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==Survival fund for climate change adaptation available to LGUs==
*Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=901373359171
*Wednesday, July 10, 2013
:By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)
ILOILO CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- Climate Change Commission Secretary and Vice-Chair Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering urged local government units to come up with programs that would help their communities adapt to the effects of climate change.
With Sering’s call came the assurance that the national government has set aside funds under the People’s Survival Fund to help local governments defray the cost of such programs other than disaster risk reduction and management.
The fund is provided for under Republic Act No. 10174 which mandates the government to implement local climate change action plans and make communities more resilient to climate-induced disasters. Specifically, the fund, which would be appropriated annually, would be used for the management of water resources, land, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, and natural ecosystems.
Speaking at the signing July 8 here of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that launched Project Re BUILD for Jalaur River Basin in Iloilo, Sering urged local governments to avail of the Fund after noting not a single local government has had a local climate change plan in place that is based on an assessment of its vulnerability to climate change, which would have been the basis for availing of the Fund.
“Meron na tayong pondo (an unprogrammed fund of P500 million), kulang ang absorptive capacity,” said Sering at the event. (We now have the fund, but there’s a lack of absorptive capacity, referring to non-availment of the fund by LGUs).
The CCC, she said, is hopeful that the fund would be used as a potential guide to LGUs in long-term planning on climate change adaptation because a well-defined plan can also encourage investment since it would lessen the cost of doing business.
"We have to move faster in this regard," she said, referring to local governments.
“What we’re bringing in is not something new but is more of improving what you have right now based on science and expertise," she added.
She cited the experience of her own disaster-prone community in Surigao del Norte, which she said is now resilient after experiencing and learning lessons on how to cope with the adverse effects of natural disasters especially typhoon “Sendong” in 2011 which included timely early warning and ample preparation.
Project ReBUILD is a joint project of the CCC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the New Zealand Aid Progammeas funding agency. The 3-year project is designed to increase the capacities of communities surrounding the Jalaur River System in Iloilo to manage disaster risks from and adapt to the overall impacts of climate change towards resilience and sustainable development.
The MOU was signed by Sering, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, and UNDP Country Director in the Philippines Toshihiro Tanaka.
==Iloilo officials urged to unite against climate change==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=542503
*Tuesday, July 9, 2013
:(PNA), PDS/NLG/MAD
ILOILO CITY, July 9 (PNA) -- Leaders in Iloilo Province were urged to set aside politics and make a united stand to make communities resilient to the effects of climate change.
In his message during the launching of Project ReBUILD in Iloilo City on Monday, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka urged local chief executives here “to go beyond the boundaries of politics” to address the effects of climate change, which affect all regardless of political orientation.
He said climate change is a global phenomenon which affects millions of people all over the world, citing that flood is not exclusive to Philippines.
“We have to be prepared before it affects us,” he added.
Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering, vice chairperson of Climate Change Commission (CCC), said the role of the CCC is to coordinate local government units (LGUS) with the national government agencies (NGAs) and other funding agencies to support the municipalities, cities or provinces’ climate change adaptation projects.
“We will reduce the time the LGUs spend to seek funds from NGAs and funding bodies,” she said.
She noted that from 2008 to 2012, there is an increase in national budget on climate change but almost 80 to 90 percent of this budget has been spent on flood control and management.
“This is reactionary and some of the budget which should have been used for education and basic social services are diverted to infrastructure,” she said.
Sering also noted that climate change adaptation is a long-term process compared to disaster preparedness which is short-termed.
Under Project ReBUILD or “Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards, Phase 1,” Iloilo is one of the recipients of a U.S.$ 1.22 million aid grant aimed to enable concerned sectors and communities covered by the Jalaur River basin.
