Iloilo City News April 2015

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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.

Weeklong bike festival to gather some 5,000 bikers to Iloilo City

(PNA), RMA/PGLENA/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 20 (PNA) – Some 5,000 bikers are expected to join the second Iloilo Bike Festival slated April 27-May 2, 2015 as the city continues to aspire to become a bike-able walkable metropolis.

The activity that supported by the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) and Megaworld Iloilo aims to promote Iloilo as a safe and bike friendly city, promote the share-a-road movement encourage Ilonggos to commute via biking and raise Ilonggos awareness on the benefits of biking on health, safety and environment concerns.

Also it seeks to create awareness of the attraction of the local tourism circuits as a biking route, promote and implement road safety ordinances for bicycles and promote to Ilonggos the workability of the new bike lanes.

The weeklong event will feature various kinds of bike-related events.

Among the highlights are the 120-kilometer race slated May 1 that will be participated by some 200 bikers and the fun ride with around 5,000 biker-participants the next day.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has been pushing for a road sharing with pedestrians and bicycle or motorcycle riders.

The Office of the President has recognized this city’s Esplanade and bike lanes during the launch of Bayanihan sa Daan Awards and recognition ceremony Malacanang in November last year.

Iloilo City also hosted the 1st National Bicycle Day Visayas Fun Ride in 2014 which saw some 2,000 bikers from all over Panay Island having a fun-filled tour around the metropolis.

Robinsons Place Jaro to highlight Iloilo’s bests

By Raymart Escopel / LBG (PN)

ILOILO City – Scheduled to open on February 2016, Robinsons Place Jaro will feature modern architectural designs and operations highlighting the city’s urban landscape and culture.

The soon-to-open Robinsons Place Jaro will be composed of large window glasses providing mall shoppers and goers a panoramic view of the surrounding areas, said Robinsons Mall general manager Arlene Magtibay.

Among the sites to be viewed at Robinsons Mall Jaro include the heritage houses in the district of Jaro, the Jaro Cathedral, the Graciano Lopez-Jaena Park, the Jaro Public Market and the Queens Pension House.

Aside from its modern architectural design, Robinsons Place Jaro also boasts its five world-class cinemas with seats allotted for persons with disability (PWDs).

The mall will also be featuring Iloilo’s best local restaurants and delicacies, giving importance to the culture and local cuisine that Iloilo is known for.

“We try to tap them (local entrepreneurs) and bring them to the mall because they are the ones who add flavor to the entire development; and then as regards to the market, we try to fit every locality we get into,” said Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) Vice President for Commercial Center Division LulayAlano.

“While some other malls concentrate on bringing foreign brands, for us, it’s always a combination of both local and the usual national brands,” she added.

Aside from Robinsons Place Jaro, RLC is also set to open three more new malls in the different parts of the country in the next two years including Robinsons Place General Trias on March 2016; Robinsons Place Tagum on December 2015, and its biggest development outside Manila, Robinsons Galleria Cebu on September 2015.

Alano noted that the new Robinsons Malls Robinsons Malls will be bringing the modern urban malling lifestyle to the said progressive localities, ensuring a satisfying, delightful, and enjoyable malling experience.

Iloilo City eyes railway project

By Joel Locsin / LBG (GMA News)

Iloilo City is eyeing a railway project that could connect it to neighboring provinces in Panay Island in Western Visayas.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is hoping the project can take off within this year or next year, according to an entry on the city's Facebook page.

“If it happens now or next year, good. And if it’s impossible, it will stay as a dream,” he said.

The city government cited the commitment of Public-Private Partnership Center executive director Cosette Vargas Canilao for the project.

Such a commitment plus the city government's support can make the project possible, it added.

Iloilo City envisions the railway system as a transportation for local and international tourists discovering Panay Island.

Potential tourists can use it to tour Iloilo City with its River Esplanade, Guimaras with its beaches, Aklan with its Boracay Island, and Antique with its hot and cold springs, it said.

