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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.

Molo Church, Iloilo City

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:

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.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Iloilo city has rice surplus for its 2012-2013 food-for-school program

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=518278
Saturday, April 20, 2013

(PNA), GHG/AJPETINGLAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 20 (PNA) – The Iloilo city government has still a total of 2,500 bags of rice it could use in its food-for-school program that benefits the day care children.

National Food Authority (NFA) Iloilo Asst. Manager Jose Pacificador said the rice supply was intended for children enrolled in school year 2012- 2013 and is enough for 120 days.

The food-for-school program is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 6.

The rice is iron-fortified and cooked as cereals to feed the day care children as a way of mitigating hunger while they are in school.

Meanwhile, the NFA has completed the distribution of rice to the different day care centers of which in Iloilo province had 11,800 bags while in Guimaras got 862 bags.

Tourism roads in Iloilo City on the upswing

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=518016
Friday, April 19, 2013

(PNA), PDS/AJP/LCPENDON/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 19 (PNA) -- The national government is recognizing this highly urbanized southern city as an effective show window of tourism initiatives by including Iloilo City in the P1.2 billion Western Visayas tourism roads convergence program of the departments of tourism (DOT) and of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas confirmed that the ongoing 2012-2013 road project consisting of 300 roads in Western Visayas is part of the P18 billion allotted nationwide for the tourism roads convergence program in cooperation with the local government units and congressional offices.

Catalbas said the incoming elected public officials must consider tourism as major strategy for economic development. Tourism provides livelihood opportunities and development of the areas and is a major strategy for the economy.

The DOT official said the tourism roads had a strategic direction for accessibility and connectivity to tourism sites by improving and enhancing existing roads, opening up new roads and improvement of existing ports.

All these road projects are eyed for completion before the term of President Benigno Aquino III expires in 2016.

In Iloilo City alone, the DPWH has started working four major road projects funded with P213 million consisting of re-blocking, widening and improvement of existing roads.

DPWH is also opening up a new road and started the road widening of a major highway here.

Other areas with tourism road projects are in Caticlan, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, and the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Antique and Guimaras. Catalbas also said the DOT is eyeing 10 million foreign tourists and 66 million domestic arrivals by 2016 and Western Visayas has a major share on this tourism pie.

DSWD pilots door-to-door payout for senior citizens

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=517722
Thursday, April 18, 2013

(PNA), LAP/AJP/LCP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- Social pension from the government to 18,505 indigent senior citizens aged 77 years old and above in Western Visayas will just have to wait for a postman to deliver their monthly checks.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Evelyn Macapobre said her agency is piloting the door-to-door delivery of pension to senior citizens this June 2013 by using the services of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost).

In Iloilo City alone, more than 3,000 indigent senior citizens are registered to receive their monthly social pension of P500 each to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.

Senior citizens may no longer need to go out of their own homes and bear long queues to be able to get their social pension from the government.

Through the implementation of the door-to-door delivery of social pension, the DSWD hopes that implementation of the program will be improved and become more efficient.

The recipients in the region came from 133 local government units and DSWD has allocated P27,757,500 for the first three months or January to March this year to qualified beneficiaries who will receive a stipend of P1,500 each.

The Social Pension covered 12,981 beneficiaries in 2011 when its implementation was started in Region VI. Modes of payment then were cash advance and transfer of funds.

In early 2012, the program covered 15,743 beneficiaries that later increased to 18,505 with the additional 2,762 new enrollees in November.

The same year, all of the 133 LGUs fully implemented transfer of funds. Total funds released in 2012 amounted to P102,744,000.

DENR, ZONTA-ILOILO, slate Earth Day 2013 activities

Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=911366172755
Wednesday, April 17, 2013

By Elsa S. Subong (JSC/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-6 and the ZONTA International Club of Iloilo City will hold events for the celebration of 2013 Earth Day on April 22. The activities are aimed at creating “Earth Friendly” awareness among the Iloilo folks.

Artemio Colacion, DENR-Regional Public Affairs Officer, said the office will mount an exhibit at the Gaisano City from April 22-30.

The exhibits will feature the Linis-Estero activities of the DENR-Environment Management Bureau, highlighting partnerships in cleaning the environment, particularly management of solid waste.

Further, the exhibits will also feature the status of the National Greening Program, the implementation of the law on issuance of residential patents and the geohazard areas in Western Visayas.