The project was launched with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the CCC represented by Sering and the Province of Iloilo represented by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.
The Project ReBUILD will tap the local academe to study the vulnerabilities of these Jalaur River basin communities, which include those from the towns of Calinog, Lambunao, Passi City, Zarraga, Dumangas, Pototan, among others.
==Activities lined up to observe National Disaster Consciousness Month==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=541996
*Monday, July 8, 2013
:(PNA), LAP/VLORQUIOLA
ILOILO CITY, July 8 (PNA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) here has lined up various activities to promote month-long observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month.
Rosario T. Cabrera, chairperson of RDRRMC and Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense-VI (OCD-VI), said one of the activities will be film showing of disaster-related films to be spearheaded by Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-VI) who is also the vice chair for Rehabilitation and Recovery of RDRRMC.
Heads of national line government agencies and their respective staff who are members of RDRRMC will be given an opportunity to watch the first screening of the featured film “Cross Currents: Journey to Asian Environments” on July 23, 1 p.m. at the Cinematheque Iloilo along Solis Street, Iloilo City.
Cross Currents: Journey to Asian Environments is an environmental documentary of prize-winning filmmaker and director of the Center for New Cinema Nick Deocampo.
The OCD Regional Director said Deocampo will be around to interact with the audience during an open forum.
The film showing which is free of charge was made possible in coordination with Cinematheque-Iloilo.
==‘SK law deserves review but abolition needs legislation’==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=541795
*Sunday, July 7, 2013
:(PNA), PDS/NLG/MGC
ILOILO CITY, July 7 (PNA) -- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. on Sunday said the decision to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) would need serious talks among the legislators.
Defensor’s statement came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supported the call of election lawyer Romulo Macalintal to abolish the SK due to its failure to develop new breed of political leaders.
“It is deserves to be revisited but it needs legislation,” the governor said.
Defensor, who served as congressman for three terms, added that if ever SK would be abolished, the youth could be represented by one representative in the Barangay Council to handle the youth welfare.
He said, however, that if it would not be abolished, it would better that the age requirement of SK members from 15-17 years old to 17-20 years old.
“We should also consider their level of maturity,” he said.
Senator-elect JV Ejercito has proposed to amend some provisions on the SK law for its continuity.
Estrada said he would want to change the present age bracket to 18-24 years old so that the youth would be politically mature to hold office.
“I want SK reforms and progress but I’m not for its abolition,” he said during his recent visit at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
The SK is composed of a chairman, seven members, a secretary and a treasurer.
Qualified are those who are actual residents in the barangay for at least six months and registered in the SK, or in the official list in the custody of the barangay secretary. SK election is also included on barangay election.
==RDC-VI searches for Best Public Sector projects==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=541579
*Saturday, July 6, 2013
:(PNA), LAM/PR/VLO
ILOILO CITY, July 06 (PNA) -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region VI again launched this year the ‘Best Public Sector Projects Award’ (BPSPA) to showcase and recognize the various government projects that significantly contributed to the attainment of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s strategic thrusts of inclusive growth and poverty alleviation.
First started in 2006, the award was also conferred in 2007 and 2009. The last awarding ceremony was graced by President Gloria M. Arroyo in Bacolod City.
The award has three categories: national government agencies (NGAs) category which includes entries from all regional offices or affiliate offices of national government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations operating in Region VI; state universities and colleges (SUCs) category that covers all twelve SUCs in Region VI; and local government units (LGUs) category which is for all six provinces, two highly urbanized cities, all component cities, and three provincial capitals in the region.
From 22 entries, the number was reduced to only 16 semi-finalists. The short listed projects were then presented by their proponents to the members of the board of judges.
Former RDC-VI co-chairperson Ma. Luisa Segovia of the Iloilo Business Club and Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal of NEDA-VI led this year’s team of judges who went around the region from May 15 to June 7, 2013 to validate the projects.
