Monday, February 26, 2007

EDITORIAL - February 18 - 24, 2007


Why Vote For Rico Puno, Victor Wood, Among Other Clowns?

"They know enough who know how to learn" HENRY ADAMS

How dare some people underestimate the showbiz entertainers and other celebrities now running for senator and other elective positions in the May 14 elections.
As long as there is no law that prohibits these celluloid movie and entertainment personalities from filing their certificates of candidacy (COC), it’s none of our business if they aspire for public office and present themselves to the electorate in a fair and honest election.
After all, it is not the first time that clowns and other misfits have won elective posts and served (dismally) the public. And people are already used to this kind of set-up however weird, to say the least. In fact, they are not complaining, they are enjoying the circus.
If they didn’t like certain candidates from showbiz and entertainment (this include sports) world, they may just any way reject them in the polling precincts. No hard feelings.
Not all adoring fans though have succeeded in catapulting their showbiz and basketball idols to public office. If Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revillia, Lito Lapid, Tito Sotto, and Robert Jaworski were lucky in the past, some of their fellows were also sent to their proper places in a loud thud.
In the forthcoming elections, don’t be surprised if the likes of Richard Gomez, Rico Puno (he was once charged with acts of lasciviousness by a guest relations officer, for those who still don’t know it yet). Victor Wood (I heard he filed his candidacy under the Marcos KBL party) might make it in the top 12 ahead of the more illustrious candidates.
Given the dismal state our electoral system has sunk into, it is not even far-fetched for these run-in-the-mill singer-cum-politicians to land in the top 5, if I may add insult to the intelligence, or the lack of it, of some of today’s qualified voters.
Actually, a vote for these charlatans is equivalent to a protest vote for those who abhor showbiztocracy. And since the administration failed last year to dismantle the Upper House (Senate) and shift to a parliamentary system of government via con-ass, we might as well fill up the Upper Chamber with showbiz and sports alphabet names that will assume their roles in the whole charade.
It was in the coffee lounge of the Senate many years ago where I first heard then Senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad grumble and frown over the "defects of the electoral system." Tatad rued that if the "defective electoral process" is not remedied soon (read: change the law on qualifications for aspirants in public office), even comedians and bloodsuckers will someday aspire for the presidency of the Senate and speakership of the House.
Tatad was and is correct. He reiterated his frustration in his recent well-publicized letter to former Pres. Erap Estrada.
Republic of Durian
And since we are still very much in this squalid system with no immediate change in sight until probably 2010, why don’t we try this time voting for Victor Wood, Richard Gomez, Rico Puno, Cesar Montano and other screen heartthrobs? (If voters in his congressional district sent Manny Pacquiao to the House of the Representatives, then why not box your way to the legislative or executive department of the government?) If our honorable national officials can’t stop ‘em, they might as well join ‘em. (If this happened, that is the time when the Republic of the Philippines is transformed to the Republic of Durian, objectionable to the nose, yet tasteful to the mouth. Do elect showbiz people, boxers, and other sports personalities so that we deserve to belong to the Republic of Durian.) (By Alex P. Vidal) /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer


Ambrosio R. Villorente

Legislators Violate Comelec Laws

Election laws, rules and regulations declare the posting of election campaign materials in non-designated areas illegal. The Comelec has designated areas for poster and other propaganda materials. Comelec designates one location for every 5,000 voters.
If the Comelec Aklan is serious to implement this law, Manuel Villar maybe guilty of this law. The evidences are now displayed along the highway in Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan. His posters are now nailed by the trunk of Ilang-Ilang trees and in the wire posts.
He maybe guilty by "command responsibility". The nailing of those posters by the Ilang-Ilang trunks and wire posts is under his command.
Being the incumbent Senate President and former congressman, Villar must be one of those who formulated and approved these election laws. Being a legislator, Villar should know and demand compliance of those laws, much more lead in the obedience to the law.
Congratulations to the Comelec Aklan for toring down a billboard of the Overseas Filipino Corporation with the life size picture of Manuel Villar exposing his teeth as he endorses Hapee toothpaste…The billboard was located at the Kalibo – Numancia bridge, Numancia side.
IRRIGATION
Irrigation is a practice to provide water to the crops such as rice, corn and vegetables like cabbage, pechay and other crops. Water is one of the elements necessary to sustain growth of plants and animals including man. Hence, water maybe supplied to both plants and animals from both rain, surface and underground water.
Rain water is natural. It comes in times of need. It also comes when not needed either in less quantity, just enough and more than enough. Rain becomes destructive in some moments when it comes in flood to erode properties, to damage crops and livestock, buildings, roads and bridges, trees. Worst when it kills people.
In economics, specially in agriculture, water is a factor of production. Any project without water is designed to fail. To make good use of available water, man has invented and designed means to maximize the use of water. Man has designed equipment to convert water into electricity, such as waterways to irrigate plants as moisture to mitigate plant growth and productivity.
In San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, their engineers have drilled and installed pipes underground. Today, farmers irrigate their paddy fields with free – flowing water from underground source. They now possess the capacity to program their style of farming, as water is available, and as it is needed. In Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, potable water is just 300 feet deep on the ground. I saw this just week. One of these water systems is in the fishpond of Mr. & Mrs. Taruc Señel in Barangay Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
In Aklan, the NIA just allow water to flow continuously to the ocean from the rivers system while crops, like rice, run dry. What can a dike do to built across Aklan river in Sigcay, Banga? This gives false hope for a sufficient irrigation water for Aklanon farmers. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer


Ambrosio R. Villorente

Legislators Violate Comelec Laws

Election laws, rules and regulations declare the posting of election campaign materials in non-designated areas illegal. The Comelec has designated areas for poster and other propaganda materials. Comelec designates one location for every 5,000 voters.
If the Comelec Aklan is serious to implement this law, Manuel Villar maybe guilty of this law. The evidences are now displayed along the highway in Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan. His posters are now nailed by the trunk of Ilang-Ilang trees and in the wire posts.
He maybe guilty by "command responsibility". The nailing of those posters by the Ilang-Ilang trunks and wire posts is under his command.
Being the incumbent Senate President and former congressman, Villar must be one of those who formulated and approved these election laws. Being a legislator, Villar should know and demand compliance of those laws, much more lead in the obedience to the law.
Congratulations to the Comelec Aklan for toring down a billboard of the Overseas Filipino Corporation with the life size picture of Manuel Villar exposing his teeth as he endorses Hapee toothpaste…The billboard was located at the Kalibo – Numancia bridge, Numancia side.
IRRIGATION
Irrigation is a practice to provide water to the crops such as rice, corn and vegetables like cabbage, pechay and other crops. Water is one of the elements necessary to sustain growth of plants and animals including man. Hence, water maybe supplied to both plants and animals from both rain, surface and underground water.
Rain water is natural. It comes in times of need. It also comes when not needed either in less quantity, just enough and more than enough. Rain becomes destructive in some moments when it comes in flood to erode properties, to damage crops and livestock, buildings, roads and bridges, trees. Worst when it kills people.
In economics, specially in agriculture, water is a factor of production. Any project without water is designed to fail. To make good use of available water, man has invented and designed means to maximize the use of water. Man has designed equipment to convert water into electricity, such as waterways to irrigate plants as moisture to mitigate plant growth and productivity.
In San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, their engineers have drilled and installed pipes underground. Today, farmers irrigate their paddy fields with free – flowing water from underground source. They now possess the capacity to program their style of farming, as water is available, and as it is needed. In Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, potable water is just 300 feet deep on the ground. I saw this just week. One of these water systems is in the fishpond of Mr. & Mrs. Taruc Señel in Barangay Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
In Aklan, the NIA just allow water to flow continuously to the ocean from the rivers system while crops, like rice, run dry. What can a dike do to built across Aklan river in Sigcay, Banga? This gives false hope for a sufficient irrigation water for Aklanon farmers. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer


Ambrosio R. Villorente

Legislators Violate Comelec Laws

Election laws, rules and regulations declare the posting of election campaign materials in non-designated areas illegal. The Comelec has designated areas for poster and other propaganda materials. Comelec designates one location for every 5,000 voters.
If the Comelec Aklan is serious to implement this law, Manuel Villar maybe guilty of this law. The evidences are now displayed along the highway in Bulwang, Numancia, Aklan. His posters are now nailed by the trunk of Ilang-Ilang trees and in the wire posts.
He maybe guilty by "command responsibility". The nailing of those posters by the Ilang-Ilang trunks and wire posts is under his command.
Being the incumbent Senate President and former congressman, Villar must be one of those who formulated and approved these election laws. Being a legislator, Villar should know and demand compliance of those laws, much more lead in the obedience to the law.
Congratulations to the Comelec Aklan for toring down a billboard of the Overseas Filipino Corporation with the life size picture of Manuel Villar exposing his teeth as he endorses Hapee toothpaste…The billboard was located at the Kalibo – Numancia bridge, Numancia side.
IRRIGATION
Irrigation is a practice to provide water to the crops such as rice, corn and vegetables like cabbage, pechay and other crops. Water is one of the elements necessary to sustain growth of plants and animals including man. Hence, water maybe supplied to both plants and animals from both rain, surface and underground water.
Rain water is natural. It comes in times of need. It also comes when not needed either in less quantity, just enough and more than enough. Rain becomes destructive in some moments when it comes in flood to erode properties, to damage crops and livestock, buildings, roads and bridges, trees. Worst when it kills people.
In economics, specially in agriculture, water is a factor of production. Any project without water is designed to fail. To make good use of available water, man has invented and designed means to maximize the use of water. Man has designed equipment to convert water into electricity, such as waterways to irrigate plants as moisture to mitigate plant growth and productivity.
In San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, their engineers have drilled and installed pipes underground. Today, farmers irrigate their paddy fields with free – flowing water from underground source. They now possess the capacity to program their style of farming, as water is available, and as it is needed. In Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, potable water is just 300 feet deep on the ground. I saw this just week. One of these water systems is in the fishpond of Mr. & Mrs. Taruc Señel in Barangay Dangay, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
In Aklan, the NIA just allow water to flow continuously to the ocean from the rivers system while crops, like rice, run dry. What can a dike do to built across Aklan river in Sigcay, Banga? This gives false hope for a sufficient irrigation water for Aklanon farmers. /MP

