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==City excited for 5-star hotel==
*Source: http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2015/01/31/city-excited-for-5-star-hotel/
*Saturday, January 31, 2015
:By ROMA GONZALES (PN)
 
ILOILO City — A five-star hotel that a Singaporean company will build along Iloilo Esplanade II is one of the most-awaited infrastructure projects here.
The city government is coordinating with the Commission on Audit (COA) in assessing the price of the property where the hotel will rise.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog disclosed that the Singaporean company wants to buy the property instead of leasing it.
The city government wants to sell the property at P10,000 to P15,000 per square meter.
“I’m hopeful that COA will approve the price so we could proceed with the sale and [the company] could proceed with the project,” said Mabilog.
In a presentation during the recent Iloilo River Development Council meeting, the company’s Henry Teo said the 3,800-square meter property will mainly hold a three-storey hotel of international standards.
Kwan Yu Beng, meanwhile, said they aim to increase local employment and tourism revenues and instill appreciation of the Iloilo River.
The investors hope to make the area a “food-gathering point for local and international customers.”
Other enterprises that may be put up in the area are spas, clinics for minor reconstruction surgeries and retail warehouses.
“I think they are serious and they are bona fide. They have the capacity,” said Mabilog. “I think [their project] could boost the local tourism.”
Investing almost a billion pesos for the project, the foreign property development company promised to integrate nature with architecture.
It said the area will have a 10-meter setback from the Iloilo River.
Yu Beng said they chose Iloilo City because of its “business potential” and the residents’ ability to speak English.
==Barangay-based groups to plant trees in the hinterlands==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/911422521843/barangay-based-groups-to-plant-trees-in-the-hinterlands
*Friday, January 30, 2015
: (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)
 
ILOILO CITY, Jan. 30 (PIA6) —The areas to be planted for the National Greening Program (NGP) are becoming more remote as the years roll on.
“Hence, these areas are also becoming difficult to reach and mobilization of people is getting difficult,” Danilo Lorilla, NGP coordinator said.
This concern is being addressed, Lorilla said, by partnering with the barangays and the community-based people’s organizations in these far-flung areas.
“These site-based organizations are contracted for seedlings production,” Lorilla added.
He further said that this is where the important role of the local government units, especially in the barangay level is recognized to be indispensable.
He also cited the extra efforts exerted by the forest extension officers and field officers in stepping up accomplishments for the NGP.
This year the Department of Environment and Natural Resources targets to cover  more that 10,000 hectares, with forest and fruit trees species. 
The agency reported that for 2014, it has planted 12,108 hectares  with various fruit trees species, forest trees as well as mangroves along coastal areas in the region.
“This is about 100.02 accomplishment fro the region, making us among the top performers in the NGP,” DENR-6 Director Jim Sampulna said in a press release.
==Another international summit set in Iloilo City==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2015/01/29/another-international-summit-set-iloilo-city-389135
*Thursday, January 29, 2015
: (LCP)
 
AFTER hosting the 1st International River Summit in 2012, Iloilo City will host another international event to be participated by 53 countries in the world.
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog announced the city hosting of the 2015 Urban Environmental Accord (UEA) Summit slated on September 15-17, closely on the heels of the city hosting of two important Ministerial Meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
Mabilog said the UEA Summit will be participated by some 200 cities all over the world. They will encourage environmental protection and preservation of urban centers.
The last summit was held in Texas, United States of America in 2013.
The Apec meetings in Iloilo, on the other hand, will be participated by more than 1,000 delegates from 21 countries in Asia. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) meeting was scheduled on September 21-25, while the Food Security and Blue Economy was set on September 28.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) is in-charge of preparations for the UEA Summit in 2015 as a dry run for the Apec hosting.
UEA Secretariat officers In-Sik Jung and Seung Ho Seo earlier paid a courtesy visit to Mabilog to cement the city hosting of the events.
Iloilo City is a signatory to UEA and Mabilog was elected member to the UEA executive board, the only Filipino mayor serving such position.
Mabilog said the environmental summit will boost the city's growing potential as ideal convention destination, and it will attract tourists and prospective investors to the metropolis.
Iloilo City will share its own environmental protection programs and will showcase successful initiatives such as the Iloilo River, wetland and bird sanctuary, and cultural heritage.
==3 WV HEIs are top performing schools==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2421422411403/3-wv-heis-are-top-performing-schools
*Wednesday, January 28, 2015
:(JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
 
ILOILO CITY, January 28 (PIA) --- Three higher education institutions (HEIs) from Western Visayas are among the top ten performing schools in the country as demonstrated in the result of the November 2014 Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Nursing.
