Iloilo | Sun.Star Network Online

Peco assures steady power during summit

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:15:18 +0000

THE power distributor in the region has assured a steady power supply for the first International River Summit next week in this city.

Engineer Randy Pastolero, vice president of Panay Electric Company (Peco) assured of steady and standby power in case of power interruptions caused by force majeure or by kite flyers that affect the main transmission lines of power supply.

No business transactions in river summit

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:14:34 +0000

ORGANIZERS of the first Philippine International River Summit said there will be no commercial business transactions during the four-day meeting of international and national advocates, scientists and environmentalist.

The group said discussions during the four-day meeting will solely be about climate change, environment issues and best practices on river protection.

16 city roads approved as national roads

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:12:56 +0000

A TOTAL of 16 city roads here were upgraded recently into national roads as 16 House bills filed by Iloilo City lone district Congressman Jerry P. Treñas were approved by the Senate committee on public works last May 17, 2012.

Iloilo City’s existing national roads only total 68.58 kilometers in length. The approved road conversion bills will increase the total length of city national roads by 30.56 kilometers.

Province-run hospitals eyed as centers of excellence

daryl_anunciado — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:38:04 +0000

THE Hospital Management Office (HMO), headed by Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, is making headway towards its ultimate goal of making the 12 province-run hospitals centers of excellence.

Banias attended the week-long Executive Course in Hospital Administration held in University of the Philippines-Dilliman College of Public Health on Monday (May 21) to equip himself with enough knowledge on how to make hospital services in the province more efficient.

City wetlands, bird sanctuary ready for visitors

daryl_anunciado — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:24:55 +0000

Enhanced security measures up in establishments

daryl_anunciado — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:24:03 +0000

Ex-Capitol official asked to answer charges on SALN

daryl_anunciado — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:23:21 +0000

THE Office of the Ombudsman Visayas had asked former Iloilo Capitol administrator Manuel Mejorada to answer the charges filed by Jeffrey Celiz regarding his non-filing of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) within 10 days from receipt of the order.

The Ombudsman order dated April 17, 2012 on OMB-V-C 12-0144-C was received by the complainant early this week, requiring Mejorada to submit proof of service of his counter-affidavit indicating his full name, salary grade, actual designation or position and residential address.

Rice lands brace against black bugs

daryl_anunciado — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:22:33 +0000

AT THE onset of the rainy season and the start of first cropping season, farmers in Western Visayas are preparing against the proliferation of black bugs that feed on young rice plants.

Ylimea Olanday, regional integrated pest management (IPM) coordinator, said black seed bug is now considered as the latest threat on rice production.

Dinagyang performers invited to Guam Liberation Day fest

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:39:28 +0000

Mayor vows no commercialization of the Iloilo River

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:38:48 +0000

Law vs corporal punishment for children urged

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:37:48 +0000

ILOILO CITY – A world-wide organization dedicated to working with children and families to overcome poverty and injustice is advocating against corporal punishment for children in instilling discipline.

World Vision, a child-focused, relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children and poor families said that corporal punishment on children is counterproductive and must be shunned by the elders.

Old abattoir to be closed

daryl_anunciado — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:49:06 +0000

Council mulls measure against people breaching police line

daryl_anunciado — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:47:56 +0000

Owners start rehab of downtown heritage buildings

daryl_anunciado — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:47:15 +0000

ILOILO CITY – Several owners of heritage buildings here started rehabilitation of their properties in response to the call of the City Government to help beautify the Central Business District.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the buildings, mostly 50 years old and above, are priceless jewels that must be preserved and rehabilitated in its old grandeur.

International flights at airport before end of 2012

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:39:19 +0000

Architect assures Esplanade completion before summit

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:38:26 +0000

Iloilo, DOTC team up for terminal project

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:36:47 +0000

THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is teaming up with Iloilo City and the private sector for the Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal (Gift) project.

DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas has sent recently a team of experts to see and evaluate the project to be partly funded by the private sector or possibly by the Asian Development Bank in modernizing the ferry terminal services between Iloilo City and the island province of Guimaras.

3 new high schools proposal approved

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:32:10 +0000

THREE new national high schools will be added in the first district of Iloilo starting this school year 2012.

The Senate Committee on Education chaired by Senator Eduardo Angara approved House Bill Nos. 1338, 1339, and 1340 seeking the separation and conversion of three high schools attached to the national high schools in Oton, Tigbauan and San Joaquin.

Experience pure beach bliss at Discovery Shores Boracay

laureenjean — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:42:01 +0000

THE summer season is far from over at Discovery Shores Boracay. For those who still need that much-needed escape, the resort generously offers the most irresistible opportunity to bask in Boracay's glorious beaches.

