Iloilo City News August 2011

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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.

DOLE briefing today on incentives program

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

The Department of Labor and Employment will conduct an orientation on the incentive-based compliance program of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council that will recognize the adherence of establishments and employers to labor standards today at the Royal Am Rei Hotel in Bacolod City.

Crispin Dannug, DOLE-6 OIC director, said yesterday that they hope to give a “seal of compliance” to three establishments in Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, and Iloilo that have been implementing labor standards in the past two to three years, but they may increase the number, depending on the evaluation.

DOLE gives a seal of compliance if an establishment conforms with labor standards like the implementation of the minimum wage and other wage related benefits, health occupational safety and standards, construction safety and health standards, and family welfare program covering health, nutrition, employment, education, sport, and transportation, he said.

For every labor standard complied with, a seal is given, Dannug said, adding that establishments that receive five to seven seals will be awarded with the Seal of Excellence.

The compliance is determined by the tripartite monitoring body composed of NTIPC, DOLE, representatives from the workers’ association, employers’ organization, government entities, non-government organizations, and other partners, Dannug added.*LTG

Rights advocates mark International Day of the Disappeared in Iloilo‎

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

ILOILO CITY—Hundreds of activists and human rights advocates in Iloilo on Tuesday joined a protest action to mark the International Day of the Disappeared.

The protesters, led by the Panay Alliance Karapatan, Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda), Mothers and Relatives against Tyranny (Martyr) and Save Luisa and Nilo Movement (SLNM), displayed placards and streamers before holding a rally at the Plazoletagay, the city’s main intersection.

They called for the surfacing of more than 200 activists believed to have been abducted by state agents since after the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.

The missing activists include Nilo Arado and Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado, who were waylaid and abducted by unidentified armed men on April 12, 2007 in Barangay Cabanbanan, Oton town in Iloilo.

Dominado was the spokesperson in Panay of Selda, the organization of former political detainees, while Arado was regional chairman of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

Militant groups have accused military agents of being behind the abduction but these have been repeatedly denied by military officials.

“We cry for justice, not only for Luisa and Nilo, but for all victims of enforced disappearances. We will search without end for our missing co-activists until they will be surfaced,” said Reylan Vergara, secretary general of Panay Alliance-Karapatan.

Vergara said eight cases of enforced disappearance have been reported under the 14-month administration of President Aquino.

“This is alarming because the number of desaparecidos (disappeared) continues to rise,” he said.

He called on the President to stop the continued practice of tagging activists as communists and terrorists.

“We hope that ending and resolving the mounting cases of disappearances and other human rights violations will be among the priorities of the present government in its effort to bring lasting justice and peace in the country,” Vergara said.

PhilHealth orients government hospitals on case rates mode of payment

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

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 29 (PIA) -- Some 40 representatives from government hospitals in Iloilo participated in PhilHealth’s orientation on the implementation of the case rates as new mode of payment, which will take effect September 1.

Iloilo PhilHealth Officer Owen Magalona said the office is conducting a series of orientation for hospitals aimed ultimately to address some problems that usually arise in payments and reimbursements for hospitals.

Earlier, PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Rey B. Aquino, said this new mode of payment seeks to ensure better health outcomes, fair health financing and equitable access to health care.

PhilHealth will pay on a rate case basis claims that are included in the 23 selected medical and surgical cases identified in a recent policy.

For surgical cases, the following are included: Radiotheraphy, P3,000; Hemodialysis, P4,000; Maternity Care Package, P8,000; Normal Spontaneous Delivery (NSD) in level 1 hospitals, P8,000; NSD Package in level 2 to 4 hospitals, P6,500; Ceasarian Section, P19,000; Appendectomy, P24,000; Cholocystectomy, P31,000; Dilation and Curetage, P11,000; Thyroidectomy, P31,000; Hernoirrhapy, P21,000; Mastectomy, P22,000; Cataract Surgery, P16,000.

Actually, PhilHealth said they have long adopted the case rate system in its Maternity Care Package and NSD; Newborn Care Benefit Package, Outpatient HIV/AIDS and Malaria Package.

The following are the medical cases and amount included in the new mode payment: Dengue I, P8,000; Dengue II, P16,000; Pneumonia I, P15,000; Pneumonia II, P32,000; Essential Hypertension, P9,000; Cerebral Infraction, P28,000; Cerebrovascular accident with hemorrhage, P38,000; Acute gastroenteritis, P6,000; Asthma, P9,000; Typhoid Fever, P14,000; Newborn care Package in hospitals and lying-in clinics, P1,750.

According to PhilHealth, through this payment method, hospitals are reimbursed by a predetermined fixed rate for each treated case.

Further, this system is different from the “fee for service” method where providers are paid for each unit of service, and there is the tendency to increase expenditures with services which are not needed, as well as the tendency to substitute more expensive services for lesser ones.

PhilHealth-6 regional vice-president Marilyn Geduspan said they are optimistic the case-rate payment will significantly reduce high out-of-pocket payments by PhilHealth members and will give each member a clear idea of what benefits they will avail of.

She added this will spare the health care providers involved in the new system from the tedious administrative work for their reimbursements.

PhilHealth acknowledges case rate payment as an internationally accepted mechanism that serves to package payment for health interventions.

DPWH, Iloilo City government to address poor drainage

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

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- The lack of a truly effective drainage system in the City of Iloilo, that causes flooding even with moderate rainfall, will soon find short and long term solutions.

OIC City District Engineer Jose Al Fruto said in a radio interview that as per direction of Public Works Secretary Singson, they will conduct a comprehensive drainage master plan for Iloilo City, which is the recipient of all run-off or excess water from all points in the different districts.

Fruto said Sec. Singson himself saw the crucial need for a plan when he visited the city, so that the lack of a drainage system can be addressed.

Fruto said that what Iloilo City has is not even a system, but just drainage facilities which do not have clear direction for water to drain into creeks or rivers.

“These drainage facilities are not interconnected so the water goes to the streets when heavy rains fall,” Fruto said.

He added that the problem of flooding in the city has its roots in some obsolete, small drainage facilities that easily clog, based on the survey and inventory they have just conducted.

He also said that DPWH is stepping up coordination with the city government because the latter has a de-clogging machine for clearing.

Fruto said that an immediate action being undertaken is for them to identify cisterns or tanks in some open spaces like plazas, where holes can be made as temporary water catchers before they totally go to the drainage.

“The holes or tanks can meantime complement existing facilities, as it is expensive for now, without a master plan yet, to change all lines of the drainage,” Fruto said.

Meanwhile, Fruto said he noted that roads are destroyed by intermittent flooding, besides the problem of overloading and the bulk of vehicles plying different routes in the city.

