Kalibo Airport Expansion project estimated to be completed by April 2015

Posted February 14, 2015

Written by Bert Dalida

Kalibo Airport is expected to be free of congestion.

Kalibo CAAP o Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines chief Cynthia Aspera said that the Kalibo Airport Expansion Project is estimated to be completed by April 2015.

This is in contrary of her statement last year that the project will be completed by December 2014.

It will be recalled though that Aspera made an appeal to the public regarding the congestion after the PCCI o Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay wrote a letter to Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary “Jun” Abaya.

PCCI stressed that the airport cannot hold the influx of tourists and business travelers.

The project includes passenger terminal buildings, access roads and parking area.

In an interview, Abaya said that airport should undergo expansion to comply with the standards of International Civil Aviation.

BIWC prepares to transfer water meter affected by road easement in Boracay

Posted February 13, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Boracay Water Company said that they are very much willing to move their water meter affected by the road easement as per required by the LGU Malay.

According to BIWC Chief Operating Officer Ben Mañosca, they are prepared to comply the road easement rule by the local government especially that it is for the betterment of the island.

In this regard, Mañosca assured that there will be no disruption in the BIWC’s service when they already transfer the water meters.

It can be recalled that the implementation of Municipal Ordinance No. 2000-131 Malay requires six-meter road set back from the center or middle of the road in any temporary or permanent structures.

LGU Malay on thorough preparations for Senior Officer Meeting and Ministerial Meeting in Boracay

Posted February 13, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

The Local Government Unit of Malay is in full swing for the preparation for the upcoming Senior Officer Meeting and Ministerial Meeting in Boracay this May.

SB Member and 2015 APEC Focal Person Rowen Aguirre said that they’re doing additional preparations for the said Summit.

He also added that the National Organizing Committee is scheduled to visit Boracay Island to discuss more about the preparation.

Aguirre stated that they’re just “waiting for the command from NOC for some additional preparations for the upcoming big meeting on the island’ but stressed that they’re doing their part especially in organizing the Liaison Officers.

Meanwhile, Aguirre said they have set aside a budget for this big meeting or Senior Officer Meeting and Ministerial Meeting in Boracay this May 10, 2015.

WEATHER FORECASTS NOT ABSOLUTE

Posted February 12, 2015

DOST exec says knowing uncertainty of typhoons will help prepare for disasters better.

Department of Science and Technology Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro, acknowledging that weather forecasts are “not absolute”, advised disaster management agencies to focus more on “communicating uncertainty” in understanding and appreciating the science behind weather forecasts and typhoon warnings issued by DOST-PAGASA.

Speaking at a panel discussion in a seminar hosted by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) at Discovery Suites Ortigas, Liboro underscored that laymanizing weather updates involved more than their translation into the vernacular.

“The key to communicating typhoon warnings is communicating uncertainty. And the most essential part there is the implicit understanding that forecasts are not absolute and cast in stone. This time, for Typhoon Ruby, DOST-PAGASA presented a variety of scenarios to impress upon the public the many possible ways a typhoon can move, like it has a mind of its own,” he explained.

Assistant Secretary Liboro also discussed the urgency to come up with ingenious and creative approaches in dealing with emergency situations such as rescue and recovery operations. He recounted the experience in Japan after the great earthquake of 2011, wherein road-clearing crews were accompanied by deputized audit personnel to hasten the process of issuing fuel vouchers for their trucks and heavy equipment.

“Nowhere is it more crucial to be able to think out-of-the-box than in disaster risk reduction and management. Buhay kasi ang nakataya dito, (Lives are at stake) and this ability quite literally spells the difference between life and death,” he said.

The Final Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Capacity Enhancement Project was organized by OCD and JICA to share to stakeholders the final outputs of the three-year project, designed to boost the conduct of DRRM planning and implementation activities along the four thematic areas of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery/reconstruction. (S&T Media Service)

Approximately 46 hotels, inns and resorts in Boracay are DOT-accredited

Posted February 12, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

An estimated of 46 hotels, inns and resorts in Boracay have been accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

This was the data provided by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Boracay Sub-Office Team Leader Leo Kristoffer Velete based on their statistics.

He said: “Now, they don’t have an exact record about it yet base on their estimated account it is about 46 for the year 2015.”

In this regard, there were still several reports that some resorts ang hotels in the island do not have a corresponding DOT Accreditation especially those who are engaged in on-line booking.”

Thus, Velete's advice to local and foreign tourists who prefers on-line booking: “Check carefully the contacted resort or hotel on the internet or the entirety of its documents in local government.”

He added: “Also try to take the local number and not the mobile phone number to make sure and in order to avoid confusion on which resort or hotel they booked.”