The railway project has the potential to make Panay Island "an instant tourist destination in just one ride," it added.

Tree planting to mark national rural improvement club day on April 22

(PNA), FPV/AJP/PGLENA/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- Homemakers and housewives are expected to come out of their abode as they join the national simultaneous tree planting activity in celebration of the rural improvement club (RIC) day this April 22.

The club which is composed of homemakers and housewives decided to hold the activity in Leon, known for its Bucari village that has been dubbed as the “Little Baguio” of Iloilo.

Representatives from each province of Western Visayas are slated to gather in Iloilo where they are expected to do a camp out in preparation for the big day.

Aside from the said activity, members of the club are being taught of value-adding into their projects. Some of them engage in handicraft making and baking, among others.

Iloilo City to hold "Yugyugan" on Int'l Dance Day

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

ILOILO CITY, April 16 (PIA) --- The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has selected Iloilo City as one of the places to hold a dance rally to drum up awareness on cultural heritage.

The event dubbed “Yugyugan para sa Kultura ng Bayan” slated on April 29, 2015 is in line with the celebration of the International Dance Day and National Dance Week.

Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio, assistant secretary for National Committee on Dance of the NCCA, said that dance rally will also happen simultaneously in other selected sites including Angeles City in Pampanga, Baguio City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, Batangas City, and Manila.

“The Yugyugan will be participated in by hundreds of dancers who will dance simultaneously at 6 p.m. with other dancers in other parts of the country,” she said.

She said that about 19 dance companies and school troupes have confirmed their participation in the dance rally that will be held in two venues in Iloilo City – SM City and Calle Real.

“The Yugyugan is also a venue for dancers and dance artists to express their passion on the promotion of culture and the arts as the event advocates for cultural heritage preservation,” she said.

The NCD choreographed two to three movements to about 100 performers who will perform uniform movements during the countdown to the Yugyugan.

Sartorio said that they have also invited about 500 artists here who will take part in the dance rally.

The Yugyugan event in Iloilo City is in partnership with the city government of Iloilo and SM City Iloilo.

The International Dance Day celebration was created under the auspices of UNESCO in Paris and held all over the world by the International Theater Institute (ITI) on April 29.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Dance Week is celebrated every fourth week of April every year as declared by Proclamation No. 154, to bring together dancers to demonstrate and realize the function of dance in the society and in the rest of the world.

Iloilo City PESO gears to update skills registry system

(PNA), LAP/AJP/PGLENA/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PNA) -- The city government here through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) is gearing to update its database of skilled workers as part of the national skills registry system (NSRS) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

PESO manager Ma. Elena Benitez said that they are waiting for colleges and universities (SUCs) in the city to submit the names of their graduates together with their contact information. The information will be provided to agencies and companies that will be asking for their profile.

Last year, she disclosed that 10 SUCs have provided them with information.

Benitez said that the NSRS is effective, especially in terms of job placement for hospitality management level.

Graduates who fit into the qualification are directly being contacted by employers and agencies, she added.

Benitez added that agencies that are interested to secure their registry system are encouraged to just write her office.

City awards 50-year lot usufruct to fire volunteer group

(PNA), LAP/AJP/LCP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 14 (PNA) –- The city government here has awarded a city-owned 1,000-square meter lot in Barangay East Timawa, Molo district through a usufruct agreement for 50 years to the Iloilo City Action Group (ICAG) volunteer fire brigade.

Charles Ho, president of ICAG, said the lot, located just behind their depot and garage, will be used to house additional firefighting equipment and 11 running vehicles and to host a continuing training program for volunteers.

The first fire fighting volunteers in this city are composed mostly of Filipino-Chinese businessmen and their children. ICAG was initially given an initial 1,000-square meter lot to transfer from their original site near the SM Delgado area. A new road aptly called the ICAG Street was built and opened up new area in the barangay.