He said that their meager maintenance resources allow them to undertake rehabilitation of city streets, along Peralta, Rizal, Muelle Loney Bridge, to Huervana, Dungon Bridge and El 98 in Jaro.

He added that some national roads, through the budget from some national officials, are also undergoing road widening, for at least 60 to 120 days, namely, the Airport direct road, the Jaro to Leganes road that leads to the provinces of Capiz and Aklan.

As to overloading, Fruto said a new policy they follow this 2011, is that they allow a thickness of 12 inches for roads, to cope with overloading, as DPWH and the LGUs cannot be in all areas 24/7 to monitor and regulate overloading.

Fruto, however, said that both the DPWH and the LGUs should keep strong partnerships in working together to address problems that destroy the roads, like flooding and overloading.

Puregold IPO approved

by Jenniffer B. Austria

Puregold chain raising P12.4 billion from its initial public offering set to start on Sept. 23

The Philippine Stock Exchange has approved two initial public offerings worth P12.5 billion.

The PSE said in a note to brokers the board cleared the initial public offering of supermarket chain Puregold Price Club Inc. and Calapan Ventures Inc., a water utility company.

Puregold aims to raise up to P12.4 billion in proceeds from the initial offering on a maximum price of P18 per share, slightly higher than last year’s IPO filing in which it planned to raise P11.2 billion at a price of P16 apiece.

Puregold is offering up to 600 million in primary and secondary shares and another 90 million common shares to cover overallotment.

Puregold said it would set the final price of the shares on Sept. 21 and start offering them from Sept. 23 to 29. It plans to list the shares on Oct. 5.

Puregold plans to use the proceeds to settle debt and finance store expansion.

Puregold said it was spending P6.26 billion in capital expenditures from 2011 to 2013 to put up new stores in Davao, Rizal, Cavite, Bataan, Pangasinan, Baguio City, Ilocos Norte, Caloocan, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Laguna, Quezon City, Legaspi City, Iloilo City, Leyte, Cebu City, Tarlac City, La Union and Albay.

The company plans to settle P2.24 billion worth of debt with China Banking Corp., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. and Banco de Oro Unibank.

The supermarket chain hired HSBC and UBS AG as joint global coordinators and international lead managers and BDO Capital and Investments Corp. and First Metro Investments Corp. as domestic lead underwriters.

Puregold will offer 500 million in primary shares and 100 million in secondary shares owned by existing shareholders, including Lucio Co and Susan Co.

The company plans to sell up to 420 million common shares to international investors and 180 million to local investors.

Meanwhile, Calapan Ventures, a water utility unit of listed Jolliville Holdings Corp., plans to raise P105 million via IPO.

Calapan Ventures will offer 42.16 million shares to the public at P2 to P2.50 apiece.

The company plans to use the proceeds from the offering to expand water services in Calapan. It hired Unicapital Inc. as underwriter for the offering.

Offering period is set from Nov 14 to 18, 2011 while listing is on Nov. 24.

Calapan Ventures owns 100 percent of Calapan Water Works Corp., owner and operator of the water system of Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro, and the water distribution system in Tabuk City in Kalinga province.

City braces for budget cut in 2012

by Lydia C. Pendon

THE Iloilo City Government will have to adjust its budget and sources of funds in 2012 due to an expected budget reduction of some P200 million from its P1.4 billion budget in 2011.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog admitted that the budget cut stemmed mainly from the reduction of internal revenue allotment (IRA) fund from the National Government.

Mabilog said the city is not depending alone from its IRA share due to many revenue sources; however, many city development projects will be affected and have to be readjusted.

The National Government had readjusted its IRA allotment to the cities in the country due to the entrance of 16 new cities.

The local government units (LGUs) are receiving 40 percent of IRA from the National Government every year, but 35 percent of the amount will have to go to the cities.

Section 284 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code states that the LGUs shall have a 40 percent share in national internal revenue taxes "based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year."

According to the Department of Interior and Local Government, collection in 2009 decreased by five percent compared to that of 2008, which affects the IRA distribution in 2012.

Moreover, according to the Department of Budget and Management, IRA shares of LGUs will decrease by P13.635 billion or 4.8 percent to P273.31 billion in 2012 as compared to P286.94 billion in 2011.

As such, LGUs are encouraged to align their programs, projects and activities to the five priority areas under the social contract agenda of the government to maximize the impact of resources that would be available next year.

Over 15,000 join Charter Day parade

by Lydia C. Pendon

MORE than 15,000 people joined the grand parade Thursday as Iloilo City celebrated its 74th Charter Day.

Part of the celebration was the unveiling of a five-foot tall bronze lady statue at the roof top of the new City Hall building currently under construction.

Designed by well-known local artist Edward Defensor, the statue depicts the symbol of Ilonggo sense of pride and inspiration for the city as the regional center of Western Visayas and upcoming important business and socio-economic hub in central Philippines.

Mabilog started the Charter Day celebration in 2010 when he became the local chief executive and vowed to continue the celebration every year to become a top crowd drawer and tourism attraction.

Iloilo City was inaugurated as a chartered city on August 25, 1937 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 158.

Malacañang, on July 12, 2011, issued Proclamation No. 203 declaring August 25 as a special non-working day in the City of Iloilo to give full opportunity for the Ilonggo people to celebrate and participate in the occasion.

PSDP Visayas Consultative Workshop set Aug. 26

by Lilibeth A. French(JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 24 (PIA) -- The Visayas Consultative Workshop on the Formulation of the Philippine Statistical Development Program (PSDP) for 2011-2017 will be held in Iloilo City on Friday, August 26, 2011.

The half-day event which will start at 8:30 AM at EON Centennial Plaza Hotel in Jalandoni St., Iloilo City is spearheaded by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

NSCB OIC-Head Nelida Losare said representatives of the different government agencies, local government units, academe, private sector and media from Regions 6, 7 and 8 have been invited to attend the event.

Losare said the workshop is intended to solicit comments and suggestions and additional inputs from resource persons, data users, and other stakeholders towards the identification and implementation of statistical programs and activities for the improvement of the Philippine Statistical System and enhancement of the importance and relevance of statistics to national development.

NSCB 8 Regional Head Evangeline Paran was tasked to present the draft of the Subnational Statistical Development Chapter of the PDSP during the consultative workshop.

Discussants, Ms. Juliana Cepe of Antique Provincial Planning and Development Office and Dr. Jacqueline Guarte of the Visayas State University, were also invited to give their comments and recommendations on the draft charter.

The PDSP is a tool for integrating and coordinating the statistical activities of the entire government bureaucracy. It also contains the priority statistical programs and activities in the PSS designed to provide vital information support to the Philippine Development Plan.

Losare said the regional consultative workshop in Mindanao is set on August 25 while that for Luzon is on August 31.

