and Pag-IBIG.

Most of the labor-related conflicts brought to their attention come from Boracay Island.

DOLE-Aklan said it has three desk officers to entertain clients seeking help under the program.

Meanwhile, DOLE-Aklan announced that minimum wage earners, since July 15, had been entitled to receive P12.00 daily Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) as approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

DOLE-Aklan clarified however, that this is not a kind of wage increase, and would only be received up to October 16. (JSC/VGV-PIA 6 Aklan)

Aklan PPO holds simultaneous launching of 2nd “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program

By Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, September 5 (PIA) -- Police personnel from Aklan’s provincial and municipal police stations will once again turn classroom teachers after the provincewide launching today, September 5 of the 2nd “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program.

The “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program is a school-based crime awareness project of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) wherein policemen or policewomen who were former teachers or graduates of BSED teach 30 to 60 minutes lectures to pupils at selected public elementary schools on subjects about crime prevention and awareness, child safety, welfare and development, lectures on patriotism, nationalism and other subjects.
Teaching of these subjects is seen by the PNP to enhance the moral foundation of young students and strengthen their resistance to crime so that they will become productive, responsible, and law abiding citizens in the future.
These lessons will be taught particularly to Grade IV pupils by police personnel in their respective areas.
For its part, the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO), as with last year, has chosen New Buswang Elementary School as its launching site.
Starting today also and every Monday from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., some 60 Grade IV pupils will listen to lectures given by the assigned PNP personnel - teacher, PO2 Cutie Tomagtang.
PO2 Tomagtang will also be assisted by other police personnel from the APPO in giving lectures for the Grade IV pupils.
The conduct of classes under the program, according to APPO Provincial Director Cornelio T. Defensor, will last up to the end of the school year.
The implementation of this program aims to minimize crime incidents involving children.
According to PNP data, in Western Visayas, Children in Conflict with the Law have increased in alarming rate.
The PNP citing violence involving children and minors with cases recorded in 2008 as only 8 cases but in 2009, it rose to 172 cases.
The 1st Trimester of 2010 also showed there was no letup, with 104 cases. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Boracay posts 628,243 visitor arrivals in 7 months, generates P13.2 B tourism receipts

KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 3, 2011 – Boracay Island posted a total of 628,243 tourist arrivals from January to August of this year.
This seven-month span in local and foreign tourist arrivals, according to Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez, generated a total of P13.2 billion in tourism receipts.
Marquez shared this information with the Aklanon public through his monthly report aired over a local radio station here.
The governor said this seven-month figure in tourist arrivals this year is 12% higher than what was reached last year - 561,405 for the same period.
The tourist arrivals this month – 64,070 - is also way higher than last year, according to the governor.
Last year’s August arrival recorded a total of 58,202.
Marquez noted that the upswing in tourist arrivals in the island shows that low seasons are no longer observed in Boracay.
“Even if it is raining, visitors still flock to the island,” Marquez told radio listeners.
The governor also observed that currently, most foreign visitors coming to the island are from China and Korea.
Meanwhile, in the same program, Governor Marquez aired his optimism over the appointment by President Benigno S. Aquino III of Ramon Jimenez as the new Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Marquez said Seretary Jimenez’ latest statements manifest his positive outlook for the country’s tourism industry.
As a former advertising man responsible for successful commercial campaigns of well-known brands, Marquez said Secretary Jimenez knows well how to market the Philippines. (JSC/VGV-PIA 6 Aklan)

Aklan inducts new set of PIOs

By Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, September 2 (PIA) – A brand-new set of officers of the Aklan Public Information Officers Association (APIOA) will be leading the way in communicating government programs – national, provincial and municipal – with their induction September 1 in the municipality of Nabas.
The APIOA officers, led by Jessica Ignacio of Nabas Human Resource and Development Office (HRMO) also functioning as the LGU’s information officer, were inducted into office by Nabas Mayor Romeo Dalisay.
The induction was also graced by Nabas Vice Mayor James Solanoy, Nabas Sangguniang Bayan Members, Odon Bandiola, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary and APIOA Past President, and Bong Tirol, manager of Transaire Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation currently operating the Caticlan Airport.
Mayor Dalisay, in his message after inducting into office the new set of APIOA officers, expressed his happiness as well as of his constituents for the opportunity of hosting the induction of the APIOA.
In the same opportunity, he aired his challenge to the association’s officers and members coming from national, provincial and municipal offices of the province to continue doing their work as government communicators and be committed in their role.
“If we have an obligation but no dedication, we will not achieve anything. Please give more importance in disseminating information on the right things happening around us,” Mayor Dalisay called on the government information officers.
“Let’s work hand in hand, let’s exercise unity. Let’s not focus on our personal interest. If we work for the good of everyone, we can reach our dreams,” the mayor added.
For her part, Jessica Ignacio, in her inaugural address as 2011-2013 APIOA President, called on her fellow information officers to be a partner of one another in disseminating information of their respective agencies.
Nabas Sangguniang Bayan Member Stephen Bolivar, who represented induction guest Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Jose Enrique Miraflores and Bong Tirol also delivered messages in the program.
Along with Ignacio, inducted were Othella Igcasenza, Vice President, from the DENR; Sally Villasis, Secretary, from Aklan State University-Banga; Judith Tindog, Treasurer, NFA; PO2 Nida Gregas, Auditor, Aklan Police Provincial Office, Julfe Rabe, Secretary-Treasurer, Provincial Governor’s Office; Engr. Raquel Reontoy, Business Manager, NIA, and Prof. Angeline Regalado, P.R.O, Aklan State University- Kalibo.
Also inducted were the Board of Directors coming from Philhealth, Parole and Probation, Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agrarian Reform. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

DA to release P40 million for repair of Aklan irrigation system

By Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, September 1 (PIA) -- The long-awaited repair and rehabilitation of the Panakuyan River Irrigation System (RIS) in Ibajay, Aklan will soon be realized with the release this year of P40 million for the project from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
With the rehabilitation of this irrigation system, Aklan Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores said some 700 additional hectares of rice fields in Ibajay and Nabas, all in the western side of Aklan, will be irrigated.
Miraflores, who revealed this information in an interview over a local radio station here, said that the P40 million is separate from the fund to be allocated for the province for 2012 by the DA.
With the repair of canals, irrigation water from Ibajay River to Panakuyan River will flow better and stronger, from Ibajay all the way to the next town, Nabas.
The rehabilitation of the irrigation system, resulting to the expansion of irrigated ricelands is seen to increase Aklan’s palay production.
Aklan is a rice-surplus province and according to the latest data from the National Food authority (NFA) as of August 18, the province has a total rice supply of 289,038 bags of rice, counted to last for more than two months.
Palay harvesting provincewide, meanwhile, is seen to start by September up to October, as estimated by the NFA and the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)