BENEFITS fOR EMPLOYEES UNDER tHE EMPOLYEE'S COMPENSATION PROGRAM, EXPLAINED bY DOLE

A one day seminar was held by the Department of labor and Employment (DOLE) in the island on Thursday, May 23.

The seminar was held to inform employees about benefits that they could receive if they meet an accident or get sick while working.

Maria Cecilia Maulion, the Chief Information and Public Assistance Division Officer of the Employee’s Compensation Commission (ECC) explained about the ECC and the Employee’s Compensation Program (ECP).

The ECC, a branch of the DOLE, can help in explaining about the benefits an employee or family can obtain if problems occur while working.

According to Maulion, under the ECP, if an employee gets sick or meet an accident while working, a form from the Social Security System (SSS) should be filled up if the employee is working in the private sector.

Afterwards, the filled up form should be sent to the SSS for reimbursement of the incurred expenses.

On the other hand, if the employee is working under the public sector, a form from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) should be filled up and sent to the GSIS instead.

If the claim for reimbursement of expenses was not approved, a motion for reconsideration can be filed.

If the motion for reconsideration was not approved, the matter could be brought directly to the head of the SSS or GSIS.

Nevertheless, if still it was not approved, a letter can be sent to the ECC.

If the application was still not approved at the ECC level, a petition can be filed to the Court of Appeals.

If the petition at the Court of Appeals was still not approved, a petition to the Supreme Court can then be filed.

2013 MANOC-MANOC VILLAGE FIESTA

The yearly Manoc-Manoc Village Fiesta is being held from the 22^nd until the 25^th of May, this year.

In a phone interview with Manoc-Manoc Village Captain Abraham Sualog on Thursday, May 23, he made it known that the ongoing village and religious fiesta held its Senior Citizens’ Night on Wednesday, May 22 and an Alumni Night of Manoc-Manoc elementary school was to be held on Thursday, May 23.

The Village Captain added that the highlight of activities will be the Miss Manoc-Manoc 2013 Coronation night.

The event scheduled on Friday, May 24 will be attended by the Mayor of Malay, Mayor John Yap who will be the guest speaker.

The coronation night will start at 9 pm.

To be crowned during the event will be:

     4^th Runner up Marivic M. De Juan

     3^rd Runner up Clariz O. Melgarejo

     2^nd Runner up Kate Caila C. Lacandula

     1^st Runner up Gleizel T. Martin

     & Miss Manoc-Manoc 2013, Maria Luisa Santiago Maming.

On Saturday, May 25, boat racing, games and competitions will be held together with the other highlight of the fiesta which is the Basketball Championship game.

When asked on the difference between Manoc-Manoc’s fiesta this year and the previous year, the Village Captain said that every year the celebration is almost the same but this year, there will the “J Brothers” from Manila to provide live music.

Written and contributed by: Rodel J. Abalus

Balabag Elementary School encourages early enrollment

The Balabag Elementary School (BES) in Boracay Officially started their enrollment on Monday, March 20, 2013.

However, at this moment, only a few numbers of pupils have enrolled.

According to BES-Teacher 1, Leah Gajisan-Bandong, since they have a large number of pupils, they are looking forward to timely enrollments to avoid the usual scenario of rushing when classes are already starting.

Last year, BES has over 1700 pupils with 32 teachers, giving a ratio of 60:1.

This year, they added more teachers, but the dilemma is the classroom shortages, the reason that they may apply what they called “shifting” where in two teachers will share a room and there will be a morning and afternoon classes.

Meanwhile, Grade 1 Teacher Bandong encourages parent and pupils alike to enroll as early for them to be accommodated better.

The classes for school year 2013 will commence on June 3, 2013, they will still be accepting enrollees until June 7.

The enrollment kicked off together with “Brigada Eskwela” also known as National Schools Maintenance Week.

ONE DEAD aFTER a TRICYCLE iN BORACAY TOPPLED AFTER BEING HIT bY a DUMP TRUCK oF tHE MANOC-MANOC MRF

A sixteen year old female was not able to catch the ship she was to embark on when the tricycle she was riding Thursday morning, May 23, 2013, met an accident.

The victim, Gabrielle Salgado, was on her way home to Mindoro after vacationing in Boracay when the accident occurred.

According to PO1 R.C.  Magpusao of the Boracay PNP Station, the tricycle that the victim was riding, and a dump truck were climbing the steep portion of Sitio Ambulong, Manoc-Manoc.

Allegedly, the driver of the dump truck lost control of the vehicle which caused it to slid backwards and hit the tricycle.

The dump truck was said to be following another tricycle when the incident happened.

Meanwhile, according to some residents at the area, the driver of the tricycle that the victim was riding tried to evade the dump truck which was moving backwards but to no avail until the dump truck hit the tricycle and the tricycle toppled.

This allegedly led to the victim, who was riding at the back of the tricycle, sustain a fatal head injury.

The victim was brought to the Don Ciriaco Tirol Memorial Hospital but was declared Dead On Arrival (DOA) by Dr. Emy Joy Grejaldo.

Authorities are currently investigating the involved drivers who are at the custody of the Boracay PNP.

According to the relatives of the victim, Salgado was also scheduled to return to Manila to continue her studies.

(MRF=Material Recovery Facility)

Aklanons Are Free from Terminal Fee

Aklanons are exempted to pay the terminal fee in RORO.

This is what Jetty port Administrator Nieven Maquirang, confirmed during an interview yesterday, May 22, 2013.

Maquirang said that as long as you will present your Valid ID showing you are a resident of Aklan or working here in Boracay you are not obligated to pay the terminal fee.

According to him, sometimes they allow the person not to pay the fee if he/ she is fluent in speaking Aklanon.

This is because some Aklanons are already working in other places and residing there, but they were born in Aklan.

