Kalibo Trading Center And Traffic Code

Below is a letter from a reader who wished to withhold his name. His letter is quite long, but we published it having been received from a concerned reader. There are redundancies but there are substance which if favorably considered by LGU Kalibo under the leadership of Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo might improve the environmental situation. Here is the unedited letter dated January 30, 2008:

Dear. Dr. Villorente,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you for winning the top post of the Aklan press Club, Inc. in election and besides that, I would like also to greet you a pleasant good day and hoping that you are also in good shape while reading this simple letter as my little way of sharing my concern and suggestions to the solution of some major problems of our dear town Kalibo.

Doc, nabasa ko po ang kolum mo sa Entrepreneurial Dec. 16-22, 2007 issue tungkol sa tapiko mo nga Voyage of Mayor Rebaldo. Doc, noon pa sana ho ako gusting sumulat sa iyo, pero hindi natutuloy dahil sa magpapasko na, then magbabagong taon na naman at ang itong huli ay ang Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival. Noong una din po ay iniisip ko na kay Mayor Rebaldo ako susulat tungkol sa excessive traffic congestion particularly in the area from corner Roxas Ave. and Mabini St., going to Roxas Ave. Extension along the way to Kalibo Public Market and Gaisano mall. I think it twice before I decide and later firmly decided to address to you this letter and just have only a copy to the Mayor this simple and may be effective suggestion letter to the solution concerning the traffic crisis in the said area including from Corner T. Reyes St., and Roxas Ave. Ext. (RC Supermart and Ang Pue Hardware) going to Rescate Drug Store and Allen’s Mart.

Doc, ang dahilan kung bakit sa’yo ko dinadaan ito, dahil kung magu-gustuhan mo ang suggestion ko ay makakasiguro akong maraming makaka-alam nito. I’m sure you will disseminate this suggestion to the public through your Newspaper, the Madyaas Pen and to your Colleague media (Print, broadcast at Cable T.V.) Hope you’ll like it and support this because this is also the previous plan and even up to now, this is the plan of Mayor Rebaldo as part of his P40M loan from Land Bank.

Doc, sa palagay ko’y ito na ho ang epektibong solusyon sa mga traffic problem natin. Ituloy na at umpisahan na po ni Mayor Rebaldo and pagpapatayo ng Satellite Market sa bagsakan Center malapit sa Bus at jeepney terminal sa Oyo Torong Ext. pagkatapos ng Kalibo Public Market Construction.

Doc, ito na ho ang mga ilang suggestion kong solusyon para mabawasan ang traffic congestion sa mga binabanggit kong mga kalye:

1. Street implementation of traffic Code o Rule.

2. Operationalization of Aklan Trading Center or Bagsakan Center. Kasi ang mga Agricultural Products, sea products, stuff products like manok at baboy mula sa ibang lugar ay sa kalsada lang dinidiskarga, dapat sa bagsakan center lang.

3. Immediate construction of Satellite Market is needed at OyoTorong Ext. as an alternative market because Kalibo is also a big town, a Capital of Aklan and the Center of Trade in North Western Panay. Kailangang dalawa ang Market natin tulad ng sa Iloilo City ang Central at Supermarket at malapit na tayong maging siyudad.

Ang mga tao mula saan mang sulok ng Aklan na nais mamalengke sa Kalibo ay talagang pupunta sa Kalibo Public Market, pero pag may Satellite Market na tayo sa Oyo Torong Ext., ay talagang mababawasan ang mga mamamalengke na sumakay papuntang Kalibo Public Market ng 30 to 40%. Kaya luluwag ang mga daanan sa sinasabing kalye particularly in front of Kalibo Public Market (Roxas Ave. Ext. and Toting Reyes St.)

Ang mga taga Western Side ng Aklan at mga residente na malapit po sa Oyo Torong Ext. ay hindi na siguro magbiyahe at magpunta doon sa Kalibo Public Market para mamalengke kung mayroon na tayong alternatibong satellite Market na kumpleto rin ang tinda tulad ng sa Kalibo Public Market.

Pwede na ho sigurong magtinda ang mga bolante doon pag may satellite market na.

Ang mga tao na may sasakyan mula saan mang lugar na nais mag shopping sa Gaisano Mall ay isa ring dahilan sa pagsikip ng kalye sa Roxas Ave. Ext. Doc, kung may pera lang ako gusto kong magpatayo ng grocery o shopping mall doon malapit sa proposed satellite market site, magandang negosyo ito dahil matao rin doon at bawas sikip trapiko pa sa Kalibo Public Market.

Doc, mayroon pang Manager ng isang radio station dito na palaging sinasabi niya on the air na ang lugar sa Oyo Torong Ext. ay binabaha at dapat daw sa Tigayon daw ilagay ni Mayor Rebaldo ang pagpapatayo ng Satellite Market. Subalit ang huling baha na dumaan dito sa Kalibo noong December 28, 2007 ay hindi talaga binaha ang Oyo Torong Ext. Malaking himala raw sabi ng mga residente doon. Pero pinipilit pa rin niyang sabihin sa ere na binabaha ang Oyo Torong noon pa daw pero sa katotohanan at siguro di niya alam na talagang walang baha sa Oyo Torong Ext. noong December 28, 2007. Ang dinaanan ng baha ay sa Tigayon, Estancia, Puis, Mabilo, Caano, Nalook, Pook, Airport, Capitol, Andagao, Ceres Terminal, New Washington Terminal, Shell, corner Osmeña at Quezon Ave. Ilang araw bago dumating ang baha ay nakaranas na ng malakas na buhos ng ulan ang Kalibo at siyempre mababa ang lugar ng Oyo Torong Ext. bakit hindi binaha o magka stagnant ang tubig ulan o baha doon, dahil po sa ipinagawang malaking drainage system sa G. Magno St., N. Roldan St., C. Laserna Ext., at palibot ng Bus at jeepney terminal. Noong nakalipas na baha 2006 ay hanggang 10 ins. lang po ang taas sa lugar ng bus at jeepney terminal and after 5 to 6 hours ay nag-susubside din po ang tubig baha. Ganun kadali mawala ag tubig baha at walang stagnant.

Doc, dapat po sanang isuggest ng isang Radio Announcer o Broadcaster ay ielevate ang lupa na kahit 1ft lang ang taas at dagdagan ng malaking drainage system ang palibot at kalapit ng Oyo Torong Ext. at lagyan kamo ng estaka o river dike sa pampang ng ilog para hindi mabawasan ang pampang pagdating ng baha. Doc, iyan sana ang magandang iadvice niya kay Mayor Rebaldo.

Doc, ang accretion area na I think pag-aari ng gobyerno na mahigit na 5 hecaters along the Aklan River, in front of Bus and Jeepney Terminal and Aklan Trading Center or bagsakan ay pwedeng tambakan at maidevelop ito at pag nadevelop na ho ay pwedeng ibenta o ipaarkila sa SM o sa iba pang intresadong negosyante.

Doc yun lang po ang mga suggestion ko para sa solusyon ng traffic problem natin at ilang constructive ideas para sa future development ng ating mahal na bayang Kalibo ang maishare ko sayo. Tama ang balita mo Doc, mabuti nandito si Chairman Bayani Fernando noon sanay binulungan niya si Mayor Rebaldo na ang mga vendors sa side walk ay ilipat sa proposed satellite market para hindi naman sagabal sa paglalakad ng mga namamalengke lalo na ang mga matatanda. Hindi ikaw iyon Doc, bata ka pa at para di na magdaan sa kalsada. Sana’y binulungan din siya na kung kailangan ay wasakin o idemolish o I widening o e-expropriate ang mga property na nakakaapekto para lumuwag ang daanan. Sa arithmetic pa, tama ho si BF Doc halimbawa sampung kabahay ang maapektuhan ay sampung libo naman ang makinabang. Kaya pala palaging nananalo sa election ng landslide si BF.

Doc, ikaw na ho ang bahalang mag evaluate nito, kung ok o hindi. Kung ok sana suportahan mo at e-share mo sa kapwa mo media. Doc, nagkaroon ng sulat na ganito dahil po sa kolum ninyo na nabasa ko. Ok ho ba ito Doc? Makakatulong kaya itong sulat kay Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo?

See you, I mean read you in your next issue. More power to you, your staff members and to the Madyaas Pen, the number 1 reliable Newspaper in Panay Island.

God Bless us all.