The Earth Day events are governed by the theme: “The Face of Climate Change. Earth Day Every Day, Everywhere, for Everyone”.

Meanwhile, the ZONTA International Club of Iloilo City, will be showing the movie “HOME” on April 22, at 4:00 p.m. at the UPV Cinematheque.

Jessica Salas, Chair of the ZONTA Environmental Committee, said “HOME” is a film about the planet Earth that seeks to mobilize human beings to “change the way they live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate”.

Salas said ZONTA has invited business and community leaders to celebrate Earth Day by watching the movie.

ZONTA International Club-Iloilo President Yolanda Galvez said the movie will be shown for free, and the entity invited will just have to hang tarps or streamers in front of their buildings or offices announcing that it is Earth Day and encourage everyone to be “Earth Friendly”.

“The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort,” Galvez said.

On the other hand, DENR is also asking the public to view the exhibits and know how government deals with climate change.

Comelec grants DOLE request for SPES exemption

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=516776
Tuesday, April 16, 2013

(PNA), LAM/AJPETINGLAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 16 (PNA) -– The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has granted exemption for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 6.

Comelec Regional Director Renato Magbutay, in an interview, said he received the letter of request of DOLE Regional Dir. Ponciano Ligutom Tuesday morning and finds no problem in granting the request.

“The SPES is not an election related matter so I approved the request,” Magbutay said.

About a month ago, the DOLE requested for the exemption of the SPES from the election ban with the Comelec Manila, but this has not been acted upon so Ligutom decided to write Magbutay on Monday.

The approval was welcomed by the DOLE-6 which has allocated P20.5 million for the SPES program with a target of benefiting 8,443 students around the region mostly by providing summer jobs.

Under SPES, students would be hired by their employers which are the Local Government Units (LGUs) and private companies so they would have income to help them when they go back to school this coming June. They are being paid commensurate to Western Visayas' minimum wage, in which 60 percent come from DOLE and 40 percent from the employing LGUs and private companies.

The students who have already been oriented about the program are just waiting for their deployment which will start soon with the Comelec approval.

Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival sweeps Aliwan competition, again

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=516366
Monday, April 15, 2013

By Lydia C. Pendon [(PNA), LAM/AJP/LCPENDON/VLO]

ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PNA) -- The country’s top tourism event and only festival to win the prestigious Galing Pook 2013 Award is at it again winning the top plum in the national Aliwan Festival in Manila held April 13,2013.

Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival represented by Tribu Panayanon of the Iloilo City National High School bested 16 other regional festivals in a grueling competition by chalking up five yearly wins of the Aliwan. The national festival competition is sponsored by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the latest Dinagyang win will help catapult Iloilo City as the premier festival capital of the Philippines.

Mabilog said the win clearly shows the city government’s enhanced public and private partnership (PPP) with church cooperation to steer Dinagyang Festival as a catalyst in people’s acceptance and commitment.

City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena said that Dinagyang won the champion prize of P1 million cash on top of P10,000 prize as Best in Music and another P10,000 as Best in Costume.

Second placer was Kalivungang Festival of Midsayap, North Cotabato winning half a million pesos cash prize.

Miss Iloilo Dinagyang Victoria Emily Oke was also declared as first runner in the search for Reina ng Aliwan 2013 which was won by Jaime Ferrell of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu.

Oke, an olive-skin student of Central Philippine University in Jaro, Iloilo City, has a Nigerian father and Ilongga mother. She won P50,000 cash and another P5,000 as Best in Swimwear Candidate.

1st cancer institute in WV to be completed by 2014

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=516197
Sunday, April 14, 2013

(PNA), PDS/AJP/MADE LOS SANTOS/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 14 (PNA) -- The construction of the first cancer institute in Western Visayas to be called Medicus Cancer Institute and to be located in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City will be completed in 2014.

The project, which ground breaks recently, is seen to boost not only the health facilities and services but also the medical tourism offered by Iloilo City and the whole region.

Medicus Philippines president Dr. Vicente Villareal said the project is a milestone in the history of the company.

The cancer institute is designed to provide cancer patients of Western Visayas and Mindanao Region with Advanced Radiation Treatment with the use of Varian Clinac CX Linear Accelerator, treatments that are only available in Manila, Southern Luzon, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro only.

