Aklan is disaster-prepared - PDRRMC

By Sheila Q. Patoza KALIBO, AKLAN, June 12 (PIA6) – The province of Aklan is prepared and ready to disaster management and operations this rainy season, the Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) said. According to PDRRMC Officer Galo Ibardolaza their office has 24-hour on duty personnel monitoring the weather situation, and ready to respond to any kind of emergency or disaster. “It is a Standard Operating Procedure of the PDRRMC and all of the Municipal DRRMC here in the province to monitor everyday the weather especially during this rainy season or the southwest monsoon wherein occurrence of typhoons are probable,” Ibardolaza said. Water level sensor in bridges of Madalag and Mobo is also monitored 24/7 to supervise the critical level of water in Aklan River. The monitoring enables the DRRMOs give early warnings to their respective areas of responsibilities, which allow the community to prepare, he added. “The province is investing more on giving early warnings to the people because if the typhoon or the disaster strikes, you could not stop it anymore, what is needed is to lessen the impact of the disaster for being prepared, like loss of lives,” the PDRRMC chief said. Response capability of each municipality is also strengthened; the responders are equipped with necessary skills and equipment for efficient and effective rescue operations. The coordination of every MDRRMC, according to Ibardolaza contributes to the preparedness of the province. On May 30, the first coordination meeting of all MDRRMC in Aklan was conducted wherein the housing of Aklan Disaster Managers Association (ADMA) was established together with its constitution and by-laws. “The meeting was also a venue of exchanging good practices, ideas, suggestions and offering hands to municipalities that need help; and with the established association in the province, disasters management is also strengthened,” Ibardolaza added. The conducted Rescuelympics in Aklan according to PDRRMC Chief revealed the readiness of the province for disaster and calamity rescue operations in terms of equipment and responders’ capabilities and abilities. Meanwhile, the PDRRMC reminds the public not to take for granted the onset of rainy season as based on the weather forecast of authorized agencies here or even of other countries; the impact, strength and duration of El Nino will also be the same to that of La Nina phenomena, which is expected to hit the Philippines. (JSC/SQP-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: Aklan preparado sa pag-abot it kalamidad ag disaster - PDRRMC

By Sheila Q. Patoza KALIBO, AKLAN, Hunyo 13 (PIA6) – Preparado ag handa ro probinsya it Aklan sa disaster management ag operations sa pag-abot it tig-ueo-ean, hambae it Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) iya. Suno kay PDRRMC Officer Galo Ibardolaza ro anda nga opisina may nakaduty it 24 oras nga nagamonitor it tyempo ag haum nga magaresponde sa anuman nga emerhensya ukon disaster. “Standard Operating Procedure it PDRRMC ag tanan nga mga Municipal DRRMC iya sa probinsya nga magmonitor adlaw-adlaw it tyempo kapin gid kung tig-ueo-ean ukon habagat kung siin hara man ro tyempo it pagbagyo,” hambae ni Ibardolaza.. Ro water level sensor sa tulay it Madalag ag Mobo hay gina-obserbahan 24/7 para mabantayan gid ro kritikal nga lebel it tubi sa Aklan River. Tungod sa pagmonitor, ro mga DRRMO makatao it mga early warnings sa anda nga mga nasasakupan, para makapreparar ro komunidad, dugang nana. “Ro probinsya mas naga-invest sa pagtao it mga early warnings sa mga pumoeoyo dahil kung ina eot-a ro disaster ukon bagyo hay indi eot-a ron mapunggan, ro kinahang-ean hay ro paghagan-hagan sa epekto it disaster kung ro publiko hay handa, para maiwasan ro pagkaduea it kabuhi,” hambae ku hepe it PDRRMC. Ginpabaskog man ro response capability it kada munisipyo; kung siin ro mga nagaresponde hay may kakayahan ag may kagamitan para sa episyente ag epektibo nga rescue operation. Ro koordinasyon man it kada MDRRMC, suno kay Ibardolaza nakakabulig sa pagkapreparar it probinsya. Ku nagtaliwan nga Mayo 30, ginhiwat ro nauna nga coordination meeting it tanan nga MDRRMC sa Aklan kung siin gintukod ro Aklan Disaster Managers Association (ADMA) kaibahan ro consitution and by-laws. “Ro meting hay nangin lugar man sa pagbaylu-baylu it mga good practices, ideya, suhestiyon, ag pagtao it nakaigong bulig sa mga munisipyo nga gakinahang-ean man it bulig; ag tungod sa pag-establisar it hara nga asosasyon, mas mapabaskog pa gid ro disaster management iya sa probinsya,” dugang ni Ibardolaza. Sa ginhiwat nga Rescuelympics sa Aklan suno sa PDRRMC Chief nagpakita it kahandaan ro probinsya sa disaster ag calamity rescue operations pinaagi sa kagamitan ag kapasidad ag abilidad it mga nagaresponde. Samtang, ro PDRRMC nagpahanumdum man sa publiko nga indi pagbalewalaon ro pagsueod it ta-ueo-ean dahil base sa weather forecast it mga ahensya iya ag sa guwa man it nasyon, ro igo, kabaskugon, ag kabuhayon it El Nino hay kaparehas man sa La Nina phenomena, kung siin ro Pilipinas hay gin-ekspektar nga maigo. (JSC/SQP-PIA6 Aklan)