Very truly yours,

Anonymous Fan

VALENTINE’S DAY: QUOTATIONS

Compiled by: Ronquillo C. Tolentino

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. -Aristotle

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. -Lao Tzu

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep burning, unquenchable. -Henry Ward Beecher

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. -Anais Nin

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must need have desires, let these be your desires; To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night; To know the pain of too much tenderness; To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. -Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Love does not dominate; it cultivates. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe /MP

Editorial - February 9, 2008 ISSUE

Money From Pinoys
In Four Middle East Countries Grows

by JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO

DESPITE decreasing wage levels, ban on deployment, and nationalization of labor markets, four Middle East destination countries of Filipino temporary contract workers posted the biggest year-on-year increases of remittances. Data by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from 190 countries and territories reveal.
The January-to-September 2007 data from the BSP showed that the United Arab Emirates tops Middle East countries in terms of year-on-year increases in remittances sent to the Philippines.
Nine-month period data showed that Filipinos sent a total $427.525 million to the Philippines from the UAE. This figure is nearly 50-percent (49.57%) higher than the $285.84 million in remittances that Filipinos sent from UAE from January to September in 2006.
The increase came mostly from land-based temporary migrant workers. These workers sent home $0.418 billion from January to September 2007. In the same period in 2006, land-based workers sent home $278.36 million.
While 2007 country-by-country deployment figures from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration are not yet available, there were 38,523 temporary contract workers –including 11,766 domestic helpers– deployed to the UAE.
The BSP usually releases aggregated data on remittances, which include data on money flowing from identified destination countries. The BSP also has remittance data in some 190 countries where there are Filipinos.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which deployed some 89,783 workers last year, also realized a year-on-year increase in remittances with a nine-month total of $895.65 million; higher than the January-to-September 2006 figure by some $111.26 million.
Land-based workers there sent home nearly a billion dollars ($894.84 million) during the first nine months, compared to $0.784 billion during the same period in 2006.
However, existing Saudi banking regulations see some remittances originating from that country pass through banks in the United States before these are sent to Philippine-based recipients. The BSP records some of these Saudi Arabia-originated remittances as coming from the US.
Filipinos from Kuwait, the second-biggest destination country of domestic helpers according to 2006 POEA data, sent home $141.32 million during the nine-month period. This is more than the 2006 year-on-year figure of $81.84 million.
Land-based workers in Kuwait, including domestic helpers newly-deployed and who have been working there, sent home $139.77 million during the first nine months of 2007 (an increase of $58.5 million from the previous year’s figure).
But even if there were lesser numbers of deployed contract workers to Bahrain (5,151) than to Qatar (27,814) in 2006, year-on-year remittances coming from Bahrain were higher by $57.402 million, as compared to Qatar, which is higher by $34.912 million.
Nine-month remittance figures from Bahrain showed that Filipinos there sent home a total of $103.425 million, whereas those from Qatar sent home $116.519 million.

Dusk

WHILE POEA data show that Hong Kong is the top destination country for domestic helpers in 2006 —with 19,532 deployed there, the BSP figures showed a noticeable decrease in remittances from land-based Filipino workers there.
Among East Asian destination countries, Hong Kong-originated remittances in the nine-month period ending September 2007 hit $263.992 million. In the same period in 2006, the number was $302.72 million. Land-based workers from Hong Kong remitted less in 2007 ($244.98 million) than in 2006 ($278.63 million). In all destination countries, Hong Kong had the highest remittance drop: $38.733 million.
The next destination country with the highest remittance drop is Ireland, where 2006 government stock estimates show there are 11,500 Filipinos there (including 10,800 temporary migrant workers), and where some 291 workers were deployed in 2006.
During the 2007’s first nine months, Filipinos in Ireland remitted $9.86 million, lower than the year-on-year figure of $30.30 million (or by some $20.44 million).
Noticeable also is the drop in remittances from land-based Filipino workers and immigrants in Japan. Money from these workers amounted to $324.42 million as against the $326.28 million sent from Japan in the same period in 2006.
Remittances from land-based Filipinos from Japan were lower year-on-year by $24.61 million, but money sent by seafarers during the period hit $140.34 million (or higher by $22.75 million year-on-year).
Since the implementation of Japan’s new immigration rules two years ago, the deployment of Filipinos there, mostly female overseas performing artists, has hit 6,672. Five years ago, the Philippines sent more than 70,000 workers to Japan.
Total remittances from Singapore ($274.26 million) and Taiwan ($137.28 million) increased by $58.71 million and $23.72 respectively, year-on-year.
Singapore is a beehive of domestic helpers and some engineers and information technology workers. Taiwan, on the other hand, is the top destination country of Filipino care- givers from 2003 to 2006, according to POEA data.

Dawn

MEANWHILE, not even a halt to hiring foreign nurses stopped Filipinos in the UK to remit more in 2007 ($524.62 million) than in 2006 ($375.28 million).
The United Kingdom is an example of a destination country for Filipinos where there are large numbers of temporary contract workers and permanent residents. Of the estimated total 165,564 Filipinos in the UK, 93,358 were temporary contract workers and 62,606 were immigrants.
The United States, for its part, still remains the largest country source of remittances for overseas Filipinos. Some $5.27 billion were sent during the first nine months of 2007 from the US, compared to the $4.85 billion during the same period in 2006.
Even as some remittances coming from Saudi Arabia pass through American banks, that continent’s estimated 2,443,269 Filipino permanent residents carry remittance volumes going to the Philippines.
Filipinos from Canada sent home $375.6 million thus far in 2007 compared to the $283.47 million from January-to-September 2006. That country is home to some 396,054 permanent residents and some 38,886 temporary migrants.
Studies such as those by University of the Philippines economist Edita Tan and the Asian Development Bank have shown that temporary contract workers remit regularly than permanent residents since the dependents of temporary migrants are in the Philippines.
From January to September 2007, the Philippines has received some $10.48 billion in total remittances (with $8.81 billion coming from land-based workers and $1.67 billion from seafarers).
Government’s 2006 estimates show there are 8,233,172 Filipinos in some 193 countries. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

The Sensitivity of Banga Mayor Antonio T. Maming

Mayor Antonio T. Maming of Banga is very enthusiastic and determined to improve the Banga Town Plaza. All the Banganhons agreed with him that Banga Town Plaza must be improved and beautified. The Sangguniang Bayan has even appropriated the sum of P1.2 million for the said improvement and beautification project.
However, they disagreed in only one thing. The Banganhons did not want the matter of improvement Mayor Maming proposed as regards the bandstand. Mayor Maming wanted to increase the floor area of the bandstand from 7.8 meters in diameter to 12. Moreover, Mayor Maming wanted to reshape the bandstand from octagon (8 sides) to circle (no sides). The Banganhons protested. They wanted restoration only, no more no less. Atty. Sergio R. Rigodon who was Mayor Maming’s leader in the May 2007 election filed a case in court praying that the Mayor stops the project in Banga Town Plaza. The case was raffled and it was assigned to Branch III, Regional Trial Court, Kalibo, Aklan presided by Hon. Sheila Martelino Cortez.
In a hearing held on Wednesday morning, February 6, the two contending parties arrived to an amicable settlement. They agreed to a “status quo”. The digging around the bandstand will be covered and restored to its original status. “All is well that ends well.”
Congratulations! Mayor Maming for seeing the light and reason. You are the leader of Banganhons who yielded to their request to value history, culture and tradition for which that ancient bandstand stands for.
Relative to the bandstand issue in Banga, an Aklanon who remains anonymous sent his “comment on the post ‘The Magnificent Bandstand” which is reprinted in this column as:
The picture of the bandstand that you showed can certainly break every Banganhon’s heart, knowing that it will never look the same again. It can also evoke anger and resentment from many of us.
Demolishing this historic structure is like erasing part of our past. Many of us have already expressed our opposition to Mr. Maming’s plan but it is becoming clear that they are going to be futile. Although he lived for sometime in the US, I doubt that he has fully embraced or appreciated the practice of a democratic process or making decisions by consensus. He is already bent on making his own decision in spite of the overwhelming resistance from his constituents, and even his own councilmen. I seriously doubt that he has any understanding or appreciation of the historical or cultural values of the building or structure in our town. I am certain he does not posses any deep emotional attachment to the bandstand, since he never spent enough time playing or hanging out in the plaza during his youth.
Pleading for his sympathy will therefore not work, as he is not in a position to feel our pain. Aside from the economic incentives, I could not think of any other reason why Mr. Maming would be persistent on this unpopular project. I heard there is not enough money in the town treasury to fund this, and he is depending on other uncertain sources. I am afraid that next picture you would be featuring in the Madyaas Pen is an unfinished bandstand. That would be considered by all Banganhons as a further insult to a major injury. Putting more pressure against Mr. Maming will most likely be met with a more stubborn resistance. He may consider it as a personal affront to him and his position as a mayor. It can be perceived as a conspiracy of the locals to gang-up against him for being an outsider from the barrio.
Or there is just an overriding financial reward for him in this project to give up the fight. I am therefore not overly optimistic about Mr. Maming’s change of heart in the near future. At this time, I have a feeling it may require a divine intervention to save the bandstand. That is assuming Mr. Maming believes in divinity. Does he?
The consent of Mayor Maming to stop the project demonstrated his sense of understanding of the wishes and aspirations of his constituency. The P1.2 million for the said project will be re programmed for other project in Banga. /MP

DA Consults Stakeholders

Picture above shows Mr. Ricardo Provido, (top) Chairman Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council and Msgr. Domingo Oso, (below) Archdioces of Jaro articulating their issues and concern on food production and security.

The Department of Agriculture is in a process of provincial and regional consultations among the stakeholders in agriculture and fisheries and its allied services. The consultation is geared to solicit project ideas, issues and concerns needed for consideration in the preparation of the 2009 budget.
The consultation for Aklan was held in Bayswater, New Buswang, Thursday, February 7. The Regional Consultation for Region VI was held on Monday, February 4 at Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City. The consultation in Iloilo City generated program and policy recommendations believed to enhance agriculture and fishery growth that will reduce poverty and mitigate hunger.
The Visayas–wide consultation is scheduled on March 5, 2008 in Cebu City.
As soon as the consultations are completed, a national summit will be held in Manila sometime in the last week of March where the results of the regional consultations will serve as in-puts.
These consultations are in line with the Malacañang directive to conduct area-wide consultations with stakeholders in fisheries, agriculture and its alliances. /MP

Long Line of GSIS Pensioners at Union Bank in Iloilo City Waiting for Cash

Text and photos by Ambrosio R. Villorente

Instead of admiration, they are sympathized. But Mr. Winston Garcia, President/Chief Executive Officer of the Government Service Insurance System neither admire nor sympathize them. Witness these government pensioners queuing in front of the ATM booth, Union Bank, Iznart St., Iloilo City. Picture above is taken at about 9:00 o’clock in the morning, Monday, February 4, 2008. They are waiting for bank officer to reload the ATM with money as it is empty.

