Iloilo City News September 2012

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Iloilo City - Archived News

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.
Iloilo-aerial.jpg
Aerial View of Iloilo City

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.

News feature: Ilonggo students want more info on eco-tourism, survey says

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

ILOILO CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) -- It is not the lack of interest but lack of awareness and information on eco-tourism sites that prevent young people from engaging in eco-tourism trips in their communities.

Some 400 students from the public and private schools participated in a survey on “Assessing Eco-Tourism Potential: A domestic Market Profile of Students in Iloilo City, conducted by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

The survey showed that about 90 percent of the students said they were willing to learn more about eco-tourism, as they considered eco-tourism to be significantly important for the future of Iloilo City, CUI-Iloilo Project Manager Benjamin Luz said.

Their preferred way of learning more about eco-tourism is through a day tour, 82 percent; from the Internet, 60 percent and from school lectures, 53 percent.

Only 37 percent of the respondents said they have experienced eco-tourism trips, such as trekking, tree planting activities, swimming and snorkeling, island hopping, caving, zip line and others.

More than half of the respondents or 56 percent said Ilonggos in general appreciate the potentials of eco-tourism in Iloilo, but this is affected to some extent by limited marketing and promotional activities.

The survey revealed that close to half of the respondents said there were no information at all while 40 percent said there were no suitable eco-tourism sites in the area.

The survey also showed that more than half of the respondents or 56 percent said there was limited accessibility to eco-tourism areas, while half of them said Ilonggos were not environmentally conscious at all.

Noteworthy in their preferences for gaining information was that respondents from the public schools or 90 percent said they tend to get information from friends and family and from traditional sources such as brochures available in transportation terminals.

Meanwhile, respondents from the private schools were more diverse in their sources, to include Internet and media, travel magazines and have more access to technology because they have the means to do so.

CUI intern Fil-Canadian Michael Esteras, who conducted the study together with the CUI-Philippines Team, said the survey intended to create a market profile for a domestic market in Iloilo City, as well as identify the potential for eco-tourism in Maasin, Cabatuan, Leon and Alimodian.

The CUI said that targeting schools as potential clients for ecotourism tours in the province will not only make them aware of the existence of such sites, but help the local communities earn a living, as schools have the captive population for eco-tourism trips.

CUI added that the survey served as primary research for a more comprehensive market research regarding competition, current and future trends in the tourism industry.

The survey, among others also aimed to determine the respondents’ definition of eco-tourism, expectations in a tourism resort, nature, frequency and average length of trips and vacations, and their preferred mode of transport, payment and basic facilities in a resort.

Private firms, gov’t agency get BSP nod

(PIA-6/PN)

ILOILO City – Two private firms and one government agency in Western Visayas were awarded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) with the “Ambition” trophy for their exemplary support to the bank’s statistical undertakings, information needs and advocacy programs.

Monetary Board (MB) member Armando Suratos led in handing out the award during the recent 2012 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for BSP Stakeholders at Days Hotel-Iloilo here.

Waffle Time, Inc. was cited as “Outstanding Respondent among Large and Medium Firms for the Business Expectations Survey (BES).”

7 Stones Boracay Suites was hailed as “Outstanding Respondent among Small Firms for the BES.”

On the other hand, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) Negros Occidental Provincial Operations Center was recognized for “Information Sources for the Report on Regional Economic Developments.”

Waffle Time and 7 Stones Boracay Suites gave regular, complete and timely responses to BSP’s survey that provides the bank with advance information on the current and near-term economic and business conditions such as interest rates, inflation and exchange rates expectations.

BAS Negros Occidental provided BSP with exemplary information support which allows the bank to better monitor and assess developments in its operating environment as well as helps it make well-informed monetary policy decisions as it carries out its mandate of price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth.

The “Amibition” is a sculptural work in bonded marble showing human figures helping each other to push upwards and lift blocks that form the acronym “BSP”, which conveys the strong and committed partnership of the BSP and its stakeholders in fulfilling the role of the bank as the country’s monetary authority.

Each piece has been especially molded and crafted by multi-awarded sculptor Juan Sajid Imao.

BSP stakeholders from the National Capital Region and six other regions in the country were earlier recognized during the awards ceremony held in their respective areas since July of this year. Similar activities will be conducted through this month.

The BSP award has other categories aside from the BES and Information Sources. It is done by BSP to coincide with its annual anniversary celebration which has for its theme this year, “Shared Goals, Shared Responsibilities and Valued Partnerships.”