In a media release, Dr. Rex Casiple, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-6 Chief Program Education Specialist, said that St. Paul University Iloilo, Central Philippine University, and University of San Agustin, all from Iloilo City, were included in the top 10 performing schools in the national level with 50 or more examinees and at least 80 percent passing percentage.
St. Paul University Iloilo ranked number one with 100 percent passing percentage; Central Philippine University ranked eighth with 92.91 passing percentage; while University of San Agustin ranked tenth with 92.26 passing percentage.
A total of 19 nursing schools in Western Visayas out of 24, or 79 percent, performed high or with a passing percentage higher than that of the national level.
Region 6 also produced 1,716 passers out of 2,449 takers, or 70 percent passing percentage, which is higher than the national passing percentage and likewise higher than the December 2013 regional passing percentage of 42.56 percent.
Casiple said that nine successful examinees from HEIs in Western Visayas Region also garnered the 10 highest places in the national level.
He said that of these successful examinees, two are graduates of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (rank no. 4 and rank no. 7), one is a graduate of St. Paul University-Iloilo (rank no. 6), one from Riverside College (rank no. 6), three are from Central Philippine University (rank no. 6 and two rank no. 10), and two are from the University of San Agustin (rank no. 9 and rank no. 10).
A total of 983 repeaters took the said examination while 1,466 were first takers. The repeaters’ passing percentage was 49.2 percent, while the first takers passing percentage was 84 percent.
Other top performing nursing schools from the region but were not included in the top 10 were University of St. La Salle with 90.48 passing percentage and Aklan State University with 82.35 passing percentage.
==Iloilo City to host global environmental summit==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2421422344053/iloilo-city-to-host-global-environmental-summit
*Tuesday, January 27, 2015
: (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
ILOILO CITY, January 27 (PIA) --- Around 300 delegates from all over the world are expected to convene in the 2015 Urban Environmental Accords (UEA) Summit to be hosted by Iloilo City on September 15-17.
In a media release, City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the UEA Summit with the theme “Green City, Livable City” will help boost the city’s growing potentials as an ideal convention destination.
He said the big event will also attract more tourists and prospective investors to this southern city.
He said the city will share its own environmental protection programs and will showcase successful initiatives such as the Iloilo River, wetland and bird sanctuary, and cultural heritage.
Iloilo City is a signatory to UEA composed of 158 cities in 53 countries.
Mabilog was elected member to the UEA executive board, the only Filipino mayor serving such position.
Meanwhile, the UEA Secretariat said the summit will be great opportunity to present their respective city’s environmental efforts and best practices so it is calling its members to take part.
Key projects of the UEA Secretariat will be presented including Urban Environmental Evaluation Index (co-developed by UNEP), GHG Projection & Diagnostics Program (GPD), Global Low Carbon Green City, and Expanded PoA to be implemented in Iloilo City.
These sessions will be full of productive information and expertise, as speakers and panelist for each session will be secured by each organization.
The following are the potential organizations and sectors for the summit: (1) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines – clean water resources, (2) GIZ and Clean Air Asia – Air Quality Management, and (3) International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) – resilient building.
The conference is in collaboration and support with the Philippine national government and international organizations in environmental sector.
==Dinagyang lands on pages of New York Times==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2421422249686/dinagyang-lands-on-pages-of-new-york-times
*Monday, January 26, 2015
: (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
ILOILO CITY, January 26 (PIA) --- Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival proves to be a world-class event as it landed on the pages of The New York Times for its Jan. 22 edition.
In a media release, City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the NY Times feature showcased Iloilo City to the rest of the world.
He hoped the promotion will attract more tourists and investors to the metropolis.
The Dinagyang feature written by Matt Beardmore was titled “Costumes Are in the Mix at Philippine Festival”. 
Beardmore wrote that the Dinagyang Festival draws an estimated crowd of a million people to the streets of Iloilo City in the Philippines each year, and organizers say they hope the addition of the Philippine Festival Costume Expo will bring even more attention to the event.
The article featured an interview with city tourism officer Benito Jimena who wrote in an email.
In the feature, Jimena said the festival has evolved from an ordinary religious celebration in honor of the Child Jesus to something that is now enjoyed by the locals and visitors because of its spectacle and magnificent dance choreography.
Dinagyang events began in November and continue through mid-February, with the main event taking place the fourth weekend of January.
