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Monday, July 29, 2013

Don't hide, Aklan PWDs told

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 29 (PIA6) – When Hon. Jay Tejada, Interim President of the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) Aklan Chapter was invited to speak before Aklan’s Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, he refrained from speaking behind the rostrum and instead stood in front, even if it was hard for him, being a polio victim since two years old. “We PWDs must no longer hide”, Tejada said, who spoke on the topic “Equal Opportunities for PWDs during the Forum and Capability Building for Persons With Disabilities at the Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center (GCLCTTC), attended by more or less 50 participants composed of Aklan PWDs, staff of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDOs) of Aklan’s 17 municipalities. Tejada said hiding from the public should no longer be practiced by PWDs because they have roles and space in the community and should exercise their access to privileges, benefits and opportunities. Tejada acknowledged however, that PWDs compose a vulnerable part of society prone to accidents and abuses. To conquer this, Tejada gave several pointers to his fellow Aklanon PWDs – like knowing their weaknesses and limitations but arming themselves with determination and discipline; accepting that they need support from others; and performing to the best of their abilities as the national government under President Benigno S. Aquino III through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is recognizing their contribution to society. Tejada also acknowledged the support of the Provincial Government of Aklan through allocation of 1% from the total budget of the province. “The province has plans for PWDs and we need people to run the program”, Tejada said. For his part, Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, who had his message read by Assistant Provincial Administrator Gerick Templonuevo, assured Aklan PWDs that he would support any program that the PWDs will embark on. “Even if the thrust of the provincial government is focused on agri-tourism, this doesn’t mean that we are not thinking of other programs that involve them. The agri-tourism program is not only for the abled but for the disabled”, Miraflores said in his message read by Templonuevo. “Building an Inclusive and Non-Handicapping Environment” is the theme of this year’s NDPR Week Celebration, which was observed from July 17-23, 2013. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Friday, July 26, 2013

Aklanon News: Eagi nga mga resibo, hasta Agusto 30 lang ro pag gamit - BIR

KALIBO, Aklan, Hulyo 25 (PIA6) -- Tanan nga owa magamit ag owa ha isyu nga mga “principal, supplementary receipts ag invoices” balido eon lang hasta sa Agusto 30, 2013, suno sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Ginpaabot ni BIR-Aklan Revenue District Officer Ricardo J. Osorio sa mga Aklanon nga bumaeayad it buhis nga may mga negosyo ukon may mga propesyon ag korporasyon nga daea sa Revenue Regulation No. 18-2012, bangud pagkaaga eagi ukon sa Agusto 31, 2013, ro mga bag-ong mga official receipt sa iba nga format hay imaw eon ro pagagamiton sa tanan nga transaksyones. Bangud sa ro habilin eon lang nga tiyempo hay masuesobra sa sangbuean, nag-apelar si Osorio sa tanan nga mga nagabayad it buhis sa probinsya nga mag-adto sa upisina it BIR ag mag file it mga kinahangeanon nga mga dokumento ag aplikasyon para sa pag imprenta it mga bag-ong resibo ag invoices. Rato man nga mga nagabayad it buhis nga ha aprobahan eon ro andang aplikasyon sa bag-ong format hay dapat nga i-surrender nanda sa BIR ro andang mga owa magamit ukon ha isyu nga mga resibo indi mageampas sa Agusto 30, 2013. Samtang, sa mga hauna nana nga pagpahayag sa radyo, nagpanawagan si Osorio sa mga Aklanon nga mga negosyante ag mga propesyonal nga mag deklarar ku andang minatuod nga kita ag mag-isyu it resibo sa andang mga kostumer agud makalikaw sa pina ukon masadhan ro andang establisimiento. Rayang pag apelar hay ginpaabot ni Osorio pagkatapos nga ro sangka establisimiento sa Kalibo International Airport (KIA) hay ginsadhan suno sa programa nga “Oplan Kandado” it BIR. Suno kay Osorio, owa magdeklarar it husto nga kita ro establisimiento ag owa man mag rehistro bilang Value Added Tax (VAT) taxpayer. Bangud kara, ginhinyo ni Osorio ro mga Akeanon nga i-report ro mga hasayran nga mga establisimiento nga nagaloko sa gobyerno, bangud kon husto ro andang buhis nga ginabayran, magabalik man ra sa publiko sa porma it mga serbisyo it gobyerno ag mga imprastraktura. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