Subject: Aklanon News: DENR, may mga aktibidades para sa Environment Month

KALIBO, Aklan, Hunyo 2 (PIA6) -- Ro Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) iya sa probinsya it Aklan hay may nakalinyada eon nga mga aktibidades sa pagselebrar it World Environment Day (WED) sa Hunyo 5, ag Environment Month sa buean ngara it Hunyo. Ginsugid ni DENR-Aklan Chief Information Officer Arren Rubi sa ginpatigayon nga meeting it Aklan Public Information Officers Association (APIOA) kurundaya eamang nga pila sa mga aktibidades kara hay rong pagbisita sa mga estasyon it radyo para sa pagpahisayud it mga aktibidades angot kara, pagpananum it kahoy sa Hunyo 25, National Arbor Day, pagsaueog it ika 29 nga anibersaryo it pag krear it DENR, pagpadungog sa mga katuwang it DENR sa pagprotektar sa palibot sa Hunyo 30, ag ro paghiwat it “Search” para sa “Best Nursery” nga gina-mentenar it mga People’s Organizations (POs). Ro mga nurseries ngara hay imaw rong ginabue-an it mga inugtanum nga mga kahoy it DENR para sa National Greening Program (NGP). Magapanupod man ro DENR it mga titulo it eugta sa idaeum ku ana kara nga Handog Titulo nga programa, ag magatutok man sa kampanya kontra sa Illegal Logging sa probinsya sa bulig it mga katuwang kara nga Philippine National Police (PNP) ag Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Ro WED hay gina selebrar kada ika 5 it Hunyo sa pagtuga sa publiko it paghisayud agud magpatigayon it positibo nga aksyon sa pagprotektar sa palibot ag sa planeta. Ro tema para sa WED hay “Go Wild For Life” suno sa United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Ro buean it Hunyo hay gindeklarar nga Enviroment Month, kon siin ro DENR ro nagapanguna kara nga nagapamuno nga ahensya sa paghiwat it sari-saring mga aktibidades. Ro tema para sa Environment Month sa dag-on ngara hay “Go Wild For Life, Combat Biodiversity Loss#GreenEnvironmentGawingForever”. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: Brigada Eskwela sa Aklan igalunsar sa Numancia