Meanwhile, it can be recalled that BTAC and DOT helped a family of tourist last Saturday to find their hotel accommodations.

SB Aguirre says ‘surrender’ to construction and expansion project of Boracay Hospital

Posted February 12, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Malay SB member and Chairman of the Committee on Laws Rowen Aguirre say ‘surrender’ to the construction and expansion project of Boracay Hospital.

Aguiree admitted in an interview that he foresees the slow chance of project’s completion before the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Boracay this May 2015.

Aguirre also said that he was asked by the APEC National Organizing Committee about the hospital but he had rather suggested a contingency plan.

He also thought at first that the Provincial Health Office (PHO) Aklan is managing the project but it eventually came out that it was the Department of Health Region 6.

They don’t even know the problem of DOH Region 6 with the project contractor.

It can be recalled that Aguirre made the request to the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay to pass a resolution for the fast tract of the hospital’s expansion and construction project in preparation for the APEC summit.

MTO Malay upholds that they will not allow the renewal of expired LTO registration

Posted February 11, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Seek permission from the Land Transportation Office before modifying your vehicle.

This was the striking message of Malay Transportation Office (MTO) Senior Transportation Regulation Officer Cesar Oczon Jr. following the story that they allegedly tolerate when it comes to such permit.

He said; “If one month before the expiration of the permit, the office will gave a consideration nor it depends on the situation, yet it is clear that MTO did not gave permits if the permit from the LTO was already expired.”

Meanwhile, Oczon is requesting the motorist to do the early renewal of their permits before the deadline on February 20 to avoid inconvenience.

LGU Malay reiterates ordinance against illegal vendors and commissioners

Posted February 10, 2015

Written by Bert Dalida

Barangay Balabag Chairman Lilibeth Sacapaño reminds illegal vendors and commissioners to show ‘no hard feelings’.

Her message is in line with implementation of the Municipal Ordinance No. 181, S. 2002 on Monday, February 16.

The ordinance states that vendors, masseurs, manicurists duly accredited by Malay-Boracay Vendors, Peddlers, Ambulant Masseurs and Manicurists Association (MABOVEN) are allowed to market their goods or services within the island of Boracay.

They will be considered legal if they have secured mayor’s permit and license.

Despite of the implementation of the ordinance, illegal vendors and commissioners still range about freely in the vegetation line and even on the beach area.

Chairman Sacapaño reiterated that the ordinance had been long implemented, a reason that she asks for cooperation for the betterment of the island.

Meanwhile, the ordinance also states that vendors and commissioners should wear ID and the uniform prescribed by the office of the mayor.

Based on reports, the Department of Tourism Boracay-Sub-Office, Boracay PNP Station LGU Malay received complaints from tourists regarding vendors and commissioners who take advantage of them, a reason that the local government will hardly implement the ordinance.

Aklan welcomes plan of building a hydropower plant in the province

Posted February 10, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

Apart from the wind energy project in Nabas and Malay.

There was a report that a private company revealed plans to build a hydropower plant in the province.

According to Engr. Roger Esto of Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), a private company is now coordinating the provincial office which plans to build a plant in the municipality of Libacao and Madalag.

He said, “Although it is still a plan, but the province is expecting that this will contribute and would help balance supply from more intermittent renewable energy sources.”

Furthermore, "It could be a big help to alleviate the electricity shortage in the Visayas,” He added.

Meanwhile, Esto said that the provincial government supported such projects especially if it does a big helps to the citizens.

In this regard, he gave credit to PETROENERGY Company who constructed a number of roads in Nabas Aklan which greatly helped the community.

Boracay Water constructs P86-M transmission line

Posted February 9, 2015

Press Release from Boracay Water

Boracay Water, the water and used water service provider of the Island of Boracay, began the construction of the Nabaoy Transmission Line that will increase water supply capacity from 14.5 million liters per day (MLD) to 20 MLD in the opening of February.

The P86-million project includes the construction of a 400-millimeter diameter ductile iron pipe with a length of 5.5 kilometers that will connect the Nabaoy River water source to the Caticlan Water Treatment Plant and is expected to meet the increasing water demand of the Island due to the influx of tourists. This year, the Department of Tourism estimates that flow of Boracay tourist is at 1.8 million.  This is 22% higher than the 1.47 million visitors of the island last year. The Island is among the many places in the country which will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Slated on May, the Summit is expected to raise this number of expected visitors in Boracay this summer.

The transmission line is expected to be completed by mid-year.

Boracay Water, a company formed through the partnership of Manila Water and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority in 2009, provides water and used water services in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, particularly in its three barangays – Manocmanoc, Balabag, and Yapak.