Aklan Registers 273,738 Voters


Some 29,309 newly registered voters will troop to Aklan’s polling places in the May 2007 elections.
Final report of Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Aklan reveals the total number of registered voters after the December 31, 2006 deadline for continuing registration pegged the list at 273,738, compared to 244,429 as of August 2006 or 29,309 voters more.
Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan has a total 36,162 duly registered voters followed by Ibajay, with 22,116 voters and New Washington, 21,891 voters.
According to the number of voters in a descending order, the municipality of Banga has 20,174 voters, Batan, 17,649; Malay, 16,930; Numancia, 16,715; Balete, 14,973; Makato,14,783; Libacao, 14,453; Nabas, 14,504; Altavas, 13,437; Malinao,12,996; Tangalan,10,626; Madalag,9,667; Buruanga, 9,373; and Lezo, 7,289.
All municipalities in Aklan has increased their respective number of voters as of December 31, 2006. For this forthcoming election period, there are 1,916 established precincts, 1,328 grouped/clustered precincts and 339 total number of polling places distributed in 327 barangays in Aklan. Comelec-Aklan under OIC Lorena Tumbagahan has conducted several command conferences with the local Philippine National Police (PNP), Kalibo, Aklan in preparation for a clean, honest, and credible elections. The members of local media are being briefed from time to time to update themselves on the forthcoming elections as well as to inform them on the do’s and don’t’s during the election period, which started on January 14 and will end on June 13, 2007.
During the election period, prohibited acts include carrying of guns and other deadly weapons in public places, suspension of elective local officials, transfer of officers and employees in the civil service; use of security forces or bodyguards by candidates whether or not such bodyguards are regular members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or PNP or other law enforcement agencies and in giving of donations or gifts in cash or in kind, and others.
Other prohibited acts as contained in Comelec Res. 7707 are the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation or filling up of new positions starting March 30, 2007 to May 14, 2007; construction of public works and releasing/disbursing of expenditures of public funds for public works.On May 14, 2007, Election Day, campaigning is prohibited; so is selling, offering, buying or taking liquor, giving, accepting free transportation, food and drinks; selling votes; voting more than once; holding of fairs and cockfights, and selling of merchandise within a radius of 30 meters from the polling places.
Meanwhile, the Comelec has come out with a code of conduct for election officers and employees nationwide to ensure that they will be guided by the highest standard of honesty, impartiality, and transparency in carrying out their task of ensuring honest and orderly elections in May.
(By Venus Villanueva) /MP

Prov’l Police Gets New Patrol Cars, Motorcycles


The Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) received four patrol cars and three motorcycles from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6). "These will be used in the anti-crime campaign of the APPO", said Aklan acting police director Senior Supt. Benigno "Bong" Durana, Jr.
The Toyota Altis patrol cars and Honda 200 cc motorcycles were slightly used during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Cebu City last December 2006.
"The patrol cars for local police offices would be of great help to the mobility of cops as part of their efforts to intensify peace and order in Aklan," said Durana.
The four patrol cars – for APPO, Nabas, New Washington and Kalibo police stations – formed part of the 28 patrol cars given to the PRO-6 by the Philippine National Police to help augment its acute shortage of police vehicles.
"To boost their capability to patrol the streets and curb criminality, the PNP issued patrol cars and motorcycles to enhance the service and ensure faster response to the needs of the constituency by the police", Durana added. The vehicles were distributed to the various municipalities of Aklan deserving of vehicle assistance on February 19, 2007 in the APPO, Buswang Old, Kalibo, Aklan.
"This would improve the capability of our police stations to conduct more aggressive patrol operations and to reduce response time to calls for police assistance," the newly installed police director said.
The PNP currently has 7,500 ground vehicles nationwide in its inventory which consist of trucks, troop carriers, patrol cars, and motorcycles. (By Boy Ryan Zabal) /MP

SB Kalibo Declares ‘Loss of Confidence’ On Kalibo Fire Marshall

By Boy Ryan Zabal

The beleaguered fire marshal is counting her day in Kalibo Fire Station.
This is after the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members expressed their loss of confidence relative to the performance of her duty as Kalibo Fire Marshall. The SB of Kalibo approved a resolution expressing their loss of confidence to Senior Fire Insp. Gweenah Besas and urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to replace her.
According to SB member Melanie Tolentino, vital government offices such as the Municipal Planning and Development Office for zoning clearance, the Municipal Health Office for the sanitary and health cards issuance, the Kalibo PNP for police clearance and the Kalibo Fire Station for fire clearance composed the ‘One-Stop-Shop’.
It aimed to fast track the processing of permits and clearances prior to the issuance of permits and other licenses by the local government unit, she added.
But the three-termer SB member observed that during the stint of Besas as Kalibo Fire Marshall, her office failed to provide a representative in the ‘one-stop-shop’.
"This non-provision of representative was also noted by Mayor Raymar Rebaldo who brought the matter to the attention of Besas. Unfortunately, this was not acted upon favorably, to the disadvantage and inconvenience of the transacting public," Tolentino added.
In Resolution No. 2007-012 approved by the SB members, it stressed, "the clear defiance of the establishment of the ‘One-Stop-Shop’ under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-35 including the provision of ample office space to facilitate the issuance of Fire Safety Inspection and other certificates." Tolentino also criticized the urgent transfer of a Kalibo fire truck to the Boracay Fire Station in Boracay Island without prior notification to Mayor Rebaldo and the SB members.
"This is a clear manifestation of disrespect and obvious bypassing of the local officials who should be the first to know on the pull out of the fire truck as it involves public safety and security affecting the entire community," Tolentino said.
Rebaldo confirmed that Besas failed to communicate with him despite the appointments he requested to discuss the issues for a better delivery of services in the community.
"The disrespect, unsupportive and ‘I do not care’ attitude of Besas has lost the trust and confidence of the local government of Kalibo prompting us to seek the assistance of DILG to replace Besas," the SB members said.
What added to the dismay of the SB members is the collection of additional 10 percent fee out of all charges collected by the local government of Kalibo including that of business and real property taxes without any clarification with Rebaldo and the SB members.
The accumulated amount paid for clearances and permits – police, zoning, realty tax, rental and charges, fire, sanitary permit, medical certificate, cost of health card, business tax (lessor tax), garbage tax and mayor’s permit and special occasion permit is subjected to additional 10 percent fee known as Fire Safety Inspection Fee under Section 1.206 of the Fire Code of the Philippines, Besas compelled to collect.
Korean Flights To Kalibo Starts In March
Meanwhile, Aklan Representative Florencio Miraflores announced the start of landing of foreign aircrafts starting with the inaugural flights directly from South Korea to the Kalibo domestic airport would start on the first week of March. Miraflores stressed, the preparations for the first regional flights from Itchon, Korea is in place with flights thrice a week.
"These (regional flights) could be a historic milestone in the united leadership and support of Aklanons for having regional flights ahead of other airports in Panay Island ," Miraflores pointed out. He allocated an additional P50-million for a new passenger terminal to accommodate more tourists and visitors, including the customs and immigration offices. According to Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez, immigration and customs officials had conducted site inspection of the domestic airport last week. The additional components of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) would be installed in time for the regional flights to improve the navigational and landing facilities of the Kalibo airport, he added.
"More Korean tourists will be able to visit Boracay Island with the opening of direct flights from Asian capitals next month," the governor pointed out. With flights from Korea, Miraflores is optimistic that regional company airlines from other countries will follow to cater to the growing tourism market in the renowned tourist island resort of Boracay. Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino also said the regional flights would add to the P10.4-billion tourism receipts last year. Tourists, who went to Boracay Island , registered 567,421, of which 184,363 were foreigners and 351,537 domestic.
Panay Island is constructing a P6.5-billion international airport in Iloilo province. It maybe operationalized on April 17, 2007. /MP

‘AIDS OF ENVIRONMENT’


Stummer Tells Petron: Pay Victims Billions of Pesos Damages

-German resort owner presses for P100 million claims in damages

By Alex P. Vidal
The German owner of an island resort heavily affected by the oil spill in Guimaras Island is pressing for his damage claim of P100 million from oil refiner Petron Corp. even as he encouraged victims of oil spill to demand billions of pesos in total damages and "not just settle for the crumbs."
Martin Stummer, 66, owner of Nagarao Island Resort in the southwestern part of Guimaras, also tagged the oil spill tragedy as "the AIDS of environment." "The ill effects on the health of the residents will be felt until ten years and even beyond," warned Stummer. "The victims who received paltry sums and were asked to sign a waiver were only tricked out." Stummer was referring to the "full and final settlement agreement" which the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) required the claimants to sign before giving them their manager’s check to be encashed within 30 days from receipt last January.
CLAIMANTS PAYOUT
IOPCF had targeted P120 million as claimants payout. Status report on the Guimaras-Iloilo fisherfolks claims showed 3,498 claimants in the municipalities of San Lorenzo , Jordan and Sibunag were paid a total of P42,000 each. Stummer said the claimants should have received more. The total insurance in Guimaras only is $300 million or equivalent to P15 billion, he said.
"I demand P100 million as the amount of our total investment (in the resort), not for business losses to guide everybody. And they should not sign any weaver because that would mean that they cannot anymore demand for damages in the future," Stummer said. "I will tap my international connections and hire US-based lawyers to press for my demands because this is a big catastrophe considered as the AIDS of environment and they have money to pay," Martin Stummer pointed out.
CORALS AND MARINE LIFE
Stummer said he had invested P100 million over the past 18 years to protect the corals and marine life around Nagarao and to beautify the 10-hectare island off the coast of Sibunag . Stummer, who now stays in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, after separating with his wife Helen Solayao, said his guests mostly from Europe who normally stay for several weeks or months in Nagarao, might sue him for damages if they discover that the beach resort, which is 30 percent mangroves, 50 percent white beach, and 20 percent rock formation surrounded by coral gardens, is contaminated by thick bunker fuel oil.
LAWYER WRITES
Meanwhile, Stummer’s lawyer Eduardo N. Reyes, Jr., warned the Shipowners’ Protection Ltd. & The 1992 Fund in a letter dated February 16, 2007, to pay the claim to Stummer instead of Solayao who also claimed ownership of the resort. "While my client has heard that his estranged wife Helen is also filing a claim for damages due to oil spill over Nagarao Island Inn, it is my client’s claim that should prevail than that of his wife, as the owner of the resort is my client, not his wife,"
Reyes wrote. "If therefore, you entertain any idea of considering Helen’s claim, I advise you to consult your lawyer for if you pay my client’s wife, instead of him, for damages due to the oil spill, I may be forced to elevate this matter to Court, at which event you may end up paying more, as you paid the wrong person," Reyes added.
INITIAL PAYMENT
Stummer said he received reports that Solayao got an initial P300,000 from the firm. She could not be reached immediately for comment. Before the oil spill, he usually took Nagarao’s guests to diving and snorkeling sites in the waters off Nueva Valencia and Sibunag towns near Nagarao. The coastal areas of Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lorenzo towns are among the areas worst hit by the oil spill from the 998-ton tanker MT Solar 1 that sunk on Aug. 11, 2006 while transporting about two million liters of bunker fuel oil from Limay, Bataan. The oil slick had reached Concepcion and Ajuy towns in Iloilo province. /MP

