Iloilo City News August 2017

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

ARMM Photo Gallery
ARMM Realty
Philippine News Headlines
Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao - Archived News
ARMM seal.png
Seal of ARMM

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.

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.

DOST, UPV, microfinance company partner for business competency

By Ma. Cristina Arayata (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the microfinance company Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI), and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) have agreed to help entrepreneurs improve their competency.

They inked a memorandum of agreement on their collaboration during the opening of the three-day Regional Science and Technology (S&T) Week here Tuesday.

According to the DOST, their collaboration aims to address the holistic requirements of businesses. Under the agreement, the TSKI will provide business development training to entrepreneurs, while the DOST will extend technical support. UPV has a technology incubation facility funded by the DOST.

"Our long-term direction is to come up with three to four technology business incubators (TBIs) all over the region next year. We are also looking at food processing TBIs in the future," said Rowen Galonga, DOST-Western Visayas director, in a press conference here.

Meanwhile, the Regional S&T Week carries the theme, "Science for the People".

"It is important for us to celebrate S&T Week in every part of the country," noted DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña during the event's opening.

The event aims to make people from all walks of life realize the benefits of S&T, dela Peña added.

P40.2-M River Esplanade-Phase 3 opens in Iloilo

(PNA)

ILOILO CITY --The PHP40.2 million Iloilo River Esplanade-Phase 3 in this city was opened to the public on Friday afternoon.

The phase 3 of River Esplanade is an extension of two existing esplanades along the Iloilo River, the city’s most frequented place where people gather, and health enthusiasts regularly jog and go biking.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon and Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) inaugurated the Iloilo River Esplanade-Phase 3.

In his speech, Drilon announced another esplanade extension that will be completed within 18 months up to two years.

The new extension will be built across Phase 3.

The newly-opened Esplanade-Phase 3 called for the construction of a 200 linear meter riverside promenade along the Iloilo Diversion Road with paving blocks, slope protection, landscaping and other complementing structures such as seat wall, view deck, boating station, skating rink, activity area, anong others.

The construction of the project started in 2015.

The 1.2 kilometer-Esplanade 1 was opened last 2012 while Phase 2 was completed two years ago.

DOLE ‘endo’ campaign regularizes almost 2T in Region 6

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- A total of 1,901 private workers from Western Visayas have earned tenure due to the end contractualization (endo) campaign of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

DOLE 6 Regional Director Johnson Cañete said that 820 of these workers were regularized by virtue of the order of the regional director. The rest were voluntarily regularized by their employers. The figure covers the period from January to August this year.

During visits of their labor law compliant officers to a particular company, Cañete said they study the organizational structure including positions that can be contracted out and those that can be given tenure.

After the assessment, those with violations are given the chance to comply with the labor standards. If companies fail after a period of time, they will be called through a mandatory conference. Thereafter, an order will be issued wherein companies are bound to comply, he explained.

He added that legitimate contracting is allowed if workers do not perform core functions of the company such as security guards and janitorial services. “We look forward that voluntarily on their part, these companies will regularize,” he said.

He also stressed that DOLE does not penalize companies because they are the ones providing employment. Instead, they are only called to “comply with labor standards.”

Meantime, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that DOLE will intensify the campaign against contractualization as soon as they train enough labor law compliant officers (LLCOs). He revealed that DOLE has only more than 500 inspectors who are supposed to cover 900,000 business establishments nationwide.

President Rodrigo Duterte, he said, has already approved additional 200 LLCOs though he requested for 2,500.

He said that they have requested management association and labor groups to nominate volunteers who can be trained and deputized as labor inspectors to assist LLCOs.

Bello was here Thursday for the Charter Day job fair of Iloilo City.

28 entries vie for awards in reg’l invention contest

By Lilibeth A. French (JSC/laf/PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 25 (PIA6) -- Twenty-eight entries were chosen out of the 96 entries submitted by researchers, inventors and students across Western Visayas for the Regional Invention Contests and Exhibits (RICE) this year.

The entries will be judged and put on an exhibit on August 29 to 31 at SM City Iloilo.

Out of the six categories for this year’s RICE, DOST 6 has not received any entries in the two categories namely the Invention Category and Industrial Design Category.

Most of the finalist entries are under the Student Creative Research Category (Sibol Award) for High School totaling to 16 entries while the Student Creative Research Category (College) got two entries.

