PALASYO, KUMPYANSA SANG MABASKOG KAG MAPAGSIK NGA EKONOMIYA SA 2010

Nagpaabot sang kumpyansa ang Malacanang nga ang ekonomiya sang pungsod mangin mabaskog kag mapagsik sa 2010 bangud sa mga reporma sa ekonomiya nga ginsuguran ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo kag sa pagbangon sang pangkalibutan nga ekonomiya.

Sa isa ka pakipag-angot sa Radyo ng Bayan, si Presidential Spokesperson for Economic Affairs Professor Gary Olivar ang nagsiling nga ang mga reporma pang-ekonomiya nga ginsuguran ni Presidente Arroyo mahimo mapadayon sang magabulos sa iya.

Ginpanan-aw niya nga ang pakig negosyo sang Pilipinas sa mayor sini nga mga pareha ang padayon nga magadugan dala na ang pagtaas sang pagkunsumo sa sulod sang pungsod ka gang pagkinahanglan nga magapabutwa sang ekonomiya sa madason nga tuig.

Una sini, ginpanan-aw sang National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) nga ang Gross domestic Product (GDP) magadaku sang 2.6% tubtub 3.6 % sa madason nga tuig.

Ginsiling ni Olivar nga ang pinakamabaskog nga punto sang Pilipinas amo ang mga remittances nga tuga sang mga OFWs, ang outsourcing kag foreshoring sector kag ang pagpangapital halin sa pribado nga sector.

Ginsiling man sang NEDA nga ang nagapatubo sang ekonomiya amo ang negosyo, turismo kag business process outsourcing, construction, pagmina kag pag-quarry, serbisyo sang gobyerno kag air transportation.

Para sa madason nga tuig, ginapana-aw sang NEDA nga ang magapadaku sang ekonomiya amo ang manufacturing, finance, transportation, communication kag storage, kag sector sa agrikultura.

Sa pihak sang mahinay nga pagtubo sang GDP kumpara sa iban nga tuig, nadala ang Pilipinas sa pila sa mga kaingud nga nasyon sa Asya nga nakaagum sang positibo nga pagtubo sa tunga sang pangkalibutan nga krisis sa ekonomiya. (PIA/vgv)

Aklan has enough Noche Buena goods for Christmas, DTI assures

Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan has enough goods for the Christmas season, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena said this is so because Aklan is the anchor point of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SNRH) that regularly ferries in RORO vessels, buses and delivery vans bringing goods from Luzon, replenishing stocks in groceries, supermarkets and wet markets here.

Director Cadena said the DTI is currently monitoring prices of goods nationwide per instruction of Sec. Peter Favila.

Focus of DTI's monitoring this season is the prices and supplies of the so-called Noche Buena products. In Aklan, Director Cadena said establishments are adhering to the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) set by the department.

"During our monitoring, we even found out that some Noche Buena products had reduced their prices compared with the earlier period," Cadena said.

Even then, he called on Aklanon consumers to be vigilant, and to report to proper agencies if they find some establishments overpricing their products.

Besides monitoring manufactured products, the DTI is also assisting the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the monitoring of agriculture products which are also Noche Buena mainstays like pork, chicken, beef, eggs, etc. The DTI is also monitoring the price of sugar. These products, excluding sugar, are produced locally.

With just a week before Christmas, Director Cadena advised Aklanons to buy their Christmas needs early to avoid big crowds and unplanned purchases.

"Do not be last-minute shoppers. Plan your purchases. If you don't, you will tend to buy anything on sight without scrutinizing the products well," he added.

Besides montoring of prices and supplies of Noche Buena products, the DTI is also monitoring this season other products like Christmas lights and manufactured firecrackers.

According to Director Cadena, the DTI will be monitoring firecracker manufacturers and traders together with the Philippine National Police.

"We will be going around Kalibo with the PNP to monitor if the the firecrackers being sold here are standard and if these have correct labellings," Cadena said.

The monitoring is also to ensure that firecracker manufacturers are complying with regulations, according to the DTI. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PGMA, gin-update sa $250M Clean Technology Grant

Gin-update si Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa $250-million Clean Technology Fund nga igahatag sang Asian Development Bank (ADB) kag World Bank (WB) agud buligan ang nasyon nga mapahagan-hagan ang epekto sang pagbaylo sang klima ukon Climate Change.

Ang grant, nga ginpaagi sa Department of Energy (DOE) ang may katumbas nga $2.75 billion nga investments nga kinahanglanon agud mabuhinan ang greenhouse gases kag padasigon ang pag implementar sang iban nga proyekto kag programa.

Sa isa ka meeting sa Malacanang, si Sohail Hasnie, ADB senior energy specialist ang nagsiling nga samtang inug release pa lang ang pundo, ang Pilipinas nagapanguna na subong sa clean technology work nga ginahimo na sa karon.

Gindugang pa gid sang DOE nga ang Pilipinas nagapanguna nga nasyon sa kalibutan may kaangtanan sa renewable energy kon diin ginagamit sini ang aplikasyon sa 43% sang kabilugan nga primary energy supply. Ugaling, ang nasyon ang isa sa may pinakamanubo nga per capita electricity consumption rate sa East Asia region.

Ang $250-million fund kabahin sang Philippine Clean Technology Fund Country Investment Plan, nga ara sa Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010), Philippine Energy Plan (2008-2030), National Environmentally Sustainable Transport Strategy, kag iban pa gid nga sector plans.

Ang mga opisyales sang gobyerno nga nag-atender sa meeting amo kanday Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul, kag Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc.

Ang mga opisyales sang ADB kag WB nga nagpakigkita kay Presidente Arroyo amo kanday ADB country director Neeraj Jain, ADB Principal Planning and Coordination Specialist Samuel Tumiwa; WB country director Bert Hoffman, WB sector leader for sustainable development Mark Woodland, kag WB Philippines transport sector coordinator Victor Dato. Si Jasper Virola sang International Finance Corp. and nag-atender man sa meeting. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Enjoy a hazard-free holiday : buy only ICC-marked Christmas lights, DTI tells Aklanons

Kalibo, Aklan -- With a little more than just a week to celebrate Christmas, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here is reminding Aklanons who might still catch up with decorations for the season to buy only Christmas lights with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark.

The ICC, according to the DTI, ensures the product's quality and safe use.

"In preparation with the fast-approaching Christmas season, the DTI prompts consumers to be extra cautious in buying Christmas lights to enjoy a hazard-free holiday, " said DTI Secretary Peter Favila in his press information materials sent through DTI provincial offices for awareness of the general public.

"Those cheap and uncertified sets of Christmas lights pose great hazards to its users, such as electric shock and overheating that often leads to fire. Only those Christmas lights with the ICC marks are safe and reliable to use as these products passed the required safety tests and inspections based on a specific standard," Sec. Favila added.

DTI regulates the sale of Christmas lights in the local market to protect consumers from the hazards posed by this critical product. Under the Bureau of Product Standards' (BPS) Product Certification Scheme, all importers of Christmas lights are required to have their import shipments (on a per Bill of Lading basis) subjected to sampling and testing based on the requirement of Philippine National Standards on Christmas lights (PNS 189:2000) at the BPS Testing Center, prior to its sale. Only those importers whose products comply with PNS requirements are issued with the ICC Certificate, and are authorized to affix the ICC mark in their products. The ICC mark comes in sticker form and is not directly printed on the package.

DTI Consumer Welfare Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, for her part, stressed that the DTI has only allowed the distribution and sale of sets of Christmas lights with the ICC certificate issued from 2007 to 2009, and requested the buying public to examine this on the ICC stickers before their purchase.

This is important, according to USEC Maglaya, since the wires of Christmas lights become brittle after some time and pose danger to the users.

In earlier pronouncements, DTI-Aklan, through Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, has constantly reminded Aklanons at the approach of the Christmas season to buy only Christmas lights from authorized establishments.

He also told Aklanons to refrain from buying Christmas lights sold at sidewalks or those sold by peddlers. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PGMA, NAGKOMEMORAR SANG IKA- 500,000th NGA ICT MILESTONE

Gin komemorar ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sang Disyembre 10 ang isa na naman ka markado nga kahigayunan sa pagtinguha sang gobyerno nga mahatagan sang trabaho ang mga Pilipino sa pagkapasulod sa obra sang ika 500,000^th nga empleyado sa industriya sang information and communications technology (ICT).

Personal nga ginpakitaan sang Presidente ang duha ka pinakaulihi nga nakasulod sang obra sa TOEI Animation Co., sa Eastwood City, Quezon City.

Ini kanday Dawna Joyce Borbon, isa ka 18 anyos nga residente sang Marikina, kag si Avelino Rufo, isa ka 20 anyos nga residente sang Caloocan City.

Si Borbon, isa sa mga linibo nga PGMA Scholars, ang ginbaton sang TOEI bilang assistant animator pagkatapos nga magkuha sang anum ka bulan nga animation course nga gintanyag sang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)

Ginpaabot niya ang iya pagpasalamat sa Presidente sa pagsugid nga ang PGMA scholarship program naghatag sa iya sang bentaha sa iban nga mapilian nga makasulod sa TOEI.