BIR reminds Aug. 30 deadline of old receipts

by Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 25 (PIA6) – All unused and unissued principal and supplementary receipts and invoices will be valid until August 30, 2013 only, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here. BIR-Aklan Revenue District Officer Ricardo J. Osorio issued this reminder to Aklan taxpayers with business and/or practicing profession, corporations and those covered under Revenue Regulation No. 18-2012, as immediately the next day or on August 31, 2013, the new official receipt format will be issued on all business transactions. With still a little over a month to prepare for this change, Osorio said all concerned taxpayers in the province are advised to come to the BIR-Aklan office and file necessary BIR forms and applications for the printing of the new format of official receipts or invoices. “Violators of the said regulation will suffer a maximum penalty of P50,000.00”, Osorio said. He also said that those taxpayers who have approved new format application must surrender their unused/unissued receipts and invoices not later than August 30, 2013. Meanwhile, in an earlier radio interview over a local radio station here, Osorio called on Aklanon businessmen, professionals and taxpayers to declare their correct revenues and issue official receipts to their customers to avoid being penalized, or worse, have their establishments closed by the BIR. Osorio made this appeal in the wake of a closure of an establishment located in the vicinity of the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) under the BIR’s “OPLAN KANDADO” program, due to the establishment’s under-declaration of its sales by more than 30% for the taxable quarter and its failure to register as a Value Added Tax (VAT0 taxpayer inspite of breaching the P1.5 million threshold amount in annual gross sales. With this development, Osorio called on Aklanons to help report other erring business establishments, saying that the correct taxes that these establishments would be paying once apprehended will be returned to the public in the form of vital government services and infrastructure projects. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Aklanon News: Sangka 'bazaar' ginpatigayon it Aklan Parole and Probation Office

Ni Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Hulyo 23 (PIA6) -- Ro Aklan Parole and Probation Office (PPO), kaibahan ro 237 kara nga mga kliyente nga gina kumponihan it mga parolado, mga pardonees ag probationers hay nagpatigayon it sang adlaw nga “bazaar” ku Hulyo 22 sa pag-obserbar ku ika 37 nga anibersaryo it rayang upisina makaron nga dag-on. Ginhambae ni Emma Y. Narciso, Aklan PPO Chief Parole and Probation Officer nga ro paghiwat man it “bazaar” nga naga imbolbar it pagbaligya it mga tinuean-on, prutas ag iba pang produkto nga gintanum ag gindepara mismo ku mga kliyente it PPO sa andang mga lugar hay sangka oportunidad agud sanda hay maka kwarta ag ma apresyar ro hilway nga pagpangabuhi sa guwa it rehas ag mabatyagan nanda ro andang pagkamapinuslanon sa andang komunidad. Pila sa mga produktong ginbaligya idto hay sinapad-sapad nga mga saging, mangga, mga tinuean-on pareho ku taeong, pechay, okra, hamtak, pipino ag iba pa. May sangka kliyente man nga nagdaea it sinako nga taeaba, mga silhig nga kugong, itlog nga maaeat nga ginpangbakae eagi it mga manugbakae nga eaban hay mga empleyado it kapitolyo. Ro “bazaar” nga gindueugukan it mga manugbakae hay ginbutang sa sangka bakante nga espasyo sa sueod it cultural center sa Provincial Capitol Grounds nga ginbantayan mismo it mga parolado, pardonees ag probationers nga mga kliyente. Sambilog kara hay si Jose Braulio, 49 anyos, sangka parolado nga nagdaea ku anang mga produktong hamtak ag pipino agud ibaligya. Imaw hay kasado ag mga daywang ka unga, nga ginbuhian ku 2010 ag umpisa kato hay nagpananum it mga tinuean-on ag nag alila it mga sapat agud may ika sustinir sa andang mga kaeastuhon. Sangka parolado man, si Cayo Natabio, hay nag-atender man agud makig-iba sa aktibidad bisan owa imaw it daea nga inugbaligya. Imaw hay mayad mamanday ag sigidas eon ro anang panarabaho sa Caticlan, Malay pagkatapos nga imaw hay nangin parolado, kon siin naga-amat-amat eon imaw it pangbakae it mga gamit sa baeay ag naga-umpisa eon nga mag-ugdok ku anang dugalingon nga baeay. Kaibahan sa pagbulig sa PPO nga mangin produktibo ro mga kliyente ngara ag indi eon magtaeang hay ro 36 nga mga volunteers. Ro tema sa dag-on ngara nga selebrasyon hay PPA-DOJ@37: Moving on Towards a Stronger Workforce as Rationalization Plan and Collective Negotiation Agreement Take its Course". (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklan parolees, probationers hold "bazaar"