The Creative Research Category (Likha Award) and the Utility Model received 5 entries each.

DOST 6 Director Rowen Gelonga said RICE is one of the major activities for the Regional Science and Technology Week celebration in the region this year.

This biennial activity is conducted by DOST regional offices nationwide including Region 6 to support the implementation of the National Invention Contests and Exhibits (NICE) which is being organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), an attached agency of DOST.

RICE is not only a platform to promote and recognize the inventions/innovations and technologies of inventors but also serves as an avenue for DOST 6 to select the finalist in each category that will represent the region in the 2018 NICE.

Gelonga said NICE is usually held in Manila during the National Science and Technology Week.

Regional winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and certificates of recognition during the Closing and Awarding ceremonies of the RSTW 2017 on August 31.

Aside from RICE, the RSTW 2017 anchored on the theme “Science for the People” will also feature S&T exhibits, Tek-Tienda MSME Product Fair, Regional SETUP Summit, Technology Fora, Sci-Trip: Visit to S & T Centers and various project visits.

Business and investment still dynamic in Iloilo City

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The city Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) is confident that this highly urbanized city still has the confidence of the business community.

This after Iloilo City rated poorly in the 2017 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) released last August 16 during the 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit in Pasay City.

“As far as Iloilo (City) is concerned, all indicators showed that business is dynamic and investment is there. Our number of (business) registrations increase significantly,” said BPLO head Norman Tabud on Wednesday.

Iloilo City targets 2,000 new businesses in 2017. As of second quarter of this year, it has registered 1,500 new businesses, he said.

He added that Iloilo City even surpassed the standard on business registration mandated under Joint Memorandum Circular of the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Meantime, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) coordinator Jose Roni Peñalosa said that the city government is not losing hope. They just need to push further as he cited that Iloilo City targets to scale up its score in the economic dynamism indicator where the city is now ranked 17th among the 33 highly-urbanized city (HUC) entries. “We look at that as a goal, let us build on the momentum,” he stated.

The CMCI, from the previous three indicators, has added resiliency as another parameter this year. The others are government efficiency, infrastructure and economic dynamism.

While Iloilo City has moved three notches higher in the economic dynamism from last year’s 20th rank, it dropped in other indicators.

It only placed 32nd in government efficiency from its 2016 rank, which was third among 34 HUCs. Also it dropped to 27 from 26 in infrastructure. In resiliency, it was at 31st spot.

Among 33 HUCs that were included in the ranking, Iloilo City was at the 32nd spot from its 8th rank in 2016.

Peñalosa hoped that there will be a separate category for medium size cities and not pit highly-urbanized cities all together, to include those from the National Capital Region (NCR).

“Iloilo City should not be pitted against Metro Manila cities. While it is good to benchmark with them yet there has to be a category for medium-size cities,” he added.

University of San Agustin’s creative writing workshop turns 15

By Arlene Moscaya (CONTRIBUTED, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

For the 15th time, the San Agustin Writers Workshop was held last May 3-5 at University of San Agustin (USA) in Iloilo City.

“Sanag,” a Hiligaynon term meaning “brightness,” is a conjugated term for San Agustin—the patron saint of the first university in Western Visayas. Before its centenary celebration as a university, the Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute under the University Center for Research and Publications (UCRP) conceptualized and introduced its brainchild—the very first San Agustin Writers Workshop in 2003.

The workshop is called the SanAg Workshop.

An annual workshop was spearheaded under the project directorship of Jigger Latoza, former USA presidential chief of staff, together with award-winning writer-critics from USA, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines-Visayas, who served as workshop panelists.

15 years

This year, with the Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute, under the Center for Resources in Innovation and Development, the SanAg Workshop celebrated its 15th year.

The 10 fellows were: Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay (Jaro, Iloilo City); Leonard Francis Alcoran (Lapaz, Iloilo City); Allyn May Canja (Molo, Iloilo City); Jubelea Cheska Copias (Tobias Fornier, Antique); Jonell Gregorio (Altavas, Aklan); Nal Andrea Jalando-on (Koronadal City, South Cotabato); Diana Rose Lampasa (Tobias Fornier, Antique); Georgene Rhena Quilaton-Tambiga (San Carlos City, Negros Occidental); Angelika Rey (Pilar, Capiz); and Mary Grace Sanquilos (Tobias Fornier, Antique).

Their works were critiqued by the following panelists: Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature Hall of Famers Leoncio P. Deriada and Alice Tan-Gonzales, and Palanca Award-winning writers and National Book awardees Isidoro M. Cruz and John Iremil E. Teodoro. Teodoro has, for several years, served as the workshop director.

The Graduate School multipurpose room at the Rada Hall of the university welcomed these fellows and panelists in the morning of May 3.

A simple opening program marked the official start of the workshop, graced by the opening remarks from university archivist and vice president for administration and finance, Rev. Fr. Arnel Dizon, OSA.

Father of Western Visayan Literature

Deriada, known as the Father of Western Visayan Literature, gave a lecture on poetry writing. He cited popular works deemed by the majority as good poetry but which actually were not. He elucidated on what good poetry was, citing works written by Sara Teasdale, Sarah Cleghorn and Teodoro.

The fellows had a taste of another Palanca Hall of Famer’s lecture on fiction writing, given by Tan-Gonzales. She said that, in the process of writing a story, one of the best advice she could share was: “Let your first sentence be the second most important. Let your last sentence be the most important.”

After the lectures, the critiquing came. Melchor Cichon, an alumnus of the SanAg Workshop, had been invited as guest panelist for works written in Akeanon.

Another highlight during the closing program was the book launch of “Tingog Nanay,” a collection of poetry edited by SanAg Workshop alumna, Karla Quimsing.

Also an alumna of USA, Quimsing (AB English, 2003) is pursuing her Master in Literature at University of San Carlos, and has taught English and literature subjects at St. Theresa’s College-Cebu and University of the Philippines-Cebu.

Indeed, the SanAg Workshop, like the university’s patron St. Augustine, who was a prolific writer, has become a venue for enlightenment not only to those lured by the creative attraction of the literary realm, but also to established writers who keep the passion burning, always rekindling their love for the written word.

Iloilo’s eclectic expressions

By Bernard L. Supetran

ASK any jaded traveler on his ideal destination and, chances are, he’ll tell you he loves the place with the perfect blend of the old and the new facets of a provincial urban center.

Such is the case of Iloilo City, which is an eclectic mix of old world charm and a bustling metropolis living side by side.

Widely known for the sought-after world-famous Dinagyang Festival, it first became a city during the Spanish era and was bestowed by Queen Regent Maria Cristina the title “La Muy Leal Y Noble Ciudad” (The Most Loyal and Noble City).

It was later called “Queen Regent’s City in the South” because of its prominent place in the political, economic and religious landscape during the colonial era.

A journey to Iloilo’s checkered past begins with Jaro, the heritage and upscale district of the city, then and now. In this quintessential village proudly stand the colonial-era ancestral homes, which have survived the ravages of time, the destruction of World War 2 and the neglect of the new generation of owners.

A few notable mansions remain resplendent and serve as cultural gems, not just of the district, but the whole of Iloilo province, as well. Among these are Casa Mariquit, the mansion-turned-museum of former Philippine Vice President Fernando Lopez; and the Magdalena Jalandoni mansion, which now hosts the Kasanag Well-Being Center that offers traditional Ilonggo hilot massage.

Another noteworthy mansion is the stately Nelly Garden, which is said to be Iloilo’s “Queen of Heritage Houses”, which was built in 1928 and patterned after the Beaux Art of French chateaus. The former home of philanthropist and statesman Don Vicente Lopez and his wife Doña Elena Hofileña, this used to be the watering hole of local gentry for social events during the colonial days.

Others have become “living museums” inhabited by new owners, while others have undergone adaptive reuse, such as restaurants, convenience stores, offices and shops, to give them a new lease on life.

An iconic structure in the plaza is the Cathedral of the Our Lady of Purification, the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro. This church, where orator-hero Graciano Lopez Jaena was baptized, is of special note as its postcard-pretty belfry is located across the street.

Meanwhile, Calle Real or J.M. Basa Saint, the downtown area which hosted shop houses of Chinese traders and ilustrado houses underwent urban renewal to bring back its glory days. Aside from being eye candy with their spruced-up facades, guests can actually enter the old buildings and marvel at its well-preserved conditions, and savor the good old-style food at the homegrown restaurants.