Si Rufo, isa man ka PGMA scholar, ang nagkuha sang iya training sa animation sa Take One Animation sang PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program. Sang matapos na niya ang iya training, ginpadala siya sa TOEI bilang in-between artist. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Wanted: Nurses for London

Kalibo, Aklan -- The Provincial Public Employment Office (PESO) here under the Provincial Government of Aklan is seeking nurse applicants for deployment to London.

Vivian Ruiz Solano, PESO-Aklan manager, said this is a big opportunity for Aklanon nurses, male or female and twenty-years (23) years old up to be able to work in London with very little expenses.

Qualified applicants, she said, can go without paying placement and other fees because these will be shouldered by the hospitals they are going to work for.

Interested applicants are urged to bring the following documents: English Test Results (IELTS) with an average score of not lower than 7.0 in all subjects; PRC pocket ID/Certificate/Board Rating; College Diploma; Transcript of Records; Birth Certificate on Security Paper (SECPA) of NSO; complete employment certifications and trainings; copy of a page of biometric passport; 2 passport-size photos; and certification/record showing that applicant has rendered at least 6 months experience as staff nurse or job order but not as a volunteer.

These documents including a resume' with photos should be saved on CD with photocopies. This must be placed inside a brown envelope for submission at the PESO office during working days.

The Provincial PESO office is located at the 2^nd floor of the Provincial Capitol Building. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PGMA, NAGPASIDUNGOG SA MGA AHENSYA SA GOBYERNO, PRIBADO NGA ORGANISASYON BANGUD SA QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Ginpasidunggan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sang Dec. 10 ang mga nagdalaog sang tuig nga ini sa ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Certification kag Philippine Quality Award sa Malacanang.

Kwarenta ka mga national kag local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, kag government financial institutions ang nagbaton sang ila ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) Certification halin sa Presidente.

Ang QMS certification kabahin sang panawagan sang gobyerno nga buhinan ang red tape kag magtuga sang makumpetensya nga sitwasyon sa ekonomiya.

Tatlo ka business organizations ang nagbaton sang 2009 Philippine Quality Award (PQA) nga amo ang katumbas sang nasyon sa prestihiyoso nga Baldrige National Quality Award sang U.S. Sa pagpili sang nagdalaog sang tuig nga ini, naggamit ang PQA sang 7 ka criteria: pagpamuno, stratehiya sa pagplano, pagsentro sa customer kag sa market; pag-analisar sa informasyon, pagsentro sa human resource o tinawuhan; process management, kag resulta sa negosyo.

Ginapamunuan ang PQA sang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) kag gina implementar sang DTI-Center for Industrial Competitiveness. Ang Development Academy of the Philippines ang Award Administrators para sa public sector kag Philippine Society for Quality para sa private sector.

Ginrekognisar man sang Presidente ang mga madason: 12 nga youth volunteers nga nagbaton sang 2009 Volunteers Award, ang highlight sang National Volunteer month nga ginasaulog sa Disyembre; 18 nga awardees sang Gawad sa Kampeon ng Kabataan 2009, nga nagarekognisar sang youth development sa ila Sanggunian; kag nagdalaog sa 2^nd National Service Training Program (NSTP) "Green Philippines" Awards 2009, ang nationwide search para sa pinakamaayo nga environmental program.

Ginpamunuan man sang Presidente ang paghatag sang certificates sa mga autonomous kag regulated colleges kag universities nga sigidas nga nagpakita sang tumalagsahon nga hinimuan sa paghatag sang edukasyon, research kag extension services. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Time capsule laying of the 190 lineal meter long, Our Lady of Guadalupe Bridge which will connect Barangay Daguitan to Poblacion Madalag, Aklan. The Project is under the President's Bridge Program which will benefit the Towns of Libacao and Madalag including some barangays of Banga, Aklan. In the picture are: (from left) DPWH-Aklan District Engineer, Roberto Cabigas, Libacao Mayor, Hon. Charito Navarosa, Aklan Governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan Congressman, Hon. Florencio T. Miraflores, The Bridge Master, Tet Haresco, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Office of the President Assistant Secretary, Victor A. Salvacion, Madalag Mayor, Hon. Rex Gubatina and Assistant Provincial Engineer, Edelson Magalit, assisting. (PIA-Aklan/JTT)

Time capsule laying of Our Lady of Guadalupe Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time capsule laying of the 190 lineal meter long, Our Lady of Guadalupe Bridge which will connect Barangay Daguitan to Poblacion Madalag, Aklan. The Project is under the President's Bridge Program which will benefit the Towns of Libacao and Madalag including some barangays of Banga, Aklan. In the picture are: (from left) DPWH-Aklan District Engineer, Roberto Cabigas, Libacao Mayor, Hon. Charito Navarosa, Aklan Governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan Congressman, Hon. Florencio T. Miraflores, The Bridge Master, Tet Haresco, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Office of the President Assistant Secretary, Victor A. Salvacion, Madalag Mayor, Hon. Rex Gubatina and Assistant Provincial Engineer, Edelson Magalit, assisting. (PIA-Aklan/JTT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time capsule laying of the 190 lineal meter long, Our Lady of Guadalupe Bridge which will connect Barangay Daguitan to Poblacion Madalag, Aklan. The Project is under the President's Bridge Program which will benefit the Towns of Libacao and Madalag including some barangays of Banga, Aklan. In the picture are: (from left) DPWH-Aklan District Engineer, Roberto Cabigas, Libacao Mayor, Hon. Charito Navarosa, Aklan Governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez, Aklan Congressman, Hon. Florencio T. Miraflores, The Bridge Master, Tet Haresco, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Office of the President Assistant Secretary, Victor A. Salvacion, Madalag Mayor, Hon. Rex Gubatina and Assistant Provincial Engineer, Edelson Magalit, assisting. (PIA-Aklan/JTT)

 

 

 

 

Be sure to have 10 complete fingers in 2010, DOH tells Aklanons

Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklanons must make sure they still have 10 complete fingers in 2010 by avoiding using firecrackers or being very careful in handling one this Christmas season and during New Year, according to Dr. Elepoldo Magpusao, Medical Officer IV of the Department of Health (DOH) here.

With 16 days to go before Christmas, Dr. Magpusao called on Aklanons, especially the parents, not to allow their children to handle firecrackers.

"Adults should only be the ones who should handle firecrackers. However, they should avoid handling or using it when they are drunk, as they may mistake throwing other things from their hands, instead of the firecracker, which could explode in their hands. They might also throw the firecrackers indiscriminately," Dr. Magpusao told Aklanon listeners of PIA's radio program aired over IBC-DYRG in Kalibo.

Magpusao said the DOH advocacy is centered more in the prevention of firecracker injuries rather than treatment, because treatment of firecracker injuries is very painful, costly and may cost victims some of their body parts like fingers and hands.

Treating firecracker injuries is also very tedious, according to Dr. Magpusao.

"The wound should be cleaned carefully and thoroughly so as not to leave firecracker components which are dangerous and can cause tetanus. The victims must be injected with anti-tetanus injections, and in many cases, the doctors have to amputate the affected body parts to avoid infections. If a victim's body part is amputated, he is sure to be reminded every Christmas or New Year that comes in the future that parts of his body are not complete anymore. So this coming year 2010, let us make sure that we still have 10 complete fingers," Dr. Magpusao said.

Magpusao said some of the most dangerous firecrackers listed by the DOH include piccolo, kwitis, 5-star, and home-made ones.

He also called on people owning guns to avoid firing their guns during Christmas and New Year.

"Let us celebrate Christmas and New Year just right, peacefully and carefully. We can still welcome the New Year with noise, but not necessary with firecrackers which are dangerous to life and to the environment," Magpusao said.

Just recently, DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque emphasized to the public that there are no safe firecrackers or fireworks.

"These devices are not toys and are very dangerous, especially in the hands of innocent children," Health Secretary Duque said. "We recommend a ban on the use of these devices in residential areas and encourage local authorities to designate an area where fireworks could be lighted, displayed and handled by professionals, or those who are trained in using explosive devices," he added.

Duque also disclosed that the top 5 firecrackers causing "Blast Burn with Amputation" are home-made or altered firecrackers, 5-star, camara, rebentador and whistle bomb. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

 

SERBISYO KAG AGRIKULTURA, NAGPATAAS SANG 3RD QUARTER GNP

Sa pihak sang global recession, ang Gross National Product (GNP) sang Pilipinas nagdaku sang 3.5% sa ikatlo nga quarter sang tuig nga ini, nga gin-bayaw sang sektor sa agrikultura kag serbisyo. Ang GNP amo ang sumada sang mga produkto kag serbisyo sang nasyon.

Ang Gross Domestic Product (GDP), nga amo ang GNP buhinan sang overseas remittances, ang nagdaku lamang sang 0.8% sa pareho man nga panahon. Ini mas manubo sang sa 1.5% sa ikaduha nga quarter pero sa sulod man gihapon sang target range sa tunga sang 0.8% kag 1.8% para sa tuig.

