Iloilo Metropolitan Times Volume 1 • Issue No 22

ILOILO

the first business newspaper in metro iloilo

metropolitan VOL. I ISSUE NO. 22

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developmental news | critical views www.iloilometropolitantimes.com

June 30 - July 6, 2013 Php 12.00

PHOTO: “Nymphaea sp.” is a genus of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae and shares with some other genera in the same family of Water Lily.

Should Iloilo Airport be renamed?

BY REYMAR LATOZA

The new proposal to rename Iloilo Airport failed to get positive response from the heads of major sectors.

Department of Tourism (DOT-6) regional director Atty Helen Catalbas, Iloilo Provincial Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Ma. Lea Lara, Iloilo Business Club (IBC) executive director have expressed their apprehension against the renaming of Iloilo airport.

The said proposal pertains to the recent resolution passed by the local government of Cabatuan, which proposes to rename the airport after former assemblyman Tomas

Confesor.

According to outgoing Cabatuan Mayor Robert Maroma, Confesor has brought pride to Iloilo as a senator and former governor of the province.

Atty. Helen Catalbas said changing Iloilo Airport’s name is “unnecessary”.

Catalbas stressed that the airport is beginning to establish a name for itself, and changing “the horse in midstream” may not help in the development of tourism in the region particularly in the province of Iloilo.

She further explained, a new name could give rise to confusion as prospective foreign

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LTFRB-6 wants to replace old PUJs

BY REYMAR LATOZA

To ensure the road-worthiness of the vehicles and the safety of passengers, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-6) is planning to enforce new policy that prohibits 15 years old and above public utility vehicles from the streets.

“It had been proven that numerous road accidents are traceable to mechanical failure and wear and tear of parts in old and sputtering vehicles.” Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

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LTFRB-6 Director Romulo Bernardez said the proposal imposing age limit on PUJs is still in the planning stage.

He added he had already made initial talks with the transport sectors in the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo about the proposal and he advised jeepney operators to refurbish their units for the safety of their passengers.

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guests, those who are unfamiliar with the place might mistake it for something else, thus earn the ire of tourists instead of their goodwill.

Gov. Defensor Sr. showed hostility in the said proposal. “Let it stay that way,” he said.

He added that if there will be changes in the status of the airport, it should be named Iloilo International Airport instead.

From the business sector, Iloilo Business Club (IBC) executive director Ma. Lea Lara said she wants to keep the name of the said aviatio field. She explained in order to strengthen Iloilo as a marketing brand it should be retained “Iloilo, as a name, has a geographic

value in the global scale, airline companies in the country have been familiar with Iloilo Airport as a regional hub.

The airport, located between the boundary of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan, the Airport operates various domestic and two international flights to Singapore and Hong Kong.

Prior to the new proposal, there had been proposals to change the name of Iloilo Airport.

In 2006, former Antique Governor Sally Perez proposed to rename the airport as Panay International Airport.

In 2007, the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Should Iloilo /p5

The Villar Foundation, through its managing director, Senator-elect Cynthia Villar, personally handed the sari-sari store showcase to the three Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were victims of sex-forflight. Villar also gave cash assistance to cover the travelling expenses of the OFWs in going back to their respective families. With the ordeal suffered by the three, Villar stressed there is more reason for the coming 16th Congress

to push for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW).

Villar Foundation extends help to sex-for-flight victims

METRO NEWS

2

June 30 - July 6, 2013

DSWD-6 reminds 4Ps beneficiaries of “no compliance, no cash grant”policy

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN The Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6) has strictly reminded its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of “no compliance, no cash grant” policy now that the cash grant distribution all over Western Visayas has officially resumed this month after it was temporarily suspended in related to May 13 elections.

DSWD-6 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre emphasized to beneficiaries that they need to comply with the required program conditions because they may receive lower grants if they have been found non-compliant to program conditions in the previous months.

Macapobre said the payouts are conducted every two months. The beneficiaries’ compliance to conditions on health and education serve as basis to determine the corresponding grants that beneficiaries will avail.

Under the Pantawid Pamilya program, beneficiaries may avail of P500 per month for health and nutrition, and P300 per month per child for education, for a maximum of three children per household.

Beneficiaries may avail of the cash grants

provided that they comply with the following program conditions: (1) pregnant women must avail of pre and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; (2) parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother’s classes and parent effectiveness seminars; (3) 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; (4) 3-5 years old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85% of the time; (5) 6-14 years old children must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend 85% of the time; and (6) 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year.

Pantawid Pamilya is a program of the national government that aims to alleviate poverty through investment in human capital.

As of February this year, the DSWD-6 now has a total of 295,127 Pantawid Pamilya household beneficiaries.

The agency has identified 2.3 million poor individuals in the region who are living below the poverty threshold, out of 1,396,505 households based on the 2007 national census. The agency also released more than P3.7 billion cash grant as of last year. IMT

DOT expects 5.5M tourists this 2013

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said that DOT expects the country to surpass its inbound tourism target of 5-million this 2013 as campaigns to expand foreign and domestic tourism gain momentum.

Bengzon noted more than 1.6-million foreign tourists went to the country from January to April, which is higher by 10 percent from the arrivals during the same months in 2012.

Looking at the figures, the said government agency sees 5.5-million foreign tourists visiting this 2013 and around 35-million residents going on domestic tours.

Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Davao and Puerto Princesa are the top tourist destinations in the country, but DOT is promoting new tourists spots to lessen the pressure on mainstream destinations and also provide income opportunities to the countryside.

“South Korea remains the largest tourism

source for the Philippines, followed by Japan and China. The three are expected to account for at least a third of inbound tourists this year”, Bengzon said.

Nevertheless, the government agency, together its industry partners are searching for other markets and segments for a wider base of tourist growth, and some of them are Russia, India, Middle East, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Bengzon further declared that the campaign “it’s more fun in the Philippines” continues to create awareness of the country among tourists through social media.

“From just 5 Facebook memes in 2012, there are now about 50,000 all over the Internet and some have even been adopted by the DOT in its campaigns”, Bengzon added.

The DOT has also set up a route development group to identify and work out the opening of more flights to and from the Philippines. IMT

Mayor Calay targets seven cities

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN Mayor-elect Geefre Alonsabe of Alimodian, Iloilo wants to develop the eco-tourism of his town particularly the ‘seven cities’ to put Iloilo’s name on the map.

Alonsabe said he considered the area as one of the tourist spots in the province but was just been left unproductive during the previous administration of outgoing Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao.

Alonsabe who defeated Alipao’s wife Marylou for mayoralty race, said the seven cities composed of seven clustered barangays namely Umingan, Lico, Cabacanan Rizal, Cabacanan Proper, Manasa, Dao and Tabug.

“I want to focus on tourism in my first three-year term because our town has much potential when it comes to tourism and agriculture, Alonsabe said after he took his oath taking before the presence of Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol last June 20, 2013.

Alonsabe said seven cities have great tourism potential because of its natural sceneries like the known Tinagong Danao, Agua Colonia, Umingan Plateau, Ibagat Medical Conglomerate of Asia, Africa and Oceania, Inc. President Dr. Leo Olarte says he is hoping that their joint venture with Saint Paul’s Hospital Iloilo for the first hospital-based stem cell treatment facility in Iloilo City will be for the better interest of everybody and promotion of medical tourism during a program held as

Spring, Farm Terraces, Maslog Falls, Bato Dungok and Oyang Cave.

Apart from eco-tourism potential, the mayor said the seven cities have also agricultural potential because these villages are used to be the rice granary of the town and even known as producers of high-value commercial crops (HVCC) such as sayote, Baguio beans, carrots and cauliflowers.

Alonsabe added this dream will be materialized once the provincial and barangay road network will be expanded and rehabilitated.

“I will also focus on concreting of roads, water system and medical assistance for indigent people” he said.

Alimodian is located on the southwest portion of the Iloilo Province. It is a central town among the municipalities bordering the province of Antique. It has a total land area of 14,482 hectares of which majority of the total land area is devoted to agriculture while a high percentage consists the forestlands.