Picture was taken at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Monday, February 4, 2008 shows the government pensioners lining to withdraw their monthly pension from the Union Bank, Iznart St., Iloilo City.
According to the security officer of the Amigo Terrace Hotel just in front of the Union Bank, the scenario is a common sight everyday.
People around and the passersby sympathize the senior citizens’ difficulty in withdrawing their government monthly pension as they suffer the difficulties. They should be admired after spending the best years of their lives serving the people. But no, they are symphatized because of their pains being experienced as they withdraw their own money.
The GSIS pension money is deposited with the Union Bank which has only one branch for Panay and Guimaras provinces. Their pension money can only be withdrawn using the e-card which is difficult to secure and it must be validated every year. This e-card makes life difficult for government pensioners.
To withdraw their pension money from other banks, P12.00 is charge for every withdrawal and P3.00 for every inquiry. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Ro Elepante Ag Maaeam Nga Bukaw

Sa isaeang ka madamoe nga kagueangan, may nagakabuhi nga elepante ag bukaw. Sa mabuhay eon nanda nga pag-iliba, owa guid sanda naga-away. Naga iba sanda sa kalipay ag sa kasakit. Naga bueoligan pa ngani sanda sa ano man nga problema agud maeobad.
Isaeang adlaw, ginutom ro elepante ag nag eaong imaw sa amigong bukaw nga maadto imaw sa pusod it kagueangan. Nag pahando mat-a ro bukaw. Pag-abot nana sa tunga it kagu-eangan, hakita nana ro pagtipon-tipon it mga demonyo. Bag-o eamang nga nagbugtaw ro pinaka hari ag ro anang damgo, nagakaon kuno imaw it elepante. Pagkakita nana sa elepante, duro guid ro anang kalipay tongod nagminatuod ro anang damgo. Guin dakop nanda ro elepante agod kan-on ko andang hari. Owa man nagpamalibad ro elepante, ogaling naghinyo imaw nga mag-eaong anay sa anang amigo. Nag-promesa man nga mabalik guid imaw matapos ro pag eaong.
Masubo nga nag-uli ro elepante. Haabutan nana ro amigong bukaw nga bag-ong bugtaw.
“Ay, amigong bukaw, raya eon lang ro atong pagkita. Magabalik eon ako sa kagueangan agod kan-on it mga demonyo,” masubo nga hambae it elepante.
“Indi mahimo, indi baea nga katuwang perme nakon ikaw sa ano man nga problema? Mamunot ako kimo agod buligan ta ikaw,” pabakod nga sabat it bukaw.
Nagbalik ro elepante kaibahan it bukaw nga naga sakay sa oeo it elepante. Pag-abot nanda sa lugar it mga demonyo, nagpa-kuno-kuno ro bukaw nga bag-ong bugtaw. Nag unat-unat imaw ag nang huy-ab. Bag-o eamang akong nagdamgo nga nag-asawa ako sa Reyna it mga demonyo. “Siin ro inyong reyna agod mangin asawa ko?” may bugae sa limog it bukaw.
“Indi kami magsugot nga mangin asawa ka ko among reyna,” pamalibad ko mga demonyo.” Damgo eamang don.
“Kon imaw ron, ham-an it guina pilit ninyo nga kan-on ro akong amigong elepante ay damgo man lang ron?” baeos nga may pagbasoe ko bukaw.
Nalibog ro oeo ko mga demonyo. Indi nanda masayran kun ano ro andang himu-on. Ko olihi, guin sugtan eon lang nanda ro elepante ag bukaw nga makauli. Naka ginhawa it madaeom ro elepante, samtang bugaeon ro bukaw tongod owa pa guihapon it mentis ro anang kaaeam. /MP

Reason and Concern

By Ronquillo C. Tolentino

Strengthening Aklan Campus Journalism

I take it from the Philippine Collegian issue as quoted in the April 20, 2007 Rising Sun Personal Blog of Prof. Danny Arao that the campus press serves as the voice of students in particular and the youth in general (if it were to include here the out-of-school ones). ”History has shown that the youth plays a major role in the shaping of history, as in the case of the Cultural Revolution and even in the 1986 Revolution in the Philippines. In today’s setting, the campus press can help strengthen the youth and students movement and consequently foment social changes.”
Early in July 5, 1991 the national government, conscious of the vital importance of campus journalism, the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 (RA No. 7079) was enacted into law. Titled “An Act Providing for the Development and Promotion of Campus Journalism and for Other Purposes”, Sec. 2 –Declaration of Policy- states:”It is the declared policy of the State to uphold and protect the freedom of the press even at the campus level and promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking, and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth. In furtherance of this policy, the state shall undertake various programs and projects aimed at improving the journalistic skills of students concerned and promoting free and responsible journalism.”
Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores in coordination with the Department of Education sponsored a campus journalism seminar on February 1-2, 2008. Dubbed “Aklan Campus Journalism Writeshop, the Aklan provincial governor and congressman observed that for a long time, the development and enhancement of the capacities of the Aklan youths as manifested by projects assisted by local government were focused on sports development program. Limited efforts were geared towards training and enrichment of other proficiency besides leadership such as journalism and communication skills, Marquez and Miraflores tersely manifested.
Indeed, Aklanons excel in various fields including journalism. Marquez and Miraflores said that the annals of Aklanon writers are repleted with journalists who rose from community-based and campus/school papers to careers in the various fields of mass communications. But much can be done to improve the stock of budding writers all over Aklan. The preparatory committee of the campus journalism writeshop averred : “Of late, the credibility of the broadcast media has been tainted by a number of practitioners who deliberately set aside ethics and good taste. These broadcasters/writers sensationalize issues without working for a truly balanced presentation and giving due process for people concerned. Driven by personal interest and bribes, they abuse media autonomy to assassinate characters.”
The Akeanon Campus Journalism Workshop jointly sponsored by the Provincial Government of Aklan and the Congressional District Office of Aklan in coordination with the Department of Education is the first of its kind in the Western Visayas region or elsewhere in the country. It is truly designed that the future of Aklan print and broadcast media practitioners will evolve into a truly and respected Fourth Estate. The two-day campus journalism writeshop at designated workshop venues in Kalibo, Aklan was attended by 300 campus journalists and campus publications advisers. The journalism event was envisioned as a breakthrough in providing the fundamentals to budding writers, especially in instilling responsible and ethical journalism.
Gov. Marquez and Congressman Miraflores are keen on harnessing the potentials of budding Aklanon writers/broadcasters who shall be equipped with journalistic skills and shall undergo emersion on ethics and value formation through sustainable activities.
Notes :
Carmen Salas Quimpo, a distinguished and outstanding Aklanon in various endeavors was laid to rest. I had occasion to extend my condolences and sympathy to the children of Carmen Salas Quimpo; former Congressman Allen Salas Quimpo, Melrose, Carmela, Erlinda, Lilian, Dan, Jess, Vic. I missed Rey and Bob (deceased) in my January 25, 2008 column. Carmen Salas Quimpo, one of the survivors of the S/S Corregidor that hit a sea mine at about 11:45 in the evening of December 17, 1941, recounted that of over 1000 passengers, 200 survived. Carmen Salas Quimpo, wife of former Kalibo mayor and retired municipal judge Rustico S. Quimpo recalled the nightmarish evening in Roman A. dela Cruz’ book “Town of a Thousand.”
H.W. Beecher once said:

“Living is death, dying is life
On this side of the grave, we are exiles;
On that, citizens; on this side captives;
On that, freemen; on this side disguised,
Unknown; on that, disclosed and
proclaimed as sons of God.”

Carmen Salas Quimpo left this world from earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection. /MP

Health Link

DOH CHD-POPCOM Reg. 6

Conducts PM-NFP Assessment

Regional Management Conference

by Cecille dela Rosa de Lemos

The Department of Health Center for Health Development and the Commission on Population Region 6 conducted the Responsible Parenting Movement (RPM) – Natural Family Planning Assessment and Regional Management conference with provincial and city RPM Team members on last month at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City.
The following Aklan RPM Team delegates attended the activity: Chairperson, Vice Mayor Jean T. Velarde – President, Vice Mayors League; Vice Chairperson, Arturo P. Teodosio, Jr. – Provincial Population Officer; Rev. Cezar P. Indelible – Administrator, Christ the King School – Kalibo; Emmanuel M. Parco – Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes Memorial Foundation; Nuelia P. Zaldivar – Family Planning Coordinator, PHP; and Celia R. de Lemos – Breastfeeding Coordinator, PHO.
Responsible parenting is anchored on several provisions of the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article XV, Section 3.1 and Article II, Section 9, 12, 14 and 16. These constitutional provisions give couples the responsibility to manage the size of their family in accordance with their religious beliefs and the demands of responsible parenting. There is a need to respond to the concerns of the family towards birth spacing, breastfeeding and natural family planning.
Regional Director Vicente N. Molejona, POPCOM VI, urged the participants to strengthen the Responsible Parenthood program as a major thrust of Population and Development program. According to him, the participants’ Visayan culture will enable them to work, teach and learn together with different agencies.
Former mayor of Concepcion, Iloilo, Hon. Raul N. Banias, presidential assistant for Visayas, believed that in order to reduce poverty, it is important to influence and get support of local leaders. One of the effective means is the use of evidence based data which will show them the population growth rate and health indices that will encourage them to ink population policies and programs. “There is a need to strengthen program linking population, health and environment,” said Hon. Banias who is the 2006 Rafael Salas awardee for Population and Development.
Mrs. Medalla Balandra, NFP coordinator, represented Director Lydia Depra–Ramos. Harold Marshall, POPCOM planning officer IV, presented the RPM–NFP Guidelines, Targets and Accomplishment. The presentation on monitoring and reporting forms was facilitated by Pilar Lamanosa, POPCOM project evaluation officer I.
A workshop was conducted with focus on the identification of good practices, strengths, issues and concerns and next steps for RPM-NFP implementation by the LGU-RPM Team. LGUs/RPM Team presented the workshop outputs which reveal the need to intensify advocacy activities, data collection, monitoring, strengthening of the partnership among the LGU, the barangay officials and the community and strong partnership with NGOs, private and business sectors, and the media.