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 22 (PIA6) -- Aklan’s Parole and Probation Office (PPO), together with its 237 clients composed of parolees, pardonees and probationers held a one-day “bazaar” July 22 to observe the office’ 37th anniversary this year. Aklan PPO Chief Parole and Probation Officer Emma Y. Narciso also said the holding of the “bazaar” which involves display and selling of vegetables, fruits and seafoods tended by the clients themselves in their respective municipalities will be an opportunity for them to earn money and appreciate life outside prison bars and feel their worth as members of the community. Agricultural products displayed by the parolees, pardonees and probationers include bananas, mangoes, vegetables like eggplants, okra, pechay, string beans, cucumber, etc. A client also brought sacks of oysters for sale, even broomsticks which were readily bought by customers, mostly employees of the Provincial Government. Anticipating a heavy rain, the “bazaar”, which was mobbed by buyers, was held inside the cultural center at the Provincial Capitol grounds with the PPO clients themselves minding their merchandise. One such PPO client was Jose Braulio, 49,a parolee who brought his produce – string beans and several kilos of cucumber for sale in the “bazaar”. Braulio is married with two children and, upon coming home in 2010 after serving time for 8 ½ years – 3 ½ at the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC) and 5 years in Manila at the Reception and Diagnostic Center, he turned to planting vegetables and tending animals to augment his family’s income. Another parolee, Cayo Natabio, attended the “bazaar” although as a carpenter, he had not brought any produce but just came to be one with his fellow PPO clients. Natabio, 45, according to Narciso, is now an in-demand carpenter in Caticlan, Malay and is slowly improving his economic status, starting a family, buying appliances and other needs of the family from his honest earnings. “Gaumpisa eon ngani ako it obra it among baeay” (I am now starting to build our house), Natabio shyly shared. Currently helping the Aklan PPO in monitoring and guiding the province’ pardonees, parolees and probationers to become useful members of the community are some 36 volunteers. This year’s theme of the celebration is PPA-DOJ @ 37: Moving on Towards a Stronger Workforce as Rationalization Plan and Collective Negotiation Agreement Take its Course”. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Press Release: OWWA scholars wanted

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 17 (PIA6) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is now accepting Aklanon applicants for its Educational Development Scholarship Program (EDSP). This scholarship program, according to Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Vivian Ruiz-Solano, assisting in the search for applicants, could only be availed by children or brothers and sisters of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) currently employed. Solano said interested scholarship applicants could be male or female high school graduating sons or daughters or brothers and sisters of OFWs graduating this year and belonging to the upper 20% of his/her school; not more than 21 years old and in good health; not applying for any other scholarship and has no pending application as an immigrant in other countries; and must pass the qualifying examination given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other entrance examinations of schools where the applicant intends to enroll. Those who would qualify in the scholarship will get P30,000 financial assistance per semester or a total of P60,000.00 per year from OWWA. “Scholars/beneficiaries can also choose the schools where they want to enroll and take any 4 to 5 year courses as long as these are accredited by the Commission on Higher Education. The scholarship will continue until they graduate provided they have maintaining grades not lower than 2.5,” Solano said. Those applying for the scholarship need to submit/accomplish one set of application form from their school principal or from the Provincial PESO, 3 copies of 2x2 ID pictures; Birth Certificate of applicant from the National Statistics Office, Birth Certificate of the sibling and Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) from the NSO, Form 137 and OWWA membership receipt or OFW Verification Sheet issued from the OWWA Membership Processing Center (MPC). Deadline for submission of requirements is on July 26, 2013 at the Provincial PESO while the qualifying exam is on September 22, 2013 to be given in the province, according to Solano. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Press Release: Kalibo bans use of plastics, styrofoam

