BSWM leads cloudseeding

    Kalibo, Aklan --The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), through 1 PAF Cessna 210 plane, has completed 10 cloudseeding sorties in Cagayan Valley as of February 3, 2010.

    Around 230,560 hectares of rice and 202,471 hectares of corn were already affected in the region, according to a report of DFA RFU II.

    BSWM is preparing for the deployment of a bigger plane that could dispense 500 kilos of salt per sortie.

    In Negros Occidental, cloudseeding operations started on February 1 and 9 sorties have already been completed. The provincial government through Governor Zayco initially funded the hiring of one Cessna for cloud seeding.

    7,000 hectares of rice and 343 hectares of corn in the province were already affected based on the assessment conducted by the Provincial Agricultural Office together with the BSWM. In addition, around 28,000 hectares of newly planted and ratooned sugarcane in the municipalities of Magallon and Himamaylan, Hinigaran and La Castellana were threatened.

    Cloud seeding in the province will continue in the next few months as the El Niño worsens. Relative to this, the BSWM is facilitating the deployment of aircraft to conduct cloud seeding operations over Region 4 and 11.

    The areas affected are Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon in Region 4, and Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte in Mindanao.

    In Aklan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that their respective counterparts have already contacted them about mitigating measures they have prepared for El Niño.

    According to William Castillo, Officer – in- Charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here, the DA has inquired about Aklan's El Niño vulnerable areas, so that the department can introduce or implement agricultural technologies that are adaptable to the hot weather.

    OPA is also advising farmers to plant vegetables and other food crops that do not need much water.

    Presently, OPA is also implementing programs to culture and raise freshwater prawns, catfish and tilapia in interior and hinterland municipalities of Aklan so that the people will have other fish sources when El Niño sets in, making it difficult for fishermen to fish in the seas.

    For its part, DENR-Aklan was contacted by its regional office as to the status of the province's water sources for domestic and agricultural consumption in anticipation of El Niño.

    Although Aklan is said to be moderately affected of the phenomenon, DENR has called on Aklanons to conserve and to recycle water, and plant species that need little water. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

PSHS’ Scholars search nets 10 passers in Aklan

    Kalibo, Aklan – The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) found a total of 10 successful examinees from Aklan for its 2010-2011 Search for Scholars.

    The ten successful examinees, who are graduating elementary school pupils, came from public and private elementary schools in Aklan.

    As PSHS scholars, the lucky examinees will enjoy a free secondary education from the school as mandated by RA 3661, with emphasis on subjects pertaining to science when the end view of preparing its students for careers in Science and Technology.

    The province' successful examinees include Peter S. Anabo and Regina Marie P. Roselo from the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School (KPES); Nicolas Evan G. Fuentes, Patrick Xavier V. Eleserio and Jan Philip S. Wong of the Aklan Learning Center; Irene Isadora Joy C. Dela Cruz and Michael Andrew P. Ureta of Wadeford School; John Rich N. Barrientos and Lyka Rica S. Salazar of Conperey Learning Center and Mark Lucas I. Ilin of Starglow Center for Academic Excellence.

    In Western Visayas, the nearest PSHS campus is in Iloilo City.

    The PSHS conducts a Search for Scholars annually. For this batch, the examination was held November 7, 2009 at the Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Kalibo, Aklan. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan one of the most peaceful province in the country, says Aklan governor

    Kalibo, Aklan -- One of the things that Aklan is proud of is its peace and order situation, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez revealed in his recent State of the Province Address (SOPA).

    The peaceful situation was helped by the Philippine National Poice with its implementation oof Integrated Patrol System composed of the fixed, mobile and auxiliary components. To further enhance police visibility, barangay peacekeeping action teams have been maintained province-wide.

    The crime volume of 2,508 incidents, according to the governor, is way lower than the national average. On illegal drugs, 20 positive operations were conducted in 2009 and 20 drug pushers/users were arrested.

    Illegal gambling is also constantly and effectively controlled, which is also one reason of the lower crime rate.

    Marquez thanked the Aklan Police Provincial Office, the 12^th Infantry Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army for helping maintain Aklan's peace and order. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

NIA project ensuring year-round water supply to start soon

    Kalibo, Aklan – A project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) here to ensure a year-round supply of irrigation water to Aklan's rice-producing towns will be started this year, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

    According to William Castillo, OIC of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the project, with an initial funding of P500 million, involves rehabilitation of irrigation facilities to improve agricultural productivity in the barangays under the Irrigation System Operation Efficiency Improvement Project (ISOEIP) of NIA.

    ISOEIP is a government strategy stated in the Medium Term Development Plan 2004-2010 that aims to reduce rural poverty, increase agricultural productivity and enhance food security.

