Dot Region 6 issued advisory regarding to typhoon Ruby

Posted December 6, 2014

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 issued advisory today because of the incoming typhoon Ruby on Eastern and Western Visayas.

Based on this all stranded foreign and domestic tourist who may need assistance due to cancellation of trips of sea transports can report to their office.

Regard to this, DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas said to the hotel and resort owners in Boracay that their guest will check out in the time of typhoon Ruby will give consideration to stay until the storm is gone.

Catalbas concerned to those, because of they cannot pull through in mainland due to the cancellation of the trip by sea and air transport.

On the other hand the said agency advice to all island hopping activities should be cancelled/differed until such time that the Philippine Coastguard shall have issued a favorable advisory for these.

Classes in Aklan suspended due to 'Ruby'

Posted December 5, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

Classes for Friday in Aklan have been suspended by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the following areas which are expected to be affected by heavy rains dumped by Typhoon “Ruby”.

Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) Aklan Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jesse Gomez said in a letter that: “In anticipation of the onslaught of typhoon “Ruby”, national government have announced suspension of classes from Thursday (December 4) until Friday (December 5).

Meanwhile, the DepEd reminded the public of its rules on the automatic suspension of classes due to tropical cyclones.

More than 44 provinces along Ruby’s path have also been declared as critical areas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier released a list of critical areas due to the typhoon.

LGU Malay prepares Ati-Atihan Festival 2015 “Higante Contest”

Posted December 4, 2014

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Local Government Unit (LGU) Malay is now preparing for the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival 2015 “Higante Contest.”

Indeed, Municipal Mayor John Yap request for an authority to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Provincial Government of Aklan with regards to the financial assistance for the said contest and Aklan Festival Parade.

During the SB Regular Session, the council talks about the said MOA for the incoming referral and agreed that it will be deferred on the Committee on Laws and Ordinances by presiding officer Vice Mayor Wilbec Gelito for further study.

It can be recalled that Aklan Provincial Government provides financial assistance for the 17 municipalities but has not yet been released.

Meanwhile, the “Higante Contest” is one of the highlights of Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival this coming January 9-18, 2015.

MDRRMC Malay preparations for “Hagupit” underway

Posted December 4, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Malay started to gather their respective disaster councils this morning apparently to activated their preparedness mechanisms” for the upcoming tropical storm with international code named “Hagupit.”

In this regard, MDRRMC likewise advised different sectors to coordinate with local governments to monitor coastal areas for storm surges.

It also instructed local disaster risk reduction and management offices to monitor areas for possible preemptive evacuation, report said.

The MDRRMC will monitor the progress of Hagupit, which is expected to landfall on Saturday in parts of eastern Visayas and Bicol region.

It said, “The typhoon is then expected to cross the Visayas – Samar, Leyte, northern part of Cebu, northern part Panay, southern part of Bicol – by Sunday, December 7, if current forecasts hold.”

The state-run weather agency has reportedly dismissed fears that the typhoon “will be as strong as typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) but it will be strong nonetheless to cause storm surges, destroy agricultural farms and blow away houses made of light materials.”

However PAGASA reportedly said that “Hagupit” is strong but it won’t be as strong as Yolanda.

MTO to decide on lifting of tricycle moratorium in Boracay

Posted December 3, 2014

Written by Jay-ar Arante

Malay Transportation Office (MTO) now discussed the moratorium on tricycle operations in the island of Boracay should be lifted or not.

This is because according to their observation, the problem in increasing number of tricycle in the island is due to the absence of a moratorium.

According to Malay Transportation Regulation Senior Officer Cesar Oczon Jr., there are now 2, 681 tricycle in Boracay which have not been claimed of having a permit to operate on the island.

Meanwhile, MTO said that they are still waiting on the orders coming from LGU Malay while they still continue on processing the permit.

Moreover, more than 40 motorcycle unit was recently impounded by the MTO because of its involvement in different violation.

New base commander of Philippine Army Boracay gets a warm welcome

Posted December 3, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

The new commander of Philippine Army Boracay has said the importance of the security in the island remains strong after he took over the prestigious role in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Capt. Hans Oliver Beerneza said: “there was “consistent evidence of command fingerprints across every organization” in the area as he took charge of the 3^rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army Boracay Detachment.

During the Joint Flag Raising Ceremony at Station 2 Boracay, Malay Mayor John Yap proudly introduced the new head official to the  Boracay Action Group (BAG).

In this regard, the Mayor again urged all government agencies in Boracay, even the private sector to work together for the island.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army Boracay also expressed their gratitude for the cooperation they had been received while ensuring the security on the island.

Different organizations in Boracay joined the World AIDS Day celebration

Posted December 2, 2014

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Boracay Island joined the celebration of World AIDS Day.

This is to show support to people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

The Municipal Health Center (MHO) together with the Boracay Action Group, Philippine Red Cross, Boracay PNP and other organizations in the island led the parade for Aids Walk yesterday.

The parade from beach front station 3 to station 2 was followed by a ‘candle lighting’ and a short awareness campaign program.

Due to the continuing spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, the MHO have made a free-AIDS consultation yesterday in the island.

Meanwhile, the World Aids Day is celebrated on the first day of December in different parts of the world to promote unity in fighting the deadly HIV.

KASAFI: Ati-Atihan Festival 2015 preparations at 70%

Posted December 2, 2014

Written by Gloria Villas

Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (KASAFI) said it is 70 percent ready for the festivities of the 2015 Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival.

According to KASAFI Chairman Albert Meñez, “They are now ready for various activities such as "Mutya it Aklan", Higante Parade, body painting contest and presenting some famous artists in the country.”

Meanwhile, KASAFI  is also working to organize Ati-Atihan Fun Run, Ati-Atihan Zumba Fest, fun cycling ride and Balikbayan Night to attract merrymakers and balikbayans to experience Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan.

Meñez added, “Final plans for the festival are also in place in coordination with the local police, the Diocese of Kalibo, the municipal government of Kalibo, the provincial government of Aklan and other stakeholders.”

The celebration will commence on January 9 until January 18, 2015 in honor of Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo.

Aklan PHO joins World Aids Day

Posted December 1, 2014

Ni Jay-ar M. Arante, YES FM Boracay

The Aklan Provincial Health Office (PHO) annually joins the Worlds Aids Day every month of December.

Aklan Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., said that they have been joining the celebration for almost 14 years.

Different activities are scheduled as part of their AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome awareness campaign, with the theme "Let’s Getting to Zero".

On the other hand, PHO is worried about the increase of HIV/AIDS cases in Western Visayas.

There were 183 new cases has been recorded from January to September this year and on this September, 14 cases has been recorded.

From 1984, 700 cases of HIV/AIDS were recorded in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo at Negros Occidental.