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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 ready for world business -- Mayor Mabilog

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=624063
Monday, March 10, 2014

By Lydia C. Pendon [(PNA), CTB/AJP/LCP/VLO]

ILOILO CITY, Mar. 10 (PNA) – This southern city and province is ready to open and sell its investment opportunities to the world starting with a business forum on March 12, 2014 at the Intercontinental Hotel to be participated in by some 300 investors and blue chip corporations mostly based at the Philippines financial district in Makati City.

Main host Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that “Iloilo Means Business” is a major step towards making Iloilo a preferred business destination for national and direct foreign investments augmented by its global competitiveness currently recognized by industry leaders pouring in massive investments in Iloilo.

Sponsored by the city and province of Iloilo, the forum is also being pushed by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)in creating Iloilo as the next important business and investment destination in the Visayas.

Mabilog said the city is undergoing changes in its economic outlook by striving to be a business-friendly city. The National Competitiveness Council has also rated Iloilo as the second highly competitive city in the country ready for global saturation.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, himself a true blooded Ilonggo, will deliver the keynote address in igniting interest of global and national investors to Iloilo.

The participants will hear the personal testimonies of those who initially believed and invested early in Iloilo by seeing the dynamic potentials of the city under a new leadership in the national government.

The testimonials will come from Mr. Antonio T. Aquino, President and CEO of Ayala Land Inc., Mr. Francisco Sebastian, Chairman of Global Business Power Corp., Mr. Ramon R. del Rosario Jr., President and CEO of Phinma Inc., Mr. Kevin Andrew L. Tan, First VP and Head, Commercial Division of Megaworld Corp, and homegrown business magnate Mr. Edgar Sia, CEO of Injap Investments Inc.

Dr. Walter W. Brown, Executive Chairman of Palm Concepcion Power Corp., will lead in expressing investors confidence and interest while Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Cong. Jerry P. Treñas of Iloilo City will deliver the messages of support.

Mabilog said that Iloilo is now ready for business matching and networking with the international industry players in showing off Iloilo as the revitalized economic driver of Western Visayas with a business enabling environment, well-developed infrastructure backbone and extensive human resources.

Kris Aquino donates P.5M to Iloilo ‘Yolanda’ survivors

Source:http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/top-stories/14253-kris-aquino-donates-p5m-to-iloilo-yolanda-survivors.html
Sunday, March 9, 2014

(PNA)

ILOILO – Movie and television personality Kris Aquino, sister of President Benigno Aquino III, donated P500,000 to support Gawad Kalinga (GK) initiatives for super typhoon “Yolanda” survivors here.

Sally Pestano Ramos of GK said Aquino’s donation formed part of the amount the were raising to repair houses of residents in GK villages and for their livelihood.

The donation was given through the representative of Anak TV which was a partner of the GK in the undertaking.

The GK, in its quest to raise funds, will also be holding a GK Bazaar Fair from March 14 to 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Iloilo capitol grounds showcasing various products of GK beneficiaries from vegetables to pickles and bags.

A musical concert at the West Visayas State University will be held on March 15 entitled “The Best of GK and Friends.”

Tickets are being sold from P25 to P200. Local talents as well as upcoming stars will be featured.

The twin activities will be in honor of Peter Tiu, a tireless GK volunteer who started the GK in 2005 in Iloilo until 2012 when he died in Bali, Indonesia.

Among the GK villages now are in Brgy. Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City and in Barotac Viejo and Concepcion towns in Iloilo province.

Iloilo bags 2nd Seal of Good Housekeeping

Source:http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/iloilo/14229-iloilo-bags-2nd-seal-of-good-housekeeping.html
Saturday, March 8, 2014

(Jezza A. Nepomoceno, Capitol News/PN)

ILOILO — The provincial government here has once again been recognized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for excellence in good governance and transparency.

DILG named the province one of the recipients of the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping Award, the second received by Iloilo since Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. assumed office in 2010.

“We are very happy that our efforts to institutionalize reform here are being recognized by no less than the DILG,” Defensor announced in a press conference in his office.

The Seal of Good Housekeeping is awarded to local government units that successfully meet the requirements of the full-disclosure policy, have exemplary standards of frontline services and procurement, and proven to have no adverse or disclaimer audit findings by the Commission on Audit.

Defensor said the award will allow the province to access national government programs like the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) Program, now called Grassroots Participatory Budget Process; Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA; Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat or SALINTUBIG; and Special Local Road Fund.

BUB is “participatory governance in action.” It encourages partnership between the local government and civil society.

It also urges the citizens to articulate their needs to the government and pinpoint the projects responsive to their needs.

PAMANA, on the other hand, is a peace and development program in conflict-affected areas, as well as communities covered by existing peace agreements.

SALINTUBIG is designed to provide water supply systems to waterless municipalities all over the country, while the Special Local Road Fund is for the development of various road networks in the countryside.