    This project had been endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC).

    Last year, the Aklan-Capiz irrigation management office of NIA spent a total of P31.4 million for various irrigation projects in the province including the Panakuyan San Jose Integrated Project in Ibajay, and the Aklan River Irrigation System that will serve farmers in the municipalities of Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Lezo, Madalag, Malinao, Numancia and Makato.

    Communal irrigation systems and communal irrigation projects were also constructed to benefit farmers in Altavas, Tangalan, Buruanga, Libacao, Malay and Nabas.

    Nationwide, in anticipation of the El Niño, NIA is seen as one of the frontline government agencies to address the climatic problem, with the recent reactivation by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the El Niño Task Force.

    The Task Force was reactivated to coordinate the country's response to the unusually dry weather in the first half of the year.

    A P1.7 billion fund, drawn from various government agencies, will be used for cloud seeding, construction of shallow wells and distribution of organic fertilizers to rice, corn and value crops farmers. It will also fund the purchase and installation of fish cages for fishpond owners.

    NIA will be supporting the initiative by implementing water management measures. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Start conserving, recycling water to beat El Niño, says DENR

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklanons must start conserving and recycling water now before El Niño sets in the province.

    Although said to be moderately affected by the weather phenomenon unlike neighboring Capiz province and Negros Occidental, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, headed by PENRO Antonio Luis, bared efforts to save water should be practiced now by the Aklanons.

    "Water used to rinse clothes could still be used for washing vehicles, and for flushing the toilet", said Derlito Rico, DENR-Aklan's Chief of Forest Management Sector in a radio interview here.

    Rico said farmers should also select plant species that require little amount of water.

    Presently, DENR-Aklan is nurturing Aklan's watershed areas with the help of local government units and stakeholders to protect major river systems like the Aklan River, Timbaban, Dumalaylay, Nabaoy in Napaan, Malay which supplies water to Boracay Ssland, Tangalan River, Ibajay, Panakuyan and Makato River.

    To protect the river systems, Rico said watersheds must have reinforced vegetation and reforestation to sustain water.

    Watersheds and other forest areas here are also monitored by Bantay-Gubat personnel to prevent lumber poaching and indiscriminate felling of forest trees for charcoal.

    The use of charcoal for cooking is widely practiced here due to the high price of liquefied petroleum gas.

    This practice is being countered now by the DENR through massive information dissemination to prevent destruction of watershed areas that could further aggravate the effects of El Niño. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan prepares for El Niño

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Despite the information that Aklan will only be moderately affected by El Niño, the province is preparing several measures to counter its effects on agricultural crops as well as on fishery products here.

    According to William Castillo, OIC of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the Department of Agriculture has contacted the province to inquire about El Niño vulnerable areas for possible implementation of technologies adaptable to the hot climate.

Castillo said measures also include selection of plant varieties not needing much water.

Castillo said while other provinces in Western Visayas already suffer from El Niño ill-effects, rains continue to occur in Aklan. He also said that the months of March and April, the perceived height of the phenomenon, is a fallow period for ricefields, so there won't be much farming activities here.

The El Niño occurrence, however, will have advantages on fruit trees like mangoes, said Castillo. Mangoes are known to bear more fruits during the dry season.

For fisheries, the provincial government, with the assistance of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is focusing on the production of freshwater prawns.

Castillo said that from the P3.4 million provided by BFAR to Aklan for livelihood, P2.9 million was turned over to Malinao town for the project, which includes the putting up of a freshwater prawn hatchery.

The putting up of the hatchery is essential, said Castillo, as freshwater prawns or "ulang" fries are sourced yet from Nueva Ecija. Presently, Buruanga town in the western side of Aklan already produces "ulang".

The move to develop "ulang" farms in the upland areas of the province is one means to counter the effect of El Niño, by providing people with alternative source of fishery products when fishermen could no longer fish due to extreme high tides or strong "amihan" winds, according to Castillo.

The province is also strengthening its tilapia and catfish industry in the uplands for additional income of community folks.

"Libacao, which is aiming for a hydropower electric project, whill have a 10 hectare dam essential for the culture of tilapia and "hito" in fish cages," Castillo said. He also revealed that Barangay Aranas in Balete town already maintains a tilapia farm.

Just recently, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reactivated the the el Niño Task Force to coordinate the country's response to the unusually dry weather in the first half of the year.

Formed in 2001, the task force will still be chaired by the DA.

DA USEC Bernie Fontanilla said agriculture and fisheries are expected to lose between P10 billion and P20 billion, depending on the severity of the dry spell. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Increase in int’l, reg’l flights in Aklan show uptrend in tourism

Kalibo, Aklan -- The uptrend in tourism in Aklan is indicated by its increase in international and regional flights in the province's two airports.