Riverbank businesses urged to have wastewater treatment

laureenjean — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:14:01 +0000

2 more towns issue manifesto vs ‘hulbot’ fishing

laureenjean — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:13:15 +0000

TWO towns were added to the list of municipalities in Northern Iloilo whose fisherfolk have committed to stop “hulbot-hulbot” (fishing vessel using Danish Seine fishing gear) operations.

Fishermen in the towns of Banate and Batad have also signed separate manifestos signifying their full support to the Provincial Government’s campaign against illegal fishing activities.

Ordinance for dike demolition sought

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:58:07 +0000

Amendments in anti-smoking ordinance pushed

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:57:29 +0000

THE Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICASTF) sought amendments in the existing anti-smoking ordinance.

The group wants to phase out identified smoking areas in work places and make the entire work place as a full no-smoking area, instead.

High Court disbars Negros Occidental mayor

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:55 +0000

A HIGH profile municipal mayor in Negros Occidental was stripped off and disbarred by the Supreme Court for violations of several canons of professional and ethical conduct.

Magdaleno Peña, municipal mayor of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, could not practice law until the High Court ordered.

Justice department steps in slay probe of local official

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:55:26 +0000

THE police special task force filed a criminal case on Wednesday at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the nine suspects in the killing of Vice Mayor Abel Martinez of Mambusao, Capiz.

Martinez, 79, a doctor who was on his second term as vice mayor, was shot by a lone gunman in front of his house at 6 a.m. of May 4.

Fisheries bureau backs anti-illegal fishing drive

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:54:40 +0000

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) turned over Thursday a check worth P1.250 million for the procurement of Bantay Dagat patrol boat for the province of Iloilo.

BFAR Regional Director Drusila Bayate personally handed the check to Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., who acknowledged the agency’s support to his administration’s anti-illegal fishing campaign.

Singaporean students leave mark in 3 Iloilo towns

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:53:00 +0000

FIFTY-NINE Singaporean students who are part of the Youth Expedition Project/Overseas Community Service (YEP/OCS) in three Iloilo towns have completed their projects and are about to return to their country and report their experiences.

Malaysian chief minister to grace Iloilo river summit

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:30:41 +0000

City to present 14 development projects to Aquino

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:30:00 +0000

ILOILO CITY – A total of 14 development projects in this southern city will be presented to President Benigno Aquino III during his visit on June 1, 2012.

Aquino will speak before some 1,000 international and national delegates of the first Philippine International River Summit here.

4 dynamite fishers nabbed in Concepcion

armiesheila — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:08:39 +0000

THE Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force (PBDTF) arrested four fishermen engaged in dynamite fishing on Monday off the marine waters of Concepcion, Iloilo.

The fishers, on board an unnamed boat, were identified as Francisco Nabor, Luis Codere, Dodong Tulda and Nilo Badando all of Punta Batwanan, Carles.

HIV cases in Western Visayas growing

armiesheila — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:53:11 +0000

THE human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Western Visayas are increasing with 188 as of February 2012.

Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas regional STI coordinator Charity Perea said the recent finding was collaborated by Dr. Ray Celis, HIV Aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) Core Team (HACT) of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC).

New City Hall contractor rectifies elevator malfunction

armiesheila — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:52:21 +0000

SUPPLIER Hyundai, through new City Hall contractor FF Cruz Frayzinet, has already rectified and reprogrammed the three elevators of the new building that malfunctioned last week.

The elevator operators will soon undergo a training program with the FF Cruz and supplier Hyundai through the City Engineers Office to create a pool of technicians and operators for immediate troubleshooting of the elevators and other equipment.

Mayor: No permit for bikini open, indecent shows

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:11:44 +0000

Power firm execs to explain brownouts to top officials

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:11:06 +0000

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is arranging a meeting on Friday between officials of the Panay Electric Company (Peco) and top Ilonggo government leaders to explain the continuing brownouts in the city and the more than eight hours blackout last week.

Mabilog said the continuous power interruptions had already caused unquantifiable losses to local business and investors caused by the city’s lone power distributor.

City issues house rules to all employees

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:10:19 +0000

ILOILO City Administrator Norlito Bautista issued a set of house rules at the new Iloilo City Hall building to be observed by all City Government officials and employees.

Bautista said Memorandum Order OCA 12-017 dated April 11, 2012 was approved by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as a guide to all government employees and department heads on the observance of protocol and proper actuations at the new City Hall.

Mayor: No displacement of vendors, illegal settlers

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:38:24 +0000

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said there will be no displacement of vendors and river dwellers of the Iloilo River in Molo district during the First Philippine International River Summit in the city.