The feature said that the public was able to view costumes from at least 17 major festivals from across the Philippines in the lobby of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Jimena said the project is an exhibition of the facets of the festival costume, showcasing tradition and the local way of life.
“Attire defines not only the history of the place but also the preferences of people – what they like to do, what they believe in, what they want to eat, what they enjoy, and what makes them happy and proud!”, said Jimena.
==Capitol food fest showcases Ilonggo culinary products==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2421422179686/capitol-food-fest-showcases-ilonggo-culinary-products
*Sunday, January 25, 2015
: (JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)
ILOILO CITY, Jan. 25 (PIA6) --- The Iloilo Capitol Food Fest showcased the best culinary products from the different towns in the province this year.
The food festival which opened Thursday has become one of the highlights of the annual Dinagyang Festival for the past 12 years.
In a media interview, Provincial Tourism Officer Gilbert Marin said around 59 food stalls were put up at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol car park to serve the best culinary products in the province.
“The food stalls are selling pantat or catfish from Zarraga, crabs from Banate, tinuom or chicken cooked in coconut milk from Cabatuan, and other seafood delicacies from Northern Iloilo,” he said.
He said that the hosting of the food fest has been the contribution of the province to the city during the Dinagyang Festival.
He said that it has been a tradition of the province to provide an opportunity for Dinagyang revelers to taste the best of Ilonggo cuisine through the food festival.
“The food fest is a crowded event yet the area is secured as the security guards are roving the site 24 hours,” he said.
The Iloilo Provincial Capitol also served as venue for Judging Area No.2 for the Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition held on Jan. 24 and the Dinagyang Ati-Ati Tribe competition on Jan. 25.
==1,000 sacks rice seeds for farmers==
*Source: http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2015/01/24/1000-sacks-rice-seeds-for-farmers/
*Saturday, January 24, 2015
:By Jezza A. Nepomoceno (Capitol News/PN)
ILOILO – One thousand sacks of certified rice seeds will be distributed to farmers here before the first planting season this year.
The release will continue after Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. approved the purchase of P1.36-million certified rice seeds from the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Barangay Hamungaya, Jaro, Iloilo City.
The governor also agreed to purchase 20 sacks of registered rice seeds worth 34,000 which will be used as community seed bank, a method used to provide seed security and conserve agro-biodiversity.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo, a sack of certified rice seeds is good for one hectare.
“A farmer will get one sack for one hectare. If he has more than a hectare, he will most likely be prioritized,” he said.
Toledo revealed that these certified rice seeds should have been bought last year but due the El Nińo forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, it was postponed.
In a related development, the Provincial Agriculture’s Office reported that they are close to finishing the distribution of 14,768 sacks of certified rice seeds from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) this month.
IFAD aims to help farmers recover from super typhoon “Yolanda” and it is implemented through the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas.
The Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY), also under DA, has provided the province with 17,229 bags of fertilizers for rice, corn, high value crops and certified rice seeds.
The program also helped bought 926 sets of farm tools, seven wheel tractors and funded the Cash for Work for 379 farmers in Northern Iloilo.
==DOT-6 launches new tourism promo campaign==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=728381
*Friday, January 23, 2015
:(PNA), LAP/AJP/DOT6-PR/VLO
ILOILO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 tourism radio program “Tourism Academy On Air” will celebrate its first anniversary on February 2.
The radio program was established to communicate and provide information to local audiences/listeners in order to develop public awareness about tourism and its impact on Western Visayas community.
In line with its anniversary and to further intensify the “Experience Western Visayas First” tourism campaign, DOT-6, through its radio program, is launching its newest tourism promotion “Experience Western Visayas First Rehiyon ko, Ipabugal ko! (Experience Western Visayas First, My Region, I will take pride!)”. The said promotion aims to encourage and inspire Western Visayans to get involved in DOT’s campaign by having a self-portrait or group photograph (selfie or groupie) in tourism destinations in Western Visayas.
“Those who want to join the contest may have their photos taken while experiencing the various activities, products and services of the different provinces and two cities of Region 6. This competition is a way to make the locals and their visitors’ active participants in promoting Western Visayas. Through their photos, both local and international tourists can immediately see the reason why it is a must to experience Western Visayas first”, DOT-6 Regional Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas said.
Photos taken through “selfies” and “groupies” shall be sent through private message to DOT-6 Facebook account: DOT Region VI for proper screening. Those photos which will pass the screening will be posted on the “EWVF Rehiyon ko Ipabugal Ko!” album. Entries with most number of likes will receive special tokens or exclusive items from DOT-6. Five (5) winners will be announced monthly starting February 1.