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 15 (PIA6) -- The use of plastic bags and Styrofoam is now banned in Kalibo with the recent approval of an ordinance to prevent use of these items per _______. The ordinance includes imposition too of penalties to violators of the municipal law. The ordinance also provides for the conduct of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign contained in a section. The section also calls for the local government of Kalibo to conduct a widespread IEC campaign through print, radio, television and internet which includes the promotion of Alternative Biodegradable Packaging Materials. Regulations in the use of plastic bags, styrofoam, the collection of synthetic recovery system fee and the purposes are also mentioned in the ordinance, including the use of green funds, waste markets, placement of environmental signages in business establishments including the monitoring of the ordinance’ implementation. Section 11 of the ordinance states the enforcement and penalties and the Implementing Rules and Regulations. One other town that has already an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags and Styrofoam is the municipality of Malay where Boracay Island is, which is already enforced since last year. (VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Press Release: BJMP-Aklan District jail is region's best

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 11 (PIA6) -- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – Aklan District Jail (ADJ) was awarded as Best Jail of Region 6 for second quarter of 2013 during the 2nd Quarter Management Conference held at Metropolis Subdiviion Clubhouse in Jaro Iloilo City. The award was personally received by Jail Inspector Norberto G. Miciano Jr. from Jail Senior Superintendent Ignacio Sarabia Panti, BJMP Regional Director. The Aklan District Jail is presently manned by 21 personnel. The District Jail was cited due to its programs for inmates’ welfare and development through physical exercise/daily therapy, religious activities, sports and recreation, and livelihood activities. The ADJ also conducted summer sports fest which was participated in by BJMP personnel and inmates from April 14 to May 31 of this year, sustained religious services and livelihood programs for inmates, like vegetable gardening and furniture-making. For the comfort of relatives visiting inmates, a canopy was constructed in front of the building initiated by the ADJ. All cells and other buildings inside the building were repainted while the old roof of the chapel made of nipa was replaced with corrugated galvanized iron sheets. The ADJ also opened its doors to members of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to provide free legal services to inmates in celebration of Community Relations Service in June 2013 while the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals also conducted an outreach program and gift-giving for all inmates during the second quarter. The on-site voting of inmates during the May 13, 2013 elections was also successfully implemented by the ADJ personnel while a composite team of personnel from the BJMP regional office together with the ADJ also conducted an on-site voting of registered voting inmates during the take-over of the Aklan Rehabilitation Center for the political exercise. For the immediate community, the ADJ participated in the Brigada Eskwela Program of the Department of Education (DepEd) by helping in the cleaning of premises of the Nalook Integrated School, initiated a Read A Book activity as one of the banner programs of Community Relations Month in June for 30 Grade I pupils followed by food distribution as part of the institution’s feeding program, and a clean-up drive in the barangay. The BJMP-ADJ sits on a 1,015 square meter lot in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan donated by the provincial government. It is adjacent to the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC). (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

2 Aklan barangays undergo survey on consumer expectation

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 10 (PIA6) -- Two barangays in Aklan – Tigayon in Kalibo and Dumaguit in New Washington are serving as sample areas for the 3rd Quarter Survey on Consumer Expectation undertaken by the National Statistics Office (NSO) and funded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The 3rd Quarter Consumer Expectation Survey (CES), according to Blas M. Solidum, Provincial Statistics Officer, started July 1, results of which aim to give quick and regular assessments of consumer perceptions and expenditure plans as a tool for evaluating the consumer’s own financial situation, key economic indicators and the economy’s condition over a reference period. “Data revealed by respondents will be treated with confidentiality and will not be used for taxation, investigation or law enforcement purposes,” according to Solidum, appealing to respondents at the same time to give truthful and correct data to researchers. He also stressed the importance of the CES, saying that it will be used to guide planners in forecasting the direction of change of economy as well as the behavior of inflation rate, interest rate and exchange rates. A total of 36 sample households in the above-mentioned barangays will be covered by the CES for this quarter. (NSO/JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Kalibo launches Local Flood Early Warning System

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 9 (PIA6) -- The municipality of Kalibo recently launched here its Local Flood Early Warning System (LFEWS) through a workshop to prepare for possible flooding in the capital town of Aklan with the onset of the rainy season. Through the LFEWS workshop, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) were able to learn six (6) important things to do during floods and other natural calamities that may affect Kalibo, through the guidance of Galo Ibardolaza, Executive Officer of the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and Terence June Toriano, Civil Defense Officer of Kalibo. Ibardolaza said that LFEWS is now focusing on the empow erment of local government units and communities in facing flood disasters by strengthening their skills in forecasting and improving their response capacity through early warning. LFEWS, according to Ibardolaza, came from the “READY” project of PAGASA and recommended by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. LFEWS will also improve the responses of the people to disasters from being reactive to pro-active, Ibardolaza said. For his part, Kalibo mayor William Lachica said that the municipality should always be prepared before and in times of calamities, and as one of the measures, the municipal government is hastening the completion of the evacuation center located at the Kalibo Magsaysay Park. At the workshop, participants, together with members of the Sangguniang Bayan , agreed on the procurement of needed materials, supplies and responses for the municipality, trainings for volunteers and operatives identified by the MDRRMC, passing of forced evacuation ordinance, provision of insurance coverage to volunteers, passing of ordinance to oblige business establishments to organize drills and dry runs and the conduct of LFEWS to 16 barangays of Kalibo. (VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Press Release: New Aklan Gov presents plans