Mabilog said the city will not put up fences to cover and hide the ugly areas of the city to the almost 1,000 foreign and national delegates attending the summit.

Police to operate 24 hours for summit

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:37:11 +0000

Congress urged to open power franchise to other players

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:36:06 +0000

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has asked the help Representative Jerry P. Treñas and Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon for Congress to review the franchise granted to the Panay Electric Company (Peco).

The mayor also asked the two lawmakers to consider opening a franchise to other players in the power distribution industry.

Mabilog said the opening of franchise to distribute power in Iloilo will ensure a reliable and continued supply of power in the city.

Peco is currently enjoying a congressional franchise as sole power distributor in the city.

Police to probe text threats to mayor’s supporters

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:35:11 +0000

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog has asked the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to conduct an immediate investigation and file necessary charges against any person or persons sending threatening text messages to his supporters.

Mabilog said he was informed that at least eight of his supporters received threats through text messages since Tuesday.

The mayor said his detractors may have already exhausted all means to discredit him while turning their anger to his supporters.

Three village councilmen were also reportedly receiving text threats.
(Lydia C. Pendon)

Overpriced acquisition of motor graders in 2006 uncovered

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:32:41 +0000

A DIFFERENCE of P702,524.51 was noted in the purchase price of a Volvo motor grader acquired in the year 2006 under the administration of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. when compared to the one acquired this year under the administration of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

Incidentally, a similar supplier delivered the Volvo motor grader acquired in the previous and present transactions.

Data from the Provincial Engineer’s Office showed that in December 2006, the province, under Tupas, acquired two Volvo motor graders at a unit cost of P10,382,524.51 from winning bidder Civic Merchandising.

Cooperation sought on blue crab ordinance

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:28:18 +0000

ILOILO Governor Arthur D. Defensor Sr. urged the cooperation of fishermen in the Provincial Government’s campaign against the catching of Gravid (berried) and undersized swimming blue crab, locally known as “kasag.”

Defensor made the appeal during a meeting with the chiefs of police and officials of coastal municipalities on the impending implementation of Provincial Ordinance 2012-093 at the Provincial Board session hall on Wednesday.

Bantay Dagat nets 6 fishing boats

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:27:15 +0000

SIX fishing boats using compressor or “capandra” were apprehended within the fish sanctuary of Concepcion, Iloilo by the Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force recently.

The apprehended fishing boats were gathering nylon shells within the municipal sanctuary when spotted by the Bantay Dagat operatives last May 7.

City to buy old Audit commission lot

armiesheila — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:01:03 +0000

City employees to help in village clean-up

armiesheila — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:10 +0000

ALL Iloilo City Hall employees and workers will participate in a massive weekend clean-up in the barangays within this month to get rid of breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog made the announcement after noting that the city’s program on the “four o’clock habit” is barely effective in the barangays and plastic garbage continues to swarm low-lying areas.

River project biggest legacy of Aquino administration

armiesheila — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:58:47 +0000

THE multi-billion-peso Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project (JRMP) is the biggest legacy of the Aquino administration not only in the province of Iloilo but in the whole Panay Island.

This was announced by Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon after the May 6 signing of a memorandum of understanding between Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima and South Korea Finance Minister Bahk Jaewan to build the P11.2-billion JRMP in the province of Iloilo.

Mayor brings river initiatives to international forum

dr_tangarorang — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:37:27 +0000

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog brought the various river initiatives undertaken by the city to an international forum held May 4-6 at Guingju, South Korea.

Mabilog was one of two keynote speakers at the Korean forum, which serves as a grand launching of the Urban Environmental Accord participated by 125 cities throughout the world.

Construction on for housing units of river family-dwellers

dr_tangarorang — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:36:55 +0000

CONSTRUCTION is ongoing for the housing units of 1,000 informal family settlers at the city-owned relocation site in Barangay Lanit, Jaro district.

The priority of the project will be the 79 river dwellers at Barangay South San Jose.

Government scholars awarded with cash incentives

dr_tangarorang — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:36:16 +0000

THIRTEEN Iloilo City Government scholars who graduated in March-April 2012 were awarded with cash incentives by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on Monday at his office.

The list of students who graduated with honors was submitted by city social welfare and development officer Alfredo Villanueva after verifying their honors.

Drilon commends South Korea’s generosity

dr_tangarorang — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:35:34 +0000

ILONGGO Senator Franklin Drilon commended the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Philippine and South Korea governments to build the P11.2-billion state-of-the-art Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project-Stage II (JRMP) in the province of Iloilo.

The signing was held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City last May 6, with Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and South Korea Finance Minister Bahk Jaewan leading the signing.

Developments in Iloilo River to be shared

laureenjean — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:13:53 +0000