NFA Aklan

NFA Aklan Holds Orientation On Food
For School Program II

By: Judith T. Tindog

An orientation about the implementation of the DepEd – NFA Memorandum of Agreement on Food For School Program II was recently conducted by the local NFA office. The orientation was held in the NFA Aklan Training Center, Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan. Mgr. Pablito G. Gemarino warmly welcomed everyone. He gave the background of the program.
Participants were DepEd officials identified in schools located in the 5th class municipalities of Aklan like Lezo, Tangalan and Buruanga. Ms. Evelyn Y. Rogan, Division Nurse Coordinator – Aklan/Nurse In Charge and Mary Jean Arsenio, Division Nutrition Coordinator/Public Health Nurse I were also present.
The DepEd spearheads the Food for School Program II. It is a package of comprehensive and immediate intervention for Grade – I pupils and pre-schoolers and their families. It includes provision of food assistance through the distribution of one (1) kilogram of rice in exchange for their attendance to school and at the same time conducts values formation activities and productivity skills training to their parents. The program aims to develop and empower the poor Filipino families to rise to a desired level of well being through provision of development support and interventions.
In Aklan, the target beneficiaries are the Grade – 1 and pre-schoolers presently enrolled at Agcawilan-Silakat Nonok Elementary School (ES), Uldario P. Custodio ES, Tayhawan ES, all in Lezo, Aklan; Tangalan ES, Tamalagon ES, Vivo ES, Pudiot ES, Jawili ES, Baybay ES, Dapdap ES, Tagas ES, Panayakan ES, Tondog Primary School (PS), Dumatad PS, Afga PS, Bungsod PS, Lanipga-Napataag PS all in Tangalan, Aklan; Santander ES, Habana ES, Alegria ES all in Buruanga, Aklan. The total enrollees in Grade-1 reached to 937 pupils while pre-schoolers reached to 427 pupils or 1,364 in all. A family with children all qualified for the program shall be limited to one beneficiary only.
Mgr. Gemarino assured the continuous supply of good quality of IFR/WMR repacked in one (1) kilogram based on the number of beneficiaries for a period of 90 school days.
Delivery of the rice requirement is assured to the school representatives. With the readiness of the NFA, the schedule of the initial delivery in November 2005 was made possible.
Assistance and coordination with DepEd from time to time will be done on the progress and problems encountered in the implementation of the program. Billing, payment and reconciliation between DepEd and NFA is on a monthly basis. /MP

BSP-Aklan

BSP-Aklan Hosts 46th
Annual Scout Executives Conference

Aklan Council, Boy Scouts of the Philippines hosted the 46th Annual Scout Executives Conference held at Sampaguita Gardens Resort, New Washington, Aklan just recently.
Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino, BSP Council Chairman and Atty. Diego M. Luces, Provincial Administrator, in behalf of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez gave the words of welcome to the 130 participants and staff coming from the different Councils all over the Philippines.
Also present as Keynote Speaker during the opening Program was Hon. Francisco B. Aniag, Jr., Congressman of Bulacan and Senior Vice President, BSP National Executive Board.
The Aklan Council, BSP with the Province of Aklan hosted the Welcome Dinner held at the BSP Headquarters, Kalibo, Aklan.
Delegates were Council Scout Executives (SE) and Field Scout Executives who came from the 108 Councils all over the Philippines. Topics discussed were SEs Job, performance management, marketing Scouting and Workshop on Redesigning the BSP Vehicles. The Association of the Scout Executives of the Philippines held meeting and election of Officers for Year 2006. Initiation rites to the new Scout Executives was also held.
Mr. Abdullah Rasheed, Regional Director of the World Scout Bureau/Asia-Pacific Region and a citizen of Maldives gave the challenge to the Scout Executives during the Closing Ceremonies. Delegates were given an evaluation sheet and majority rated the conference outstanding.
Participants toured around Aklan especially in Boracay Island after the conference. They had a great time staying in Aklan and planned to return to Aklan bringing their families. /MP

US PEACE CORP VISITS RCK

Picture shows MS. HEATHER MOELLER, a U.S. Peace Corp Volunteer in Numancia Integrated School, Poblacion, Numancia, Aklan during a short talk last February 3, 2005 at Rotary Club of Kalibo, RC Livelihood and Training Center, Kalibo, Aklan. mailto:gonteach@bellsouth.net

Editorial – December 8, 2005

Public-Private Mix DOTS {PPMD} in Aklan
By: Megs S. Lunn

In many countries, private health care providers are the gateway to health services for people with symptoms of tuberculosis. The types of private providers and their roles in TB management, however, vary greatly among and within countries.
The National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey done in 1997 (1997 NPS) revealed that the magnitude of TBS in the Philippines hardly declined between 1982 and 1997. In 1996, the National TB Control Program (NTP) adopted the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) strategy. By the end of 2001, more than 90 percent of the population have access to it. Cohort analysis revealed good treatment outcomes. Public-private sector collaboration in TB control was strengthened since the Philippine Coalition Against TB (PhilCAT) was organized in 1994. There are four areas of collaboration, namely, policy development, advocacy and information dissemination, training and research and service delivery. Four models of public-private mix (PPM) DOTS in service delivery were developed. The private DOTS clinics provide the space, staff and operational funds while the Department of Health (DOH) provided technical assistance, anti-TB drugs, laboratory supplies and forms. Evaluation showed that PPM in TB control is feasible with good results. The major challenge is to replicate and institutionalize the PPM DOTS.
Hence, the municipality of Kalibo, thru the Municipal Health Office is privileged to be chosen as one of the expansion sites of PPMD. To make global health initiatives on communicable diseases with big emphasis on TB, the Municipality of Kalibo held a Public-Private Mix DOTS {PPMD} Symposium for Non-Medical Participants last December 6, 2005 at the CAP Bldg, Kalibo, Aklan. The symposium started with the warm welcome of Municipal Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo. Dr. Jocelyn T. Garcia, Rural Health Physician and PPMD Unit Head introduced the guest speaker – Dr. Edith G. Caloyloy of DOH 6, Regional NTP Coordinator and Vice-Chair, CICAT.
A very lively and productive open forum followed her presentation. Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, assisted by Dr. Jocelyn T. Garcia and Dr. Agrelita D. Fernandez awarded the Certificate of Appreciation to the guest speaker. Vice Mayor Nilda B. Tambong gave the closing message. Ms. Marjo Verushka M. Morales was the program host.
Dr. Caloyloy discussed The Growing Burden of Tuberculosis in the Philippines. According to her, “Tuberculosis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and the most common cause of death in HIV-positive adults living in less-developed countries, yet it is a preventable and treatable disease.”
Since the quality of treatment influences the duration of illness and the case fatality rate, WHO developed a strategy for TB control comprising of five {5}s elements: political commitment, diagnosis by direct smear microscopy, a mechanism to secure drug supplies, standardized recording and reporting, and use of standardized short-course chemotherapy with direct observation of treatment.
Tuberculosis deaths include those of patients who died without ever being treated or while receiving treatment, as well as late deaths from relapse or posttuberculous complications.
DOTS strategy calls for sustained political commitment by national governments and mobilization of additional resources – human and financial – from within and outside endemic countries to help implement a comprehensive and expanded DOTS programme. The DOTS programme should be made an integral health system activity with nation-wide coverage that anchors TB activities throughout the health system at all levels, including peripheral health facilities and the community. ssBeing a public good with large benefits to society, adequate resources should be made available to achieve the goal of TB control worldwide.
Particular efforts are needed to foster local, national and international partnerships for TB programmes taking into account technical and financial requirements at all levels like improving the balance between disease-specific and sectorwide programs, between treatment and prevention, and among the roles of public, private, and community organizations and substantially enhancing monitoring and evaluation, research, and data gathering capacity at both the global and the country level.
Dr. Caloyloy stressed that, “Social mobilization is needed to tackle TB within high-prevalence countries. This is essential to further sustain the political will necessary for effective implementation of a comprehensive DOTS strategy. Governments can facilitate social mobilization by fostering communication among all health care providers, patients and public at large especially with the help from the media for information dissemination and public awareness,” Dr. Caloyloy further srecommended a method of case detection like the sputum smear microscopy among symptomatic persons rather than the use of x-ray results to avoid wrong diagnosis of the patients. Patients seeking care at health care facilities should be given more importance and for them not to be ashamed, rather to be proud of the treatment. In return, health care services must be available and accessible services to the whole population sof the community. Adequate investments in the health system are essential to provide access to a sputum microscopy network with built-in quality control.
Likewise, HIV infection remains the single most important factor that increases the risk of developing TB. For this purpose, TB control programmes should be linked closely with HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes. Strategies for patient care must be be developed.
As resources increase, additional diagnostic tools such as chest X-ray, mycobacterial culture and drug susceptibility testing may be added to supplement sputum smear microscopy in a systematic manner. Standardized short-course chemotherapy to all cases of TB under proper case-management conditions including direct observation of treatment; proper case management conditions imply technically sound and socially supportive treatment of services must be made available. To ensure the accountability of TB services, help TB patients to adhere to treatment and avoid emergence of drug-resistant forms, direct observation of treatment is recommended.
Harnessing community contribution to TB care will increase access to effective TB care. To enable them to adhere to treatment, TB patients need support and care sensitive to their needs. It means providing a treatment partner or supporter acceptable to patients to reinforce their motivation to continue treatment and counter the tendency of some to interrupt treatment. TB control programmes must explore the use of locally appropriate and acceptable ways of community-based or work place-based direct observation of treatment. Quality-assured sputum microscopy must be accessible to monitor the treatment progress, assess treatment outcomes and certify cure among patients of pulmonary tuberculosis.
According to Dr. Caloyloy, “these Anti-TB drugs are made available free of charge to all TB patients since curing TB patients is beneficial to society at large. Their proper utilization in practice should be strictly monitored. People who are suspected with TB must go to their respective Rural Health Center and seek the treatment as soon as possible to avoid the spreading of the disease.”
Dr. Jocelyn T. Garcia pointed out, “Convenient and accessible TB treatment and care are essential. The challenge is to do this in ways that contribute to community development that are effective, acceptable and affordable”
Dr. Agrelita D. Fernandez added that, “Community participation in primary health care (PHC) is not a new idea where community health workers play important role with adequate support, motivation and incentives. It is better to work through existing community organizations than to create new ones./MPmailto:april_73uk@yahoo.co.uk