“We encourage everyone to join in this fun-filled competition. We believe that there are no better promoters of Western Visayas than its own residents and their satisfied visitors,” Director Catalbas said.
==Megaworld to hold grand fireworks display at Iloilo Business Park==
*Source: http://panaynewsphilippines.com/2015/01/22/megaworld-to-hold-grand-fireworks-display-at-iloilo-business-park/
*Thursday, January 22, 2015
:(PN)
ILOILO City – Megaworld, the country’s leading real estate developer, will hold a grand fireworks display dubbed as “Luces in the Sky” at the Iloilo Business Park on Jan. 23.
The fireworks display is one of the main highlights of the Dinagyang Festival. It will be graced by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, and 13 city councilors.
“Starting Jan. 22, we already have many exciting offerings in celebration of the Dinagyang Festival. Jan. 23 is the main highlight at the Iloilo Business Park where we will holda one-hour grand fireworks showdown,” said Jennifer Ann Palmares-Fong, marketing head for Iloilo Business Park, Megaworld.
Ilonggos will feast their eyes on the non-stop fireworks display for one hour starting at 7:30p.m., headed by Lyndon Acap as chairman of the event and participated by national teams from Bulacan, Visayas and Mindanao such as DSS Fireworks, Wahing Fireworks, Sanicom Trading, Digispec Enterprises, EB and A Fireworks Industry, LF Fireworks, and Avila Pyrotechnic Firecrackers Manufacturer.
The event will also have an all-night street party with live bands located along Megaworld Boulevard.
Food strips and other play hubs will be installed for the locals and tourists alike to enjoy the night. This is in partnership with Coca-Cola, Emperador, McDonalds, Startek, Reed Elsevier, and the Iloilo City government.
“This grand event is part ofMegaworld’s contribution to support the Iloilo City government to celebrate Dinagyang Festival, which it helps bring recognition to Ilonggos not only here in the country but even abroad,” said Fong.
The Dinagyang Festival is one of the most spectacular religious and cultural festivals in the Philippines. It is a thanksgiving celebration of Ilonggos in honor of the Santo Niño, the Child Jesus.
Dubbed as the biggest business and tourism hub in Western Visayas, the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park will bring the same “live-work-play-learn” lifestyle township concept in Iloilo like its predecessors in Metro Manila such as Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, and Newport City, home of the Resorts World Manila.
Soon, it will have high-end office towers, state-of-the-art commercial strips, high-end residential condominiums, a 1.1-kilometer Festive Walk, a Lifestyle Mall, first-class hotels, and the world-class Iloilo Convention Center located all in one self-sustainable community.
==Dinagyang 2015 promises more fun, religiosity==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2015/01/21/dinagyang-2015-promises-more-fun-religiosity-387818
*Wednesday, January 21, 2015
:By Lydia C. Pendon
THIS year’s 47th edition of Iloilo Dinagyang Festival promises more fun, color, pageantry, culture, religion and a taste of history as the city unfolds its premier tourist attraction for three days this weekend.
More than a million revelers are expected to troop down city streets to dance and have fun as drum beats reverberate through the air by enticing everyone to shout “Viva Señor Sto. Nino” in veneration of the festival’s patron saint.
Ramon Cua Locsin, chairman of the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. acknowledged that the local festival is a perfect example of a successful public and private partnership that recognizes the city a perfect place for partnership.
Locsin said the festival climax will be on Sunday, January 25 as the celebration reels on its Ati-atihan competition with side events such as the awarding of Dinagyang Warrior Award to the mayors of Tacurong and Koronadal, Cotabato who have Ilonggo roots.
A total of 21 local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines will showcase its festival costumes here the First Philippine Festival Costume Expo showcasing the costumes and traditions of the areas.
A showcase of at least a dozen sports disciplines will be held here while fireworks dance at the evening skies.
An image of Sto. Niño de Cebu is making the rounds of Iloilo churches and schools by reminding all Ilonggos of their Catholic faith.
Locsin said being in the Dinagyang Festival is a memorable experience for anyone as all roads to the city lead to the Dinagyang festivities. These and many more assure all of pure fun and religiosity.
==Over 7T avail DOLE’s livelihood, emergency programs==
==Over 7T avail DOLE’s livelihood, emergency programs==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/931421717153/over-7t-avail-dole-s-livelihood-emergency-programs
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/931421717153/over-7t-avail-dole-s-livelihood-emergency-programs
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