Defensor has not yet decided which among the national programs the province will avail.

In a letter to Defensor, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II said that, this year, the Interior department will scale up the Seal of Good Housekeeping to the Seal of Good Local Governance.

The “new Seal,” Roxas said, will cover a much wider scope of local government performance — good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental compliance, law and order, and public safety.

34 Families get new homes from GK, Fly Ace

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2421394179867
Friday, March 7, 2014

By Leonard T. Pineda I (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, March 7 (PIA) --- The Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. (GK) and Fly Ace Corporation are joining hands to build new homes for 34 families in Brgy. San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City.

In the Fly Ace-GK village groundbreaking rites held Friday, GK Iloilo Head Mary Rose Cacho said that this partnership with Fly Ace Corporation affirms that the GK spirit continues to grow in the business sector.

Fly Ace Corporation is a leading importer and distributor of food and beverage products in the country.

“The Fly-Ace GK village is already the fifth one in the San Isidro relocation site and it has become obvious that our hope for a homeless-free society by 2024 will happen,” she said.

Dorothy Sobrevega, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources of Fly Ace, said that the project is part of their organization’s newly launched community service responsibility program “Hearts at Work”, which aims to help others specially the needy.

She said that the vast devastation brought upon by super-typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas area late last year motivated the corporation and its employees to reach out and help here.

She also said that the Fly Ace-GK village in Iloilo is a way for the organization to give back to a community where it operates.

Cacho shared that Fly Ace also donated 25 boats for the fisherfolks in northern Iloilo which showed the corporation’s love and affection for the Ilonggos.

DOT-6 cites increased tourist arrivals, expenditures in WV

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=911393984448
Thursday, March 6, 2014

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

ILOILO CITY, March 6 (PIA6) -- The figures of tourist arrivals and tourist expenditures in Western Visayas for 2013, are reportedly partial data, but already encouraging, according to the Department of Tourism here.

Atty. Helen Catalbas, DOT-6 director, said in a radio interview, that the numbers will increase after all reports are consolidated.

For 2013, DOT recorded 3.322,433 arrivals, exceeding the target of 3,192,328.

Catalbas said with the increase also went the increase in tourist expenditures in the region to a staggering P74.4 billion with the province of Aklan as the top earner at P39.1 billion, factored in by the famous Boracay island..

She added to explain that tourism spending consists of goods and services, like food, accommodation, tour and shopping, purchased or paid for by tourists.

Following Aklan among the provinces and cities in the region, are Iloilo City, with P10.2 billion in tourist receipts; Negros Occidental with P10.2 biilion; Bacolod City, P9.2 billion; Capiz, with P2 billion; and, Iloilo Province with P1.7 billion.

Rounding up the record are Guimaras with P1 billion and Antique with P315.1 million.

Catalbas said that with the launching of the regional tourism campaign “Experience Western Visayas First”, more tourists are expected to visit any part of the region in the days to come.

DOT to conduct food safety seminar for street vendors

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2421394001247
Wednesday, March 5 , 2014

By Leonard T. Pineda I (JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, March 5 (PIA6) --- The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas will conduct a free seminar dubbed “Street Food Kulinarya” focusing on food safety and handling slated on March 10 to 11, 2014.

Lawyer Helen Catalbas, DOT-6 Regional Director, said that the seminar aims to train numerous street food vendors occupying the pavement and sidewalks in Iloilo City on food safety and handling.

“This endeavor is in support of the Iloilo City’s pedestrianization program which allows people to walk on the road stretch to enjoy the many heritage buildings of the City Proper along Calle Real,” said Catalbas.

She said that the seminar will also highlight Ilonggo delicacies to cater to both local and foreign tourists traversing Calle Real.

The DOT official said there will be two scheduled sessions in a day – 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN for the morning session, and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM for the afternoon session. It will be held at DOT-6 Office Conference Room, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City.

The seminar includes lectures on Kulinarya Program, Sanitation Permits and other concerns such as Health Certificates and Sanitation Standards, Iloilo Street Food Festival, Inventory of dishes/sellers, Food Safety and Handling, and Budgeting and Business.

The second day of the seminar is for hands-on cooking demo per product, food presentation, food service, and table setting workshop.

Reputable resource speakers and chefs are invited to help DOT-6 in conducting the seminar.

Catalbas said that this seminar on the essential safety of street-vended food is a first in Iloilo City that continuously attracts more visitors to come over.

She added this kind of government intervention is necessary to ensure safety of such foods especially for the visitors and tourists to have a memorable and lasting great experience.

Maternity clinic up as city reproductive health hospital

Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=622009
Tuesday, March 4, 2014

(PNA), LAP/AJP/LCPENDON/VLO

ILOILO CITY, March 4 (PNA) -– The city council here is amenable to a proposed ordinance renaming the La Paz Maternity and Reproductive Health Center into a full-fledged Iloilo City Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital.