By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 4 (PIA6) -- Agriculture, fisheries and tourism – these will be the major thrusts that the provincial government of Aklan will be zeroing in under the leadership of Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, who takes over the helm of leading the province for the next three years. Miraflores enumerated these major thrusts, saying he takes over where his predecessor, former Governor Carlito Marquez has left off, during his presentation of his administration’s plans, programs and directions in local governance before the new set of Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the provincial legislative’s body’s inaugural session. The inaugural session, presided by Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo, was held July 3 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol attended by a jampacked crowd composed of heads and representatives of national government agencies, provincial government offices, local government units and the media. For the agriculture sector, Miraflores said the province will continue to focus on increasing rice and abaca production, rice hybridization and farm mechanization. The current road-widening project in Kalibo, Numancia and Makato by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to him, is also a good start to further improve the road network in the area, and revealed that a by-pass road will soon be constructed between the towns of Numancia and Makato to shorten the travel time of the public, especially the tourists and visitors passing through the Kalibo International Airport (KIA). Miraflores also said that KIA will be further expanded to accommodate long-haul aircrafts. “We do not want KIA to be left behind so the runway and apron will be expanded to open it to more destinations and remain as a premier airport in the province,” he said. Among other things, he also mentioned the improvement and rehabilitation of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), Aklan’s provincial hospital and other district hospitals located in strategic municipalities, procurement of hospital equipment, and additional Philhealth membership of Aklan’s indigents. With the need to have enough power supply for Aklan, the governor revealed that Petro Energy, to be generated by wind power and seen to provide 50 megawatts of electricity, had been granted by the Department of Energy (DOE) its request for its commercial development and will soon be constructed with its completion set in 2014. Once completed, Miraflores said this will be another tourist attraction in the province. The governor also announced the soon-to start dredging of the Aklan River to mitigate flooding and reduce disaster risks in the municipality of Kalibo and other adjacent towns during heavy rains. Some 15 million cubic meters of the dredged materials, according to Miraflores, will be brought to Singapore by the dredging company. “At the same time, the province will earn from the dredging as the company that will conduct it, STL, will pay P5 for every cubic meter dredged,” Miraflores said. For all his plans and programs for the province for the next 3 years, Miraflores solicited the legislative support of the current Sangguniang Panlalawigan, saying he needs their cooperative efforts and advice. For her part, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo assured Miraflores that the chamber has never been known to be an obstructionist body, proven with the performance of the past SP team that had done its job to support the goals of the province to make Aklan a worthy place to live in. Members of the Aklan SP for 2013-2016 include Honorables Soviet De la Cruz, Atty. Harry Sucgang, Rodson Mayor, Lillian Q. Tirol and Atty. Plaridel Morania for the eastern district and Honorables Joen Miraflores, Esel Flores, Nelson Sta. Maria, Roberto M. Garcia, Jr. and Ramon S. Gelito for the western district. Other SP members include Hon. Edina Gelito, ABC Provincial Federation President and Hon. Bob Augusto Legaspi representing the Provincial SK Federation. Hon. Jay Tejada, vice Hon. Jonna T. Morales-Torres, Provincial Councilors’ League President whose term has expired on June 30,2013, assumed as Interim Ex-Officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Aklanon News: Workshop sa Local Flood Early Warning System