On the other side of the city is the quaint Molo district, another heritage village, which has managed to preserve its soul despite urbanization. Commonly known for the tasty pansit molo ground pork broth, the area’s core is the Gothic-style Church of Saint Anne and boasts of an all-female saints standing on each pillar. Built in 1831, it is said that Dr. Jose Rizal made a pit stop here to pray and admired its ornate religious art.

The hallowed walls of this majestic church will reverberate with music as the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the country’s oldest orchestra, performs Filipino and Western classics on August 25 as part of Iloilo’s 80th City Charter Day observance.

A stone’s throw away is the Camiña Balay nga Bato, the 1865 Avanceña House, which is now a one-stop curio shop, sinamay and hablon weaving room, café and a living museum where guests can interact with the local folks.

In the nooks and crannies of the city are other equally intriguing antediluvian structures in La Paz and Arevalo, which have interesting tales to tell and native delicacies to offer.

But the Queen’s City as it is, Iloilo isn’t frozen somewhere in time. It is, in fact, a fast-growing metropolis evident in its changing skyline propelled by the opening of the new international airport in Cabatuan town in 2009.

In the early 1990s, the local government adopted the short-lived battle cry “Think Big, Think Iloilo”, which aims to make it a super-city in the country’s south. Two decades later, this gung-ho attitude is paying dividends, as the city is among the preferred locations for business and leisure, not only in Western Visayas, but by the big players in the industry.

Its modern face is evident in the Iloilo Business Park, a master-planned community project of Megaworld in the old airport site in Mandurriao. The enclave is teeming with malls, star-rated hotels, restaurants, high-rise office buildings, condominiums, and recreational and tourism related establishments.

At the core of this expansive property is the state-of-the-art Iloilo City Convention Center, which aims to make the city a new hub for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) on a par with the country’s best.

This new spanking events place will play host to a gala concert of the Manila Symphony Orchestra on August 26 and the national convention of the prestigious Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines this October, which will gather thousands of the country’s domestic tourism frontliners.

Another source of the Ilonggo’s pride of place nowadays is the Iloilo River Esplanade, a 1.2-kilometer landscaped path for walking, biking, jogging and open-air recreational activities. Regarded as one of the country’s most stunning baywalks, the Esplanade is anchored on the successful revival of the once-polluted river, which is a showcase of the people’s will to protect the environment with its mangrove reforestation at the river banks.

While shuttling between the old and modern facets of Iloilo, feast on local cuisine, such as batchoy, chicken inasal, binakol, pansit molo and laswa cooked the traditional and contemporary way, in the numerous stand-alone and mall-based dining outlets.

If you can’t have enough of the city’s eclectic expressions, the bigger world of Iloilo province and Panay Island, and everything in between, are yours for the taking.

Iloilo now has hospital waste treatment center

By Tara Yap

Iloilo City— A treatment facility to segregate hospital waste has opened in this city.

“We all know that all wastes have bacteria and viruses and if these are not killed, it will cause harm and bring diseases. So this is another milestone for Iloilo City because we are able to put up this kind of facility,” said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog during the opening of the facility on August 15 inside the Calajunan Engineered Sanitary Landfill.

The city government tapped Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists, Inc. (PASS Inc.) to build the facility.

Iloilo City has several private and government hospitals.

The opening of the facility is a means of complying with the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act (R.A. 6969).

Engr. Jolito Pogoy, PASS Inc. chief executive officer, said all hospital wastes will be collected and brought to the treatment facility in a refrigerated van.

Mobile registration eyes far-flung villages, relocation sites

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The city civil registry office is eyeing the continuation of its mobile registration project, this time to be held in Iloilo City’s far-flung villages and relocation sites.

The mobile registration project is still ongoing at the gymnasium of this city’s Jaro districton Friday,

The project has already assisted around 500 clients since it started in July in Arevalo.

Over the weekend, the team will move to Robinsons Place and the last schedule will be on August 24 in Mandurriao district.

They answer inquiries on birth, marriage and death records. Corrections on clerical errors of birth records are also accommodated as long as it is within the ambit of the local civil registrar, said city civil registrar, Romeo Caesar Manikan Jr.

The services are free for qualified indigents, otherwise they have to pay as mandated by the law.

Manikan emphasized that after the August 24 activity, they hope to bring the registration project to remote areas in the city least once a month.

“We wanted to bring this project of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog closer to the people,” he cited.

He noted that a lot of children, especially those delivered at homes, have no birth records. There are even hospitals, which due to lack of staff, have failed to register children delivered in their birth facility.