PNoy's Health Agenda to be launched in Visayas on Aug. 24

by TWVillavert(TWV/PIA6-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, August 23 (PIA) -- The health agenda of the Aquino administration to achieve universal health care for all Filipinos will be launched in Iloilo City August 24 in time with the conduct of One Visayas for Health Summit.

Dr. Sophia Pulmones, head of the local health support division of the Department of Health, (DOH) Region 6 said that the activity will be conducted by the Department of Health in coordination with the League of Municipalities Visayas Chapter.

Expected to attend the activity are local chief executives of the different municipalities of the three Visayas regions-- Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

Pulmones said the chiefs of hospitals, the provincial health officers and the chairpersons of the Regional Development Council of the three Visayas regions were also invited to attend the occasion.

The Universal Health Care or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan will be discussed thoroughly during the launching at the Health Summit with DOH 6 Director Ariel Valencia presenting the execution plan of the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan.

The implementation of the KP will undergo three phases, which include the launch phase from August to December 2011; Scale Up Phase from 2012-2013 and the Sustainability Phase from 2014-2016, Pulmones concluded.

City to host first national river summit

by Lydia C. Pendon

THE Iloilo City Government will host the First National River Summit before the end of this year and is expected to set the pace of river development with the private sector.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the summit was inspired by Livable Communities (Livcom) Award garnered by Iloilo City during a ceremony in Chicago, USA last November 2010.


Mabilog said the city will spearhead the National Conference of about 40 to 50 local government units in the country in a two-day summit, showing the best practices in nine to eleven rivers in the Philippines.

On the other hand, Senator Franklin M. Drilon is urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Rivers of the World Foundation to co-sponsor the summit slated last week of October or early November this city.

Drilon said he is strongly supporting the river summit to call the people’s attention on the importance of the river to everyday life and for the future generations.

In the Philippines, there a total of 14 river systems. Eight of these are in Panay Island that greatly needs rehabilitation, conservation and massive watershed development.

In Western Visayas alone, there are 881 rivers, 27 lakes and 42 lagoons, while the province of Iloilo has major river systems such as the Aganan-Tigum and Jalaur-Suague, among others.

Iloilo City also has four tributary creeks and two major rivers that are considered as “arms of the sea’ for having water source from the sea. These are the 15-kilometer Iloilo River that divides the seven city districts and the Batiano River in Molo-Arevalo area up the municipality of Oton, Iloilo.

The City Government, with the help of Drilon, is currently conducting massive rehabilitation and cleanup of the Iloilo River by demolishing illegal fishpens and fishtraps, and other illegal structures. They are also establishing an esplanade project at the said riverbanks.

Council for Children strengthens structure; bats for more legislation

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

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 21 (PIA) –- The Iloilo Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) has gathered a new momentum with the issuance of Executive Order No. 109, dated Aug 4, which orders the reorganization of the council, with Governor Arthur Defensor as chairperson.

The EO, which also incorporates with the council the Early Childhood Care and Development Committee, gives the PCPC the primary role of ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of all policies and programs for the survival, development, protection and participation of children in the province.

In a meeting presided by DILG provincial director Rosario Maza, PCPC co-chair, the issue on children in conflict with the law was among the first critical concerns undertaken.

Both the police and the social welfare officers said they have noted an average of three to four crimes a day by children below 15. These include rape, murder and frustrated murder, thievery, and drugs.

The council noted that the problem is being adversely affected by the existence of RA 9344, the law which prohibits filing of cases among minors, for even if the police can keep them in their custody and turned over to the DSWD, still they cannot be held for so long.

PCPC focal person Nima Villan, of the Provincial Social Welfare Office, said the truth is, even if the children in conflict with the law (CICL) are with them for a while, they just have to release them because they have no adequate facilities for them.

Leo Satana of the Commission on Human Rights said, RA 9344 directed the local government units to put up shelter for the CICL, with facilities, structures and personnel that can help restore these children back to society as good citizens.

He said these children are all the while in danger also, as some are being utilized by syndicates to undertake criminal acts because they cannot be charged in court, or the families of their victims may retaliate and hurt them in turn.

Satana said the PCPC can prepare resolutions that request the Provincial Board to urge local government units to put up temporary shelter for CICL, where they can be properly attended to.

PCPC Co-chair Maza said, since most of the CICL also operate in the barangays, there is a need to re-activate the Municipal and Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children, which she noted, to have been neglected by many local officials.

Satana, meanwhile said, since RA 9344 cannot just easily be amended, the PCPC can draft two resolutions, one, for the putting up of shelter for CICL and two, for all local councils for the protection of children to be activated, to which the body agreed.

In a related development, President Aquino recently signed Executive Order No. 53, where he underscored the importance of law enforcement as a critical factor in the overall approach to protect children and their rights, and make sure that their welfare will not be taken for granted.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said under the EO, President Aquino reorganized the Committee for the Special Protection of Children (CSPC), now chaired by the DOJ, co-chaired by the DSWD, with members from the CHR, DOT, DFA, DOLE, DILG and DepEd.

Ochoa said the President wanted the CSPC to coordinate and monitor the investigation and prosecution of cases involving violations of Anti-Child Abuse Act and other child-related criminal laws an formulate and monitor programs under the law.

Hiligaynon now has book on its usage

by Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (JSC/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 20 (PIA) – The Sumakwelan Iloilo, Inc., an organization of writers and poets in the Hiligaynon language, has written a book on the Hiligaynon language and its proper usage. The book is now available in the market.

Sumakwelan Iloilo president Retired Judge Nilo Par. Pamonag said on behalf of the organization that the book entitled “Pulong Hiligaynon para sa tanan” (Hiligaynon Language for All) is the first book of its kind to be written about the local language used by the people of Western Visayas and some parts of southern Philippines.

Pamonag said the book is in response to the need of the times and in fulfilment of their responsibility to promote, preserve, protect, and popularize Hiligaynon through its proper usage.

The writing of the pioneering book was undertaken by an ad hoc committee from the organization and its consultants of veteran Hiligaynon writers.

The book has two parts: Part I – Fundamental Principles of Hiligaynon and the Affixes; Part II – Hiligaynon Rules of Spelling, Correct Usage, and other salient aspects of the language.

The local language is now also used by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Western Visayas for its Hiligaynon News, which has been institutionalized under the present stint of PIA Director General Jose A. Fabia, along with other major languages in the country as part of promoting a facet of regional cultural heritage and giving PIA news a wider audience reach.

Sumakwelan Iloilo was first organized in 1948 and was known by the name “Mga Gakud ni Sumakwel” (Knights of Sumakwel) then. It is named after Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten Bornean datus who settled in the island of Panay through the historic barter of Panay in the early 13th century.