In his State of the Province Report (SOPA), Aklan governor Carlito S. Marquez said the Caticlan Airport in 2009 registered 17,988 flights and 550,084 passengers – 256,458 of which are incoming ones; 96,585 foreign; 145,505 domestic, and 14,388 OFW passengers.

On the other hand, Kalibo International Airport registered 5,203 domestic flights and 360 regional flights in 2009, compared with 2008 which had 2,171 and 132 respectively.

Marquez said that in 2009, inbound passengers for domestic flights numbered 360,265 while inbound passengers for regional flights reached 20,608 compared to 2008's 183,110 inbound domestic passengers and 12,411 inbound regional passengers.

"Outbound domestic passengers registered 377,177 and outbound regional passengers were 20,809 in 2009, a much higher number compared to only 191,685 outbound domestic passengers and 12,839 outbound regional passengers of 2008," Marquez reported.

Last January 15, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was at the Caticlan Airport for the capsule-laying ceremonies of the P2.5 billion Caticlan Airport Development Project (CADP).

The 25-year Build-Operate-Transfer project involves the widening and extension of the Caticlan Airport Runway, construction of 9,200 square meters new two-storey passenger terminal building, and the installation of navigation and air traffic control facilities.

When completed after 7 years, tourism, business and livelihood activities will all the more increase in Boracay and the whole province of Aklan.

The further development of the two airports – bringing more tourists and revenues means more funds for poverty-alleviation projects, scholarships for the poor and more opportunities for indigents to break away from the cycle of poverty, the governor said.

At Kalibo International Airports flights accommodated are the once-a-week flight of Philippine Airlines and the twice a week flights of China Airlines to Taipei, Taiwan. Zestair has regular flights to Incheon, South Korea four times a week.

Some international airlines that previously landed at KIA were Korean Air, Pacific Pearl Airways, TransAsia Airways and Shanghai Airlines.

Presently, phase I of the International Passenger Terminal Building is 100% complete. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan still a “rice-exporting” province, says governor

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan is still a "rice-exporting" province, according to Governor Carlito Marquez in his recently-delivered State of the Province Address (SOPA) here.

    Governor Marquez said Aklan's rice sufficiency level now stands at 117.8%.

    "While consuming 63,313.61 metric tons of our total production of 95,841 metric tons for 2009, we remain a "rice-exporting" province, complementing the rice needs of our other provinces with our excess rice," Marquez told the crowd that jampacked the SP Session Hall here recently to listen to his SOPA.

    Marquez said agricultural modernization and increased production remain the major focus of his administration, with 54% of Aklan's total land area of 181,816 hectares devoted to agriculture.

    With the focus on agriculture, the province continues to implement national programs on rice, (hybrid, inbred, commercial), high-value commercial crops (corn, mango, other fruits and vegetab les), Integrated Pest Management or Kasalikasan, Palayamanan/Kabuhayan, natural farming system, abaca production, modified rapid composting and fisheries.

    "Our hearts and the hearts of our long-suffering farmers are filled with the hope that with the continued implementation of hybrid rice development and other rice programs, we will be able not only to survive pests and climate change but attain new heights in the production of the staple," Marquez said.

    William Castillo, OIC of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here revealed that one Aklanon farmer had already experienced a palay yield of 180 cavans from a hectare of rice land planted to hybrid rice.

    Marquez also cited the help of the Department of Agriculture for providing Aklan farm inputs and equipment worth P29.7 million, and the P10 million grant for farm-to-market roads which was used for concreting instead of just gravelling which do not last.

    Both the DA and the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council extended to the farmers P503,000 as assistance for livelihood programs, according to the governor.

    The governor also reported that the trend in Aklan's rice production showed a 14.62% jump from 129,318 metric tons in 2008 when Typhoon Frank inundated the rice fields to 148,222 metric tons in 2009.

    In the national scenario, the government had a 3.63 metric tons 2009 forecast of palay yield per hectare compared with 3.07 metric tons in 2000.

    Rice farms have improved yields because of rural infrastructure, technology, and farm support which bring more income to farmers.

    The buying price of palay has increased too, from P8.50 per kilo in 2000 to P17.00 per kilo in 2009, which will also encourage farmers to be more productive. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

RP MEDICAL TEAM, MAPA-HAITI SA ENERO 25

    Magapadulong ang Philippine humanitarian team sa Haiti sa Enero 25 agud maghatag sang bulig medical sa Haiti nga gindalasa sang mabaskog nga linog, suno kay Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral.