Ho said that with the additional space, they can now move faster with their vehicles and do firefighting volunteer work as their contribution to the city government’s growth. Similarly, Ho said they are willing to help deliver water ration as well as cleaning and flushing the city public markets.

On the other hand, city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government is planning to move and transfer the depot and site of the city Bureau of Fire Prevention (BFP) office in the vacant area near the ICAG.

Negotiations are ongoing with the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to award its vacated lot fronting the Iloilo River along Muelle Loney. As soon as PNR allows the land transfer to the city, the city fire station will immediately transfer to the ICAG St. site in Molo district.

203 indigent students to benefit from SPES program

By Perla G. Lena [(PNA), CTB/AJP/PGL/VLO]

ILOILO CITY, April 11 (PNA) -- The city government here will employ 203 indigent students under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) program in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Ma. Elena Benitez, head of the city government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO), said that the successful applicants will render a 20-day duty to do clerical works at the various offices of the City Hall starting April 20.

They also have SPES babies who are qualified to render 30-day duty and are recipients of the program for two to three years already.

They will be paid P287 a day with the city government shouldering 60 percent of their remuneration and DOLE for the remaining 40 percent that will go directly to the school.

However, if they have already paid their school obligation then they just need to submit a certificate of full payment to DOLE or to the PESO so that their money will be deposited to their cash card.

Benitez said that the program gives priority to indigent students and out-of-school youths who are interested to pursue their studies.

National PRISAA Games 2015 sports competition heats up on Day 1 (Sports)

By Virgilio L. Orquiola [(PNA), CTB/AJP/VLORQUIOLA]

ILOILO CITY, Apr.12 (PNA)- Amid the early morning summer heat, the competition during the Day 1 of this year’s National PRISAA Games 2015 heat up in the track oval of Iloilo Sports Complex (ISC) in Brgy. Magsaysay, Lapaz, Iloilo City over the weekend.

Baltazar Buot, National PRISAA’s athletics assistant tournament director, said competition in track and field events among athletic delegations coming from various regions in the country took off this morning in the track oval of the ISC here.

The morning events include the 3,000 meter Girls and 3,000-meter Women’s final. Other track and field events were the 800- meter Girls trial, 800-meter Women’s trial, 800-meter Boys trial, 800-meter Men’s trial; trial runs for the 100-meter Girls, 100-meter Women, 100-meter Boys, and 100-meter for Men.

Afternoon games saw competitions in the Long Jump for Girls and Women’s final and Long Jump for Boys and Men’s final; trial runs in Girls, Women, Boys and Men in 400 meter dash; and, 3,000-meter STP for Boys and 3,000-meter STP for Men’s finals.

Meanwhile,ball games and other sports disciplines in this year’s National Private Schools Athletic Association Games 2015 hosted by Iloilo were held in various sports venue elsewhere in the city and province of Iloilo.

The Iloilo Sports Complex presently undergoing rehabilitation work particularly the football field and other sports facilities in an effort to meet international standard for future hosting of international sports competition.

The National PRISAA Games 2015 held here was formally opened yesterday afternoon with invited key speaker Senate President Franklin Drilon as well as host province Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. and city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog who delivered their respective inspirational speech before the thousands of officials and athletic delegations from various colleges and universities throughout the country including Iloilo audience.

NAT’L PRISAA OPENS TODAY

BY ROMA R. GONZALES and RUBY SILUBRICO (PN)

Tight security for 5,000 delegates

ILOILO City – With over 5,000 participants from across the country, the 2015 National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meet opens today amid tight security.

Iloilo is the overall defending champion this year.

Sixteen regions with more or less 200 private schools are vying for top honors in 18 sports disciplines up until April 16.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has been inspecting the 13 billeting private and public schools since early this week. Police Assistance Centers (PAC) were also set up in each of them.