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, May 30 (PIA6) – Ro makarong dag-on nga Brigada Eskwela sa probinsya it Aklan hay igalunsar sa Mayo 30 sa Numancia Covered Court sa Numancia, Aklan. Ro paglunsar hay pagapamunuan it Department of Education-Division of Aklan ag pagpakigsakupan it 19 nga mga distrito it Aklan halin sa sidlangan ag nakatundan nga parte it probinsya, kon siin raya nga mga grupo hay maga caravan paadto sa Numancia Covered Court sa pagahiwaton nga programa nga iga host it Distrito it Numancia. Ro grupo it halin sa sidlangan nga parte it probinsya hay Batan, Altavas, Balete, Banga, Libacao, Madalag, New Washington ag Kalibo I ag II. Sa pihak nga parte, ro halin sa nakatundan nga parte it probinsya hay rong Buruanga, Malay, Nabas, Ibajay West ag East, Tangalan, Makato, Malinao, Lezo ag Numancia. Pagkatapos it kickoff sa Mayo 30, tanan nga mga eskuylahan hay magapatigayon it Brigada Eskwela Maintenance Week ag Culminating Activity sa Hunyo 4, kon siin raya hay iga monitor it Regional ag Division Monitoring Team. Ro Brigada Eskwela hay sangka pangkabilugan nga schools maintenance program nga nagatipon sa komunidad, mga ginikanan, maestro ag maestro, mga eskuyla, mga NGO, mga civic groups ag iba pa ag nagatao ku andang oras ag kahugod sa pagpanglimpyo, pagkaayad ag pag mentenar it mga gamit ag palibot it eskuylahan sa pagpahaum it mga eskuylahan sa pagbukas it klase. Ro tema it makaron nga dag-on nga Brigada hay “Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa Mula sa Kindergarten Hanggang Senior High School.” (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Press Release: 34 Aklanons qualify for DOST-SEI scholarship

KALIBO, Aklan, March 12 (PIA6) -- Thirty-four (34) graduating students enrolled at Aklan’s public and private high schools qualified in the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholarship, based on a list of passers furnished recently by the the DOST office here. Of the 34 passers, 3 are from private schools while the rest came from public high schools in Aklan’s various municipalities. The biggest group of passers from government schools came from the Regional Science High School (RSHS) which had 7; and 2 each from Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Western Visayas Campus, Altavas National School (ANS); Lezo Integrated School (LIS), and Union National High School (UNHS) in Nabas. The rest of the schools had one (1) passer each. As scholarship qualifiers, these students are assured of financial support when they enroll in college in 4 or 5-year courses in priority science and technology fields. As government scholars, their privileges will include receiving P8,000.00 per semester for their tuition and other school fees, P5,000.00 book allowance, P500.00 for P.E. uniform (for 1st year students only), transportation allowance, round trip economy class for those studying outside their home province; monthly living allowance of P5,000.00 for BS Physical/Applied Physics/Physics Teaching/Geology, Mining Engineering enrolees; while those who will take other DOST-SEI priority courses will receive P4,000.00 stipend per month. Passers from RSHS are Janmarie Claire Catabui, Michelle dela Cruz, Mary Christine dela Rosa, Therese Dane Iray, Angeline Itulid, Shaira Tolentino and Maynard Vargas; ANS – Jan Ryan Andrade and Jaymuela Joy Zaulda; LIS – Christian Nike Bamba and Jaclyn Natividad; PSHS-WV – Reinald Panganiban and Jan Philip Wong; and from UNHS – Sam Pelayo and Jhoria May Lontayao. Other passers are Mark Billy Aclo of Ciriaco Icamina Sr. NHS, Malinao; John Paul Alfaro, Batan Academy, Batan; Marivic Baranda, Maloco NHS, Ibajay; Yesa Crystael Bulahan, Boracay NHS; Ylaiza Joy Cuaterno, Jose Borromeo Memorial NHS, Balete; Tyron Delos Reyes, New Washington Nat’l Comprehensive High School; Jeannifer Flores, Ibajay NHS, Ibajay;Ariel Gregorio, Libacao National Forestry Voc. HS; John Lorenz Gulbique, Malinao School for Philippine Craftsmen; Rose Anne Hungay, Alaminos NHS, Madalag; Nino Ibardolaza, Bay-ang Magpag-ong NHS, Batan; Hearty Stalwart Isagan, Torralba NHS, Banga; Analyn Julian, Aklan NHS for Arts and Trades, Kalibo; Jhea Laurilla of Tangalan NHS, Tangalan; Ziara Joy Macariola of Makato Integrated School, Makato; and Sharina Reporen of Fr. Julian Rago Memorial NHS, Balete. From private schools, passers are Shawn VJ Jarme and Kristine Emerald Ramos of Infant Jesus School (IJS) and Ray Micheal Guantero of Aklan Polytechnic Institute (API). According to DOST-Aklan, each of these qualifiers shall receive a notice of award soon from the DOST-SEI or DOST Regional Office stating the date of orientation and contract signing. Meanwhile, the DOST also revealed that three sophomore college students also qualified under the Science and Technology scholarships, namely Lyra May Inguillo of Aklan State University – Kalibo and Liza Jean Molas and Hanz Bern Nagtalon of Aklan State University – Banga. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklan's best performing IOs get award