Manikan said that around 60 to 70 percent of late birth registrants entertained by his office were home deliveries.

“You have to register the child immediately after birth as mandated under the United Nations Convention on the rights of a child,” he stressed. In the case of home birth, the attendant or parents may decide who will process the registration of the child.

A child registered more than 31 days after birth is considered late registrant.

On the other hand, the civil registry hoped to complete the computerization of his office in 2018. The computerization is now “on process,” he said.

He said that the computerization initiative would make his office more “efficient” and records would "be more secured". The physical handling of documents, which is a factor in wear and tear, will be limited. There will be more transparency, he added.

The computerization entails a budget of around PHP5 to PHP7 million.

He added they also need storage to keep hard copies of documents. There are still government agencies, especially courts, which rely on original documents, he said.

”These are records that are perpetual in nature and could not be disposed,” he said.

City residents benefit from PRO-6 medical-dental mission

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- Selected residents of Barangay Veterans Village in City Proper district of Iloilo City on Friday availed of services extended by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) as the latter celebrates its 116th Police Service Anniversary.

Senior Superintendent Marissa Billote, chief of the PRO6 regional health service, said that they have been tasked by Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne R. Binag to extend the medical-dental services to the community.

While the mission is in line with their service anniversary, she also looked forward to conduct similar activity in other surrounding barangays of the camp in the future.

The one-day mission was held in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, Veteran’s Village Barangay Captain John Eric T. David said that the activity is one venue for his constituents to become closer to the PNP and will “open” the way for them to communicate with the law enforcement agency.

He said that through their continuous interaction, his residents could reciprocate them by providing information in support to the programs of the PNP.

It was the second time that his barangay has availed of the medical-dental mission under his term.

Veterans Village is the host barangay of the PRO-6 Camp Martin Delgado. The medical-dental mission pre-identified 150 recipients composed of 30 pedia, 70 adults and 50 for dental service.

Iloilo City hosts International Youth Day in Visayas

By Cindy Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- This city played host to this year's celebration of the International Youth Day in Visayas themed "Youth as Dutybearers of Peace."

Around 500 participants from different youth organizations in Visayas gathered Saturday in a forum aimed to discuss the current issues being faced by the sector and plans that highlights their role towards sustainable development.

National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner for Visayas Rhea Penaflor, in an interview, stressed the important role of the youth as the future leaders of the country.

She presented the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2017-2022, which is yet to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte to become an executive order.

She disclosed that the plan covers nine areas where youth can participate based on the assessment study they conducted. It included education, health, economic empowerment,security peace building, social equity and inclusion, environment, among others.

Youth organizations are urged to anchor their plans on the PYDP as it is also provided with strategies that could guide them attain their plans, Penaflor added.

In his speech, meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog pointed out the "value" of the youth who are the hope of the country.

With the different issues affecting the youth like pre-marital sex, stealing and use of hard drugs, Mabilog urged the youth to be in the forefront of the campaign against the arising problems of the youth.

"If our moral values are intact and we influence each to become responsible people, then our future guarantees us with a society that is disciplined, progressive and where everbody could live in harmony," he said.

The celebration of International day kicked off Friday through the human "PEACE" formation at Institute of Science and Technology University in this city participated by around 1,500 youth participants.

"It was very sucessful and it only means that our youth are willing to join our advocacy for peace," Penaflor said.

A street dance and a mini concert was also conducted Saturday afternoon that provided venue for the youth to showcase their talents.

Free computer training benefits close to 10,000 from W. Visayas

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- Close to 10,000 Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents have availed of the free computer training by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here.

In data gathered from OWWA, a total of 9,809 individuals have availed of the Tulay (Bridge) Project since it was launched in this city in April 2008. It is being supported by the Microsoft Philippines under its Unlimited Potential-Community Technology Skills Program.

The free training aimed to equip returning OFWs, their relatives and those from the informal sector with computer skills to help them find better employment opportunities. It also eyed to decrease the incidence of family break up due to absentee parenting, hence strengthen their ties through the use of internet facilities.

Conie H. Binarao of the OWWA program services division said that those interested to avail of the program can just proceed to their office, submit requirements and choose their schedule depending on their preferred module.

The modules available include computer fundamentals I that run for 10 days; computer fundamentals II that cover word processing fundamentals, presentation fundamentals, internet and world wide web fundamentals (15 days); spreadsheet fundamentals (four to five days); digital media fundamentals (four to five days) and Learn and Earn: Using Technology Wisely.