This is the third time Iloilo is hosting the national event. The first was in 1992 and the most recent was in 2007.

Secondary and tertiary level participants are billeted in schools but others are staying in pension houses and hotels. Policemen have been posted in these areas.

Iloilo City will defend its championship titles particularly in athletics, volleyball, swimming, table tennis, and softball (secondary and tertiary levels).

Last year’s National PRISAA was held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Majority of the sports events will be held at the University of San Agustin but the Iloilo Sports Complex and the sports facilities of Central Philippine University, Iloilo Doctors’ College, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Citisports Badminton Court and La Paz Plaza will also be utilized.

“The athletes and coaches are secured,” said Senior Superintendent Kashmir Disomangcop, city police director.

Security is round-the-clock. Policemen have the support of barangay tanods.

Sports events include baseball, basketball, softball, football, sepak takraw, volleyball, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, athletics, dance sports, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, and weightlifting.

Cultural competitions will also be held – vocal solo on April 13 and duet on April 14, and Mutya ng PRISAA on April 15 at the University of San Agustin.

Mobile patrols and motorcycle cops will be securing the sport venues.

Policemen in plain clothes are being mobilized, too.

Venues outside Iloilo City are Barotac Nuevo and Santa Barbara football fields for football games.

Ilonggo Senate President Franklin Drilon will be the speaker on the event’s opening ceremony today at the Iloilo Sports Complex at 3:30 p.m.

According to Western Visayas PRISAA Technical Committee member Ive D. Sta. Ana, Iloilo was chosen by the national board over other cities that applied for the hosting, including Cebu City. The city’s improved peace and order situation was a key consideration.

Sta. Ana also said Iloilo schools’ facilities were also considered.

The National PRISAA president is Dr. Ralph Pador, administrator of the Iloilo City-based John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University.


Iloilo to host 3 APEC’s ministerial meetings

(PNA), FFC/AJP/PGL/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 10 (PNA) -- Iloilo City will host three ministerial meetings of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), according to Junel Ann Divinagracia, executive director of the Iloilo Organizing Committee.

Divinagracia said that she has received information from the National Organizing Committee of the possible hosting of the Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum slated September 22-23.

She added that the executive order for the hosting is already being prepared and will come out anytime soon.

This city is a sole recipient of the community-based adaptation and resilience against disasters (CBARAD) project of the CITYNET Yokohama Project Office, City of Yokohama and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The first phase of the project covering five villages culminated in March this year but has been extended for another two years to focus on the city level and partnership building.

Iloilo was earlier confirmed to host the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) ministerial meeting on September 21 to 25 and the High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy and Related Meetings from September 28 to October 6.

Job opportunities for fresh graduates

(JCM/CHED/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 9(PIA)—There are job opportunities for good, qualified graduates, even high paying, according to the Commission on Higher Education in Western Visayas.

Dr. Rex Casiple, CHED-6 supervising education specialist, said that according to the 2015 Annual Salary Report of Jobstreet.com graduates of Information Technology with extensive technical know-how are categorized as highest paid graduates.

These graduates can command a salary as high as P37,784, Casiple noted.

Another highest paying job for freshsala graduates goes for Law Legal Services which is about P27,000, followed by Engineering and Electronics Communications, Public Relations, sales, telemarketing, Training and Development and Customer Service.

Other high paying jobs for fresh graduates include the field of Travel and Tourism, Telecommunications, Hotel Hospitality/Management, Healthcare and Medical Services, Banking, Financial Services and Education.

Casiple said that the problem of unemployment is not just lack of job vacancies, but of lack of qualified applicants with skills needed for the job.

“We are urging the higher education institutions offering information technology to always update their curricula to match with the IT skills in demand in the local and global market,” Casiple said.

On the other hand, Casiple said that contrary to popular beliefs that only college graduates can find a good-paying job.

“There are now good-paying jobs for undergraduates and high school graduates, especially with advanced technology available,” Casiple noted.

