Boracay PNP supports campaign against child sex tourism

Written by Jay-ar Arante

The Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) supports anti-child sex offender sticker campaign.

The End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) Philippines continues its sticker campaign to spread awareness on child sex tourism issues.

The said stickers contain the messages “Report Child Sex Offenders” and “Be a Responsible Traveler.”

The campaign through stickers is one way to extend the message that child sex is not acceptable and is unallowable is the island of Boracay.

According to the Boracay PNP, this is a good campaign and means to fight child sex tourism.

The ECPAT Philippines is part of a global network of organizations and individuals who work together to eradicate all forms of child prostitution.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Boracaynons commemorates Ati Spokesperson Dexter Condez’s first death anniversary

Written by  Jay-ar Arante

Boracaynons commemorates the first death anniversary of then Ati Spokesperson Dexter Condez.

This is as the Ati Community offers a mass for Condez at the Ati Village in Sitio Lugutan, Manoc-manoc Boracay.

According to the Daughters of Charity who oversees the group, after the mass they will visit the place where Dexter was slain.

The indigenous group meanwhile continues to hope that their spokesperson’s death will be given justice.

Condez’s death was considered heroic as it surfaced the real status of the Aetas in Boracay, and he was killed while fighting for the rights of their community.

The killing of Dexter Condez occurred on February 22 last year, while he was on his way to the village.

He served as the Spokesperson of the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) and has fought for the ancestral domain of the Aetas in Boracay.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Number of underprivileged in Aklan, continues to lower down said NSCB

Written by Gloria Villas

The number of those considered underprivileged in the province of Aklan continues to drop as it went down to 20.4 percent from 21 percent last year.

This is based on the Poverty Incidence Report conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) on their latest survey on different provinces in the country.

Aklan was recorded as one of those with the lowest number of underprivileged in Region VI compared to its neighboring provinces in Panay like Antique and Negros Islands.

Meanwhile, the NSCB also recorded that each family has an estimated income of more than 17,000 pesos.

Aklan also has a lower poverty status compared to other provinces in Central Visayas aside from Cebu which recorded 18.9 percent poverty incidence.

On the other hand, the Aklan Provincial Government is launching different projects and livelihood programs to further lower the poverty status of the province.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Property owners in Aklan, to pay higher taxes by 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

By the 2015, taxes to be paid by property owners will be higher in the province of Aklan especially in the island of Boracay.

According Provincial Council Secretary, Odon Bandiola, the Aklan Provincial Government is making a general revision of the Base Market Values of all real properties in the whole province.

This is because it is stated in the law that every eight to ten years there should be a revision on Base Market Values of land, commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential.

Bandiola also said that the island of Boracay can be considered exceptional that is why there is something called Special Base Valuation.

Meanwhile, it was learned that based on the proposal of the Provincial Assessor, the new Base Market Value consists of 100 up to 200 percent for commercial, residential and industrial.

In the island of Boracay, the increase will be 90 percent up to 400 percent depending on the type of property.

The council admitted that many will ask questions and will complain on the Base Market Values that is why a Public Hearing was set for February 27 to February 28 and March 6, 2014.

The Public Hearing for Boracay and Malay was set on March 6, 2014 at 9 o’clock in the morning at the Provincial Council Session Hall at the town of Kalibo.

New procedure in securing NBI Clearance, released by PESO Aklan

Written by Jay-ar Arante

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Aklan released the latest process of obtaining an NBI Clearance.

It states that registrants only need to log on at the Official NBI Clearance Online Application Website, fill up the eClearance form, take note of the Registration Code and print out the application, fill out the date and sign.

The signed form will be brought to the Aklan Provincial PESO with two valid IDs after securing an Endorsement Letter from the Provincial Peso for a faster procedure.

Applicants will then proceed to NBI Iloilo at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City for the processing and issuance of clearance.

The Aklan Provincial PESO alongside the Provincial Government of Aklan and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Western Visayas Regional Office will carry out the said procedure until the new NBI system is institutionalized and a new satellite office will be installed in the province.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Campaign against dirty environment, strengthened by CENRO Boracay

Written by Gloria Villas

A clean environment is beautiful to look at.

This is why CENRO is strengthening its campaign against dirty surroundings especially in the island of Boracay.

According to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer-In-Charge, Jonne Adaniel, as part of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, CENRO’s program, with the cooperation of the local government of Malay, is allegedly continuing so that garbage will be well managed in the island.