Three regional winners for each category have been chosen after a thorough deliberation last June 27, 2013 during the final meeting of the Board of Judges.
The awarding ceremony will be held in September 2013 as part of this year’s RDC Week Celebration.
==MOU signing to launch Project ReBUILD in Iloilo==
*Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=901373007283
*Friday, July 5, 2013
:By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)
ILOILO CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed Monday, July 8 by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Provincial Government of Iloilo to launch “Project ReBUILD” for Jalaur River Basin here.
Project ReBUILD, acronym for Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards, Phase 1, is designed to increase the capacities of communities surrounding the Jalaur River Basin to manage disaster risks from climate change and adapt to its overall impacts towards resilience and sustainable development.
Climate Change Commission Secretary and Vice Chairperson Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering will arrive here for the event together with New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka of the United Nations Development Programme-Philippines, and CCC Deputy Executive Director Joyceline Goco.
They will be welcomed and joined by top local officials headed by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Senator Franklin M. Drilon.
The Climate Change Commission is the implementing partner of the project, which will be administered by the United Nations Development Programme with the New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP) as the funding institution.
The project also seeks to improve the governance framework by putting in place the necessary enabling policy environment, mechanisms, systems and tools, as well as improving the competencies of concerned personnel to address disaster risks from natural hazards and climate change which set back development gains and increase poverty incidence.
The three-year project is expected to come up with an assessment of the climate change vulnerabilities of target areas in the Jalaur River Basin, priority climate change adaptation and disaster risk mitigation measures, mainstreaming of climate change/disaster risk management budget in planning and regulatory processes, development of resilience of poor and most vulnerable areas, and establishment of a local knowledge management system in said areas.
Project ReBUILD is being implemented in two river basins in the country, the other one is the Cagayan River Basin in Luzon, which was launched July 4 of this year. The two areas were chosen for the project because of their vulnerability to the threats of climate change and natural hazards.
Project partners include several government agencies and organizations, universities and local government units of project areas.
==DOT-6 finalizing list of 7 ‘Bridges of Blessings’ in Iloilo City==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=541037
*Thursday, July 4, 2013
:By Montessa Caoyonan [(PNA), HBC/NLG/MGC]
ILOILO CITY, July 4 (PNA) -- The Dept. of Tourism Region 6 has conducted consultative meetings and brainstorming sessions with different stakeholders here to finalize the list of 7 Bridges of Blessings in Iloilo City to be launched in September.
Among the stakeholders are the Dept. of Environment National Resources, Dept. of Public Works of Highways, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, Iloilo City Government, tri-media and private-sector.
DOT-6 Director Helen Catalbas said the consultation includes selection of the seven bridges and corresponding blessings, clarifications, suggestions, marketing strategy, roles of stakeholders, and proposed itineraries.
Iloilo City has 19 bridges mostly connecting the Iloilo-Batiano Rivers and two flyovers.
Most of these bridges have their own histories and stories to tell that are already part of the city’s history.
The oldest is the historical Forbes Bridge built in 1910 and rehabilitated in 1975.
The other bridges that cross the Iloilo River are the Quirino-Lopez Bridge built in 1967 and rehabilitated in 2000, Iloilo Bridge or the diversion bridge built in 1982, and the new Carpenter's Bridge built in 2010 beside the old Carpenter's Bridge that was rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge.
Bridges across the Salog River are the Montinola Bridge built in 1956 and Jaro Bridge built in 1982, and the Buhang Bridge built in 2010 across the Jaro floodway.
Other city bridges are the six Dungon bridges over Dungon Creek with the first Dungon Bridge built in 1948, Dungon Bridge I, Dungon Bridge II, Dungon Bridge III, Dungon Bridge IV and Dungon Bridge V, all built in 1982, Buntatala Bridge built in 1956, Calajunan Bridge built in 958, Ticud Bridge built in 2000, Bitoon Bridge built in 2010, and the newest Jalandoni Bridge, Drilon Bridge and Nabitasan Bridge.
Meanwhile, the two flyovers are the Infante, built in 2008, and the Jalandoni built in 2010.
Catalbas said the main attraction is the Iloilo River wherein most of these bridges have been part of the city and good to be promoted as tourist spot.