It has 51 barangays, of which only the Poblacion is classified as urban while the rest of the barangays have rural classification. IMT

(Left Photo)VOLUNTARISM: PCG Rear Admiral Commandant Rodolfo Isorena (center) talks with several auxiliaries on how they could strengthen its partnership to achieve their maritime goal in the region during the 30th Founding Anniversary celebration of Coast Guard District Western Visayas (CGDWV) in Bo. Obrero, La Paz district here Friday last week. Also beside him are PCGA commander Elizabeth Salabas of Bacolod City and PCG-Western Visayas commander Commodore Athelo Ybañez. (Right Photo)PCG-Western Visayas commander Commodore Athelo Ybañez is inspecting the life saving equipment on standby inside their compound at Bo. Obrero, Lapuz that could be used for search, rescue and retrieval operations during calamity.

PCG-6 recognizes force multipliers’ help in maritime laws enforcement

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Western Visayas has been recognizing the help of force multipliers especially the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) in the enforcement of maritime laws at seas.

PCG-Western Visayas commander Commodore Athelo Ybañez said there are more than 1, 500 volunteer auxiliaries coming from different provinces in the region that are rendering public service without any compensation received.

As a maritime non-government organization, the PCGA main function is to assisting the PCG in promoting safety of life and property at sea, protection of the marine environment and other humanitarian activities.

“Volunteers are welcome here as long as you are willing to share your 3Ts here particularly your time, talent and treasure”, he said.

Ybañez said these auxiliaries are under their supervision despite they buy their own equipment and tools for search, rescue, enforcement and seaborne patrol, among others.

“We have been recognizing their effort since then because they helped us a lot especially in the augmentation of personnel since the number of our present coast guard personnel is insufficient”, he said.

Presently, the PCGWV has 300 regular coast guard personnel around the region.

Auxiliary Shirly Comeros of 602nd PCGA based in Bacolod City said she is already on his

5th year as volunteer.

Being a teacher of UMA Global College, Comeros said she spent most of her singleness in public service.

“I am happy having this community service because I love serving people”, she ended.

Meanwhile, the PCG-6 will start inspecting the seaworthiness of all the sea vessels in the region to make sure the safety of the riding public onset of rainy season.

Ybañez said his coastguard personnel assigned to every station are the one conducting inspection before the sea vessel will leave the seaport going outside their area of responsibility.

Upon inspection, Ybañez said they will not allow the sea vessel to travel if ever the vessel is unseaworthy.

The commander added that common violators they found on sea vessels were expired licenses of their officials, dilapidated equipment especially their radar system and unserviceable and lack of life jackets.

Ybañez said life jackets should be issued only by a supplier accredited by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

The commander also said the vessel will remain on the port as long as the crews could not fix the problem of their vessel. Also, Ybañez said the permit of the vessel could not be renewed once there are still violations found.

Ybañez said so far there is no big incident happened in the region except for minimal maritime incidents. IMT

MGB-6 identifies flood-prone towns

BY MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 6 revealed that more towns in Iloilo are flood prone thus; they are now fast tracking to complete the geohazard maps of 20 municipalities and cities in Western Visayas including Iloilo City and province.

MGB-6 director Leo Van Juguan said they are targeting to complete the geohazard maps before 2014 to help them identify what mitigating measures and disaster risk reduction program should be applied for every town classified under the geohazard.

Juguan said like the case of Iloilo City and province wherein most of its villages and towns are being surrounded with rivers the reason why most of these areas are flood prone and because of this map, they could easily classify what measures and trainings to take.

The director also exampled the town of Leon

wherein based on its map, most of its villages including Barangay Bucari, known as Little Baguio of Iloilo are considered as land slide prone because of its mountainous area.

Apart from Iloilo, Juguan said more towns in Antique are also considered as land slide prone considering that the province is located in mountainous area.

“Once we could already map these areas according to their category, it is easy for us to discuss possible solution and disaster preparation with their Local Government Units (LGUs)”, he said.

The geohazards map indicates the susceptibility of areas to flooding and landslides as well as areas the LGU can use for evacuation.

Depends on its category, the map has three indicating colors, the red which indicate high susceptibility level, green, medium; and yellow, low. IMT

Iloilo City is fast becoming a venue for study tours in the country.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog stressed the increase in tourist arrivals boosts the city’s growing reputation as an ideal educational and tourism destination.

Barangay officials of Vintar, Ilocos Norte had their wonderful learning experience in the metropolis June 18 following the sharing of the city’s best practices such as Dinagyang

Festival, disaster preparedness and solid waste management program.

For one, the city’s premier celebration Dinagyang awarded as 2012 National Galing Pook winner has become a benchmark for other festivals to follow.

The city’s endeavor entitled “Community Participation and Collaborative Governance through Dinagyang Festival” was recognized as one of the Top 10 innovative and exemplary practices.(Iloilo City PIO)

Study tours, new tourism fad

part of the launching activity at the SPHI Conference Hall, June 20. (LAF/PIA6)

June 30 - July 6, 2013

METRO BUSINESS

3

Moreas“continued interventions” Pnoy enters 2 half nd

BY REYMAR LATOZA

President Benigno Aquino III said that his three-year-old administration has not yet reached perfection; however, he expressed willingness to improve and learn more in order for the country’s economy to continue getting better as he enters the second half of his six-year term.

“Our continuing education – our acknowledgment that we do not know everything yet – makes certain that we will not become obsolete or irrelevant,” he said in a speech he delivered at the Global Development Networks’

Annual Global Development Conference.

President Aquino also added that he remains in pursuit of more knowledge and saying yes to that natural human desire to become better.

A case in point that shows how government is willing to learn was the historic success of coco-water where there was a global demand.

“So, through approaching the problem in the context of its immediate environment, and with a dash of local ingenuity, we turned literal waste products into vibrant industries,” he said, using as example coco juice and coco coir that

SEO Organization Iloilo to host SEMTrends 2013

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES

The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Organization will host this year’s SEMTrends Second Conference to promote online opportunities to the Ilonggos on July 6, 2013, 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m. at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Conference Hall.

SEMTrends is all about Search Marketing Techniques, Social Media Marketing, and Online Job Opportunities, this event will introduce the trends and updates on how to be successful using the internet.

Experts from Manila and Australia will be coming over to share their knowledge on Internet Marketing.

SEO Iloilo is a group of people who specialized in Online Jobs, Internet Marketing, and Social Media.

The group aims to promote and develop Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing as a pillar of the Philippine economy alongside its mother organization,

SEO Organization Philippines; develop and elevate SEO and internet marketing in the city and province of Iloilo; to establish the first and leading community of Ilonggo Search Engine Optimization practitioners and Internet Marketing professionals recognized throughout the country; to promote knowledge sharing and continuing education on Search Engine Optimization among Filipinos.

Interested applicants can register by visiting the SEO Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/SeoIloiloOrganization), website (http:// seoiloilo.org/), or or calling 09102376198.

Registration is at Php 600.00 inclusive of conference kits and certificate, snacks and lunch and one year membership with SEO Org. Iloilo. Discount will be given to students once identification card is presented.

Learn the new search marketing techniques, unleash the power of social media marketing, boost your income through online job opportunities. SEO Iloilo/IMT

Revenues from BPO expected to hit 20% this year

BY REYMAR LATOZA Revenues from the business process outsourcing (BPO), in the Philippines is expected to climb to $16 billion this 2013, according to the forecast of the leading US-based BPO and information technology (IT) company, Shore Solutions Inc. The said company which considered the country as still among the preferred sites for BPOs positively expects of almost 20 percent higher than the $13.4 billion last year in the country’s revenue from BPOs. “It noted that with increasing demand from prospective investors and subscribers, the industry would need at least 1.3 million direct hires by 2016 from 720,000 last year.” ABS-CBN

News Online reported According to Darcey Lalonde, Asia chief executive officer of Shore Solutions, it should require 516,000 additional seats, and some 2.5 million square meters of additional office space.

“The industry employed over 720,000 in 2012, with another 1.6 million indirectly’” report said “Cebu and Davao are among the top key urban centers outside Metro Manila eyed for expansion, and the next or third wave of BPOs is targeting key cities in Laguna, Batangas and Bacolod.” Lalonde said.

He added government should consider anew opening up to a limited extent or to select sectors, ownership of land to foreign entities. IMT

Rules for new investment product, approved

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES The Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) , a new investment product, is seen to lead the local economy immediately after it was reported to have been approved by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

SEC Commissioner Ma. Juanita E. Cueto said they have granted the new set of rules a go signal to maneuver in the local bourse.

ETF are securities and investment

instruments that monitor a commodity of assets like an index fund but trades like a normal stock in an exchange.

In the Philippines, it is the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) who governs these economic mechanisms.

