Aklan’s road widening and beautification project gets Underway

Posted April 15, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

The busiest thoroughfares in Aklan still undergo some improvements.

Office of the Aklan Provincial Administrator Atty. Selwyn Ibarreta said that the government is now speeding up to finish the project on time before the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Boracay.

He said: “The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Aklan Provincial Government have joined hands to beautify Aklan roads leading to the venue of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) this May.”

Furthermore, he added that the provincial government is also thankful for the hard works of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the road widening.

Meanwhile, it can be recalled that DOT has earmarked P500,000 as funding support for the beautification program from the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) towards Caticlan Malay.

Boracay to experience a 13 hour power interruption on Sunday

Posted April 15, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

The island of Boracay will experience a 13 hour power interruption on Sunday, as scheduled by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

This is to give way for the repair of power lines and post in preparation for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (APEC) Summit Ministerial meeting in Boracay this May.

Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) Information Officer Rence Oczon said that “the initial schedule of the power interruption on April 12 was moved on April 19 upon request of the provincial government of Capiz that now holds its "Capiztahan” festival.

Also noted that aside from the province of Aklan, three provinces in Western Visayas will be affected by the massive power interruption, including the town of Pandan and Libertad in Antique.

Meanwhile Oczon said the power interruption was scheduled from 6 am to 5 pm this Sunday.

OPARR investigates Yolanda shelter aid ‘irregularities’ in Aklan

Posted April 14 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

To prevent rehabilitation funds from ending up in private pockets.

Office on Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) in Aklan calls for an investigation for what it called ‘irregularities’ in the distribution of Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) in the province of Aklan.

According to OPARR-Aklan Legal Consultant Atty. Benny Salazar, he urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct parallel investigation to ensure that the right beneficiaries will receive the Typhoon Yolanda shelter assistance.

In addition he also advised the public to file their complaints with OPARR regarding problems encountered on shelter aid distribution in the barangays.

A report also says, that many senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who are typhoon survivors, also complained in local radio stations that they were excluded in the list of ESA beneficiaries.

Salazar said monitoring and evaluation team should be in place to ensure the delivery of quality and timeliness of ESA is correctly distributed.

Malay Town now preparing for “12th Fiesta De Obreros”

Posted April 14, 2015

Written by Jay-ar M. Arante

Local Government Unit (LGU) Malay is now preparing for the upcoming celebration of the "12th Fiesta De Obreros" on May 1, 2015.

Different activities are now being set by various municipal departments, especially by the Municipal Tourism Office (MTour).

A report says; “Among of the activities are the 4th Malay MTB Challenge and Fun ride for a cause which will be joined by bicycle enthusiasts on April 25-26, 2015.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) Malay is also preparing for their second Drum and Lyre competition to be held on April 30.

Different schools from Malay are also expected to join the competition.

As the highlight to the said occasion, the 17 barangays of Malay will be competing again for the Fiesta De Obreros’ Street and Ground presentation contest, where big prize is said to be given.

The celebration of the said fiesta which is in conjunction to Labor Day is a tribute to their patron St. Joseph the Worker.

PHO to residents: Make Aklan smoke free

Posted April 13, 2015

Written by Gloria Villas

In the bid to make the province of Aklan smoke-free and to keep the local populace from the harmful and deadly effects of smoking.

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here recently conducted a Provincial Tobacco Control Network Orientation.

The need to make Aklan smoke-free thus the conduct of the orientation was emphasized by Dr. Victor Santamaria, Provincial Health Officer II, by stating in his welcome message that smoking is both dangerous to the smoker as well as to the non-smoker.

“We have to strengthen our campaign against smoking because we are up against a very strong adversary – the tobacco industry”, Santamaria said.

On hand to stress the dangers of smoking as well as to encourage Aklan’s health sector, legislators and other stakeholders to create a smoke-free and healthy environment were resource speakers John Lapascua, Regional Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator; Carlos P. Garcia, Program Officer of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines and Pastor Nick R. Poraso, Regional Tobacco Control Network member of the Department of Health (DOH) 6.

The orientation was held at the Conference Room of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH).