Iloilo City News April 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.

Western Visayas towns to implement NHE project

(JCM/LAF-PIA)

ILOILO CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- Six municipalities in Western Visayas have expressed their interest to implement the National Handicapping Environment (NHE) Project, according to the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA).

NCDA Regional Program Coordinator Ruth Tacujan said the municipalities of Maasin, Concepcion, Batad, Mina and Guimbal in Iloilo province and San Jose in Antique have submitted their applications to the Regional Council on Disability Affairs in the region chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 6.

According to Tacujan, the NCDA and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will visit the local government units on April 24 to 27 for validation and readiness assessment.

“They will meet with the local officials and the groups of Person with Disabilities in the area to know if they are ready to implement the project based on the project criteria,” said Tacujan.

NHE project aims to create a barrier-free environment for PWDs in rural communities to further enhance their participation in society. It has five frameworks that include implementing mechanism, profiling, capacity development, advocacy and networking.

The NCDA in collaboration with JICA started to implement the project in the country in October 2008 with New Lucena, Iloilo and Opol, Misamis Oriental as the two pioneering sites.

TIEZA allots P5 M aid for Jaro belfry restoration

(JCM/ESS/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 9 (PIA6) -- The Jaro Belfry will soon rise from the ruins of time and seasons, as the Tourism Infra and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has allotted P5 million for its restoration and rehabilitation.

The Iloilo City Information Office said in a press release that the TIEZA team has visited and conducted ocular inspection of the Jaro Belfry and surrounding site recently.

The belfry is one of the few in the country that stands apart from the church, as it was identified as the former tower of Jaro Church.

Jaro is famous for the Jaro Cathedral of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, now declared a National Shrine by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Records showed the belfry was destroyed by a 1948 magnitude 8.6 earthquake and restored by the Iloilo city government in the 1990s.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog said the assistance given by the TIEZA jibed with the plan to make Jaro one of the major tourist attractions in the city.

Mabilog said this will boost tourism and push the economy up.

He added this move also supported the pending House Bill No. 4957 proposed by Congressman Jerry Trenas, which seeks to declare Jaro as one of Iloilo City’s “legislated tourist sites” together with Molo, City Business District, and Fort San Pedro.

Iloilo City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena said the plan to create a Task force Restore Jaro Belfry is in the offing to look into then needs for the repair and restoration work to be undertaken.

Jimena said they are requesting the building authorities to test the structural strength of the belfry, as an engineering works committee will also be asked to determine the scope of work, estimate the cost, undertake the repair and provide labor and material.

“Clearing and cleaning will also be done, as well as assigning of personnel to maintain and beautify the area,” Jimena said.

The tourism office will partner with the barangay and church organizations concerned, to come up with guidelines of operation of tourism information center that shall be put up, to harmonize projects and activities.

“The endeavor will also include the facelift of the Jaro Plaza,” Jimena said.

Develop taxi drivers as frontline tourism agents - DOT

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

ILOILO CITY, April 8 (PIA6) -- Recognizing the important role of the taxi drivers in providing comfort to tourists, the DOT-6 has embarked on seminars on tour guiding for Iloilo taxi drivers.

“They create the first and last impressions on our visitors that can either build or destroy our city’s image,” Department of Tourism-6 (DOT OIC Director Helen C. Catalbas said.

Catalbas added that misbehaviour of a few taxi drivers are long lasting as passengers tend to remember only the bad, but many of them are doing good and they know so many places all over the region.

To date, DOT has already trained more than 1,500 or over 60 percent of the taxi drivers here.

“We accommodate about 35 at a time as requested by the companies or operators, but there are always personnel who conduct seminars for individual, walk in drivers who are on off duty and express desire to learn.

Catalbas said topics discussed include security and safety, personality and grooming, courtesy, historical landmarks and point of interest, as well as short history of places commonly visited by tourists.

“The content on historical places covers also some points of destinations in the region, as taxi drivers are hired every now and then to places outside the city,” she added.

She also said that DOT is zeroing in on taxi drivers at present because taxis have access to almost all places anywhere.

Meanwhile, DOT, in pursuing full blast implementation of its programs also plans to and make all front line service providers tourism friendly, to include also drivers and operators of vans, sales clerks in “pasalubong” centers and personnel in travel lounges.

DAR, WVSU sign MOA for support of agrarian beneficiaries

(JCM/LAF/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 7 (PIA6) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform – Iloilo Provincial Office has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the West Visayas State University for the provision of economic support services to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.

DAR-Iloilo Information Officer Yvonne Senobin reported that under the agreement the WVSU will provide agricultural and agribusiness instruction, research and extension activities to the ARBs who will qualify in the eligibility check and the accreditation process of DAR.

WVSU is a consultant of DAR under its Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) project.

According to Senobin the MOA will cover the Needs and Design Assessment of the proposed Sugarcane Production Block Farming to be implemented by the Mapili Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi Purpose Cooperative in the municipality of San Enrique and Passi City, Iloilo.

The Sugarcane Block Farming in Palaciawan, Barotac Nuevo and the Rice Production and Marketing projects of the ARBs in the municipalities of Barotac Nuevo, Passi City, San Enrique, Dingle and Badiangan, Iloilo will also benefit from the MOA.

The MOA was signed by DAR –Iloilo Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Gideon Umadhay, Jr and West Visayas State University President Dr. Pablo Subong recently.

Iloilo to host National Festival of Talents 2012

By Elsa S. Subong (JCM/ESS/PIA-6)

ILOILO CITY, April 6 (PIA6) -- This city will play host to the 2012 National Festival of Talents from April 10-13, facilitated by the Department of Education (DepEd)- Division of Iloilo.

DepEd-6 said in a press release that the Festival of Talents, a special program of the DepEd through the Bureau of Secondary Education, is an avenue where the students can best show their knowledge and skills in the field of arts, population and development and technology and livelihood education.

Further, DepEd-Division Program Supervisor Liza Balogo said, the festival will also showcase various products and performances as evidence of the participants’ learning, while strengthening their level of competence and confidence in facing life’s challenges.

Deriada said the event will also engage teacher-advisers and education leaders in parallel professional sessions.

The festival is expected to gather students and advisers from the 17 regions, who will be housed in venues, like the Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School for the technolympics, Iloilo National High School for the Sining Pambansa, and at Grand Hotel for the PopDev activities.

Key DepEd officials, celebrities, and national and local artists are also expected to attend.

The opening program will be on April 10, at the Iloilo sports complex at 5 pm to be preceded by a parade of floats and delegates from the Jaro Plaza, with a winning tribe of the 2012 Dinagyang Festival, as added attraction.

Regional disaster council invites members from civil society, private sector

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

ILOILO CITY, April 5 (PIA) -- The disaster council in Region 6 has begun accepting applications for members from civil society organizations (CSO) and the private sector (PS).

Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chairperson and Office Civil Defense-6 director Rosario Cabrera said the council shall select four representatives from civil society coming from the academe or independent research-based groups; from faith-based CSO; non-government organizations; and another one from professional or community-based organizations and foundations.

Cabrera said the lone PS representative would be selected from private sector organizations.

The CSOs who can apply are those duly registered under Philippine Law and with institutional structures to manage their organizations, of recognized standing within their particular fields of competence as shown by track records, and those which have not participated in any election as party-list group.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent addressed to the RDRRMC chairperson, profile of the CSO, certificate of registration with Securities and Exhange Commission, Cooperative Development Authority, or Department of Labor and Employment, authenticated copy of articles of incorporation, showing original incorporators, by-laws duly signed by the secretary, and financial report for the period.

Applications that meet the minimum requirements will be further evaluated through interviews, based on commitment and engagement in disaster risk reduction and management programs, projects and activities, record of competence in disaster risk reduction and management and climate change initiatives, and knowledge in policy development.

Cabrera said the CSO and PS representatives are required to participate in meetings and council’s activities, provide updates of their activities, disseminate disaster risk reduction and management activities, programs to the organization, provide council with annual reports and financial conditions, provide council with updated information sheet of current list of executive officers, and coordinate and assist in the conduct of disaster risk reduction and management activities and projects in geographic areas.

The DRRMC said applications are due April 30, 2012.

8,000 students in WV get summer jobs

(JCM/LAF/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 4 (PIA6) - - More than 8,000 poor but deserving students in Western Visayas will have a productive summer this year as they earn and at the same time gain work experience through the Special Program for Employment of Students of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Data obtained from DOLE 6 indicated that some 8,443 students are expected to be hired by private and government employers who signified their intention to participate in the program this year.

The data further showed that of the 8,433 beneficiaries in the region, 3,739 are from Negros Occidental, 1, 838 from Iloilo, 1,014 from Antique, 910 from Capiz, 735 from Aklan and 207 from Guimaras.

SPES aims to help poor but deserving students to pursue their education by encouraging their employment such as during summer vacation which is in accordance with the pursuit of the 22-point labor and employment agenda of President Benigno Aquino to invest in the country’s top resource, the human resource to make it more competitive and employable while promoting industrial peace based on social justice.

For this summer 2012, DOLE 6 has allotted a total budget of P17, 916,998.24 for its 40 percent share in the salaries of the beneficiaries.

Under the program, SPES beneficiaries are paid daily for a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 52 working days. The 40% of the beneficiaries’ salaries is shouldered by DOLE and the remaining 60% by employers.

DOLE 6 Assistant Regional Director Dax Villaruel said that some 9,259 students have also found employment through SPES last year.

Local officials assure public of safe Holy Week

(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, April 3 (PIA6) -– Local officials here said that security measures are in place for the safety of tourists during the Holy Week.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said in media interviews that he has directed the Iloilo City Police Office to intensify police visibility and checkpoints in public places, especially churches.

Mabilog said security plans are in place as he urged people to be careful as they observe their religious events.

He also said that people should also secure their homes when leaving for church activities, or going on vacation during the five-day vacation.

On the other hand, Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr told media that the Provincial Police Office has been deployed to ensure security of tourists and devotees who will observe Holy Week in various places in the province.

He said this in anticipation of the influx of tourists who will witness the Lenten presentations and activities in the towns of Dumangas, Calinog, Barotac Viejo, and in other tourism destinations here.

He added that the police will also be highly visible in churches and places of public worship, including cemeteries, as balikbayans also visit their departed, besides participating in Lenten activities.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office has deployed more that 600 personnel to augment the police force, and have been mobilizing its police officers in the administrative offices to render mobile patrolling in identified “hot” areas.

Ilonggos urged to take steps to protect environment, conserve energy

(JCM/LAF-PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, April 2 (PIA) -- Ilonggos were urged to take extra steps to push common efforts towards conservation of energy and preservation of the environment.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog told Ilonggos Saturday that by switching off their lights for one hour they will not only save electricity but also support efforts to protect the environment against climate change during the ceremonial countdown and switch off of lights held at SM City Iloilo in line with the Earth Hour 2012 observance here.

Mabilog said the city government is also doing its share along this line as the new city hall building is the first government “green” building in the country that uses solar assisted air conditioning units that provide cooling system in the city hall.

“We must get to work to put in place developmental plans to transform our environment into promising and great economic opportunities,” said Mabilog.

On the other hand, congressman Jerry P. Trenas, who also joined in the ceremonial switch off, said the sudden change in climate being experienced in the country is a call to everyone to do his or her own contribution to mitigate climate change.

“We can do our little share in ensuring that the earth that we are going to leave to our children and grandchildren will be a better place for all of them,” said Trenas as he acknowledged the support and participation of Ilonggos in the Earth Hour since it started here in this city and now participated in by many cities in the country.

Engr. Randy Pastolero of the Panay Electric Cooperative (PECO) said in a radio interview that they have recorded a 29.9-megawatt drop in energy consumption during the one-hour switch off this year. PECO is the sole distributor of power in this city.

Aside from Mabilog and Trenas, the Earth Hour event at SM City was also attended by Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa, Councilors Ely Estante and Dave Jamora, Department of Environment and Natural Resources 6–Environmental Manager Bureau Director Jonathan Bulos, PIA 6 Director Janet Mesa, Responsible Ilonggo for Sustainable Energy’s Engr. Aurora Alerta Lim and SM City Iloilo Mall Manager Girlie Liboon, among others.

Ilonggo women getting more empowered vs. climate change - OCD

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

ILOILO CITY, Apr. 1 (PIA) – Ilonggo women are getting more empowered and able to cope with climate change by becoming more informed and educated on it, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Ma. Aletha A. Nogra OCD-6 Training head said because of the new law on disaster risk reduction and mitigation, the women sectors have been part of planning and implementing disaster preparedness programs in their localities.

Nogra, who was guest during the weekly cable TV program “Hangpanay” anchored by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), said RA 10121 has included total care for vulnerable sectors, including women, who have specific needs in times of disasters.

Women now have asserted their special needs, especially when they find themselves in evacuation centers, when they are pregnant, lactating or having monthly periods.

“Women are now active in participating during planning for disasters,” Nogra said.

She said they are able to determine their needs, identify their roles before, during and after disasters, because they are familiar with their communities, its hazards and coping abilities.

Mariana, 45 years old, and a village chief in a remote area in Iloilo, said they realized they are not to be considered victims only of disasters, because usually they end up “helpless” especially in evacuation centers during disasters.

OCD-6 said that with the disaster risk reduction and management law, evacuation centers are not just shelters to house victims of disaster but a place that can help those affected to recover better.

“We need to design a place where normal activities can go on, especially for women whose role of housekeeping extends to the evacuation centers, as they assume roles of cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the children,” Nogra said.

On the other hand, Nogra said, that part of the training government is doing is in disaster preparedness is also encouraging women to organize themselves and be part of the on-going education on climate change.

“Not only women, but girls and children, who should be educated right in their classrooms,” Nogra said.

She added that the local government units should not overlook women’s role and participation in climate change mitigation in the communities.

Nogra further said that in the region, at least there is no incidence of grave violence against women, like rape or murder, in evacuation centers, although she does not discount that dispositions of people in the midst of great loss can be hostile.

“This is because our disaster risk reduction and management agencies and the LGUs have become more aware of gender-based principles applied to climate change,” she said.

She noted that where women are active and educated on climate change, communities fare better during disasters.

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