Sa isa ka press briefing pagkatapos sang NEDA Cabinet meeting nga gintambungan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, si NEDA Director-General Augustos Santos ang nagsugid nga ang nagdaku nga produkto sa agrikultura nga wala pa maapektuhan sang Bagyong Ondoy sang Sept. 26 ang nagtabon sa negatibo nga pagtubo sa manufacturing.

Ginsiling ni Santos nga magabawi ang manufacturing sa masulod nga tuig sa pagbaskog sa pagkinahanglan sang semi-conductors. Ang semi-conductors kag electronics ang sa subong nagakumpuner sang 60% tubtub 70% sang gina-export sang Pilipinas.

Sa pihak nga bahin, ginpaabot man ni Santos nga nagapabilin nga mabaskog ang piso kontra sa US dollar, nga may Gross International Reserves (GIR) nga halos $44 billion ukon katumbas sang walo ka bulan nga balor sang imports. Ang kumportable nga GIR katumbas sang tatlo ka bulan nga imports.

Madamo nga foreign currency sa nasyon bangud sang tatlo ka rason: mabaskog nga overseas remittances, padayon nga foreign direct investments, kag ang liwat nga pagsulod sang portfolio investments ukon foreign money nga naka invest sa local nga stock market.

Sa isa ka bahin naman, ginsugid ni Santos nga nakarehistro ang Pilipinas sang 7.5% unemployment rate sa tuig nga ini kumpara sa 11% sang U.S., nga nakaguwa sa recession pagkatapos sang 3^rd quarter.

Ginrekomendar ni Santos nga magpadayon ang Pilipinas sa iya sini nga stimulus spending bisan pa nga nagapaayo pa ang global economy. Ugaling, ginsiling niya nga dapat ipabilin sang gobyerno nasyonal ang fiscal deficit sa tunga sang P230 billion kag P250 billion ukon 3.2% sang GDP. Sa karon, ang deficit ara na sa P300 billion. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan governor thanks PGMA for government projects given to province

Banga, Aklan -- He was only given three minutes to welcome President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo upon her arrival in Brgy. Venturanza here to groundbreak the country's first Biomass Power Plant December 7 on her fourth visit this year to Aklan but in essence, Governor Carlito S. Marquez was able to impart what most Aklanons wanted to say to the President – and that is to thank her for the various infrastructure and social development projects she brought to the province that made living for Aklanons better.

Among the things Governor Marquez thanked the President for were for the development of Kalibo International Airport (KIA), Boracay Circumferential Road in Boracay Island, Caticlan Airport Expansion Development, the President's Bridge Program, the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the universal coverage program of Philhealth.

Governor Marquez proudly informed PGMA that just December 4, direct regular flights from Incheon, South Korea have started landing at the KIA and will have four flights weekly starting December 20.

"Soon, there will also be other direct flights from China and other countries," Governor Marquez told the President. On the other hand, he told the President that the circumferential road in Boracay will be named the Diosdado Macapagal Circumferential Road through an SP resolution.

Governor Marquez also thanked the President for the implementation of the 4Ps program here, with at least P7 million in cash assistance already availed by qualified beneficiaries in Libacao and Madalag. Presently, Altavas and Balete are being surveyed for inclusion to the program, but the governor is also lobbying for the town of Malinao for inclusion.

Governor Marquez also thanked the President for signing the Renewable Energy Act, which paved the way for investors to come in to Aklan, like the ASEA One Power Corporation (AOPC) which owns the Biomass Power Plant project.

The power plant, a clean energy initiative, aims to help address the critical shortfall of power supply in Western Visayas.

The project is seen to provide economic benefits to the community through employment generation and extra income to some 70,000 farmers in the province who could sell their agricultural waste to the power plant. The agricultural waste will be utilized by the power plant as fuel.

The governor also acknowledged the significance of the new RORO route also launched by PGMA during her visit to the economic development efforts of the province. The route, through the Super shuttle Ferry 2, offers cheap transportation fares to passengers from Dumaguit, New Washington, Aklan going to Batangas, and to shippers and businessmen here who would find it easier to bring their products or vehicles to Luzon, and vice versa. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PGMA groundbreaks RP’s 1st biomass power plant; launches new RORO route in Aklan

Kalibo, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited Aklan today to groundbreak the country's first Biomass Power Plant and to launch the new RORO route from Aklan to Batangas via Odiongan, Romblon.

Arriving at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon, the President and her party, along with Aklan officials, motored straight to Venturanza, Banga, Aklan for the broundbreaking ceremony of the project.

The ceremony was witnessd by Aklan officials led by Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores, Governor Carlito S. Marquez, Vice Governor Gabrielle C. Quimpo, SP officials and Banga LGU officials led by Acting mayor Melanio Rentillo, officials of ASEA One Power Corporation (AOPC), barangay constituents and the media.

Immediately after lowering the time capsule, Aklan governor Carlito Marquez welcomed President Arroyo to the activity and thanked her for the various developmental and social projects in Aklan from her administration like the President's Bridge Program and the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which has already provided some P7 million cash assistance to qualified beneficiaries.

Paul Rodriguez, President of AOPC on the other hand, briefed PGMA on the various socio-economic benefits to be derived by the province and the community with the putting up of the biomass power plant. He also showed PGMA various samples of agricultural waste like hay and rice hull which will be used as fuel of the plant.

The BioMass Power Plant is owned by AOPC, a $30,000,000 (P1.44 billion) investment which aims to produce clean energy from indigenous agricultural and forest residues as primary feedstock such as rice straw, rice and coconut husks and woodchips. The power plant will be on a distributed and embedded system to prevent total blackout and reduce the cost of power generation. It will be equipped with highly-efficient boiler, turbine and generator set and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) to control ash emission.

From Venturanza, Banga, PGMA motored to Dumaguit, New Washington, Aklan. Along the way, the Presidential convoy was cheered by schoolchildren waving flaglets.

At the Dumaguit Port, the President was welcomed by New Wahington Mayor Edgar Peralta while Super Shuttle RORO Corp. Pres. Paul Rodriguez briefed her on the new RORO route.

The President also talked with two beneficiaries of the new RORO route – Edgar Sabino, a junk shop owner, and John Rey Biadnes, a crew of the Super Shuttle Ferry 2.

Sabino said the new RORO route will be a big help to his junk shop business, as he could deliver his products with less expenses and less people to pay which means big savings on his part.

The RORO route by the Super shuttle Ferry will have very cheap passenger fares ranging from P600 for the economy class and P800 for the tourist class. Passengers debarking in Odiongan, Romblon will only pay P450.00.

Besides from some more or less 354 passengers it could carry, it can also load 20 wheelers, 6 wheelers and 4 wheelers.

The new route will leave Dumaguit every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

New Aklan RORO route to Batangas to make travel for Aklanons cheaper, faster

Kalibo, Aklan -- The new RORO route from Dumaguit, New Washington, Aklan to Batangas via Odiongan, Romblon, which will be launched by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on December 7 will open cheap, affordable and fast sea transportation from Eastern Aklan to Luzon.

The province has another RORO route from Caticlan to Luzon via Mindoro on the western side.

According to Lowell M. Elim, Business Development Manager of Super Shuttle Ferry Corporation, the vessel, Super Shuttle Ferry 2, can accommodate 354 passengers and big rolling vehicles.

A passenger from Aklan going to Batangas will pay only P600.00 for the one-way trip, while those debarking only in Odiongan, Romblon will pay P450.00.

The RORO vessel will make three trips weekly from Aklan on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 12 noon. From Batangas, it will have trips to Dumaguit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00 p.m.

The new route is expected to bring many socio-economic benefits to Aklanons. Constituents coming from the Eastern side of Aklan from the towns of Altavas, Batan, Balete, Banga, Kalibo and New Washington need not go anymore to Caticlan, Malay, spending time and transportation fare to take the RORO vessels in Caticlan but instead will take the Super Shuttle Ferry 2 that can accommodate passengers and their cargoes, including big vehicles. Shippers will also find it easier to send and receive their cargoes with the opening of the new RORO route.

The opening of the new route is also seen to generate jobs for the people in the immediate community. It will generate business opportunities that could provide additional revenues for the municipality of New Washington.

The new RORO route has long been requested by the local government of New Washington, headed by its mayor, Hon. Edgar Peralta. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Biomass power plant to help reduce green house effects, assure energy needs, says Aklan solon

Kalibo, Aklan -- The putting up of a Biomass Power Plant in Agbanawan, Banga, Aklan is one way of reducing the environment's green house effect and at the same time be an answer to Aklan's energy needs, according to Aklan's representative to the Lone District of Aklan, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores.

"The Biomass Power Plant in Banga is the first of its kind in the country – using agricultural waste as fuel for the plant like coconut husks, rice straws and wood chips", Rep. Miraflores told Aklanon listeners over station GMA-DYRU during his regular weekly report of his activities in Congress.