Re-establishing AKPPO

The Aklan Provincial Population Office was re-established through Provincial Ordinance No. 05-020 dated June 15, 2005. Mr. Arturo P. Teodosio, Jr. provincial population officer, was appointed recently to implement the Aklan Integrated Population and Development Program and the Population Management Program.
Last month, Gov. Carlito S. Marquez signed Executive Order No. 02 creating the Provincial Responsible Parenting Movement (RPM) and Natural Family Planning (NFP) Team/Council. As core of trainers at the provincial level, the Team will orient, monitor, and evaluate service providers on the compliance of Informed Choice, Voluntarism and Responsible Parenting. /MP

Ati-Atihan 2008

SMART Service At Work

Kalibo-based employees of Smart Communications, Inc. and Philippine National Red Cross volunteers jointly attended to Ati-Atihan revelers at Pastrana Park . Smart employee-volunteers are trained in basic first-aid as part of the company’s volunteerism program S.E.R.V.I.C.E. or Smart Employees Responding as Volunteers in the Community and Environment.
The Smart First Aid station in partnership with Red Cross makes its debut in Kalibo this year to complement the 10 Smart booths provisioned to serve as police outposts along the Ati-Atihan parade route. . The provisioning for First Aid stations at major festivals has been an annual tradition for SMART to make the fiesta experience safer and more enjoyable for all participants. /MP

Communication

SMART Partners With Western Union
Delivers Mobile Remittance Service

Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and the Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) have forged an agreement to jointly develop and pilot a Mobile Money Transfer service in the Philippines that will make low-denomination, high-frequency remittances more affordable to the country’s more than eight (8) million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“This agreement is in line with SMART’s thrust to continuously develop low-cost and convenient mobile remittance channels and communications services for overseas Filipino workers,” said Napoleon Nazareno, SMART president and CEO. “We recognize the significant role they play in not only contributing to the country’s economy, but also in making sure their families’ financial and communications needs are met at the time they need them.”
SMART, which ended 2007 with more than 30 million subscribers, already has an established mobile financial service platform linking local bank accounts to mobile handsets, providing significant convenience for bank consumers. At the end of 2007, more than seven (7) million SMART subscribers were in the Smart Money system, close to two (2) million of whom are cardholders. The company has agreements with five Philippine commercial banks and links to over 7,000 ATMs nationwide, more than 100 Smart Wireless Centers and thousands of third-party Smart Money fulfillment partners.
Western Union, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo , maintains the industry’s largest global agent network of more than 320,000 locations in over 200 countries and territories.
“In the Philippines, approximately 44 percent of households have a relative or family member working abroad,” said Patricia Riingen, Western Union Vice President, Philippines. “We believe pairing Western Union’s global reach with SMART’s active subscriber base and access to Philippine bank networks will increase the ease and flexibility associated with moving money back home to friends and family.”
According to The World Bank, the number of immigrants globally is about 200 million – approximately three (3) percent of the world’s population. The Philippines is the fourth-largest receiver of remittances in the world; according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sent more than $13 billion USD home in the first 11 months of 2007, a 14 percent increase over the same period in 2006.
Once the Western Union® mobile money transfer service has launched – expected in the second quarter of 2008 – the service will connect operators to Western Union’s existing global money transfer system, which processed approximately 17 percent of the world’s cross-border remittance volume in 2006. When connected to the Western Union service, operators will be able to use their own “mobile wallet” software to enable person-to-person mobile money transfers over Western Union’s cross-border remittance network. The Mobile Money Transfer service will enable consumers to transfer money to or from mobile wallets and will offer a global network of Western Union Agent locations for cash-to-mobile and mobile-to-cash transactions.
The agreement with SMART is part of the pilot program of Western Union and the GSM Association (GSMA), an international trade association representing over 700 GSM mobile phone operators to facilitate the development of cross-border mobile money transfer services.
“The GSMA’s MMT programme was launched with the aim of tapping the ubiquity and ease-of-use of mobile communications to enable the world’s 200 million international migrant workers to easily and securely send remittances to their dependents, many of whom don’t have bank accounts,” said Ben Soppitt, director of the GSMA’s MMT programme.
“By exploiting the extensive reach of the mobile networks, the program will complement existing local remittances channels and make transferring money internationally and significantly more affordable,” Soppitt added.
Mobile networks now cover more than 80 percent of the world’s population, and three (3) billion people have a mobile phone, creating an unprecedented opportunity to extend the benefits of financial services to the majority of the world’s families for the first time.

Smart Communications

Smart Communications, Inc. is the Philippines ‘ leading wireless services provider with over 30 million subscribers on its GSM network as of December 2007. Of its total subscriber base, over 20 million subscribers are served under the brands Smart Buddy, Smart Gold and Smart Infinity. In addition, over 9 million subscribers are served through its subsidiary, Pilipino Telephone Corp., under the brand Talk ‘N Text. SMART introduced world-first wireless data services, including mobile commerce services such as Smart Money, Smart Load and Smart Padala. SMART also offers a 3G service, Smart 3G. SMART’s subsidiary, Smart Broadband, Inc. offers the revolutionary high-speed wireless broadband Internet service, Smart Bro. SMART is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippines ‘ leading telecommunications carrier, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.

Western Union Company

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is in global money-transfer services. Together with its affiliates, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, Western Union provides consumers with fast ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a network of more than 320,000 agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. /MP

BID Collects Record High P1.74 Billion Visa Fees in 2007

The Bureau of Immigration and Depor-tation’s (BID) 2007 Visa Fees collection of P1.74 billion in 2007 is an all time high, the highest the bureau has ever collected over the previous years.
Commissioner Marcelino Libanan of the BID revealed who was in Aklan recently to personally look into problems and concerns regarding immigration particularly in the island of Boracay as well as meeting with foreigners in the island engaging in business and other activities. According to Commissioner Libanan, BID’s visa fees collection in 2007 was way above its P370 million target.
“The BID is not a revenue generating agency yet we have performed well even on a budget equal to that of a small province,” Commissioner Libanan told members of Aklan media at the press conference at the Sampaguita Gardens in New Washington, Aklan held last month.
“Even with a small budget of P319 million in 2007, we managed to uphold the country’s sovereignty by protecting the country against fugitives, terrorists and syndicates.
According to Commissioner Libanan, request for visa extension in the country could be obtained in one day. “Before, when a foreigner applied for a visa extension, processing could take from three (3) weeks to 51 days. Today, if a foreigner applies for visa extension in the morning, he could get it in the following afternoon. If he applies in the afternoon, he could get it the following morning,” Libanan said.
The process is called Visa Issuance Made Simple or VIMS, which is being used as a model for other government agencies,” Libanan stressed. He also announced that soon, people from the BID will be visiting Boracay Island to conduct inspection on foreigners doing business in the island.
“Foreigners working in Boracay must have working visas, special work permits and they should follow the laws of the Philippines. They could work and enjoy in the country but they should only handle jobs which could not be done by Filipinos and leave the other jobs to the locals.
Commissioner Libanan called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Kalibo, Aklan to check on foreigners doing business in Boracay Island if they are working based on Retail Trade Laws, and on the local government of Malay, Aklan where Boracay Island is. DTI is the office releasing business permits.
“The BID, the DTI and the Dept. of Tourism are all for investments and tourism but are not for foreigners not following Philippine laws,” Libanan pointed out.
Commissioner Libanan has designated Vic Cunanan, an Aklanon, to assist on immigration concerns in Aklan. /MP

Republic of the Philippines
Province of Aklan
Municipality of Banga

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN

BULLETIN ON VACANT POSITION

Position : Secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan
(Sangguniang Bayan Office)

Item No. : 02

Salary Grade/Step : 24/1

Education Requirement : Bachelor’s degree preferably in Law,
Commerce or Public Administration

Experience Requirement : None

Training Requirement : None

Eligibility : CS Prof. or its equivalent

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

(Sgd.) MELANIO M. RENTILLO, JR.
Municipal Vice Mayor

Madyaas Pen: February 9, 2008

Sports

Iloilo To Host National Open
Youth and Women Slugfest

By ALEX P. VIDAL

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) has announced the holding of the 2008 National Open Youth and Women’s Amateur Boxing Championship on April 6-12 in Iloilo City.
Rogelio M. Fortaleza, ABAP secretary general, informed Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas in a letter about the boxing championship. Fortaleza informed that prior to the national competition among the country’s top amateur boxers, a regional and national accreditation seminar for referees and judges would also be held in preparation for the event.
ABAP would invite teachers of the Department of Education for the accreditation seminar, said Marlon Lumacad, boxing project director.
Fortaleza asked the Iloilo City government through Councilor Jose Espinosa III, chair of the city sports council, to shoulder the round-trip airfare of the person who will conduct the seminar, including his food and accommodation, and the honorarium of P12,000 or P1,500 a day for four days.
Lumacad, organizer of “Box Iloilo Box”, said the host city and the local organizer have been requested to prepare a budget of P1.5 million for the national amateur boxing tournament.
“We have organized the different committees that will handle the event and we have already initial pledges from private sponsors,” said Lumacad who represents Erwin Chiongson’s Winner’s Gym and Elorde Gym.

