Entrepreneurial Farmer

Does Metro Kalibo 

Legally Exist?

by Ambrosio R. Villorente

The “Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved the schedule of New Base Market Values of Real Properties for the 17 municipalities of Aklan to be effective starting January 2015,” Mr. Odon S. Bandiola, SP Secretary reported.

The SP’s approval includes special base market valuation of real properties in the resort island of Boracay, Caticlan, Malay, Barangay Union in Nabas, and Metro Kalibo composed of Poblacion, Estancia, Andagao, and New Buswang, Mr. Bandiola reported further.

Are the Poblacion, Estancia, Andagao, and New Buswang legally organized and called Metro Kalibo? Metro Kalibo has special base market valuation of real estate properties and most probably much comparatively higher than in any place in Aklan. And one of the reasons why the four barangays in the Municipality of Kalibo are called Metro Kalibo is to assess higher base market valuation of real properties, hence higher taxes to be paid.

However, is it legal to name a place like Metro Kalibo without a law or ordinance approved by offices concerned for purposes of taxation?

SP Honors Precious Day

During one of their Regular Sessions, the Aklan SP members praised and honored an 8 year old Precious Day Ame Yecla.

Precious Day is a grade III pupil in St. Dominic School, Kalibo, Aklan. She won gold and silver medals in the chess standard category and two silvers in the rapid and blitz categories during the 15th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship held at Cotal Central, Macau, China.

In recognition of her accomplishments in sports, Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores, Cong. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr. and Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo conferred upon Precious Day Ame Yecla Certificates of Recognition recently.

Precious Day is one of the children of Mr. Yusi Seraspi Yecla of Polo, Banga and Mrs. Georalin Ame Yecla of Mobo, Kalibo, Aklan.

Arbor Day In Aklan

Through General Ordinance No. 006 S., 2014, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has fixed every third Friday of August starting 2014 and thereafter as Arbor Day in the entire Province of Aklan, according to Mr. Odon S. Bandiola, SP Secretary.

The Arbor Day Ordinance in Aklan was approved by the provincial legislative body during its 20th regular session on June 18, 2014 pursuant to Republic Act No. 10176 known as the Arbor Day Act of 2012 and its Implementating Rules and Regulations.

The said provincial ordinance mandates all local chief executives in the province to constitute and activate Arbor Day Committee in their respective levels and jurisdiction with the Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office as lead agencies in the yearly observance.

The lead agencies and participating instrumentalities shall formulate plan and implementation strategies in the observance of Arbor Day to include subsequent action plans to sustain programs like the Greening Plan and the planting and maintenance of trees.

The ordinance authorizes local government units to appropriate funds for the purpose of utilize existing allowable and relevant outlays in their respective annual budget.

Other government departments mandated to participate in the Arbor Day Observance and continuing programs are the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Tourism, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippine, Philippine Coconut Authority, Civil Society Organizations, Liga ng mga Barangay and Media organizations. /MP