However, city councilor Lyndon Acap said there are certain requirements of the Department of Health which need to be complied with before the center is upgraded into a city hospital.

Acap, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on health, sanitation and hospital services, said the center is currently being reconstructed by the city government and the workforce composed of doctors, nurses and midwives have transferred temporarily to the city hospital annex at the Western Visayas Medical Center since last year.

Construction of the maternity hospital is expected to be completed within 2014 so that full operation starts as a reproductive health hospital specializing in child and maternal health, birthing, new born screening and other maternal and child health services, among others.

In his committee report as the second and final reading to the city council, Acap stressed that primary health care requirements of the DOH must be complied with before full hospital operation status.

The city has funds of P25 million for the center upgrading. Also, equipment donations from the DOH and other private donors are forthcoming.

Gawad Kalinga to help in social preparation of city housing project

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2421393817887
Monday, March 3, 2014

By Leonard T. Pineda I (JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, March 3 (PIA6) --- The Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. (GK) will assist residents lead a holistic community life in the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision Phase I project in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo.

Gawad Kalinga, represented by its Executive Director Jose Luis Oquiñena, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the endeavor with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, National Housing Authority (NHA) Atty. Chito Salazar and Lanit Kapitbahayan Association President Enrile Sierra.

GK, a non-stock and non-profit foundation, is undertaking the role of building communities in depressed areas with the primary objective to become catalysts in uplifting the quality of life of the poor through the Gawad Kalinga program.

The MOA stated that GK shall create a Caretaker Team together with the city government and NHA.

Gawad Kalinga shall organize communities into GK Kapitbahayans or GK neighborhood associations, deliver program on values formation to the beneficiaries, implement the “Kasunduan” approach as prescribed by the team, and mentor community leaders towards self-governance.

Under the “Kasunduan”, the residents in the relocation site are expected to follow rules set by the GK Caretaker team and lead a holistic, dignified, integrated, and sustainable community life.

Before residents can transfer to the Lanit relocation site, they would have to undergo 12 sessions of values formation that include love of self, being brother’s keeper to their own community, and love of God and country.

The Iloilo River Plains Subdivision project is the biggest NHA project in Iloilo which can accommodate some 1,000 families in the GK-inspired relocation site in Lanit, Jaro.

DOLE's Gov't Internship Program now open

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=931393579191
Sunday, March 2, 2014

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

ILOILO CITY, March 2 (PIA6) - -The Department of Labor and Employment 6 (DOLE 6) is now accepting applications from poor young workers interested to have jobs under the Government Internship Program.

DOLE 6 Director Ponciano Ligutom said GIP is open to high school or voc-tech graduates aged between 18- 25 years old who want to pursue a career in government.

Ligutom said the agency has earmarked some P63 million for the stipend of the interns who will be paid 75 percent of the existing minimum wage in the region which is P287 for a period of 6 months.

Interns will also be entitled to a one-time enrolment in GSIS for a coverage of P100,000 and will be issued a certificate of completion upon fulfillment of the Agreement.

Ligutom said interns will be assigned in DOLE offices, other government offices and local government units where some programs of the government are being implemented.

Specifically, they will be asked to assist in the implementation of DOLE programs such as the Child Labor-Free Barangay Program and the National Skills Registry System. They will also assist personnel and staff of public schools and local government units.

Through GIP, DOLE intends to fast track the implementation and monitoring of its programs and projects related to employment facilitation and social protection. The said programs and projects including GIP contribute to the goal of President Benigno Aquino which is inclusive growth through massive job generation and substantial poverty reduction.

Interested applicants may visit the DOLE provincial and regional offices and submit their applications containing the following requirements: transcript of record, certificate of graduation in case of voc-tech graduate; and certificate of Indigence from the Barangay.

DSWD-6 garners awards for 4Ps implementation

Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=911393555680
Saturday, March 1, 2014

(DSWD-6/JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, March 1 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas got several awards for its implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Alma Estember, Information Officer for 4Ps, said that DSWD-6 and DSWD-9 tied as first placers in the utilization and rate of obligation of Pantawid funds for 2013.

The DSWD-6 placed second in the category of “Regions with Highest Payout Rate” award covering the cash grant releases made in 2013.

It also ranked third as “Best Performing Region in Capability Building Implementation” based on training participation rate, number of trained participants and number of trainings conducted.

“The award is an indication of hard work, support and cooperation of the personnel who have shown dedication and commitment,” DSWD-6 Director Evelyn Macapobre said.

For 2013, DSWD-6 was able to obligate about P200 million for the 4Ps implementation, and processed and released P1.9 billion cash grants to 4Ps beneficiaries, covering the period from November to December 2012 and September to October 2013.

As to capability building trainings, DSWD-6 conducted three for 4Ps beneficiaries, four for program partners and five for program staff.