KALIBO, Aklan, December 5 (PIA6) -- Two government information officers from Aklan – PO3 Nida L. Gregas of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) and Peter S. Mangilog of National Statistics Office (NSO) were awarded recently at the Iloilo Grand Hotel as the region’s Best Performing Information Officers along with eight (8) others from the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The awarding of Best Performing IOs was conceptualized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as the government’s way of appreciating and recognizing the efforts of information officers in national agencies and local government units. The awarding was held as the highlight of this year’s Information Officers’ Year-end Conference-Western Visayas, an annual gathering of the region’s information officers from national, provincial and municipal offices. Before the awarding, the information officers listened first to a lecture of Ryan Vilmor Dumpit of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) entitledUnderstanding Weather Changes, Terminologies. The venue for the gathering and awarding was originally slated at the El Circulo Pavilion, Lawaan, Roxas City but was transferred to Iloilo City as the intended venue in Roxas City suffered damages due to Typhoon Yolanda. Both PO3 Gregas and Mabilog were accompanied by their respective office heads in receiving the award from PIA 6 Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa. PO3 Gregas was accompanied by APPO OIC Provincial Director John Jomel Trio while Mangilog was accompanied by NSO-Aklan Statistician II Rodelyn Panadero who represented Blas M. Solidum, Provincial Statistics Officer, who was in Manila on official business at the time of the awarding. The award for this year is Gregas’ second and for Mangilog, his first one. Other awardees for the category included Joeffrey Espiritu of the Provincial Health – Capiz, Office, SPO1 Donna Asmod of Capiz Provincial Police Office, FO3 Marlon B. Garbo of Roxas City Fire Station, Juvy S. Gaton of Department of Agriculture 6, Ma. Xenia Serio of POPCOM 6, Fire Inspector Stephen Jardeleza of BFP-Iloilo, Florentina L. Magbanua of NIA, Negros Occidental and Cynthia Luz F. Chua of NFA Negros Occidental. Meanwhile, besides the Best Performing IO award, NSO-Aklan was also awarded the Best Performing Information Office for 2013. The award was conceptualized and introduced by the PIA only this year which makes the awardees from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Negros and Iloilo officially the first recipients of such awards. Other awardees in the Best Performing Information Office category were Antique Police Office, Capiz Provincial Press Bureau, Public Information Division, Governor’s Office, Negros Occidental, Iloilo Public Information and Community Affairs Office, Governor’s Office, Public Information Office, Passi City and Public Information division, Philhealth 6. The awardees each receive a citation and trophy from the PIA. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Coastal are now no build zones