Aklan Celebrates World AIDS Day

By: Megs S. Lunn

World AIDS Day is about wearing the Red Ribbon, as a sign of support for people living with HIV and a symbol of hope for the future.
World AIDS Day is about people getting the facts about HIV and AIDS.
On December 1, 2005, the provincial Government of Aklan, the Provincial AIDS Council and the Butterfly Brigade thru the support of the UNFPA and DKT Philippines, held a STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE campaign at the Sampaguita Gardens, New Washington, Aklan.
Access for all and to Halt and Reverse the spread of HIV by 2015, is a “promise” Ms. Caca Carillo, the Provincial Project Coordinator of UNFPA-TAP Aklan, presented during the launching of Butterfly Initiative to Establish the 1st Community-Based Inclusive Full-Package HIV and AIDS program. She stressed the importance of this program by having a simple dreams, “that some day the people who are infected with AIDS will get equal respect and courtesy. That those who are vulnerable are not the victim, therefore, they dream to erase the stigma and discrimination at once.
The program starts with a prayer by Ms. Debbie F. Villaflor of the provincial STI Coordinator; Mr. Albert Ilarina acknowledged all the participants from the Media, private Sector, LGU’s and guests participants all over Panay who came to support the program. Provincial Governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez with his whole-hearted support to the program gave his Opening Statements; Dr. Zahidul Huque, Country Representative of UNFPA was all praise with Ms. Caca Carillo for her initiative and active participation on this program.
Huque promised to help the Butterfly Brigade’s advocacy and that he will take this to his country as a model 1st Community-Based Inclusive, Full Package HIV/AIDS Program. Dr. Jean Marc Olive, Philippines Country Representative of World Health Organization {WHO}, in his discussion pointed out that “HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact five (5) persons die of AIDS every minute.”. Mr. Edwin Alejo, the Franchise Field Operations Manager of DKT POPSHOP {the maker of FP Commodities} promoted the accessibility and availability of Condom Vendo Machine for people who are embarrassed to approach pharmacy and the like, in order to purchase condom for the practice of safe sex.
Mr. Harold Marshall encourages the Tri-Media to help them in their advocacies, as means of communication to creation awareness in the mind of the people the use of Condom to avoid HIV/AIDS. Mr. Edwin Ramos, PIA and member of AIDS Council served as the moderator during the open forum. Hon. Nono Bantique, SB member, Balete and member of the Butterfly Brigade gave the closing remarks. Engr. Luis Carmelo F. Orbista, LGOO V, DILG Aklan was the program host.
After the program at Sampaguita, the group proceeded to the site visitation of the Provincial Social Hygiene Clinic in Kalibo, Makato, Malay and the island of Boracay.
The 1st Community Based Inclusive, HIV/AIDS Full-Package Program in the Philippines is the first of its kind. It started in the province of Aklan thru the initiative of the Butterfly Brigade. It is an inclusive prevention education for those trained CSW’s, Men Living an Alternative Lifestyle, PLWHA’s conducting awareness raising and Safer Sex sessions among peers and the general population. The program ensures the availability of condoms and easy access with the installation of two (2) Condom-Vendo Machine in the island of Boracay: Charles Bar and CoCocomangas, Community-Based HIV and anti-Body Testing Centers, with pre and post Test Counseling services provided by SACCL trained Med-Techs and RITM Trained HACTeam. The treatment is a sustained scheme to ensure availability of STI Meds in Social Hygiene Clinics, and a 2-way follow thru referral system in place.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus known to cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If someone is HIV-positive, he will have AIDS when the virus seriously damages his immune system, making him vulnerable to a range of infections, leading to death.
HIV is transmitted through body fluids like blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

Four ways to acquire HIV:
1. unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common);
2. sharing needles or other contaminated injection of skin-piercing equipment;
3. blood and blood products through, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants; and
4. transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding.
HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact like, coughing, sneezing and kissing, sharing of toilet and washing facilities, using of eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV.
The best way to stop HIV transmission is to use condoms during vaginal or anal sex. It can take only a single episode of unprotected sex with an infected partner for HIV to be passed on. Condom is the only form of contraception that will prevent HIV transfer. /MPmailto:april_73uk@yahoo.co.uk

Mayor Cawaling Assails VS SP No. 05-032

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

The Municipality of Malay through its Municipal Mayor, Hon. Ceciron S. Cawaling assailed “the validity of the Provincial Ordinance No. 05-032 of the Province of Aklan”.
In an unnumbered Civil Case filed by Mayor Cawaling with the Regional Trial Court, Kalibo, Aklan, the petitioner prayed that Provincial Ordinance No. 05-032 after hearing be declared “null and void”.
Provincial Ordinance No. 05–032 is “An Ordinance Implementing The Regulations of the One Entry/Exit Policy to/from Boracay Island for the Preservation, Protection, Security and Safety of the Provincial Tourism Assets and Resources and Prescribing Penalties For Violations Thereof”.
In his petition for “Declaratory Relief With Preliminary Injunction,” Mayor Cawaling alleged that the said provincial ordinance usurps the power and function of the (LGU Malay) as defined in the Local Government Code. Mayor Cawaling pointed out that “the respondent (Aklan Provincial Government) cannot legislate exclusively on matters which are within the authority and jurisdiction of the petitioner” (Malay Municipal Government).
“The respondent clearly overstepped and usurped the power of the Municipality of Malay, as Section 17 (b), (3), (xii) of the Local Government Code of 1991 the province of Aklan is limited to tourism development and promotion program”.
According to the petition, Section 5. Entry and Exit of Provincial Ordinance No. 05-032 is invalid when the respondent exercised administrative and supervisory functions on the ports located in the jurisdiction of Malay.
Moreover, the petition said, “the respondent…disregarded and trample(d) upon the corporate powers of the petitioner…as local government unit shall enjoy full autonomy in the exercise of their proprietary functions and in the management of their economic enterprises.”
It alleges that Section 5, (b) of Provincial Ordinance No. 05-032 is invalid when it unlawfully closed all the existing boat stations of the municipality of Malay, Aklan”. Said provincial ordinance “will create duplication of assessment of fees which is discriminatory and prescribed with the free flow of commerce in the Island of Boracay,” stated the petition.
Moreover, the petitioner also believes the “subject ordinance is unconstitutional as (it) significantly restricts the basic right of an individual to travel with its one entry/one exit policy. It violates the due process and equal protection clause as the same do not apply to all boat owners as shown under Section 5 of the Ordinance”.
The Municipality of Malay is represented in court by the Gepty, Dela Cruz and Morales Law Office with office address in Kalibo, Aklan.
The case is now awaiting proper disposition in Branch 7, Regional Trial Court, Kalibo, Aklan. /MP

CICHON: Aklan’s Man of Words

Message of Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Vice Governor, Province of Aklan, delivered on the occasion of the Book Launching of HAIKU, LUWA & other poems by Aklanons authored by Melchor F. Cichon, Museo It Akean, Kalibo, Aklan, November 18, 2005, 3:00 P.M.

Inay, ham-at madueom ro gabii?
May buean, Toto ogaling may galipud nga gae-um.
Inay, ham-an madueom ro gabii?
May bombilya ro mga poste’t Akelco,
Ugaling may brown-out.
Inay, ham-at madueom ro gabii?
Ginsindihan ko ro atong kingke,
Ugaling ginapinaeong it hangin.
Inay ham-at madueom ro gabii?
Toto, matueog ka eon lang
Ay basi hin-aga temprano pa
Magsilak ro adlaw.
Indi, ‘Nay ah!
Sindihan ko’t uman ro atong kingke.

Melchor F. Cichon’s Ham-at Madueom Ro Gabi-I, a 92 page collection of Aklanon poems should be must reading for all Aklanons. It is the first anthology of Aklanon poems written by an Aklanon.
The poems of Melchor F. Cichon had been published in Hiligaynon, Yuhum, Philippines Free Press, Philippine Graphic, Home Life, Ani, Philippine Collegian, Aklan Reporter, Philippine Panorama, Pagbutlak, Dayaw, Bueabod, Banga, Patubas, Busay and Media Watch.
He has garnered several awards, the first Aklanon Cultural Center of the Philippines grantee for Aklanon poetry.
Melchor F. Cichon’s Aklanon poems make Aklanons, young and old alike, proud of the richness, and rightly so, of the Aklan language. From the historical period when Datu Bankaya introduced a phonetic alphabet, our ancestors and the present generations of Aklanons, inclusive of our young Aklanon writers, have considered that the Aklan language is God’s gift. For indeed, when the Confederation of Madyaas divided Panay into Irong-Irong, Hamtik and Akean, the experts in agriculture were made to settle in Irong-Irong. Those who were adpts and masters of defense and warfare were sent to Hamtik and those who desired education were settled in Akean. As a matter of recollection, the Bankaya phonetic alphabet as quoted in the writings of Aklan historical writers from Tansingco-Manyas, Oyo Torong, Songkuya, Artemio Nabor and Roman dela Cruz runs this way: “A ba ka da eaga ha ila mana nga o para sa tawaya”. It’s English translation is: “Be on my back maiden, for I shall bring you to tawaya”. Tawaya is the old-Akeanon word for paradise or utopia.
Today marks the second historical literary milestone of a great Aklanon, Melchor F. Cichon, from his first very outstanding Ham-an Madueom Ro Gabi-I to Haiku, Luwa & Other poems by Aklanons.
To Melchor F. Cichon, a pride of Aklanons, our congratulations from the provincial government of Aklan under the able leadership of Governor Carlito Samson Marquez.
If Mel Cichon and our audience would permit me, please allow me to recite two luwas which I learned from my grandfather, a Katipunero, and nephew of the martyr Claro Quimpo Delgado.
Maximo Delgado Tolentino is cited in page 59 of Roman A. dela Cruz’ best selling book Town of a Thousand, when he wrote, thus: “In the afternoon of March 17, 1897, Arais Maximo Tolentino of Lagatik reported to Gen. Eustaquio Gallardo at his headquarters at Macawili that Gen. Francisco del Castillo was shot down from his horse in Kalibo in the morning while leading his troops of insurrectos into town in trying to have confrontation with local officials, and that as a result the entire command was dissipated and went into hiding.”
The Arais Maximo Tolentino act can stand analogous to the Paul Revere’s and William Dawes’ acts during the American Revolution.
Be this as it may. Here are the two luwas I learned from my grandfather, Maximo Delgado Tolentino, when I was four years old:

Translation
-1- -1-
May isaeang ka kahoy There’s a tree named Pagatpat
Ngaean kay Pagatpat There it grew on the blue sea.
Idto nagtubo Many birds sent letters
Sa berde nga dagat Alas, Pagatpat could no longer use.
Dagaya nga pispis ro
Nagpadaea it sueat
Alinon man si Pagatpat
Indo eon makadapat.