Studies have shown that the top 10 jobs available for undergrads or high school graduates are political campaigners, call enter agents, customer service representatives, online freelancers, bloggers/online writing, product promoters, MMDA CCTV watchers, manufacturing operators, construction road workers, and maids or Kasambahay.

Many undergrads and high school graduates are employed in the above-mentioned jobs in order to survive.

Even the Kasambahay can be a good alternative, considering that they are now entitled to benefits, like the SSS, PhilHealth, Pagibig and overtime pay.

Meanwhile, CHED records showed that there are about 41,000 college graduates in the region this school year who are joining the roster of job-seekers.

DSWD to recognize 4Ps HS student beneficiaries’ achievements

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

ILOILO CITY, April 8 (PIA6) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD 6) will gather some 50 high school student-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program in the region who just graduated with honors to recognize and celebrate their academic achievements.

The recognition of 4Ps high school graduate achievers in Western Visayas is tentatively set on April 16 in this city.

Jonathan Anteza, 4Ps Project Coordinator of DSWD 6 said the 50 student achievers will represent this year’s graduating high school student beneficiaries from the various provinces in the region.

Anteza said the post graduation event will be an opportunity to highlight and showcase the successes of the student-beneficiaries who tried their best to create an impact in their respective communities through education.

“We will let them feel that we recognized their efforts despite poverty and small assistance from the government they have finished their secondary education with flying colors,” said Anteza.

Out of the 50, Anteza said they will choose 4 student-beneficiaries who will represent the region in the national recognition that will be held in Manila also this April.

To recall, DSWD has extended the age coverage of children-beneficiaries of 4Ps from 14 years old and below to 15 to 18 years old in 2013 to ensure that they graduate from high school and to increase their employability.

Based on the actual monitoring data of DSWD 6 there are 26,552 student beneficiaries enrolled in fourth year for the school year 2014-2015. Of the total number, 2,971 are in Aklan; 2,316 in Antique; 3,993 in Capiz; 899 in Guimaras; 7,657 in Iloilo; and 8,716 in Negros Occidental.

Under 4Ps, household beneficiaries compliant with the program’s conditions that include among others maintaining at least 85% school attendance of their children, get cash grants.

Anteza advised graduates to continue to look for ways to pursue their studies through the scholarships offered by other government agencies and even some private organizations.

Currently, some 3,615 4Ps household members in the region have availed of the Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation of the Commission on Higher Education.

As of March 17, a total of 325,715 poor households are covered by the Pantawid program in Western Visayas.

2nd national Dragon Boat race at Iloilo River

(LCP)

THE second national Double Dragon Boat 2015 race at the Iloilo River starts on April 18 and will be participated by 15 teams from around the country.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the 2015 race is expected to drum up public awareness and appreciation of the Iloilo River as an important venue for water sports and mover of the local economy.

Primarily endorsed by Senate President Franklin Drilon and sponsored by Double Dragon Corporation of local taipan Edgar Sia and the Iloilo City Government, the race has created a ripple in the national sports and tourism industry as it seeks to preserve the river.

The initial participating teams are Boracay All Stars, Boracay Sea Dragons, Bohol Paddler Association, John B. Lacson, Philippine Coast Guard Dragon Boat Team, Philippine Navy Dragon Boat Team, Philippine Blue Phoenix Paddlers Club, Pilipinas Wave Warriors, Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team A, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Adamson University Paddlers, Maharlika Drakon, and Rogue Pilipinas Warriors.

Koreans hopeful of SMU’s success in Iloilo

(PNA), CTB/PR/VLO

ILOILO CITY, April 6 (PNA) --Although development may take some time, Korean officials are hopeful that Saemaul Undong (SMU), the engine that led to the modernization of then poor South Korea, can help ignite economic growth for Iloilo.