KALIBO, Aklan, December 4 (PIA6) -- From now on, coastal dwellers will no longer be allowed to build houses within 40 meters from the high tide mark of beaches. This is in order to save the people’s lives in times of strong typhoons that could bring strong storm surges, according to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who arrived in Aklan December 3 together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. Secretary Roxas’ group first met with provincial and municipal officials of the province of Antique led by Governor Exequiel Javier, and then with Aklan provincial and municipal officials led by Governor Florencio T. Miraflores. The two sets of meetings with the Cabinet Secretaries were held at the Conference Room of the Provincial Guest House, Provincial Capitol Compound. At the start of both the sets of meetings, Secretary Roxas assured the provincial officials that even as most of the media dateline reports involved Tacloban and Samar, the government did not forget the plight of the people of Western Visayas in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, and they were sent by President Aquino to assess the damage in the areas to know the priorities of the officials in the rehabilitation and recovery phase. During his talk, Roxas emphasized the need for local government officials to prevent their constituents from coming back to build their houses along the coastal areas, saying that such areas, especially within 40 meters, are now considered “no-build-zones. Roxas said local government officials will be held accountable should this regulation be violated. For her part, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman assured municipal mayors that the DSWD will be providing assistance to typhoon victims through Cash For Work and Cash for Training Programs. She also said that as a form of assistance, the Pantawid Pamilya cash payout this December will be given in full and doing away with conditions as some school children cannot go to school anyway due to destroyed school houses. She also urged local officials to submit their list of validated houses totally or partially destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) or at the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team by Thursday, December 5, so that these data will be e-mailed to the DSWD Regional Office by Friday, December 6 and during the weekend, would be validated by the DSWD Central Office. The list will then be forwarded to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which is the lead agency for shelter assistance, according to Soliman. Within the week, Soliman said the local government units would know if there will be delivery of housing materials, as she disclosed that the government is more into providing materials than cash to those who lost their houses. She said the government will be providing P30,000.00 to those whose houses were totally destroyed, and P10,000.00 for partially destroyed. In the two meetings however, the province of Antique pegged the amount for totally destroyed houses at P15,000.00 each, while Aklan placed the amount to construct a house at P10,000.00. To both these proposals, Secretary Mar Roxas said the national policy in providing aid for shelter will be applied to all. “We are all Filipinos, it would be unfair if a province gets a bigger amount, while the other one gets less. What is important here is for victims to be included first in the validated list,” Roxas said. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

BFP: Use candles, generators with caution

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

BFP: Use candles, generators with caution

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

Landbank extends P1.7M calamity assistance to Aklan LGUs

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

Aklan Restos now serving half-cup rice orders

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

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

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

Massive Kalibo rabies vaccination set

On Thursday, 31 October 2013, 14:30, PIA KALIBO wrote: KALIBO, Aklan, October 31 (PIA6) -- The municipality of Kalibo, in coordination with various public and private entities,will be conducting a massive Rabies Vaccination Drive this month of November. The mass rabies vaccination in Kalibo, according to Dr. Janna Rose Menez, will be held from November of this year up to February 2014 with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates (BMG) Foundation, the Depatment of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6 in Iloilo City, Department of Health, Provincial Government of Aklan, and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian. Dr. Menez said the vaccination of dogs in the municipality of Kalibo will be free and will be done through the house-to-house approach. Because of this, the local government of Kalibo through the Municipal Agricultural Services Division (MASD) which will be conducting the vaccination, is advising dog owners in the municipality to have their dogs dewormed first. The conduct of dog vaccination in Kalibo starting November is in consonance with the yearly observance of Mass Rabies Vaccination Drive throughout the nation, with the aim of making the province and the whole country rabies-free by 2020. During the mass rabies vaccination, the dogs will also be registered, in keeping with Municipal Ordinance No. 2012-015 Section 7 – which calls for the payment of registration fee for dogs and large animals. Just recently, the island of Boracay and the island province of Guimaras were declared rabies-free by the DOH. These areas are the first to be declared in Western Visayas and the DOH and DA top officials who led the event expressed optimism then that soon, other provinces in the region will also be declared rabies-free. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Aklan voters rate barangay elections peaceful