Binarao said that a night class from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. was also made available to accommodate more interested learners.

LinGap sa Masa benefits 4,436 indigent patients from W. Visayas

By Cindy Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- More indigent patients from Western Visayas benefited from President Rodrigo Duterte's "Libreng Gamot sa Masa (LinGap sa Masa)" program.

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 showed that as of July 31, money disbursed came to a total of PHP27.1 million out of its PHP138 million fund for free medicines.

DSWD-6 information officer May Castillo, in an interview on Wednesday, said the PHP27.1 million helped aid the purchase of medicines of 4, 436 patients from the different parts of the region.

She said that 3, 539 of these patients fall under the family head and other needy adult (FHONA) client category of the program. DSWD-6 has spent PHP19.4 million for their medicines.

Also, 788 senior citizens have availed of the free medicines with a total cost of PHP5.8 million; 22 women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDC) with total cost of medicines of PHP123,788 and 87 persons with disabilities with total cost of medicines of PHP1.7 million.

Castillo said that they have not received requests from indigents who fall within the children in need of special protection (CNSP) and youth in need of special protection (YNSP) categories.

With the PHP27.1 million expenditure as of July 31, the department has still around PHP110.9 million fund to be spent for the free medicines of patients until end of the year.

To expand the utilization of the funds,DSWD-6 recently sought the expansion of the program coverage to three more hospitals: Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan; Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, Capiz; and Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

Castillo said that they are still working on a partnership with these provincial hospitals.

DSWD-6 started to implement the President's LinGap sa Masa program March this year in partnership with the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurrriao, Iloilo City.

Qualified as beneficiaries are families or individuals who are indigent, vulnerable or disadvantaged; those who are in crisis situations based on the assessment of social workers; those in the formal sector and poor based on the Listahanan of DSWD; government employees and contract of service workers and soldiers and police who were wounded in the line of duty.

Patients have to submit a doctor’s prescription, certificate of indigency and valid identification card.

Eligible patients will be issued a DSWD LinGap sa Masa Guarantee Letter (GL) indicating the needed amount of medicines. It will be presented to the pharmacy of the hospital to get fre medicines.

ASEAN landmark shines in Iloilo City

By Perla Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 8 -- A six-foot lantern decked with anahaw leaves and sampaguita flowers shone brightly in front of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) in Mandurriao district of this city on Tuesday night joining 49 other selected sites in the Philippines for the simultaneous lighting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) landmarks.

In his message prior the switch-on of the landmark, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog underscored the significance of the event, which he said will further raise people’s awareness about the regional grouping and “the huge benefits to be derived from the harmonious relationship between member countries in the ASEAN region.”

“ASEAN is very important because it has paved ways for the socio-economic development of our country and the realization of our collective visions for a secure future and the betterment of our people,” he said.

He added that being part of ASEAN, the Philippines market “has opened more widely to regional and international trade.”

“Our country has since become an attractive place for investors to locate their factories and export to the rest of the region. Some of these investors have found their way to Iloilo City and parts of Western Visayas,” he said.

The landmark lighting was among the activities lined up to mark the historical milestone of the ASEAN. Fifty historic landmarks were illuminted in areas that served as venues for the regional bloc's meetings and activities or as hosts of ASEAN centers and institutions.

Iloilo City hosted the 22nd Senior Officials Meetings for the Asean-Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council and 17th ASCC Meeting on March 6-9 and the 3rd Asean Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Good Regulatory Practice Network Meeting on March 14-15.

The regional grouping was established through the signing of the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok, Thailand on August 8, 1967 by founding fathers Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Other ASEAN members are Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

It was created to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership.

Prior the switch-on, the city government also recognized individuals who volunteered during this city’s hosting of ASEAN meetings.

The activity culminated with the performance of Dinagyang Festival’s Tribu Salognon.

Also attending the activity were assistant regional director Maria Calpiza Sardua of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Western Visayas, Iloilo City DILG director Atty. Ferdinand Panes, representatives of various national government agencies and employees of the Iloilo City govenment.

PH Sepak Takraw team finishes SEAG training in Iloilo City

By Maricyn De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, Aug 7 -- The Philippine Sepak Takraw team is leaving this city on Tuesday as it completed its almost two months of training here for Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) starting this August 16 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Iloilo City Hall officials led by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog gave their best wishes to the team, whose members and coaching staff made its appearance after Monday's flag-raising ceremony.