“In modern days, it is part of our job to identify other heritage sites either it’s man-made, natural, lifestyle, or food that we could link to our history,” she said.
Dr. Kristine Treas, president of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Council, said Iloilo City heritage sites particularly these bridges are beneficial and they have their own roles in the life of Iloilo City.
==Iloilo City river a finalist in 2013 Thiess International Riverprize award==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=&rid=540690
*Wednesday, July 3, 2013
:(PNA), LAP/LCP/VLO
ILOILO CITY, July 3 (PNA) -- The Iloilo River in this southern city is the only one in the Philippines selected as one of four international finalists in the 2013 Thiess International Riverprize award.
A communication dated July 3, 2013 from Matthew Reddy, chief executive of the International River Foundation based in Brisbane, Australia to city environment and natural resources officer Noel Hechanova showed the selection of the Iloilo River as a finalist in the international search.
City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the full rehabilitation of the Iloilo-Batiano river system started in 2011 and the city hosted the first international river summit in May 2012.
The efforts at the river showed a cohesive participation of government agencies and people's organizations clearly showing a public private partnership in rehabilitation and preserving the river in this city.
Mabilog said the river became an anchor of all development and pro-projects such as the Esplanade, housing projects for informal settlers displaced along the river and other danger zones, road widening, completion of circumferential and radial roads and construction of new ports for roll-on and roll water vessels and fast crafts.
Aside from the Iloilo River, the other international river finalists are the Bolshaya River in Russia, Mara River in Kenya, Africa and the Murray Darling Basin in Australia.
The representatives of the finalist rivers are required to attend the 16th International Riversymposium on September 16-23, 2013 in Brisbane where the international grand winner will be announced during a gala dinner.
They have the opportunity to present their work in the Riverprize sessions and meet other alumni members and symposium delegates. The international winner will win one million Australian dollars for projects.
==DENR starts removal of obstructions along Iloilo City creek==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=8&rid=540277
*Tuesday, July 2, 2013
:(PNA), LAP/NLG/LCP
ILOILO CITY, July 2 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started the removal of obstructions, mostly illegal fish pens, mangroves and nipa clumps along the Calajunan Creek in Mandurriao district here.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Raul Lorilla reported the DENR action during the recent Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC) meeting attended by Senator Franklin Drilon.
An inventory team was dispatched last month to list down all obstructions at the creek that prevent the flow of water, including islets formed with vegetation, and fish pens at the boundary of Iloilo City and the municipality of Oton.
Lorilla said the inventory showed the presence of 89 mangrove species such as pagatpat, bakauan, pedada and bungalon and 10 nipa clumps along the Iloilo River upstream at Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district.
Meanwhile, 98 mangroves of pagatpat, bakauan babae and pedada species and a nipa clump are in Islet II at the Calajunan Creek in Barangay Sooc.
There are 67 mangroves and five nipa clumps at Islet III, while 451 mangroves species and 50 nipa clumps are at Islet IV upstream near the Sooc Bridge. At Islet V near the bridge, there are 407 mangrove species and 22 nipa clumps.
There are also 9 units of fish corrals or "punot" and other obstructions from the junction of Iloilo River and Calajunan Creek.
==DPWH builds pedestrian underpass below bridge in Iloilo City==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=539898
*Monday, July 1, 2013
:(PNA), HBC/NLG/LCP
ILOILO CITY, July 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6 is building a scenic pedestrian underpass under the multi-million peso diversion bridge connecting the side of the Iloilo Esplanade I to the Benigno Aquino Jr. highway popularly known as the Diversion Road.
The Diversion Road is currently undergoing a road widening to accommodate eight lanes of roads and pedestrian overpasses.
DPWH-6 Regional Director Edilberto Tayao reported to Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog the ongoing underpass construction as part of the Esplanade expansion.
Esplanade I was already completed at the 1.2 kilometer Dean Efrain B. Treñas Boulevard and construction is ongoing at the Esplanade II project from the Medical City area up to the barangay ecopark in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district.
Tayao said the underpass project will be completed early next year to add more accessibility to the Esplanade park, currently the exercise haven and leisure area of this city.