KALIBO, Aklan, October 29 (PIA6)—The shorter time for a voter to stay inside the polling place to vote, the designation of a specific polling place for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities and the deployment of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel at polling places contributed much to the conduct of a peaceful and orderly barangay elections in the province of Aklan. This observance was the general sentiment of the voting public in the province when they trooped to polling precincts to vote for their new batch of barangay officials in their respective barangays and towns. In Poblacion Kalibo, with 9,641 voters – the highest in the municipality, voting started upon opening of precincts at 7:00 a.m. at two designated polling places – the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School (KPES) and the Kalibo Integrated Special Education Center (KISEC). Aklan has been identified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to have two election areas of concern which were Barangay Sigcay in Banga and Barangay Mataphao in New Washington, Aklan, which were given proper attention by the government by deploying elements of the PNP and the Philippine Army from the 12th Infantry Battalion based at Camp Jizmundo, Libas, Banga, Aklan. Except for a complaint from a household who were barred from voting in Sigcay as their forefingers were already tainted with indelible ink when they showed up to vote, no other untoward incidents were reported emanating from the said areas. The Castro Family composed of 5 members who were barred from voting, alleged that their forefingers were tainted with indelible ink already early in the morning by a barangay tanod. Meanwhile, 85 inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were also able to exercise t

Aklanon News: Barangay election sa Aklan, nangin matawhay

KALIBO, Aklan, Oktubre 30 (PIA6) -- Ro madali nga tyempo sa pagboto, pagbutang it separado nga boeotohan para sa mga magueang, mga nabdus ag may mga diperensya sa eawas ag ro pagbutang it mga katapu it Philippine National Police sa mga lugar ku eleksyon ro nakabulig it mabahoe sa pagpatigayon sa Aklan it sangka matawhay ag maayos nga barangay eleksyon. Raya ro eaban nga nangin obserbasyon it mga Akeanon nga nag-aeadto sa mga presinto it boeotohan ku Oktubre 28, 2013 agud iboto ro andang mga nahamut-an nga masunod nga magapamuno sa andang mga barangay sa mga banwa it Aklan. Ro Poblacion Kalibo nga may mga botante nga 9,641 ag pinakamataas sa bilog nga banwa ro nagbukas it mga presinto kara sa Kalibo Pilot Elementary School (KPES) ag Kalibo Integrated Special Education Center (KISEC) it alas 7 sa agahon ag eagi man nga nagpatigayon it botohan. Gintumod it Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ro Aklan nga may daywang (2) “election areas of concern” nga imaw rong Barangay Sigcay sa Banga ag Barangay Mataphao sa New Washington nga gintaw-an man it nagakaigo nga igtaeupangud it gobyerno paagi sa pagbutang idto it mga katapu it Philippine National Police ag Philippine Army halin sa 12th Infantry Battalion nga nakabase sa Camp Jizmundo, Libas, Banga, Aklan. Samtang, 58 nga mga inmates nga nakahunong sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) ro nakapatigayon it pagboto idto mismo sa sueod it pasilidad. Madali eamang ro nangin proseso it pagboto idto, suno kay BJMP-Aklan Jail Officer Allan Lariosa, bangud natapos ra eagi it alas 8:30 it agahon. Suno sa listahan it COMELEC-Aklan, may 676 nga mga kandidato ro nagdaeagan sa posisyob nga barangay chairman sa bilog nga probinsya samtang 5,620 ro nagdaeagan para barangay kagawad. Pila man nga mga kandidato para barangay chairman ro nagdaeagan nga owa it kontra, pareho sa Balete nga napueo (10) sa dose (12) nga mga kandidato ro owa it nagkontra, samtang ro ibang mga banwa hay may una man nga owa it nagkontra, pero pinaka abo ro sa Balete. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklan men's group calls for end of violence against women, children