In an interview, Coach Hector Mamarion thanked the local governments of Iloilo city and province headed by Mabilog and Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., respectively, for adopting the team and supporting its training.

Mamarion said the team was supposedly set to train in Dipolog City; however, the training was cancelled after the Marawi City war broke out and the whole of Mindanao was placed under Martial Law.

Mamarion said the training facilities and the accommodation provided to them helped a lot in the conditioning of athletes. Apparently, the national team trains outside of Metro Manila to have the athletes focus on their training.

Mamarion said the team will participate in five events - Regu, Team Doubles and Doubles for the Men’s team, and Regu and Double’s for the Women’s team.

The national team is also joining two Chinlone events. Chinlone is a new to Pinoy Sepak Takraw players that the team trained in Myanmar to master the sport. Chinlone is Myanmar’s national sport.

Mamarion said the team targets to bring home at least five medals - two gold, one silver and one bronze.

The team composed of 12 men and eight women underwent more than one and a half month rigorous training here.

“We are thankful because Iloilo City adopted us,” said Mamarion.

Mamarion is an Ilonggo who hails from Sta. Barbara town, Iloilo. He joined the national team after he graduated college at Central Philippine University in 1996. He was a sepak takraw varsity in high school and college.

Mamarion is looking forward to the prospects of Sepak Takraw in Iloilo, and cited the increasing number of towns that have Sepak Takraw program.

“Nakita ko man na madamu sa mga Ilonggo nga mga kabataan ang mayo sa takraw. Sa PRISAA, CPU champion sa National PRISAA, baskug kag may potential. Damu na towns na naga-takraw na gid like Alimodian, Sta. Barbara kag Banate (There are many Ilonggo youth who are good in sepak takraw; the CPU team won in the National PRISAA, a strong team and has a potential. There are many towns that have sepak takraw like Alimodian, Sta. Barbara and Banate),” he said.

Corporate rice farming introduced in Iloilo

By Tara Yap

Iloilo City — To boost local rice production, corporate rice farming has been introduced in Iloilo.

“This is the first of its kind in the country,” said Remelyn Recoter, Department of Agriculture (DA) regional director.

Ayala Land, Inc. and Dingle Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Dingle MPC) signed a partnership for the pilot program of corporate rice farming.

Under the agreement, the cooperative will supply the rice for all Ayala-owned businesses in the city and the province of Iloilo.

This includes Seda Hotel Iloilo and all restaurants at nearby Atria Park District. Dingle MPC is also the rice provider for the resort in Sicogon Island in northern Iloilo.

Century-old building in Iloilo City gets timely facelift

(Manila Standard)

THE old Commission on Audit (COA) Building in Iloilo City recently got the full preservation treatment, courtesy of a DOST-FPRDI wood ID team which identified wooden materials that can be used to restore the building, in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The project identified the tree species used in the structural wooden structures and movable woodcrafts in the Old COA building.

“To come up with a feasible restoration plan, NHCP needs to know the type of materials that make up the wooden structures,” explained team Leader Dr. Ramiro P. Escobin. “One hundred thirty items consisting of 14 species were identified by the DOST-FPRDI Team with relatively high accuracy using the traditional, practical and standard methods in wood structure identification,” he added.

The NHCP is reviving the historic building, which used to be a symbol of progressive commerce in Iloilo. The edifice is now part of a national heritage zone.

OWWA enhances services for OFWs, dependents

By Perla G. Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- Several services of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have been strengthened to respond to the need of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their qualified dependents.

These services cover employment facilitation and capacity building involving the provision of educational and training and scholarship program.

In an interview Wednesday, OWWA-6 officer-in-charge (OIC) for program services division (PSD) Conie H. Binarao said that the Seafarers’ Upgrading Program (SUP) can still be availed by sea-based workers even if they have ended their contract as the validity of their OWWA membership has been extended for six months after expiration.

The program is open to seafarers who have rendered three payments of OWWA membership. One payment is valid for two years regardless of the duration of their employment contract, change in job order and change of employer.

OWWA pays up to PHP7,500 for every course or training. As of the half semester of this year, OWWA has already spent PHP4.549 million for the training of 961 seafarers.

