Entrepreneurial Farmer

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

Prone to Fire

According to Chief Insp. Dennis Daymon of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Aklan, "Kalibo public market is fire prone". Everybody agrees with Chief Insp. Daymon but what is the BFP-Aklan doing with that problem? Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan declared its "loss of confidence" on Kalibo Fire Marshal Gweenah Besas for her non-cooperation. How can a head of office perform his/her job well if relation with LGU officials is very poor?
The main rear door facing the parking lot of Gaisano Mall, Kalibo has been closed since December 2006. Store clients whose cars are parked in the Gaisano parking lot may pass via a small door designed for handicapped people in the ground floor. The passage is narrow, people enter the mall in single file. The ceiling is quite low, so attention, for one might bump his/her head on the ceiling and have brain damage.
What does BFP Kalibo do with this situation? Can it enforce the fire code at Gaisano? Will Gaisano open that door, as it was designed for the security of its clients? Will it continue closing it until similar incident to that in Ormoc City happens? A little panic, and Gaisano Kalibo will have a "Wowowee".
BORACAY BUILDINGS
As to Boracay Island, the number one tourists destination, most of the resort hotels, restaurants and other tourists’ facilities have not complied with the Building Code of the Philippines. Most of the buildings have not been issued any Certificate of Occupancy for failure to comply with the basic and necessary requirements.
Even the prestigious high class resort hotel in Boracay Island has no fire signages in its function hall to guide the guests what to do in case of fire. BFD Boracay has not done any move as no papers are submitted to its office for action.
Is the BFD reactive? Can BFD initiate move so that those concerned will comply with the law and prevent any untoward incident?
ONE ENTRY ONE EXIT
The implementation of "one entry one exit" in Boracay is fast succeeding. It has greatly improved the transportation system in the island and most probably the island security. However, there are more things to be improved.
There are several kinds of fees like the terminal, environment and fare. These confuse the visitors especially the first timers. Window for "Roll on Roll off" must be separate from that window for tourists bound for Boracay.
Our group which went to Boracay Island on March 1 was issued Terminal Fee instead of boat fare tickets. The boarding in and disembarkation from the boat were orderly. That should be continued. However, the jeepney charged our group of 10 members P250 or P25 per passenger. When we went home Sunday, March 4, the jeepney charged us P7.50 each. How much really is the fare?
As to the tricycle, the driver charged me P20.00 when I went to Cagban Jetty Port to meet a friend. On my return from Cagban, the tricycle driver charged me P15.00 only. How much really is the authorized fare for both tricycle and jeepney? These rates must be posted in most conspicuous places in Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports to guide both the passengers and drivers.
OLD JEEP FOR BANGA
Mayor Jeremy N. Fuentes of Banga was advised via fax message by higher police headquarter that a brand new Toyota Altis was allocated for Banga PNP.
However, what arrived is an old 4 x 4 jeep that New Washington PNP used to drive. After the turn over PO1 Pelialyn Navarra of the Banga PNP drove it home to Banga. The jeep urgently needs body repair and repainting especially the badly rusted under chassis, and change the heavily damaged parts like tierod end, battery, alternator and starter as it does not start unless pushed.
WEAR HELMETS
Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr. has announced police will arrest those motorcycle riding persons who do not wear helmet. The drive is succeeding in Kalibo and Numancia. But how about in 15 other towns of Aklan? Are those motorcycle riders in other towns exempted from wearing helmet? /MP