PNoy to endorse LP bets in 3 Iloilo districts

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will personally endorse the local candidates of the Liberal Party in three legislative districts of Iloilo after his morning sortie in the province of Capiz on Wednesday, April 10 starting at 2:30 in the afternoon.

According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Aquino together with Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon will proclaim the candidates of the fourth district of Iloilo comprising eight towns of the district in a ceremony to be held at the covered gym of Passi City with an estimated crowd of more than 3,000.

High poverty still bogs Western Visayas economy

WESTERN Visayas has posted a robust economy, but the region has to face more challenges especially with high poverty incidence, high unemployment rate and other challenges.

In last week's State of the Region Address (Sora) before members of the regional development council (RDC), Chairman Victor Tanco said the region's economy remains robust with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GDRP) growing at 5.5 percent from 2010 to 2011, and higher than the national growth rate of 3.9 during that same period.

Abad: No need for DBM-Saro in 2014

BUDGET Secretary Florencio Abad said there is no need for Department of Budget and Management Special Allotment and Release Order (DBM-Saro) by 2014 as the DBM starts implementing reforms in the budgeting system.

Abad said that the Budget department is starting a new regime in budgeting that focuses on performance-based output and outcome of projects.

North Jose River settlers to receive houses

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is expected to lead the awarding of 79 houses to the settlers of the North San Jose River in Iloilo on April 12.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) reported to City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog that the first batch of 228-housing units were already completed. Of the 228 houses, 79 will be given in the said awarding. Still under construction is the second batch of 358 houses.

Dinagyang Fest braces for national competition

ILOILO City's Dinagyang Festival, recent winner of the Galing Pook Award, will defend its crown in the national Aliwan Festival from April 12 to 14, 2013 in Metro Manila.

The City Government and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. will send Tribu Panayanon of Iloilo City National High School to represent the Dinagyang Festival in the national contest.

Demolition of Iloilo overpass sought

TOURISM department regional head Helen Catalbas has requested to the City Government of Iloilo for the demolition of a city-funded overpass, which, she said, is useless.

"Useless and has outlived its usefulness to the present condition of the city that must be demolished immediately" is the stakeholders' reaction against the P400,000-worth city-funded overpass along Bonifacio Drive in front of the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office.

DBM: Police retirement fee increases

DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad said the retirement payment scheme of retirees of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to increase by 2015-2016.

Abad said the retirement payment will be greater than the salaries of those in active service – about P18 billion will be allotted for the AFP retirees and about P17 billion for PNP retirees.

DAF projects continue during polls

PROJECTS of congressmen and senator funded through their priority development assistance fund (PDAF), known as “pork barrel fund,” are allowed to continue construction despite ban on infrastructures during the election period, said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad on Wednesday.

A new resolution from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) allows the continuation of infrastructure projects initiated by legislators and funded from their pork fund under certain conditions.

112th Semana sang Iloilo highlights Jobs Fair

THOUSANDS of job vacancies, both domestic and international, are up for grabs in the coming Jobs Fair on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Provincial Capitol lobby.

The Jobs Fair, which is organized by the Public Employment Services Office (Peso) Iloilo province, is in line with the 112th Semana sang Iloilo celebration.

Iloilo acquires cheaper backhoe

THE Iloilo Provincial Government has saved more than half a million pesos in the acquisition of one unit backhoe recently due to open and competitive bidding being practiced by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

The Iloilo province allotted a budget of P7 million for the purchase of a brand new backhoe, but the winning bidder, Civic Merchandising, only offered a contract price of P6.380 million which resulted to a savings of P620,000.

Comelec to start filing charges vs erring bets in Iloilo

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has chosen Iloilo City as pilot area in Western Visayas in filing charges against local candidates found to have violated the rules governing the May midterm elections.

The charges will focus mainly on the candidates' campaign materials and streamers not in conformity with the Comelec rules, according to newly installed Comelec city supervisor Jomar Betita.

River project to create 17,000 more jobs

MORE than 17,000 jobs will be created for the Ilonggos once construction of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) in Calinog, Iloilo is operational before 2013 ends, said Senator Franklin Drilon.

Drilon made the statement after meeting with the project management staff and implementers of the biggest dam project outside of Luzon.

Local LP campaign rally kicks off

THOUSANDS of residents in Iloilo City came out of their homes on Monday morning to see their elected city officials renew their oath of service as the local campaign period starts.

The administration's Liberal Party (LP) supported reelectionists City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Congressman Jerry P. Treñas, and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III.

Insurgency still strong due to Cafgu abuses

A RETIRED police official said that communist insurgency remains very strong in some areas of Western Visayas region mainly due to abuses of some members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) operating in the area.

Retired police chief Major General Ramon Montaño said over the weekend that the communist rebels are still operating in the hinterlands of Panay and Negros islands especially in areas identified as hotbed of political unrest spawned by the presence of the New People's Army (NPA).