    Ginsiling ni Cabral nga nalipay gid ang gobyerno nga madamo nga mga tawo ang nagabulig sa proyekto agud mabuligan ang nagakinahanglan sang bulig. Ginsambit ni Cabral ang bulig sang Philippine Airlines (PAL) kag ang Philippine Airlines Foundation (PALF), FedEx kag ang Department of National Defense (DND).

    Ginsugid sang hepe sang DOH nga ang PAL kag PALF ang naghatag sang libre nga ticket para sa bilog nga humanitarian team para sa Manila-San Francisco nga rota. Halin didto, ang grupo magasakay sa connecting flight pa Miami, dayon sa Sto. Domingo sa Dominican Republic. Ginsabat man sang PAL kag PALF ang ticket para sa pagpauli sang grupo halin sa San Francisco pakadto sa Pilipinas.

    Ang FedEx Group naman ang magadala sang karga kag medical supplies sang libre, samtang ang DND, sa pagpamuno ni Lt. Col. Lopez Dagoy ang magaatipan sang karga kon mag abot na ini sa Haiti.

    Gina komponehan ang Philippine Humanitarian team sang general kag orthopedic surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, nurses, epidemiologists, psychiatrists kag sanitary engineers halin sa DOH nga mga hospital kag facilidad kag local government units. Ang team leader amo si Dr. Emmanuel Bueno, Chiief sang Emergency Department kag Health Emergency Management Service (HEMS) Coordinator sa East Avenue Medical Center. Suno kay HEMS Director Dr. Carmencita Banatin, magatinir ang grupo sa Haiti sang 18 ka adlaw. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Boracay arrivals in 2009: 649,559 foreign, domestic visitors

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Boracay's total number of visitor arrivals last year registered 649,559, based on data released by the Provincial Tourism Office here.

    The visitor arrivals – composed of 192,873 foreign tourists, 432,271 domestic and 24,415 Overseas Filipinos generated a total of P11,941,102,920.60 tourism receipts.

    Foreign visitors' arrival in the island was biggest in the month of January with 23,161. They also came in big numbers in August with 21,428 and in December last year with 18,987. They were smallest in number June of 2009 with 10,415.

    On the other hand, domestic tourists were biggest in number in April with 75,161; May with 68,837 and March, with 41,007. They were smallest in number in August with 22,445.

    January was the preferred month of Overseas Filipinos to go to the island, with 4,283 arrivals; February, 2,735 and March, 2,263. They were scarce however, in the month of September, with 579 only who visited the island.

    In 2008, visitor arrivals reached 634,263, which generated P11,659,910,434.20 in tourism receipts.

    The tourist arrivals in Boracay Island in 2009, which breached the half-million mark, contributed a big portion to the country's tourist arrivals.

    Based on records, tourist arrivals in the country from January to September last year is at 5.2 million. The same period in 2000 had 1.99 million tourist arrivals.

    The big number of tourist arrivals in 2009 made businesses thrive, created more jobs and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos, and generated more investments.

    Tourism investments also reached P555 billion from 2004-2009, which drove the growth of the country's tourism sector and created more jobs, enabling Filipinos to live better lives. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

EL NIÑO TASK FORCE, GINPANUMBALIK SANG GOBYERNO

    Ginpapanumbalik ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sang Enero 26 ang El Niño Task Force agud mag koordinar sa paghulag sang pungsod sa indi kinaangdan nga kainit sang tiyempo sa nahauna nga parte sang tuig.

    Ginpaguwa sang Pangulo ang mando sa ginhiwat nga National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet Meeting sa Malacanang, suno kay Office of the Press Secretary Officer-in-Charge Secretary Conrado Limcaoco, Jr. sa isa ka press briefing.

    Pagapamunuan ang Task Force sang Department of Agriculture. Gintukod ang Task Force sang 2001.

    Ginsiling ni Limcaoco nga ang pundo nga P1.7 billion, nga halin sa mga nagkalain-lain nga ahensya sang gobyerno ang pagagamiton para sa cloud seeding, paghimo sang mga shallow wells kag pagpanagtag sang organic fertilizers sa mga mangunguma sang humay, mais kag value crops. Gamiton man ang pundo sa pagbakal kag pagbutang sang mga fish cages para sa mga tag-iya sang punong.

    Pagasuportahan ang inisyatibo sang National Irrigation Administration paagi sa pag implementar sang mga tikang sa pagmanehar sang tubig.

    Ginsugid ni DA Undersecretary Bernie Fontanilla nga ang agrikultura kag fisheries ang ginasaligan nga madulaan sang P10-bilyon – P20 bilyon, depende sa kagrabehon sang tig balagtik.