Pagasa top official leads new Iloilo weather station groundbreaking

By Lilibeth A. French (JSC/LAF/PIA 6-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Sept 8 (PIA) -- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando yesterday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new weather station and doppler radar station in this city to upgrade the government’s weather monitoring system in Western Visayas.

Servando said the Iloilo Weather Radar Station will be a vital infrastructure in support of disaster risk reduction not only for the province of Iloilo but for the whole region of Western Visayas.

“This is a very timely and significant occasion as recent extreme weather and climate events demonstrated to us the need for a strong disaster preparedness,” said Servando during the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-WESVIARC) in Brgy. Buntatala, Jaro here.

The new facility will be constructed on a vacant lot donated by DA WESVIARC in their compound. It will be equipped with new weather monitoring facilities that include automatic weather stations, brand new basic meteorological equipment, a robust communication system and state-of-the-art Doppler radar station that nwill provide reliable, real time information for monitoring severe weather system, thunderstorms and heavy rains.

The equipment will also complement existing monitoring systems such as the 12 automated weather stations, 13 automated rain gauges and three water level sensors installed in different areas in the region. It will also be eventually integrated into Project NOAH of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which will be accessed real-time online.

Servando said the Iloilo Radar including the new weather station estimated at about P110 million will be funded under the Disbursement Acceleration Program of the national government to enhance the Doppler radar network for national weather watch, accurate forecasting, and early warning. It is expected to be completed by mid-2013.

Pagasa already has seven operational radars nationwide and two more located at Tampakan and Aparri which will be operationalized in the coming months.

Sevando said once completed, the seven-storey Iloilo weather station will also be a significant infrastructure to boost science tourism in the city.

“Aside from providing real-time weather information, like our radar stations in Tagaytay, Catanduanes and Cebu, the Iloilo facility will be a favorite visiting place for students and even ordinary citizens,” said Servando.

The Iloilo Weather Station will replace the old weather station that was formerly located at the Old Airport in Mandurriao and temporarily transferred to the Iloilo Sports Complex but was also closed later.

Also present at the ceremony were Iloilo City Congressman Jerry Trenas, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Executive Assistant to the Mayor atty. Eduardo Penaredondo, DOST 6 Director Rowen Gelonga and Department of Agriculture APCO Ruperto Deylusong.

Iloilo City braces for 5 tourism development sites

(PNA), FFC/AJP/LCP/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 7 (PNA) -- The city government is seriously planning to pursue the development of five sites here as tourism development areas (TDAs) as soon as Congress approves the sites to get funding from the Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA).

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that development works have already started in the five TDAs and are just waiting for Senate concurrence so that funds will be available for their conversion as important tourist attractions in the city.

On the other hand, a five-year tourism development plan of the city was completed by the Research, Education and Institutional Development Foundation (REID) and the Iloilo Business Club (IBC) to strengthen Iloilo City as an important tourism destination in the country. This is seen to enhance the cultural and heritage tourism experience through city tours anchored on the Iloilo River.

City tourism officer Benito Jimena said the Tourism Action Program for Iloilo City (TAPIC) is a blueprint for city tourism development from 2012 to 2016. The study was funded by The Asia Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an initiative under the Partnership for Better Infrastructure and Tourism Development Project.

The city tour circuits cover Molo, La Paz and the city proper with two river zones to complement the program. These are Iloilo River Zone I along the Muelle Loney and Iloilo River Zone II along La Paz district.

Mabilog said the five TDAs are the historic Fort San Pedro which is currently under rehabilitation by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Plaza Libertad fronting the new cityhall building, Calle Real or the central business district (CBD) starting with façade rehabilitation of some old heritage commercial buildings, Jaro Plaza and Molo Plaza.

Rehabilitation of the Molo Plaza was recently completed. The rehabilitation of Plaza Libertad and the Jaro Plaza will soon follow. The rehabilitation of three heritage commercial buildings at the CBD such as the Serafin Villanueva and Eusebio Villanueva buildings were completed while the Javellana building will also soon follow.

Literacy Conference to reel off Sept. 18-20

(Deped/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 6 -- The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) will hold the 2012 National Literacy Conference and awards on September 18 – 20 at the Benitez Hall, Teachers Camp, Baguio City.

The event is in cooperation and coordination with other government organizations (GOs) local government units (LGUs), private organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) with the theme of the National Literacy Conference is Literacy for Life and a Sustainable Future: Learning Together for the 21st Century in line with this priority agenda of the UNLO.

Expected to attend the three-day gathering are officials of the Department of Education and its bureaus, Officials of government agencies with extension programs involving literacy or continuing education, NGOS, civil society organizations, LGUS, private corporations with interest in literacy and heads of educational institutions.