Revision as of 13:51, 20 July 2013

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Iloilo City - Archived News
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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Molo Church, Iloilo City
Iloilo dinagyang festival.jpg
The Dinagyang is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog In Cebu and the Ati-Atihan in Aklan.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Survival fund for climate change adaptation available to LGUs

By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- Climate Change Commission Secretary and Vice-Chair Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering urged local government units to come up with programs that would help their communities adapt to the effects of climate change.

With Sering’s call came the assurance that the national government has set aside funds under the People’s Survival Fund to help local governments defray the cost of such programs other than disaster risk reduction and management.

The fund is provided for under Republic Act No. 10174 which mandates the government to implement local climate change action plans and make communities more resilient to climate-induced disasters. Specifically, the fund, which would be appropriated annually, would be used for the management of water resources, land, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, and natural ecosystems.

Speaking at the signing July 8 here of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that launched Project Re BUILD for Jalaur River Basin in Iloilo, Sering urged local governments to avail of the Fund after noting not a single local government has had a local climate change plan in place that is based on an assessment of its vulnerability to climate change, which would have been the basis for availing of the Fund.

“Meron na tayong pondo (an unprogrammed fund of P500 million), kulang ang absorptive capacity,” said Sering at the event. (We now have the fund, but there’s a lack of absorptive capacity, referring to non-availment of the fund by LGUs).

The CCC, she said, is hopeful that the fund would be used as a potential guide to LGUs in long-term planning on climate change adaptation because a well-defined plan can also encourage investment since it would lessen the cost of doing business.

"We have to move faster in this regard," she said, referring to local governments.

“What we’re bringing in is not something new but is more of improving what you have right now based on science and expertise," she added.

She cited the experience of her own disaster-prone community in Surigao del Norte, which she said is now resilient after experiencing and learning lessons on how to cope with the adverse effects of natural disasters especially typhoon “Sendong” in 2011 which included timely early warning and ample preparation.

Project ReBUILD is a joint project of the CCC and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the New Zealand Aid Progammeas funding agency. The 3-year project is designed to increase the capacities of communities surrounding the Jalaur River System in Iloilo to manage disaster risks from and adapt to the overall impacts of climate change towards resilience and sustainable development.

The MOU was signed by Sering, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, and UNDP Country Director in the Philippines Toshihiro Tanaka.

Iloilo officials urged to unite against climate change

(PNA), PDS/NLG/MAD

ILOILO CITY, July 9 (PNA) -- Leaders in Iloilo Province were urged to set aside politics and make a united stand to make communities resilient to the effects of climate change.

In his message during the launching of Project ReBUILD in Iloilo City on Monday, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka urged local chief executives here “to go beyond the boundaries of politics” to address the effects of climate change, which affect all regardless of political orientation.

He said climate change is a global phenomenon which affects millions of people all over the world, citing that flood is not exclusive to Philippines.

“We have to be prepared before it affects us,” he added.

Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering, vice chairperson of Climate Change Commission (CCC), said the role of the CCC is to coordinate local government units (LGUS) with the national government agencies (NGAs) and other funding agencies to support the municipalities, cities or provinces’ climate change adaptation projects.

“We will reduce the time the LGUs spend to seek funds from NGAs and funding bodies,” she said.

She noted that from 2008 to 2012, there is an increase in national budget on climate change but almost 80 to 90 percent of this budget has been spent on flood control and management.

“This is reactionary and some of the budget which should have been used for education and basic social services are diverted to infrastructure,” she said.

Sering also noted that climate change adaptation is a long-term process compared to disaster preparedness which is short-termed.

Under Project ReBUILD or “Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards, Phase 1,” Iloilo is one of the recipients of a U.S.$ 1.22 million aid grant aimed to enable concerned sectors and communities covered by the Jalaur River basin.