The first two part of the rules (Part A and B) discuss the general provisions on listing and disclosure while the last part (C) covers the market making aspect of the ETFs. PDI/IMT

had no significant use before.

President Aquino also declared that the first step in correcting a problem is acknowledging that the problem does exist and the identified problem is the exact problem, otherwise any solutions would be directionless.

He also stressed that it is now upon the government to continue inclusive growth through social and infrastructure programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which gives financial assistance to families that sends their children to school and consult with healthcare personnel; and close the classroom gap that will allow more children to attend school.

Furthermore, President Aquino said that his next projects include mass housing, job creation, tourism and agriculture.

“The next three years will see continued interventions on the poorest of the poor but also, a focus on the vulnerable but emerging sectors of society, all made possible by prudent public finance policies and honesty in public administration: by continuing efforts to build mass housing on site and not in far-flung areas; by creating durable jobs in industry, tourism and agriculture,” Aquino said.

Aquino emphasized that while the problems are universal, the answers to these problems are not. He added that the solutions they will give must be tailored to the needs of local conditions.

“This means that our solutions may not be the best for your own communities, and we must study their effects and how to maximize positive interventions in a specific and thorough manner,” he concluded.

DPWH 80% done with infrastructures work

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA President Benigno Aquino III praised the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the finishing 80 percent of the 41,463 infrastructure projects lined up by the government during the first three years of Aquino administration.

President Aquino said that the formula was simple 5 R’s: Right projects, at the right cost and right quality and accomplished right on time with the right people. He also boasted the DPWH’s “proper” procurement and bidding processes, as well as its P16.35-billion savings.

With the huge accomplishments of the agency, Aquino approved P10,000 anniversary bonus for all DPWH employees and officials.

He praised DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson for spearheading the reforms on the said

government agency.

“Secretary Babes Singson needs not to be the Man of Steel and Concrete to strengthen and make permanent reforms in DPWH. The agency plays a major role as bridge towards progress for our fellow Filipino. I am thankful to all those who are part of the agency”, Aquino added.

Aquino further declared that Singson was able to give solutions to infrastructure problems faced by the government for three years. He cited as example the Araneta-Quezon Avenue Underpass that was completed at a lower contract price of P430 million from the original proposal of P694 million.

“If you happen to see signage of ‘Men at work’, you can be sure that there are really architects, engineers, and construction workers who are working”, Aquino noted. IMT

PhilHealth 6 conducts assessment

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Regional Office 6 conducted today a public hearing to get inputs, feedbacks, comments and concerns on the implementation of its all case rate payment scheme.

Representatives from hospitals, medical societies, government line agencies, media and other stakeholders in Western Visayas attended the public hearing held in this city.

PhilHealth 6 Regional Vice President Dr. Dennis Mas said that the corporation has a plan to make all their reimbursement case rates because other countries do not already implement the fee-for-service scheme but the all case rates.

Mas said the public hearing and dialogue are part of the efforts of the regional office to be consultative and to be able to reach out to their partners for the improvement of its operations, processes, and policies crafted by its Central Office such as the policy on case rates.

It will be recalled that on September 21, 2011, PhilHealth introduced the case rate payment scheme, also called per-case payment which is a payment method that reimburses health care providers a predetermined fixed rate for each treated case. Initially, the scheme covers only 23 cases, 11 of which are common medical cases and 12 surgical cases.

Dr. Bernadette Reynes, Chief of the Health Care Delivery Management Division

of PhilHealth 6 has cited various benefits with the introduction of the case rate scheme.

Aside from ensuring that all members will have the same benefit whether rich or poor, under the payment scheme the benefits of the members are transparent and predictable and easier to communicate.

The case rate also tries to contain the excesses of health care providers without sacrificing support to the members and since providers already know how much they will get for a particular case, this will push them to be efficient utilizing health services.

Reynes added that the case rates scheme is universally accepted and Philippines is one of the only two countries in Asia implementing the fee for service.

With the implementation of the case rate, there was an improvement in the turn-around time, the processing period was lessened. Based on PhilHealth 6 record, the turn-around time was reduced from an average of 60 days to 10 days.

Also, anchored on the case rate is the No Balance Billing where no other fees shall be charged to sponsored members admitted in government ward’s accommodation on the 23 case rates package.

The all case rate payment scheme is expected to be implemented in August this year. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

4

METRO TOURISM

June 30 - July 6, 2013

The Regatta Residence Hotel

BY MARY JANE UBAY As Iloilo experiences a fast growing economy, more and more tourists are coming into the city.

Some of them hold conventions and business meetings here; others are attracted by the good quality of education that Iloilo’s schools and universities can offer.

Like any other Filipinos, Ilonggos are known for being hospitable and generous. Their generosity expressed in giving quality and good services to the

Metro Fashion

BY MECHEL VELASCO From camera lenses to pencil and cuts -this young artist has managed to bring his best to both worlds.

At 21, Jio Gayonoche, a member of Silhoutte- Iloilo (fashion guild of young designers), discovered that he has something to offer in the fashion world.

The art skills in his father side families chiefly influence his leisure pursuit in art. It was in his college years that he began to be fond of watching different fashion shows.

“We have an architect, painter, furniture designers in the family, thus, seeing my potential as an artist; I can say at all that it was not a coincidence. My fascination to art began in drawing, since, my childhood years has a long way of shaping my fondness.”

As an artist,he also excelled in many competitions, receiving awards and recognitios in different categories. All these started to boost his confidentce in joining more competitions.

His love and passion for photography helped in shaping his talent fashion styling and designing Jio started to conceptualize his own photoshoots which made him realize of elevateing his potentials by joining the Design Lab Competition. He was one of the top ten finalists in the first eliminations.

For him, fashion is subjective to the wearer.

“Fashion depends upon the person. The way a person can wether carry his or her outfit well or not can make or break the looks of the design. No

local and foreign tourists. Around Iloilo are the finest hotel that can accommodate anyone who will visit the City of Love.

Re-established in March 2013, Regatta Residence Hotel prides itself to serve you at their best. Take your time to relax and enjoy the magnificent view of the scenic Iloilo River as well as the modern Iloilo Skyline at the Regatta Café. This quaint hotel is located in the heart of the city, accessible to the nearest University of San Augustine, Malls, and other business destinations in the city.

Regatta Residence has renovated its facilities for the satisfaction and comfort of its guests, ensuring experiences that are tied closely to the history, culture, cuisine and way of life of the Ilonggos. The hotel is equipped with spacious rooms ensuring a peaceful night for those who checks in.

Each has a balcony overlooking the Iloilo River. IMT

The Best of Both Worlds

matter how beautiful it is when the wearer can’t seem to project, it would be useless.”, he said.

His creations mostly prefers neutral colors like gray and black accompaniments for it to look more elegant. At the same time, he is also comfortable with preppy and funny look. He has his sewers who help him create and pattern his design.

“Set your mind if you really like what you’re doing because if you have not liked it, you cannot come up with better results. If you really want to learn, you should find ways,” he added.

Jio’s journey to his own version of success reminds us to focus on our goals even if it means starting from the bottom.

“Be humble in everything you do, especially if you’re just starting”, he said.

His relentless experiences in life became his stepping stone to be determined i n everything. “ B e trendy!

Search new trends because no matter how beautiful y o u ’ r e designs is, but it is not the today’s trend, it will not carry any b e a r i n g s .”

Jio ended.

IMT

3rd floor, Mary Mart Mall, Valeria St., Iloilo City Tel. # (033) 302-9739

June 30 - July 6, 2013

METRO ENTREPRENEUR

5

Project Zero bags 3rd int’l recognition

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES Unknown to many Ilonggos, a local social entrepreneurship program is making name in the international arena for its commitment to combat current socio-economic and environmental concern by addressing the need of the community to participate in nation-building.

Coined as the “Project Zero”, it aims at creating livelihood projects in the community

through innovative design and product development activities.

Project Zero was awarded the Social Contribution Award in the 2013 Asia Communication Awards in Singapore, just recently.

International lifestyle designer PJ Arañador authored and introduced this endeavour to the community in Gawad Kalinga Village, Sooc, Arevalo along with a number of sponsors who support and finance different developmental projects- Smart Communications, Inc., GK Sooc Arevalo, GKnomics, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Business Fair Trade Consulting, and Sooc Social Ventures.

LTFRB-6 Mulls...from page 1 buses and vans 15 years and older will be

leaders of driver’s association in the city.