    Sa pihak sang pagprediktar sang kasarangan nga tigbalagtik sang Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), ginsiling ni Fontanilla nga naga preparar ang departamento sang programa pangkabuhian para sa mga apektado nga mangunguma kag mangingisda.

    Samtang, magabenefisyo naman sa tag-ilinit ang may mga kamanggahan. Agud mangin maayo ang ila produkto, nag promisa ang DA nga hatagan ang mga manug mangga sang mango flower inducers. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

IMPORTANSYA SANG EDUKASYON, GINSAYSAY NI PGMA

    Nagpanawagan si Presidente Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa mga estudyante nga tapuson nila ang ila kurso sa kolehiyo "bangud ang edukasyon amo ang ticket sa maayo nga kabuhi."

    Ginpaabot sang Pangulo ang panawagan sa mga estudyante sang Holy Spirit College of Manila sa Mendiola, ang ikaduha niya sa serye sang mga campus tours sa tuyo nga makapakig-upod sa mga batan-on.

Suno sa Presidente, ang gin-upod nga budget sang Department of Education kag Commission on Higher Education nagdoble sa iya termino, halin sa P90 billion pakadto sa P180 billion.

    Agud maimprobar pa gid ang kalidad sang edukasyon, mas madamo nga mga classrooms ang gintukod – 100,000, ilabi na gid sa mga malayo nga barangay, suno sa iya.

    Gindugang pa gid niya nga ginhanas sang maayo ang mga manunudlo ilabi na gid sa English, Mathematics kag Science agud mapreparar nila ang ila mga estudyante sa global competition. Para sa pinaka pigado, may mga cash allowance man nga ginahatag agud diretso ang ila pag-eskwela.

    Ginsiling sang Presidente nga nagtrabaho sang maayo ang iya administrasyon agud masiguro ang isa ka luwas kag matawhay nga nasyon paagi sa pagtapos sang pagpangkidnap, insurhensiya kag terorismo. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan province may now be categorized first class, says Aklan governor

    Kalibo, Aklan –Aklan may now be categorized as a first class province, Governor Carlito Marquez said in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) which he delivered over a jampacked crowd at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall here composed of provincial legislators, Aklan officials, heads and representatives of national and provincial agencies, Capitol employees and the local media.

    Governor Marquez said this is so because the province has attained and sustained an income of more than P350 million for the last four consecutive years.

    He added that according to the Department of Interior and Local Government, Aklan is excellent.

"In the 2009 annual evaluation of LGUs in Region 6 conduc ted by the said department called Excel or Excellence in local governance awards, Aklan was first runner-up in administrative governance second only to Iloilo, first runner-up in environmental management, second only to Negros Occidental and 2^nd runner-up in best performing province.

    Marquez also cited the other firsts Aklan has attained : it is among the first provinces to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for Philhealth coverage becoming a pilot province; first province in the Philippines to successfully complete a project – the Caticlan Jetty Port PassengerTerminal through bond flotation, listed in a book on LGU Best Practices in fiscal administration; among the first provinces to establish a very successful economic enterprise development; the first province in Region 6 to have its Provincial Hospital computerized;

    First province in Region 6 to computerize its real property tax administration; the first to have been given the privilege of creating a PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) Port, the Caticlan Port; first province to engage in a joint venture with a university (ASU) for the establishment of a nursing college; first province to implement a universal program for Philhealth; and the first province to implement a Bridge Financing with Land Bank for its Hybrid Rice Production Program.

    For these achievements, Marquez said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should be thanked, for providing the legislative underpinnings that allowed the province to initiate, implement, and complete the programs of development.

    According to Marquez, the Aklan SP made 348 resolutions, 56 appropriation ordinances, 7 general ordinances, and 10 special ordinances. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Despite global crisis, tourism is alive in Aklan

    Kalibo, Aklan -- Despite the global financial crisis and despite tTphoon Frank that devastated Aklan the most among provinces in the region in 2008 – the province has risen, and tourism is alive, Governor Carlito Marquez reported in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) here January 28.

    "Aklan has risen, and this is most obvious in the income collected by our Cagban and Caticlan Jetty Ports. We had expected tourism to suffer the most from the worldwide economic downturn, but thanks be to God, with the skin of our teeth, we were able to post a 7% or a P5.5 million increase in port income, from P77 million in 2008 to P83 million in 2009. This includes terminal, polling cargo, rental berthing and docking, wharfage, anchorage and and other fees," Marquez said.

    Marquez said Aklan's tourism industry is still alive, tourist arrivals in Boracay Island increased by 2% from 634,263 visitors in 2008 to 649,559 in 2009.

