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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

BFP: Use candles, generators with caution

KALIBO, Aklan, November 27 (PIA6) -- Lighted candles should not be neglected and these should be placed in safe places, away from curtains and other combustible materials to avoid fires. This is the constant reminder being issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here with the absence of electricity in the province due to Typhoon Yolanda. Aklanons have turned to using andles and kerosene lamps, especially those living in far-flung barangays, although some areas in the province, mostly poblacion areas, are now lighted by the Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO) with the help of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC). Since Typhoon Yolanda when people started using candles and kerosene lamps, BFP-Kalibo had responded to at least two fire calls, which were both caused by forgotten lighted candles. Fortunately, according to Fire Officer 2 Tristan Villanueva of BFP-Kalibo, no one was hurt, and damage in the two fire incidents was also minimal. BFP-Kalibo covers the municipalities of Numancia, Banga, and Libacao. Another thing that Aklanons should avoid, according to BFP-Kalibo, is over-using generators. Presently, many Aklanons are using generator sets to light their houses, utilize their appliances and in charging communication gadgets. Generators, according to FO2 Villanueva, should be operated by a qualified person, should operate only for 4 hours and have 30-45 minutes break or stoppage before being operated again, and placed outside the house for proper ventilation to avoid overheating. The generator should not also be placed near combustible materials, as its muffler might get heated and cause burning, said FO2 Villanueva. “We had been victimized by Typhoon Yolanda and it would be tragic if the typhoon spared our houses but will be lost due to the fire caused by lighted candles or overheated generators,” FO2 Villanueva said. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

BFP: Use candles, generators with caution

KALIBO, Aklan, November 27 (PIA6) -- Lighted candles should not be neglected and these should be placed in safe places, away from curtains and other combustible materials to avoid fires. This is the constant reminder being issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here with the absence of electricity in the province due to Typhoon Yolanda. Aklanons have turned to using andles and kerosene lamps, especially those living in far-flung barangays, although some areas in the province, mostly poblacion areas, are now lighted by the Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO) with the help of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC). Since Typhoon Yolanda when people started using candles and kerosene lamps, BFP-Kalibo had responded to at least two fire calls, which were both caused by forgotten lighted candles. Fortunately, according to Fire Officer 2 Tristan Villanueva of BFP-Kalibo, no one was hurt, and damage in the two fire incidents was also minimal. BFP-Kalibo covers the municipalities of Numancia, Banga, and Libacao. Another thing that Aklanons should avoid, according to BFP-Kalibo, is over-using generators. Presently, many Aklanons are using generator sets to light their houses, utilize their appliances and in charging communication gadgets. Generators, according to FO2 Villanueva, should be operated by a qualified person, should operate only for 4 hours and have 30-45 minutes break or stoppage before being operated again, and placed outside the house for proper ventilation to avoid overheating. The generator should not also be placed near combustible materials, as its muffler might get heated and cause burning, said FO2 Villanueva. “We had been victimized by Typhoon Yolanda and it would be tragic if the typhoon spared our houses but will be lost due to the fire caused by lighted candles or overheated generators,” FO2 Villanueva said. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Landbank extends P1.7M calamity assistance to Aklan LGUs

KALIBO, Aklan, November 26 (PIA6) -- A total of P1.7 million cash relief assistance from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Kalibo Branch was extended recently to Aklan’s 15 municipalities and the Provincial Government which were severely affected by Typhoon Yolanda. The cash relief distribution, which was led by Landbank-Aklan Manager Nina Ituriaga, was held at the Conference Hall of the Provincial Guest House, Provincial Capitol compound. Recipient municipalities included Altavas, Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington and Tangalan. These towns each received P100,000.00 while the Provincial Government of Aklan was granted P200,000.00. Mayors or their respective representatives were at hand to receive the cash relief assistance. The amount extended, according to Manager Ituriaga, is part of the P20.00 million fund donation of the bank to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas, and the bank’s response to the call of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Meanwhile, as part of the LBP’s information campaign, the attending mayors or their representatives, after the cash distribution, were briefed by Land Bank’s Senior Account Management Specialist (SAMS) Engr. Bernardo Moises, Team Leader of Iloilo Lending Center – Aklan Satellite Office on the LANDBANK CARES Program, which aims to further assist local government units in their rehabilitation programs and to continuously serve their constituents presently needing assistance. The LBP, according to recipient LGUs, was the first in the province to extend this kind of support to them after Typhoon Yolanda, said to be the strongest typhoon in the world for 2013, hit Aklan and the rest of Visayan provinces on November 8. As of latest count, the damage assessment report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) recorded a total of P2,678,759,988.57 in damages to Aklan’s agriculture, infrastructure, lifelines and public utilities. The report also recorded a total of 13 dead, 526 injured, 52,278 partially destroyed houses and 33,626 totally destroyed houses. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Aklan Restos now serving half-cup rice orders