A highlight of the seminar will be the awarding of the five winners of the Outstanding Implementers of the National Literacy Programs /Prcjects. These winners are selected from the LGUs (Highly Urbanized City, Independent Component and Component City, Municipal Level Class A and Municipal Level Class B) for their exemplary accomplishments in literacy development through their programs and projects.

The Conference and Awards aim to: share good practices in universalization of literacy programs and in reaching out to the unreached and marginalized members of the community; discuss innovations and practices in promoting literacy for sustainable development; promote peace concepts and good models of conflict-resolution; disaster management and climate change; and recognize the best practices for implementing literacy programs or projects that alleviate poverty, provide livelihood, address welfare needs, promote freedom and make education facilities accessible.

36 exhibitors showcase best local Ilonggo products

(LCP/Sunnex)

THIRTY-SIX Ilonggo exhibitors joined the 7th Tumandok Iloilo Product Expo, which started on September 3 and will end on September 8, at the Robinsons Place, Iloilo City.

The expo features micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and one-town one-product (Otop) of 21 Iloilo municipalities.

Wilhelm Malones, Iloilo director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the exhibits feature the best and finest products of Iloilo by displaying the texture, color, aroma and flavor of Ilonggo products in a matching market encounter with buyers and Ilonggo consumers.

He said the showcase also boasts the tourism prospects of Iloilo and Project Zero, a waste recycling venture that produces bags for women and the whole family made of discarded materials such as used tarpaulins and other local products.

Joel Adrias, president of Injap Foundation and member of the Board of Trustees of the Iloilo City Community College, gave an inspirational message during the expo opening.

In his message, Adrias said the growing MSME in Iloilo is creating a business environment to attract employers to set up businesses in the city.

He challenged prospective enterprises to locate in Iloilo, saying the city is ripe for business.

On exhibits are gifts and housewares, bamboo crafts, herbal products, soaps and lotion, dried fish and squid rings, ginger tea, vine craft, recycled bags, abaca craft, loom weaves, delicacies, terra cotta, and mango and pineapple products, among others.

1st Korean-Ilonggo Friendship Festival to showcase fusion of Ilonggo and Korean culture

(PNA), LAM/AJP/PGLENA/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Sept 4 (PNA) -- A presentation on how the way of life of Ilonggos has been immersed with the Korean culture will be featured in the week-long celebration of the 1st Korean-Ilonggo Friendship Festival this Sept 17-22.

The event is the first of its kind in the Philippines and Moon Dae Jin (Tiger Moon), president of Metro Korea and the vice-president of the Iloilo Korea United Community Association Inc., said they decided to hold it in this city.

Tiger Moon credited the birth of the festival to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog who talked about the possibility of holding such event.

Event organizer Jane Javellana said the occasion will make Koreans feel that they are much welcome in Iloilo. The friendship, she said, started when the Koreans invested and put up businesses in this city.

Benito Jimena, City Tourism and Development Officer, said that the city government has long been planning to organize an event that would strengthen the friendship between Ilonggos and Koreans.

“We believe that a festival like this would make everybody aware of the presence of our Korean friends,” he said, citing the event as a “cross-cutting of cultural fusion of Koreans and Ilonggos.”

During the festival, the organizer will bring in artists and top models from Korea to perform before Ilonggo and Korean audiences. Invited were the Step Girl and Karin groups with the special participation the XLR8, the Philippines’ Finest PPOP Group.

They will also host mall exhibits and fashion shows to showcase the culture, places and dresses of Korea.

The week-long exhibit starting Sept. 21 will be mounted at the SM City while the festival concert will be held at the Central Philippine University (CPU) gym in the evening of the opening day.

The food festival on Sept. 22 at Delgado Street in the city proper will offer Korean and Ilonggo cuisines.

Tiger Moon added they are campaigning for more Koreans come here and the festival would surely entice more of their compatriots to visit Iloilo.

Jimena disclosed that Koreans are the city’s top foreign visitors based on statistics gathered from hotels.

There are around 3, 000 Koreans in this city, about 70 percent of them students.

Tourism officer-in-charge for Western Visayas, Atty. Helen Catalbas lauded the endeavor that is expected to raise our tourism statistics and tourism receipts.

She pointed out that there are 10 million Koreans going abroad every year and the Philippines is only getting one million share.