With the availability of technology, Villareal said the patients can save on time and resources from going to these places, but more than that, he added they can save on the emotional stresses, particularly, from being separated from their families for the duration of the one-month treatment.

Moreover, it is the company’s contribution to make Iloilo City a premier city in terms of businesses and healthcare, Villareal said.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog lauded the initiative and said the million-worth of investments would boost the medical services and medical tourism of Iloilo City while at the same time, providing more employment opportunities.

Mabilog said the structure that is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014 is only one among the 16 business structures to be built in the San Rafael, Mandurriao Area, which is now being developed as the new Business District of Iloilo City.

“The San Rafael, from one of the poorest barangays before, is now being developed to be one of the most developed villages soon,” Mabilog said.

Iloilo coffee table book launched

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=12&rid=516059
Saturday, April 13, 2013

(PNA), PDS/AJPETINGLAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 13 (PNA)-- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., together with his first lady Cosette Defensor, on Friday led the launching of a coffee table book that contains the different tourism destinations, infrastructure projects and what his administration have accomplished during the last three years.

Iloilo Provincial Treasurer Melba Sullivan, as a briefer before the book launching, said that the provincial government has been planning for a long time to come up with a coffee table book that would tell or illustrate what Iloilo province is all about.

The coffee table book is hard-bound and contains pictures of Iloilo province. It will be displayed and distributed among Ilonggos who would like to have it. The book will also be available in coffee shops and establishments for people and investors to browse over.

Stakeholders urged to protect Sibalom Natural Park

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=515754
Friday, April 12, 2013

(PNA), LAM/AJP/MADS/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 12 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called on stakeholders to work together in protecting the Sibalom Natural Park (SNP).

DENR Regional Executive Director Adeluisa Siapno made the appeal when she recently presided the Sibalom Natural Park (SNP) Protected Area and Management Board (PAMB) meeting.

Attended by village chiefs within the coverage of SNP, representatives from other agencies, non-government organizations, and the religious sector at the Municipal Hall of Sibalom, the meeting targets to further improve the protection and promotion of the SNP as another tourism destination in the province.

Siapno urged the members to unite for a sustainable protection of the SNP geared towards the attainment of the goals for a clean, green and healthy environment.

Present during the meering were Sibalom Municipal Mayor Joel Occeña, MENRO Rodel Esler, PENRO Ruel de los Reyes, CENRO June Melissa Garol and Forester Lulu Fos from the Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zones Management Service were present during the activity.

Delos Reyes underlined the importance of commitment and cooperation between and among the DENR, LGU and other stakeholders in promoting the SNP as the next tourist destination.

He said DENR Antique is committed to provide technical assistance and support for the protection and development of SNP.

Iloilo City 3rd best revenue generator

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=515325
Thursday, April 11, 2013

(PNA), FPV/AJP/JVF/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 11 (PNA) -- Iloilo City ranked third as top performing metropolis in terms of locally-sourced revenue generation from among 106 urban centers outside National Capital Region (NCR) as cited by the Department of Finance (DOF).

The city generated 59.30 percent of its income coming from local sources for fiscal year 2011, based on DOF’s report entitled “How good is your LGU in creating own revenues?”

The cities of Olongapo topped the ranking at 66.40 percent and Calamba came in second at 61 percent.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog credited the city finance team and expressed confidence on the capability to perform efficiently in every aspect of governance with dependable local income sources to deliver quality basic services to residents.

City Treasurer Katherine T. Tingson noted that the city jumped three notches from 6th place in 2010 with 57.80 percent local income generation performance.

The capacity of the city government to generate revenues from local sources showed the degree of fiscal independence from national government, Tingson said citing DOF report.

The 2010 and 2011 comparative ranking was based on the validated Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) reports submitted by city treasurers to DOF-Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF). SRE serves as the official LGU financial management reporting system of DOF.

Iloilo capitol holds job fair

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=514858
Wednesday, April 10, 2013

(PNA), PDS/AJPETINGLAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 10 (PNA) – Jobseekers flock to the New Iloilo Capitol building for the 112th Iloilo Anniversary Job Fair on Wednesday.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., during the opening of the job fair, said the one-day activity is being held to give chance to Ilonggos to get employment.

“It is better to have tried and lost than never to have tried at all,” Gov. Defensor told the Ilonggo jobseekers who came early. The governor further told Ilonggos who may not be hired on the spot in the job fair never to give up instead to try their luck again when another opportunity comes and to continue on honing their skills so they could meet the standard.