-2- -2-

Kon ako mamatay sa eugta tabunan When I die to earth shall I be covered
Mamingaw nga patyo ro akong tueogan A lonely cemetery I shall sleep
Nabilin ko kimo Inday indi mo pagkalipatanI I request you Inday not to forget until grave
Tubtob sa eobnganan Our love you should cherish.
Ro atong higugma imong pagahuptan

To Melchor F. Cichon, hail and mabuhay! /MP

No Kickback From Fertilizer, Says Aklan Solon

By RECTO I. VIDAL

Rep. Florencio Miraflores of Aklan expressed surprise after his name was implicated in the fertilizer scam which dragged several political personalities not only in Region 6 as having reported to have received commissions from P3 billion agriculture fund.

"There's no truth to the allegations that I personally know or met Barredo who claimed that he was the one who personally delivered the commissions to some governors, mayors and congressmen in Western Visayas," Miraflores claimed.

"Secondly, the fertilizer project was not implemented, for the allocation for Aklan was delayed. So how could I ask for a commission from an unimplemented project?" he asked.

The Aklan solon said that, “said project was implemented by the DA on September 2004 several months after the 2004 elections.”

"How can I be able to touch the funds for it has not even passed my office? All I did was to identify the areas wherein the said project would be implemented," Miraflores clarified.

The Aklan solon confirmed Aklan received its share in said project from the controversial fertilizer fund but categorically denied he has ever received a 40-prcent commission as alleged by self proclaimed "fixer" Jose Barredo in a recent Senate inquiry. /MP

The Island Paradise Adventure Race Sa Kalibo

Maila-on baea kamo magtan-aw it reality adventure game show sa telebisyon? Mapa-Amazing Race hasta Extra Challenge? Sa Desyembre 10-18, 2005 ro Department of tourism kaibahan it mga lokal nga gobyerno eabi-eabi gid ro Munisipyo it Kalibo ag ro mga pribadong sector kamana ko X-Events Unlimited, MGM Advertising ag Extreme Concept hay gintukoy nga mangin pit stop ro aton nga ginapabugae nga Bakhawan EcoPark para sa Visayas leg it Island Paradise Adventure Race. Ro Island Paradise Adventure race hay maikumpara naton sa sikat nga international adventure game show nga amazing Race kung siin ro mga ga-ieintra sa nasambit nga paindis-indis hay maga-umpisa sa Rizal Park, maagi sa mga banwa ag syudad nga una sa aeagyan it Strong Republic Nautical highway o Ro/Ro kaibahan eon ro Bakhawan EcoPark ag magatapos sa syudad it Cebu sa idaeum it siyam (9) nga adlaw.
Tungod hakita ngara ro Island Paradise adventure Race hay mayad nga paagi para mai-promote ro turismo, heritage ag kultura naton, ro Munisipyo it Kalibo hay ginapabugae ro pagkapili it atong Bakhawan EcoPark bilang isaea sa mga pit stop ag pagapadayunon ro pag-promoteit atong trismo bukon eang it aton nga Bakhawan EcoPark ag mother of all festivals, nga Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan festival kundi ro Manggad it Kalibo kaibahan kara ro Piña ag Ati-Atihan Village nga bukas ra sa bug-os nga dag-on.
Ro tikang ngara hay nasandig sa pagpaadto it banwang Kalibo sa isaeang ka world-class nga banwa. Raya hay sa pagpanguna it atong hinaeangdon nga alkalde, si Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo. /MP

SEA Games Triumph…A Toast To The Filipino Spirit

By: Alfred Joseph D. Foz

Whoever said that Southeast Asian Games without basketball is empty? a bore? ought to be hanged.
The mammoth crowds at the various venues where the 23rd edition of the meet was held speak for themselves.
From the boxing competitions in Bacolod, to the judo action in Cebu and the aquatics events in Los Baños, Laguna, the enthusiastic throng of people who cheered lustily for the Filipino athletes was simply overwhelming.
Local support for the Filipino athletes was nowhere more evident than in baseball - - already given up as a moribund sport in the Philippines - - which played to an overflowing gallery Sunday at the Rizal ballpark, Manila.
It was a sight to behold.
They clapped, they cheered, they stomped their feet and even did one spectacular “wave” after another in a show of unity and support for their athletes.
“The crowd really inspired us to win,” said an ecstatic Philippine Coach Edgar Delos Reyes in the din of the celebration following their 11-0 rout of Thailand in the abbreviated finals that completed an impressive title sweep by the hosts.
In one fleeting moment during the celebration the crowd sang and gyrated to the tune of “Pinoy Ako” which must have elicited goose pimples and pride for the Filipino race. All these as Filipino catcher Junnifer Piñero hosted and waived a huge Philippine flag to show how glad he was with the support of the crowd.
The scene must have been repeated everywhere in various arenas.
“We are very happy because we did not expect this huge support for the team,” said Ernesto Binarao, the RP batter’s pitcher who played the entire game.
“We really need (to step up) because this is our hometown. We need to show the Filipinos that baseball is still alive here (Philippines),” said Binarao.
As the baseball squad basked in triumph, Filipino athletes in various fronts also did their share in the Philippines’ run away title victory in the region’s biggest sports spectacle.
The most vivid memory of the 23rd Southeast games?
For a nation that badly needs a respite from a tumultuous political life, its probably that time in the last fortnight when Filipinos, setting aside differences and political beliefs, gathered as one in a show of unity and teamwork to show the world what it is capable of doing. /MP

23rd SEA Games Medal Tally
(Official as of 6:34 PM Dec. 5)

COUNTRY G S B TOTAL

Philippines 113 84 94 291
Thailand 87 78 118 283
Vietnam 71 68 89 228
Malaysia 61 50 64 175
Indonesia 49 79 89 217
Singapore 42 32 55 129
Myanmar 17 34 48 99
Laos 3 4 12 19
Brunei 1 2 2 5
Cambodia 0 3 9 12
Timor Leste 0 0 3 3
TOTAL 444 434 583 1461

Web Contest Finalist

Pila eon nga beses ro Municipyo it Kalibo nakabuoe it pagpadungog kaibahan ro pagiging 1st Class Municuipality halin sa 4th Class Municipality. Ag makaron, may bag–o eon man nga ikapabugae rong Munisipalidad it Kalibo ag makita ra sa eLGU website it National Computer Center nga may internet address nga http:/elgu.ncc.gov.ph. Rong Web Site it Munisipyo it Kalibo nga ginamentenar it Web Developer’s group sa idauem it Mayor’s Office hay isaea sa mga nakasueod sa Web Contest 2005. Ro Web Contest Finalists hay makita eon una sa Web Site National Computer Commission ag sa 33 nga mga nagsueoeod, rong Web Site it Munisipyo it Kalibo nga may web address nga elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/kalibo-aklan hay sambilog sa mga napilian.
Raya ngara nga butang hay isaeang kadaeag-an it Munisipyo it Kalibo ag kong mga Kalibonhon dahil sa uman hataw-an eon man kita it pagpadungog. Daya hay nasandig sa prayoridad ko gobyerno lokal sa pagpamuno ni Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo sa pagpadayon it pagtao it serbisyo indi eang sa mga Kalibonhon kundi sa mga turista, local man o taga ibang nasyon, para ma-promote ro atong eco-tourism industry ag rong mother of all festivals, rong Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival. Sa kadugangan, rong aton nga mga igmanghod nga Kalibonhon ag Aklanon sa kabilogan nga naga trabaho ag naga-tiner sa ibang nasyon. Raya nagapakita nga rong Kalibo hay bukon eon it ulihi sa teknolohiya ag cyberspace development. /MP

OPERATION TULI SNAPSHOTS

Dr. Emette L. Custodio is shown in the above picture

with Rtn. Megs Lunn and PP Nonoy Macahilig during the

OPERATION TULI by RCK.

Teen-agers line up waiting for their turn to be circumcized.

EDITORIAL - November 27 - Dec. 3, 2005

Do You Expect Gifts This Christmas?

By: Megs S. Lunn

Merry Christmas everyone! December has finally arrived with all the joy that surrounds the holiday season. The sights and sounds of Christmas are everywhere you turn in the month of December. Beautiful lights and decorations fill our eyes with anticipation of the festivities ahead of us. Christmas carolers brighten our spirits and put smiles on our faces.
This is the twelfth and last month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in almost all the world today. It was the tenth month in the early Roman calendar and took its name from the Latin word decem, which means ten. It became the twelfth month in a later Roman calendar. In 46 B.C., the Roman statesman Julius Caesar added two days to December, which before then has only 29 days.
This is the month that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. What a birthday party it has became! Just remember that in the middle of the garland and tinsel lies the meaning of the season. Keep your focus on Jesus this Christmas and your holidays will be very blessed!
Children love the Christmas Story. They love to learn about the baby born in a stable 2000 years ago. Christmas is most of all a birthday party like no other. December 25th is the day set aside to remember the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Do you still remember the story once told by your parents about the little baby who was born nearly 2000 years ago to be the Savior of the world? The story of “Jesus in the Manger” shows us where Jesus was born and teaches us the lesson of HUMILITY; “The birth of Jesus” tells us the birth of Christmas and teaches us the virtue of GIVING, for in John 3:16, said “For God so love the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Thus, in return, we make our life as a living sacrifice as we bring Him back the glory and praises of our SALVATION.
Did you think what can you offer Jesus this Christmas Day? Do you expect Christmas gifts?
I will share to you this beautiful poem of Christina Rosetti entitled, “What Can I Give Him?” I quote:

What can I give Him?
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man,
I would do my part.
Yet what can I give Him,
Give Him my heart.