Glenn Donaire: Common
Denominator

February 2 was a night of predications…and explosions!
While tart-tongued former IBF titlist Vic Darchinyan has vowed to stop local ring heartthrob Z Gorres in their 12-round IBF world title eliminator on Feb. 2 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, the Cebuano speedster has also promised to punish the visitor from Australia for his pre-fight braggadocio. But the fight was a split draw which decision was unpopular. Gorres was floored a few times and still managed a split draw.
But how can fight fans assess the chances of both ring gladiators when both of them possess fearsome ring ledgers?
Let’s cite as their common denominator Glenn Donaire, elder brother of IBF flyweight champion Nonito, Jr.
Gorres created ripples at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 19, 2005 when he scored a first round stoppage at 2:03 over the US-based Donaire in a non-title fight refereed by Jay Nady.
The fight was undercard of the first Manny Pacquiao vs Erik Morales trilogy where Pacquio lost by unanimous decision.
On October 7, 2006 in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Glenn Donaire earned a shot at Darchinyan’s IBF and IBO crowns and was badly clobbered en route to losing a 6th round TKO in a fight billed by boxing scholars as reminiscent of Roberto Duran’s “no mas, no mas” (no more, no more) refereed by Tony Weeks. /MP

Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival 2008 Crime Incidents Decrease To 50

Aklan Police Director Senior Supt Benigno B Durana Jr, described the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival “more peaceful and orderly compared to last year.” Crime statistics show that 75 crimes reported incidents decreased to only 50 or 70 percent this year. “The festival is more peaceful and orderly compared to last year’s celebration, except, for one victim due to mauling confrontation which was away from merrymaking venues,” Durana said during the Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis.
Police Supt Arnold Ardiente, the ground commander of the celebration reported, Ati-Atihan Festival was generally peaceful, although there were some reported incidents such as pick pocketing, snatching and commotions, but it did not affect the over all peace and order situation in the municipality of Kalibo. The augmentation personnel from different police provincial offices and local force multipliers helped a lot in securing the safety of the participants, visitors, dignitaries, foreign and local tourists during the festival.
The security of the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival was intensified by deployment of 852 security forces and volunteers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army who contributed their part making the success of the grandest of festival.
The security had been tightened with the deployment of 124 policemen from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 in major streets for the traditional merrymaking and street dancing of participating tribes and devotees. Another 150 PNP personnel from Capiz Police Provincial Office and Antique Police Provincial Office arrived to augment the Ati-Atihan security forces in Aklan province.
A zero-vehicle policy by the Kalibo PNP was implemented on January 19 to 20 near the Kalibo Pastrana Park to facilitate smooth traffic flow. Security personnel also manned checkpoints and traffic enforcers stationed to strictly enforce the ‘zero-vehicle policy’ and traffic rules, Kalibo police chief Supt. Arnold Ardiente said. (POI Nida Gregas PIO-Aklan PPO)/MP

Business

BSP Briefs OFWs, Families
On Investment Opportunities

By Venus G. Villanueva

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Aklan and their families got a rare chance to learn investment opportunities for their money remittances from abroad. Through the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) conducted a Financial Learning Campaign (FLC) last month in Kalibo.
BSP Kalibo Branch held the financial learning campaign at the ACP Centerpoint (formerly Aklan Development Bank building) with 100 participants composed of OFWs and their families. The participants came from all over Aklan.
According to Ms. Leonora Templonuevo, the OFWs were taught about the different alternatives on where to invest their remittance money–which may be through savings account, time deposit, checking account, stocks and bonds, insurance and putting up a small business (including agri-business). Ms. Templonuevo is the Officer In-Charge of BSP, Kalibo.
Invited speakers were from the BSP, OWWA, Department of Agriculture, Philamlife, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Topics discussed included” Leveraging Remittance for Development”, given by Ms. Ruth Gonzaga, Acting Bank Officer VI, BSP; “Significance of Financial Planning”, by Vivian Tornea, OWWA; “Savings and Investments in Financial Instruments”, by Jose Leo Palcutan, Palcutan Agency, Philamlife; “Agribusiness Opportunities for Micro-Enterprises, by Nemelita G. Sungcaya, Chief Agriculturist, Agribusiness Investment and Enterprise Development Division, DA.
“Aquaculture-based Business Opportunities for Micro-Enterprises”, by Dr. Clarissa Marte, Head, Seafdec-AQD, Iloilo; “Financing Options for Micro-enterprises”, Raul Balandra, President, Federation of Rural Banks, and “One Town, One Product (OTOP)” by DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Ermelinda Pollentes. A testimony of a Successful OFW Micro-entrepreneur was also delivered after the talks aimed to inspire OFWs and members of their families.
Templonuevo revealed the FLC in Aklan was the third conducted in Western Visayas after Iloilo and Roxas. The BSP’s move in aiding OFWs and their families in investing their money wisely is in response to the national government’s call to government agencies to assist this sector, which is instrumental in further helping the country improve the economy. /MP

NEW SPEAKER

After five terms, Congressman Jose De Venecia of Pangasinan was replaced by Cong. Prospero Nograles of Davao City as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The change took effect shortly after midnight of Feb. 5.
The position of the speaker was declared vacant on motion of Cong. Mitra of Palawan who moved to declare the speaker position vacant. The motion was voted and resulted to 174 yes, 35 no and 15 abstain. Congressman Nograles was nominated speaker who got unanimous votes. He immediately took his oath of office at dawn of Feb. 5, 2008.

EDITORIAL - February 2, 2008 Issue

Madam Carmen Salas Quimpo

“Those who are prepared to die are most prepared to live.” Anonymous

Madam Carmen Salas Quimpo was prepared to die, we prepared that she lives. Nevertheless, she passed away happy and she is now with her Creator in heaven.
“As a pharmacist, mentor and mother, I found true happiness and solid satisfaction in life. Thanks to the Almighty God for all these manifold blessings. I couldn’t ask for more.
The grand essentials of success in my chosen profession are: having something to do, somebody to love, a closely –knit family to raise.”–Madam Carmen Salas-Quimpo said.
Four scores and seven years ago, on the early morning of May 14, 1920, the first cry of a cute baby girl was heard to herald the birth of Madam Carmen Salas-Reyes, the “unica hija” of spouses Don Vicente Salas Reyes and Doña Consolacion Vda. De Zarate. Both of them came from two prominent families in Kalibo, Aklan.
She grew up to be sweet, generous and compassionate. She was fondly called “Meling” by close friends and relatives.
She went to Manila for her college education and enrolled in prestigious school, the Manila Central University where she was acclaimed “Miss Pharmacy” during her freshmen year. After graduation, she took the Pharmaceutical Board Exams in 1947 and scored a rating of 80 percent.
She had a lot of admirers because of her beauty and brains. But at long last, the former Mayor of Kalibo, the late Rustico Salazar Quimpo turned out victorious among her suitors. They tied the knot on September 13, 1942.
The newly-married couple stayed in the ancestral house of the Salases. They were blessed with 10 children, six of whom are boys and four are girls.
The eldest is Melrose Quimpo-Martelino, whose name was coined from Meling and Rustico. She is a BSE, MAEd degree holder from U.P. and presently Vice Chairman, NVC; member of the Board of Directors, Rural Bank of Balete. She is married to Atty. Roy Yap Martelino, Vice-Prexy, Legal Department, Metrobank of Manila with whom she has four children: Michelle, Sheryl, Romel and Liezl.
The second child is Atty. Allen Salas Quimpo, a lawyer by profession. He obtained his long line of degrees from the University of the Philippines, AD, LLB, MBA, MMPA. Bewitch by politics just like his parents, he was former Congressman of the Lone District of Aklan and Mayor of Kalibo. But his “first love is as an educator and so he retired from the political limelight to be the President of the Northwestern Visayan Colleges, a legacy of his Lolo Cente Salas and his father Judge Rustico S. Quimpo. He founded and pioneered this past-expanding fountain of knowledge conceived in freedom and dedicated to the ideals of freedom. His better half is former Ms. Aklan, Marianne Lao-Quimpo. The marital life is blessed with five children: Alma, Aileen, Angelo, Andrew and Maico.
The third child is Nene Carmela Quimpo-Almanzor, a BSC graduate from UE married to the late Edgar Almanzor. They have lovely twins: Melissa and Caressa from the grandma’s name Carmen and her nickname Meling. Jomel is the youngest.
Then comes Reyes Salas Quimpo, the President/Manager of the RBB or Rural Bank of Balete, Kalibo Branch. One will notice the logo in front of the bank at the groundfloor of the NVC Hotel formerly Salas Theatre. The 10 branches signify the 10 children of the big Quimpo-Salas family. Rey’s best half is Didi Roldan-Quimpo, Director of USWAG Development Foundation, Inc. The marriage is blessed with two doctors: Lemon and Don. The youngest is Rita who specializes in Arts and Interior Design.
The fifth child is no other than Dean Ma. Erlinda Q. Fernandez-Wilson, a beauty and brains combination, a U.S. Exchange Visitor Field Scholar during her high school days, a CAT corps sponsor, consistent honor student, a Battery Sponsor while taking up her profession in U.P. She obtained her BSBA in U.P. Diliman, MMBM at UP Visayas and M.A., NVC. Married to a businessman, the late Christi Fernandez with whom they sired five sons: Christopher Jones, Christian Michael, James Gabriel, Francis Louie and John Paul. Presently, she is the Executive Dean of NVC; and Chairman, Arts Council of Aklan Foundation, Inc. She remarried last year Mr. David Wilson, the school administrator of the NVC IPLC, Boracay Campus.
Hon. Lilian Quimpo-Tirol is a BSN, R.N. degrees holder from Ortañez University. She is a Sangguniang Bayan member of Kalibo; manager, Malayan Insurance Company; Treasurer, and School Nurse, NVC. The apple of her eye is no other than Julius Abello Tirol, a fishpond operator from Tangalan, Aklan. The marriage is gifted with four children, Julian Newton, Bob James, Jules Simon and Jan Rei.
After Baby Tirol, comes Dr. Vicente Salas-Quimpo, a UST graduate, Fellow Philippine College of Physicians; Fellow, Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; Section Head, Infectious Diseases Dept. of Medicine, the Medical City Clinical Consultant, Microbiology Laboratory, the Medical City. Vic is well-traveled. His best half is Alice, a R.N., BSN Training Manager, Nursing Dept., Reg. Staff Belle Israel NY, New York, U.S.A.
Dan Salas Quimpo comes next, a BSA, BSC degree holder who works as Client Relations Asst., Bank of Commerce; member, BOD RBB and NVC. Dan married Ma. Vina Ong Quimpo, Credit and Loans Officer, Land Bank of the Philippines, Kalibo Branch with a lovely daughter named Carmina.
Next in line is Bob, a BSC graduate who died on a vehicular accident. A throng of sympathizers mourned over his early demise but his Creator has sounded his trumpet call and the end of the road has come.
The youngest of course is Jesse Salas-Quimpo, a CPA from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Owner/Manager KITCOM Internet and Gizmo; Corporate Secretary, NVC; member, Board of Directors NVC and Rural Bank of Balete, Past President, PICPA Aklan Chapter and Aklan Kalantiaw Jaycees. He is happily married to the lovely pharmacist at DRSTMH, Sandra Aborka-Quimpo with “unico hijo” Jason.