Report added under the LTFRB’s modernization program, all passenger

phased out while taxis running for 12-15 years will suffer the same fate. PNA/IMT

Should Iloilo...from page 1 Foundation Inc. proposed to name the airport as Graciano Lopez-Jaena Airport. Lopez Jaena was the founding editor of La Solidaridad.

The law said through an executive order

from the Philippine President, a resolution from the Philippines Bases Conversion and Development Authority or congressional fiat airport’s name can be changed. IMT

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“Zero project means zero resources because WEESAM EXPRESS ILOILO - BACOLOD - ILOILO we make our product out of nothing; zero use DEPARTURES 6:30 am 1:10 pm of electricity- our products are made from hand 8:10 am 2:50 pm cutting and using manual machines; zero wastes9:50 am 4:45 pm we use old or used plastics like tarps; zero carbon 11.30 am emission or carbon footprints- we develop FARE: (All charges in) Way environment-friendly products because we see to One Non-aircon (W3 only) P250 aircon P340 it that the materials especially plastics with short ECO. FC. aircon P435 lifespan is pulverized to form another material; ROUND TRIP PROMO and lastly, zero poverty- because we aim to help ECO. aircon P585 aircon P665 the community to have decent jobs and earn a FC. Schedule subject to change without prior notice. living,” explained Arañador.

For details please call: Arañador is very high spirit by the recognition, ILOILO (033)337-3282 / 09228660338 BACOLOD (034)709-0630, 433-9125 is narrower – where there is equal opportunities though he considers this as a challenge as well.

“Winning an award is always a challenge. for people to have work. Work translated Receiving an award is even more difficult. You have into education for children and better living to live up and make sure that the expectations of environment. The concept of better quality of the award-giving body and the general public are life when translated to the quality of work will the same, if not more than, as what the award is become a part of the rippling effect of goodness in all about. The good challenge for the project is to the society”, he ended.

The award given by the Asia Communication make sure that we grow, improve and continuously be aware of the expectations to deliver better Awards is just a sequence of their long-time unwavering dedication to empower communities. outputs and desirable results”, he said.

Prior to this, Project Zero has received the Though it was hard to organize at first, Quill Awards for excellence in social responsibility, Arañador, together his colleagues and the team, patiently skilled people in the community and in the field of health, livelihood and social especially women and housewives and educate responsibility from among the 400 finalists in them thru trainings and organize themselves to be the Philippines in the Anvil Awards which is condidered as the ‘Oscars of the Public Relation able to help and became entrepreneurs.

“They are people who may not be as educated Companies.

The Asia Communication Awards is an awardas we are but these people were able to prove that they can do something for our community and giving body which recognises the achievements of for themselves as well. If these people are lost, Asian telecoms companies and the individuals nobody will help them, that’s why we are here”, responsible for the innovations, achievements and great new services that are helping to build he added.

Arañador added that the realization of the tomorrows industry. IMT project is a testimony of the Ilonggos’ vibrant spirit of volunteerism where there is nobody left behind. For him, through Project Zero, we can bring the country to a better way of running a society.

“The project is about nation building. The balance of the poor and the rich in the country will always make the country a better place to live in if only the gap between them

METRO OPINION

6 EDITORIAL

Do names really matter?

N

ames play an important role in an existence of a person, a place, or a thing. For people who passed away, their names are but living memories. For people who are still alive, names serve as their armor to protect their individuality. Without names, one losses his or her identity.

The proposed renaming of the Iloilo International Airport has stimulated a number of opinions from different sectors of the society. It is a topical debate that has been silently crawling in the corners of the sociopolitical arena.

Prior to the completion of the state-of-the-art landing field, many claims arose in the middle of construction on to what should be used to label the airport.

It was then officially called the New Iloilo Airport Development Project, or NIADP. However, as the airport was nearing completion, there were contenders for the airport’s name: Iloilo International Airport, the original name of the airport which had the support of the Iloilo provincial and city governments; Panay International Airport, proposed by the President and supported by the RDC, which at the time was led by Antique governor Salvacion Perez; and Tomas Confesor International Airport, after the World War II hero Governor of Panay & Romblon (Wikipedia, 2013).

Out of the proposals, the name Panay International Airport was dropped due to opposition by the Iloilo city and provincial governments, the mayor of Cabatuan and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, all citing that it is illogical to rename an airport after an island as large as Panay. (Wikipedia, 2013).

Do names really matter? Isn’t it better to just improve the services and focus to living up to the mission and visions of the organizations?

While names have been significant in some other cases, changing the name won’t make it less of an airport, neither retaining its name.

Remember, that airport serves as our gateway to the world. Its doors open to a greater horizon of opportunities to the city, province and the whole region as well.

Instead of wasting our time clamouring for better names, why shouldn’t we focus on making the airport truly ours? Give it an Ilonggo taste so that when tourists come in, and our fellow Ilonggos return they can say that they are truly in Iloilo- from the services, aesthetics and the marketing of the airport.

Tourism is not all bout the beautiful places but beautiful experiences, not only of good food but of good people as well. May we be remembered not only by the name but by experiences as well.

The publisher of the Iloilo Metropolitan Times wishes to welcome A t t y. A r n o l d M o l i n a a s o n e o f o u r c o l u m n i s t s e f f e c t i v e t h i s i s s u e . Tw o m o r e columnists will add up in the family in t h e n a m e s o f Pe t e r S o l i s Ne r y a n d Je f f r e y Celis in the forthcoming issue.

The publisher believes in the variety of ideas that these columnists may contribute to the paper and offer an opportunity to the readers at-large to shape and reshape views and opinions on issues around the country and the globe.

June 30 - July 6, 2013

Informal Settlement and Diarrhea

T

he informal settlers of Iloilo City are close to 9,000 families according to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. The solution is looking for a several hundreds of millions of pesos to fund the purchase of relocation areas and the construction of lowcost housing be it in individual units or condominiums. The city mayor has started the long drive to its realization by putting up the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision Phase 1. It is a P170 million project that will provide a dwelling to an initial number of 1000 illegal settlers. lnformal settlers are people who by any circumstance have chosen to erect their houses in areas that are privately owned or are considered not allowed for human settlement. Needless to mention, they are the people who have lesser choices and most of the times driven by poverty and forced by not having a choice but to take the risk and live by whatever means necessary.

Under these definitions, the informal settlers are often stereotyped as the pasaway, palalamunin ng pamahalaan and the common suspects of petty to grave conflicts with state statures and orders. Unfair as it may be, sometimes the absence of choice will justify the branding.

Maro Stefano Lagman in his paper Informal Settlements as Spatial Outcomes of Everyday Forms of Resistance: The Case of Three Depressed Communities in Quezon City quoted Racelis and Aquirre saying that even the labels or descriptions assigned to them in Philippine society, such as “depressed area”, “blighted area”, “squatters”,“nesting area of crime”, among others, indicate that these settlements are stigmatized places.

As it is, more often, the housing solution has become a band-aid solution to the social dillema that is the proliferation of informal settlers in the city.

Grand as it may be for bureaucrats in having created a multi-million edifice in providing for a shelter to the homeless and those with homes but are landless, the act and the project satisfy only the ego and resume of these officials in the field of public service. It does not cure the problem of informal settlers to its roots.

The cycle will and has become a cryptic karma for every generation. Provide housing to 9,000 informal settlers today and a new number will sprout like mushrooms all over the city tomorrow. Worst, those who have availed of the program will soon go back to their original settlements.

Of course, it can easily be blamed to the state of mind and educational maturity of these people. On second thoughts however, the problem of informal settlers is a graphic representation of the policy-makers’ failure to reach out in the countryside and bring forth education and empowerment to the people. On a local perspective it is a failure of appreciation of the dynamics of poverty and at the very least, a breakdown of common sense.

In the absence of a comprehensive demographics of the original places of origin of Iloilo City’s informal settlers, the assumption is, majority of the informal settlers are from the interior towns of the province who in their search for a greener pasture has come to believe that the urban lifestyle of the city is the answer.

Compounding the economic factor of migration with love and marriage if at all viable, the result is a choice of actually having no choice but to build a family in a free of charge and illegal space in the city.

The search for a much better life in the city is of course a delusion of reality. The cheap idea of a flickering bulb or in modern days LED in the city is the basis of the said oblique appreciation of a brighter economic prospect in the urban centers.

Nobody can be blamed of this, afterall this is industrialization at its best. Only that, it never prospered in the Philippine experience.