The project was launched with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the CCC represented by Sering and the Province of Iloilo represented by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

The Project ReBUILD will tap the local academe to study the vulnerabilities of these Jalaur River basin communities, which include those from the towns of Calinog, Lambunao, Passi City, Zarraga, Dumangas, Pototan, among others.

Activities lined up to observe National Disaster Consciousness Month

(PNA), LAP/VLORQUIOLA

ILOILO CITY, July 8 (PNA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) here has lined up various activities to promote month-long observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month.

Rosario T. Cabrera, chairperson of RDRRMC and Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense-VI (OCD-VI), said one of the activities will be film showing of disaster-related films to be spearheaded by Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-VI) who is also the vice chair for Rehabilitation and Recovery of RDRRMC.

Heads of national line government agencies and their respective staff who are members of RDRRMC will be given an opportunity to watch the first screening of the featured film “Cross Currents: Journey to Asian Environments” on July 23, 1 p.m. at the Cinematheque Iloilo along Solis Street, Iloilo City.

Cross Currents: Journey to Asian Environments is an environmental documentary of prize-winning filmmaker and director of the Center for New Cinema Nick Deocampo.

The OCD Regional Director said Deocampo will be around to interact with the audience during an open forum.

The film showing which is free of charge was made possible in coordination with Cinematheque-Iloilo.

‘SK law deserves review but abolition needs legislation’

(PNA), PDS/NLG/MGC

ILOILO CITY, July 7 (PNA) -- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. on Sunday said the decision to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) would need serious talks among the legislators.

Defensor’s statement came after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) supported the call of election lawyer Romulo Macalintal to abolish the SK due to its failure to develop new breed of political leaders.

“It is deserves to be revisited but it needs legislation,” the governor said.

Defensor, who served as congressman for three terms, added that if ever SK would be abolished, the youth could be represented by one representative in the Barangay Council to handle the youth welfare.

He said, however, that if it would not be abolished, it would better that the age requirement of SK members from 15-17 years old to 17-20 years old.

“We should also consider their level of maturity,” he said.

Senator-elect JV Ejercito has proposed to amend some provisions on the SK law for its continuity.

Estrada said he would want to change the present age bracket to 18-24 years old so that the youth would be politically mature to hold office.

“I want SK reforms and progress but I’m not for its abolition,” he said during his recent visit at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

The SK is composed of a chairman, seven members, a secretary and a treasurer.

Qualified are those who are actual residents in the barangay for at least six months and registered in the SK, or in the official list in the custody of the barangay secretary. SK election is also included on barangay election.

RDC-VI searches for Best Public Sector projects

(PNA), LAM/PR/VLO

ILOILO CITY, July 06 (PNA) -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region VI again launched this year the ‘Best Public Sector Projects Award’ (BPSPA) to showcase and recognize the various government projects that significantly contributed to the attainment of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s strategic thrusts of inclusive growth and poverty alleviation.

First started in 2006, the award was also conferred in 2007 and 2009. The last awarding ceremony was graced by President Gloria M. Arroyo in Bacolod City.

The award has three categories: national government agencies (NGAs) category which includes entries from all regional offices or affiliate offices of national government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations operating in Region VI; state universities and colleges (SUCs) category that covers all twelve SUCs in Region VI; and local government units (LGUs) category which is for all six provinces, two highly urbanized cities, all component cities, and three provincial capitals in the region.

From 22 entries, the number was reduced to only 16 semi-finalists. The short listed projects were then presented by their proponents to the members of the board of judges.

Former RDC-VI co-chairperson Ma. Luisa Segovia of the Iloilo Business Club and Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal of NEDA-VI led this year’s team of judges who went around the region from May 15 to June 7, 2013 to validate the projects.

Three regional winners for each category have been chosen after a thorough deliberation last June 27, 2013 during the final meeting of the Board of Judges.