KALIBO, Aklan, October 24 (PIA6) -- As the nation celebrates Children’s Month this October, the Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) Aklan Chapter is calling for more vigilance and concerted action to put an end to violence against the province’ children. MOVE-Aklan issued this call amidst report from the Child Protection Unit (CPU) here housed at the Daeangpan it mga Kababayen-anit Aklan that as of October 8 of this year, child abuse cases reached 73. Of these cases, 55 were victims of sexual abuse and 14 suffered physical abuses, with ages of victims ranging from 12 to 15. “The report also cited that there were more victims whose ages range from 2-8 years old”, MOVE-Aklan said in its issued statement on Children’s Month celebration. The men’s movement said that Children’s Month is an opportune time for all sectors of Aklanon Society to make a stand to put an end to exploitation of children, as in most cases, the persons who are the supposed protectors of these children are the abusers and perpetrators of said dastardly acts. To end the abuses, MOVE-Aklan called on all Aklanons, concerned agencies, families, parents, schools and non-government organizations to operationalize the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), educate children of their rights and appealed to all Aklanon men to respect and love not only the women but also the boys and girls – the children. MOVE-Aklan also said everyday should be made a Children’s Day by freeing the children from violence and abuse. MOVE-Aklan, currently headed by Jones Arrieta of Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) here as President, is an organization of principled Aklanon men working towards the elimination of Gender-Based Violence and adhering to the principle of never to commit and condone Violence Against Women (VAW). This year’s Children’s Month theme is “Kahirapan Wakasan, Karapatan ng Bata Ipaglaban!”(VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Beware of plumped-up chicken, botcha - FNRI-DOST

KALIBO, Aklan, October 24 (PIA6) -- Ever wondered why the 1 kilogram-dressed chicken you bought from the market shrunk upon going home and shed water? Chances are, according to a lecture of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) here during the NUTRICOMNET monitoring meeting and media forum held October 24 at the DOST-Aklan Provincial Science and Technology Center, Provincial Capitol Compound, Kalibo, the chicken might have been plumped, by injecting it with water to add weight to the meat. This and other current issues on Food Safety, like nitrates and nitrItes and “botcha”, were presented by Victor Alfonso, who lectured on Food Fortification and Food Safety. Alfonso said that in the United States, plumping is a process by which some chicken companies inject raw chicken meat with salt water, chicken stock and seaweed extract supposedly to make the meat tastier and juicier. In the Philippines however, Alfonso said the practice is done by unscrupulous businessmen in order to earn more, at the expense of the consumers. Plumping chickens is very disadvantageous too, as it will be more expensive for consumers because of additional 15-39% additional weight; unhealthy because the chicken contains 200-500 mg sodium per serving versus 45-70 mg in unplumped chicken, increases risk of hypertension and heart attack; and may be unsafe, because in the Philippines, where plumping is unregulated, the safety of the solution used in plumping is unsure. As for nitrates, its use could form carcinogenic nitrosoamines in meat when exposed to high temperature, but this could be countered with the addition of Vitamin C and E as these antioxidants may inhibit the formation of nitorsoamines. “Botcha”, on the other hand, or meat taken from an animal that has died of disease, must not be consumed, instead, the dead animal should be properly disposed by burning or burying the diseased animal carcass, Alfonso said. He also cited Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag who said that people who eat meat of diseased pigs can contract all sorts of illnesses which can lead to death. There are also no assurances that after cooking botcha, the meat is already safe to eat, or all the bacteria are gone. Also with Alfonso at the NUTRICOMNET monitoring-meeting and media forum was Marilou Galang, Sr. Science Research Specialist, who talked on the country’s Nutrition Situation and Consequences of Malnutrition. The activity, which was facilitated by DOST-Aklan headed by Provincial Science and Technology Director Jairus Lachica, was attended by Aklan’s local media, government information officers and representatives from the academe. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanon News: DOT, igaduso ro mala-baeangaw nga mga kilid it karsada sa WV