    These arrivals brought in P11.9 billion in tourist revenues. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

NFA assures enough rice supply for Aklan for 5 months

Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan has enough rice supply to last for more than five months, according to the National Food Authority (NFA) here.

Based on records of the food agency, their warehouse in Banga, Aklan, as of January 26, has 67,730 bags of palay, 4,113 bags of local rice and 6,276 bags of imported Vietnam rice.

If the palay stocks get milled and converted into rice, the food agency will have a total of 50,301 in its inventory.

Sr. Grains Operations Officer Judith Tindog said the NFA has an average daily sales of 300 bags. Based on these average daily sales, Aklan has enough NFA rice supply for five months and 18 days.

Tindog clarified that this data only involves the stocks of the government only. Commercial rice supply found in households, traders and millers, on the other hand, is monitored by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

Presently, NFA is on palay procurement activities in various parts in the province, buying palay for as high as P17.70 per kilogram, depending on the seller's status, if he is a farmer's passbook holder, or a member of a farmer's cooperative.

NFA-Aklan has drying facilities too, which is favorable to Aklan farmers who cannot dry their produce because of frequent rains. For every bag of palay, a farmer only pays P12 pesos. The food agency, however, prioritizes those who intend to sell their produce to them.

Tindahan Natins in Aklan, numbering 52, Institutionalized Bigasan Sa Palengke and Bigasan Sa Barangay constitute NFA-Aklan's regular government rice outlets.

Tindog said NFA rice, sold at P18.25 in Tindahan Natins and P25 in IBSPs is affordable and of good quality.

"Its edge over commercial rice, besides its low price, is that it is iron-fortified", Tindog said.

Certified rice seeds are also available now in NFA-Aklan. Presently, 2,678 bags are available for Aklan farmers. Under the scheme, farmers only pay half of the price of the rice seeds, while the other half is subsidized by the Department of Agriculture. (PIA/Venus g. Villanueva)

P2.5-B dibidendo sang DBP para sa 2009, ginbaton ni PGMA

Ginbaton ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang tseke nga P2.5-bilyon nga dibidendo nga kontribusyon sang Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) sa gobyerno nasyonal para sa 2009.

Ginpresentar ang tseke ni Patricia Sto. Tomas kag Reynaldo David, chairperson kag presidente sang bangko sa Pangulo kag kay Finance Secretary Margarito Teves sa ika 63 nga anibersaryo sini sa DBP Head Office sa Makati.

Ginsiling ni David nga naglab-ot na sa P11.4 billion ang kabilugan nga dibidendo nga nabaton sang gobyerno nasyonal sumugod 2001 tubtub 2009.

Suno kay David, pinakadako ang net income sang DBP sang tuig 2009 nga P6.09 billion, nga nagtaas halin sa P3.6 billion sang nagligad nga tuig. Suno sa iya, bangud ini sa suporta sang Presidente.

Ginhatagan ang Pangulo sang kopya sang Memorandum of Understanding sa tunga sang DBP kag Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), nga magatukod sang isa ka programa sa pagbulig sa mga OFWs.

Mga mini gas station dealerships kag iban pa gid nga proyekto pangkabuhian ang ginapreparar sa idalum sang programa nga ini para sa mga OFWs kag ila mga pamilya.

Sa ginhiwat nga selebrasyon, ginbuksan sang Pangulo ang scale model sang bag-o nga DBP Green Building nga igapatindog sa Fort Bonifacio Global City sa Taguig.

Pagagamitan ini sang eco-friendly architectural design. Magagamit man ini sang solar power.

Ginpakita man sa Pangulo ang gold trowel nga gingamit man sang iya amay, ang nagtaliwan nga Presidente Diosdado Macapagal sa pagbutang sang cornerstone sa subong nga DBP Building 46 tuig na ang nakaligad. Pagagamiton man ni PGMA ang gold trowel kon maglunsar na sang igapatindog nga DBP building.

Ginpakita sa nasambit nga selebrasyon ang kontribusyon sang bangko sa Ten Point Agenda sang Arroyo administration, particular sa apat nga major areas – infrastructure kag logistics, mga eskwelahan kag ospital, micro, small and medium entrepreneurship, kag sa palibot.

Gin establisar ang bangko sang 1947 bilang Rehabilitation Finance Corporation nga magapautang para sa pagpaumwad sang agrikultura, komersyo kag industriya kag sa pagpatindog liwat sang mga propyedad nga nahalitan sa giyera.

Sang 1958, gin –islan ang ngalan sang RFC sang DBP. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Aklan has 316,886 registered voters

Kalibo, Aklan – Aklan's registered voters who would be participating in the country's first-ever automated elections have reached 316,886, based on the Consolidated Quarterly Progress Report of the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor here.