Maquirang advices the public especially the landowners or business owner of certain establishments here in Boracay to get a terminal pass if they are frequently going to the island.

This terminal pass which cost 100 pesos, enables you to go back and forth to the island without paying the terminal fee for a year.

In order to get a terminal pass, you need to fill up the form that they will provide, present the Barangay Clearance or Police Clearance testifying that you've been in the island several times.

(Contributed by: Kate Panaligan)                                                                                                                

Ordinance prohibiting Boracay establishments to construct basements, a hot topic on SB Session

One of the hot topics on Tuesday’s SB session is the ordinance that would prohibit establishments in Boracay in constructing basements.

Sponsored by SB Member Rowen Aguirre, the proposed ordinance states the protection of Boracay’s water level.

There are some resorts on the island that pumps out water from their basements going to the beach.

The idea was seconded by SB member Esel Flores, noting that this activity, if continued, could be highly dangerous.

Aguirre added that the basements are only needed for generators, laundry, parking area and other hotel amenities.

Meanwhile, as this proposal contains intricate details, the matter will first be consulted to the Municipal Engineer of Malay

ABANDONMENT CASES iN BORACAY, SADDENS BORACAY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Sadness was felt by the Catholic Church in Boracay because of the recent cases of abandonment in the island.

A fetus, which was believed to be six (6) months old, was found inside the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) of Manoc-Manoc Village, Boracay on Tuesday, May 21 of the present year.

In the current month, a months-old abandoned baby, was also found at the same village. Luckily the baby was alive and is currently under recovery.

According to Fr. Joel Zambrona of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish Church of Boracay Island, the incidents were saddening since everyone knows that life is important and sacred and not just to be destroyed.

Allegedly, other church goers have expressed dismay regarding the incident.

Zambrona also said that abortion is not a solution especially on cases of unexpected pregnancy because another problem cannot solve an earlier sin.

DOLE’s seminar on Employees Compensation Program to be conducted in Boracay on Thursday

A seminar on Employees Compensation Program is to be conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Boracay this Thursday.

Included in the invitation sent by DOLE Aklan Field Office yesterday is the seminar’s goal.

It aims to provide employees and employers further knowledge about the important programs of the department.

Headed by DOLE 6 Regional Office and Employees’ Compensation Commission or ECC itself, benefits that they are entitled to and other topics will be discussed.

The said seminar will be held in a certain resort in station 2 Balabag, whole day on Thursday.

BORACAY ATI, PROHIBITED FROM BUILDING STRUCTURES oN tHE LAND HANDED bY NCIP

The building of a house or any permanent structure at Manoc-Manoc by the Boracay Ati is being prohibited.

A cease and desist order was issued by the Regional Trial Court or RTC Branch 5 of Kalibo, Aklan to the Boracay Ati Tribal Organiztion (BATO) on May 3, 2013.

The order or mandate, issued by Judge Elmo del Rosario, prohibits the building of any permanent structure by the Ati Community on the land awarded by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).

It was learned that the order was based on the motion by Ulysses Rudi Banico, one of the claimants of the mentioned land.

Banico apparently asked the court to nullify the title given to the Ati Community.

Allegedly, the building of structures at the place is a violation of the order given by the RTC Branch 5 of Kalibo, Aklan on January 20, 2011.

The order was that the land should be left as is because of the status quo from the court.

The Ati Community was awarded a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title by the government on January 21, 2011.

Mayor John Yap, extends gratitude to those who supported the BBMP and Boracay Day

Malay Mayor John Yap extended his gratefulness to those who supported the Boracay Beach Management Program celebration and Boracay Day.

The fellowship night of the anniversary of the BBMP and the launching of Boracay Day was held last Saturday night.

The Mayor acknowledged the participation of stakeholders and other individuals in the island who took part and made the celebration possible.

Mr. Yap also recognized the efforts of those who joined the two-week Boracay Day activity, such as beach clean-ups and tree planting.

The private sectors’ commitment and promise of support to the BBMP were noted and appreciated.

While admitting that there are still a lot of things to focus on, the mayor cited that the spirit of volunteerism and concern should be maintained for the welfare of the island.

The BBMP and Boracay Day are among the activities that the LGU-Malay is promoting that focuses on preserving nature, particularly in Boracay.

ILLEGAL STRUCTURES iN BORACAY ISLAND, CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED bY tHE LGU MALAY

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Malay is allegedly continuing to monitor illegal structures in the island of Boracay.

According to Municipal Engineer Elezir Casidsid, there are those who build illegal structures without appropriate permit from the municipality of Malay.

Casidsid added that in the previews week they were able to catch some who broke the law and were continuously building illegal structures which are strictly prohibited in the Island of Boracay.

He further added that having the appropriate papers are necessary so that they will not be reprimanded by the authority.

Meanwhile he also said the monitoring of law breakers is ongoing and they are on the ready to reprimand the violators.

3rd Boracay Beach Management Program celebration and launching of Boracay Day, successfully conducted

Led by Malay Mayor John Yap himself, the launching of Boracay day and 3^rd Boracay Beach Management Program celebration was successful.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), Boracay Tourists Assistance Office (BTAC), some members of LGOs and NGOs worked together for the said occasion.

The celebration was also graced with the artistry of Mr. Joey Ayala whose songs talks about nature and giving importance to it.

The program was formally opened by its host, Ms. Acs Aldaba, BIWC’s Customer Service Officer.

Mr. Mike Labatiao has also delivered a speech on Boracay Association of Scuba Diving Schools or BASS’s programs and projects.

DOST’s Mike Montejo also informed and shared their plans and projects for the Boracay Coral Restoration, which was then turned over to Mayor John Yap.

Certificates of Appreciation were then presented to those who took part in the said program.