The awarding ceremony will be held in September 2013 as part of this year’s RDC Week Celebration.

MOU signing to launch Project ReBUILD in Iloilo

By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, July 5 (PIA) -- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed Monday, July 8 by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Provincial Government of Iloilo to launch “Project ReBUILD” for Jalaur River Basin here.

Project ReBUILD, acronym for Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards, Phase 1, is designed to increase the capacities of communities surrounding the Jalaur River Basin to manage disaster risks from climate change and adapt to its overall impacts towards resilience and sustainable development.

Climate Change Commission Secretary and Vice Chairperson Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering will arrive here for the event together with New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka of the United Nations Development Programme-Philippines, and CCC Deputy Executive Director Joyceline Goco.

They will be welcomed and joined by top local officials headed by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

The Climate Change Commission is the implementing partner of the project, which will be administered by the United Nations Development Programme with the New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP) as the funding institution.

The project also seeks to improve the governance framework by putting in place the necessary enabling policy environment, mechanisms, systems and tools, as well as improving the competencies of concerned personnel to address disaster risks from natural hazards and climate change which set back development gains and increase poverty incidence.

The three-year project is expected to come up with an assessment of the climate change vulnerabilities of target areas in the Jalaur River Basin, priority climate change adaptation and disaster risk mitigation measures, mainstreaming of climate change/disaster risk management budget in planning and regulatory processes, development of resilience of poor and most vulnerable areas, and establishment of a local knowledge management system in said areas.

Project ReBUILD is being implemented in two river basins in the country, the other one is the Cagayan River Basin in Luzon, which was launched July 4 of this year. The two areas were chosen for the project because of their vulnerability to the threats of climate change and natural hazards.

Project partners include several government agencies and organizations, universities and local government units of project areas.

DOT-6 finalizing list of 7 ‘Bridges of Blessings’ in Iloilo City

By Montessa Caoyonan [(PNA), HBC/NLG/MGC]

ILOILO CITY, July 4 (PNA) -- The Dept. of Tourism Region 6 has conducted consultative meetings and brainstorming sessions with different stakeholders here to finalize the list of 7 Bridges of Blessings in Iloilo City to be launched in September.

Among the stakeholders are the Dept. of Environment National Resources, Dept. of Public Works of Highways, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, Iloilo City Government, tri-media and private-sector.

DOT-6 Director Helen Catalbas said the consultation includes selection of the seven bridges and corresponding blessings, clarifications, suggestions, marketing strategy, roles of stakeholders, and proposed itineraries.

Iloilo City has 19 bridges mostly connecting the Iloilo-Batiano Rivers and two flyovers.

Most of these bridges have their own histories and stories to tell that are already part of the city’s history.

The oldest is the historical Forbes Bridge built in 1910 and rehabilitated in 1975.

The other bridges that cross the Iloilo River are the Quirino-Lopez Bridge built in 1967 and rehabilitated in 2000, Iloilo Bridge or the diversion bridge built in 1982, and the new Carpenter's Bridge built in 2010 beside the old Carpenter's Bridge that was rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge.

Bridges across the Salog River are the Montinola Bridge built in 1956 and Jaro Bridge built in 1982, and the Buhang Bridge built in 2010 across the Jaro floodway.

Other city bridges are the six Dungon bridges over Dungon Creek with the first Dungon Bridge built in 1948, Dungon Bridge I, Dungon Bridge II, Dungon Bridge III, Dungon Bridge IV and Dungon Bridge V, all built in 1982, Buntatala Bridge built in 1956, Calajunan Bridge built in 958, Ticud Bridge built in 2000, Bitoon Bridge built in 2010, and the newest Jalandoni Bridge, Drilon Bridge and Nabitasan Bridge.

Meanwhile, the two flyovers are the Infante, built in 2008, and the Jalandoni built in 2010.

Catalbas said the main attraction is the Iloilo River wherein most of these bridges have been part of the city and good to be promoted as tourist spot.