Ni Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Hulyo 9 (PIA6) -- Ginlunsar kurundaya sa banwa it Kalibo paagi sa sangka workshop rong Local Flood Early Warning System (LFEWS) agud maka preparer sa posible nga pagbaha sa banwa bangud sa pirmi nga pag inuean. Bangud sa ginhiwas nga LFEWS workshop, ro mga katapu it Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) hay abu nga mga importanteng hatun-an nga dapat obrahon kon may baha ag iba pang natural nga kalamidad nga maka-apektar sa Kalibo, paagi man sa pag giya ni Galo Ibardolaza, Executive Officer it Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) ag Terence June Toriano, Civil Defense Officer it Kalibo. Ginsugid man ni Ibardolaza nga ro LFEWS hay naga sentro man makaron sa pagpabaskog it mga gobyerno lokal ag komunidad sa pag-atubang sa mga posibleng pagbaha ag iba pang disgrasya paagi sa pagpamayad-ayad ku andang hatun-an sa ‘forecasting’ ag kapasidad sa pagresponde sa temprano nga mga paandam. Naghalin ro LFEWS sa “READY” nga proyekto it PAGASA ag ginrekomenda it United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Sa parte ni Mayor William Lachica, ginhambae nana nga dapat pirmi nga preparado ro banwa sa mga kalamidad, ag sambilog sa mga tikang kara hay rong pagpadasig sa pagpatapos it evacuation center it banwa nga una sa Magsaysay Park. Sa ginhiwat nga workshop, ro mga nag-atender, kaibahan rong mga katapu it Sangguniang Bayan hay nagkaeasugot sa pagbakae it mga kinahangeanon nga mga materyales ag iba pang ikabulig it munisipyo, paghanas sa mga volunteers, pagpasar it ‘forced evacuation’ nga ordinansa, pagtao it insurance sa mga volunteers, pagpasar it ordinansa nga maga obligor sa mga establisimiento nga mag organisar it mga drill ag dry run ag paghiwat it LFEWS sa 16 nga mga barangay it Kalibo. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: Bag-ong gobernador it Aklan nagpresentar it mga plano

KALIBO, Aklan, Hulyo 5(PIA6) -- Agrikultura, pangisda ag turismo – raya ro mga mayor nga mga programa nga pagatutukan it gobyerno probinsyal it Aklan sa idaeum it pagpamuno ni Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, nga imaw makaron ro magapamuno sa sueod it tatlong dag-on. Ginpaabot ni Governor Miraflores rayang mga programa ag plano sa prente it mga katapu it bag-ong grupo it Sangguniang Panlalawigan sa paghiwat it inaugural session kurundaya eamang sa SP Session Hall sa Provincial Capitol. Ro inaugural session hay ginpangunahan ni Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo ag ginhiwat ku Hulyo 3 nga gintambungan it mga pinuno ag representante it mga ahensya it gobyerno, gobyerno probinsyal ag gobyerno lokal ag media. Para sa sektor it agrikultura, ginhambae ni Miraflores nga padayon ra nga pagatutokan kon siin tinguhaon ro pagdugang sa produksyon sa paeay ag abaca, rice hybridization ag farm mechanization. Ro ginapatigayon man nga pagpaeapad it mga karsada sa Kalibo, Numancia ag Makato paagi sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), suno kana, hay mayad nga pag-umpisa sa pag-improbar it karsada sa mga lugar ngara. Ana man nga ginsambit ro pagtukod it sangka "by-pass road" sa tunga it Numancia ag Makato nga makapadasig it byahe it mga turista ag bisita halin sa Kalibo International Airport (KIA) paadto sa Caticlan, Malay nga maga-adto sa isla it Boracay. Ginhambae man ni Miraflores nga paeaparon pa gid ro KIA agud maka landing ro mga eroplano nga maeayo ro byahe. Ginsambit man nana ro pag improbar ag pag rehabilitar it Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), rong provincial hospital it Aklan, imaw man ro mga district hospitals sa mga banwa, pagbakae it mga gamit para sa mga hospital ag pagdugang it miyembro it Philhealth halin sa mga nagakalisod nga mga pumueuyo. Ginpaabot man ni Miraflores nga ro Petro Energy Wind Power sa Nabas hay gintaw-an eon it Department of Energy (DOE) it permiso para sa anang commercial development nga maga umpisa eon ag gina panan-aw nga matapos sa 2014. Kon matapos ra, mangin sangka atraksyon eon man ra sa turismo, hambae ni Miraflores. Ginsugid man sa konseho ni Miraflores ro pagpadaeum it suba it Aklan paagi sa pagbuoe it mga baeas ag iba pang bagay agud malikawan ro pagbaha ag mabuhinan ro mga peligro sa banwa it Kalibo ag mga kaeapit nga mga banwa. Ro 15 milyon nga cubic meter it mabuoe sa pagpadaeum, suno kana hay pagadaehon sa Singapore samtang kada cubic meter, magakita kara ro probinsya it Aklan paagi sa pagbayad kara it kumpanya it P5. Bangud sa mga plano ngara it bag-ong gobernador, nagpangayo imaw it bulig ag kooperasyon it mga bag-ong grupo it Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Sa parte ni Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo, ginpasalig nana si Governor Miraflores nga ro Sangguniang Panlalawigan hay owa it ginaabangan sa mga mayad nga plano it gobyerno probinsyal nga ro pamatuod hay rong pagsuporta it nagtaliwan nga SP agud ro Aklan hay mayad-ayad nga istaran. Ro mga bag-ong katapu it SP sa 2013-2016 hay imaw sanday Honorable Soviet De la Cruz, Atty. Harry Sucgang, Rodson Mayor, Lillian Q. Tirol ag Atty. Plaridel Morania para sa eastern district ag sanday Honorable Joen Miraflores, Esel Flores, Nelson Sta. Maria, Roberto M. Garcia Jr. ag Ramon Gelito halin sa western district. Katapu man it SP sanday Hon. Edina Gelito, ABC Provincial Federation President ag Hon. Bob Augusto Legaspi, Provincial SK Federation President. Si Hon. Jay Tejada it Tangalan nga nagbueos kay Hon. Jonna T. Morales Torres bangud natapos eon kara ro anang pagserbisyo ku Hunyo 30, 2013 hay nangin Interim Ex-Officio man nga katapu it SP-Aklan. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: MDRRMC it Kalibo, mnagdaog it primerong pwesto sa Gawad Kalasag