If only though that a better option has been made available and credible in the country-side, this local migration would have been handled systematically. Iloilo and the nearby provinces of Guimaras and Antique is gifted of abundant natural resources. It was never appreciated by our economic framers. Instead of capitalizing on the potentials of the countryside and empowering the probinsyanos the focus went the other way.

Maybe, if not for Aga Mulach and Cesar Montano who went into farming these days, our policy makers’ attitude of it would still be a figurative appreciation of Juan de la Cruz riding atop his carabao.

Just the same, to date, many of our technocrats are scholars who have written perfectly crafted and proof-read agriculturerelated journals have not actually tried living the life of a farmer and are products of urban lifestyle.

They still speak foreign tongues to the sun-burnt farmers whose skin their children would not want to have and instead of tilling their lands would rather gamble in the city armed with nothing but guts and the thought of not wanting to become like their old kins.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines- National Secretariat for Social Action Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that neither a relocation to the provinces or a monetary aid will help solve the problem on informal settlements.

This as the national government has declared the allocation of a P10 billion pesos comprehensive package for the purpose of resolving informal settlement or an P18 thousand pesos relocation fee per family.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad defended the move by saying that such an amount would show that the Aquino government does not simply mean a band-aid solution to it.

As if the move of alllocating such an amount is not enough, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda explaned that the national government has prepared a programmed structures for these families. The parameters of the said programmed structures has never been discussed though.

Why not and why they have not? Again, these are programs designed to pay lip service to the problem itself as the case maybe in a many of the challenges the country faces today.

On the other hand, the approach of providing for the housing needs of those who are already living in the city falls on a very fragile position of providing for what these informal settlers really need. Lagman provided a vent into the way on how informal settlers should be handled. They have become a part of the city environments and should be understood as a means for low-income migrants to adjust to and survive city life. This provides an idea that informal settlement is not simply a housing problem.

A brand new house does not feed a family.

Looking into the Iloilo City experience, the city government has recently warned a set of relocatees of having their power supply cut-off because of their non action of having to apply for their own electricity connection and it is the city that is paying for them. The residents again begged because they have little or no money to use at all.

Press them to the wall further and you will find them seling their relocation houses or renting it to others and the next morning their back to where they started---the illegal settlements. But why?

The reason is simple. They need to make a living.

Housing for informal settlers will never be enough. Squarely, it should be approached to its roots. The city government has yet to announce a comprehensive livelihood program beyond the provisions of one- time cash gifts and insurances.

It should identify a viable and sustainable industry where people can participate and earn not just a salary but a living. Earning a salary can provide for food on each table while having a living is a security and insurance for life. Isn’t it common sense? Besides, providing for a living is much cheaper and sustainable compared to putting up housings which has no assurance of being paid back by the poor considering of no certain income sources at all.

Informal settlement is a social diarrhea. Free or socialized housing is merely a Loperamide approach where a temporary halt is immediately expected. Sooner, it will come back unless it is medicated by involving its immediate cause---that is poverty and lack of people empowerment to earn a sustained if not necessarily a decent living.

Elective Public Officials

J

une 30, the end of the first half of the year, marks the start of office at noontime of our newly elected public officials. For some of them, they start with a fresh mandate into office, while for some others, they start with refreshing confidence and trust of their electorate who have been satisfied with their performance in public office. I would rather think that our elective public officials, in some way, give us some hope as we enter the second half of the year and in the years when they occupy their elective office.

Elected local government officials, from the provincial governor down to the Sangguniang Bayan member, or from the City Mayor down to the Sangguniang Panlungsod member, and the elected members of the House of Representatives have three years to assume their elective office, unless prevented by authorities,

generally, with judicial power. Those who have been re-elected into office but have pending administrative cases arising from their previous term may make use of their re-election as a ground to move for the dismissal of their cases, because by the fact that they have been re-elected into office, the electorate have forgiven them for the sins they committed in office. The law, however, prohibits them to hold the same elective office for more than three (3) consecutive terms.

Although for some, three years in power is short enough, for others, it is just enough. To me, however, it is more than enough. If a thief needs only a few minutes to do his “job” well, I think, three years is more than enough for our elective local government officials to become effective instruments for the substantial development of their respective local government units. It is not in my mind to ponder and entertain some nuances that three years is more than enough for them to steal public money. Community development is a far greater good than personal or family interest. But if they cannot get away with it – to “develop” their “family”, instead of their “community”or locality – I just hope they minimize the expression of their personal motives or interests. After all, we are concerned for everyone, because we are supposedly one big

happy “family.”

Most of us would like to give them the chance to do their best in their powerful elective public office. I think this is a fair attitude towards them. So that as we watch them in office, we try to see some glimmer of light, even amidst the darkest storms, God forbid, may befall in our community. When I remember Typhoon Frank, I remember Governor Art Defensor, who was then a congressman in the third congressional district of Iloilo. A week or so after Typhoon Frank devastated the region, destroyed the bridges in the third district of Iloilo, I happened to have a chance to be with him as co-principal sponsors in a wedding in Pototan. Although I am a little bit shy, I could not help myself but to know from him personally his plan regarding the bridges that were just destroyed by said typhoon. I asked him about his plan. He then tersely replied that he will make a way to rebuild them even if there is no fund at hand for the purpose. That conversation gave me hope. And in fact, the work started not more than a week after that conversation. No false hope instilled in that short conversation but a genuine one.

Now that the electorate have done their part.

It is now time for our elective public officials to do their share. May our hopes in them survive.

METRO OPINION

June 30 - July 6, 2013

Romantic Bandung

T

hose who have been to Bandung, Indonesia can never forget it’s gentle people, safe environment, green surroundings, cool climate, and eye-feasting scenery. It’s no small wonder why the Dutch colonists called the city as Paris of Java.

Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, the country’s third largest city (after Jakarta and Surabaya) and the second largest metropolitan area in Indonesia. Area wise, it is 32 times larger than Iloilo City with a population that is about 6 times more.

Located at 6.91 degrees South and 107.61 degrees East, Bandung is 768 meters above sea level and surrounded by up to 2,400 meters of volcanic terrain. The temperature ranges from 17 to 29 degrees Celsius throughout the year. This is suitable to the growing of high value crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, Irish potato, cabbage, lettuce, strawberry, and orange. The Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute is situated in the highlands of Lembang at 1,330 meters above sea level and is

only 30 minutes by car from Cimahi which is part of Bandung Regency.

Bandung is considered as a major cultural hub in Indonesia. Most of it’s population are of Sundanese descent. The largest minority are Javanese followed

by Minangkabau, Chinese Indonesian, and Batak.

Bahasa Indonesia is considered as the second language for all ethnic units in the area but is the required medium for government, businesses, and schools.

The cool climate, varieties of food, presence of factory outlets, golf courses, zoos, convention centers, and amazing sights make Bandung a popular weekend destination of residents in Jakarta.

A significant number of affluent Indonesians have purchased prime properties there and developed them into villas, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and malls.

Bandung is only 1.5 hours from Jakarta via the scenic intercity toll highway compared to the 8-hour trip from Manila to Baguio. Malaysians and Singaporeans find Bandung attractive for its cheap but quality textile and fashion products. Annual tourist growth rate has been recorded recently at 28%.

Public transport in Bandung is quite abundant

and cheap. Taxis are widely available but the most popular ones are angkots or minibuses. There are two large railway stations that connect Bandung to East, West, and Central Java cities. Like other highly urbanized areas, the traffic jam is partly caused by thousands of motorbikes driven by both sexes.

Hundreds of public and private schools are in Bandung. There are 16 universities, three of which are state-owned, and 45 other Higher Educational Institutions scattered across the city, offering various professional courses such as medical, law, economic, business, tourism, engineering, and communication studies. Prestigious schools like Bandung Institute of Technology, Padjadjaran University, Bandung Islam University, Parahyangan Catholic University, and Maranatha Christian University have propelled Bandung into the most popular destination for education in Indonesia.

Ironically, those who come to study in Bandung are lured by its romantic aura and the majority of them usually decide to stay, find local jobs, and build a family there. This is exactly what happened to my friend Thomos Sihombing, Goducate Indonesia’s resident country director.

Even those who opted to go back to their

respective cities or countries after graduation had eventually returned and settled with their families in Bandung for peaceful and happy retirement.

Bandung’s economy is anchored mainly upon tourism, agriculture, food, educational institutions, textile/apparel, technology, retail, services, financial, and pharmaceutical industries. While power and water supply are non-issues, Bandung is not immune to other environmental irritants.