Do you want to have the VERY BEST CHRISTMAS that you have ever had? To dream of a memorable Christmas this year, you need to keep your focus on WHY you are celebrating this day.
Besides, for each and everyone of us who celebrates Christmas, it’s not only during the 25th day of December that we feel Christmas around. Except for Christmas carols and jingle bells in the air’ GIVING and SHARING means Christmas, and we feel this everyday; if you don’t, you better start it now. It’s not too late that you give, whether big or small, tangible or intangible.

The TIME well spent with family, MEEK and HUMBLENESS of heart, a simple SMILE, friends or neighbors TO FORGIVE, simple IDEAS to share, PRAYER for PEACE in our country as a whole, are but just some reasons to celebrate the season; and the greatest of them all is, LOVE.
As we enter the month of December, we hope you will enjoy your holiday season filled with joy and happiness. Hopefully as we all celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and share your blessings to everyone, from Madyaas Pen Family, we wish all of you that your holiday experience will help you remember the true meaning of Christmas. Will leave you with this Christmas Prayer of Robert Louis Stevenson:

Oh, God…
Help us rightly to remember
The birth of Jesus, that
We may share in the songs
Of the angels, the gladness
Of the shepherds, and the
Worship of the wise men.

May the Christmas morning
Make us happy
To be your children.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!

The Immeasurable Graft and Corruption In Judiciary

By Recto I. Vidal

The presence and extent of graft and corruption in the judiciary is difficult to measure and document due to the absence of hard facts.
“Although there’s no hard information that is readily available, it is the accepted notion that some members of the judiciary are vulnerable to corrupt practices,” said lawyer Gleoresty Guerra, public information officer of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, during an exclusive interview.
Guerra admitted that certain areas of court operations are vulnerable to corruption as “we recognize these invulnerabilities that’s why we are policing our ranks.”
“The Supreme Court (SC) is relentlessly enforcing judicial discipline and is policing its ranks as we continuously pursue administrative cases against erring officials,” she disclosed.
She intimated that those erring members only comprise a small community at the judiciary. “You better ask around at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines of lawyers who are taking you and your wallet for a ride,” advised Guerra.
Records obtained from the Supreme Court show that as of January 1999 to May 2005, that 38 RTC judges were penalized; 16 were suspended while 19 were dismissed from service.
While judges from the municipal level showed a total of 33 who were penalized wherein 16 were suspended while another 24 were dismissed from the service.
In view of this disturbing development, the SC developed an action program for judicial reform namely the Integrity Infrastructure Development which calls for the establishment of a comprehensive code of ethics for justices, judges, court personnel and lawyers; improve the judicial appointment system; strengthen the judicial disciplinary system and expand civil society participation in combating graft and corruption. /MP

Benefits of Electric Cooperative

Registered With The CDA*

*Paper Mr. Pete Ilagan, President of NASECORE, Inc. presented during the Consumers Watch held on November 22, 2005 at Governor Corazon L. Cabagnhot Training Center, Kalibo, Aklan.

Electric Cooperatives (ECs) have been under the direct control and supervision of NEA under PD 269, as amended by PD 1645, for more than 30 years now with the role of providing financial, institutional, and technical assistance. In view of this and in anticipation of the implementation of open access and retail competition, we believe that the independence and autonomy of the electric cooperatives are not only necessary but long-overdue.
ECs will never grow to become a viable business organization if it will continue to be dependent upon NEA. In truth and in fact, this relationship between NEA and the electric cooperatives only served the interest of NEA which have outlived its very purpose and that of the electric cooperatives. The relationship has become one that provides mutual protection.
While NEA has the powers under PD1645, amending PD269, to control and supervise the ECs, it does not have the capability to do so, thus allowing the EC management to run the electric cooperatives like it is their own. Unless, consumers take the initiative to come out and formally file a complaint against the management of an EC, NEA does not take the initiative to take action against EC irregularities discovered through the regular management and financial audit conducted by NEA.
A case in point was the complaint of the Castillejos Consumers Association of Zambales which filed a complaint against the Board of Directors and GM of Zameco II. The complaint was based on the management and financial audit of NEA of the subject EC and yet it was the consumers and not NEA that filed the complaint. Another instance is the case filed by Mr. Pete L. Ilagan in 2004 against the Directors and some Managers of Leyte II Electric Cooperative in Tacloban City for allowing the construction of a new building worth Php Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos without any Board Resolution authorizing such construction. Again, it was a consumer that took the initiative to expose the irregularity and not NEA.
The respective position paper of NEA and the Philippine Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (Philreca) will attest to the observation and conclusion that NEA will never let go of the “goose that lays the golden egg” and electric cooperatives will not welcome CDA registration because it will open them to the members’ scrutiny which will help curb irregularities and mismanagement.
Thus, registration with the Cooperative Development Authority is necessary in order to make electrc cooperatives prepare for the advent of open access and retail competition.
Hereunder are some reason and advantage why we want ECs to be registered with the CDA:
1. CDA registration of ECs will make electric cooperative autonomous and independent like any regular business organization. As such, an environment will be in place where its management will have to start to learn to deciding what is best for its member-owners and how it can comply with the mandate of the EPIRA on distribution utilities which will remain as regulated businesses. The EC management can come up with new policies that will shape its new character and it to operate viably in a restructured power industry;
2. CDA registration will grant ECs local tax and import tax exemptions. This will be a factor that can keep rates from rising;
3. It will allow the introduction of a new culture where the member-owners will have easy and open access to the records of the ECs, thus allowing transparency. This will also allow member –owners to have a say in the policy-making role of the Board of the Directors which can be ventilated during the general assembly. This well help discourage people from seeking position as Directors once they know that there will be transparency and accountability.
4. It will introduce a paradigm shift that will compel the EC management to learn to recognize that they are accountable to the member-owners of the coop. General assemblies of CDA registered cooperative present major plans and projects, like expansion projects, of the coops during general assemblies for discussion and approval by its member-owners. This is not done in the NEA registered EC general assemblies. Policies of ECs come through NEA resolutions.
5. CDA registration will have the effect of immediately recognizing the joint ownership of the EC by its member-owners who can provide the much-needed capital build up for the EC in order to comply with the EPIRA mandate for the distributors to upgrade their respective system in order to provide safe, reliable, quality and efficient service. This is in line with the provision under Section 2 (d) which seeks to enhance the inflow of private capital and broaden the ownership base of the power generation, transmission, and distribution sectors;
6. CDA registration will allow cooperatives to identify and access various sources of capital, including donations, and financing for its additional capital requirements. Under PD 269, as amended by PD 1645, ECs seeking to obtain loans outside of NEA will have to ask the latter’s approval before it can avail financial assistance from other lending institutions.
7. It will free electric cooperatives from the dictates of NEA and pressure and threats from politicians especially in the acquisition of equipments and appointments/ employments in the coop. This decision should be left entirely to the EC management who should be made accountable to its member-owners;
8. Systems loss will be easier to address if the consumers are made to understand that they are the joint owners of the EC and collections effort will, likewise be improved. Politicians will naturally shy away from interfering if government control is removed from the ECs;

We support the mandatory registration of ECs with the CDA in the Enrile Bill on the following grounds;
1. The current provision under Section 57 of the EPIRA giving option to the electric cooperative to be registered with the CDA or as a stock corporation to be registered under the SEC will never work. Consider this: In 1990, upon the passage of the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, NEA and CDA within a three (3) year transition period. NEA being the one exercising control and supervision of all ECs took the lead in the preparation of the Omnibus Rules and Regulations for the Registration of electric Cooperatives with the CDA (ORREC). During this time, the ECs enjoyed a provisional registration with the CDA allowing them to enjoy the benefits, like local and import tax exemptions.

Unfortunately, the three (3) year transition period had lapsed and the ORREC was approved for implementation only in 1996. However, this ORREC which was prepared mainly by NEA directed the 114 ECs under it through a Memo to conduct their respective referendum and ask the consumers to choose either “to convert from a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative into a stock and profit oriented electric cooperative or NOT.

This question was not contemplated upon in Section 122 of the Cooperative Code of the Philippines (RA6938) where it states, “Electric Cooperatives shall be covered by this Code.” And prior to the referendum, NEA and the EC management came out with a position paper rejecting the ECs registration with the CDA. In fact, out of the 114 electric cooperatives under it, records show that only 28 ECs conducted its own referendum and only one had a quorum. This only shows that NEA prepared an ORREC that ensure that not a single electric cooperative will be registered with the CDA.

Consider also the provision of Section 57 of EPIRA that gives option to electric cooperatives. Four years had passed since the passage of EPIRA and yet not a single electric cooperative had its referendum to ask its member-consumers of their individual option. We suggest that Senate Committee on energy and the JCPC look into this to find out the reason why?
2. The use of the ECs under NEA of the word “cooperative” makes the management liable under Artcle 124 of the Cooperative Code which prohibits the use of the word” cooperatives” unless duly registered as a cooperative under the Cooperative Code of the Philippines. The officers and directors shall, upon conviction, each suffer a penalty of imprisonment for one (1) year and a fine not exceeding One Thousand Pesos (1,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court.
3. NEA does not have the capability to provide the technical, institutional and financial capabilities as shown by the condonation of more than PhP eighteen billion (P18B) of electric cooperatives debt under the EPIRA. The preference of cooperatives to remain under NEA is a clear proof of NEA’s failure to develop the management of ECs to become mature and self-reliant. We can only liken this attitude of EC management opting to remain with NEA to a thirty-year old son who, after getting a college degree, still wants to remain much dependent upon all his needs from his father. With this set-up, ECs will never be prepared for the entry of competition. /MP

Web Contest Finalist

Pila eon nga beses ro Municipyo it Kalibo nakabuoe it pagpadungog kaibahan ro pagiging 1st Class Municuipality halin sa 4th Class Municipality. Ag makaron, may bag–o eon man nga ikapabugae rong Munisipalidad it Kalibo ag makita ra sa eLGU website it National Computer Center nga may internet address nga http:/elgu.ncc.gov.ph. Rong Web Site it Munisipyo it Kalibo nga ginamentenar it Web Developer’s group sa idauem it Mayor’s Office hay isaea sa mga nakasueod sa Web Contest 2005. Ro Web Contest Finalists hay makita eon una sa Web Site National Computer Commission ag sa 33 nga mga nagsueoeod, rong Web Site it Munisipyo it Kalibo nga may web address nga elgu.ncc.gov.ph/ecommunity/kalibo-aklan hay sambilog sa mga napilian.
Raya ngara nga butang hay isaeang kadaeag-an it Munisipyo it Kalibo ag kong mga Kalibonhon dahil sa uman hataw-an eon man kita it pagpadungog. Daya hay nasandig sa prayoridad ko gobyerno lokal sa pagpamuno ni Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo sa pagpadayon it pagtao it serbisyo indi eang sa mga Kalibonhon kundi sa mga turista, local man o taga ibang nasyon, para ma-promote ro atong eco-tourism industry ag rong mother of all festivals, rong Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival. Sa kadugangan, rong aton nga mga igmanghod nga Kalibonhon ag Aklanon sa kabilogan nga naga trabaho ag naga-tiner sa ibang nasyon. Raya nagapakita nga rong Kalibo hay bukon eon it ulihi sa teknolohiya ag cyberspace development. /MP

The Roles of Military Reserves

Message of Aklan Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino During the 14th Founding Anniversary of the 601st (Aklan) Community Defense Center, 6th RCDG, ARESCOM on December 3, 2005 at 8:00 AM, Camp Jizmundo, Libas, Banga, Aklan.