Most citizen-friendly police station, model PNP families awarded

By Edson J. Banares (JCM/EJB-PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, Sept 3 (PIA) -- The 18th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) celebration in Western Visayas kicked off with the awarding of the Most Citizen-Friendly (MCF) Police Station (PS) and Model Philippine National Police (PNP) Families during the opening ceremonies on September 3 at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

The Jaro Police Station in Iloilo City headed by PCInsp. Gilbert Gorero bagged the Most Citizen-Friendly Police Station award for the city category while Cabatuan PS headed by PSInp. Alejandro Apostol Jr. was named as the Most Citizen-Friendly Police Station in the municipal category.

Each of the top police station received a plaque; P15,000 cash; and a five-foot tall MCF icon.

San Carlos City Police Station and Silay City Police Station were declared second and third placers, respectively, in the city category while the Kalibo Police Station placed second and Jamindan Police Station won the third spot in the municipal category.

PSupt. Nilda A. Rapiz of the PNP-Police Regional Office (PRO-6) Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division was declared as winner in the Model PNP Families-family category while SPO1 Ana Baganes of the Mandurriao Police Station won in the solo parent category.

SPO1 Baganes is also one of the national awardees in the 2012 Model PNP Families Search.

PNP-PRO6 Regional Director PCSupt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr., who was guest speaker during the opening ceremonies, encouraged the community to do their share in preventing crimes.

The opening and awarding ceremonies followed the foot parade that was held through the major thoroughfare of the city from the Iloilo Provincial Capitol to the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.

National Police Commission (Napolcom) Regional Director Marte S. Palomar also gave a message during the program.

NCPW is observed annually every first week of September by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 461.

Strengthening PPP To Boost Iloilo

By TARA YAP

ILOILO CITY — City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has posed a challenge in strengthening public-private partnership (PPP) to further boost the socio-economic development of this city.

“It was a fitting moment to renew our covenant as Ilonggos to make this city more progressive,” Mabilog said during the recent 75th Charter Day celebration of the city.

“We have to revitalize our commitment to our people with genuine sense of responsibility that could give basic quality of services to every Ilonggo,” Mabilog added.

One of the sidelights of the weeklong celebration was the turning over of the 2011 Seal of Good Housekeeping Award.

Given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), this city was awarded for its excellent performance in “key governance areas of planning, fiscal management, transparency and accountability and valuing performance monitoring.”

The award was signed by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Mabilog also noted that the city was recently named by the DILG as one of the top three local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas.

Mabilog emphasized that the fruitful socio-economic developments could not have been possible if not for a strong PPP.

He cited the P70-million Iloilo Esplanade project of Senator Franklin Drilon, and the P25-million Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) donated by Mang Inasal founder Edgar “Injap” Sia II that has changed not only the landscape of the city, but can bring development.

For their contributions, Drilon and Sia were feted with the Golden Salakot Award.

Other awardees include media magnate and Bombo Radyo Philippines founder Rogelio Florete Sr., contractor and philanthropist Jose “Pepe” Layson, businessman Felix Tiu, and City Councilor Perla Zulueta.

18th Nat’l Crime Prevention Week to focus on citizen empowerment

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

ILOILO CITY, Sept 1 (PIA) -- The 18th National Crime Prevention Week celebration in this city will open on Monday, September 3, which focuses in strengthening and empowering citizens against crime victimization and enlisting their involvement in government’s crime prevention programs geared towards creating safer communities.

The opening activities on September 3 will start with a Thanksgiving Mass at 7:30 a.m. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol followed by a Foot Parade going to the Freedom Grandstand for the opening ceremonies.

The activities will be participated in by schools, non-government organizations and government agencies, particularly the Department of Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies.

The announcement of winners for the Most Citizen-Friendly Police Station and Search for Philippine National Police Model Families in the region will highlight the opening ceremonies with PCSupt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr., the new police regional office-6 director, as guest speaker.

Other activities for the week-long celebration are “Forum on Pito Laban sa Krimen” on September 4; Awareness Drive on Crime and Drug Abuse Prevention, September 5 at the Pototan Comprehensive High School; and Simultaneous Ugnayan/ Talakayan with the Inmates at Iloilo City Female Dorm, Ungka Male Dorm and Pototan District Jail, September 6.

Contests such as quiz show, essay writing, oration and poster-making will also be held on September 6 at Robinson’s Place Iloilo City as part of the advocacy to promote crime prevention among young people.

The week-long celebration with the theme, “Sa Crime Prevention, May Magagawa Ako,” will be capped by a ceremony to be held at the Police Regional Office Multi-Purpose Hall in the afternoon of September 7.

Presidential Proclamation No. 461 declares the first week of September of every year as the National Crime Prevention Week in the country.

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