Miraflores also told the listeners that no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be coming to Aklan on December 7 to inaugurate the Biomass Power Plant.

The 12 MW power plant is owned by One Asia Power Corporation (OAPC), a Clean Energy Base Load project. Its business plan has been awarded First Place winner during the business competition, 1^st Private Finance Advising Network (PFAN) during the Philippines Clean Energy Investor Forum held June 15, 2009 in Manila.

Miraflores said that besides the Biomass Power Plant, another model of generating renewable energy is the hydro-electric power plant, which has potentials in the towns of Libacao and Madalag in Aklan.

"The two models are part of the major thrust of the national government to use renewable energy and not bunker fuel, which has green house effects and has brought typhoons and floods in the country," Miraflores said. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PGMA to visit Aklan tomorrow

Kalibo, Aklan -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be gracing Aklan tomorrow, December 7, with her 4^th visit for the year to inaugurate the country's first Biomass power plant and to launch the RORO route from Dumaguit, New Washington, Aklan to Batangas via Odiongan, Romblon.

The Biomass Power Plant is owned by ASEA One Power Corporation (AOPC), which will have its plant at Agbanawan, Banga, Aklan.

Visioning to be a leader in the Philippines' biomass energy, demonstrate profitable business model and generate social and environmental benefits, the 12 MW Biomass Power Plant is expected to be operational in January 2011.

The power plant, according to Jedi Jim Carcallas, ASEA One Power development communications officer, will utilize local agricultural residues such as rice stalks/hulls, rice straws, sugarcane waste, bagasse, coconut shells and coconut husks.

The putting up of the power plant in Agbanawan, Banga is seen to provide green collar employment to the people in the community which is lay-off proof and will benefit the province' 70,000 farmers and mill workers. It would also provide extra income to Aklanons as the plant will be buying agricultural waste and forest residues from them amounting to almost P100,000 annually.

Feedstocks suppliers will also be beneficiaries of a profit-sharing program, while farmers will be given the bottom ash as soil conditioners in their farmlands.

Once operational, the power plant will help solve the critical shortfall of power supply in Western Visayas, according to AOPC.

Paul Rodriguez, AOPC President, will brief PGMA on the Biomass Project.

After the groundbreaking ceremonies highlighted by President Arroyo's lowering of the time capsule, the group will proceed to Dumaguit, New Washington to launch the RORO route from Dumaguit to Batangas via Odiongan, Romblon.

The route will be plied by the Super Shuttle Ferry, a vessel that could accommodate 354 passengers and big vehicles, according to Lowell M. Elim, Business Development Officer of Super Shuttle Ferry Corporation. It will have three trips from Dumaguit weekly – Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday every 12 noon, while its trip schedule from Batangas is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The route will provide a cheap passage from Dumaguit to Batangas for Aklanons, costing them P600 if they are going to Batangas, and P450.00 if they are only up to Odiongan, Romblon.

President Arroyo's visit to Aklan December 7 is the third leg of her visit to Panay Island, visiting first the Province of Iloilo, then Capiz, and finally, Aklan. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Country’s first biomass power plant to bring socio-economic benefits to Aklanons

Kalibo, Aklan -- The country's first biomass power plant which will be put up at Agbanawan, Banga, Aklan will be bringing many socio-economic benefits to the Aklanon community.

To be inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo December 7, the power plant, owned by by ASEA One Power Corporation (AOPC), is expected to be operationalized in January 2011, and is a waste to energy initiative offering power that is clean, green, dependable affordable and renewable.

With an investment of P1,440,000,000.00, the project will bring about P810,000 benefit to the host community annually, according to the AOPC. It will generate jobs, through green collar employment, which will be lay-off-proof, benefiting 70,000 farmers and mill workers.

It will increase farmers' income, as their agricultural waste and other forest residues which will be utilized as feedstock of the power plant will be bought from them.

Feedstocks suppliers, according to the AOPC, will also benefit from a profit-sharing program.

The project will also help eradicate poverty – one of the main goals of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration – by generating jobs, increasing incomes and , offering employment which exercises gender equality.

It has adaptation and mitigation on Climate Change and Global Warming – alleviating onslaught of supertyphoons, floods and droughts; reduce green house gas emissions factor equivalent to 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year or 1,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide for the next 25 years.

It will create an energy-secured environment too, while utilizing Aklan's indigenous indigenous residues which are either burned or left idle in the fields emitting the more potent gases.

With the economic activity in the area, there will also be an increase in the quality of livelihood, enhancement of disposable income, higher purchasing power , opportunities to attain higher level of education resulting to comfort and convenience in life of the constituents in the franchise areas of the Aklan Electric Cooperative, the possible power distributor of the AOPC to the consuming public in the immediate area.

As fiscal incentive, it will have 12% VAT exempt status on power generation being renewable energy, resulting to lower cost of power.

The AOPC business plan has been recognized and awarded as one of the most promising clean energy investment opportunities in the ASEAN region during the Business Plan Competition at the Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing on March 4, 2009 in Singapore, organized by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) and the USAID. (PIA/Venus G./ Villanueva)

MGA LGUs KAG OFWs, PAGAPASIDUNGGAN NI PGMA

Pagapangunahan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang pagrekognisar sa 14 nga mga Local Government Units (LGUs) kag dalayawon nga mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sa simple nga seremonya sa Rizal Hall sang Malacañang.

Igahatag ni Presidente Arroyo ang 2009 Galing Pook nga mga plaque sa 14 ka mga LGUs nga may pinasahi nga programa sa local nga panimanwa.

Lima ka mga pagapasidunggan ang naghalin sa Mindanao, duha sa Visayas samtang pito naman ang gikan sa Luzon.

Ang mga nanari-sari nga mga programa nga napilian nga tagdaog ang natuhoy sa kalinong kag pagresolbar sang mga nanarisari nga mga conflicto tubtub sa pag-amlig sa palibot , ikaayong lawas kag serbisyo sosyal.

Kada programa sang local government unit halin sa barangay kag munisipyo, siyudad kag probinsya ang gin-ebalwar para sa mga inobasyon, positibo nga resulta, transferability kag padayon nga pag-implementar sini, partisipasyon sang mga pumuluyo kag kaabtik sini.

Ang 2009 Galing Pook Awardees amo ang Saranggani Province; Midsayap, Cotabato; Tabuk, Kalinga; Barangay Luz, Cebu City; Marikina City; Taguig City; Quezon City; Bayawan City; Surallah, South Cotabato; Makati City; Malaybalay City; Barangay Barobo, Valencia City; Bulacan Province; kag Parañaque City.

Pagapasidunggan man sang Presidente ang 16 ka mga dalayawon kag pinasahi nga mga OFWs sang Bagong Bayani Awards (BBA).

Tuyo sang BBA nga rekognisahon kag magpasidungog sa mga OFWs sa ila pagtinguha nga maka-establisar sang maayo nga imahe sa mga nakasari-sari nga mga pumuluyo sang kalibutan, kag pagpakita nga ang mga Pilipino makasarang, responsible kag but-anan nga empleyado; kag sa pagbulig man sa socio-economic development sang ila komunidad kag sang nasyon sa kabilugan.

May apat ka kategorya ang award, isa ka inobasyon nga ginpakita sa 2005 Bagong Bayani Awards agud makit-an ang nagalain-lain nga kontribusyon sang mga OFWs suno sa ila mga aktibidades.

Ang pinakamataas nga dungog amo ang Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani, nga ginahatag sa pinasahi kag tumalagsahon nga OFW.

Ang tatlo pa gid ka kategorya amo ang Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee, Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service kag Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and Arts. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Dugang nga $10 M balor sang pagkaon sa mga ginbaha, gin-paabot ni Ambassador Kenney

Ginpahibalo ni U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenny nga may kadugangan nga $10 milyon nga 'food aid' bilang kabahin sang disaster relief kag recovery assistance sang gobyerno sang U.S para sa Pilipinas, nga nagdala sa kabilugan nga bulig nga $30 milyon. Sa iya ginpaabot nga mensahe sa World Food Program (WFP) sa Baguio City, ginsugid niya nga ang kadugangan nga bulig magasabat sa padayon nga pagkinahanglan sang mga Pilipino, dala na ang kinahanglanon sang mga komunidad.

Pagkatapos dalasa sang mga Bagyo nga Ondoy kag Pepeng sa Pilipinas, naghatag ang United States sang sobra sa $14 milyon nga bulig paagi sa rescue kag relief aid agud buligan ang 10 milyon nga biktima sang bagyo. Sang Nobyembre 12, si U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ang nag-anunsyo sang kadugangan nga $5.2 milyon nga disaster relief kag recovery assistance sa pagbisita niya sa Pilipinas. Ang dugang nga bulig nga ginpaguwa sang Secretary magasabat sa mga kinahanglanon sa edukasyon, tubig, sanitasyon, ikaayong lawas, kag pagpangaman sa kalamidad.