Severe floodings, threats of landslides, and domestic garbage pile up are continuing challenges to the provincial government.

Our officials in Iloilo will learn much from visiting Bandung. Trips to Singapore and other Western countries are also very instructive but for those who want to learn more about tourism development from the Asian perspective, coming to Bandung and having dialogues with the key people in government is quite important. Cebu realized this and has forged sisterhood agreement with Bandung way back then. It is never too late for our Iloilo City officials to do likewise as we brace ourselves towards realizing the ASEAN Economic Community’s goal of One Vision, One Identity, One Community starting in 2015 .

We are confident of the city’s security and emergency preparedness as manifested with our hosting of some 1.2 million guests and revellers during our Dinagyang Festival every January.

The City currently has around 734 active police officers, and the regional police office could easily augment its force up to 1,500 personnel anytime. There are several agencies that can provide private security guards.

The City has a 24/7 Emergency Response system, and a well-coordinated fire and disaster management team and facility; as well as a network of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.

Most of our hospitals are categorized as level 4 teaching facility. They offer integrated expertise for kidney, digestive diseases, respiratory care, pain management, neuro services, laparoscopy, nuclear medicine, cardiac surgery, heart transplant, and bone and joint facilities.

In fact, in the recent assessment of government and industry leaders highlighted in the Top 10 Next Wave Cities (NWC) for 2012 report of the Department of Science and TechnologyInformation and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) released last May 20, 2013, Iloilo City was named the top location for business environment and risk management (BERM) with rating of 96 percent. This means that the City is not covered by a travel advisory; has very low vulnerability to natural disturbances, and a crime rate of less than two percent.

We assure you of excellent transport infrastructure to meet the demands of the growing travellers. In fact, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VI reported that in 2012, Iloilo City tourist arrivals reflect an all-time high of 526,965 foreign and domestic tourists contributing P9,7 B to the local economy. This figure represents 30.46% increase over the 2011 tourist arrivals.

The Iloilo International Airport is 4th busiest in the country. It serves five weekly international direct flights to and from Hongkong and Singapore. It caters to 58 daily domestic flights to and from Manila, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, and Cagayan De Oro. It registered 1.8M passenger traffic in 2012. It operates 18 hours a day and can accommodate an A330 aircraft. It has night landing facilities and a category 9 fire-and-rescue service. The airport is served by major airlines in the country – the Philippine Airlines, Airphil Express, Zest Air, and SEA Air. It is Cebu Pacific’s fifth hub.

Our transportation chartering service which includes vans, taxis and chartered buses can transport passengers to and fro Iloilo City and the whole of Panay Island. Iloilo City also has a wide array of luxury car rental and public transport. We have more than 1,500 registered and safe taxi units

ready to serve 24/7 for our clients› convenience.

The airport is approximately twenty four (24) kilometers to downtown Iloilo City, hotels and conference venues via National Highway and the Ninoy Aquino Avenue where the Iloilo Convention Center will be located.

Our airport boasts of five (5) parking bays with three (3) tubes available for airline companies. It also has six (6) parking bays for remote parking for general aviation aircraft. Expansion work on both sides of the building terminal is in the pipeline.

The airport parking area has four hundred (400) parking slots for cars and fifty (50) parking slots for motorcycles. While parking fee is too minimal even for overnight stay.

Likewise, we have significantly improved our road networks and have widened our walkways for faster mobility of pedestrians. We have an integrated natural and built environment to ensure a greener urban landscape.

Foremost of this is the improvement and widening of the Benigno S. Aquino Avenue as shown in the perspectives. We have several ongoing major road constructions in the City such as the Circumferential Road 1, Radial 4 Bypass 2 Road, widening of Jaro-Zarraga Road, and the Coastal Road from Iloilo City to the Dumangas RORO Port.

Our seaports are main transshipment hubs connecting Manila and Mindanao being served by major shipping companies such as 2GO, TransAsia and Cokaliong. We have a Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) service every 30 minutes.

To provide comfort and accessibility, we have on-going construction of new passenger terminals to Negros Island that is set for completion by December 2013; and to the province island of Guimaras to be operational by January 2014.

The city can readily provide the needed utilities for the APEC convention. A 164-megawatt power plant operated by the Panay Energy Development Corporation with definite plans for expansion can accommodate the city’s growing power needs.

Likewise, Iloilo City has three major telecommunications company connected by independent submarine fibre optic cable from Manila to Iloilo with gigabit capacity. It offers complete and reliable telecommunications services and internet connectivity.

Iloilo is home to the world-famous Dinagyang Festival which is the country’s Best Tourism Event, the Grand Champion at Aliwan Fiesta 2013, and a Galing Pook awardee for best local governance project through community participation and collaborative governance. In fact, Dinagyang was chosen to represent the country in DOT’s Its More Fun Campaign in the USA this month. The festival is just one of our main attractions and areas of interest. Other noteworthy events are the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival, the oldest sailing competition in Asia; and the Iloilo Chinese New Year, which is one of the biggest celebrations outside Metro Manila.

Among our recreation facilities is the oldest golf course in the country, the 18-hole Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara. A casino owned and operated by the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is located right in the middle of the city’s commercial center.

Our night life is thriving along the Smallville Complex, Plazuela de Iloilo, and SM Southpoint.

We have the presence of major shopping malls such as SM, Robinsons, and Gaisano.

We also have the Iloilo River Esplanade which was designed by Paulo Alcazaren, the architect of the Singapore quay. The 1.2 kilometer-long Esplanade – the longest landscaped river esplanade in the country is designed to protect the prolific mangrove edges of the Iloilo River. Our other recreation area is the newly renovated Fort-San Pedro which is overlooking Guimaras Island across Iloilo Strait.

Likewise, we have century old churches, universities and regal mansions. There is ongoing restoration work for heritage buildings and we are happy to inform you that TIEZA Board of Directors has approved the improvement of Jaro and Libertad Plaza Complexes, repair of the Jaro Belfry and the construction of the Glass Iloilo City Hall Express Elevator.

Our city is a gateway to tourist attractions in the region! We have tour packages to beaches, UNESCO heritage sites in southern part of Iloilo; island-hopping and spelunking tours in Northern Iloilo; and eco-adventure to the island of Guimaras.

We are keen on planning and organization as shown by our strong public and private partnerships in policy making, service delivery and in hosting the APEC Summit. Our strong publicprivate teamwork is manifested in the ‘Letter Intent’ we have sent the APEC national organizing committee, which was signed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and seven (7) business and multisector organizations. We have the support of the academe, donor agencies, national government agencies, religious groups, NGO’s and media.

The hosting of this APEC convention is a fulfillment of our goal to become the preferred destination for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events (MICE) in Asia.Iloilo City has been adhering to the “Liveable City” principles as an island of governance under the auspices of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA). The City has the singular distinction of being the first Local Government Unit to be institutionalized in the Public Governance System Program of ISA and the first institution in the Philippines to be inducted in the Palladium “Hall of Fame.”

With Congressman Trenas in the presenters row were Senator Franklin M. Drilon, former Secretary of Tourism Narzalina Lim, and the local coordinating panel composed of ICVB President Dong Sarabia, IBC Executive Director Lea Lara, City Planning Coordinator Butch Penalosa, City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena, and DOT 6 Program Associate Jean Cortum, who helped answer questions from the members of the APEC NOC.

But it is beyond these factors that these children are out of school. There are factors beyond human control that triggers a Filipino parent to stop sending his or her child to school.

Poverty. It is a known fact that many are living within the marginalized level of our society. Despite earnest efforts to send their children to school, poverty limits them to do so. They believe that putting food on the table is a main priority. How do they do that? They send their children to work in assistance of them so that all may be able to eat.

Location. Schools are not accessible to Filipinos living in the far flung areas. They have difficulty going to school from their household.

And this becomes a security factor on top of

anything else considered.

Choice. Some parents or even the children themselves choose NOT to go to school, Perhaps they lived in a family upbringing wherein education is not a priority. BUT work and money on the other hand, is a great necessity.

These factors however do not in general tell that we are less educated as compared to the others.

What is inspiring though to note is that despite these factors there are still those who chose to go and earn an education - children walking through endless hikes and rivers just so they could have an hour session. Parents working double time to provide a notebook for their children to school. A parent instilling the value of education since they

were deprived of such yet dreams of their children to achieve such.

We cannot always focus on the hindrance of achieving education, but more so, focus our attention on what can we do to achieve education.