The figure, released by COMELEC-Aklan through Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, is based on the January 9, 2010 ERB Hearing.

Last November 10, 2009, Aklan's registered voters numbered 284,349, as based on the result of the October 19, 2009 ERB Hearing.

The current report shows that Kalibo maintained its stature as the vote-richest municipality in Aklan with 46,530, followed by Ibajay in the western side of Aklan with 25,481 and New Washington, with 23,858.

Closely trailing New Washington is the municipality of Banga with 23,063 registered voters.

Other municipalities and their respective number of registered voters are Malay, with 22,883 voters; Batan, 18,874; Numancia, 18,678; Balete, 17,085; Nabas, 16,300; Makato, 16,150; Libacao, 15,722; Altavas, 14,851; Malinao, 14,442; Tangalan, 11,868; Madalag, 11,615; Buruanga, 11,147 and Lezo, 8,389.

This latest progress report from the COMELEC shows that there are 2,115 established precincts and 492 clustered precincts in the province's 327 barangays. This period, 861 new applicants were approved by the ERB.

Presently, COMELEC-Aklan is embarking on voters' education campaign among various sectors here, to create more awareness about the first automated elections in the country.

Just recently, Malacañang urged the electorate to vote wisely in the coming elections, saying the fate of future generations rests on the decision that will be made by Filipinos in May.

Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar said the people "should never yield their rights and responsibilities as independent thinking voters to anything else whether it's the power of surveys or the blandishment of candidates. "

Olivar was reacting to pronouncements made made by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in a pastoral letter on Sunday, calling for more vigilance and involvement by Filipinos in the electoral process.

Olivar said the Filipinos owe it to themselves to support the election process through COMELEC. "We must set aside second guessings and intrigues and focus instead on helping in he conduct of a successful elections," he said. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)

Kalibo has a new fire truck

    Kalibo, Aklan -- The municipality of Kalibo has a new addition to its fleet of firetrucks which was warmly welcomed by this Ati-atihan town led by Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo.

    The new fire truck, according to Kalibo Information Officer Terence Toriano, is an Isuzu with a 1,000 gallon capability designed to respond efficiently to emergencies and fire alarms.

    The availability of the new fire truck was relayed by Fire Senior Supt. Mario Timonera, Chief of Comptroller of the Bureau of Fire Protection. In turn, Mayor Rebaldo requested personnel from the Kalibo Fire Station to go to the Fire Truck Warehouse in Caloocan to take charge of the paperwork and bring the fire truck to Kalibo.

    Several letters of request to BFP National Headquarters from Mayor Rebaldo, coupled with a resolution by Kalibo SB members were instrumental in the release of the firetruck.

    The new fire truck is painted red in accordance with the international color of distress and emergency and includes its own high velocity water pump and engine, collapsible ladder, fire hose, nozzle, fireman's axe and many others. The new fire truck is a welcome development in the municipality.

    Last October 2009, a major street in Kalibo, C. Laserna, which is along Kalibo River, was hit by a big fire, displacing hundreds of families and thousands of household members. (PIA/LGU-Kalibo)

MGA PINOY, NAG IMPROBAR ANG PANGABUHI SA IDALUM SA ADMINISTRASYON NI PGMA

    Nag-improbar ang pangabuhi sang mga Pilipino sa idalum sang 9 ka tuig nga administrasyon ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

    Suno kay Pangulong Arroyo, nagatrabaho siya sang maid-id adlaw adlaw agud mapatin-ad ang pangabuhi sang mga pumuluyo. Ginpabutyag niya ini sa ginhiwat nga vin d'honneur para sa mga diplomatic corps nga ginhiwat sini lang sa Rizal Hall sa Malacanang.

    Suno pa gid sa iya, ang sentro sang iya pagpungko sang 2001 amo ang pag improbar sang ekonomiya, magtuga sang mga trabaho, kag mag-invest sa mga tawo kag pisikal nga imprastratura.

    Ang pagdaku sang ekonomiya, suno sa iya, sa pagsukat sang GDP ukon suma total sang tanan nga produkto kag serbisyo sa nasyon kag numero sang trabaho sa idalum sang iya pagpamuno, ang pinakamataas sa nagtaliwan nga 30 ka tuig.

    Paagi sa pagduso sang mga reporma sa ekonomiya sa mga nauna nga tuig sang iya administrasyon, ginbuligan sang Presidente ang pungsod nga pakigbatuan ang global financial crisis nga nagsugod sang Setyembre sang mas maayo sang sa iban nga mga pungsod.