Councilor assures passing of Iloilo City Children's Code

By LM Carnaje

ILOILO City Councilor Nielex Tupas has assured that he will pass the Iloilo City Children's Code sometime this year.

Tupas was the guest speaker during the policy writeshop and dialogue with legislators on children's rights, protection and well-being organized by the Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNet) Panay Cluster-1, the Rising Sun Association Inc. (RSAI) and World Vision-Philippines last August 18.

He said he has been working on the Iloilo City Children's Code for quite some time, and assured that he will fully work on the ordinance now that he is in his second term in the council.

Tupas also stressed the need of private sector participation in passing the Children's Code.

He said non-government organizations such as ABSNet and RSAI having a strong collaboration with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in pursuing the passage of an ordinance for children's protection and development is a must.

"I believe on Public Private Partnerships especially that we are pushing for the Iloilo City Children's Code," he said.

Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Officer Alfredo Villanueva said the last time the city delivered a State of the Children's Report was in 2006.

Thus, it is high time that the city should focus attention on the children's rights by having the City Council approve the Children's Code as soon as possible, he added. ILOILO. Councilor Nielex Tupas (center) answers question during a dialogue with legislators on children's rights, protection and well-being last August 18 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel. (LM Carnaje/Contributor)

Villanueva also said that the various city ordinances on the protection of children and youth should also be appended in the code.

Also present during the policy writeshop and dialogue was Nema Villan of the Iloilo provincial planning office.

Villan said Iloilo already passed the Provincial Children's Code last 2007 and that it currently strengthens its implementation all over the province.

She added that the Provincial Government has assured its full support to the code, including the needed appropriation from the Provincial Board.

Febie Ibojos, acting president of Absnet Panay Cluster 1, said that two-day policy writeshop aims to finish the draft of the Children's Code.

She said ABSNet, along with its member-organizations, wants to hasten the passing of the draft into ordinance in the city, in light with the increasing reports of child abuse last year.

Nanette Macero, chairperson of RSAI, said they will continue to coordinate with its partners to empower community with regard to child protection.

The ABSNet activity had Christopher Estallo of World Vision-Philippines as resource person.

Iloilo City gov't cleans up Rotary Park of urban eyesore

By TARA YAP

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Squatters occupying space at the old Rotary Park in Iloilo City’s Fort San Pedro were finally evicted last Wednesday after heavy rains postponed the demolition originally scheduled for Aug. 16, Tuesday.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog gave the go signal to members of the Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures Wednesday morning to proceed with the demolition of the remaining illegal residential structure on the park.

The demolition team, along with cops deployed by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), met no resistance from the squatter residents.

Members of said demolition team was reduced by over 80 percent as some of the illegal park occupants have already taken the initiative in dismantling their own homes Tuesday and Wednesday.

While a few families begged to be given another day, Mabilog’s standing order was for all structures to be torn down.

The Iloilo city mayor earlier said he will not be giving an extension for demolition of squatter residents’dwellings. The Tuesday postponement was enough, he said, as he pointed out that he had already given humanitarian consideration for the remaining families not to risk their health and safety of their personal belongings due to heavy rainfall.

With Wednesday’s demolition and the eviction of Rotary squatters, the 1.6 hectare site is now ready for the construction of the Iloilo-Guimara Ferry Terminal as well as the Iloilo district office of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The P300-million Rotary Park was recently turned over to the Iloilo City government by the Aquino administration through Presidential Proclamation 201.

OWWA 6 offers free call to Syria

(PNA) LAP/ajp/PGLena/vlo

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 17 (PNA) – Ilonggos with relatives working in Syria may avail of the free call being offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here starting Wednesday.

OWWA regional director Samuel Madrid said that they would extend the service up to 8 p.m. just to accommodate people who might want to get in touch with their family members amid the worsening situation in Syria.

Of the more or less 17,000 overseas Filipino workers in Syria, the OWWA 6 was able to document 16 OFWs from Western Visayas; five from Capiz; four from Iloilo; three each from Antique and Negros Occidental and one from Aklan.

Madrid said that of the number, only about 20-30 percent are documented and the rest are irregularly documented. Most of the OFWs there are household service workers.

Syria, he noted, serves as catch basin of OFWs from Israel, Lebanon and Jordan who decided to cross borders after encountering problems with the employers in these countries.

Meantime, he urged those with family members in Syria to encourage them to enlist in the voluntary repatriation that was launched following the alert level 3 that was raised by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The voluntary repatriation will be shouldered by the government.

Also, he stressed that a total deployment ban has been imposed by the government.

He also told the OFW families here to tell their kin in Syria to stay away from public places or areas of convergence.

Those who would like to make inquiries may get in touch with OWWA 6 at (033) 337-4484.

Private business joins Iloilo City in energy conservation initiatives

(PNA)

ILOILO CITY (PNA) – The private sector here has started implementing programs on energy conservation in the face of global warming challenges.

This was reported by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to more than 100 participants in a two-day regional dialogue on April 15-16 among the scientific community, local government units, the private sector and development community held at the Sarabia Manor sponsored by the city government and in collaboration with the World Bank.

Treñas said the city is facing challenges of climate change and climate-related disaster risks that entail long preparation for the people to accept and understand.

The city chief executive said the city joined the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) in 2004 as an initial step on energy efficiency and conservation advocacy with hotels, hospitals and shopping malls.

ICLEI is a worldwide movement of 800 cities, towns and counties working to achieve tangible improvement in global environment and sustainable development conditions.

The Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) campaign was started in a move to cut gas emissions that cause global warming and air pollution.

Iloilo City then pursued lamp retrofitting as initial step in reducing greenhouse gas emission with 4,000 streetlights replaced with high sodium pressure lamps that save the city 8,000 kilowatthour (kwh) per day and avoided carbon dioxide for a savings of 4,751 kilograms per day.

Two city hotels and three shopping malls joined the initial campaign on energy conservation.

Hotel del Rio in Molo district uses compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) to initially save P204 per day or P74,469 per year in selected areas of the hotel such as terraces, hallways, restaurants and offices.

The use of CFLs also avoided carbon dioxide emission of 14,793 kilograms per year.

Grand Dame Hotel in La Paz district cut down its airconditioning units without sacrificing the comfort of its customers.

It also shifted to the use of CFLs to save P4,064 per day or P1.4 million a year with avoided carbon dioxide of 201 kilograms per day or 73,652 kilograms a year.

SM City shopping mall used to spend tremendous amount of energy for the operation of its wastewater treatment plant.

It shifted to the new low cost wastewater treatment process which uses sequencing batch reactor that enables to save electricity at 1,408 kwh per day and saves no less than P15,000 or P5.5 million a year.

Carbon dioxide was avoided because of energy savings and computed at 836 kilograms per day.