Military reservists in this province must indeed deserve commendation during this very significant occasion, the observance of the 14th Founding Anniversary of the 601st Community Defense Center, 6th RCDG, ARESCOM. While in peace, military commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the province of Aklan in the reserve force remain in the forefront in waging a different kind of battle.
This is the battle in uplifting the lives of our countrymen, or specifically, our provincemates particularly those in distress or those who are still wallowing from the deprivation of basic economic and social services they urgently need.
Fourteen years of existence in this province is by no means a short period of time when reservists like you are called to serve our fellowmen. Oftentimes, you can be seen in various humanitarian activities and programs ranging from letting out from your veins your very precious blood to fill up emergency needs when our brothers and sisters need such fluid to resuscitate their very precious life.
Oftentimes, you can be seen in several medical, dental and civic actions designed to help the needy and clean-up our environment, little things considered small in the surface but have gargantuan implications in the lives of our people and the maintenance of ecology.
Oftentimes, you are in the midst of rescue efforts in times of floods, earthquakes, fires and other natural calamities and man made disasters to ensure that no life can be in peril in the light of those human maladies commonly experienced by Aklanons.
Many said Military Reservists are the total soldiers of the people. Rightly so, it can be certain that you can be easily mobilized in the case of conflict or in times of battle, More so, when you are called to contribute in times of peace, you engage yourself in undertakings more valuable and significant than what are being done in the frontline of actual battles.
Meaning, you are waging a total war as total soldiers. You are fighting a war against economic deprivation, a war against environmental destruction, a war against injustices and all kinds of war tending to undermine the economic and social integrity of your brothers and sisters.
Despite having been made optional in the curricula of colleges and universities, Citizens Military Training or the Reserve Officers Training Corps continues to attract students who enroll into the said curricular offering. It is probably because many if not all find training in this course very wholesome which equip everyone training under the said course a wholesome preparation for the battles of life ahead.
Fourteen years inside this camp named in honor of one of the great defenders of freedom against foreign aggressors, the 601st (Aklan) community defense center has indeed become a great institution composed of military reservists who do not hesitate to come to the defense of freedom and display patriotism for the sake of the Filipinos, Aklanons, particularly.
In this historic camp marks the end of the once chronic peace and order problem besetting this province during the past three decades, the lingering problem of communist insurgency. And, Aklanons owe it to the many army battalions which were based here in the past and continued to be based until at present. The diminishing threat of communist insurgency in this particular part of the country can also be partly attributed to the efforts of the military reservists now composing the 601st community defense center.
On the occasion of your celebration of your 14th founding anniversary, our people in Aklan, the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan which I head, and the provincial government of Aklan under the leadership of Governor Carlito S. Marquez all salute you for your patriotism and heroism. With it, also goes our gratitude as Aklanons to the gallant men and women of the 601st community defense center for being with us in times of turmoil and in times of peace engaging in several laudable socio-economic activities and projects.
Again, we in Aklan doff our hats to all of you. Thank you and may you have a very successful celebration of this year’s edition of your founding anniversary. /MP

7th Aklan Piña & Fiber Festival Launched In Manila Fame

The 7th Aklan Piña & Fiber Festival was launched in Manila Fame recently at the World Trade Center, ITC Complex, Manila. Seven (7) loomweaving SMEs participated namely: Heritage Arts & Crafts, Reycon’s Piña Cloth Industry, Dela Cruz House of Piña, La Herminia Piña Weaving Industry, Silver Handicrafts, Uswag Arts & Crafts and Handicraft of Aklan Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
According to DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Ermilinda P. Pollentes, the objectives if this activity are the following:
1. To showcase Aklan’s loomwoven piña, abaca, raffia fabrics and crafts for maximum exposure at the Manila Fame;
2. To provide opportunity for the Fiber Festival organizers to promote and invite buyers to the annual Aklan Piña & Fiber Festival in April;
3. To introduce the quality seal for the loomwoven products of Aklan; and
4. To establish Aklan as the Piña capital and loomweaving destination of the country.
As a result, representative products of seven (7) SMEs were showcased and given exposure at the fair. Many local and foreign tourists signified intention of coming to Kalibo to witness said festival in April 2006. Japanese buyers led the list of foreign buyers who were interested to come. A significant number of Manila Fame exhibitors also signified interest to source materials from Aklan.
The said activity is a joint project of the Congressional District Office, Provincial Government of Aklan, Department of Trade and Industry-Aklan Provincial Office and Aklan Piña Manufacturers & Traders Association, Inc. /MP

Aklan Celebrates World AIDS Day

By: Megs S. Lunn

World AIDS Day is about wearing the Red Ribbon, as a sign of support for people living with HIV and a symbol of hope for the future.
World AIDS Day is about people getting the facts about HIV and AIDS.
On December 1, 2005, the provincial Government of Aklan, the Provincial AIDS Council and the Butterfly Brigade thru the support of the UNFPA and DKT Philippines, held a STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE campaign at the Sampaguita Gardens, New Washington, Aklan.
Access for all and to Halt and Reverse the spread of HIV by 2015, the Ms. Caca Carillo, the Provincial Project Coordinator of UNFPA-TAP Aklan, presented the launching of Butterfly Initiative to Establish the 1st Community-Based Inclusive Full-Package HIV and AIDS program. She stresses the importance of this program by having a simple dreams, “that someday the people who are infected will get equal respect and courtesy. That those who are vulnerable are not the victim, therefore, they dream to erase the stigma and discrimination at once.
The program starts with a prayer by Ms. Debbie F. Villaflor of the provincial STI Coordinator; Hon. Albert Ilarina acknowledged all the participants from the Media, private Sector, LGU’s and guests participants all over Panay who came and supported the program; the provincial Governor, Hon. Carlito S. Marquez with his whole-hearted support to the program gave his Opening Statements; Dr. Zahidul Huque, Country Representative of UNFPA was all praise with Ms. Caca Carillo for her initiative and active participation on this program. He promised to help the Butterfly Brigade’s advocacy and that he will take this to his country as a model 1st Community-Based Inclusive, Full Package HIV/AIDS Program. It was seconded by Dr. Jean Marc Olive, Country Representative of World Health Organization {WHO}. He said, “HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world. It is a global emergency claiming over 8,000 lives every day. In fact 5 people die of AIDS every minute.”; Mr. Edwin Alejo, the Franchise Field Operations Manager of DKT POPSHOP {the maker of FP Commodities} promoted the accessibility and availability of Condom Vendo Machine for people who are embarrassed to approach pharmacy and the like, in order to purchase condom for practice of safe sex; Mr. Harold Marshall encourages the Tri-Media to help them in their advocacies, as means of communication to creation awareness in the mind of the people the use of Condom to avoid HIV/AIDS; Nono Bantigue, Mr. Edwin Ramos, PIA and member of AIDS Council serves as the moderator during the open forum; SB Balete and member of the Butterfly Brigade gave the closing remarks and Engr. Luis Carmelo F. Orbista, LGOO V, DILG Aklan was the program host.
After the program at Sampaguita, the group proceeded to the site visitation of the Provincial Social Hygiene Clinic in Kalibo, Makato, Malay and the island of Boracay.
The 1st Community Based Inclusive, HIV/AIDS Full-Package Program in the Philippines is the first of its kind and started in the province of Aklan thru the initiative of the Butterfly Brigade. It is an inclusive prevention education for those trained CSW’s, Men Living an Alternative Lifestyle, PLWHA’s conducting awareness raising and Safer Sex sessions among peers and the general population. The program ensures the availability of condoms and easy access with the installation of 2 Condom-Vendo Machine in the island of Boraacay: Charles Bar and CoCocomangas, Community-Based HIV and anti-Body Testing Centers, with pre and post Test Conseling services provided by SACCL trained Med-Techs and RITM Trained HACTeam. The treatment is a sustainable scheme of ensuring availability of STI Meds in Social Hygiene Clinics, and a 2-way follow thru referral system in place. ARV Scholarship, 10 slots, with PLWHA’s as IEC/BCC partners in counter-part to the ARV. They will also provide a HacTeam in 3 facilities, out patient services in the Prov’l SHC and Malay RHU and In-Patient Hospital Care at the Provincial Hospital, Laboratory monitoring for PLWHA’s on ARV.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is the virus know to cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). If someone is HIV-positive, it means they have been infected with virus.
A person infected with HIV does not have AIDS until the virus seriously damages their immune system, making them vulnerable to a range of infections, some of which can lead to death.
HIV is transmitted through body fluids in particular blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

Contracting HIV
You can get HIV in four ways:
1. unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common);
2. sharing needles or other contaminated injection of skin-piercing equipment;
3. blood and blood products through, for example, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants;
4. transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding.
HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing, by sharing toilet and washing facilities, by using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who ahs HIV; it is not spread by mosquitoes or other insect bites.
The best way to stop HIV being passed on is to use condoms during vaginal or anal sex, if there is any possibility that either partner could have the virus. It can take only a single episode of unprotected sex (i.e. not using a condom) with an infected partner for HIV to be passed on. Condoms are the only form of contraception that will protect you from HIV.
“The continuing high numbers of people newly diagnosed with HIV underlines the need for more effective HIV prevention in this country. In addition, the increased estimate in undiagnosed cases is worrying.
“Although HIV testing rates have improved, we must do more to encourage the vulnerable men and women to take an HIV test if they consider they might have put themselves at risk. Ending the stigma around HIV will be one of the most effective ways we can increase the public willingness to test.” MP mailto:april_73uk@yahoo.co.uk

Entrepreneurial Farmer

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

Is NEA Blocking Member–Consumers Empowerment?