There are 63 companies participating among them are the Toy Kingdom, Sun Life, Chevrolet and Vitarich. There are also business process outsourcing (BPO) and shipping companies that have joined.

Iloilo Public Employment Service Officer (PESO) Francisco Heler said that there are 2,500 to 3,000 jobs being offered.

As early as 6:00 a.m., Ilonggo professionals were seen been scanning the vacancies posted at the billboards outside the capitol.

The companies seeking workers for domestic and overseas posts have set up tables at the capitol lobby to interview applicants.

The job fair, which opened at 8:00 a.m., is being held jointly by the Iloilo Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office in Western Visayas (DOLE-6).

The job fair is a one-day activity that is part of the 112th foundation celebration of Iloilo province that started Monday .

Iloilo Fun Run and Walk for a Cause to build Center for Women and Children

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=514511
Tuesday, April 9, 2013

(PNA), FPV/AJPETINGLAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 9 (PNA) – The Fun Run and Walk for a Cause held at about 5 o'clock this morning will help build the Iloilo Development Center for Women and Children in Cabatuan, Iloilo province.

Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Dr. Neneth Q. Pador said the center that is now being constructed is intended to be a temporary shelter for battered women and abandoned children of the province.

Pador said the provincial government has allocated some P5million for the construction of the one-storey Center, including its fence. The PSWDO, however, said that the proceeds from the activity today would also be a big help to the Center.

The Center is constructed at the back of Ramon Tabiana Memorial Hospital in Cabatuan and beside the Home for Girls of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)Regional Office 6 that right now houses clients from Iloilo province.

“Once the Center will be finished then clients from Iloilo province would already be taken care by us,”Pador said.

The Center would hopefully be finished before the year ends to house about 35 clients. It will also serve as venue for practical skills training such as food processing and candle-making for Ilonggos.

The Fun Run and Walk for a Cause is one of the activities of the weeklong 112th Iloilo Foundation Celebration that kicked off Monday. It has been participated by provincial government officials and employees, media and other civic organizations.

Iloilo biz sector joins Integrity Initiative

Source:http://thedailyguardian.net/index.php/local-news/26503-iloilo-biz-sector-joins-integrity-initiative
Monday, April 8, 2013 12:13 am

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

VARIOUS business groups and companies signed up for a movement that aims to snuff out corruption in the public and private spheres.

The Integrity Initiative project brought together 16 business organizations and four companies in a signing of the integrity pledge last April 5 Hotel del Rio.

Integrity Initiative is a multisectoral campaign towards the re-establishment of acceptable integrity standards among various sectors of society.

Led by the private sector, the initiative aims to help in diminishing, if not fully eradicating, the vicious cycle of corruption in the Philippines which has not only exacerbated poverty but has also obstructed the development of a competitive business environment that operates on a level playing field.

According to its website www.integrityinitiative.com, the project offers an online assessment on integrity practices in the absence of an accepted system of identifying ethical companies in the Philippines.

This tool, available to signatory-companies, would indicate the number and effectiveness of integrity control measures that companies have in place. It gives companies an idea on where they are (in terms of integrity practices) relative to other companies in their industry, location, or of their size. More importantly, the assessment tool provides areas for improvement to strengthen the company’s overall integrity practices.

The Iloilo-based signatories to the integrity pledge are the Iloilo Business Club, Ilonggo Dinagyang Foundation Inc., Bankers Association of Iloilo, Iloilo City Trade and Investment Foundation, Philippine Retailers Association, Federation of Filipino Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panay, Iloilo Multi-sectoral Business Group, Ilonggo Producers Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo, Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Panay Organic Producers Association, Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Associations Inc.-Iloilo, Iloilo Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Foundation and Filipino Chinese Chamber of Iloilo.

The business firms included Leivainz Masadas Corp., Global Property Development Iloilo Inc., Unitruck Motorsales Corp. and New Prime Gas Inc.

The Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) started the initiative in late 2009. They were later joined by the Asian Institute of Management-RVR Center for Corporate Governance (Hills Program on Governance), American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

As of today, there are 1,700 signatories and advocate of the Integrity Initiative.