Robinsons Place Iloilo started retrofitting lamps in 2006 and replaced 2,380 old fluorescent and halogen lamps with CFLs that saved 58,038 kwh annually or savings of P754,494 and avoided carbon dioxide emission of 61,847 kilograms a year.

City’s Charter Day to highlight LGU-private sector partnership

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE 74th Charter Day celebration does not only mark Iloilo City’s rise into an urban center but also strengthens the partnership between the local government unit and private sector.

Ben Jimena, Iloilo City Tourism Development Office chief, said this year’s charter day rites are more colorful because of the cooperation of private businesses and groups.

In an interview with Serbisyo Publiko hosted by Councilor Perla Zulueta Sunday, Jimena said the food festival and week-long sale in major malls in the city are indications of a strong public-private partnership in the charter day celebration.

The foodfest on August 19-20 on Delgado Street, Iloilo City Proper will be held in cooperation with the Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association. Aside from Ilonggo foods, the festival will also feature Ilonggo music bands.

The week-long sale in Iloilo City malls, from August 21 to 27, also intends to involve businesses to join the celebration and spur economic activity in the city.

Jimena said the Department of Trade and Industry helped mount the sale by facilitating the permits of participating malls.

Aside from the food fest and sales, the Public Employment Service Office will also hold job fair with 30 private companies signifying their intention to join.

The civic parade on August 25 will not just be an affair for City Hall employees but non-government organizations and national government agencies based in the city.

“We have a bigger celebration this year because of the cooperation of the private sector and national government agencies with the City Government,” Jimena said.

Greening program in Western Visayas needs more quality seedlings

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

ILOILO CITY, August 14 (PIA) -- The greening program in the region has been going on full speed but is constrained by difficulty in procurement of seedlings, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR-6 Executive Director Julian Amador said the shortage of seedling is partly due to the difficulty in procurement brought about by required criteria following the proper procedure of purchase of seedlings.

DENR said the choice of nurseries is also subjected to government bidding procedures and auditing procedures, hence the agency is careful that those that get the contracts as providers are also capable of providing quality seeds.

Rhodora Capulso, DENR Regional information Officer said that for 2011, they need about 400,000 seedlings for forest trees and fruit trees, which should be of good quality, plantable and are capable of good growth.

She added that actually there are many nurseries in the region but not so many can provide the seeds they need as of now.

"Actually the NGP is an opportunity for farmers and nursery operators to upgrade their trade and find good sources of income, while supporting the program, Capulso said.

Likewise, she said, the PENROs and the CENROs are directed to fast track the bidding and to see to it that quality providers are chosen.

DENR records showed that for 2011, the region's reforestation program has a budget of P31,798,000 which is aimed for planting 4,033 hectares with a total seedling requirement of 2,016,500.

Amador said there is an increase in the National Greening Program (NGP) budget allocation for 2012, which shows how serious government is with this commitment.

He added that initial target for 2012 is 12,640 hectares with a seedling requirememt of 6,320,200, which is the same for 2013 and 2014, while for 2015 and 2016, continuous assessment and planning are being done to determine the target areas and the number of seedlings needed.

He added that Environment Secretary Ramon Paje had said the increase will fast track the accomplishment of the NGP, being a landmark reforestation program of President Aquino.

Amador said there have been massive tree planting activities all over the region, participated in by 14,830 planters, who have already planted 116,460 seedlings in 226 hectares of forestland, mangroves and protected areas.

The figure broken down, it showed that Aklan has planted 2 hectares with 5,000 seedlings; Antique, 46. 3 hectares with 18,477 seedling; Capiz, 10.3 hectares, with 5,130 seedlilings; Iloilo, 41.4 hectares with 24,063 seedlings, Guimaras, 4.5 hectares with 2,250 seedlings; and, Negros Occidental, 121.5 hectares, with 61,540 seedlings.

The DENR has so far encouraged private sectors, the schools and the local government units to put up more nurseries to supply the needs of the year-round tree planting activities.

Under the NGP, the government seeks to restore the green cover of the country, and in the process achieve poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable management of natural resources.

City Hall moves against rising child prostitution

by Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE Iloilo City Government and national government agencies will meet next week to plot solutions to the rising prostitution of minors in the metropolis.

The City Hall called for the meeting slated Tuesday next week after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a suspected pimp trafficking two high school students from Iloilo City.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said they invited the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education and the PNP to the meeting.

Mabilog said the NBI’s pronouncement that child prostitution is worsening is a major concern since the identified hubs are leisure spots in the city.

“This needs to be addressed because it will affect the city and more importantly we must protect our children,” he said.

The PNP said it continues to join hands with the DSWD in curbing child prostitution and human trafficking.

C/Supt. Cipriano Querol, PNP regional director in Western Visayas, said the Iloilo provincial police have a standing agreement with the DSWD and other concerned parties on a joint effort to monitor and apprehend persons engaged in human trafficking.

Querol said they are looking into reports if there is a syndicated child prostitution ring in Iloilo City and Western Visayas in general.

“If they get protection from certain offices to cover their operations, then it could be syndicated. If not, this case could be more of a free-lance operation,” Querol said.

The Iloilo City Schools Division (ICSD) will provide guidance and counseling to the two high school students rescued from suspected pimp arrested by the NBI.

Angelita Ragudo, ICSD assistant superintendent, said the schools will coordinate with the parents of the minors so that proper counseling will be given them.

“We will have to look at the root cause of their actions so we can provide them with the proper guidance can be provided to them,” Ragudo said.

Earlier, NBI agent John Katipunan said teenage girls as young as 12 years old are engaged in the sex trade for money.

Katipunan said majority of the child prostitutes are students from public high schools who pimped by homosexuals and transsexuals that target male clients in the city’s known entertainment places including Smallville, Riverside Boardwalk and Terraza.

The price tag can range from P2,000 to P10,000 and depends on the marketability of the teenage girls to prospective clients.

Aside from prostitution, minors are also being tagged to burglaries in Iloilo City.

Researchers to gather in Iloilo City

by Lilibeth A. French(JSC/LAF-PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- Researchers from the academe, government agencies, local government units, and the private sector will convene in this city on September 26-27, 2011 for the PSA Annual Conference.

The Philippine Statistical Association Region 6 (PSA 6) Chapter will be the host of this year’s PSA event which coincides with the World Tourism Day celebration and the 59th anniversary celebration of the PSA. World Tourism Day is observed every September 27.

Guided by the conference theme “Tourism and Statistics”, participants are expected to discuss issues and share findings on the state of tourism statistics in the country, and to recommend actions to improve the ways by which statistics can support tourism development.

NSCB 6 Officer-in-Charge Nelida Losare said prominent personalities from the tourism industry were invited during the plenary session. Also invited were local government executives and officials of the Philippine Statistical System.

