Iloilo City News November 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.

PRO-6 to set help desks for PWDs

By Jennifer P. Rendon (The Philippine Star)

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Police Regional Office-6 announced it will put up help desks for persons with disabilities (PWDs) all over Western Visayas to serve these people’s concerns and needs.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, PRO-6 director, said the PWD help desks will be integrated with the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD), a police office established in 2011.

Cruz said there are clear barriers faced by PWDs in achieving equality and justice. “Sa ating pakigpag-ugnayan sa mga kapatid nating may kapansanan, ating napag-alaman na may mga kakaiba silang pangangailangan na dapat nating tugunan,” he said.

To bridge some of these gaps, Cruz said he would order some WCPD personnel to undergo special skills like sign language interpretation and communication.

The implementation guidelines of the project are already on its final review and, in coordination with the DSWD and PWD organizations is also being made to ensure that the project will be responsive to its target sector.

Cruz’s brainchild, the project will be proposed to the PNP National Headquarters for its nationwide implementation of the project to all police units nationwide

Iloilo airport now a full-fledged international airport

(PNA), LAP/AJP/LCPENDON/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 9 (PNA) -- The Iloilo airport of international standard has graduated into an international gateway and is now known as the Iloilo International Airport.

The Cebu Pacific Airways had its maiden flight from Iloilo to Hong Kong Thursday night, while the flight to Singapore is slated Friday night.

Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon, during Thursday's launching of international flights, has assured P25 million in the 2013 national budget for the purchase of additional equipment and facilities such as passport scanners for the Iloilo airport based in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

The senator also stated his willingness to convince other airlines to come to Iloilo and bring in tourists and travelers to see the opportunities here.

However, he challenged Ilonggos to help airline operations here become viable and sustainable and to consequently make Iloilo an important and attractive destination.

On the other hand, Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing, said they are happy to serve the international travel needs of the Ilonggos. Booking reservations were already made next year for the Iloilo-Hongkong and Iloilo-Singapore routes and back.

Iloilo-Hongkong direct flights are scheduled every Thursday and Sunday and Hongkong-Iloilo on Monday and Friday.

Iloilo-Singapore flights are scheduled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday while Singapore to Iloilo is on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

USAid pilots clean air project in Iloilo City

By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO CITY was identified as a pilot area in the Visayas for the implementation of a policy toolkit on climate change and clean energy project for local government units (LGU).

The project is envisioned to aid LGUs in developing policies and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from the urban transport sector.

It is being developed by the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center with Climate Change and Clean Energy and the International Resources Group for USAid Philippines.

CAI-Asia is conducting trainings on sustainable and low emissions transport on November 19 and to follow on November 20 is a visioning exercises workshop with local stakeholders.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will welcome the delegates and participants of the training to be held at the Grand Tower Suites on November 19-20, 2012.

Aside from Iloilo City, the policy toolkit will also be piloted in Baguio City for Luzon and Cagayan de Oro City for the Mindanao.

Pagcor to donate P1M to 2013 Dinagyang Festival

(PNA), PDS/AJP/PGLENA/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Nov 7 (PNA) -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has committed P1 million for the staging of the 2013 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival.

Ramon Cua-Locsion, president of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc (IDFI) said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed between the foundation and PAGCOR to seal the commitment.

PAGCOR has been supporting the Dinagyang Festival since 2010.

The IDFI is eyeing to raise some P14 million for the festival. Of the target fund, the city government will provide P6 million and the rest will come from sponsorships.

The IDFI Marketing Group said commitments from other interested sponsors have been secured.

To date, organizers of the festival are intensifying promotion efforts to gather bigger audience for the celebration slated on Jan. 25-27.

City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will be joined by City Tourism and Development Office Benito Jimena in the five-day Singapore Learning Exchange Mission of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) where the festival will be promoted starting this Friday.

Meantime, those who would like to know of updates about the festival may log on to the IDFI official facebook account, facebook/dinagyangsailoilofestival, meantime that the official web page, www.dinagyangsailoilo.com, is undergoing renovation. The new webpage is expected to be available by Nov 15.

DTI to inspect establishments in preparation for Christmas season

(PNA), LAP/AJP/LFVARGAS/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 6 (PNA) –- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct random inspection of establishments in the city as preparation for the Yuletide season.

DTI Iloilo director Wilhelm Malones said that the inspection aims to determine if products are covered by mandatory standards met the quality set by the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS).

Products that conform with the standards shall bear the Product Standard (PS) mark and the Import Clearance Commodity (ICC) for imported commodities.

Particularly, products to be inspected are Christmas lights, decors and household items which serve as gifts for the Yuletide season.

They will also determine what products are most in demand for the season.

Urban poor women trained in beauty care, cooking

(PNA), FFC/AJP/LMS/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 5 (PNA) -- Four hundred twenty urban poor women successfully completed a one-day livelihood training program held here recently.

The “Negosyo sa Barangay Entrepreneurship Training Program” was a joint effort of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan to empower women on beauty care and cooking.

Half of the total participants were trained in cooking while the other half finished the one day beauty care training.

“We want to help augment the income of families the reason why we continue to come up with programs and projects that can boost their economic conditions,” Mayor Mabilog said.

The mayor thanked Sen. Pangilinan for giving P500,000 from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to Iloilo City.

The training participants each received a certificate of completion and P1,000 financial assistance as start-up capital for their livelihood.

Iloilo airport to start servicing int’l flights Nov. 8

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr. (Inquirer Visayas)

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Civil aviation and tourism officials in Western Visayas are gearing up for the opening of direct international flights to and from the Iloilo international airport on November 8.