Ang WFP logistics hub kabahin sang pagtinguha sang gobyerno sang U.S. nga solbahon ang problema sa alagyan sa na-norte nga bahin sang Luzon. Madamo nga mga barangay ang indi pa malab-ot bangud sa mga naguba nga tulay kag grabe nga landslides. Nagbaton ang WFP sang $1 million agud maghatag sang logistics support sa pagpanagtag sang relief goods kag mga kinahanglanon nga supplies. Paagi sa bulig, ang Pilipinas, kag mga humanitarian agencies ang nakabulig sa subong sa 2 milyon nga mga pumuluyo.

Magabisita man si Ambassador Kenney sa Barangay Little Kibungan sa La Trinidad nga banwa sang Benguet Province, isa sa mga pinakagrabe nga gin-igo sa Cordillera Administrative Region bangud sa landslide nga nagpatay sang 77 nga mga pumuluyo sang Oktubre 8. Magapakigsakup man si Ambassador Kenney sa pagpanagtag sang relief items nga may logistical support sang gobyerno sang U.S. sa 142 nga mga residente sang Little Kibungan nga nadulaan sang puluy-an. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

MGA EMPLEYADO SANG GOBYERNO, DAPAT MAGPROTEKTAR SA PALIBOT, SUNO KAY REMONDE

Ginpasalamatan ni Press Secretary Cerge Remonde ang mga empleyado sang gobyerno sa paghimo sang ila bahin sa pagprotektar sang palibot.

Suno kay Remonde, nagapangatubang subong ang mga pumuluyo sang isa pa gid ka paghangkat - ang pagpahagan-hagan sang mga malain nga epekto sang Climate Change nga nakabutang sa theme celebration nga "Paglingap Sa Kalikasan, Tungkulin ng Bawat Kawani ng Pamahalaan.

Ginpaabot sang Cabinet Secretary ang iya mensahe sa ginhiwat nga selebrasyon sang Government Employees' Week sa Malacañang.

Ang Pilipinas, suno kay Remonde, indi kabangdanan kundi biktima sang Climate Change. Gindugang pa gid niya nga ang mga industrialisado nga mga nasyon ang responsable sini apang indi man dapat magpabaya lang ang Pilipinas.

"We need to do our part to help cleanse the environment," siling ni Remonde. "And we must act fast."

Suno sa iya, maswerte ang nasyon kay Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bilang pinuno, nga determinado nga maghulag para sa mas berde nga planeta.

Ginsugid ni Remonde nga isa pa gid sa mga inisyatibo sang Presidente amo ang pagpirma sang Climate Change Act of 2009, nga nagatalana sang pang-abang sang gobyerno kag pag-adaptar sang mga tikang batok sa mga indi malikawan nga mga epekto sang Climate Change.

Dugang pa gid ni Remonde, ang laye naga establisar sang "national framework strategy kag programa sa climate change, isa ka direkta nga sabat sa nagaguwa nga mga global concerns agud masiguro ang mga pang-abang nga tikang kag adaptasyon – duha ka mga instrumento nga kinahanglan sa pag-away sa Climate Change.

Nagakahulugan lamang ini, siling ni Remonde, nga tanan sa gobyerno halin sa nasyonal pakadto sa lokal nga level ang may importante nga papel o bahin nga pagahimuon. (PIA/vgv)

Zest Air to have inaugural flight from Korea to Kalibo Airport

Kalibo, Aklan -- An inaugural direct flight from Incheon, South Korea to Kalibo International Airport (KIA) will materialize December 4 through Zest Air.

According to the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office, the inaugural flight will be landing at KIA carrying a total of 170 passengers including media personalities of Korean publication companies and tourism industry, crew and Zest Air executives.

After the inaugural flight, there will be 2 regular flights every week by Zest Air Mondays and Fridays.

Starting December 20, however, this will become four (4) regular flights a week up to February 7, 2010.

This event is expected to be featured at local Korean publications and news magazines in Korea.

With this latest development, Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 Regional Director Edwin G. Trompeta said that Kalibo's local tourism industry and that of Aklan will greatly benefit from this opportunity, which is seen to contribute a lot to the tourism mileage of the local tourism industry. (PTO/PIA/vgv)

Aklan governor, 3 others to be honored at WV Tourism Assembly in Capiz

Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez, along with three other major awardees from Aklan will be honored as the region celebrates this year's Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009 in Capiz December 4-6, according to the Provincial Tourism Office here.

As the leading awardee from Aklan of the Western Visayas Tourism Excellence Awards 2009, Governor Marquez will be conferred the Regional Director's Award. Manager Jose Parreño, Jr. of Discovery Shores Boracay, will also receive the Regional Director's Award while Ms. Roselle Q. Ruiz of Aklan Provincial Tourism Office will receive the Special Award, Tourism Officer (Provincial Level). The Discovery Shores Boracay on the other hand, will be awarded for being theBest Resort (Class AAA) in the Awards Night to be held at Nestas, Roxas City.

    Other activities to be held during the 3-day event are the Regional Tourism Exhibit/Fair; Regional Tourism Congress, the Search for Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2009, Travel Invitational and Food Festival. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan to participate in the WV Tourism Assembly 2009

Kalibo, Aklan -- The Provincial Government of Aklan through the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office will be participating in the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009 on December 4-6 in Roxas City. Capiz.

This big event will be joined by all provinces of Western Visayas – Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Aklan.

This will be sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Capiz Provincial Government, and City Government of Roxas.

The event will officially open on December 4 in Roxas City through a grand Parade of Festivals, followed by a Festival Showdown at 3:00 in the afternoon at Villareal Stadium. Aklan will be represented in this showdown by the Ati warriors of Kalibo Ati-atihan and Ibajay Ati-Ati. The opening ceremonies will be held at the Capiz Gym.

On the second day, the province of Aklan will present at the Capiz Gym a one-hour cultural show featuring the Re-enactment of the Barter of Panay, to be participated in by the Northwestern Visayan Colleges Performing Arts Guild and Arts Council of Aklan Foundation, Inc.

The province of Aklan has already played host to the WV Tourism Assembly. The hosting of this event is rotated yearly among the provinces in Western Visayas. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

MGA LGUs KAG OFWs, PAGAPASIDUNGGAN NI PGMA

Pagapangunahan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang pagrekognisar sa 14 nga mga Local Government Units (LGUs) kag dalayawon nga mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sa simple nga seremonya sa Rizal Hall sang Malacañang.

Igahatag ni Presidente Arroyo ang 2009 Galing Pook nga mga plaque sa 14 ka mga LGUs nga may pinasahi nga programa sa local nga panimanwa.

Lima ka mga pagapasidunggan ang naghalin sa Mindanao, duha sa Visayas samtang pito naman ang gikan sa Luzon.

Ang mga nanari-sari nga mga programa nga napilian nga tagdaog ang natuhoy sa kalinong kag pagresolbar sang mga nanarisari nga mga conflicto tubtub sa pag-amlig sa palibot , ikaayong lawas kag serbisyo sosyal.

Kada programa sang local government unit halin sa barangay kag munisipyo, siyudad kag probinsya ang gin-ebalwar para sa mga inobasyon, positibo nga resulta, transferability kag padayon nga pag-implementar sini, partisipasyon sang mga pumuluyo kag kaabtik sini.

Ang 2009 Galing Pook Awardees amo ang Saranggani Province; Midsayap, Cotabato; Tabuk, Kalinga; Barangay Luz, Cebu City; Marikina City; Taguig City; Quezon City; Bayawan City; Surallah, South Cotabato; Makati City; Malaybalay City; Barangay Barobo, Valencia City; Bulacan Province; kag Parañaque City.

Pagapasidunggan man sang Presidente ang 16 ka mga dalayawon kag pinasahi nga mga OFWs sang Bagong Bayani Awards (BBA).

Tuyo sang BBA nga rekognisahon kag magpasidungog sa mga OFWs sa ila pagtinguha nga maka-establisar sang maayo nga imahe sa mga nakasari-sari nga mga pumuluyo sang kalibutan, kag pagpakita nga ang mga Pilipino makasarang, responsible kag but-anan nga empleyado; kag sa pagbulig man sa socio-economic development sang ila komunidad kag sang nasyon sa kabilugan.

May apat ka kategorya ang award, isa ka inobasyon nga ginpakita sa 2005 Bagong Bayani Awards agud makit-an ang nagalain-lain nga kontribusyon sang mga OFWs suno sa ila mga aktibidades.

Ang pinakamataas nga dungog amo ang Blas F. Ople Award para sa Natatanging Bagong Bayani, nga ginahatag sa pinasahi kag tumalagsahon nga OFW.

Ang tatlo pa gid ka kategorya amo ang Bagong Bayani Award for Outstanding Employee, Bagong Bayani Award for Community and Social Service kag Bagong Bayani Award for Culture and Arts. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Dugang nga $10 M balor sang pagkaon sa mga ginbaha, gin-paabot ni Ambassador Kenney

Ginpahibalo ni U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenny nga may kadugangan nga $10 milyon nga 'food aid' bilang kabahin sang disaster relief kag recovery assistance sang gobyerno sang U.S para sa Pilipinas, nga nagdala sa kabilugan nga bulig nga $30 milyon. Sa iya ginpaabot nga mensahe sa World Food Program (WFP) sa Baguio City, ginsugid niya nga ang kadugangan nga bulig magasabat sa padayon nga pagkinahanglan sang mga Pilipino, dala na ang kinahanglanon sang mga komunidad.