Korea Saemaul Undong Center International Cooperation Bureau Director Kyoung-Won Yi said numerous SMU projects have been implemented to help poor Ilonggos in secluded areas since 2009.

For the past years, in order to fully grasp the nuances, concepts and the guiding spirit behind the movement, a number of professors, village leaders and government officials have undergone SMU training in the Philippines and South Korea.

“It is my utmost desire for SMU to take deep roots in Iloilo or in the Philippines for that matter. But despite our effort, we still cannot find self-sufficiency in the project areas or for the people to say that their lives changed because of SMU,” Yi said.

However, Yi remained optimistic that SMU will be a success granting the interest and support of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. to the movement and other personalities like Mayor Matt Palabrica of Bingawan.

Defensor, who attended the 1st Global Saemaul Leadership Forum in South Korea on October 2014, is currently sitting as the honorary chairman of Philippine SMU Center located in Sta. Barbara.

Yi revealed that they stopped inviting and training foreign leaders from the Philippines in 2012 due to the failure of the previous trainees to incorporate SMU in their villages.

When Super Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc in SMU project sites in Bingawan and San Dionisio in December 2013, they raised funds to help build 61 housing units for the typhoon victims.

A year thereafter, they finally decided to resume the training of Filipinos following the will and commitment shown by the governor during the conduct of the leadership forum.

“To those who received our training, I want to emphasize that they should look back to it, make an in-depth research and community-driven project that can provide solutions to the problems of their villages,” Yi stressed.

Meanwhile, Won-Ki Kim, the Head of International Project Department of SMU, said changing the mindset of the people is important for the Philippines, especially Iloilo, to develop.

Kim said the poor must learn how to become self-reliant and self-sufficient; otherwise, their lives will not change. They should learn from the Korean’s SMU spirit of “diligence, self-help and cooperation”, he added.

“Our actions change when our mindset changes. Habits change when action changes. Personality changes when habit changed. But life won’t change if you only change your mindset. It should always be complemented by action and practice,” he said.

Founded by late President Park Chung Hee in 1970, SMU is South Korea’s national movement to create a country where all of its people have a wealthier life together.

At that time, South Korea is suffering from absolute poverty and chaos due or brought by the Japanese occupation from 1910-1945 and the cold war from 1950-1953.

Its Gross National Product per capita income was merely USD67 in 1953 and it slightly increased to USD79 in 1960.

Forty-four years have passed and their GNP per capita rose to USD28,200. Such amazing economic growth is now known to many as “the Miracle of the Han River”.

The movement laid the foundation for South Korea to grow into a major economy today.

For everyone to learn from this achievement, the archives related to SMU from 1970 t0 1979 have been listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World in 2013.

72 slots for OWWA college scholarships open

(JCM/OWWA/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 4 (PIA)—There are 72 slots for college scholarships in Western Visayas, given by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), with 12 slots per province.

“The office will rank the top 12 applicants based on their high school general weighted average,” OWWA-6 Dir. Ron Lionel Bartolome said in a press release.

The scholarship grant is offered to qualified beneficiaries/dependents of active OWWA members who receive a salary of not more than US$400, and who have enrolled in any four or five-year baccalaureate degree or associate degree in any state college or university in the region or province.

In the case of married OFWs, the qualified applicants are the children, while for the those unmarried, their siblings can apply.

Qualified scholars shall enjoy a maximum of P20,000 assistance annually or P10,000 per semester.

Documentary requirement for application, include the following: a) accomplished application form; b) two copies of 2x2 pictures, white background, studio shot of the applicant; c) proof of relationship to the OWWA member, like the NSO birth certificate of applicant, NSO Birth Certificate of applicant and OFW, is applicant is the sibling of the unmarried OFW, and certificate of No-marriage for the single OFW; d) proof of active OWWA membership – receipt or record; e)Form 137/High School Report card, f) copy of the OFW’s contract; g) Proof of enrolment in an SUC.