P12.1 million released for school projects

GOVERNOR Arthur Defensor Sr. recently released another batch of financial assistance for the different elementary and secondary schools in the province.

Defensor led the distribution of checks totaling P12,119,101.50 to the representatives of 86 recipient schools.

Ilonggo priest out on probation

CALIFORNIA, USA -- Ilonggo Catholic priest Fr. Lowe Dongor is “enjoying” his temporary liberty after a US court recently granted an earlier plea for probation.

Albeit with travel restrictions and faced with possible deportation, Dongor faces up to his plight. Or so he said he tries to do every day.

Panay’s first hydropower plant opens in August

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) of Western Visayas has announced the completion of the first hydro-electric power plant in Panay Island by June 2013 and operational by August 2013.

Panay Grid Contractor Sunwest Water and Electric company, Inc., (Suweco) project manager Engineer Christian Biglain said the Villaciga 1-Hydropower Plant, which carries an 8 megawatt power, will be located in Barangay Igsoro, Bugasong, Antique.

Mabilog eyes safe Lenten celebration

ILOILO Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is eyeing a safe Lenten celebration in this city and advises families going out for a vacation to secure their houses before leaving.

Mabilog also asks families to secure their electrical wirings, candles and stoves as the summer season sets in with intensified heated climate especially during early afternoon.

Iloilo City starts preparation for APEC meeting

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog admitted that the city is planning to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Ministerial Meeting by 2015.

Mabilog said that 23 countries in Asia and the Pacific Rim will be participating in the conference with the heads of states to meet in Metro Manila.

Mayor renews call for water district privatization

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is reiterating the call for privatization of the city's sole water distributor Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) amid the current issue of severe water shortage in the city.

This time, Mabilog said the City Government will take over and spearhead the privatization plan in deference to the mandate and right of the local government unit to take over the water utility for the interest of its people.

Iloilo ups digital tourism, code marker project

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog is set to implement the innovative Digital Tourism Project initiated by Smart Telecommunications and new media startup InnoPub Media, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, city and province of Iloilo, and the private sector.

He said he is the custodian of all properties of the City Government and, definitely, will not issue a cease or desist order (CDO) against the implementation of the Smart project QR.

Lawmaker asked to probe own staff over funds

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas region is asking Guimaras Representative JC Rahman Nava to investigate his own staff for reportedly retaining some amount of the P25,000 financial assistance given to a client in the island province.

The issue erupted recently after client Isabel Galon Cataluña complained that the DSWD release of P25,000 was apportioned by a staff of Nava and only gave her P7,000 as financial assistance for eye surgery of her father Nilo Galon.

New P50M ABS-CBN complex to rise June 2014

ABS-CBN network in Western Visayas region is set to find its new home by June 2014 from Luna, La Paz to a more spacious complex in Barangay Banuyao, also in La Paz district in Iloilo City.

Jerry O. Bennet, ABS-CBN regional network group head, said the new complex will be constructed at the cost between P30 million to P50 million on top of new and modern, state of the art broadcast and television equipment.

CSC awards Seal of Excellence to 3 DTI offices

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has awarded three provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Western Visayas with a Seal of Excellence being citizen's satisfaction centers.

CSC Commissioner Robert Martinez led the awarding rites on Thursday in recognizing the DTI provincial offices of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental as symbols of good governance for their improved efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public by reducing bureaucratic red tape, preventing graft and corruption, and providing penalties therefore.

P2 billion needed for review of Iloilo water pipes

THE Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) needs some P2 billion for the total overhaul of water distribution pipes in its entire franchise area composed of Iloilo City, Pavia, Sta Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, and Oton.

Panay Island water districts observe World Water Day

WATER districts in Panay Island joined the city-wide water caravan in observance of the International Year of Water Cooperation declared by the United Nationals General assembly and adopted the theme World Water Day 2013 for its celebration here on Thursday.

Iloilo City to study Dumaguete waste septage project

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is sending a team from the City Government to study the waste water septage project of Dumaguete City.

Mabilog said the Iloilo team will see the viability of the P25-million Dumaguete project on waste septage to be duplicated in this city without resulting to loans but as joint venture with the Metro Iloilo Water district (MIWD).

City continues water deliveries to unserved villages

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog has assured the continuous water delivery system to unserved barangays by the Metro Iloilo City Water District (MIWD).

MIWD recently faced a major water problem on its pipe line in Tabuc Suba in Jaro district that caused water outage in several areas in the city.

DOH raises alert on summer diseases

SUMMER is here and so are the summer diseases!

The Department of Health (DOH) regional office in Iloilo City has raised the alert with a health advisory on summer diseases such as heat stroke, boil, prickly heat, sunburn, and sore eyes.

Group opens center to showcase local products

THE Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. will open a center which will showcase the products of local producers and micro-entrepreneurs in Western Visayas.

The center called “Tinukib Pasalubong Center,” which is operated by the Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI), is located at Barangay Mali-ao, Pavia, near Iloilo International Airport.