Pagkatapos dalasa sang mga Bagyo nga Ondoy kag Pepeng sa Pilipinas, naghatag ang United States sang sobra sa $14 milyon nga bulig paagi sa rescue kag relief aid agud buligan ang 10 milyon nga biktima sang bagyo. Sang Nobyembre 12, si U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ang nag-anunsyo sang kadugangan nga $5.2 milyon nga disaster relief kag recovery assistance sa pagbisita niya sa Pilipinas. Ang dugang nga bulig nga ginpaguwa sang Secretary magasabat sa mga kinahanglanon sa edukasyon, tubig, sanitasyon, ikaayong lawas, kag pagpangaman sa kalamidad.

Ang WFP logistics hub kabahin sang pagtinguha sang gobyerno sang U.S. nga solbahon ang problema sa alagyan sa na-norte nga bahin sang Luzon. Madamo nga mga barangay ang indi pa malab-ot bangud sa mga naguba nga tulay kag grabe nga landslides. Nagbaton ang WFP sang $1 million agud maghatag sang logistics support sa pagpanagtag sang relief goods kag mga kinahanglanon nga supplies. Paagi sa bulig, ang Pilipinas, kag mga humanitarian agencies ang nakabulig sa subong sa 2 milyon nga mga pumuluyo.

Magabisita man si Ambassador Kenney sa Barangay Little Kibungan sa La Trinidad nga banwa sang Benguet Province, isa sa mga pinakagrabe nga gin-igo sa Cordillera Administrative Region bangud sa landslide nga nagpatay sang 77 nga mga pumuluyo sang Oktubre 8. Magapakigsakup man si Ambassador Kenney sa pagpanagtag sang relief items nga may logistical support sang gobyerno sang U.S. sa 142 nga mga residente sang Little Kibungan nga nadulaan sang puluy-an. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

MGA EMPLEYADO SANG GOBYERNO, DAPAT MAGPROTEKTAR SA PALIBOT, SUNO KAY REMONDE

    Ginpasalamatan ni Press Secretary Cerge Remonde ang mga empleyado sang gobyerno sa paghimo sang ila bahin sa pagprotektar sang palibot.

    Suno kay Remonde, nagapangatubang subong ang mga pumuluyo sang isa pa gid ka paghangkat - ang pagpahagan-hagan sang mga malain nga epekto sang Climate Change nga nakabutang sa theme celebration nga "Paglingap Sa Kalikasan, Tungkulin ng Bawat Kawani ng Pamahalaan.

    Ginpaabot sang Cabinet Secretary ang iya mensahe sa ginhiwat nga selebrasyon sang Government Employees' Week sa Malacañang.

    Ang Pilipinas, suno kay Remonde, indi kabangdanan kundi biktima sang Climate Change. Gindugang pa gid niya nga ang mga industrialisado nga mga nasyon ang responsable sini apang indi man dapat magpabaya lang ang Pilipinas.

    "We need to do our part to help cleanse the environment," siling ni Remonde. "And we must act fast."

    Suno sa iya, maswerte ang nasyon kay Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo bilang pinuno, nga determinado nga maghulag para sa mas berde nga planeta.

    Ginsugid ni Remonde nga isa pa gid sa mga inisyatibo sang Presidente amo ang pagpirma sang Climate Change Act of 2009, nga nagatalana sang pang-abang sang gobyerno kag pag-adaptar sang mga tikang batok sa mga indi malikawan nga mga epekto sang Climate Change.

    Dugang pa gid ni Remonde, ang laye naga establisar sang "national framework strategy kag programa sa climate change, isa ka direkta nga sabat sa nagaguwa nga mga global concerns agud masiguro ang mga pang-abang nga tikang kag adaptasyon – duha ka mga instrumento nga kinahanglan sa pag-away sa Climate Change.

    Nagakahulugan lamang ini, siling ni Remonde, nga tanan sa gobyerno halin sa nasyonal pakadto sa lokal nga level ang may importante nga papel o bahin nga pagahimuon. (PIA/vgv

PGMA, MAGAHIWAT SANG COMMAND CONFERENCE SA MAGUINDANAO

    Magahiwat sang command conference si Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa Maguindanao sa semana nga ini, suno kay Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

    Ginsugid niya sa mga reporters sa isa ka interview pagkatapos nga mag file sang kandidatura bilang congresswoman sa segundo distrito sang Pampanga nga magabisita man si Presidente Arroyo sa mga namatayan particular ang mga taga media nga napatay sa Ampatuan, Maguindanao massascre.

    Suno kay Remonde, magahiwat sang command conference si PGMA sa semana nga ini sa pagpatumbalik sang katawhayan sa probinsya pagkatapos sang pinakagrabe nga election-related carnage kon diin 57 ka mga tawo ang napatay pati na ang 30 halin sa media.

    Sang nagligad nga semana, nagdeklarar si Presidente Arroyo sang state of emergency sa Maguindanao kag Sultan Kudarat, pati na sa Cotabato City pagkatapos sang makangingidlis nga massacre.

    Gin authorize man niya si DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno nga himuon ang iya sini mga rekomendasyonnga suspendihon ang tanan nga mga local nga opisyal sang Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao kag Maguindanao. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Temprano nga pagtapos sang proyekto sa irigasyon, ginmando ni PGMA

    Ginmanduan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang Department of Agriculture nga padasigon ang pagkumpleto sang proyekto sa irigasyon sa mga kaumhan sa pagpreparar para sa El Niño sa madason nga tuig.

    Gin isyu sang Presidente ang mando sa ginhiwat nga Joint National Economic Development Authority kag National Anti-Poverty Commission Cabinet meeting nga ginhiwat sa Aguinaldo State Dining Room sang Malacanang sining karon lang.

    Si NEDA Deputy-Director General Margarita Songco, sang mas temprano, ang nag report nga base sa mga pag-istudyo sang siyensya, may mahaba nga tag-ilinit nga maga igo sa nasyon sa madason nga tuig. Suno sa iya, ang mga informasyon nga natipon sang nagligad nga mga binulan nagpakita nga ang weather phenomenon nga dala sang sobra ka taas nga temperatura nga may diutay nga ulan ang nagsugod na mag-apektar sa pila ka bahin sang pungsod.

    Ang Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) nakanotar nga sa Southern Leyte, Agusan del Norte, kag Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Capiz kag Misamis Oriental gina eksperyensya ang diutay nga rainfall levels. (PIA/VGVillanueva)

PEÑAFLORIDA, GAWARAN NI PGMA SANG ORDER OF LAKANDULA

    Pagagawaran ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sang Order of Lakandula si Efren Peñaflorida nga nakilala sa iya "pushcart education" sa iya pagbalik sa nasyon pagkatapos nga nangin Hero of the Year sang international news network nga CNN.

    Isa ka pinakamataas nga dungog sang gobyerno sang Pilipinas ang Order of Lakadula. Ginahatag ini sa isa ka persona nga nagpakita sang leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage kag resolve sa iya pagserbisyo sa mga pumuluyo.

    Suno sa Presidente, ginpamatud-an ni Efren nga makabulig ang bisan sin-o nga makahimo sang pag-bag-o sa kalibutan. "He has also shown the world the best in the Filipino. Let each one of us unleash the hero within us by helping the next person as Efren said," suno sa Presidente.

    Sa isa ka press briefing, ginsiling ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo nga nagapreparar ang gobyerno sa paghatag sang 'hero's welcome' para kay Peñaflorida.

    Ginsiling ni Fajardo nga importante nga partner sang Arroyo administration si Peñaflorida sa edukasyon ilabi na gid sa mga nagapangalisod sa kabuhi.

    Nagdaog si Peñaflorida sa siyam nga iban pa nga "CNN Heroes" kon diin pito sini ang Amerikano, para sa iya tumalagsahon nga mobile education nga ginatawag nga "Kariton Klassrum" ukon "Pushcart Classroom" para sa mga imol.

    Nagahiwat si Peñaflorida sang pagbisita sa mga imol kag kulang sa serbisyo nga mga lugar kada semana sa Cavite, norte sang Luzon, agud tudluan ang mga kabataan sang leksyon sa Mathematics, English, kag Science nga nagagamit lamang sang pushcart.

    Napilian siya nga magbaton sang award sa CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute sa Kodak Theater sa Hollywood. Ginbaton niya ang award halin kay Eva Mendes, isa ka American actress.

    Una nga ginpili ang mga nominees sang isa ka panel sang 14 "Blue Panel" luminaries. Ang Hero of the Year Award ginahatag sa nominee nga may pinakamadamo nga numero sang online votes sa CNN Heroes' website.