KALIBO, Aklan, Hulyo 3 (PIA6) -- Nakabuoe it primerong pwesto ro Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) it Kalibo sa ginhiwat kurundaya eamang nga “Search for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance 2013” para sa 1st to 3rd Class nga kategorya it mga banwa. Ginpaabot rayang balita kay Mayor William Lachica it Kalibo nga imaw man rong chairman it MDRRMC it Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) sa pagpasayud sa musipyo nga nakapasar ra sa maid-id nga ebalwasyon it Regional Selection Committee nga ginpatigayon ku Mayo 6, 2013 ag makabaton it pagpadungog halin sa rehiyon. Nakabuoe ro banwa it Kalibo it rating percentage nga 92.44%, ag bangud kara hay nagpangaywa eamang ro nagdaog sa kategorya kara ku isaeang dag-on nga banwa it Sibalom sa Antique nga makaron hay nakabuoe it rating nga 88.61. Nag-entra man ro banwang Kalibo sa Government Emergency Response Manangement (GEM) nga kategorya sa Basic Search and Rescue, kon siin nagdaog man ra it ikaywang pwesto bangud sa anang Special Operations Unit ngaa may rating nga 90.44%. Sa makaron, masako ro MDRRMC – Kalibo paagi sa pag giya ni Terence Toriano, Municipal Defence Officer sa pagpreparar para sa mga aktibidades nga hiliwaton sa pag-obserbar it Disaster Preparedness, kapin pa gid ay sigidas eon makaron ro pag-uean. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Kalibo launches Local Flood Early Warning System

KALIBO, Aklan, July 9 (PIA6) -- The municipality of Kalibo recently launched here its Local Flood Early Warning System (LFEWS) through a workshop to prepare for possible flooding in the capital town of Aklan with the onset of the rainy season. Through the LFEWS workshop, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) were able to learn six (6) important things to do during floods and other natural calamities that may affect Kalibo, through the guidance of Galo Ibardolaza, Executive Officer of the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and Terence June Toriano, Civil Defense Officer of Kalibo. Ibardolaza said that LFEWS is now focusing on the empow erment of local government units and communities in facing flood disasters by strengthening their skills in forecasting and improving their response capacity through early warning. LFEWS, according to Ibardolaza, came from the “READY” project of PAGASA and recommended by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. LFEWS will also improve the responses of the people to disasters from being reactive to pro-active, Ibardolaza said. For his part, Kalibo mayor William Lachica said that the municipality should always be prepared before and in times of calamities, and as one of the measures, the municipal government is hastening the completion of the evacuation center located at the Kalibo Magsaysay Park. At the workshop, participants, together with members of the Sangguniang Bayan , agreed on the procurement of needed materials, supplies and responses for the municipality, trainings for volunteers and operatives identified by the MDRRMC, passing of forced evacuation ordinance, provision of insurance coverage to volunteers, passing of ordinance to oblige business establishments to organize drills and dry runs and the conduct of LFEWS to 16 barangays of Kalibo. (VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