The government continues to provide scholarships for those who excel in the fields of art, athletics and academics. Schools offering work student program for those who are financially constrained. And as Rizal’s first teacher, a parent, should inculcate to their young the value and love for learning.

Let us not be idle and dream for education to happen as we all wait in the comforts of our homes, lets strive towards it, for Juan should be educated as ever Juan deserves an education.

The Upside up for APEC

W

e got word from the DOT 6 that the APEC National Organizing Committee (NOC) is conducting another ocular inspection of Iloilo City this week to validate what was presented at the Site Selection Pitch last May 28, 2013. The proposal was presented to the NOC by the City Lone District Representative Jerry P. Trenas at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City.

Congressman Trenas made a bid specifically for five (5) ministerial meetings - Women and the Economy, SME, Science and Technology, Oceans, and Transportation & Finance on the basis of its significance, our capability to accommodate the expected number of participants, and on the schedule when we are best ready with our facilities.

These above mentioned meetings are expected to generate 500 to 2,000 guests scheduled for about 10 days each meeting from September 2015 to November 2015.

“In terms of our convention facilities, we have already launched our Iloilo Convention Center at the Iloilo Business Park of Megaworld Corporation. The groundbreak of this P900 million landmark edifice was led by no less than Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

Construction is expected to start this July 2013.

This two-storey world-class facility will be built on a 1.7-hectare lot donated by Megaworld, with a floor area of some 6,400 square meters. The main theatre on the ground floor has a 3,700 seat capacity. At the second floor are function rooms with state of the art audio and video equipment, as well as a museum and souvenir shop. Its kitchen and commissary are designed to cater to worldclass cuisine requirements.

The convention center design is inspired by Iloilo’s Dinagyang and Paraw festivals taking the shape of the paraw sails with Ati warriors etching.

Like the Sydney Opera House, it shall become a signature landmark for Iloilo City. It is expected to be completed and operational by December 2014.

For accommodations, Iloilo City has 2,056 rooms provided by our existing hotels and other establishments. We have 78 Suite Rooms available in 12 Major Hotels. We target to have an additional 2,500 rooms by 2015.

In fact, there are 5 new hotels that are being constructed as of this presentation. These are the Richmonde Hotel which is a stone throw away from the Iloilo Convention Center, the Injap Tower Hotel, Go Hotels, Diversion 21 Hotel and the Grand Imperial Hotel.

Richmonde Hotel shall have 151 rooms: Queen Suite – 49 rooms, Twin Suite – 95 rooms, PWD Suite – 3 rooms, and Junior Suite – 4 rooms; the 21-storey Injap Tower shall have 202 units; Go Hotels with 172 rooms; Diversion 21 shall have 84; and Grand Imperial with about 80 rooms.

Juan Education

BY VARVIN HOPE SIMON HIÑOLA In a recent survey conducted by UNESCO, showing that a rough estimate of 646,449 children out of the total population of the Philippines have not enrolled in Primary and Secondary education, What does this say about our educational system?

I have lived with the belief that education is the core of any nation. With this thought, we should perhaps consider altering the system, or the people running the system?

7

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For inquiries & reservations, Please text or call us #511-9994 / 0949-5976696 (look for Elne)

June 30 - July 6, 2013

METRO AGRICULTURE

9

PH reached rice sufficient level on Q1

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA

“Philippines is now self-sufficient in rice and corn”, said Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Proceso J. Alcala as he addressed participants on a weeklong Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference in Rome, Italy.

Alcala expressed that the government has invested huge effort on strategic agricultural infrastructures for the past three years and now it has been paid off.

The national government pursued the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), a project anchored on enhancing the farm production and enabling Filipino farmers to content with their foreign counterpart.

“Under the program, priority will be given to rice as the main staple of Filipinos. However, the department has included in their promotion the consumption and production of other staples which include white corn, cassava, sweet potato and bananas to relieve the pressure on rice,” said Alcala.

Through the program, Filipino consumers will try other food options and lessen their rice dependency.

Philippines has reached 93 percent “rice

self-sufficiency” by the first quarter of the year, according to the officials of National Rice Program. They added that in midyear harvest, the country will have surplus rice as the sufficiency level reached 113 percent.

The government also organized the accounting process for rice to the extent that it has discard the traditional annual supply estimates and cut the per capita rice consumption figure from 128.9 to 119 kilos.

President Aquino also signed a proclamation declaring 2013 as the National Year of Rice, which targets to double efforts of the government through DA to gain rice self-sufficiency after 2013.

Alcala also explained to the participants of the FAO conference that the Philippine government has taken an active stance in fighting the effects of the climate change through developing rice varieties such as “saline tolerant, drouight resistant, submersible, nutritious and delicious at the same time”.

Alcala added that the country is one with the FAO in its mission to lower and even eliminate the incidence of hunger and malnutrition caused by insufficient food supply.

Banana business, still on the rise

Expert shares methods to eliminate rice black bug population

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN Aimed to control the population of rice black bugs (RBB) that has been infesting 18 rice-producing towns in the province, the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) advised farmers to eliminate these bugs through light trap or biological control using the micro-organism spray or metarhizium anisopliae, which paralyzes the pest before kill them.

PAO’s rice program coordinator Carmelo Oren said the Department of Agriculture (DA6) is now producing this micro-organism and in fact, distributed it to other farmers.

Despite of rainy season, the RBBs continue spreading in towns of Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, Badiangan, Zarraga, Ajuy, Sara, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Lemery, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, San Enrique, Mina, Janiuay, Pototan, Leganes and Passi City.

“This is not yet alarming because our palay is still on its vegetative stage and if rains continue they could be diminished. The reported damages were very minimal but of course, we don’t want our farmers to neglect these bugs”, Oren said Oren added they are now continue monitoring and conduct orientation to the Local Government Units (LGUs) of these affected towns.

The coordinator said presence of these bugs has started spreading in the province in 2006 thru rollon, roll- off which transported cargoes from Palawan.

Immediatey, these bugs infested riceland of Negros Occidental.

In Iloilo, Oren stressed the most affected towns were Ajuy and San Enrique. IMT

BY MARY PAULINE BALMES If there’s on fruit that is mostly likely to be present in the dining table or every meal, it’s no other than bananas. These yellow and green elongated fruit, which forms like a hand and considered as the largest herbaceous plant, is known to have abundance in potassium, a nutrient necessary for human life and health.

Philippines is among the top five country producers who export bananas. India led the world in banana production, producing around 20% of the worldwide crop of 145 million metric tonnes. Uganda was the next largest producer with around 8%, China with 7% and Philippines with 6% comprising 9.2 million tonnes of bananas.

In the April issue of the Philippine Star, the government reported an initial shipment of 3,000 metric tons of Cavendish bananas to the United States.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the shipment of Cavendish bananas to the US is expected to prop up Philippine farm exports

in 2013.This would be the first time that the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest banana exporters, enters the US market.

NEDA Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra noted that the US is among the top 20 importers of bananas in the world as cited by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO).

Now, Banana growers like Mr. Noel Velez of Spring Bloom Farm is doubling their effort to develop their businesses as the demand for exports to other countries is gradually increasing.

Velez said growing bananas is not that hard but he is only praying that catastrophes will not hit the area where he planted his plants.

“The process is very easy. It only takes patience and perseverance to actually complete all the process in growing this kind of plant”, he said.

Velez owned a 3.5-hectare land farm of lakatan bananas in Hibao-an, Pavia; 3 hectares in Pandac, Pavia and 2 hectares in Ungka, Pavia. His family is also venturing in growing cashew, red lady papaya and pineapple. IMT

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METRO SPORTS

June 30 - July 6, 2013

Penguins seals championship crown

BY REYMAR LATOZA Aggressive and imperious, Penguins seized the championship crown for this year’s Developmental Basketball Tournament sponsored by Iloilo Basketball League (IBL), beating Sea Horse 7868 in Game four of their championship face-off.

On game one of IBL finals, Penguins proved

their belligerent spirit after pinching Sea horse, 7161.

On game two, Penguins’ victory continued, defeating Sea horse for the second time, 67-70.

On game three, Sea Horse gained confidence to grab the title after sweeping Penguins, 73- 67.

The Student Fighter

following: Regional SCUAA Meet (Bronze), 8th Bonel Competition in Buenavista Guimaras (Silve) and National Dinagyang Competition (Bronze).

Let’s know more about Salvador, Here’s the uncut and inspirational talk of Iloilo Metropolitan Times With the student fighter.