Undeclared items enter PH though Iloilo Airport

Source:http://panaynewsphilippines.com/top-stories/2201-undeclared-items-enter-ph-though-iloilo-airport.html
Sunday, April 7, 2013

(With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)

ILOILO City – Undeclared wristwatches, iPods, cell phone chargers, electronic cigarettes and toys from abroad have been intercepted at the Iloilo Airport.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Iloilo has taken custody of these items, confirmed Deputy Collector Jose Naig.

The undeclared items were estimated to be worth a total of P9.3 million.

These were from Hongkong and flown in via a Cebu Pacific passenger aircraft.

BOC-Iloilo inspectors said the items did not have supporting documents.

The cargo manifest bore the inscriptions “nil cargo” which means “no cargo,” said Naig.

However, upon opening and scrutiny, the inspectors discovered the items.

Naig said the case is now with the court.

The Iloilo Airport started serving the Iloilo-Hongkong and Hongkong-Iloilo routes late last year.

City PNP supports ‘No Smoking Campaign’ as city vies for “Red Orchid Award”

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=513782
Saturday, April 6, 2013

(PNA), HBC/AJP/VLORQUIOLA

ILOILO CITY, April 6 (PNA)– The Iloilo City Police Office supports the ‘No Smoking Campaign’ as Iloilo City is eyeing a "two-peat" of the Red Orchid Award to be given by the Dept. of Health to local government units which successfully implement the smoke-free programs.

Floro said the city government of Iloilo, in coordination with the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force chairperson Councilor Joshua C Alim, tapped the help and support of ICPO as the validation date April 12, 2013 approaches.

As this developed, a memorandum was issued by Floro directing every ICPO offices and police stations in this metropolis to be smoke-free and with “No Smoking” signage, "No Cigarette butts around" and "No Selling of cigarettes" within the 5-meter radius from the camp or police stations.

The ICAST also solicits the help of the PNP in strictly implementing the no smoking ordinance of the city especially in all public places such as police stations, markets, hospitals, esplanade, smallville, schools, air conditioned rooms and public utility vehicles or jeepneys.

It can be gleaned that the city also won last year the first Red Orchid award for its successful implementation of the revolutionary programs on anti-smoking especially among youths.

BFP Iloilo Team is fire olympics champ

Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=931365059595
Friday, April 5, 2013

By Lilibeth A. French (LAF/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 5 (PIA6) -- The team from the Bureau of Fire Protection - Iloilo was declared champion in the first Modified Fire Olympics conducted in the region in line with the March Fire Prevention Month.

Held last March 23-24, the contest combined all types of rescue and firefighting events in one simultaneous amazing race style competition that showcased the capabilities of the BFP firefighters in the region.

Team Iloilo also took home four out of the six special awards of the competition. These awards are Best in Firefighting, Best in Vehicular Extrication, Best in Water Rescue and Best in Mass Casualty.

The team is composed of Fire Officers Revy Dacullo, Mark Anthony Lauro, Joe Sogo-an, Imee Joy Barrera, Angelo Tolosa, Ray Jabao, Ken Villa, Ronnel Ledesma, Ronnielyn Recampo, Loribelle Gengoni, Chander Barrera and Rade Cervatos.

On the other hand, Team Guimaras emerged first runner-up; Team Capiz, second runner-up; Negros Occidental, third runner-up; and Team Antique, 4th runner-up.

Team Aklan and Team Capiz were also adjudged Best in Discipline and Best in High Angle Rescue.

The People’s Choice Award was won by Team Capiz after it garnered a total of 433 likes on Facebook.

“The People’s Choice Award is given to the picture of the participating team with the most number of likes on Facebook which was posted from March 25 to 31. This is the internet side of the Modified Fire Olympics 2013, a first for BFP 6,” said BFP 6 Public Information Section Chief Stephen Jardeleza.

Jardeleza said the Modified Fire Olympics 2013 is a history-making competition since it is the first in Western Visayas and even in the country. It aimed to showcase the capabilities of the firefighters in the region who always risk their lives not only in fighting fire but also in conducting rescue in every emergency and behind the camera of media.

“The Fire Olympics was organized to also encourage our BFP personnel to continuously update their skills to better serve the public,” said Jardeleza.

Winners received their awards from BFP 6 Director Sr. Supt. Eleuterio Iturriaga and Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas’ Atty Theodore Banderado in a ceremony that capped the month-long observance held at the BFP covered ground at Gen. Macario Peralta Drive,Iloilo City. Banderado was the guest speaker of the event.