The job of the Change Management Team of the Aklan Electric Cooperative will be until December 31, 2005 only. In its November 7, 2005 Regular meeting of the AKELCO Board of Directors, Board Resolution No. 099, Series of 2005 was approved “extending the contract of the Change Management Team from July 1, 2004 until December 31, 2005.”
Actually, a previous Board Resolution No. 038 Series of 2004 has already extended the contract of the Change Management Team (CMT) from July 1, 2004 “until such time that AKELCO is registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and its operation is stabilized with its new set of members of the Board of Directors as provided for under the existing laws…” This extension has no time frame when will CMT end its services.
CMT services will only end after AKELCO is registered as a legitimate cooperative. But is there a move on the present AKELCO management and the present Board of Directors to register AKELCO with CDA? The answer is a big NO.
But the final approval of AKELCO Board Resolution No. 099 is on the National Electric Administration. Should NEA reject Resolution No. 099 then the CMT will continue serving AKELCO. This means AKELCO out of the money consumer–members pay will also continue paying the CMT P350,000 monthly. In addition, a P1,000 meal allowance daily will be paid them.
To recall, the NEA in the year 2002 assigned CMT to AKELCO to help solve many management problems. Today, the present AKELCO management claimed it has reduced considerably the systems loss, paid overdue accounts, improved collection efficiency, improved personnel morale and upgraded its services. It has upgraded AKELCO from Class E to Class A+.
Very well and good! That is what they are here for. If they did not do that and did not accomplished that, they are failures.
Having successfully accomplished its mission in Aklan, how long will the CMT continue serving AKELCO? Will it stay for some more time at cost to the member–consumers? I suggest AKELCO before the CMT leaves Aklan, must honor them with a farewell program and recognize the outstanding accomplishment not later than December 31, 2005.
How about the team of Malilay – Quenisio–Sauza? This is a local management team AKELCO hired at P90,000 a month. Is it true? AKELCO management owe this information to tell the member-consumers who pay the monthly bills. The public must also be told in fairness to Mr. Sauza, former Makato Mayor Wayne Malilay and Ms. Silvia Quenisio how much they are really paid..
For one thing, why hire an additional management team when AKELCO is already class A+? When the present CMT is still around? This is additional expenses. Let them tell the consumer-members what have they done?
-o-
Last November 29, 2005, at the Corazon Legaspi Cabagnot Training Center, Buswang Old, an idea was floated and circulated. According to them, NEA is hesitant and even finding ways and means to delay if not block the registration of electric cooperatives to CDA. NEA officials wish to continue their rule of electric cooperatives thereby not empowering the member-consumers who actually own the electric cooperatives like AKELCO.
The idea is for a group of Aklanons with representatives from Pandan and Libertad, Antique to form an Electric Cooperative. After it is duly registered with the CDA, the Board of Directors will request the present AKELCO management to furnish them the following: a. inventory of properties, b. inventory of personnel, c. financial statement, d. asset and liabilities among others.
They will also invite all the member-consumers of the present AKELCO to join the newly electric cooperative. They will then approve a resolution requesting for the turn–over to the new electric cooperative of the AKELCO for its own operation.
This measure will be resorted to only if the present Board of Directors and management of AKELCO will be adamant to register it with the CDA. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

DAR-ADB-ARCP Spends P124 Million For Aklan ARCs

Since year 2002, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Asian Development Bank-Agrarian Reform Communities project (DAR-ADB-ARCP) is the single biggest donor of foreign assistance that generated support to the five agrarian reform communities in Aklan in the amount of P124 M.
According to Atty. Daniel Y. Martelino, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer of Aklan, the accumulated sum covers physical infrastructure such as farm-to market roads and irrigation in the amount of P112.5 million, the latest to be approved is the P3.2M farm to market road at Agbalogo, Makato, Aklan. The agricultural development support and land tenure improvement plus the project management costs P11.5 million. The above stated support covers the assisted ARCs such as Altavas ARC, Agbalogo expansion ARC, in Makato, Fatima ARC in Malinao and Timbaban ARC in Madalag, Aklan.
These projects were visited by the ADB Review Mission team which evaluated their implementation as well as studied the impacts on the lives of the agrarian reform beneficiaries who are the actual recipients of the projects. The Review Mission was headed by Mr. Tetsuro Miyazato and Ms. Carol Quintos.
Hon. Denny D. Refol and his staff cordially welcomed the team in Altavas and Hon. Ramon S. Legaspi, Jr. of Makato, Aklan and the beneficiaries warmly presented the improvement attained by the communities. Hon. Dominador Ilio, Jr. Mayor of Malinao also received the team in his municipality as community consultation and dialogue between the mission and the beneficiaries transpired. /MP

PPMD SYMPOSUIM PAGAHIWATON

Para matao an it importansya ro pamueoyong Kalibonhon, ro Rural Health Unit nga ginapadaeagan it atong mahugud nga mga doctor nga sanday Dr. Agrelita D. Fernandez ag Dr. Jocelyn T. Garcia kaibahan ro Department of Health, National Tuberculosis Program Region 6 Coordinator nga si Dr. Edith G. Caloyloy hay magatao it Symposium nga ginapangaeanang “ PPMD Symposium for Non Medical Practitioners” sa Desyembre 6 ag “PPMD Symposium for Medical Practitioner” sa Desyembre 7 masunod nga adlaw. Ro symposium hay pagahiwaton sa CAP Building iya sa Kalibo. Ro PPMD o Public-Private Mix Directly Observed Treatment Short-course hay isaeng ka paagi sa pagtatap ag ag pagpapamayad it isaeng ka pasyente nga may TB o Tuberculosis nga ginapatupad makaron it National Center for Disease Prevention and Control sa idaeum it Department of Heath.

Ro nasambit nga PPMD Symposium ngara hay nasandig sa kagustuhan it atong lokal nga gobyerno it Kalibo nga ginapangunahan it atong haeangdon nga alkalde, Mayor Reymar A. Rebaldo, agud mataw-an it mayad ng Health Care System bagay sa isaea ka banwa nga gapaadto eon sa pagiging isaeang syudad. /MP

Human Resource Is Aklan’s Best Asset

By Recto I. Vidal

“Aklan’s human resource is still its best asset to spur provincial activity and save it from the clutches of poverty now bedeviling at least 33 percent of its populace.”
This is the recent assessment made by former OIC governor Jollie Pelayo, chairman of JS Contractors, a recruitment agency credited for providing overseas employment for at least 50,000 workers abroad since the 1970’s.
Pelayo corrected the misconception that tourism is Aklan’s greatest resource considering that the Aklanons have not “maximized” its presence in the famed tourist island resort.
“Its unfortunate that majority of the resort owners are not Aklanons. What’s more appalling is that most of those who are employed there are not even Aklanons,” Pelayo lamented.
He also rectified the notion that Aklan is an agricultural province describing its output as “negative” contending that it no longer holds the title of being the rice granary of the country during the sixties.
Pelayo also painted grim prospects for Aklan’s fisheries sector as he expressed sadness as he described the industry as having been “prostituted by unscrupulous businessmen and middlemen who have established cartels to the detriment of the small fisherfolks.”
Having said all these, Aklan being a third class province is left with no other viable resource except its highly skilled human resource.
“If we can send a good number of our province mates for overseas employment abroad, it could undoubtedly create a domino effect which in turn can energize the economy of this province,” he enthused.
Pelayo inaugurated last week the Nippon Training center, a subsidiary of JS Contractor tasked in providing skills training program for Taiwan bound caretakers. /MP

NFA’s Palay Procurement Program Is Year-Round

By: Judith T. Tindog

The National Food Authority-Aklan intensifies palay procurement year-round to ensure food security in times of emergency or calamity in the locality. NFA’s procurement also provides protection to farmers as well as ready market for their harvest. The visibility of NFA in the field provides stability of farm gate price of palay which is much needed by the farmers. The NFA through its procurement activity and other programs serves as a safety net against the unfavorable dictates of traders in the open market.
According to Pablito G. Gemarino, NFA – Aklan Provincial Manager, the government year round support price for clean and dry palay is set at P10.00 per kilogram. Incentives added include Delivery Incentive of P0.10 per kilogram and Drying Incentive of P0.15 per kilogram. The Cooperative Development Incentive Fee (CDIF) of P0.25 per kilogram is granted to Farmer organizations/Cooperative. The maximum amount an individual farmer could get in selling to NFA in the warehouse is P10.25 per kilogram. If he sells thru the Mobile team, it is P10.15 per kilogram. Accredited FOs/ Cooperatives get a maximum amount of P10.50 per kilogram.
Farmers should show their validated Farmers Passbook/Master Passbook everytime they would sell their palay produce to the NFA.
The NFA office is open to accept palay deliveries of farmers at the Aklan Grains Center in Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan. The Mobile Team are on dispatch daily for the in-field procurement in the eastern and western parts of the province. The local office has the target procurement of 30,000 bags from September to December 2005.
Post-harvest service needed by farmers like drying is available at NFA Aklan for a minimal fee. Advance notice is appreciated for the preparation and reference of the Mechanical Plant Supervisor Eliseo R. Semitara.
Meanwhile, the local office is working hand in hand with the Legislator and Local Government Units through the NFA Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and LGUs (PALLGU). The new program enables palay farmers to maximize their income and at the same time provides food security in the locality. PALLGU like the other programs such as Farmer’s option to Buy Back (FOBB), Palay Negotiable Warehouse Receipt Program (PNWRP) and the Grains Exchange Program for Farmers organization will benefit legitimate farmers as to increase in income and to become a strong and united agri-businessmen.
For more details about procurement and other related grains programs, NFA welcomes questions thru the Customer Assistance Unit at Linabuan Sur, Banga, Aklan. /MP

