The Number of Dengue Cases in Aklan Increased

The number of Dengue cases in the province of Aklan from January to May 26 of the current year increased when compared to the first five months of 2011.

Based on the data received from the Provincial Health Office, there have been one hundred forty four (144) Dengue cases for the province of Aklan from January to May 26, 2012. In comparison, there were only fifty nine (59) Dengue cases in the province in the previous year from January to May.

 Meanwhile, dengue cases in Malay also increased this year. There were six (6) Dengue cases in the first five months of 2011 while there have been eleven (11) Dengue cases from January to May 26, 2012.

Russian Market to be Tapped for Tourism

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Committee on Tourism of the House of Congress plan to target the Russian market for tourism.

Aklan Representative Florencio Joeben Miraflores, Chairman of the Committee on Tourism of Congress pronounced the plan. The Congressman said that he and a DOT Officer will be on their way to Russia in the month of June to open the tourism market in the country.

With the said plan, the Congressman is hoping that they would be able to find means of easier transportation for tourists from Russia to Boracay. This according to Miraflores, is in connection to an airline company’s announcement of adding airplanes and flights from Korea to Kalibo International Airport and vice versa.

A connecting flight from Vladivostok going to Korea and to Boracay is being considered according to the Congressman. He had high hopes of being able to open the Russian market in their planned trip to Russia.

Chinese Tourists' anticipated return to Boracay

It started on the issue over Panatag Shoal to the point where Chinese Tourist Packages to the Philippines, including Boracay were being canceled.

As the Chairman of Committee on Tourism in the House of Representatives, Aklan Congressman, Florencio Joeben Miraflores stated that they, along with the Department of Tourism waived this issue over to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for now.

As this issue is on the argument on the relationship between two diplomatic countries, therefore they would rather wait on DFA's action on the matter.

Miraflores believes that this issue will be given a solution soon.

The Congressman however, admits the fact that this issue between China and the Philippines has indeed affected tourism, ergo the decreased number of tourists in the Island as well as in the whole country.

But he anticipates the return of these Chinese tourists in the country after the issue will be settled.

Earlier, the Chinese Government had released a Travel Advisory against the Philippines, resulting to the dwindling number of tourist in the country.

House Bill 3860 is Expected by Aklan's Congressman to Be Ready by 2013 Midterm Election

It is foreseen that the House Bill 3860, an act providing for the reapportionment of the lone legislative district of the province of Aklan will be ready by 2013 Midterm election.

This was expressed in an interview Monday morning by Aklan Representative Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores who authored the bill.

According to Miraflores, the bill which aims for the Province of Aklan to have two legislative districts could be passed by August or September of the present year, and therefore during the 2013 election it is possible that two Congressmen would be winning and heading the two districts of Aklan.

According to the Congressman, the House Bill was approved a week ago by the Senate Committee headed by Sen. Bongbong Marcos, and members Sen. Gringo Honasan and Sen. Franklin Drilon.

The House Bill proposes that the Province of Aklan be divided into the First Legislative District comprising eight municipalities, and the Second Legislative District with nine municipalities.

Livelihood and Commuters will be affected by the color coding - BLTMPC

The livelihood of tricycle drivers and operators in Boracay will be affected if the color coding will be implemented.

This is the reaction of Enrique Gelito, one of the Board of Directors of the Boracay Land Transportation Multi Purpose Cooperative (BLTMPC) during an interview last Thursday.

According to him, they would rather have the color coding canceled, because they are considering how this could affect the drivers' means of living.

They also worry as this scheme will not only affect the resources but there could also be insufficiency of tricycle units for the growing number of tourist in the island especially that classes are about to start.

Gelito added that the same system was carried out five years ago and was unsuccessful because many commuters had complained as a result of unit shortages. The color coding was then withdrawn after a week.

And as the drivers are anticipating the possibility of it happening again, they are now requesting the local government of Malay not to pursue the scheme for the second time.

However, Mayor John Yap has promised, that if there is any complaint from the public and if there will be a shortage of units in Boracay, they will have the color coding stopped in accordance with public demands.