    Nagbaton si Peñaflorida sang $100,000, isa ka balor nga pagagamiton niya nga pundo sa iya trabaho sa Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) isa ka volunteer organization nga gintukod niya sa paghiwat sang iya "Kariton Klassrum" program. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Philhealth, ginmanduan ni PGMA nga padakuon ang program para sa mga nagapangalisod

    Gindayaw ni Presidente Arroyo ang Philhealth nga karon may ara na nga 80 milyo nga katapu, luwas pa sa iban sini nga nahimo.

    Sa iya pagbisita sa Rizal Medical Center sa Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City hapon sang Nob. 23, ginmanduan ni Presidente Arroyo si Dr. Rey Aquino, presidente sang Philhealth, nga padayunon ang pagpadaku sang programa ilabi na gid para sa mga nakapangalisod nga mga Pilipino agud matuman ang ginahandum sang iya administrasyon nga universal coverage sa madason nga tuig.

    Si Lilia Tunac, 53 anyos kag isa sa mga benefisyaryo sang Philhealth kag isa sa mga pasyente sa balay bululngan ang nagpasalamat kay PGMA sa Phihealth medical insurance program.

    Ginsugiran ni Presidente Arroyo si Tunac kag ang iban nga mga pasyente nga pagasabton sang gobyerno ang ila isa ka gatos nga bulanan nga premium payments sa isa ka tuig. Ginhambalan man sila sang Presidente nga sila na ang dapat magbayad sang ila mga premium sa madason nga mga tuig agud ma-insure man sa idalum sang programa ang iban pa gid nga mga Pilipino nga nagakinahanglan.

     Si Tunac, upod ang walo pa ka pasyente sa non-infectious ward sa Room 2 ang insured sa idalum sang Philhealth program. Gindirektahan man sang Presidente si Aquino nga ibutang man sa idalum sang Philhealth nga programa ang apat pa nga ara sa ward nga wala masakpan.

    Ginpasalig naman ni Aquino nga ika implementar ini. Ginpahibalo man niya nga nag-abot sa P20 bilyon ang kita sang Philhealth sa una nga tatlo ka quarter sang tuig, mas mataas sang P3 bilyon sang nagligad nga tuig.

    Magluwas sa pagsakup sang mas madamo nga miyembro, ang extension work sang Philhealth kon diin nagserbe ang mga mobile officers sini sang nagkalain-lain nga kinahanglanon sang mga katapu nga OFWs sa HongKong, ang himuon man sa iban pa nga mga nasyon nga madamo nga OFWs pareho sang Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, kag Saudi Arabia..

    Luwas sa pag-improbar sang mga benefisyo, ang Philhealth nagahatag man karon sang insurance coverage sa 80 milyones nga mga Pilipino halin sa 37.4 milyon nga mga miyembro sang 2001. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Registered Aklanon voters now 296,081

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan's registered voters as of November 10, 2009 is listed at 296,081, based on the Consolidated Quarterly Progress Report of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here.

    Two months ago, the province had 284,349 voters. The figure released this period showed an increase of 11,732.

    Registration of voters for the May 2010 automated elections was held up to Oct. 31 of this year, the deadline set by COMELEC.

    The consolidated report showed that Kalibo, Aklan's capital town, is still the vote-richest municipality of the province, this time with 43,020, followed by Ibajay, with 24,063 and New Washington, with 22,775. In the Sept. 2009 record of COMELEC Aklan, these towns had 41,400, 22,990 and 21,218 registered voters respectively.

    Other towns and their respective number of voters are Altavas, 13,800; Balete, 16,723; Banga, 21,380; Batan, 17,820; Buruanga, 10,522; Lezo, 7,877; Libacao, 14,765; Madalag, 11,075; Makato, 15,266; Malay, 19,806; Malinao, 13,424; Nabas, 15,177; Numancia, 17,425 and Tangalan, 11,163.

    As of October 19, 2009 ERB Hearing, COMELEC-Aklan records show that there are 10,247 new registration, 2,859 transferees from another city/municipality; 3 reactivation with transfer and 632 reactivation.

    Applications approved by the ERB reached 13,741 with Kalibo having the highest number with 1,710 followed by New Washington with 1,692; Banga, 1,272, Batan, 1,210; and Ibajay, 1,151. The rest of Aklan towns had figures below 1,000.

    The COMELEC records also showed that as of the period, Aklan has a total of 768 deactivated voters, 394 registration records cancelled because of death, 798 registration records transferred to another city or municipality.

    For the May 2010 first-ever automated elections in the country, Aklan has 2,054 established precincts and 667 clustered precincts in its 327 barangays. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Beneficiaries of Aklan’s OFWs to learn “fitter” ways to spend remittances

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Beneficiaries of Aklan's thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will be taught here Nov. 20 on how to spend or use wisely the hard-earned money sent by their loved ones working abroad through a Financial Learning Campaign.

    The Financial Learning Campaign will be spearheaded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) with the support of other key government agencies like the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

    The activity, which will be held at the ACP Centerpoint in Kalibo, expects more than a hundred participants who are either wives, parents, brothers, sisters and other relatives of OFWs.

    According to Leonora Templonuevo, Deputy Director of BSP-Kalibo Branch, some of the topics to be taken up include Importance of Remittances, Significance of Financial Planning, Different Types of Investment Instruments, Remittances and Investment Protection Tips, which will be taken up by Elizabeth D. Alarilla, Bank Officer III of the Department of Economic Statistics, BSP; Investment/Business Options for Micro-Enterprises, Registration Requirements for Micro-Enterprises, which will be discussed by DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr; and Agri-Business Opportunities for Micro-Enterprises, by Ryan Sastre, Agricultural Technologist of DA-Aklan.

    Participants will also get to hear a testimony of a successful OFW Microentrepreneur, which will be delivered by Elbert I. Sayco, owner of a family-owned grocery store.

    A video presentation entitled "Paghahanda Para Sa Kinabukasan" will also be shown to participants. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

DOST has projects to prevent environment degradation

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is currently implementing programs to help prevent further environment degradation that focus more on preemptive measures.

    Two of these programs, according to Jairus Lachica of DOST-Aklan, include the Cleaner Production Technology and the Energy Audit.

    Lachica said the Cleaner Production Technology involves the sending by the DOST of consultants to production plants to advise the owners on the correct process of disposing or minimizing their waste materials, while in the Energy Audit, consultants are sent to plants to assist or check equipment which could already be dilapidated or old, that could emit more harmful gases to the atmosphere.

    "It has been always the practice of manufacturers to install anti-pollution devices after producing lots of waste materials. With the program on Cleaner Production Technology, mitigation or preventive measures are already being done to minimize the effect of waste materials to the environment", Lachica said.

    In the Energy Audit, consultants could recommend or advise manufacturing plant owners to repair or buy new equipment if the ones they are using are already old or worn.

    "Old equipment tend to work harder, generating more heat and energy to do the required job, which in turn could emit more harmful gas which could degrade our environment further", Lachica added.

    Lachica said these new programs of the DOST are implemented to be in step with the government's program to protect the environment in the wake of the problem on Global Warming and Climate Change.

    "Climate Change affects everyone in every part of the globe," Lachica said. He acknowledged that the industries and the people being assisted by the DOST will be greatly affected by Climate Change, as raw materials and other resources being used by these groups will also dwindle or be gone due to the destructive effects of this phenomenon.

    Jost recently, Executive Secretary Eduardo C. Ermita, by authority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, released Memorandum Circular No. 186 enjoining officials and employees in all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including GOCCs to actively participate in the observance of "Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week which will be observed on November 19-25, 2009.

    The circular was pursuant to PN 1667 dated Nov. 18, 2008 which declared the period Nov. 19-25, 2008 and every year thereafter as the "Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week."

    The Proclamation aims to create awareness on global warming and climate change by pursuing broad and intensive information and education campaigns to inform the general public on the terrifying consequences of the phenomenon and to secure the collective cooperation of the citizens as well as the collective action of private and public sectors at all levels in finding solutions to the problem. (PIA/Venus g. Villanueva)

WALA SANG LUWAS NGA PALUPOK, SUNO SA DOH

    Hugot nga ginpadumdum sang Department of Health ang mga ginikanan nga indi pagtugutan ang ila mga kabataan nga maghampang sang palupok ukon fireworks, legal man ukon illegal.

    Ginsiling ni Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III nga indi hampanganan ang mga palupok kag delikado gid sa kamot sang mga inosente nga kabataan. Suno sa iya, gina rekomenda nila nga ibawal ang mga ini sa mga residential areas kag hambalan man ang mga otoridad nga magtalana sang mga lugar nga pagasindihan sang mga fireworks kag pagabutangan, kag dapat mga propesyonal lamang ang magakaput ukon yadto nga nga nahanas sa paggamit sang mga 'explosive devices.'

    Suno sa mga taga DOH, ang lima nga nagapanguna nga palupok nga nagtuga sang madamo nga kasamaran sang 2008 amo ang piccolo, kwitis, 5-star, luces kag ang hinimo sa balay kag ginlain nga palupok.