Editorial - November 20 - 26, 2005

The Progressing Libacao

A part of the brief history of Libacao, Aklan states: “The people of Libacao takes pride in the little tales that make up the town’s history. The tales of bravery of ‘Tarin’, a native who dared the Spaniards, despite of inferior arms for want of liberty, the mythical silver bell in the deepest basin of Hagakhak in the Aklan river and the miracle of patron saint, Saint Catherine of Alexandria to save the town from ravage by the bandits.”
Among the early Malay settlers in Aklan were spouses Pagharion and Maria Obo-ob and their son Malangga who settled in Ageangka, a place called today as barangay Guadalupe, once the seat of government of Datu Kabanyag, the ruler of Aklan. To protect themselves against the invading bandits and to save their farm products, Pagharion upon the request of the people, looked for a new site and established a “minuro” or community which we call today “Libacao”.
Maria Obo-ob is honored today with a short road – Obo- ob Street, but unfortunately the road is a subject of dispute between two families.
Today, Libacao is a fourth class municipality, a classification made based upon its annual income. Its total land area is one sixth (1/6) of the total area of Aklan province, a combination of mountainous terrains, interspersed by valleys, creeks, upland and lowland farms. The soil is very fertile with climate very conducive to the production of livestock and poultry, rice, vegetables, fruits and root crops among others.
It is rich with natural resources like minerals and forest products. Libacao is a place of beauty with rivers of clear, cascading water. Its river if only developed will generate electricity for Aklan and irrigate the farms to produce more food for the Aklanons with more surplus to sell. Waterfalls in Libacao are places to behold and enjoy. However, among the 17 municipalities of Aklan, Libacao is the least developed.
Libacao is only 29 kilometers away from the capital town of Kalibo but to reach its Poblacion takes about one (1) hour drive in a private car via the winding gravel road. While in Libacao, there is no exit point but go back to Banga or Kalibo. Libacao is adjacent to Jamindan, Capiz; Lambunao, Iloilo and even Antique, yet it is difficult to go to those places. There is no road that connects Libacao to those provinces.
But don’t look now for Libacao is on its way to development and is ready to overtake some towns in Aklan. It may overtake even Banga the beautiful. Libacao is fast developing its tourism industry. It has started intensified shipping to Kalibo its abaca fiber at an average of 30 metric tons a week. The Libacao Public Market is filled up with people selling and buying goods. There are brisk sales of native products like root crops and fruits especially on Thursdays during market day.
Indeed, Libacao is finding its way to prosperity. Lead by its Honorable Mayor Charito I. Navarosa, Libacao today is as peaceful as desired, its people in pursuit of success and contentment. In the words of Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez, “Libacao has made successful strides in the areas of agriculture development, social services and peace and order. Where once…Libacao as one of the depressed municipalities, its recent succession of leaders have slowly but surely raised the town to a higher level of progress and development”.
To the Libacaonons, as you celebrate your Municipal and Religious Fiesta on November 24 and 25 in honor of Saint Catherine of Alexandria may you will always be guided on the way to real peace, development and progress. /MP

2nd SUNRISE FESTIVAL 2005 Unreels

By: Megs S. Lunn

Imagine a world without art – no paintings, no sketches, no statues in the parks. A world without art would be pretty empty, dull, and cold. So even though people may try to tell you otherwise, and even though you probably won’t make your living at it, art does matter.
Fine artists create visual art, usually specializing in specific type, such as painting or sculpture, cultural songs and dances. Their goals may be many: to create something of beauty, to trigger emotion, and to make people think.
Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation (MAWF) Sunrise Festival II in cooperation with Ang Kasama will be held on November 25, 26 and 27, 2005 in the Island of Boracay. During the Presscon, on November 22, 2005 held at the Kalibo Plaza Canteen, Mr. Deo Palma, the National Coordinator of MAHARLIKA stressed the importance of Art in our culture. The main objective of their forthcoming activities is to promote the art for service and blessedness. The theme this year is “ETNIK KONEK”, which according to Mr. Danilo Dalisay, the MAWF Secretary General, who is also a true blooded Aklanon from Nabas, is “to trace our roots and build our future, thereby connecting our fellow brothers and sisters in blood from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, because our culture is our strength.” In addition, he said, “we are only not limiting artists within the Philipppines, but rather we welcome other nationalities to join our cause.”
With this, Ms. Corren Muller, an international artist from Switzerland and her partner Mr. Jim Tanuevo of Ka-tribu Kapatid na Tribu Mindanaw performed an exhilarating ribbon dance which was originally a fire dance.
Together with them during the presscon are the artists: Jhu Rubio – Kasugbu Sec. Gen; Jean Rapunzel Arnaldo – Kasugbu Vice President; Florence Cinco – Vice President MAWF and Grand Prize Winner for Sculpture {Metrobank}; Margaret Rodriguez – Visual Artist and Nokia and Shell Finalist; Marvin Magbag- Youth Representative Maharlika Social Service Volunteer; Nilo Murallo – Bugtaw Aklan Coordinator; Felix Golez and Jhu Haresh of Bugtaw Aklan provincial representative and Ms. Sumra Dela Cruz-Rojo – Curator of The Museo it Akean in Kalibo.
Most artists work on their own, so it’s also important to be disciplined and self-motivated. One quote said that “people who have really made it big usually know how to promote themselves.” Asked if how they would create awareness to the children and parents to learn to appreciate the beauty of art and not to think of the monetary consolation, an artist from Mindanao had a well-explained reason, “As creative thinker himself, he expresses his ideas from mental to visual and thinks of the money later. The joy of being to express something, may it be visually thru paints, sculpture, songs or dance is more worthwhile than think of the monetary consideration which is later actually is a great reward, but compare to the satisfaction that you feel and make you feel happy of expressing your thoughts and act on it thru art, cannot be compared to what one gets after. However, income from art is notoriously unsteady. One year, an artist may sell several pieces, but the next time he may not sell any. Until one is established, most of his income will come from a day job.”
Creating awareness to the mind of the people that art is our culture depends on the society as a whole. According to the report, government economists expect jobs for fine artists to grow as fast as the average for all careers through 2012. Of course, there are many more aspiring artists than there are opportunities; so competition is fierce.
Mayor Reymar Rebaldo of the municipality of Kalibo welcomed the artists, guests and the tri-media. Mr. Edwin Ramos of the Philippine Information Agency – Kalibo was the program host. The Pioquid’s sisters rendered a very impressive intermission number which they composed the lyrics of the song themselves. KALIWAT and BUGTAW AKEAN hosted the presscon. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

The P2.8 Billion Fertilizer Scam
Ambrosio R. Villorente

“The Filipino farmers are more often taken for a ride.” For the reason of “farm modernization” some P3 billion was budgeted for it. But look how the politicians, the Department of Agriculture (DA) officials and some “foundations” spent at least part of the money.
The latest anomaly uncovered is the P152.2 million fertilizer money diverted to some “foundations”. Malacañang Palace, three months before the May 2004 election released the huge sum of P152.2 million to 105 members of the House of Representatives. Those congressmen also passed their respective allocations to their respective favored foundations and other non-government organizations.
In six (6) congressional districts in the Bicol Region, government auditors uncovered that P60.7 million was given to these districts, most of the amount was used to purchase liquid fertilizer. According to the auditors, materials purchased were over priced from 800 percent to 1,300 percent thereby skimming P49 million through overpricing.
According to the report, a bottle of liquid fertilizer of 300 ml bottle was paid P800.00 per bottle where the same kind of fertilizer and size of bottle was available at only P58.50 per bottle in the market.
Malacañang released P728 million on February 3, 2005. The P152.5 million was part of the amount released some three (3) months before the May 10, 2004 presidential election. From the first release, there were three other releases made at a total of P2.806 billion made in February and April 2004 upon the request of former Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante of the DA.
The audit examination is so far focused on the first release of P728 million. Other releases are not yet covered. It is probable and maybe likely that worst anomalies are made in the use of those public money. The biggest single release was P1.102 billion made on February 3, 2004 – according to report, Central Luzon to CARAGA regions enlisted foundations to purchase fertilizer. Only Cordillera Administrative Regions, Region I and Region II did not employ non-government organizations in the procurement of fertilizer.
In Southern Tagalog, P45 million went to foundations, P26.5 million to LGU and P12 million was direct purchased of the total P83.5 million. In Region 10 (Misamis – Lanao), foundations got P41.95 million and P16 million to LGU’s. In CARAGA, the LGUs got P18 million while P13 million was through foundations.
The report further revealed that even some congressmen who did not request for that money were given. A good example is Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon was allocated P5 million. Upon knowing it, Rep. Zubiri realigned it for road construction. “Liquid fertilizer will just evaporate without trace”, pointed out Zubiri.
Cong. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. of Makati was also given allocation. Cong. Cynthia Villar of Las Piñas was also allocated but refused it with a sour note, “my district is all concrete”. Mr. Bolante may have the idea of fertilizing cement in Makati and Las Piñas to produce mold.
But, for one thing, did Mr. Bolante ever requested technical advice from his numerous agriculture specialists in the DA? Liquid fertilizer is most appropriate for ornamental plants and leafy vegetables. Considering that money was for “Gintong Masaganang Ani” to increase rice production, majority of the people are led to believe that P2.8 billion was used in aid of election and reelection. That was one way the most depressed farmers were taken for a ride. The top government officials used the farmers to get the money, but did not actually reach the farmers.