BY REYMAR LATOZA “There was a time when I got injured, I thought I couldn’t play anymore, I felt so much upset and I’m almost giving up, but my strong faith to God gave me courage and hope to play again the sport I really love, TEAKWONDO” Salvador Bacinillo takes pride in imparting hoe he stood up and worked hard to pursue his career in taekwondo.

Salvador, 18, is a second year development communication student of the College of Mass Communications at West Visayas state University.

He is 5’6 ½ tall and weighs 200 lbs. He was 9 years old when he started playing taekwondo, after his eldest cousin inspired him to try until he found himself interested and eventually he got fascinated with taekwondo.

He begun to learn by merely observing and his willingness drove him to mastery and success.

Some of the competitions he joined were the

QUESTION: Why Taekwondo? What are the best things about Taekwondo?

SALVADOR: “The best things that I love about this sport are the physical contact, exposure and most of all the respect I gained in every game.”

QUESTION: What kind of player are you?

SALVADOR: “I’m the kind of player who is very competitive and who has the willingness to accept defeat, but when I’m out of the mat(where he plays) I’m the kind of person who’s very friendly and the one who never fails to smile.”

QUESTION: Do you have special techniques?

SALVADOR: “According to my instructors they observed that I have lethal punches to the body and my turning side is very accurate and powerful.”

QUESTION: How do you prepare yourself in a competition?

SALVADOR: “Well, it’s always our routine to do some stretchings before anything else happens.

After stretching I look for a place to settle down and visualize my game plan and before I step in the mat, I tend to pump myself up so that my body will be loosen up. “ QUESTION: Can you bring us back to the times when you were starting?

SALVADOR:” When I was starting, I felt

On game four, Penguins waylaid Sea horse, edging 10 points margin, 68-78.

Penguins win over Sea Horse on game four brought them to the championship throne.

IBL’s Development Tournament aims to discover and develop potential Ilonggo Basketball players. IMT confused and terrified. Stepping on the mat for the first time in my life gave me goose bumps, but after few sessions, those feelings gradually faded away. The first time we practiced sparring I felt very nervous because I was afraid to hurt myself, though I was the biggest of all the kids in our class. As time passed by I became very confident and less cautious. “ QUESTION: What was the most challenging part in your career as a student athlete?

SALVADOR: “When I got injured. It was the most upsetting part of my journey because I didn’t get the opportunity to play for my school and my gym.

That was the most challenging part of my journey.

QUESTION: Was there a time that you are almost quitting?

SALVADOR: “there was a time when I almost gave up, because my parents were very worried

about my injury, but then I never lose faith and God answered my prayers and gave me another chance to play the sport that I love.”

QUESTION: What did taekwondo help you as a person?

SALVADOR: “I able to respect, faith, discipline, humility and most of all the attitude of never giving up.”

QUESTION: Who is/are your inspiration/s?

SALVADOR: “My inspirations are my friends, family, and most of all God Himself ” QUESTION: Your message to everyone and to all the aspirants?

SALVADOR: “Taekwondo isn’t just a game, because it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, as long as you played the game by heart you will never be the loser.” IMT

5 – Cock Derby Results

Sultada Reymar Latoza Jane Ubay

Five entries shared the prestige and honor after they were declared as 5 – Cock Derby Champions last June 22-23 at Iloilo coliseum.

Roughly One million Pesos was the total cash prize received by the winners in the said 2-day cockfight event.

Of 48 entries, five cockfighters took

home the Seven Hundred thousand Pesos (Php 700,000.00) championship prize. The following championship winners received One Hundred Forty Thousand Pesos (Php 140,000.00) each: ESJ Hailey, Aquino Coliseum, Royal Garden Hall, DPG-MGRL, and Iron Claw.

The Any 4 Points winners shared Two Hundred Thousand Pesos ( Php 200,000.00).

The following received Twenty Five Thousand Pesos each: Aquino Coliseum, ESJ Hailey, JJ, Royal Garden Hall, DPG-MGRL, Iron Claw, JRJ Safe House, and Pyramid Star ICCC. On the other hand, the ST 4 prizes went to Aquino Coliseum, ESJ Hailey, JJ, Royal Garden, DPG-MGRL, Iron Claw, JRJ Safe House, and Pyramid Star ICCC. IMT/ Rlatoza/JUbay)

MetroMisc

“Like Father Like Son”

BY MARY JANE UBAY We are so familiar with the quote “like father like son”. It was testified by Mr. Roland Perio, the owner/manager of Lito Car Window Repair Shop.

His Father was a former employee of the Santos Car Care Center, later on became his mentor in starting his present business. Sir Roland grew up seeing his father doing blue collar jobs. Looking at his father’s work encouraged him to pursue a better job. After he finished his college degree he tried to apply as an international seafarer in Manila, but sad to say that the batch of applicants at that time was greatly affected by the low demand of Filipino Seafarer around the world. To his frustration he went back to Iloilo and worked at his father.

As what the songs says “God is too wise to be mistaken, He is too good to be unkind.” When Sir Roland went home another door of opportunity was opened to him. He met his wife, and later on got married. After nine years of being married to his wife Eunice Dorothy Perio, a friend of him offered a business which is also closer to his present work at that time. March 2013, Lito Car Window Repair Shop was established. The business was named after Sir Roland’s father. As what he had said “my father was the one who started and mentored me to do this kind of job.”

Lito Car Window Repair Shop is offering a range of services like electrical, installation of car accessories such as alarm, backing sensor, mirror,

Art vs. Pleasure

BY CRYSTALE MAY DE GUIA Each of us has our own skills, talents and abilities that are incomparable. These are gifts that others may consider extraordinary. But sometimes, we are not aware simple things in our lives that may be beyond compare.

She is an artist, a woman who can create exceptional things all from her imaginations.

She is also one of the few businesswomen who takes risk and can take control of every possibility. She is Mrs. Sheila Barbasa, owner and manager of an arty Celebrations Party and Events.

Two years ago, Shiela started a home-based “party shop” here in Iloilo City upon realizing

that as a mother, she will do everything to her child and one of those was to spend a large amount to a good quality party to her kid. This is one of the many thoughts that got her attention upon thinking of the possible businessed she wants to venture.

The talent that was entrusted to her was brought to fruition. After one year of continuous success of the business, Shiela then decided to have a formal business office at E. Lopez St., Jaro, Iloilo City( next to Christine Parlor) so that clients need not to go to their house for any meetings, and bookings.

Sheila can create unexpected things from a simple stuff. She really uses her creative and imaginative mind in every object that passes her

wiper, stereo and tube light for head lights, and power window as their specialty. Sir Roland said that aside from having the car window repair shop, he is envisioning of having a buy and sell car business.

Anyone who is in need of their services you can call +63-9489488009 or visit their shop at Delgado St., Iloilo City near University of the Philippines Campus. IMT

hands from modified gift items to party decors and others.

The artistic skill of Shiela is very visible through her personalized souvenir items like mugs, tumblers, T-shirts, magnets, button pins, party hats, polymer clays, towel cupcakes, coin banks, figurines, sticker nametags, giveaways and others. She also does made-to-order invitations for weddings, baptism, debut, birthday and all occasions.

Celebrations Party and Events cater different services from event planning, wedding coordination and themed decorations like a princess party for girls and spongebob or car related themes for boys and others who choose their own themes.

According to Shiela, as much as possible they will cater everybody’s needs especially for party and events. If they choose a theme party, they will give them what they wish for with a very affordable price.

Shiela do the hands-on with all these crafts although there are some staffs that helped her out. However, her humility touches my heart knowing that she don’t depend everything on her skills, so to improve it, she attends a lot of seminars, read books and magazines and search on how things are done especially when she first engage in making and designing a

balloon like arch balloons, pillar, hanging, wall balloons and other designs.

Game carts for kids and adults are also available also with popular station services like candy station, nail art station, face painting, photo booth, photo coverage with food carts like fried stuff (kikiam, squidball, fishballs), french fries, hotdog cart, chocolate fountain, ice scramble are also offered.

Pabitins with assorted party favors, clown, themes cake and cupcakes are also on hand within your means.

Shiela is a very understanding ingenious mother; she knows the quality over quantity and is very practical. With these attitudes, no wonder, her business is now on its second year and has already branched out at Onate St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Without any doubt, Shiela will sincerely paint your town red with all these parties favor readily available every merry-making you will have. IMT