CSQ Litany of Sterling Qualities

Mrs. Carmen Salas Quimpo is not only doubly blessed but, she is loved by God to be saved from the rampaging sea where she was one of the passengers of the ship that sanked immediately before World War II where her only sister died. Truly, God has a mission for her on earth that she was fortunate to survive the fury of the sea and was able to produce ten successful professionals and loving children and grandchildren.
She was active in religious and civic activities, held important positions and led in extending assistance to those in need. Some of her awards are:
· Outstanding Aklanon Award, 2006, the only woman awardee during the Aklan Day Celebration.
· Most Outstanding Parent by the Kalibo Women’s Club, 1988.
· Most Outstanding Councilor by Public Administration Journal, 1968-1971.
· Distinguished Alumna of Aklan Academy, 1955-56
· Golden Record of Excellence by the New Life on Family Development and Youth Council, Inc., April 13, 1994.
· Golden Globe Award by the Mother’s Day Council on May 8, 1994, Kalayan Hall, Malacañang.
· Cash Prize of P50,000.00 from DM TH MB (Debate Manila Times, Philippines Herald, Manila Bulletin.

Professional, Civic and Community Involvement:

· Adviser, Aklan Pharmaceutical Association, 1978 to present.
· 2nd Vice President, Federation of Women’s Club
· Board of Directors, Catholic Women’s League
· Consultant, NVC Pre-School and Learning Center
· Municipal Councilor of Kalibo, 1968-71, 1971-1972
· Vice President, National Federation of Women’s Club
· President, Inner Wheel Club, 1972-1973
· President, Catholic Women’s League, Diocese of Kalibo, 1979-82
· Board of Director, Catholic Women’s League
· PRO, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Aklan Council, 1982
· Secretary, Aklan Anti-TB Society
· Secretary, Kalibo Federation of Women’s Club
· Secretary, Kalibo Women’s Club
· Chairman, Extra Curricular Activities, NVC
· Instrumental in Granting Scholarships to thousands of poor but deserving students./MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Beyond The Commerce of Man

Atty. Arnaldo Tejada, Sr., former SB member of Kalibo often quoted this well established and accepted doctrine: “Streets, avenues and boulevards are beyond the commerce of man.” Atty. Tejada simply means streets, avenues and boulevards are constructed for the exclusive use of vehicles and pedestrians. Streets, avenues and boulevards must not be used as places for business to earn money or a living.
However, for years, a portion of Regalado Street at the back of St. John the Baptist Cathedral and a portion of C. Laserna Street by the side of the Aklan Catholic College are places of businesses. The local government of Kalibo have tolerated several kinds of vendors doing their respective thing. Sure, some selected few are enjoying benefits, but majority of the people, both Kalibonhons and Aklanons are being deprived of the use of the said streets.
There are barber shops, shoe repair shops, electronics stores and eateries among others. But their situations appear deplorable although some barber shops are air conditioned. There is no water. There is no comfort rooms. These contribute to the unsanitary condition particularly in the eateries.
Nevertheless, those entrepreneurs pay rental to the shanty owners and electric power bill. Moreover, they pay tickets to the LGU Kalibo at about P2.00 per square meter space per day being occupied, 30 days a month. Those who constructed shanties by the roadsides profit and enjoy the use of public property for free.
Congestion of vehicles will be eliminated if these shanties are demolished and these occupants are relocated to a suitable place where they can do legitimate businesses. Why do these few individuals prevail over the many who are equally qualified to use these sidewalks? Businesses in the Kalibo Shopping Center will be enhanced if these sidewalks are vacated and converted it into paid parking lot for those who patronize the Kalibo Shopping Center. Income from the parking lot will augment the financing of LGU Kalibo.

Bandstand In Banga Town Plaza

Mayor Antonio Maming of Banga has appropriated P1,172,000 for the improvement and beautification of the Banga Town Plaza.
Among others, Mayor Maming will widen the floor area of the aged bandstand and construct a canteen. But he got the ire of some Banganhons who are conscious of their culture, history and tradition. How can Mayor Maming increase the bandstand’s floor area without tearing the present building? They asked. That present bandstand is full of stories and history. In view of it, Mayor Maming is encountering step resistance from Banganhons.
There is now a petition of concerned Bangan-hons strongly objecting to the Banga Town Plaza improvement and beautification project. Last month, the construction was started by digging around the bandstand of about five feet deep. But the job was suddenly stopped. Did Mayor Maming succumbed to the resistance?
It will be to the best interest of Mayor Maming to put down his project improvement plan of the Banga town plaza and dialogue with the peole how the improvement will be done. “Walang masama sa pinagkakasundu-an.”

PDIC Takes Over CRBA

The Philippines Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) has in its disposition the Cooperative Rural Bank of Aklan (CRBA). What does this take over means to the Aklanons, particularly the clients of CRBA?
It may mean two things. First, it may mean the lack of honesty on the part of the policy makers of the bank and on the part of management. Second, it may also mean the failure of management to adhere to the sound bank management and practices. Or they are just dishonest.
To the clients, it is a lesson learned. It is a discouraging event to put one’s money in a bank and endure the pain in the process of withdrawing that money.. The closing of CRBA means money transfer from it to big commercial banks which interest is to make the already wealthy most wealthy.
CRBA is a poor man’s bank that of farmers, fisherfolks and small vendors. Where will they bank now? CRBA is closed. /MP

P2.8 M. For Nabas & Malay Typhoon Victims

Director Teresita Rosales of DSWD turns over the sum of P2.8 million to Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez in a simple turn over ceremony in the Governor’s Office, Kalibo, Aklan in the morning of January 19, 2008. The money is intended for the reconstruction or repair of the houses of the typhoon victims of Malay and Nabas at P1.4 million each municipality. Picture above shows Gov. Marquez receiving the money in two manager’s checks from Dir. Rosales in behalf of the two municipalities. Former Vice Gov. Ronquillo C. Tolentino (2nd from right) and Ms. Elma Malbas (2nd from left) look on.

PNP Promotes 67 Cops of Aklan PPO

Sixty seven strong PNP personnel from different police stations of Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) were given due recognition for their promotions during the nationwide simultaneous pinning of rank insignias at Camp Pastor Martelino, Kalibo, Aklan.
Out of the 67 PNP personnel who were promoted to the next higher rank pinned by Aklan Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Benigno B Durana, Jr. and assisted by Deputy Provincial Director for Administration, Police Supt Larry Decena, three were promoted to Police Senior Inspectors. They are Police Inspector Arnolito Laguerta, COP of Malinao Police Station, Police Inspector Avelda Rabino, COP of Madalag Police Station and Police Inspector Francis Balais, Deputy Group Director of Aklan Provincial Mobile Group. Former Police Executive Senior Police Officer (PESPO) SPO4 Edwin Teodosio was promoted to Police Inspector. He is presently designated as Officer-In charge of Lezo Police Station.
For the rank of Police Non-Commissioned Officers, three policemen were promoted from SPO3 to SPO4, one from SPO2 to SPO3, 16 SPO1 to SPO2, 27 PO3 to SPO1 and 26 PO2 to PO3.
Police Senior Superintendent Durana encouraged his men to be more responsible in doing their jobs as protectors of society. “Promotion to another rank is another responsibility that will add risks to your shoulders to carry on. I officially congratulate all the promoted personnel of Aklan PPO. Keep up the good work and continue the job well done”, Durana said.
As a gift, Durana gave a set of rank insignia to all promoted PNP personnel of Aklan PPO. (PIO-Aklan PPO) /MP

AMS Supports Cheaper Medicine Bill Opposes Amendments to Generics Law

Dr. Emmett L. Custodio and Dr. Cynthia Dela Cruz both former President of the AMS discussing to the members of the tri-media why they object to the proposed amendments in the Generics Law.