That DA officials and company cheated the farmers, the consumers who maybe benefited of high quality and cheap farm products should that P2.8 was actually used for agricultural production may also have been benefited.
Last week, Deputy Speaker Gary Salapuddin and Cong. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur had requested the Senate to stop its inquiry on the fertilizer scam. House majority Leader Prospero Nograles also suggested members of the House of Representatives to account where they put their pork barrel. He also suggested for the Senators to do the same.
But why stop the Senate Investigation of this P2.8 agriculture fund scam? Are the congressman hiding something? This present government has many things to hide that is why trust and confidence of the people are diminishing daily. The recent survey shows six (6) of every 10 Filipinos wanted PGMA to step out of Malacañang. /MP

Teachers Are Peace Builders

Teachers are the original peace builders of the country, as they bring education to countless Filipino children despite the odds.
Director Peter Perfecto of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAP) said that the daily personal sacrifices of the teachers in doing their job already create ripples and waves of peace across the country.
Director Perfecto was guest during the three-day workshop for the recently launched Peace Education Teaching Exemplars attended by 100 supervisors, principals and teachers from the provinces of Western Visayas.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Department of Education (DepEd), OPAP and the UNICEF. The regional workshop is a part of a nationwide series of workshops aiming to provide the participants with the people perspectives on peace concepts and peace education process.
The workshop further aimed to help educators clarify their roles in the promotion of schools as zones of peace and in peace efforts in the community, as well as equip them with conflict-resolution techniques, and facilities building commitment to peace education, through the use of the Peace Education Teaching Exemplars.
The Peace Education Teaching Exemplars are compendia of lessons in different grade and year levels in the elementary and high school that highlight values and concepts related to peace. /MP

PNRC Holds 26th Biennial National Convention

By: Ambrosio R. Villorente

“Courage Change Commitment” was the theme of the 26th Biennial National Convention of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) held on November 18-20, 2005 at Manila Hotel, Manila. Some 250 delegates attended the convention who are chapter administrators, chapter chairmen, members of the Board of Directors and PNRC officials.
Aklan was represented to the convention by Ms. Araceli Pelayo and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente who are chapter administrator and Vice Chairman of PNRC – Aklan Chapter respectively. Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the PNRC Board of Governors declared the convention open. Ms. Leonida “Baby” Bayani Ortiz, Convention chairman welcomed the delegates.
The rest of the first day was devoted to the Biennial Report of Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Board of Governors and election of the new Board of Governors (BOG) for the year 2006–2007. There were 19 candidates for the nine (9) members of the BOG. Actually, the PNRC Constitution and By-Laws provides for 15 members of BOG, 9 of whom are elected, three (3) are appointed by the President of the Philippines and three (3) are appointed by the BOG themselves.
Those who won in the November 18 election according to the number of votes garnered are: 1. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, 2. Richard J. Gordon, 3. Corazon Alma de Leon, 4. Andrew O. Nocon, 5. Allan B. Lee, 6. Henry C. Dy, 7. Armand Arezza, 8. George Go Pen Siong and 9. Dante V. Liban.
Among the issues presented and discussed in the convention are the Global Overview of Disasters and Red Cross Response which was presented by Mr. Ibrahim Osman who is the undersecretary general for National Society Cooperation and Development of International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). Mr. Simon Missiri, head of Asia – Pacific Department of IFRC discussed the lessons learned from the Asian Tsunami.
Prof. Sonny B. Colona of AIM discussed the Social Impact of Disasters. Mr. Paul Gwyn Pagaran discussed the Disaster Management in the Philippines. The Regional Scenario For Disaster Management was discussed by Mr. Bekele Geleta, Head of the Delegation For Southeast Asia, IFRC. These above topics were presented to the Red Cross volunteers like the chairman and members of the BOD chapters. The chapter Red Cross Administrators attended another separate sessions in another room of Manila Hotel.
The third and final day of the convention was devoted to the presentation of the overview of the PNRC program, objectives, strategic directions and goals and the various services like the blood service. Before adjournment, award ceremonies were done.
In Western Visayas, Antique chapter was awarded the “Best In Disaster Management Service.” The chapter of the year Award went to Rizal for Category I, Laguna – Category II and La Union-San Fernando – Category III. Best Blood Service went to Zamboanga City, Best Regional Blood Center – Mindanao Regional Blood Center, Best in Safety Services, and Best in Social Services-Laguna and Best in Red Cross Youth Service and Best In Community Health & Nursing Services-Rizal chapter.
Earlier, Zamboanga City chapter was awarded the Silver Humanitarian Service Cross and the late Raymundo S. Punongbayan was awarded the Bayani Medal (Gold).
In all his pronouncements, Chairman Richard J. Gordon stressed “integrity” in the PNRC with the Number I humanitarian services. /MP

Ro Bag-ong MUNICIPAL LIBRARY IT KALIBO

Sa mabuhay nga paghinueat hay may una eon nga bag-ong lokasyon ro library it Kalibo. Matawag aton eon rang world-class library kun siin rung atong mga kabataan, estudyante, ag mga propesional nga Kalibonhon hay makatu-on, maka-obra it research o makabasa- basa. Ro ginaplanong bag-ong lokasyon it Kalibo Municipal Library hay nahamutang sa Second Floor it Capt. Gil M. Mijares Building, sa ibabaw eamang ra it Kalibo PNP Station nga may dogalingon nga kumbinyenteng aeagyan sa kilid it baeay nga naga-atubang sa Pastrana Park ag ro ana nga kabahoe hay daywang dobli sa atong dating library maeapit sa Municipal Hall.
Rong pagtao it bag-ong lokasyon sa Kalibo Municipal Library hay napatuman sa awtoridad nasandig sa Local Government Code nga gintao sa atong hinaeangdon nga alcalde nga si Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo nga ana man gin-delegar sa isaeang ka Kometiba nga gin pangunahan ni SB member Hon. Lilian Q. Tirol, ag ni SB member; Hon. Mark V. Quimpo nga maga dumaea sa hustong pag gamit it Capt. Gil M. Mijares Building bilang isaeang ka propiedad it Munisipyo.
Rong ideal nga lokasyon sa second floor it Capt. Gil M. Mijares Building hay magatao it mayad-ayad nga seguridad para sa mga nagagamit it library tungod maeayo sa mga bintana ag sangag it mga saeakyan sa karsada nga maga serbing distraksyon sa atong mga naga basa. Maseguro man ro seguridad it mga maeahaeon ag makoli nga mga toeon-an sa library.
Kumpara sa daan nga lokasyon sa may Municipal Hall nga ro kabahoe hay dyes por kwatro metro, ro bag-ong lokasyon para sa Kalibo Municipal Library hay may kabahoeon it disi-nwebe por siyete metro nga ginaplanong ipa-air condition para maging kumbinyente gid sa mga naga-research ag nagatu-on.
Raya hay nagapakita eamang ko mabahoe nga pagtamud sa edukasyon bilang isaeang ka nagapangunang prayoridad ko gobyernong local it banwang Kalibo. /MP

Galing Mason Award Pagahiwaton

Sa taeagsa nga kahigayunan, rong atong mga igmanghud nga mga mason hay mataw-an eon it nagakabagay nga pagpahaeaga sa idaeum kong Galing Mason Award nga ginapatigayon it kompanyang Holcim Philippines kaibahan it Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Union of Building and Construction Workers ag Philippine Constructors Association, ag ko mga gobyerno local eakip rong Munisipyo it Kalibo. Raya hay may daywang lebel, rong regional ag national.
Rayang paindis-indis hay pwede sa babayi o eaeaki, Pilipino imaw, dapat beinte singko (25) ro edad paibabaw, may ana nga Certificate on Masonry or Civil Works Trade halin sa TESDA, ag mayad ro anang karakter nga iga-certify it daywa ka local nga asosasyon.
Rong pwede nga maka-nomina kara hay ana nga kompanya, civic ag propesyonal nga organisasyon, asosasyon it komunidad, NGO, people’s organization, ag rong lokal nga gobyerno nga makatao it impormasyon sa mason nga gin-nominar. Rong premyo sa Galing Mason Award hay beinte-singko mil (P25,000) sa Regional Level as syen mil (P100,000) sa National Awardee.
Rong Galing Mason Award ngara hay nagapahaeaga sa sakripisyo ag abilidad it atong mga mason, nagarekognisa sa andang ma-delikado nga propesyon ag naga tao it respeto sa andang dedikasyon sa trabaho nga rong resulta hay makita naton sa iba-ibang mga edipisyo ag kabeayan sa atong sosyodad.
Sa kadugangan nga impormasyon, makipag-angot eamang sa Munisipyo it Kalibo sa atong Community Training and Employment Coordinator nga si Mr. Noel Dela Cruz sa Mayor’s Office it Kalibo o magtawag sa telepono numero 262-3241 o 268-2158. /MP

BIR Personnel Well-Motivated To Reach Targets

Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Bunag said that BIR personnel nationwide were well-motivated to reach their tax collection targets as shown by their remarkable performance.
The positive results of their tax collection drive in August, September, October 2005 have buoyed up the spirits of the personnel, Bunag said in a press conference.
Bunag assured the media that BIR remains committed to its task of raising more revenues to help reduce the projected budget deficit of the government.
He, however, lamented the fact that some quarters have been trying to derail the agency’s efforts to increase tax collection. But he said that they will not be side tracked because they are convinced that they are doing good for the country.
Bunag further said that the BIR is doing its job well to help stabilize the economy.
He also cited the gains of the agency through the implementation of the benchmarking scheme which has proven effective in uncovering undeclared earnings, during its pilot testing in revenue districts in Metro Manila.
Benchmarking basically involves matching purchases and other expenses with gross receipts in relation to tax payments of companies belonging to the same line of business, like hardware and restaurants.
Through benchmarking, a revenue district can establish profitability and approximate how much taxes each company belonging to the same industry should pay.
With benchmarking audit, Bunag said that cheating in taxes can be eliminated. (PIA 6)

Aklan Supply of Goods Stable, Note Minimal Price Increase

Supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in Aklan as of mid-November remain stable except for 8 mm steel bars which increased by 11.11 percent against last month’s price due to the increase in the cost of raw materials.
This assessment is contained in the monthly price monitoring report of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Kalibo, Aklan headed by Provincial Director Ermelinda Pollentes. Copies of this report were furnished to key DTI central and regional offices, Aklan government officials, some vital government agencies and tri-media outlets.
In the report, the price of a 12 mm bar also rose by one peso, from P154.00 last month to P155.00 now. But a bar of 10 mm also decreased in price, from P107.00 last month to P105.00 now.
Other basic goods registered very minimal price increases. A can of sweetened Carnation creamer, for example, which cost P32.90 last month now costs P33.50, while a 50 gms. Blend 45 coffee costing P24.30 last month now costs P25.00. Alaska EVAP milk which cost P26.05 last month now sells at P25.80 per can; refined sugar last month cost P30.65, now it is P30.00 per kilo. Prices of candles, bread and most brands of canned sardines remain stable except 555 which now costs P9.80 a can from P9.75 last month.
The Provincial Agriculturist, Mr. Delano Tefora, in his October report bared that a 10 percent increase in prices of vegetables was noted in the market in Kalibo attributed to oil price increase.
The price of fish of some varieties also increased to about 10 percent compared to last month. Other varieties registered a decrease in price, while others remained the same.
The prices they obtained were from the public market in Kalibo and computed in a weekly average price formula to arrive at the monthly average range,” Tefora said. (PIA/VGVillaruel)