CENRO also gave a reminder that anyone who is caught violating RA 9003 or the law regulating proper waste disposal could be penalized.

Furthermore, Adaniel appealed for support and cooperation from the public to have discipline in the correct disposal of garbage especially on the shores of Boracay.

Adaniel added that a regular meeting is also being held to focus on the cleanliness in the island to make it pleasing to tourists and vacationers.

Translated/Edited by Rodel J. Abalus

Coral Reef Refurbishment can help avoid beach erosion in Boracay

Written by Gloria Villas

Coral Reef Refurbishment can highly contribute in the avoidance of beach erosion in the island of Boracay.

This is what Project Officer and Marine Biologist Al Lumagod of the Boracay Beach Management or BBMP has said.

According to Lumagod the said project, which aims to increase coral reproduction, has long been planned and is now ready for implementation.

The Marine Biologist explained that the greater number of corals can also help protect the sands dueing “habagat” season.

He meanwhile reminded the public, including the tourists, to take care of Boracay’s natural riches especially that the influx of people grows along with the also increasing number of activities in the island.

The Coral Reef Refurbishment Project is part of the project of the Coastal Resource Management Program and is under the Boracay Beach Management Program.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Electricity rates this February, lowered down

Written by Gloria Villas

Good news to all AKELCO consumers.

This is as the cutting down of Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) electricity rates pushes through this February.

Based on the notice released by AKELCO, the rate for residential consumers has decreased to more than 1 peso.

In January the charge was Php12.76/kwh for residential, but for this February this will only be Php10.8/kwh.

Meanwhile for commercial consumers, there will be a 2 peso decrease, that instead of Php11.93 it lowers down to Php9.89/kwh.

According to AKLECO, the price drop only followed the drop in generation charges after the NGCP 69KV transmission lines destroyed during Yolanda was fixed.

The cooperative however reminded the public of another possible rise or fall of electricity rates depending on the demand, generation charges and system loss.

In line with this AKLECO still advises the public to be wise in using electricity.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

New Boracay PNP Chief’s advocacy - eradication of Illegal drugs

Written by Bert Dalida

The campaign against illegal drugs by the Boracay PNP is expected to be stronger.

This is because allegedly the matter is the advocacy of the new Boracay PNP Chief, PS Inspector Mark Evan Pedregosa Salvo for the island.

Nevertheless, Salvo admitted that he needs the cooperation of the public and other agencies and even those at the private sector in Boracay in order to lessen if not fully eliminate illegal drugs in the island.

Meanwhile, aside from fighting illegal drugs, the agency will also focus on illegal gambling in Boracay.

Salvo, who has just seated as the Chief of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center for two (2) weeks is currently making courtesy call at different agencies of the government and other private sectors.

Translated/Edited by Rodel J. Abalus

DOT, recorded the most number of passengers on a cruise ship that visited Boracay

Written by Jay-ar Arante

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has recorded the highest number of tourists on a cruise ship that has visited Boracay so far.

MS Costa Victoria, which has docked at around 7am earlier this morning, carried with it over 2,000 passengers.

DOT Boracay OIC Tim Ticar said, this is the first time where in many passengers boarded off the ship to go on island hopping and visit different places in Boracay.

Ticar added, they went short of staff handing out hats and leis to tourists from the ship because there are just so many of them.

The Provincial Government and LGU Malay were also in action and were first in line to welcome the guests.

The MS Costa Victoria left the island at around 2pm this afternoon and has proceeded to their next destination, Hong Kong.

The said luxury ship is the last one to visit Boracay for the month if February while three more are expected to arrive next month.

Translated by Shelah Casiano

Tourist passengers of MS Costa Rica, warmly welcomed by Boracay Island

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

People of Boracay warmly welcomed the tourists from the cruise ship MS Costa Victoria which arrived on Monday, February 17 at 7 in the morning.

The cruise ship carried with it 2,300 tourists from different countries including its 800 crew.

According to the Caticlan Jetty Port Administration, most of the tourists went island hopping and swam at Boracay’s long beach.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Auxiliary Police (MAP) beefed-up traffic enforcement since there is heavy traffic being experienced at the Main Road of Balabag. The heavy traffic is due to a drainage construction at the mentioned area.

On the other hand, the cruise enforcement team reminded the passengers of the cruise ship on the correct fee when riding a tricycle to avoid being deceived.

MS Costa Victoria visited Boracay Island in January of the current year carrying many tourists.

Translated/Edited by Rodel J. Abalus