KALIBO, Aklan, Oktubre 22 (PIA6) -- Ro puno it kolor nga mga kilid it karsada sa bilog nga Western Visayas hay plano nga taw-an it katumanan it Department of Tourism (DOT). Ginhambae ni DOT 6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas nga raya hay matabu paagi sa pagtanum it mga nagabueak nga hardin sa kilid it mga karsadahon agud makatao it dugang pa gid nga atraksyon para sa mga turista nga nagaadto sa rehiyon. Suno kana, pwede nga umpisahan ro pagtanum halin sa mga kilid it karsada halin sa Kalibo International Airport (KIA) paadto sa Caticlan, Malay, ro ginatabukan paadto sa isla it Boracay. Ro mga pagtanum hay pagahimuon man dayon sa mga karsadahon it mga probinsya it Rehiyon 6 agud ro kolor kara hay mangin matsa ana ku baeangaw, suno kay Catalbas. Ginpaabot ni Catalbas ro plano ngara sa sangka pagpakig-angot kana sa radyo nahanungod sa pagdungka it sangka cruise ship sa isla it Boracay kurundaya eamang. Ginhambae nana nga ro butang ngara hay ana pa nga ipresentar kay Governor Florencio T. Miraflores agud rayang plano hay magamadinaeag-on. Nag-apelar man imaw sa mga pumueuyo, mga pribadong sektor ag iba pang mga grupo sa probinsya agud rayang proyekto hay mapatigayon. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

DOT bats for rainbow-colored Western Visayas roadsides

KALIBO, Aklan, October 22 (PIA6) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is batting to make everyday in Western Visayas a Flower Festival by making roadsides of the region colorful with planted flowering plants. DOT 6 Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas said the planting of flowering plants could be started first from Kalibo International Airport (KIA) to Caticlan, Malay, the jump-off point to Boracay Island, and then duplicated all over the region to make the roadsides colored “like the rainbow”. Catalbas shared this plan with radio listeners in an interview here recently on the arrival of a cruise ship in Boracay Island. Catalbas said she plans to take up this matter with Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores for this project to successfully take off. She also appealed to barangays folks, the private sectors and other entities to help make this project successful. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

14 Aklan establishments join DTI's "Diskwento" sal

KALIBO, Aklan, October 18 (PIA6) -- Fourteen (14) business establishments in Kalibo will be joining the In-Store “Diskwento” Sale Project here organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as one of the major activities of the agency in celebration of Consumer Welfare Month this October. DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena Jr. said these establishments include AIM School Supply, Baclaran Sa Kalibo, City Square Traders, Gaisano Capital, Kalibo, Kok’s Stitch and Crafts (3 branches in Kalibo), Lind’s Dry Goods Store, Maxx Enterprise, New Fu’s Merchandise, New Magdalena Marketing, Otto General Merchandise, Startline Furniture, Stella’s Marketing, Susan’s Dry Goods Store and Thumbelina Books and Supplies. These establishments, which offer school supplies, school shoes/uniforms, ready to wear items, fashion accessories, gift items, kitchen wares, furniture, cellphones, and Christmas lights/decors, will be selling at discounted prices ranging from 5%, 10%, 20% and 50%. Cadena said the holding of the “Diskwento” Sale Project intends to give consumers the chance to buy a wide variety of consumer products at discounted and affordable prices. At the same time, the project, which will be held from October 18 to 20, will also be an opportunity for manufacturers and dealers to practice their corporate social responsibility to consumers. Besides this “Diskwento” project, to celebrate Consumer Welfare Month, the DTI conducted early this month a forum on Consumerism attended by various municipal consumer associations and school-based consumer advocates clubs, heads and representatives of national government agencies and provincial offices and the media, and radio guestings to talk on the essence of consumer welfare, responsibilities of consumers and business establishments and other issues and concerns. This year’s theme is “Health products’ quality, efficacy and transparency…everybody’s concern. (DTI/JCM/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)