Tourism regional director Helen Catalbas said the inaugural flight from Iloilo to Hong Kong of budget carrier Cebu Pacific would be launched with a program at 6 p.m. on November 8, just hours before the 11:10 p.m. flight.

“We are all set and this will be a big boost for Iloilo and Western Visayas,” Catalbas told the Inquirer on Sunday.

Cebu Pacific’s flights between Iloilo and Singapore will commence on November 9. The Iloilo-Hong Kong flights will be twice weekly while the Iloilo-Singapore trips will be thrice weekly.

The inaugural flight from Hong Kong, which is scheduled to arrive in Iloilo at 4:45 a.m. on November 9, will be joined by the heads of 10 Filipino migrant worker organizations and Noel Servigon, the Philippine consul general in Hong Kong.

The maiden flight from Singapore, which will arrive in Iloilo at 6:10 a.m. on November 10, will be joined by representatives of 12 Singaporean travel agencies, according to Catalbas.

The start of direct international flights makes Iloilo the fifth Cebu Pacific hub following Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on October 31 turned over six computer units to the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation that will be used for the scanning and verification of passports for international passengers.

The DOT has also put up a desk of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the collection of the P1,620 travel tax for Filipino travelers.

Tourist arrivals in Western Visayas are expected to increase significantly with the opening of regular international flights along with regional flights earlier this year from the Iloilo airport.

Catalbas said a 15-percent increase in domestic and foreign tourists is expected this year compared to the 2.47 million tourist arrivals last year.

The P8.76-billion Iloilo airport in Cabatuan town opened in June 2007.

Restoration of heritage buildings in downtown Iloilo at no cost to city gov't

(PNA), HBC/PGL/VLO

ILOILO CITY, Nov 3 (PNA) -- A strong public-private partnership is behind the ongoing restoration of the heritage structures at the city's central business district.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government has not spent a centavo for the restoration, which now covers eight heritage buildings.

The Iloilo Cultural Heritage Foundation, chaired by Manuel Villa, Jr., spearheads the activity with the help of philanthropists and building owners who were inspired by the motivation of the association to bring back the old look of this city.

“We are already inspiring not only the city but the country and the world that heritage buildings should be restored and protected. For as long as there are (people) willing to help the city we will continue with this,” he stressed.

Structures as old as 75 years or more are aplenty in this city.

However, the foundation is eyeing first the restoration of the façade of 40 buildings along the CBD also known as Calle Real that encompasses streets of JM Basa, Iznart, Aldeguer, Guanco and Mapa.

The foundation targets to restore 10-15 buildings at the end of 2015, provided funds are sufficient.

Villa estimated that the restoration would cost around P1 billion.

NSO is Western Visayas' 2012 best NSM agency

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

ILOILO CITY, Nov 2 (PIA6) -- The regional office of the National Statistics Office based in Iloilo City was declared Best National Statistics Month (NSM) Agency, in this year’s celebration of the 23rd National Statistics Month.

Director Normay Julag-ay led the NSO-6 personnel in receiving the cash prize of P6,000 and certificate of recognition during the closing ceremonies of the month-long celebration held at Smallville 21 Hotel, Iloilo City, October 30.

Next to NSO-6 was the National Economic and Development Authority-6 and placing third was the National Irrigation Administration 6.

Nelida Losare, National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)-6 officer-in-charge, said winners were chosen based on the participation of the agency in NSM activities of the regional statistical coordination committee, chairmanship to committees, and initiated activities in line with the celebration. The results of the statistical contests where the agency have participated also count.

NSO-6 also took home P5,000 cash prize and a certificate of recognition when it won this year’s statistical exhibit, participated in by more than 18 government agencies, including the non-contesting NSCB and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BSP was disqualified to join this year after winning the contest for three consecutive years since 2009.

Other winners were the Department of Agriculture, coming in second; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, third; Department of Labor and Employment, fourth; and Bureau of Fire Protection, fifth.

In his message, BSP–Iloilo Branch Deputy Director Job Nepomuceno said this year’s NSM was a successful one.

Nepomuceno also lauded the participating local government units, government agencies and offices and their respective NSM coordinators for their exhibits that demonstrated their support to the celebration, which has greatly contributed to the region’s induction into the Hall of Fame this year, after winning the Best NSM Region for 2011.

OWWA-6 Regional Director Samuel Madrid, represented by Administrative Officer Nancy Oyco, was the keynote speaker of the event.

City mayor opens offers for water supply

By Lydia C. Pendon

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog said he is opening the offer and accepting bids of possible suppliers of water in Iloilo City starting November 1, 2012.

A Task Force Water will be created soon to study the possibility of having other water suppliers in the city amidst the proposed bulk water supply project of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

Mabilog admitted he is already fed up with the promises of MIWD to supply sufficient water to city consumers which was promised to be in December 2012 after so many extensions were already given to the private contractor.

He said the task force will study the possibility of opening up new offers of water suppliers and the mechanics to be implemented in the city.

The city mayor said precedence was already tested in Cebu City after the Supreme Court allowed other players to come in and supply water.

The task force will have city health officer Dr. Nick Baronda as possible chairman with city general services officer Joren Sartorio and city councilor RLeone as members, along with other representatives of the private sector.

MIWD said the city is its franchise area since the early 1950s. However, the recent Supreme Court decision in Cebu showed a modified franchise of water utilities after the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution.

Mabilog said he will seek for a certificate of convenience for water services issued by the National Water Resources Board and the Local Water Utilities Administration.

The city mayor said his move is expected to start the proposed privatization of water supply services in the city and should not be a monopoly of MIWD which cannot also assure sufficient water supply.

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