NEWS PICTORIALS


Text and Pictures by Ambrosio R. Villorente

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL
District 75 Division D Philippines

Holds Annual Speech Contest, Training and Fellowship, February 17 - 18, 2007. The affair was sponsored by the Kalantiao Toastmasters Club of Kalibo, Aklan headed by TM Ramona "mona" MAGAYANES - President. It was held at Sampaguita Gardens Resort and Spa, New Washington, Aklan and was attended by some 50 officers and members of various Toastmasters Clubs from Negros Occidental and Panay Island provinces. /MP

Moving Aklan Forward To Progress and Development



By Governor Carlito S. Marquez


(Last of four parts)


PEACE AND ORDER AND SPORTS


The past year had been generally peaceful for the province of Aklan and our people.
Crime solution efficiency of our police in Aklan for 2006 was 93.03 percent which is at par with other peaceful province.
At this juncture, may I acknowledge the honors given to us Aklanons by our local heroes who exemplified the best in our young people in the field of sports: in the person of our youthful woodpushers Mira Mirano, Susan Grace T. Neri and Jan Francis Mirano, high and long jumper Merily Teodosio and boxer Rob Montero.
They all made us proud in national and international sports competitions.
While we hope to assist and strengthen our sports programs within the school system, we are determined to pursue parallel sports program under the aegis of the provincial government. But we must consolidate and integrate all our efforts by revitalizing and institutionalizing the provincial sports and physical fitness development council. We have the provincial school board funds and the 20 percent IRA development fund as sources to initially lean on for our sports development program.
Thank you Mr. Fred Neri and our sports officials, DepEd and CHED officials of our province.



GENERAL SUPPORT AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENT


Under the responsibility of our PSWDO, we are consistent with our child welfare programs particularly in the implementation of the early childhood care and development funded with P23.57 million for the three year period from 2007-2009 for which 70 percent, or P16.5 million, comes from the council for the welfare of children and the rest to be shouldered by the province and the municipalities participating.
This is where the food for school program of Pres. Arroyo will be coursed through and we have targeted the towns of Tangalan, Buruanga and Lezo for this purpose. We are also particularly concerned with the plight of our Day Care workers that last year, because of their small allowance, we granted 425 of them P2,000 each as livelihood assistance. We must, because they are the frontliners in caring for our children who are pre-schoolers under the roofs of the Day Care Centers.
Our PSWDO continues to be the focal office for the implementation of the comprehensive integrated delivery of social services mainly funded by the DSWD with counterpart from the provincial government. The same office is also responsible for other social programs for the welfare of the disabled and senior citizens, youth welfare, and women welfare.
These social programs are further strengthened by a provincial ordinance passed by this chamber, the family and child welfare code, approved last year.
Parallel to this, with the PPDO as the focal office, we are setting aside funds from our 20 percent IRA development fund to strengthen our gender and development program in the province and organize and institutionalize the GAD commission and the operation of the Aklan comprehensive center for women.
As a jump off from the fairly successful implementation of the UNFPA funded program on reproductive health for Aklanons in adolescent age, a separate unit is likewise handling our campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS and our program implementation seems to serve as a model for other LGUs in the region in the country.
The 6th country programme of assistance alone the province of Aklan has received international award through Ms. Maranatha Estrada – first prize winner of the Violet Richardson Award Young Woman Community Voluntarism. Aklan is an international nominee to the Felipa Awards of the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission. Also recognized internationally as best/useful practice on HIV and AIDS as featured in the UNAID website.
Last year, we fully operationalized two additional departments in the provincial government, aside from the EEDD, and these are the Provincial Population Office and the Provincial Cooperative Office.
While the office of the Governor and our provincial human resource management office were trying the direction for a lean and mean provincial government bureaucracy, we cannot do otherwise, because of present day realities.
As of last year, the provincial government, the largest bureaucracy in the province, has to contend with 801 regular plantilla positions, 972 casual and job order employees, the bulk of which are deployed in our hospitals, 18 contractual personnel. Our PHRMO will have a lot to do in structural, organizational and functional streamlining to make the local government responsive and effective in the service of our people. There will be a lot to do to change for the better work values and attitude and improve work efficiency and responsiveness for the good of our people. And PHRMO is trying hard through the conduct of relevant trainings and seminars for our work force.
Thank you Mrs. Ellen Tolentino and staff of the Provincial Human Resource Office.
We are having the provincial cooperative office to strengthen and reinforce the cooperative movement in this province as a vehicle towards a community where there is equity, democracy, social justice and sustainable economic development.
Thank you Mrs. Lilian Rey and staff of the PCO.
The population office was given its own identity to chart program directions on the improvement of demographic indicators affecting population for greater quality and productivity of our people. And so, it will not be concerned of population growth only but also with resource generation, networking and social mobilization, reproductive health and sustainable responsible parenthood, and adolescent health and youth development programs.
Thank you Mr. Arturo Teodosio, Jr. and staff of the PPO.
In all of these efforts, behind us is our provincial general services office providing overall support services by being the custodian of all properties and assets and so last year, all our provincial government – owned motor vehicles had been duly registered and insured. The office helped us in the procurement of goods and services. Last year alone, it has procured hospital equipment and supplies worth P31.8 million and bidded out a total of 317 projects and services. The beautiful face of the capitol grounds is also the office’s responsibility.
Aklan is one among the few provinces in the country which has implemented the e-procurement program.
Thank you Ms. Medelia Solanoy and staff of PGSO.
Providing us internal control and auditing and help us in sound fiscal management is our provincial accounting office. Our brain and workhorse in setting program directions and building its framework through studies and researches and oftentimes set development policy direction is our Provincial Planning and Development office.
Thank you Ms. Mavic Salido and staff of PACCO.
Thank you sincerely Engr. Roger M. Esto and staff of PPDO.
May I again express my gratitude to the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan with the Vice Governor Kel Tolentino at the helm for bearing with my executive governance of this province for the past two years and a half. With 492 Resolutions, 34 Provincial Ordinances, 7 Appropriation Ordinances passed last year, this chamber is indeed dynamic and made my job easy and smooth sailing. It has to be noted that many of those ordinances were considered historic and landmark local legislations.
I would also like to acknowledge the sincere but humble efforts of former Congressman Allen S. Quimpo in steering the directions as Executive Director of the Aklan Rivers Development Council. I was informed that the Master Plan for our Aklan Rivers System had been already finalized which may need the nod of this August body. To include the water users fee, I think this will need the confirmation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
As I close, please allow me to say thank you to Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores, thank you Vice Governor Kel Tolentino, thank you SP Stevens Fuentes, thank you SP Daisy Briones, thank you SP Plaridel Morania, thank you SP Sonny Regalado, thank you SP Eriberto Venus, thank you SP Pete Garcia, thank you SP Jose Yap, thank you SP Gerick Templonuevo, thank you SP Selwyn Ibarreta, thank you SP Ramon Gelito, thank you SP PCL Rep. President Franklin Quimpo, thank you SP ABC Federation President Ananias Solina, thank you SK Federation President Representative Kaizan Victor Fernandez, thank you SP Secretary Odon Bandiola and entire SP staff.
Thank you heads and staff of national offices, thank you heads and staff of NGO’s, thank you our friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant good morning.
Abu guid nga saeamat!!! /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda


Tita Linda Belayro

Si Helen It Troy
Sa bukid it Olympus, may tatlong ka Diyosa nga nagapainsigan kon sin-o ro pinaka puderosa. Si Minerva nga diyosa it ka-aeam, si Venus nga diyosa it pagkagwapa, ag si Hera nga diyosa it manggad ag poder sa pagdumaea.
Agud masulbar ro andang problema, kon sin-o guid ro puderosa, nag-usoy sanda it solusyon. May hakita sanda nga isaeang ka nagabantay it karnero. Imaw si Prinsepi Paris, nga onga ni Haring Priam it syudad it Troy.
Guinpaeapitan ko tatlo rong prinsepi nga naga tukar it plauta. Guinpakita nanda ro isaeang ka mansanas nga may sueat. "Sa pinakapuderosa". Guinhambaean imaw nga ro anang pagataw-an ko royong mansanas hay ro magadaug ag kilaeanhon nga pinakapuderosa. Guin pahayag kay Prinsipe Paris nga kon ita-o nana kay Minerva rong mansanas, pagahimuon imaw nga pinaka ma-aeam nga tawo sa bilog nga kalibutan. Kon kay Hera, himu-on imaw nga pinaka manggaranon, ag kon kay Venus, makita nana ro pinaka gwapa nga babaye sa bilog nga kalibutan.
Tongod soltero, naganyak imaw nga makita rong pinakagwapa nga babaye, ngani anang guindawat rong mansanas kay Venus. Guin hambaean dayon imaw nga mag-adto sa syudad it Sparta agod makita rong pinaka gwapa nga babaye. Busa nagpahaum si Prinsipe Paris ag dayon nag adto.
Pag-abot nana sa Sparta, idto nana hakilaea si Helen, nga asawa ni Haring Menelaus, isaeang ka may edad nga hari. Nagkaintindihan sanda sa mapig-ud nga tiempo, ag bangud sa kabatan-on ag kagwapohon ni Prinsepi Paris, nagmunot si Reyna Helen idto sa Troy.
Pagkasayod ni Haring Menelaus sa pagkaduea ko anang asawa, nangayo imaw it bulig sa ibang kaharian. Nagbulig kana sanday Hector, Achilles ag Ulysses. Nagpaeayag sanda paadto sa Troy agod bawi-on si Helen. Daea nanda rong mga barko nga puno it mga armas ag mga soldado.
Sa sueod it napueong dag-on, sige ro andang pag-inaway. Gusto nanda nga sudlon rong syudad ogaling mabakod rong pader nga nagalibot sa gin harian. Ngani haeos nagkaea-ubos eon ro andang mga pagkaon ag puro eon maeoya ro mga soldados nanday Haring Menelaus.
Sa ka-aeam ni Hector, ag sa anang pag panguna, nag obra sanda it isaeang ka kabayo nga kahoy. Pagkatapos, guin butang nanda sa puertahan it kurae nga pader. Guin sug-an nanda rong mga baeay-baeay ag guin-oli rong mga bapor. Hakibot rong mga taga Troy. Naila sanda it duro bangud naga kahueogan nga napaslawan sanda -nga mga Spartans, ngani guin taw-an sanda it regalo bago sanda pumanaw.
Sa kalipay it mga Trojans, guinbuksan nanda rong puertahan it syudad agod ipasueod rong kabayo. Nag celebrar it kadaeag-an rong tanan. Naga bahâ rong aeak ag mga pagkaon. Nagkaea-hilong rong tanan ag owa eon naka-oli kundi ona eon lang sanda nag-eogad sa plaza.
Pag-abot it tungang gabi-i, samtang malinong rong tanan, amat-amat nga nagbukas rong tiyan it kabayo ag nag paeana-og rong mga soldado. Paagi man sa senyas it isaeang ka sueô, ratong mga barkong nagpauli hay nagbaealik ag dungan nanda nga guinsug-an rong syudad it Troy. Namatay sa pakipag-away si Prinsepi Paris kaibahan ko anang mga ginikanan. Habawi si Helen ag guinbalik sa Sparta. Maskin habawi eon si Helen, nagabalikid pa guihapon imaw sa ama’t-amat nga nagakatupok nga syudad it Troy bangud ro anang tagipusuon hay nabihag it isaeang ka binata ag gwapuhon nga prinsipe.
Sunô sa mga historya, rong uyahon ni Helen hay nakapaeayag it mga barko, nagsakripisyo it libo-libong kabuhi nga nakapa-ilo it libo-libo man nga mga pamilya. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda


Tita Linda Belayro

Si Helen It Troy
Sa bukid it Olympus, may tatlong ka Diyosa nga nagapainsigan kon sin-o ro pinaka puderosa. Si Minerva nga diyosa it ka-aeam, si Venus nga diyosa it pagkagwapa, ag si Hera nga diyosa it manggad ag poder sa pagdumaea.
Agud masulbar ro andang problema, kon sin-o guid ro puderosa, nag-usoy sanda it solusyon. May hakita sanda nga isaeang ka nagabantay it karnero. Imaw si Prinsepi Paris, nga onga ni Haring Priam it syudad it Troy.
Guinpaeapitan ko tatlo rong prinsepi nga naga tukar it plauta. Guinpakita nanda ro isaeang ka mansanas nga may sueat. "Sa pinakapuderosa". Guinhambaean imaw nga ro anang pagataw-an ko royong mansanas hay ro magadaug ag kilaeanhon nga pinakapuderosa. Guin pahayag kay Prinsipe Paris nga kon ita-o nana kay Minerva rong mansanas, pagahimuon imaw nga pinaka ma-aeam nga tawo sa bilog nga kalibutan. Kon kay Hera, himu-on imaw nga pinaka manggaranon, ag kon kay Venus, makita nana ro pinaka gwapa nga babaye sa bilog nga kalibutan.
Tongod soltero, naganyak imaw nga makita rong pinakagwapa nga babaye, ngani anang guindawat rong mansanas kay Venus. Guin hambaean dayon imaw nga mag-adto sa syudad it Sparta agod makita rong pinaka gwapa nga babaye. Busa nagpahaum si Prinsipe Paris ag dayon nag adto.
Pag-abot nana sa Sparta, idto nana hakilaea si Helen, nga asawa ni Haring Menelaus, isaeang ka may edad nga hari. Nagkaintindihan sanda sa mapig-ud nga tiempo, ag bangud sa kabatan-on ag kagwapohon ni Prinsepi Paris, nagmunot si Reyna Helen idto sa Troy.
Pagkasayod ni Haring Menelaus sa pagkaduea ko anang asawa, nangayo imaw it bulig sa ibang kaharian. Nagbulig kana sanday Hector, Achilles ag Ulysses. Nagpaeayag sanda paadto sa Troy agod bawi-on si Helen. Daea nanda rong mga barko nga puno it mga armas ag mga soldado.
Sa sueod it napueong dag-on, sige ro andang pag-inaway. Gusto nanda nga sudlon rong syudad ogaling mabakod rong pader nga nagalibot sa gin harian. Ngani haeos nagkaea-ubos eon ro andang mga pagkaon ag puro eon maeoya ro mga soldados nanday Haring Menelaus.
Sa ka-aeam ni Hector, ag sa anang pag panguna, nag obra sanda it isaeang ka kabayo nga kahoy. Pagkatapos, guin butang nanda sa puertahan it kurae nga pader. Guin sug-an nanda rong mga baeay-baeay ag guin-oli rong mga bapor. Hakibot rong mga taga Troy. Naila sanda it duro bangud naga kahueogan nga napaslawan sanda -nga mga Spartans, ngani guin taw-an sanda it regalo bago sanda pumanaw.
Sa kalipay it mga Trojans, guinbuksan nanda rong puertahan it syudad agod ipasueod rong kabayo. Nag celebrar it kadaeag-an rong tanan. Naga bahâ rong aeak ag mga pagkaon. Nagkaea-hilong rong tanan ag owa eon naka-oli kundi ona eon lang sanda nag-eogad sa plaza.
Pag-abot it tungang gabi-i, samtang malinong rong tanan, amat-amat nga nagbukas rong tiyan it kabayo ag nag paeana-og rong mga soldado. Paagi man sa senyas it isaeang ka sueô, ratong mga barkong nagpauli hay nagbaealik ag dungan nanda nga guinsug-an rong syudad it Troy. Namatay sa pakipag-away si Prinsepi Paris kaibahan ko anang mga ginikanan. Habawi si Helen ag guinbalik sa Sparta. Maskin habawi eon si Helen, nagabalikid pa guihapon imaw sa ama’t-amat nga nagakatupok nga syudad it Troy bangud ro anang tagipusuon hay nabihag it isaeang ka binata ag gwapuhon nga prinsipe.
Sunô sa mga historya, rong uyahon ni Helen hay nakapaeayag it mga barko, nagsakripisyo it libo-libong kabuhi nga nakapa-ilo it libo-libo man nga mga pamilya. /MP

Korean Flights To Kalibo Starts In March


By Boy Ryan Zabal

Meanwhile, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores announced the start of landing of foreign airline at the start of inaugural flights directly from South Korea to the Kalibo domestic airport on the first week of March. Miraflores stressed, the preparations for the first regional flights from Itchon, Korea is in place with flights thrice a week.
"These (regional flights) could be a historic milestone in the united leadership and support of Aklanons for having regional flights ahead of other airports in Panay Island ," Miraflores pointed out.
He allocated an additional P50-million for a new passenger terminal to accommodate more tourists and visitors, including the customs and immigration offices.
According to Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez, immigration and customs officials had conducted site inspection of the domestic airport last week. The additional components of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) would be installed in time for the regional flights to improve the navigational and landing facilities of the Kalibo airport, he added.
"More Korean tourists will be able to visit Boracay Island with the opening of direct flights from Asian capitals next month," the governor pointed out.
With flights from Korea, Miraflores is optimistic that regional company airlines from other countries will follow to cater to the growing tourism market in the renowned tourist island resort of Boracay. Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino also said the regional flights would add to the P10.4-billion tourism receipts last year. Tourists, who went to Boracay Island, registered 567,421, of which 184,363 were foreigners and 351,537 domestic.
Panay Island is constructing a P6.5-billion international airport in Iloilo province. It maybe operationalized in April 17, 2007. /MP