New Aklan Gov presents plans

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 4 (PIA6) -- Agriculture, fisheries and tourism – these will be the major thrusts that the provincial government of Aklan will be zeroing in under the leadership of Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, who takes over the helm of leading the province for the next three years. Miraflores enumerated these major thrusts, saying he takes over where his predecessor, former Governor Carlito Marquez has left off, during his presentation of his administration’s plans, programs and directions in local governance before the new set of Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the provincial legislative’s body’s inaugural session. The inaugural session, presided by Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo, was held July 3 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol attended by a jampacked crowd composed of heads and representatives of national government agencies, provincial government offices, local government units and the media. For the agriculture sector, Miraflores said the province will continue to focus on increasing rice and abaca production, rice hybridization and farm mechanization. The current road-widening project in Kalibo, Numancia and Makato by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to him, is also a good start to further improve the road network in the area, and revealed that a by-pass road will soon be constructed between the towns of Numancia and Makato to shorten the travel time of the public, especially the tourists and visitors passing through the Kalibo International Airport (KIA). Miraflores also said that KIA will be further expanded to accommodate long-haul aircrafts. “We do not want KIA to be left behind so the runway and apron will be expanded to open it to more destinations and remain as a premier airport in the province,” he said. Among other things, he also mentioned the improvement and rehabilitation of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH), Aklan’s provincial hospital and other district hospitals located in strategic municipalities, procurement of hospital equipment, and additional Philhealth membership of Aklan’s indigents. With the need to have enough power supply for Aklan, the governor revealed that Petro Energy, to be generated by wind power and seen to provide 50 megawatts of electricity, had been granted by the Department of Energy (DOE) its request for its commercial development and will soon be constructed with its completion set in 2014. Once completed, Miraflores said this will be another tourist attraction in the province. The governor also announced the soon-to start dredging of the Aklan River to mitigate flooding and reduce disaster risks in the municipality of Kalibo and other adjacent towns during heavy rains. Some 15 million cubic meters of the dredged materials, according to Miraflores, will be brought to Singapore by the dredging company. “At the same time, the province will earn from the dredging as the company that will conduct it, STL, will pay P5 for every cubic meter dredged,” Miraflores said. For all his plans and programs for the province for the next 3 years, Miraflores solicited the legislative support of the current Sangguniang Panlalawigan, saying he needs their cooperative efforts and advice. For her part, Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo assured Miraflores that the chamber has never been known to be an obstructionist body, proven with the performance of the past SP team that had done its job to support the goals of the province to make Aklan a worthy place to live in. Members of the Aklan SP for 2013-2016 include Honorables Soviet De la Cruz, Atty. Harry Sucgang, Rodson Mayor, Lillian Q. Tirol and Atty. Plaridel Morania for the eastern district and Honorables Joen Miraflores, Esel Flores, Nelson Sta. Maria, Roberto M. Garcia, Jr. and Ramon S. Gelito for the western district. Other SP members include Hon. Edina Gelito, ABC Provincial Federation President and Hon. Bob Augusto Legaspi representing the Provincial SK Federation. Hon. Jay Tejada, vice Hon. Jonna T. Morales-Torres, Provincial Councilors’ League President whose term has expired on June 30,2013, assumed as Interim Ex-Officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)

Kalibo's MDRRMC bags 1st place for Gawad Kalasag

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, July 2 (PIA6) -- The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) of Kalibo has been adjudged 1st place in the Search for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and humanitarian Assistance 2013 in the 1st to 3rd class municipalities category. This information was relayed to Kalibo mayor William Lachica, MDRRMC chairman by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) recently, informing the municipality that it passed the rigid evaluation by the Regional Selection Committee on May 6, 2013 and is one of the regional awardees for this year. Kalibo’s MDRRMC, which got a rating percentage of 92.44%, edged out last year’s 1st placer, Sibalom, Antique, which got 88.61 rating this year and came in second place in the search. Kalibo also joined the Government Emergency Response Management (GEM) category in basic search and rescue contest, which won for its special operations unit second place with a rating percentage of 90.44%. Presently, MDRRMC-Kalibo, under the helm of forcal person Terence T. Toriano is in the thick of preparations for this month’s observance of Disaster Preparedness, especially with the onset of the heavy rains. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)