About 20 papers on various topics in consonance with the theme will be presented during the two-day conference at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center. Four papers will be discussed in the plenary session and sixteen in the parallel sessions which will be held simultaneously at designated rooms.

Experts invited will discuss their papers on issues in the generation of reliable tourism statistics, including statistical concerns in capturing the current state of tourism employment, tourism capabilities of local governments, impacts of tourism, public policy on tourism and other emerging developments such as agri-tourism, eco-tourism and medical tourism.

Some of the topics during the plenary sessions will include the different facets of tourism as reflected by available statistics and various issues related to the production, analysis, dissemination and utilization of tourism statistics.

There will be a Special Session on Statistics Education intended for delegates from the academe and those who may be interested.

Participants in Western Visayas may inquire through Losare at telephone no. 033-3200513 or e-mail address nscb6@yahoo.com. NSCB 6 is the PSA6 Secretariat.

For further information about the event, interested can e-mail at psai.sec@gmail.com or psa.sec@gmail.com or call Stephanie Rae C. Andres and Reynaldo Belluga, Jr at telephone no. 632-920-6513 and telefax no. 632-4561928.

BPOs seen to prefer Iloilo City

(Lydia C. Pendon)

BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPOs) companies are expected to give Iloilo City a second look for relocation after the United States credit rating went down this month, thereby forcing these companies to look for other sites in Asia.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the Ilonggos are resilient people and may take this opportunity to attract more investors to come, as Iloilo is ready and willing to absorb more industries.

Mabilog said the city and province of Iloilo are ready to absorb the influx of BPOs as a sunshine industry, augmented by the presence of educated and highly trained manpower, as assured by the existence of several universities and colleges in the province.

The city has been declared as an important next wave city in the country for BPOs, with majority of English-speaking workers and college-educated pool.

Recently, the United States debt problem and credit rating were downgraded that may push the BPO industry to look into cost-cutting alternatives in other countries in order to survive.

Iloilo City planning and development officer Jose Roni Peñalosa said the crash of U.S. credit rating might be a blessing to the Philippines and the Filipinos, especially for Ilonggos who must take this as an opportunity to attract more BPOs to come and invest in Iloilo.

When the country’s economic growth slowed down in 2009 due to the global economic crisis, Western Visayas churned out an output expansion of 5.9 percent and Iloilo in particular is undaunted by the global crisis.

Peñalosa said that Western Visayas accounts for more than 50 percent of the Visayas production in agriculture, fishery, and forestry aside from construction, manufacturing, mining, quarrying and remittances from overseas Filipino workers.

WV institutions to showcase health researches, activities in Bacolod

by Lilibeth A. French (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 10 (PIA) -- Ten institutions including seven schools, two government agencies and a hospital from Western Visayas will showcase their health related researches and development activities in a three-day conference starting today at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

Department of Science and Technology 6 Information Officer Sol Aplaon Salazar said the said institutions will be taking part in the 5th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week, a gathering of stakeholders and representatives from the different regions in the country to interact and learn from each other, share information and experiences on research-based solutions to health problems.

Salazar identified the ten participating institutions from the region as University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City; Colegio San Agustin, Bacolod City; University of San Agustin, Iloilo City; Central Philippine University, Iloilo City; West Visayas State University, Iloilo City; University of the Philippines-Visayas, Iloilo City; St. Paul’s University, Iloilo City; DOST 6; Department of Health Regional Office 6; and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital, Bacolod City.

“All these institutions are members of the Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium,” said Salazar. WVHRDC is one of the 17 Regional Health Research and Development Consortia in the country which mirrors the framework of the PNHRS at the regional level.

Salazar added that “the exhibit will also feature local research papers of students, physicians and researchers in the region which won local, national and international recognitions and are also important in efforts towards health promotions.”

The opening of the exhibit is set at 5:00 PM to be followed by the opening ceremonies of the three-day event with House of Representatives Committee on Health Congressman Alfredo D. Maranon as keynote speaker.

Preceding the opening of the exhibit are three pre-conference events such as the Focused Group Discussions on Research Utilization for Chairs of Consortia Regional Unit Committees and Health Research and Media; 1st Student Research Competition in Health Science and Technology; and Inter-Regional Research presentations. All pre-conference events will start at 8:00 AM.

On August 11 there will be plenary sessions on regional health systems, research translation to policy and action, ethics, information and communication technology in health, intellectual property and technology commercialization; and research dissemination.

Plan International Philippines Country Program Advisor for Health and Research Agenda Committee Member Ma. Loida Sevilla was tasked to present the National Health Research Agenda on the final session on August 12. This will be followed by a panel discussion on “Funding the National Unified Health Research Agenda.”

Panelists during the discussion include House of Representatives Committee on Health Vice Chair Anthony Golez, DOST 11 Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales, WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, and World Bank Senior Health Specialist Dr. Eduardo Banzon.

Other highlights of the events are the launching of the Health Innovation Marketplace and the announcement of winners for WVHRDC Training Awards for R & D, Student Research Competition, Poster Exhibits and Best Mentors Awards.

PNHRS Week is celebrated every second week of August in the country through Presidential Proclamation 1309 signed on June 2007. This year the celebration focuses on “Convergence in Divergence, Innovations for better health”.

Various activities marks 74th Iloilo Charter Day

by Lilibeth A. French (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 9 (PIA) -- It will be another eventful celebration for Ilonggos as this city marks its 74th Charter Day this coming August 25, which was declared by Malacanang as a special non-working holiday.

Iloilo City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena said the second year celebration of the city’s Charter Day will feature 40 activities involving various sectors of the community.

Highlight events are the Grand civic parade, Mayor’s Ball,Search for Dungog sang Dakbanwa sang Iloilo, Search for Most Outstanding City Government Employees, Photo Exhibits featuring pictures of Iloilo then and now, medical and dental mission and jobs fair on August 25.

There are also cultural contests and events slated based on the list of activities for the 2011 Charter Day obtained from the Iloilo City Public Information Office such as Oratorical and Extemporaneous Speaking Contests on August 12 and 13; Concert of Ilonggo Artists on August 19; Interschool Newscasting Competition on August 20; Dance to the Max Iloilo! on August 25; and Fiber, Fabric Fashion Show on August 28.

Some sports events were also scheduled like the Goodwill Football Games on August 21 at Central Philippine University Field and Goodwill Basketball Games on August 22 at the University of San Agustin Gym.

Other events include River Clean Up on August 21; Mass Wedding and Kasadyahan sa Barangay on August 23; Charter Day Diskwento Sale on August 25-29; ABS-CBN Kapamilya Show on August 26; Food Festivals of Ilonggo Dishes on August 27-28; and SM City Night Run and Food and Culinary Festival on August 28.