Sunday, February 25, 2007

BJMP, Aklan Rehab Center Take Measures To Prevent Escapes


The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC), Kalibo, Aklan are strictly implementing measures in their respective institutions to prevent Jailbreak and inmates from escaping, as what happened in some parts of the country.
In an interview, both BJMP Provincial Administrator Edmundo Cortezan and ARC Provincial Warden Cristito Angub said, their personnel are alert and on constant lookout for any sign of unrest or trouble in their respective buildings, located in Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan.
Sr. Insp. Cortezan said that in Aklan, their building is very secured as high profile detainees, involving cases of drug trafficking and murder, are remitted to them. However, he said it is the courts that decide where to remit the inmates. This was also echoed by ARC Provincial Warden Angob, who stressed it is up to the courts which decide where to remit the detainees.
To fully prevent prisoners escapes, the provincial government here under Governor Carlito Marquez is presently constructing the perimeter fence of the ARC in Nalook, Kalibo.
Presently, inmates at the BJMP have a daily food budget of P40.00 each, while those at the ARC have P30.00 each.
To help the inmates earn money while inside the rehabilitation center, Col. Angob said they (inmates) are allowed to cultivate vegetable gardens inside the compound. Some inmates also take care of pigs inside to augment their income, and those skilled carpenters are permitted to engage in furniture making.
At the BJMP, inmates avail of trainings from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on practical electricity, appliances repair and other skills training so when they are released from detention, they can use these as their means of livelihood.
Currently, there are 309 detainees, 133 in the BJMP, while 176 in the ARC.
Peace And Order Council Pushes
Security Monitor TV
In Boracay
In another development, the Region 6 Peace and Order Council is pushing for the establishment of a close circuit television (CCTV) in Boracay Island to monitor tourists and other individuals coming in and out of the island resort.
In a resolution approved, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) asked the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies to take steps for the implementation of the project.
For its part, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) recommended the creation of a database of residents and workers in the area. It also suggested for the strict implementation of a gun-free policy in Boracay to strengthen security measures in the island, a prime tourist destination.
PRO-6 regional director C/Supt. Wilfredo Dulay also asked for allocation of funds for the procurement of equipment needed by the troops of Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police operating in the island.
In December 2006, the Joint Task Group Boracay (JTGB) was created to provide and implement security measures in Boracay Island to prevent local and international terrorists from damaging Boracay.
A memorandum of agreement was signed by PRO-6, the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army, Boracay Intelligence Sub-Committee, the Regional Intelligence Committee, Military Intelligence Group and PCG District Western Visayas creating JTGB. /MP

BJMP, Aklan Rehab Center Take Measures To Prevent Escapes


The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC), Kalibo, Aklan are strictly implementing measures in their respective institutions to prevent Jailbreak and inmates from escaping, as what happened in some parts of the country.
In an interview, both BJMP Provincial Administrator Edmundo Cortezan and ARC Provincial Warden Cristito Angub said, their personnel are alert and on constant lookout for any sign of unrest or trouble in their respective buildings, located in Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan.
Sr. Insp. Cortezan said that in Aklan, their building is very secured as high profile detainees, involving cases of drug trafficking and murder, are remitted to them. However, he said it is the courts that decide where to remit the inmates. This was also echoed by ARC Provincial Warden Angob, who stressed it is up to the courts which decide where to remit the detainees.
To fully prevent prisoners escapes, the provincial government here under Governor Carlito Marquez is presently constructing the perimeter fence of the ARC in Nalook, Kalibo.
Presently, inmates at the BJMP have a daily food budget of P40.00 each, while those at the ARC have P30.00 each.
To help the inmates earn money while inside the rehabilitation center, Col. Angob said they (inmates) are allowed to cultivate vegetable gardens inside the compound. Some inmates also take care of pigs inside to augment their income, and those skilled carpenters are permitted to engage in furniture making.
At the BJMP, inmates avail of trainings from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on practical electricity, appliances repair and other skills training so when they are released from detention, they can use these as their means of livelihood.
Currently, there are 309 detainees, 133 in the BJMP, while 176 in the ARC.
Peace And Order Council Pushes
Security Monitor TV
In Boracay
In another development, the Region 6 Peace and Order Council is pushing for the establishment of a close circuit television (CCTV) in Boracay Island to monitor tourists and other individuals coming in and out of the island resort.
In a resolution approved, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) asked the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Tourism (DOT) and other government agencies to take steps for the implementation of the project.
For its part, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) recommended the creation of a database of residents and workers in the area. It also suggested for the strict implementation of a gun-free policy in Boracay to strengthen security measures in the island, a prime tourist destination.
PRO-6 regional director C/Supt. Wilfredo Dulay also asked for allocation of funds for the procurement of equipment needed by the troops of Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police operating in the island.
In December 2006, the Joint Task Group Boracay (JTGB) was created to provide and implement security measures in Boracay Island to prevent local and international terrorists from damaging Boracay.
A memorandum of agreement was signed by PRO-6, the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army, Boracay Intelligence Sub-Committee, the Regional Intelligence Committee, Military Intelligence Group and PCG District Western Visayas creating JTGB. /MP

Monday, February 12, 2007

EDITORIAL

Safe and Enjoyable Driving

Last week, helmet as headgear for motorcycle riders enjoyed a brisk sale in Kalibo. The authorities in Aklan has finally wake up to the reality that motorcycle riding is dangerous but the danger in it will surely be minimized if not stopped in case of accident by wearing headgear. So that the police is now implementing the law requiring motorcycle riders to wear headgear to protect the head in case of vehicular accident.
Some medical doctors and hospital staff members in Iloilo City has the observation that majority of the victims brought to their respective hospitals came from Aklan.
The imposition on the motorcycle riders to wear headgears while riding on a motorcycle is an excellent start to enforce traffic laws, rules and regulations to save lives and properties, as well as maintain road courtesy and discipline.
Wearing of headgear is just the beginning and is just one measure to mitigate the effect of accident. Better still, if other measures be instituted to prevent accidents.

SPEED

The motorists must be compelled to observe speed limit. Speed limit and other signages be installed in the appropriate and necessary locations of the road to caution motorists such as in curves and road intersections.
POLLUTION

In Aklan, both two-wheel, three-wheel and 4-wheel or more vehicles are agents of pollution. Aklan is fast becoming noisy due to vehicle engines and blowing of horns and a huge "hell" because of fumes. It is only in the Philippines where drivers love to blow their horns. Due to poor vehicle maintenance and the mixing of oil with fuel in the case of motorcycles, Kalibo is becoming the center of fumes.
Those poorly maintained vehicles just stall on the road and become traffic hazards.

DRIVING SCHOOL

Aklan has no driving school where to study and learn the art and science of defensive and safe driving. As soon as one learns to start the motor engine and transfer gears, he/she applies and obtains a driver’s license by any means. This kind of driver becomes a menace to other motorists and pedestrians on the road. This is a driver who does not know how to dim its light in the evening, yield to other motorists when needed, runs according to allowable speed.
This is a driver who may not understand what is the meaning of the broken white lines and the yellow lines on the roads. Even those who understand what are white and yellow lines do not observe the meanings and just ignore it.

PARKING

The ordinance on "Parking" is the most abused and disobeyed. Anybody may visit Toting Reyes St. and Roxas Avenue and witness the various ways the tricycle drivers mock, abuse and disobey the parking ordinance.
Everyday, tricycles are parked along those roads not only in one but two and even in three layers. Anyone who wishes to enjoy the heat and the smoke, just visit and linger at Roxas Avenue, Toting Reyes Street and the Shopping Center.
However, the preservation and maintenance of a place as peaceful, enjoyable and healthful is everybody’s functions. It is not only of the police and of the government officials but it is of everybody.
Therefore, all must cooperate to have and maintain peace and order in our community. One means to have peace is obedience to traffic laws, rules and regulations. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

LGU Extracting Sand and Gravel
Sans Permit Violates Mining Code
Do the local government units (LGU) of Aklan maintain a quarry in Aklan? If none, it is necessary for any LGU to get one so that municipality requiring sand and gravel either for its own project or for sale will have a legal source. Any LGU which mines gravel or sand from any source without its own permit is violating the Philippine Mining Law.
Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, in his State of the Province address stated, "There is a total of 21 quarry permitees in Aklan as of the end of 2006, 17 for commercial sand and gravel, 2 for industrial sand and gravel, one for clay extraction and another one for small-scale mining of manganese.
Governor Marquez did not identify who are these 21 permitees. Any LGU which quarries without a mining permit is enjoying undue advantage specially if the sand and gravel digged are sold to private persons. Any LGU engaged in sand and gravel marketing to private firms and individuals must be treated similarly with any sand and gravel dealer as they are also competitors. Even if the sand and gravel extracted by any LGU is used for government project, the more urgent for any LGU to get the necessary mining permit.
40 – 30 – 30
For the gravel and sand extracted, a permittee pays. The amount collected is divided among the barangay where the quarry is located, the municipality where that barangay belongs, and the province at a proportion of 40–30–30. So that the barangay gets 40 percent, the municipality gets 30 percent and the province, in the case Aklan, gets 30 percent out of the fees the permittee pays.
Should the LGU possessed no sand and gravel quarry, therefore it paid no fee for the quantity of gravel and sand extracted. The barangay where that LGU extracts sand and gravel gets nothing out of its natural resource. Should that LGU sells its gravel extracted to corporation and private individuals, then it is unfair to legitimate legal sand and gravel dealers.
What benefits the barangays and municipality will have if the LGU extracting sand and gravel is not a quarry permittee? This means, the extraction site is not identified. There is no barangay resolution on the matter, no resolution even from the concerned LGU itself and no Environmental Certificate of Compliance from DENR. Hence, any violation of environmental by that LGU, nobody and nobody is responsible.
There is the urgent need therefore for all LGUs which are engaged in the extraction of sand and gravel to secure and properly maintain sand and gravel quarry. The site must be properly identified with proper signages.
The DENR officials are expected to look into this matter. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Sangguniang Bayan in the case of municipality are expected to enact appropriate ordinance for the matter.
Reforming The Cops
Acting Aklan police director Senior Supt. Benigno ‘Bong’ Durana warned policemen caught inside the cockpit arenas to reform and protect the good image of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or face sanctions.
He advised the cops to reform as he vowed to conduct more surprise inspections in police stations in Aklan.
Durana wishes to improve the quality of life of the Aklanons through capacity building of police and the community as well as internal reforms of the entire Aklan police. "The policemen should be at the forefront of obeying the pertinent rules and regulations governing the PNP organization," Durana stressed.
He advised the policemen of Aklan to refrain from doing unworthy acts as he will not hesitate to discipline erring personnel caught in cockpits.
Durana assumed as Police Provincial Director of Aklan on January 13, a week before the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival. "The police officers should serve as models not only for others in the organization but also to the community they serve," Durana stressed. He will conduct on the spot visits to police stations as a response to the PNP’s call to discipline its rank. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