The Aklan Medical Society (AMS) a component society of the Philippine Medical Association, Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines strongly supports the opposition to the provision that prohibits physicians from stating brand name in the prescription for their patients. Their statement released to the press follows:
WE, THE PHYSICIANS OF THE PHILIPPINES, FULLY SUPPORT CHEAPER MEDICINES AND THE GENERICS ACT OF 1988 (R.A. 6675)
Cheaper Medicines allow patients to buy the full course of their treatment. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), many “countries of Asia have areas where more than 30 percent of the medicines on sale can be counterfeit.” As physicians, we have to ensure that the medicines we give to our patients are effective and safe.
The Generics Act of 1988 has been lauded as an effective tool for providing cheaper, effective and safe medicines. Sad to say, we note that the Act has not been fully implemented because of an inadequate regulatory environment and lack of resources. The problem is not the Generics Act; the problem is the lack of political will to implement it. There is no need to change or amend this Act, (but fully implement it).
We are concerned that the proposed amendments to the existing Generics Act found in the House of Representatives version of the Cheaper Medicines Bill might erase measures designed to ensure patient safety. Disallowing doctors from making suggestions on the type of medicines that patients should take based upon their clinical judgment and experience might endanger patients’ lives. This amendment shifts the final choice of the patients’ medicines to the drugstore salespersons who lack the knowledge and training of a doctor and transfers accountability to them. Only physicians are accountable legally, morally and ethically for the success or failure of their patient’s treatment.
Our concern is foremost the patient’s welfare and safety. /MP

Iloilo Chinese New Year To Showcase ‘Best Chinese Culture and Tradition’

By ALEX P. VIDAL

Officials of the Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Cultural Association vowed to showcase “the best Chinese culture and tradition” through songs, dances, and martial arts during the five-day 2008 Chinese New Year celebration in Plazoleta Gay, Iznart St., City Proper, Iloilo City on Feb. 6-10.
“This year, we will celebrate the Chinese New Year with a five-day activity, the first time that we will do this in six years (that we have been celebrating the Chinese New Year in Iloilo),” announced Dr. Roland L. Uy, chairman of the Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Cultural Association during a press conference held on January 22 at Days Hotel, Iloilo City.
“In China, Chinese New Year is celebrated in 15 days which is the beginning of Spring Festival,” he stressed.
They have invited Cebu-based Consul General He Shi Jing of the Chinese Consulate of the People’s Republic of China, Uy said, among other dignitaries from the People’s Republic of China.
According to Uy, they have stand-by generators during the parade, cultural show and night market just in case there will be power interruptions although most of their activities will be held inside Robinsons Place.

UNITY

Mayor Jerry Treñas said this year’s Chinese New Year “is a celebration of unity that we can find here.” The activities, he said, “are very nice example of private-government partnership.”
“Every year, we open new chapters in the celebration. We are very pleased to have a partnership with the Chinese-Filipino community,” Treñas added.
Dr. Carmen Santos, principal of Iloilo Central Commercial High School (ICCHS) and official of the association, said this year’s celebration “will be an experience of a lifetime because we are going to show the different features and splendor of China and the Beijing Olympics.”
“The event this year will be more spectacular,” declared Santos whose school will sponsor the exhibit from Feb. 6 to 10, including the ‘Pot-Pourri’, a Chinese festival of dances in the mall’s fountain area.
Meanwhile, Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Edwin Trompeta dubbed as “tourism bonanza” or “golden week of tourism” the coming celebration of Chinese New Year.
“We are looking into the investment and tourism potentials the event will bring here when some 100 million Chinese tourists start to travel during the celebration,” Trompeta said.
Five (5) schools will participate in the five-day celebration which will be culminated with the display of world class pyrotechnics and live band performance. The schools are Iloilo Sun Yat Sen High School, ICCHS, Iloilo Scholastic Academy, Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS, and Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.
Also present during the press conference were association treasurer Lee Chuan, his assistant Francis Sio, auditor Tan Chengi and Fr. Manny Uy who stressed that they are going to share to the Ilonggos the Chinese ancestry during the celebration. /MP

Reason and Concern

By Ronquillo C. Tolentino

Notwithstanding Possible World
Recession, It’s Start of Presidential
Campaign in RP

Print and electronic media world-wide made gloomy report of a possible United States recession and fear of worldwide economic slowdown. President George Bush immediately called for an emergency meeting with US congressional leaders. In the Philippines, Pesident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made the observation that the reported US recession shall possibly stunt and adversely affect the growth projected for Philippine economy in 2008.
Seemingly unaffected by this depressing economic event, Philippine presidentiables have considered an all-systems-go for the 20l0 presidential elections. In Aklan, Senator Mar Roxas together with former Senate President Franklin Drilon met with the political monolith Tibyog of Congressman Joeben Miraflores and Governor Carlito Marquez together with Tibyog founder, former Cong-ressman Allen Salas Quimpo, the Liberal Party headed by Sangguning Panlalawigan member and lawyer Shelwyn Ibarreta and a Mar Roxas core group capped with brief visits to old Liberal Party political leaders on January l9,2008. Earlier, MMDA chair Bayani Fernando went the rounds of the Aklan before he inducted the new officers of Aklan Press Club, Inc. on the night of January l8,2008 at Sampaguita Gardens Resort which was a joint affair with the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) with PAPI president Johnny Dayang and National Press Club president Roy Mabasa.
Not to be outdone, Senate President Manny Villar came in the afternoon of January l9,2008, met with Nacionalista Party leaders and attended the Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan festival field mass at the Kalibo Pastrana Park in the morning of January 20,2008. By the way, it was Ati-Atihan season that the trio came to Kalibo. Their public relations experts may have seen it fit that (they) be seen by as many Filipinos and tourists this early.
There’s no stopping or rest now. One may look at the presidential elections to be two years and a half away but one has to consider the different islands of the Philippine archipelago that a presidential candidate has to cover. I received reports that Senator Mar Roxas left Kalibo in the late afternoon of January l9, 2008 for the Sinulog festival of Cebu. Also the other night, Senator Manny Villar was with former President Erap at Dinalupihan, Bataan with probable senatorial candidates.
World recession, it would seem, is not a hindrance to the early campaign of the 2010 presidential candidates.
Notes: Our deep condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family of the late Carmen Salas Quimpo. Carmen Salas Quimpo is the mother of former Aklan Congressman Allen Salas Quimpo and her other chldren: Melrose, Carmela, Erlinda, Lilian, Dan, Vic and Jess.
Carmen SalasQuimpo spent her life in education, religious and charitable endeavors and public service. She is chair of the Northwestern Visayan Colleges Board of Trustees and former municipal councilor (now sang-guniang bayan) of Kalibo. During the Golden anniversary of the Province of Aklan on April 25, 2006, she was awarded the Outstanding Aklanon in Education by the Provincial Government of Aklan. To the family, the sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grand-children, relatives and friends of Carmen Salas Quimpo also our deep condolences. To Carmen Salas Quimpo, this line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act IV, Sec. 5: “Death lies on her, like an untimely frost/Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.” /MP

Prayer For Aklan Province And Its Leaders*

* An invocation Hon. Ramon Gelito read during the State of the Province Address of Governor Carlito S. Marquez held in SP Session Hall, Capitol, Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan on January 31, 2008 during the 4th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan.

God of all nations, Lord of History, the Ruler of the Universe:
In the beginning, You designed every part of our world – from the twinkling of the stars to the crimson glory of a new day, the change of seasons, the ever-changing color of the heavens and the many things we see and enjoy but are beyond our control.
We acknowledge our dependence on You. You have been with our forefathers, in war and in peace, in times of strife and crises. We humbly ask You to make this moment of prayer a real experience for all of us who are beset by problems beyond our limited capacity to solve. With Your help, O Lord, we shall be better equipped than we are and wiser than we can ever hope to be. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without Your knowledge, what we say here and what our public officials will do afterwards, should matter to You. For we know that each of us, whether in or out of government service, will be held accountable on Judgment Day.
Teach all of us, that in case of doubt, we should choose the hard right over the easy wrong; and that when we are tempted to compromise, we should remember that anything can be compromised except truth and justice. You taught us, O Lord, to seek the truth for the truth shall set us free; As Your prophet Micah tells us that justice must roll on like the river and a never-failing stream.
Forgive us, O God, when our roots become so firmly attached to this earth we fall deeply in love with things – from the tyranny of wealth we can hardly enjoy, to the heavy burden of power, which does not give us peace of mind. Give us the wisdom, the humility and the courage to simplify our lives. Help us to live and not merely to exist.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can give us joy and peace beyond human understanding. Amen. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Ro Kaing