“In modern days, it is part of our job to identify other heritage sites either it’s man-made, natural, lifestyle, or food that we could link to our history,” she said.

Dr. Kristine Treas, president of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Council, said Iloilo City heritage sites particularly these bridges are beneficial and they have their own roles in the life of Iloilo City.

Iloilo City river a finalist in 2013 Thiess International Riverprize award

(PNA), LAP/LCP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, July 3 (PNA) -- The Iloilo River in this southern city is the only one in the Philippines selected as one of four international finalists in the 2013 Thiess International Riverprize award.

A communication dated July 3, 2013 from Matthew Reddy, chief executive of the International River Foundation based in Brisbane, Australia to city environment and natural resources officer Noel Hechanova showed the selection of the Iloilo River as a finalist in the international search.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the full rehabilitation of the Iloilo-Batiano river system started in 2011 and the city hosted the first international river summit in May 2012.

The efforts at the river showed a cohesive participation of government agencies and people's organizations clearly showing a public private partnership in rehabilitation and preserving the river in this city.

Mabilog said the river became an anchor of all development and pro-projects such as the Esplanade, housing projects for informal settlers displaced along the river and other danger zones, road widening, completion of circumferential and radial roads and construction of new ports for roll-on and roll water vessels and fast crafts.

Aside from the Iloilo River, the other international river finalists are the Bolshaya River in Russia, Mara River in Kenya, Africa and the Murray Darling Basin in Australia.

The representatives of the finalist rivers are required to attend the 16th International Riversymposium on September 16-23, 2013 in Brisbane where the international grand winner will be announced during a gala dinner.

They have the opportunity to present their work in the Riverprize sessions and meet other alumni members and symposium delegates. The international winner will win one million Australian dollars for projects.

DENR starts removal of obstructions along Iloilo City creek

(PNA), LAP/NLG/LCP

ILOILO CITY, July 2 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started the removal of obstructions, mostly illegal fish pens, mangroves and nipa clumps along the Calajunan Creek in Mandurriao district here.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Raul Lorilla reported the DENR action during the recent Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC) meeting attended by Senator Franklin Drilon.

An inventory team was dispatched last month to list down all obstructions at the creek that prevent the flow of water, including islets formed with vegetation, and fish pens at the boundary of Iloilo City and the municipality of Oton.

Lorilla said the inventory showed the presence of 89 mangrove species such as pagatpat, bakauan, pedada and bungalon and 10 nipa clumps along the Iloilo River upstream at Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district.

Meanwhile, 98 mangroves of pagatpat, bakauan babae and pedada species and a nipa clump are in Islet II at the Calajunan Creek in Barangay Sooc.

There are 67 mangroves and five nipa clumps at Islet III, while 451 mangroves species and 50 nipa clumps are at Islet IV upstream near the Sooc Bridge. At Islet V near the bridge, there are 407 mangrove species and 22 nipa clumps.

There are also 9 units of fish corrals or "punot" and other obstructions from the junction of Iloilo River and Calajunan Creek.

DPWH builds pedestrian underpass below bridge in Iloilo City

(PNA), HBC/NLG/LCP

ILOILO CITY, July 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6 is building a scenic pedestrian underpass under the multi-million peso diversion bridge connecting the side of the Iloilo Esplanade I to the Benigno Aquino Jr. highway popularly known as the Diversion Road.

The Diversion Road is currently undergoing a road widening to accommodate eight lanes of roads and pedestrian overpasses.

DPWH-6 Regional Director Edilberto Tayao reported to Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog the ongoing underpass construction as part of the Esplanade expansion.

Esplanade I was already completed at the 1.2 kilometer Dean Efrain B. Treñas Boulevard and construction is ongoing at the Esplanade II project from the Medical City area up to the barangay ecopark in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district.

Tayao said the underpass project will be completed early next year to add more accessibility to the Esplanade park, currently the exercise haven and leisure area of this city.

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