PNP Sets Security Measures To Protect Boracay vs Terror Acts

By Venus G. Villanueva

The Philippine National Police (PNP), Kalibo, Aklan is maintaining counter measures to protect Boracay Island, the prime tourist destination of the country, against possible terror attacks.
The newly–designated Provincial Director of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) in Kalibo, Aklan, Benigno Durana, assured when asked as to the PNP’s campaign against terror acts that might spill over other areas in the country particularly Boracay Island.
PD Durana cited the synchronized efforts of the local and national officials for the public’s safety in the island and the implementation of the One Entry – One Exit Policy that will check the incoming and outgoing visitors in Boracay Island.
To fully protect the island, PD Durana said, "the PNP has existing security plans to preempt any terror attacks against tourists and the local population, a strengthened security system so people with ill motives will think twice before attacking their targets, and incident management in case unforeseen events transpire so normalcy in the island will be brought back after any incident or calamity.
"The ratio between the PNP and the residents and tourists in the island is ideal which is 1:500. Besides the PNP, the Maritime Group, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and Navy are also in Boracay and its vicinity to patrol and protect it, and to prevent any incident to happen there," Durana pointed out.
According to Durana, "the PNP has not monitored any terroristic plans involving Boracay, however, they are not letting their guards down."
"We always prepare for the worst. Any information affecting our peace and order situation, we address immediately," Durana stressed.
The new APPO Provincial Director Durana is impressed that Aklan has a stable peace and order situation, and very much manageable unlike other provinces./MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

Couple Quarrels Leaves Two Dead, Injures One

By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A couple’s quarrel resulted to the death of two persons, including the suspect and left one injured Friday evening February 2 at Nabas, Aklan.
Insp. Lino Dalisay, chief of the Nabas PNP, said the hacking incident took place at around 10:20 p.m. at Brgy Solido, Nabas, Aklan, about 45 kilometers north of the capital town of Kalibo.
Dalisay said the suspect identified as Eriberto Sijera, a native of Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan and residing at Brgy Solido at the time of the incident hacked Adela Salmorin, 84, single, inside her house.
Before the hacking incident, Sijera was looking for his wife, Edita, whom he believed hiding inside the house of his aunt, Adela. "The suspect (Sijera) is not drunk during the hacking incident. The couple often quarreled," the police chief stressed.
Sijera allegedly force opened the back door of Adela’s house and asked her where his wife was. A 13-year old witness, Cynthia Palanog pointed out she heard Adela replied to the suspect, "She (Edita) is not here." Without provocation, the suspect hacked her once on her right neck. She died on the spot. Dalisay said the witness actually heard Adela spared for her life, "Why you hacked me?" After hacking his aunt, the suspect fled towards their house, about five meters from Salmorin. While fleeing, he met 17-year old Mark Paul Abalayan.
Unknowingly, the suspect also hacked him hitting Abalayan on the head. Abalayan was brought by his neighbors to Aklan Cooperative Mission Hospital for treatment.
Responding cops led by SPO1 Calixto Vargas, SPO2 Marlon Tirazona, SPO1 Rany Somil, SPO2 Jenalyn Dela Cruz and PO1 Abdon de Mateo saw the suspect holding his 21-inch bladed weapon outside his house. Dalisay said the policemen asked the suspect to surrender, but, Sijera moved towards the police officers and hacked Vargas, who was standing a few steps away from him.
Vargas retaliated. He shot the suspect thrice with his M-16 armalite rifle. Although injured, Sijera attempted to strike back, but, Tirazona grabbed the bladed weapon of the suspect.
Sijera, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, was initially brought to Ibajay District Hospital for treatment. He was then transferred where he was declared dead on arrival at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, Kalibo, Aklan. "The shooting of Sijera is an act of self-defense," Dalisay claimed. Recovered in the crime scene were the bladed weapon and three empty shells of M-16 armalite rifle. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

TN Outlets Expand In Aklan

By Judith T. Tindog

The hunger mitigation program of the government thru the operation of Tindahan Natin (TN) is expanded in Aklan. More marginalized consumers are benefiting from quality but low priced NFA rice at P18.00 per kilogram.
Some 49 other Tindahan Natin were recently added to the 17 previous and operational TN in Aklan. The latest 49 TN are covered by a Letter of Guarantee issued by OIC – Regional Director Teresita S. Rosales of DSWD Field Office VI. Each TN operator has a financial assistance of P20,000.00 interest free loan payable in one year as a start up capital from the DSWD.
According to NFA Provincial Manager Pablito G. Gemarino, the TN outlets are accredited to service the rice needs of the community and to create livelihood. The TN operators are identified to operate in various municipalities of Aklan which are: in Brgy. Talon, Altavas; Pob. Balete, Aranas, Sition Mapait Aranas, Balete; Agbanawan, Dingle, Torralba, Manggan, Pagsanghan, Banga; Songcolan, Ambolong, Cabugao, Lalab, Napti, Batan; Pob. Buruanga, Alegria, Tigum, Katipunan, Buruanga; Pob. Ibajay, Polo, Tagbaya, San Jose, Ibajay; C. Laserna St., C. Laserna Ext., Linabuan Norte, New Buswang (Centro; Mercedes Village), Old Buswang, Roxas Ave. Ext. Andagao, Kalibo; Pob. Lezo, Bogasongan, Silakat Nonok, Lezo; Pampango, Alfonso XII, Libacao; Balactasan, Mercedes, Alaminos, Logohon, Madalag; Tugas, Mantiguib, Makato; Motag, Malay; Tigpalas, Osman, Bulabud, Cabayugan, Malinao; Pob., Nabas, Libertad, Habana, Nabas; Pob. New Washington, Puis, Polo, Cawayan, New Washington; Dongon East, Badio, Camanci Sur, Pusiw, Numancia; and Panayakan, Dapdap, Dumatad, Tangalan.
These TN operators are identified/recommended by the local DSWD in close coordination with LGU – Provincial/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices and the Brgy. Council. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

Moving Aklan Forward To Progres and Development*

By Governor Carlito S. Marquez

(Second of four parts)