Jimena in a radio interview said that the celebration will also feature activities that will involve the old and young Ilonggos in tourism-related programs and projects of the city. These activities include the goodwill tour-guiding training and tourism awareness program.

The goodwill tour-guiding training will be participated in by senior citizens as the city government will be hiring articulate and active older persons to help in the tourism promotions of the city.

On the other hand, the tourism awareness program is participated in by students of the different schools in the city that aims among others to inculcate the love and pride of place among the younger people, increase their level of awareness to the city’s culture and arts, and let them know their role in disseminating information about Iloilo.

Jimena said the city was inaugurated on August 25, 1937, forty days after the signing of Commonwealth Act No. 158 on July 16, 1937 that incorporated the municipality of Iloilo to the towns of La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo, Jaro and Arevalo to form the City of Iloilo.

Jimena said this historical data is based on the book, Historical Landmarks and Monuments of Iloilo by the late Professor Henry Funtecha and Professor Melanie Padilla of the Center for West Visayan Studies of the University of the Philippines.

NFA assures enough supply of rice for Iloilo

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

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) –- The National Food Authority has a buffer stock of rice good for 27 days, more than the required 15 days at a given time, said NFA-6 Director Tomas Escarez, in a radio interview.

“Actually, this supply could have lasted only until end of June but it is now middle of August and we still have more than enough,” Escarez said.

He added that counting commercial and household rice stocks, the supply would even last for 100 days.

Escarez also said with the lean months up, Western Visayas has still enough supply as production has shown positive growth, according to the Department of Agriculture.

He further said the possibility of rice shortage in the region is remote.

He also said that the abundant rains, as long as there is no flooding in the rice fields, are helpful to rain-fed areas as production can go on without constraints.

As to warehouses, Escarez said they have 20 big warehouses that can accommodate about 1.5 million sacks of palay under good condition.

“We can even lease warehouses when needed as our procurement can increase because we have relaxed some of our requirements,” he said.

He said farmers now can deliver to the NFA their maximum harvest for procurement while those walk-in farmers can sell for a maximum of 50 bags at a time.

Further, he said, farmers who are not members of associations and do not have passbooks, can also sell to NFA a maximum of 100 bags.

Escarez, however, said he is encouraging the farmers to join cooperatives and farmers associations so that they can also have passbooks, showing that they are linking with the NFA.

He said that a farmer who needs to transact with NFA and wants to get a passbook should bring two ID pictures, certification from the DA that he is a farmer, and title of the land that he owns or tills.

He added the DA and the NFA are working to increase procurement to help farmers and consumers avail of quality NFA rice.

MGB promotes disaster risk reduction management during Ombusdman Caravan

by Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, August 7 (PIA) -– As disaster risk reduction and management cuts across all social services sector, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) joined in the caravan initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman in Negros Occidental recently.

MGB-6 Regional Director Leo Van Juguan said disaster risk reduction and management is a social as well as economic and political responsibility of government agencies and the local government units, which should be delivered to the public.

Juguan said, the office has a mandate to inform the people that government through the MGB has the

responsibility to promote exploration and development of the country’s mineral resources while safeguarding the environment and the rights of the affected communities.

In previous interviews with the Philippine Information Agency-6, Juguan said the province of Negros Occidental is a vibrant community where mining is concerned, because of so many potentials

for exploration.

He said this situation often causes conflicts such that the MGB has to let the public understand that government is for responsible mining, based on existing laws that have provisions for

regulation.

He said responding to the environmental, social, safety and health provisions of the mining law, the MGB

Office conducts environmental monitoring of mining exploration areas, monitoring of compliance to safety, health and environmental standards, and issuance of permits related to safety, health, mechanical and electrical-related permits.

On the other hand, a major program of the MGB is the Geohazard Assessment and Mapping of disaster prone areas particularly landslides and flooding, for information and disaster management.

Juguan said the results of geohazards assessment and mapping is disseminated to all concerned, especially the local government units so that they can properly act.

MGB records showed that in Negros Occidental, towns with villages which are highly prone to landslides are San Carlos, La Castellana, Calatrava, Don Salvador bendictor, Isabela, Monteverde, Cadiz, Murcia, Cauayan, Silay, Candoni, Kabankalan, Ilog, and E.B. Magalona.

Juguan said joining the Ombudsman caravan to these areas is for the MGB to come face to face with communities which need reminders to take seriously the geohazard maps, act on them and minimize damages.

For the mining communities, Juguan expects better understanding of mining laws.

How to guard yourself vs leptospirosis

by Lilibeth A. French(JSC/LAF-PIA6 Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 6 (PIA) -- Your chances of getting leptospirosis can be reduced if you know how to guard yourself against the disease. How can you be protected?

Always maintain cleanliness at home and in your surroundings, observe personal hygiene, and seek early treatment to prevent the disease. The disease can be acquired through contact with urine of infected animal especially rat, according to Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, Iloilo Provincial Health Officer in a recent radio interview.

Trabado said dirty surroundings make it easier for infected animals like rats to multiply as they thrive in places where garbage is not properly stored and there is food.

“Let us go back to basics like cleaning our surroundings and taking care of ourselves. A simple handwashing after work and taking a bath everyday can also help a lot to avoid diseases”, said Trabado.

She also emphasized the importance of seeking early treatment if one discovers she or he has symptoms of leptospirosis so that proper medical attention will be given and to prevent further complications.

“If you have fever and not feeling well and if you have exposure to contaminated areas especially our farmers, seek earlytreatment or consultation as soon as possible,” advised Trabado as she cited data of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office showing that most of the leptospirosis patients are males, aged 20 years old and above, and farmers or farm laborers.

Trabado said three more died of leptospirosis this July bringing the number of deaths due to the disease in the province to 12 since January of this year. The IPHO data also revealed there are already 141 patients suspected for leptospirosis who were admitted or have sought consultation in the different government hospitals and heath centers in the province from January to July this year.

The rise in leptospirosis cases in the province is also attributed to the rat infestation that has already affected some 22 barangays as of the latest broadcast reports.

Trabado said health education activities are ongoing right now in municipalities especially in areas where there are cases so that Ilonggos would continue their efforts against leptospirosis. The provincial government is also on the process to purchase medicines to augment the need of the affected municipalities.

She said municipal health officers and agriculturists are also set to meet as part of the efforts of the provincial government to address the problem

Meanwhile, Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona said in a press report that cases of leptospirosis now have reached 613 natiowide from January 1 to July 9, 2011, which are 73 percent higher as compared to the same period last year.

Ona said most of the cases are from Western Visayas, accounting for about 30.83 percent; followed by Bicol Region, 10.77 percent; and Central Luzon, 10.11 percent.