KALIBO, Aklan, November 5 (PIA6) -- Most of Aklan’s food industry here from fast food to restaurants welcome the ordinance proposed by the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) requiring the food service industry within the province to include one-half cup of cooked rice in their menu. The food industry sector, through respective representatives, indicated their support for the ordinance at the public hearing held November 5 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall. The ordinance is sponsored by SP Member Soviet Russia A. Dela Cruz which aims to support the rice self-sufficiency program of the national government and to prevent rice wastage in fast foods, restaurants, catering services and other occasions. To emphasize the necessity of the passing of the ordinance, Dela Cruz cited empirical evidences that availability of half cup rice servings would minimize wastage especially in the food service industry. He also cited the study of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) that every Filipino wastes about 2 tablespoons of cooked rice every meal. De la Cruz’ draft ordinance also stated that in 2010, the Philippines’ wasted rice was equivalent to 13% of the total rice imports of the same year amounting to P6.2 B, or the consumption of nearly P2.6 million Filipinos in a year. Besides representatives of Aklan’s food industry who indicated their support to the ordinance by including the half-cup rice in their menu, others who gave their position statements for the ordinance were the Sangguniang Bayan Committee Chairs on Food and Agriculture from Aklan’s 17 towns, municipal agricultural officers, Philippine National Police (PNP) ordinance officers of different municipalities and the media. Covered by the ordinance are all businesses, institutions, and companies responsible for any meal prepared outside the home which includes, but are not limited to, restaurants, school,office, and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and fast-food chains operating within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality. These establishments will be required to include one-half cup cooked rice in their regular menu with price set exactly half of one cup; and to make half cup rice the default serving especially in caterings. Once approved, any food service provider found violating the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P1,000.00 for first offense; P3,000.00 and 1 month suspension of license to operated for second offense; and fine of P5,000.00 and permanent cancellation of license or permit to operate for 3rd offense. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: Mga establisimientong kaean-an sa Aklan, suportado ro ordinansa sa "half-cup rice"

KALIBO, Aklan, Nobyembre 5 (PIA6) -- Kaeabanan ku mga kaean-an iya sa Aklan halin sa “fast-food” hasta sa mga restaurant hay naga suporta sa ordinansa nga gina proponer it Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) nga naga mando sa mga kaean-an sa probinsya nga ieakot sa andang menu ro pagbaligya it tunga sa cup nga eaha nga humay sa andang mga menu. Ro sektor sa industriya sa pagkaon, paagi sa andang mga representante hay nag indikar ku andang pagsuporta sa ordinansa sa ginhiwat nga public hearing nga ginhiwat ku Nobyembre 5 sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall. Ro ordinansa hay gin sponsor ni SP Member Soviet Russia Dela Cruz nga tuyo nga suportahan ro programa it gobyerno para sa supisyente nga bugas sa nasyon ag malikawan ro pag inamulit it humay sa mga fastfood ag restaurant. Agud ipa intindi ro importansya it pagpasar it ordinansa, ginhambae man ni Dela Cruz ro pagserbe it tunga sa cup nga humay hay makapahagan-hagan it amulit it humay kapin eonggid sa mga kaean-an. Ginsambit man nana ro pagtuon it Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) nga kada Pilipino hay naga uyang it daywang (2) kutsarang humay kada kaon. Ginhambae man sa ordinansa nga ku 2010, ro haamulit nga humay it Pilipinas hay katumbas it 13% it kabilugan nga gin import nga bugas it Pilipinas ku rato man nga dag-on nga nag-abot sa P6.2 bilyon ukon gina konsumo it 2.6 milyon nga mga Pilipino sa sang dag-on. Euwas sa mga representante it industriya sa pagkaon nga nagpaabot ku andang suporta sa ordinansa, ro iba pa gid nga nagpaabot ku andang mga positibong posisyon sa ordinansa hay rong mga Committee Chairmen it SB Committee on Food and Agriculture it mga eain-eain nga mga banwa sa Aklan, mga municipal agriculture officers, nga ordinance officers it Philippine National Police (PNP) ag ro media. Daea sa ordinansa ro tanan nga mga negosyo, institutsyon ag nga kompanya nga naga preparar it pagkaon sa guwa it baeay pareho ku mga restaurant, kapeterya it mga eskuylahan ag hospital, ag mga fast food sa sueod it mga banwa. Sanda ra hay dapat mageakot it tunga sa cup nga humay sa andang regular menu sa presyo nga para sa tunga sa cup. Kon maaprobahan ra, ro maga bayolar hay pagapinahan it sang libo (P1,000.00) sa unang pagkasaea, P3,000.00 ag pagsuspindi it sang buean (one month) kon makasaea sa ikaywang kahigayunan ag P5,000.00 ag permanente nga pagkanselar it lisensya ukon permit sa pag operar sa ikatlong pagkasaea. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)