Iloilo City gets P2 million prize from DILG

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=513063
Thursday, April 4, 2013

(PNA), PDS/AJP/LMSINAY/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 4 (PNA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday turned-over to the city government the check worth P2 million for winning the prestigious "Gawad Pamana ng Lahi" (GPL)award as the best performing highly urbanized city in Western Visayas in 2012.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog received the check from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director Evelyn Trompeta.

“We will continue to work hard for the people of Iloilo City and to serve them with transparency and accountability,” Mayor Mabilog said.

The amount will be used to fund significant programs and projects of the city government, he stated.

The GPL is based on DILG’s Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), which reflects a city’s financial accountability, economic, social and environmental governance, and other key areas.

Earlier, DILG city director Ferdinand Panes said the prize was originally P150,000 but was increased to P2 million in the form of Performance Challenge Fund (PCF).

The PCF is an incentive to local government units (LGUs) in the form of counterpart funding to high impact projects of LGUs in their Annual Investment Program which is sourced from the 20 percent Development Fund, he added.

40 companies join Iloilo Week job fair

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=12&rid=512603
Wednesday, April 3, 2013

(PNA), JBP/AJP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 3 (PNA) -- Some 40 local and overseas companies are set to conduct a job fair as part of the forthcoming 112th Iloilo Week Celebration this coming April 10 at the capitol lobby.

Public Employment Service Officer (PESO) Francisco T. Heler Jr. said the job fair is in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 6 headed by Dir. Ponciano Ligutom.

He said other companies have yet to confirm their participation to the one-day activity intended to provide employment for Ilonggo jobseekers.

The job fair is one of the activities for the week-long celebration of the foundation of Iloilo province to be held Monday to Friday next week.

DOLE gears up for Labor Month celebration

Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=931364800739
Tuesday, April 2, 2013

By Lilibeth A. French (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 2 (PIA6) -- The regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas is gearing up for the annual Labor Month celebration in May.

DOLE 6 OIC Assistant Regional Director Salome Siaton said various activities have already been lined up including two major job fairs which will be held in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod on May 1 which is also Labor Day.

As part of the preparation, Siaton said a meeting with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and their other partner organizations had already been set this month to know the companies that will be joining the job fairs.

In the May 1 Labor Day job fairs which were conducted also in Bacolod and Iloilo City last year, some 1,344 job applicants were hired-on-the spot (HOTS), according to a DOLE 6 report. Iloilo City posted the highest number of HOTS with 732 while Bacolod City has 612.

Meanwhile, there will be livelihood fair, skills demonstration, video presentations and help desks that will be held also on May 1. The help desks will be manned by personnel of the National Labor Relations Commission, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority and National Conciliation and Mediation Board.

The Professional Regulations Commission 6 has scheduled a Forum on Gender and Development on May 2.

Other activities with their tentative dates include A Capacity/Capability Building for TIPC members on May 6-7; Career Option Coaching on May 8; Workshop on the crafting of OJT manual on May 10; Intermediaries Summit and Worker’s Congress Night on May 16; Employer’s Forum on May 17; Construction Safety Training on May 20-24; Basic Occupational Safety & Health Training on May 27-31; Advocacy on Batas Kasambahay and Special Program for the Employment of Student Nite and Food Festival on May 30.

The month-long activity will be capped by a “Serenade at the Park” at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds on May 31. Ilonggo singer Jed Madela is invited to the event.

PCA urges coco farmers to avail of agri-salt fertilizer

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=511948
Monday, April 1, 2013

(PNA), FFC/PTR/AJP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 1 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has urged coconut farmers in Western Visayas to avail of the agri-salt fertilizer it is presently distributing.

PCA regional manager Jose Cruz said that they are distributing 100,000 bags of agri-salt fertilizer for free to small farmers owning coconut farms less than five hectares.

He said that the agri-salt fertilizer based on study could increase their coconut production by 20-30 percent.

Farmers will just have to coordinate with the PCA technicians or Department of Agriculture (DA) technicians in the municipalities so they could avail of the agri-salt fertilizer, Cruz said.

He said that farmers could also contact their municipal development officers who will bridge them with the technicians.

Cruz said farmers need to apply 2 ½ to 3 bags of fertilizer for every hectare of their coconut farms.

The PCA also distributed agri-salt fertilizer last year. It urged farmers who availed last year to also get their agri-salt fertilizer this year.