AKLAN’S TOURISM CONTINUES TO RISE
Along with agriculture, tourism remains one of the anchor industries of the province of Aklan.
By year end, the number of visitors in the resort island of Boracay surpassed the half a million mark registering 558,084 tourist arrivals. About 33 percent of which, or 183,385, are foreigners, 61 percent, or 342,052, are domestic tourists, and the rest, 30,197 are overseas Filipinos.
The total tourist arrivals for 2006 translate to a money value circulating in the province of Aklan of P10.2 billion in terms of tourism receipts, P4.9 billion contributed by local tourists and P6.3 billion by foreigners.
The 2006 arrivals increased by ten percent over that of 2005 which registered 499,487 visitors.
We continue to support tourism promotion and development activities of the different local government units, the likes of the western Visayas tourism councils assembly in October where LGU Kalibo romped off with several major awards.
Thank you Ms. Karina Rossel Ruiz and staff of the Provincial Tourism office for continuously creating market for tourists.
MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS
IN AGRICULTURE
In my first term, we have introduced major innovations in agriculture. In crops production particularly rice, livestock production and in the establishment of commercial plantations for abaca and carabao mango.
Started last year with the initial 66 hectares planted to hybrid rice in the town of New Washington, Aklan’s rice granary, we have expanded hectarage of rice farms devoted to hybrid rice production to 863 hectares to include project locations in Kalibo, Numancia and Makato. Rice hybridization resulted in the average rice production of not less than 150 cavans per hectare but some farmers realized yields of 210 cavans per hectare particularly in barangay Cayangwan, Makato.
The rice hybridization program has trained a total of 39 farmers and at one time has produced a total of 1,746 bags of F1 hybrid rice seeds which were distributed not only to local farmers but also to farmers of Negros Occidental, Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras. Now, we are known in Western Visayas as the hybrid rice capital. To further strengthen this group of farmers engaged in hybrid rice seed production, we were able to access them to a bridge financing with the Land Bank of the Philippines for two million pesos.
In livestock production, we are fairly successful in our artificial insemination of large animals. This project covers six municipalities where large animal population such as cattle and carabaos are quite high in number, also covering fifty barngays. Last year, we have artificially inseminated a total of 357 cattle and 110 carabaos. From it, we produced calf drops or offsprings of 110 cattle and 25 carabaos. Still, in the pregnancy stage, are 48 cattle and 12 carabaos. We will be buying these offsprings for our livestock production at the 8-hectare animal breeding center in Cayangwan-Tina, Makato, Aklan aimed to increase livestock production for commercial meat or for dispersal to our livestock raisers. We are going to establish our own cattle fattening project to be included in the economic enterprise department aimed to supply the requirement of our province with high quality meat or beef.
Thank you Dr. Gervase Radislao and staff of the office of the provincial veterinarian.
Officially launched late last year was our upland crops development program where we opted to maximize productivity through the establishment of plantations for commercial high value crops like carabao mangoes.
Out of the 37.5 hectares planted in 2005, we added another 16 hectares last year of mango plantations spread in seven municipalities with 44 farmer beneficiaries thereby generating employment for about 130 mango plantation workers.
The provincial government provided free quality planting materials, the grafted carabao mango seedlings, and technical assistance.
It is now time to make interventions in our abaca industry so that we could maximize add-on value to the traditional shipment of abaca fibers for export in bales.
But we must expand our abaca plantations first before we could even plan for an abaca pulp factory intended to export abaca products in semi-processed and processed form to maximize income for our abaca farmers and traders.
For this reason, last year, we established more abaca plantations in four barangays in Libacao, the abaca capital of Aklan, two barangays in Madalag, one in Banga, and one in Ibajay with a total area of 113 hectares with 110 abaca farmer-beneficiaries.
We had already provided the beneficiaries with suckers to be able to start planting. We appropriated funds in our 2007 budget for this purpose out of our 20 percent IRA Development Fund, P2 million for the overall abaca development project, P0.4 million for abaca tissue culture and production project and another P0.4 million for abaca pulp enterprises. We hope to establish an abaca pulp factory in the town of Banga in the very near future.
Thank you PDO staff, FIDA, OPA and ASU for the coordinated efforts for the success of the abaca program.
Our fishery sector already initiated the establishment of seaweeds demonstration farms and nursery projects in recognition that this marine algae has various uses, and has big market demand commanding high price in the international market. These are located in both western and eastern parts of the province to determine viability because of the differing weather conditions in each of the location in Aklan. These will be in barangay Tambac, Poblacion, Polo, Cawayan, Ochando and Fatima in the municipality of New Washington with a total area of 760 square meters, barangays Santander, Bel-is and Alegria in Buruanga with a total area of 1800 square meters, and in Poblacion, Malay with a total area of 500 square meters.
As part of our fishery resource development through the coastal resource management, we installed last year 637 units of concrete artificial reefs in barangay Polo and Tambac in New Washington, in Navitas and Camanci Norte in Numancia, Barangay Bel-is and Santander in Buruanga, in Baybay, Makato and Barangay Mabilo in Kalibo. We also established marine stock enhancement project, also in Barangay Bel-is, Buruanga with 6000 pieces of abalone.
Inspired by the Kalibo Bakhawan Eco Park, Mangrove Reforestation Projects had been established in Guinbaliwan, New Washington and in Barangay Odiong and Cabugao, Altavas.
We continue to maintain our freshwater hatchery and demonstration farm in barangay Nalook, Kalibo where tilapia fries and fingerlings are being dispersed to beneficiaries engaging in fresh water aqua-culture while at the same time serving as demonstration field for aqua-culture technologies. Last year, we dispersed 8000 pieces of catfish and hito fingerlings in project sites in New Washington, Tangalan, Numancia, and Buruanga. Some 16,130 pieces of get excel tilapia fingerlings had been dispersed to 15 farmers in various barangays engaged in tilapia raising.
Another project that would interest you all is Cutflower plantation in Libacao, Aklan. We are doubling our effort to increase the plantation this year.
Thank you Mr. Delano T. Tefora, Ms. Salome P. David, Mr. William Castillo, Mr. Edwin Rome, Mr. Uldarico Las Piñas and staff of the provincial agriculturist office.
Our mines and geo-sciences division tasked to safeguard and regulate extraction of our natural wealth hidden beneath the bowels of the earth, under the EEDD, is closely monitoring the activities of our permitees not only to maximize collection of fees but also to prevent destructive extraction activities endangering our environment, most especially the erosion effect of the wild river along the river banks.
We have a total of 21 quarry permitees as of the end of last year, 17 for commercial sand and gravel, two (2) for industrial sand and gravel, one (1) for clay extraction and another one for small-scale mining of manganese. Permit holders are allowed to operate in the towns of Banga, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Madalag, Malinao, Nabas and Numancia. This chamber had laid down rules and regulations including the imposition of fees for quarry permitees. Last year, we collected about two million pesos from the fees imposed by our provincial ordinance.
Thank you Mr. Bernardo Rodriguez, Jr. and Engr. Valentin Teodosio of EEDD mines and geo-sciences.
INVESTMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION
Per annual report of the Department of Trade and Industry, Aklan Provincial Office, incremental employment for directly and indirectly impacted agency activities registered 5001, 54 percent higher than targeted for last year. Industry sectors which absorbed the highest employment are the food processing and the loomweaving.
Total investments poured in the province of Aklan amounted to P958.534 million or an increase of more than 157 percent than 2005 performance, P933.4 million of which came from some 1400 new businesses registered with the DTI. The great bulk of the investment figures came from new resorts and hotels in the resort island of Boracay.
Small and medium enterprises in the priority list of DTI realized sales income of P172.9 million, an increase of 14 percent over that of 2005’s P151.7 million. The loomweaving, food processing and the gifts and housewares sectors surpassed sales targets.
The quality of our products was further recognized when our loomwoven products acquired the quality seal from the intellectual property office, the first for indigenous fabrics. The Kalibo one-town-one product in loomweaving was chosen as the regional model for Western Visayas, also as the top seller in Region VI and the 2nd top seller in the 1st Visayas OTOP fair at SM-Cebu Trade Hall.
Thank you very much Director Ermelinda Pollentes and DTI Staff, Local SME Producers, Hugod Aklan, and Exhibitors.
Our provincial employment service office is in the forefront finding employment and income opportunities for our people in the labor force.
Our peso served a total of 4,596 clients last year, either applying for jobs, both local and abroad, or as applicants for NBI clearance and passports or pose queries on immigration and visa requirements. It also entertained complaints from clients for accessing to the Department of Labor, overseas workers welfare administration and other matters involving overseas Filipino workers.
Fifteen duly licensed recruitment agencies conducted recruitment activities in the province for job vacancies abroad particularly in the Caribbean countries, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Kuwait and elsewhere. Out of the 585 applicants, 194 were successfully deployed for jobs in the said countries majority of whom where deployed in the Caribbean country, remitting millions of dollars to our dear province, and pump priming our local economy.
We were able to launch the Filipino migrant workers desk for the province, the first in Region VI, courtesy of a memorandum of agreement entered into by and between the OWWA represented by administrator Marianito D. Roque and the province of Aklan represented by your governor.
TESDA in its community based training programs turned out a total of 1301 graduates in food processing, tourism trades, health and entrepreneurship programs. Its school-based programs monitored a total of 1330 enrollees in 14 technical and vocational schools of which 509 had already graduated.
Thank you Ms. Vivian R. Solano and staff of the Provincial Employment Service Office and TESDA Provincial staff.(to be continued next issue) /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

Traffic Rules, Filipino Style *

By Angeles Sodusta

* A speech delivered during the Kalantiao Toastmasters Club regular bi-weekly meeting held on February 1, 2007 at Bread and Butter Center, Kalibo, Aklan.

Traffic – is the movement of vehicles as well as pedestrians in the streets or highways. It is regulated to avoid chaos. Traffic must be controlled to have safe and efficient flow of vehicles like cars, buses, vans, and trucks over urban streets and highways.
To control the traffic, there are rules and regulations to be followed. These rules and regulations are expressed through signs and road markings. Traffic signs and road markings follow a uniform practice throughout the world and are designed to convey information with a minimum of words to avoid confusing drivers unfamiliar with the area and the language,
We have observed that the Philippines is still behind in the installation of traffic lights and other advanced mechanism to promote traffic flow regulation. Even direction signages are not enough. In some urban areas, traffic signals and lights are installed to permit safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians at busy intersections.
There are countries, that are using right hand drive cars such as the Philippines, United States of America, Australia and others. The left hand drive cars are also used by countries such as Japan, South Korea, France and others. However, the traffic signs and road markings and pictures are just the same.
In the Philippines, however these traffic signs are also visible in the streets but mind you; Filipinos have their own way of traffic rules interpretations.
Generally, traffic rules interpretations Filipino style are the following:
Rule 1 - The vehicle on the left has always the right of way:
This rule is applicable at the intersection in a place where there is no traffic light installed like the province of Aklan:
Filipino Style: The vehicle with the gutsy driver or the luxury car has always the right of way. Cars also have inferiority complex.
Rule 2-One Way Street:
Other countries are observing one way street in its strict sense.
Filipino Way: The Filipino driver on the opposite direction will stop upon seeing a one way street. Then he will look around, if the traffic enforcer is present or watching. In the absence of the police or its deputy, the driver will immediately pass through the one way street in the opposite direction. He would rejoice after he successfully passed through without being caught and would reason out if got caught. Filipinos are very reasonable!
Rule 3 - No Parking:
In other countries like Hong Kong, Japan and the United States, "No Parking" is absolutely no parking even if it means a kilometer walk from the parking area to the destination. Here in the Philippines, No Parking means double parking. I remember one of the prosecutor fiscals in the Prosecutors Office, Kalibo who was hurrying to go to his office only to be blocked by a tricycle waiting for a passenger in the middle of the street between the Regional Trial Court office, Kalibo and the post office. He was honking his vehicle but he was disappointed that the driver refused to give way. So the prosecutor got out of his vehicle; confronted the driver; asked why he waited for passengers in the middle of the street; and why he blocked the way to the prosecutor’s office and other government offices. He was shocked when the tricycle driver answered him back which I quote "Ham-an, ikaw ro tag-ana it karsada ngara hay?" Unquote. What do you think happened to the tricycle driver? He was apprehended and paid the maximum penalty for breaking the traffic regulation. It was citizens arrest!
Rule 4 – Pedestrian Crossing:
Any part of the road is a pedestrian crossing to the Filipinos. Even in the most busy streets in Manila, the underpass or overpass where pedestrians are strictly prohibited to cross, there are still pedestrians crossing in these areas. So we are tagged as violators and life in our country is becoming cheaper because many were able to pass through these streets dead on arrival. Very sad.
Rule 5. The Loading and Unloading Area:
Even though there are places designated as loading and unloading areas, it is in the psyche of the Filipino drivers that whenever there is a passenger waiting for a ride they willfully stop and let the passenger ride even if it is not in the designated loading and unloading area. Have you ever observed tricycle drivers in Kalibo, Aklan, that even in the middle of the street they stop and pick up passengers?
I have known one of the legal minds in Aklan that he whacked the tricycle driver who cut his way and stopped right in front of his car while in motion to get a passenger. For sure, the driver knew him that neither retaliation nor legal suit against the lawyer was filed.
Rule 6 – NO LITTERING:
Trash is properly disposed by the commuters or vehicle passengers; littering is a "no no" and must be strictly observed by the drivers as well as the passengers in other countries. In the Philippines, however, commuters’ trash is disposed anywhere inside or outside of the vehicle. The roads are made huge trash cans. Sometimes the vehicle that follows is splashed with garbage.
In one of our trips to Iloilo, I had this very disgusting experience on my way there. I was following the Ceres bus and waiting for an opportunity to overtake when I noticed that plastic bags full of trashes were thrown out from said bus. It rained plastic bags, not cats and dogs.
There are lots of rules pertaining to traffic, but if discussed all of the rules in my talk, I will be penalized for being too talkative.
As I have said, we are tagged as "law violators" but all of us here present are exerting efforts to correct the impression. All traffic rules are promulgated for our own good as citizens of this country. Government agency in charge of the implementation of these rules has been trying hard to educate the drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations as well as the commuters. Some organizations are also helping the government in this matter. With our joint efforts, we can attain changes to become traffic law abiding Filipinos. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro


Bangud Sa Tatlong Dangaw
Nga Eobid


Mailaon baea kamu magpoeot ag magtipon it mga bagay nga owa it huyap kapareho ko pakot, alambre, takop it garapon, eobid, kaeat, eansang ag iba pa? Abo nga mga nagmanggaranon sa rayang mga nagtipon it "basura". Nag umwad ro andang pagpangabuhi ag nakapatapos sa pagpa eskwela ko andang mga onga. Sa pihak nga bahin, imbis nga magbugana ag mag malipayon ro anang pagpangabuhi, naha adto sa kasubo bangud dumiretso imaw sa presuhan.
Mailaon man magpamueot it ano mang bagay maskin siin si Silas. May daea imaw perme nga kostal nga puno it nagakasari-saring bagay nga anang hapueot. Pag-abot sa anda, ana dayon nga gina hugasan, sabunan, banlawan ag bun-agon. Pagmaea, idugang sa anang ibang natipon.
Isaeang adlaw, sa atubang it mabahoe nga baeay, nanaog sa anang saeakyan si Walter agud buksan rong "gate". Umagi si Silas sa rayang baeay. May hakita imaw nga tatlong dangaw nga eobid. Pinueot nana ag sinueod sa anang kostal ag pumanaw. Hanuonan man nga hakita imaw ni Walter sa espiho ko anang saeakyan ogaling owa sa anang bu-ot.
Pagkaaga, ka’t nagapanaw eon si Walter, hapan-uhan nana nga naduea ro anang pulseras nga may eobong nga dyamante. Guin osoy nana sa tanan nga parte ko anang sueod. Basi baea nawigit sa karsada? Kotana sa paino-ino. "Tama, pagpanaog ko kahapon, may isaeang ka magueang nga may guin poeot. Segurado guid ako nga idto kana ro akon nga pulseras," hambae ni Walter sa dogalingon.
Eagi-eagi imaw nga nag adto sa pulisya. Gin "report" ro pagkaduea ko anang pulseras ag kon sin-o ro nag bo-oe. Anang gin pa blotter. Kaibahan ko mga pulis, nag-adto sanda sa baeay ni Silas agod bawi-on rong pulseras. Nagpamalibad rong magueang. Tongod kara, guin daea imaw sa presuhan ag guin plastahan it kiha nga pagpanakaw. Rong maka eo-eo-uy nga Silas, nagtener sa presuhan nga inosente.
Makataliwan rong pilang domingo, nagbalik si Walter sa pulisya agud ipaguwa si Silas. Nakita eot-a nana ro anang pulseras nga nahueog sa kilid it tukador nga hatabunan it papel. Nangayo imaw it pasensya kay Silas. Sa kabu-ot ni Silas, anang guin patawad si Walter, ogaling may napabilin nga leksyon sa isipan ni Walter ag mga kapulisyahan.
Indi ka maghusgar sa itsura it isaeang ka tawo tongod sa likod ko anang kaeaw-ay ag kapobrehon, hay may bueawanon imaw nga tagipusuon nga indi matumbasan it manggad. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

SPECIAL REPORT

SEC Starts Digging Into P20-B Softdrinks
Stock Market Scam


By Alex P. Vidal

Two years after an Ilonggo former executive of a softdrinks company exposed the depot/non-traditional warehouse (NTW) "fraudulent reporting" in the Cosmos Bottling Corporation (CBC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally started its formal investigation on the reported "P20 billion window-dressing anomaly" in the Coke/Cosmos/PhilBev-San Miguel. This was revealed last week (February 2) by Fortunato "Nonoy" H. Peñaredondo, former CBC area sales manager and assistant vice president in South Mega Manila, who arrived in Iloilo City for the burial of his late mother Marie Luz Hinahon.
Peñaredondo said, "SEC Chairperson Fe Barin and Commissioner Cueto detailed the adverse effect of the scam on the stock market and the dealers and employees of Coke/Cosmos/PhilBev during a meeting with dealers and other stakeholders in the issue last January 26. SEC is very conservative about this," added Peñaredondo referring to the shares of stocks of the public in Cosmos which he insisted is owned separately and should not have been integrated with Coke.
FORMAL INVESTIGATION
The meeting has triggered the process of the SEC formal investigation of the anomaly according to Peñaredondo, Barin raised the issue of "conflict of interest and maybe illegal" in the operational integration of Coke and Cosmos." SEC entered into the picture after several CBC "long-time" dealers and taxpayers, in a letter to Barin dated November 28, 2006, requested for investigation on the reported "anomalous scheme employed by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to inflate its financial records by implementing the so-called Non-Traditional Warehousing (NTW) or the Central Depot System (CDS)." Thus wrote the dealers led by Erlinda Manalo: "In this system, the Cosmos products were not delivered to our store or bodega but instead stored in the so-called Central depot being rented, manned and supervised by CBC, and for that, we were required to issue post dated checks for the products not yet delivered to us."
"Accordingly, our million (pesos) worth of post dated checks issued to CBC would form part of the account receivables of SMC," they added. The dealers informed Barin that "CBC has filed charges under B.P.22 against us or for alleged non-payment of the Cosmos products our having issued post dated checks, and for our non-withdrawal of the supposed delivered goods to us." They said, "obviously, this scheme is resorted to inflate the revenues of the company thru account receivables and to ‘window-dress’ the company’s financial records, to the damage and prejudice of the investing public. In short, this is a scheme to deceive the public." The signatories requested Barin to "immediately" investigate the matter "for the protection of the investing public."
BASIC ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
In his letter to Barin dated December 11, 2006, Peñaredondo also stressed that "the irregularity of the practice is that it does not meet the conditions of a consummated sale according to basic accounting principles wherein the payment or the realization of credit by a customer in exchange for the transfer of physical possession or ownership of the merchandise being bought should occur." Peñaredondo added: "In this case, the transfer of physical possession of Cosmos products from the Company to the dealer did not occur since the NTW’s are rented, manned, and supervised by CCBPA, CBC, or PBI."
MANIFESTO FROM EMPLOYEES
As this developed, 76 employees of CBC SODACO Sales Office Ecoland in Davao City, signed a manifesto dated September 26, 2006 "supporting the cause of the proper, impartial, and just investigation by the SMC management and by the proper government agencies such as the SEC and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the window-dressing anomaly within the Coca-Cola Bottlers Group of San Miguel Corporation which happened in the four-year period (2001-2005).
"By this act, we aim to achieve justice or the numerous employees of the above-mentioned companies who were persecuted, harassed, and terminated from employment, as well as, the general public who were adversely affected by this anomaly," wrote the signatories led by Jonathan Omega and Rolando Lagare. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

“Larawan At Lahi: Portraits Of The Filipino People”

At The Museo It Akean on February 12 to 16

"LARAWAN AT LAHI: Portraits of the Filipino People" is a Traveling Exhibit to visit Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; Bayawan, Negros Oriental; and Kalibo, Aklan. The Exhibit in Aklan will be on February 12 to 16, 2007 at the Museo it Akean in Kalibo. The Opening Ceremonies will be on February 12 at 4 P.M. at Martelino Street fronting the Museo.
This exhibit is brought by the Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes Memorial Foundation, Inc. with the National Commission for Culture and arts (NCCA) – Subcommission for Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts through the Commission on Kapatagan Cultural Communities of Western Visayas.
Students, teachers and the general public are invited to see this rare exhibit in multi-media and interactive that features the different ethno-linguistic people that made up the Philippines.
"Larawan at Lahi: Portraits of the Filipino People" is a visual survey of the many facets of the Filipino countenance geared to bring to one extensive journey the wide spectrum of the different people that comprise a nation. The listing of the many different groupings and peoples comprising this exhibition is based on accepted lists of ethno-linguistic groups of the country. It neither intends to imply divisiveness nor promote individualism or regionalism, but brings to fore the beauty and diversity that constitute the entire Philippine archipelago.
This exhibition presents in a non-conventional way the many different images that have been photographed over the years to capture the interests of the young generation. Using latest digital technology and lay-outing software, the images presented are taken from different photo contests, commissioned works, personal collections, scanned photographs from expensive and hard to find coffee table books, old geographic magazines, internet download images with permission from its sources as reflected on the credits of this exhibition. May these spectacular images be accessible to the general public who may not afford to own or view them in their private capacities.
Special mention is given to anthropologists, Dr. Jeus Peralta, Jr. and Dr. Dave Barradas for their invaluable assistance and contribution to this exhibit.
Writing and Critiquing Seminar/Workshop
The Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes Memorial Foundation, Inc. with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) – Submission for Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts through the Commission on Kapatagan Cultural Communities of Western Visayas will sponsor a one-day "Project Proposal Writing and Critiquing for NCCA Funding" Seminar/Workshop on February 14, 2007, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. to be held at the Gil Mijares Building.
Teachers, Local Government units, Non-government Agencies, cultural workers, artists, professionals and students are invited to attend this rare seminar/workshop that will teach proposal writing/critiquing and possible funding for NCCA projects. A ready proposal is encouraged to be submitted by the participants. The proposal format can be obtained from the Foundation office at the 2nd Floor of Museo it Akean. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com