    Ginsiling ni Duque nga ang piccolo, nga isa ka illegal nga palupok ang padayon nga numero uno nga dahilan sang disgrasya sang nagligad nga paskwa.

    Dapat man mag-andam ang publiko kag indi pagkabigon ang mga legal nga palupok nga luwas bangud ang kwitis kag luces nga legal nga mga fireworks ikaduha kag ika apat man sa listahan.

Ginpahibalo man ni Duque nga ang lima nga nagapanguna nga palupok nga nagatuga sang "blast burn kag amputation" amo ang home-made altered firecrackers, 5-star,, camara, rebentador, kag whistle bomb. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

5% tax on election expenses not an imposition on donors, says COMELEC

    Kalibo, Aklan-- The 5% tax that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) intends to collect from the candidates' campaign expenses for the May 2010 elections is not an imposition on the donors, according to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Regional Election Director Atty. Dennis Ausan.

    Rather, it is one way of helping collecting tax for the BIR, Ausan told members of the Aklan media during a press conference called by the COMELEC here.

    According to Ausan, the BIR has already a passed revenue regulation under the National Internal Revenue Code 3 decades ago to support this tax collection activity, which would only be implemented now.

    Ausan said he was recently enlightened on this by BIR 6 Regional Director Alert Alocilja.

    Ausan said that under the tax program, a candidate will be registering himself with the BIR as a tax withholding agent.

    When the candidate then spends funds provided by his party, say, for the production of campaign materials, he could then withhold 5% of the payment from the printer, which will go to the BIR.

    "So it's not really an imposition of a donor's tax", Ausan said.

    Ausan said however, that according to the BIR, it could only impose the collection scheme on duly documented transactions for now. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

COMELEC starts campaign on educating voters

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) here has started doing its rounds of campaign to educate Aklanon voters who, like other Filipinos in all parts of the country, would be exercising their rights of suffrage through automated voting in May 2010 for the first time.

    At a recent press conference here called by Atty. Dennis Ausan, Regional Election Director of COMELEC 6, he told the local media here that the provincial office had already conducted voters' education sessions with Aklan's several sectors.

    "We are doing our best to reach out to the electorates to make them aware and informed, with the strong belief that we can only have a successful election if we could have an educated electorate", said Atty. Ausan.

    Ausan said the COMELEC foresees its conduct of full blast voters' education campaigns next year in the months of January to May 2010.

    Queries fielded by the local media here and answered by Atty. Ausan centered on premature campaigning, absentee voting, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, start of election period and prohibited acts during the election period.

    Emphasizing that the COMELEC can only act on complaints when there are complainants, Ausan appealed to everyone to be vigilant. "We need the cooperation of all stakeholders," he said.

    Ausan was joined in the press conference by Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, Provincial Election Supervisor, COMELEC-Aklan. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan holds seminar in response to Climate Change

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The province of Aklan recently held a one-day seminar as its response to Climate Change.

    The activity, dubbed as Aklan Response to Climate Change: Reforestation, Economic Emancipation and Poverty Alleviation Through Investing in Upland Communities, Enhancing People's Organizations' Capabilities and Expandidng Programs, was held at the Provincial Trade Hall, Provincial Capitol Grounds and attended by representatives of people's organizations in the province, Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) stakeholders and farmers, Municipal Agricultural Officers of various municipalities of the province and represenstatives of other government agencies and and private land owners.

    In his message delivered by Provincial Administrator Diego M. Luces to participants of the activity, Aklan Governor Marquez said the worsening and sick environment suffers a lot because of the people's inconsideration and abuse.

    "We know what to do and we have been educated and fed with the right information, but oftentimes we refuse to do the right thing and to act because we leave our duty to the government, we leave our duty to the educators, we leave our duty to our maids", Governor Marquez said in his message.

    For his part, former Aklan Congressman Allen s. Quimpo, currently the Aklan Rivers Development Council Executive Director who gave the rationale of the activity, pushed for the wider adoption of the Community Based Forest Management Program (CBFM) which could provide livelihood opportunities in the upland areas.

    Quimpo said the CBFM is one strategy in restoring and expanding Aklan's forest cover.

    Atty. Manuel Tayag, one of the invited resource persons of the activity, talked on opportunities for upland development, pushing for the planting of Cacao trees in between other crops for more income for the farmers and at the same time further greening the uplands.

    According to Atty. Tayag, a cacao farmer could earn P90,000 per year from 600 mature cacao plants at P150.00 per tree/per year.

    He assured the participants that there is a ready market for cacao seeds in the country.

    After the talks, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Aklan State University, Philippine Coconut Authority, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Aklan Provincial Environment Office, private land owners and other stakeholders gave their commitments to the program.

    The creation and formation of a federation of CBFM associations in Aklan capped the one-day activity. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan mentor one of WV’s top performing schoolpaper advisers

    Kalibo, Aklan -- A school paper adviser from Aklan had been adjudged as one of the region's Best Performing School Paper Advisers for 2009.

    Ronel Tersol of the Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades (ANHSAT) here made it to the top ten who will receive the recognition from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) VI.

    The nine other awardees came from various schools from the different provinces in the region.

    The awarding ceremony will be on November 26, 2009, at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, together with the awarding of the best college publications and writers in the region.

    In her letter to Mr. Richard Flores, Secondary School Principal of ANHSAT informing him of Tersol's winning, PIA Regional Director Atty. Janet Mesa also thanked him for the support the school had been giving to PIA by sending a number of participants every year.

    "May we invite Mr. Tersol to be present during the ceremony to receive the recognition afforded him. We believe the award we are giving to Mr. Tersol is also an award to the whole school", Director Mesa said in her letter to Mr. Flores.

    The Search for Region 6' Best Performing School Paper Advisers is conducted yearly by the Philippine Information Agency as its way of appreciating and recognizing the efforts of school paper advisers in promoting development and responsible campus journalism. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Barangay Peace-keeping teams launched in Aklan

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) here recently held a provincewide launching of the Barangay Peace-keeping Action Teams (BPATs).

    The launching was held at the third Floor of Kalibo's Municipal Building with Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo as Guest of Honor/Speaker.

    The Barangay Peacekeeping Operation is a comprehensive and catch-all anti-crime strategy that seeks to empower all stakeholders to share the responsibility of peace and order maintenance towards self-policing.

    It also aims to draw the strong support and active participation of key players and stakeholders in the field of intelligence gathering and some operational aspects of policing.

"This activity is one way of recognizing the vital role of force multipliers in the fight against criminality, insurgency and terrorism and to develop crime prevention strategies that are responsive to peace and order conditions peculiar in the country", said APPO Director Sr. Supt. Epifanio A. Bragais, Jr.

The activity started with an Audio-Visual Presentation of various Modus Operadi in the Aklanon dialect.

The launching was participated in by barangay officials, tanods and other force multipliers in the task of crime prevention, control and suppression.

The implementation of the program, spearheaded by the PNP, will be complemented by local government executives and heads of concerned government agencies. (PNP/PIA)

REYES, GINMADUAN NI PGMA NGA SOLBARON ANG PROBLEMA SA LANGIS

    Ginmanduan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sining karon lang si Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Jr. nga abangan ang ginapan-aw nga kakulangan sa langis pagkatapos nga iya gin-anunsyo nga ang inventaryo tubtub na lamang sa walo hasta 13 ka adlaw.

    Sa amo man nga tion, ginpahagan-hagan man ni Reyes ang kahadlok sang publiko sa ginapanan-aw nga kakulangan, kay suno sa iya, magahimo man sang solusyon ang gobyerno.

    Suno sa iya, ginpausisa na niya sa iya mga tinawo ang mga inventaryo sa mga oil depot.

    Ginkunpirma man ni Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita ang report nga nagtanyag sang price discounts ang mga oil companies kabaylo sang pagkuha sang Executive Order 839. Ginsumiter na ang mga proposal nga ini kay Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, suno kay Ermita.

    Igahatag ang discount sa mga salakyan pangpubliko sa mga lugar sa Luzon nga nagaantus gihapon dala sang epekto sang mga bagyo nga Ondoy kag Pepeng. (PIA/vgv)

Aklan’s Muslim community assures PNP to help campaign against criminality

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The Muslim community in Aklan has assured the Philippine National Police (PNP) here to work hand in hand in promoting peace and order and to help in the campaign of the latter against criminality.

    This consensus was reached by both parties here after the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) headed by Director Epifanio A. Bragais, Jr. held the first-ever IMAM/MUSLIM Leaders Summit participated in by Boracay and Kalibo Muslim Associations.

    The summit was held recently at Aklan PPO Multi-Purpose Building at Camp Pastor Martelino in Kalibo.

    More than 25 Muslims/Imam leaders attended the summit, together with the Chiefs of Police of Kalibo and Boracay and Salaam Police assigned at Salaam Desks.

    Director Bragais said the summit is one way of promoting a healthy working relationship with the Muslim community and to address the issues and concerns on peace and order maintenance in the province of Aklan. (PNP/PIA/vgv)