BSP to honor outstanding stakeholders in WV

by Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.(JCM/JSC/PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) –- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will hold an awards ceremony on Aug. 9 here to honor its stakeholders in Western Visayas who have provided exemplary support to BSP’s statistical undertakings, information needs, and advocacy programs.

The awards program, which has “Ikaw at ang BSP: Working for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth” for its theme, is part of Bangko Sentral’s 18th anniversary celebration.

BSP Deputy Director Job T. Nepomuceno said BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo and Monetary Board Member Felipe Medalla will grace the event.

Guinigundo and Medalla will also lead in honoring the awardees from the region.

BSP Iloilo Branch Research Specialist Doreen M. Santerva said the awardees will include BSP’s outstanding respondents from the medium and small firms for its Business Expectations Survey (BES) and from information sources for the Report on Regional Economic Developments, which is a new award category.

The event is expected to further strengthen the partnerships between the BSP and its stakeholders in information gathering and advocacy campaigns that will help carry out its mandate of maintaining price stability and promoting financial stability in the country.

Among these advocacy campaigns was the recent launching in the region of the country’s New Generation Currency.

Bangko Sentral came into being when the New Central Bank Act, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 7653, took effect on July 3, 1993. It replaced the old Central Bank of the Philippines as a result of efforts to enhance the bank’s capability in response to the needs of the national economy and emerging central banking issues.

Clearing operation in 55 days set

By Lydia C. Pendon

TASK Force Alambre on Wednesday has started the first phase of the clearing of unsightly electrical and cable wires in the major streets of Iloilo City.

Executive assistant and TF coordinator Francis Cruz said the clearing operation will run for 55 days to cover 639 electric poles.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has created the task force to rehabilitate the hanging electrical and cable wirings that have become eyesore to the public.

The task force is composed of representatives from the Office of the Mayor, City Engineer’s Office, Panay Electric Company, Philippine Long Distance Telecommunication, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Sun Cellular, and cable television stations.

Vice Mayors, brgy captains pass resolutions vs. gun ban

(ECGarcia/ Capitol News)

The Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) Iloilo chapter and the Liga ng mga Barangay – Iloilo Province (LnB-Iloilo) have also passed separate resolutions against the controversial suspension of Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) in eight towns in Northern Iloilo.

The move of the VMLP and LnB-Iloilo are in support to the resolutions passed earlier by the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the League of Municipalities (LMP)-Iloilo urging Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to recall the PTCFOR suspension.

VMLP headed by its President Janiuay Vice Mayor Paulino Parian unanimously approved the resolution urging Director General Bacalzo to recall the “arbitrary and capricious suspension” of the PTCFOR in the municipalities of Ajuy, Balasan, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, San Dionisio and Sara.

VMLP cited as reason for objecting to the PTCFOR suspension the failure of the PNP to conduct public consultation or inquiry “which is vital in the determination whether the imposition of the suspension of PTCFOR be made.”

“The VMLP was cognizant of the report made by Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, Iloilo Provincial Police Director, that the crime volume in the Fifth District of Iloilo during the period of January to June 2011 decreased by 26 percent compared to that of last year and the crime volume in the whole Province of Iloilo during the period of January to June 2011 likewise decreased by 48 percent as compared to the same period last year,” the resolution stated.

“It must be emphasized that during the period of January to June 2010 where the crime rate was higher compared to the period January to June 2011, there was a gun ban due to the 2010 National and Local elections,” the VMLP stressed.

The VMLP also cited the reports of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the 301st Infantry Brigade Philippine Army which were all favorable to the Fifth District towns.

“The said act of the PNP violates equal protection and due process clause of the 1987 Constitution and the same is unfair and unreasonable to those who need protection outside their residences, including government officials and specially businessmen whose life maybe threatened by possible targets of robbery and kidnapping,” the VMLP resolution added.

Meanwhile the LnB-Iloilo headed by its president Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain also unanimously approved the resolution strongly supporting Resolution No. 2011-11 of the PPOC.

The LnB-Iloilo resolution cited that Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol “failed to conduct appropriate investigation and public consultation if the suspension was reasonable prior the recommendation of a gun ban on the eight municipalities in

Banker notes changing policy for enterprises

(Lydia C. Pendon)

THE head of a financing institution for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines has noted down the emerging banking policy by slowly getting out of charging collaterals from SMEs in a bid to help the country.

Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and chief executive officer of Planters Development Bank, said the SMEs are instrumental in giving 65 million direct jobs to the Filipinos.

SMEs also garnered more than P18 billion in exports and the revenue is limitless for the sector, Tambunting said in his speech during the 1st Iloilo City Business Summit last week.

Mabilog said the top businessmen gave insights on their experiences that inspire and encourage the local businessmen to emulate them in their share of nation-building.

Valerie Maravilla, president of the Iloilo SME Development Council said their association welcomes the changing policy of the banks in giving incentives to small and medium enterprises that could not afford giving collaterals for the bank loans.

Maravilla said that 90 percent of businesses in Iloilo are considered SMEs that need assistance from the government and the banks.

PPP pushes Iloilo City’s progress – Manny Pangilinan

(Lucy Montealto-Sinay/Iloilo City PIO)

Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan gave a lot of advises for local entrepreneurs and government leaders during the 1st Iloilo City Business Summit held here July 29.

Pangilinan, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. chairman, was keynote speaker of the event organized by the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Promotions Board (ICTIPB) and the ICTIP Foundation, Inc.

Foremost in his mind is public-private partnership - the means by which Iloilo City can attain progress.

“For you to achieve genuine progress, business and government must work together,” the country’s richest bachelor told participants composed mostly of entrepreneurs, city government officials, national government agencies, the academe and media.

He acknowledged the work being done in order to move the city forward, even as he exhorted the need for businessmen to become more resourceful and self-reliant.

He said Ilonggos have a lot of money citing earlier reports of some P50-B deposits just “sleeping in banks” here, which can be used to fund more investments and economic opportunities.

Similarly, government must become more business friendly, mentioning simplified business regulations and procedures, peace and order situation, and infrastructures as requisites for development.

Pangilinan also emphasized factors critical to progress of the city that should be attended to like power stability, adequate water supply, port development for tourism, improvement of road networks and efficient public transport system.

Important as well are focus on education, information technology and sports which likewise contribute to total metro development, he added.

He said Iloilo should do all these and more, but there are a lot of changes that need to be done to really achieve progress.

He said Iloilo’s history has spelled a lot of difference in people’s lives here especially under Spanish regime.

“You should break the tradition of insolence and insularity… We need to energize the city to create optimism and destroy apathy,” he stated.

“You are the owners of Iloilo’s destiny and not mere observers,” he further stressed.

The 1st Iloilo City Business Summit was realized in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Junior Chamber International Iloilo and Injap Land Corporation.

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