Katong unang panahon, sa isaeang ka baryo, maeayo sa syudad, may naga estar nga pobreng mag-asawa. Kaibahan nanda ro andang onga nga eaeaki. Mas magueang eon ro ama sa ina. Nagtrabaho it minatuod-tuod ro anang ama ogaling makaron hay may edad eon ag nagasalig eon lang imaw sa anang onga ag umagad nga may ongang sambato, bale apo ko magueang.
Tumaliwan ro dinag-on. Mas nga naga pabug-at eon rondayang magueang. Naga kinahangean imaw it pagtatap ogaling owa guid imaw guina inatoha ko mag-asawa. Naga mantener imaw it maskin ano nga habilin nga pagkaon ag biste nga gunit-gunit eon nga guina itsa kana ko anang umagad. Pirme man imaw nga guina eamig ag guina gutom. Naeo-oy guid kana ro anang apo busa gina hueayan nana ro Lolo. Ogaling kon hikita nga guina taw-an imaw, guina bunae ro onga ay ham-an kuno nga guina amulitan nana ro manamit nga pagkaon.
Sa kabuhayan, ro magueang hay nangin maselan ag abo eon ro anang guina batyag sa anang eawas. Naga ugayong imaw sa kasakit ogaling owa guid imaw guina anduha ko anang onga ag umagad maskin habati-an man nanda ro panaghoy.
Isaeang gabii, nagplano ro mag-asawa, ro anang onga ag umagad, nga daehon sa maeayo nga lugar ro magueang. Nag adto sanda sa tindahan agod magbakae it kaing.
“Basi kon mangawa ro atong kaeapit kon indi nanda makita si tatay,” pangutana it babaye. “Hambaeon naton nga guin daea naton sa isaeang ka sagrado nga lugar agod idto nana palipason ro anang habilin nga kabuhi,” sabat man ko eaeaki. Habati-an sanda ko andang onga.
“Tay, ham-an it inyong guina tapok si Lolo?” pangutana it onga. “Indi namon ma obra ron, owa abi it maga tatap kana ay pareho nga may trabaho kami ni Nanay mo. Mayad idto imaw ay may maga tatap kana.” Sabat ko tatay.
Pag-abot it gabii, guin sueod nana ro anang ama sa kaing. Guin-daehan man imaw it haboe ag pagkaon.
“Siin mo ako paga daehon?” Hangawa nga pangutana ko anang ama. “Tatay, indi ka eon namon matatapan. Daehon ka namon sa sagrado nga lugar ag idto ro maga tatap kimo.” sabat ko eaeaki.
Tanan hay mahipos nga guina tan-aw ko anang onga. “Tay, maskin ipilak mo si Lolo sa maeayo, tatapa guid it mayad ro kaing nga indi masamad.” bilin ko onga.
“Ham-an, toto?” hangawa man nga pangutana it ama. “Tongod kinahangean naton ron it uman. Sa paggueang mo doyon man ro akong sudlan kon ipilak ko ikaw,” sabat ko onga.
Sa guin hambae ko onga, nangurog ro tuhod it tatay. Owa imaw maka eak-ang. Bumalik imaw ag guin bo-oe sa kaing ro anang ama. /MP

The Magnificent Bandstand

Picture above is the magnificent bandstand that stands on the middle of the Banga town plaza. Will it be tored down in the guise of plaza improvement and beautification? If yes, then good bye to history, tradition and culture. This is the bandstand among the three edifices that withstood the ravages of World War II. /MP

FORTY PERCENT OF P1.2 BILLION

City Gov’t To Demand P480-M Share
From Sale of Iloilo Airport

By ALEX P. VIDAL

The city government of Iloilo City stands to earn some P480,000,000, 40 percent of the P1.2 billion paid by the Megaworld Development Corporation to the national government for the sale of the 54-hectare old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao district.
This became apparent after two administration city councilors have drafted a resolution “expressing the sense and consensus” of the city council requesting Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that “Iloilo City be given its rightful share of the 40 percent from the proceeds of the sale of the old Iloilo airport to the Megaworld Development Corporation in the amount of P1.2 billion.”
The proponent councilors Eduardo Peñare-dondo and Jeffrey Ganzon have cited Section 289 of the Local Government Code which provides that “local government units shall have an equitable share in the proceeds derived from the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits.”

Gross Collection Share

They also invoked Section 290 of the same law which provides that “Local government units shall, in addition to the internal revenue allotment, have a share of 40 percent of the gross collection derived by the national government from the preceding fiscal year from mining taxes, royalties, forestry and fishery charges, and such other taxes, fees, or charges, including related surcharges, interests, or fines, and from its share in any co-production, joint venture or production sharing agreement in the utilization and development of the national wealth within their territorial jurisdiction.”
The draft resolution pointed out that the basis of the law is Section 7, Article X of the 1987 Constitution based on a resolution of 1986 Constitutional Commissioner Blas Ople.
It added that “Section 7, Article X of the 1987 Constitution provides that “Local governments shall be entitled to an equitable share in the proceeds of the utilization and development of the national wealth within their respective areas, in the manner provided by law, including sharing the same with the inhabitants by way of direct benefits.”
The draft resolution emphasized that the term national wealth “is not limited to natural resources only but to all kinds of wealth that the country owns including lands of the public domain.”
It explained that “the 40 percent just and equitable share of Iloilo City is appropriate at the time when Iloilo is engaged in accelerated development in response to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address to develop the Visayas as the Tourism upper Region.”

Construction

The draft resolution underscored that for the city to attain its objective to be a premier city by the year 2015, it will construct the following:
1. The New Iloilo City Hall
2. Construction of the Boulevard along the Iloilo River as per the Regional Development Council (RDC) Resolution No. 42 series of 2007.
3. The proposed City Public College
The proponents said, Section 293 of the Local Government Code provides that the share of local government units from the utilization and development of national wealth “shall be remitted in accordance with Section 286 of the code.”
They explained that “Section 286 (a) of the Local Government Code provides that the share of each local government unit shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the provincial, city, municipal or barangay treasurer, as the case may be, on quarterly basis within five days after the end of each quarter, and which shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be imposed by the National Government for whatever purpose.”
The proponents and Vice Mayor Patrick Jed Mabilog will be asked to represent the city council “and request for the favorable endorsement of this resolution by Hon. Salvacion Zaldivar Perez, chairperson of the Regional Development Council.”
Meanwhile, lawyer Leopoldo “Pol” Causing said the city government has a strong chance of getting the nod of the national government saying “the draft resolution has a strong and solid basis in law.”
Causing stressed that under the same law, Antique province was able to get a share of mining taxes due the province worth millions of pesos from the Semirara Mining Corporation in Caluya Island.
“Thus Antique has accelerated from fourth class to second class province because of the share it got from the mining firm,” Causing, a federalism advocate, pointed out. /MP

Sports

Marquez-Pacquiao Fight Vidal Gets Accreditation

By ALEX P. VIDAL

Journalist and boxing referee-judge Alex P. Vidal of Iloilo City has been accredited by the Top Rank to cover the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight championship fight between champion Juan Manuel Marquez and challenger Manny Pacquiao. The fight will be held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 15, 2008.
Vidal’s accreditation was made possible through WBC Executive Secretary Lic. Mauricio Sulaiman, son of WBC president Jose Sulaiman Chagnon who helped facilitate the Ilonggo ringster’s credentials with the Top Rank’s Lee Samuels.
Vidal met both the Sulaiman father and son during the WBC World Convention in Manila in November 2007.
Vidal is expected to fly to Los Angeles to cover Pacquiao’s preparations at the Wild Card Gym weeks before the fight before going to Las Vegas.
Vidal is a column writer of Madyaas Pen. /MP

PCA: Plant Coconuts Today, Earn Instant Income

By Venus G. Villanueva

Planting coconuts will never be this fun for Aklan coconut farmers – they will earn for money from it even before what they planted bear nuts.
This scheme is the newest being introduced by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) under its Participatory Coconut Planting Project.
According to Plevy Raco, Provincial Head of PCA-Aklan, the project is open to everybody. Under the program, a coconut farmer will be paid for each coconut seedling grown in his coconut farm. The farmer should have a selected planting area before he is given P5.00 incentive per coconut seedling he planted on or before January 31, 2008.
When the coconut seedlings reach two (2) feet five months after having been planted in the farmer’s maintained area, another P5.00 will be paid him per seedling. As soon as the coconut plants reach three (3) feet with stable growth for five months (at around November 30, 2008), the farmer will then be paid P20.00 per tree, for a total of P30.00 incentive per tree.
According to the PCA, each incentive check will be handed personally to coconut farmers. In Western Visayas, Aklan has the biggest coconut cover. Already, several coconut-based industries had been spawned in Aklan because of its abundant nuts. There are oil mills, virgin coconut oil producers and other home-based industries utilizing various products and by products of the coconut tree.
At present, PCA-Aklan and other concerned agencies including the provincial government of Aklan are engaging in the prevention and control of Brontispa infestation in Boracay Island which had ravaged its coconut trees and ornamental palms. Efforts are now being made to prevent the coconut pest from reaching the Aklan mainland.
PCA’s Participatory Coconut Planting Project is a breakthrough project of Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Administrator Oscar G. Garin. /MP

Durana Commends PNP Augmentation Force

Aklan Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Benigno B Durana Jr commended the PNP augmentation personnel for the job well done during the weeklong festivities of Kalibo Señor Sto.Niño Ati-Atihan festival on January 14-20, 2008.
A simple program of Ceremonial Send-Off was given to PNP augmentation from 6th Regional Mobile Group, Antique PPO and Capiz PPO last week at Aklan PPO Camp Grandstand, Camp Pastor Martelino, Kalibo, Aklan.
“Your unselfish sacrifice and dedication to police duties have primarily contributed to the generally peaceful, meaningful, colourful and successful celebration of the festival, which have also gained great respect and lasting gratitude from the Kalibonhons,” Durana said.
During the ceremony, PNP Integrated Transformation Program was also introduced to augmentation Team since Aklan PPO was chosen as the pilot site of the reform program of the Philippine National Police. Three speakers, Police Superintendent Warren Tolito, Project Manager of the Program Management Office (PMO) and Bro. Titus Varona and retired PINSP Elmer Anibigno gave their encouraging spiritual messages. They emphasized the goodness of God on their lives and career as police officers. As a manifestation of gratitude, two (2) pieces of bible were personally handed to each PNP augmentation personnel before sending off to their respective offices/AOR. (PIO-Aklan PPO) /MP