Also, scholarship programs have been strengthened to accommodate more dependents of OFWs, she said.

Starting June this year, OWWA has raised to 2,500 from 1,250 the national slots for the OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (ODSP).

Next year, 25 dependents from each of the provinces of Western Visayas and Negros Occidental will be accommodated. They are composed of 13 incoming first year college and 12 currently enrolled from second to fifth year.

ODSP is open to OFWs whose income will not exceed US0 from the previous US0. It has no qualifying examination and the recipient must not have a failing grade. The scholar receives PHP20,000 per year or PHP10,000 in one semester.

Moreover, OWWA also increased the national slots for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) from 200 to 1,000.

This year, 36 scholars in Western Visayas, taken in on a first come, first served basis, are enrolled in second year to fifth year college. They are required, however, to have a grade of 85 in all subjects with a full load as required in their course prospectus.

Meantime, they are currently sorting application forms of incoming first year college students who expressed their interest to take the qualifying exam that will be given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) this year.

EDSP scholars receive PHP60,000 annually or PHP30,000 per semester.

In addition, children or spouses of deceased OFWs also get assistance under the education and livelihood assistance program (ELAP). To date, there are 262 dependents who are enrolled in various grade level in Western Visayas.

Children-beneficiaries enrolled in elementary schools receive PHP5,000 per year; PHP8,000 for those enrolled on secondary and PHP10,000 or PHP5,000 per semester in college.

Spouses are also given a livelihood assistance amounting to PHP15,000. The one-time assistance now benefits 36 recipients.

While a menu has been provided for them to choose the kind of project they should engage in, still they opted for whatever is applicable within their area. Among their livelihood projects are livestock-raising, sell of farm implements, sari-sari store and fishing equipment, among others.

DA inks MOA with Ayala for rice supply

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, Aug.2 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Ayala Corporation on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in this city to be partners in the supply of rice.

DA Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Francisco Vellano Jr. told the media that the agreement will allow rice farmers to directly sell their produce to the groups of the Ayala company.

"This will maximize the income of our farmers," Vellano said.

Initially, Vellano said that Rice Farmers Cooperative in Dingle, Iloilo was accredited by Ayala's Seda Hotel in this city to supply their needed rice.

Vellano said that the agreement does not state the exact date if until when the farmers will supply rice to Ayala.

Thus, he encouraged rice farmers in Dingle, Iloilo to maintain the good quality of rice that they are going to supply to Seda Hotel so they can sell their produce for a long term.

DA-6 regional director Remelyn Recoter said that they have yet to talk about the volume of rice that the farmers’ cooperative will supply to SEDA.

Recoter encouraged other farmer cooperatives in the region to strengthen their group and produce good quality of rice so they will also be chosen as among the suppliers of rice to companies of the Ayala group.

336 Iloilo students train as E-Cadets

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

ILOILO CITY, August 1 (PIA6) --- Over 336 students from different colleges and universities recently converged at the University of Iloilo to participate in the UREKA E-Cadet Program to learn more about e-commerce, digital marketing, and personal branding.

James Ileto, UREKA executive director, said that the E-Cadet Program, brought by UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and its consortium partners, is the first of its kind e-commerce training for college students, which aims to teach them the dynamics of setting up an online business.

“We’re enabling students with the UREKA e-commerce platform so they can help MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) in the region,” he said.

The program involves onboarding and converting traditional entrepreneurs from the "brick and mortar" business model to "brick to click", via a complete and one-stop online shop setup.

“We would like to have the students to have the e-commerce platform readily available as a tool for them to help activate MSMEs,” he said.

The program also covers how to recruit SMEs, and the process of setting them up online on a full-serviced platform, complete with a payment gateway and a logistics partner.

He said that this initiative not only supports the Department of Trade and Industry’s mandate to deliver 100,000 SMEs to e-Commerce by year 2020, but also to help students have a viable source of income in the near future.

“If we teach them how to enable the MSMEs or even their own business hopefully this will help spread the e-commerce advocacy faster,” he said.

He said that UREKA has also initiated a competition to further motivate the students in establishing their businesses online.

“What we’ll do is we made a contest for them, so the students with the most number of activations by the end of December will have a chance to win P100,000, second place is P50,000, and third place is P25,000,” he explained.

He added that they will be conducting the same competition for the MSMEs.

Retrieved from "http://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Iloilo_City_News_August_2017&oldid=1066813"