    Isa ang Pilipinas sa pila lamang ka mga pungsod sa Asya, pati na ang China, nga nakaluwas sa recession. Nagrehistro ini sang 0.7% nga pagdaku sang ekonomiya sa nahauna nga tatlo ka quarters sang 2009.

    Sa iya man pagpamuno, naghimo siya sang mga mabudlay kag ginakontra nga mga desisyon. Gin implementar niya ang expanded value added tax law ukon EVAT, kag nagresulta ini sa P80 billion sa annual revenues para sa gobyerno. (PIA/vgv)

4Ps, other major government programs spell better, healthier lives for Aklanons

    Kalibo, Aklan – Aklan's poor families now have a chance to have better – and healthier lives because of 4Ps.

    4Ps means Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, a poverty reduction strategy that provides grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14 years old.

This is a developmental program that invests in human capital. It enhances the role of parents and helps them accomplish their duties and responsibilities to their children,

In Aklan, residents of two far-flung, hinterland municipalities are currently benefiting from this program.

    These two municipalities are Libacao and Madalag.

    Libacao is a 4^th class interior municipality located 29 kilometers southwest of the capital town of Kalibo with 24 barangays now accessible by transportation except for the remaining 2 which could only be reached by foot. Madalag is also a 4^th class municipality, approximately 29 kilometers from Kalibo, with 25 barangays.

    As an identified 4Ps beneficiary, a household can receive as much as P1,400 for a maximum of three children that includes P500.00 per month for nutrition and health expenses and P300 per month per child with a maximum of three children per household for educational expenses.

    A total of 4,150 households in Aklan coming from the two municipalities are now benefiting from this program.

    Based on records provided by the Department of Socail Welfare and Development Field Office 6, a total of P13,375,200.00 had been released to beneficiaries as of November 2009.

    The cash grants are released to the beneficiaries in batches. The second batch release was even witnessed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who had her first-even Presidential Visit to Libacao for the event on August 7, 2009.

    Libacaonons and Madalagnons have five years to enjoy the program. Meanwhile, surveys for inclusion in the program are still being conducted by the government in other municipalities, so other poor and needy constituents in Aklan could also live better and healthier, especially the children.

    As one beneficiary - a mother, puts it during President Arroyo's visit to Libacao - "the 4Ps is a big help to my family. I have 5 children at 29 with the youngest just 3 – weeks old, and a husband with no permanent job."

    Juvy Agustin, the mother, has to make sure however that her school-age children regularly go to school, or the cash benefits for them will be stopped. If she gets pregnant, she must receive pre and post natal care and be attended during childbirth by a skilled professional, and must also attend responsible parenthood seminars and mother's classes.

    The 4Ps is just one of the programs of the government that has made the lives of Aklanons and the Filipinos in general better, this program being implemented in all parts of the country.

    Besides the 4Ps, the government has also provided Day Care and Grade 1 pupils a kilo of rice daily under the Food For School Program, with some 11.5 million beneficiaries from 2004 to 2009. The program serves as an incentive for children to stay in school.

    Meanwhile as of December 31, 2009, 99.39% of barangays nationwide had been electrified, resulting to better quality of life and progress.

    Waterless municipalities had been provided with water, covering some 319 municipalities. On the other hand, beneficiaries under the Kalahi-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services reached 5, 555 as of June 2009, benefiting 1.14 households. This program brought social development through community projects, empowering poor communities.

    In education, there is already a 1:1 ratio in textbooks for Elementary pupils for English and Sibika subjects while high school books like English, Math and Science have a ratio of 1:1. Teachers, on the other hand, now enjoy a monthly salary of P14,198.00 upon entering the service, compared with P9,939.00 monthly salary nine years ago.

    For school year 2008-2009, Educational Contract grantees numbered 508,808 while beneficiaries under GASTPE educational voucher system as of December 2009 reached 513,971, providing a better access to secondary education.

    Nationwide, there are 323,684 classrooms, with 100,000 new classrooms built under President Arroyo's term. Adequate classrooms provide a better learning environment.

    There are now a total of 81.64 million Philhealth members compared with 29.6 million in 2000, ensuring a bigger number of Filipinos to avail quality healthcare. To make affordable medicines accessible to Filipinos, there are now 15,000 outlets of Botika ng Barangay (BnB) scattered in all parts of the country.

    In Aklan, most barangays have BnBs. Too, most municipalities are recipients of the CIDSS program and the Food-For-School. Most Aklanons are Philhealth members and beneficiaries, with the provincial government under Governor Carlito Marquez aiming for universal coverage under the program. Private schools in Aklan are also offering Education Service Contracting for high school students; teachers are enjoying better salaries today. All these are seen as a means to ensure better quality of life for every Filipino and every Aklanon. (PIA/ Venus G. Villanueva)