OWWA said that interested applicants can get the applications from its regional office, 3rd floor, Robinson’s place, Iloilo City, while additional details can be obtained through telephone number (O33) 3374484 or email at owwa_rwo6@yahoo.com.

DOST to support technology upgrade of WV enterprises

By Lilibeth A. French (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 3 (PIA6) - - The Department of Science and Technology 6 is ready to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Western Visayas that need to upgrade their equipment or willing to adopt technological innovations.

DOST 6 Information Officer Sol Aplaon Salazar said the department has set aside P58 million for the implementation of Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) in the region this year.

Any company or enterprise owned by Filipino citizens that belong to the identified priority sectors are qualified to apply for the various assistance provided under the program intended to improve their operations, products and services and boost their productivity and competitiveness.

The priority sectors are food processing; furniture, gifts, housewares and decors; marine and aquatic resources; horticulture and agriculture; metals and engineering; health products and services/pharmaceuticals; and ICT/Electronics.

SETUP has adopted five strategies to assist MSMEs that include provision of technology, product standards and testing, packaging and labelling, database management and information system and linkaging and networking.

Salazar said they are also more than willing to assist MSMEs who are interested to avail of the program in the preparations of the required documents. All they have to do is visit the nearest Provincial Science and Technology Center in their areas.

As of 2014, some 234 enterprises in the region have already sought the help of DOST for their various technological upgrading needs.

RDRRMC-6 firms up WV’s readiness for typhoon contingencies

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

ILOILO CITY, April 2 (PIA6) – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-6 is seeing to it that its member-agencies are readying the needed measures and logistics for any contingencies in view of Typhoon “Chedeng” (international name MAYSAK).

RDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) - 6 Regional Director Rosario T. Cabrera gathered the members for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment meeting today, April 2 to ascertain and firm up the region’s preparedness for any eventuality.

The member-agencies took turns in apprising the council about the readiness measures they have put in place.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said they have activated their monitoring teams and instituted preparedness measures in their capacity as vice-chair of the RDRRMC for Disaster Preparedness.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said they have prepositioned relief goods, readied family food packs from their stockpile, and activated their own Quick Response Teams.

Their respective readiness measures were also presented by the Department of Science and Technology, Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Education, National Telecommunications Commission, and Philippine Information Agency.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau geologist Dr. Leilanie Suerte said that there is a standing government policy and rule that local government units should not use as evacuation centers those areas that are susceptible to geologic hazards such as flooding, landslide and storm surge.

The measure is embodied in a joint memorandum issued by the MGB, DILG, DPWH and other agencies designed for the safety of concerned communities.

WV workers to have P11.50 wage hike

(JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 1 (PIA6) - - An increase of P11.50 in the salary of minimum wage earners in Western Visayas has been approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) on March 27,2015 after a long process of consultation and deliberation by all concerned including members of the board.

RTWPB 6 Chairman and Department of Labor and Employment 6 (DOLE 6) Director Ponciano Ligutom said in a press report that the duly signed Wage Order will be sent to the National Wages and Productivity Commission in Manila for review.

After the approval of the NWPC, the RTWPB will publish the decision in the newspaper of general circulation in the region.

The additional 11.50 will bring to P256.50 from P245 the daily minimum wage rate of non-plantation workers and P P266.50 from P255 for plantation workers.

After the increase, workers in non-agriculture, commercial and industrial sectors will also receive P256.50 (for companies employing 10 workers and below) and P298.50 (for those employing more than 10 workers).

Ligutom said the board considered a lot of factors before coming up with a consensus to issue the new wage increase. The factors include the restoration of purchasing power of the peso and compliance of employers with the previous wage increase as well as the vibrant economy of Western Visayas.

“We tried to balance the interest of all sectors, not only of labor and management but also of the investors who wish to invest in the Region. We tried to maintain the region’s competitiveness in attracting investors and retaining our workers,” Ligutom said in the press report.

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