Guimaras government focuses efforts on ‘agricultural tourism’

ILOILO CITY — A program funded by the Canadian government aims to spur “agricultural tourism” on Guimaras Island.

Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said the provincial government has identified agricultural tourism as the most appropriate and marketable concept to develop the tourism industry of the island.

Mr. Nava said they noticed that most tourists visit Guimaras for a farm experience, aside from buying agricultural and food products.

“Agri-tourism may include visits to coastal and fruit farms, pick your own fruits on roadside stands and orchards, farm bed and breakfast, agricultural festivals and fairs and even food processing facilities. Visitors will not just buy and eat our mangoes, they will also learn about our agriculture sector,” Mr. Nava said.

“Consequently, farms interested to sell to tourists need to be aware of their services and products,” he stressed. Continue reading…

DILG, CIDA to launch LGSP-LED in Guimaras

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will launch the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) in the province of Guimaras on June 2, 2009.

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero and May Wong, First Secretary for Development of the Canadian Embassy are expected to grace the occasion, which will be held at the Guimaras Trade and Information Center, Guimaras Provincial Capitol in Jordan, Guimaras.

The Guimaras launch signals a series of similar activities that will be held in three other provinces – Bohol, Pangasinan, and Zamboanga del Norte – and will culminate in the national launch on June 22 in Metro Manila.

LGSP-LED is an eight-year collaborative project of the Governments of Canada and the Philippines that will support provinces and local government alliances reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development. Continue reading…

Iloilo early warning system inaugurated

Jerry Bionat, executive secretary of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of Iloilo, explain the operations of the Early Warning and Monitoring System for Disaster Mitigation to national and local officials Friday. (Photo by Tara Yap)

FLOOD prone areas in Iloilo province are better prepared for flashfloods and other ecological disaster using the early warning and monitoring system (EWMS) granted by the Korean government to the Iloilo provincial government.

The EWS was inaugurated Friday morning at the Iloilo provincial capitol. Leading the dignitaries are Korean Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung, Korean International Agency (KOICA) Resident Representative Kim In, Department of Science and Technology Sec. Estrella F. Alabastro and Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Iloilo Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) deputized coordinator Jerry Bionat said the EWMS is one of the only three projects established in the country. The other systems are in Baler, Quezon which was inaugurated February 27, 2009 and in Agus Lake Lanao Watershed.

All three projects have a total cost of P15 million granted by KOICA.

Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) deputy administrator for research and development, said the project is composed of 6 rain gauges, and 2 water level gauges and an Automatic Weather Station (AWS). Continue reading…

SC: 16 municipalities can’t become cities

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court has denied with finality appeals to reverse its ruling that declared as unconstitutional laws that converted 16 municipalities into cities.

Voting 6-5, the court voided the following Republic Acts: 9389 (Baybay City in Leyte), 9390 (Bogo City in Cebu), 9391 (Catbalogan City in Samar), 9392 (Tandag City in Surigao del Sur), 9393 (Lamitan City in Basilan), 9394 (Borongan City in Samar), 9398 (Tayabas City in Quezon), 9404 (Tabuk City in Kalinga), 9405 (Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur), 9407 (Batac City in Ilocos Norte), 9408 (Mati City in Davao Oriental), 9409 (Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental), 9434 (Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte), 9435 (El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental), 9436 (Carcar City in Cebu), and 9491 (Naga City in Cebu).

“In view of the denial of the second motion for reconsideration, no further pleadings shall be entertained. Let entry of judgment be made in due course,” the high court said in a three-page resolution. Continue reading…

First coal-fired power plant up by end 2010

ILOILO CITY – The first commercially viable coal-fired power plant in Western Visayas will be commissioned by the last quarter of 2010 at its site at Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City. .

This was announced by Engr. Adrian Moncada, president of the Global Business Power Corp., proponent of the P16 billion power plant investments during the Power 101 power situationer report conducted by the Iloilo Business Club was April 17, 2009 at the Hotel del Rio here. Read more…

Iloilo City gets P50M from Paglaum Fund

ILOILO CITY – The city government will get some P50 million as its share in the initial partial release of P483 million Paglaum Fund and will be used for the dredging of Dungon Creek in Mandurriao district.

City mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the creek is an important waterway that absorbs surface water during the rainy season and must be rehabilitated and dredged to pave the way for surface water to pass through and go to the Iloilo River.

Rapid urbanization and the emergence of housing villages in the area have constricted the flow of water that led to flashfloods. Super typhoon Frank that occurred last June 21-22, 2009 had flooded for several days the downstream area including those along the diversion road.

Treñas said the national government has assured P8 billion approved by Congress as Paglaum Fund for Western Visayas provinces but only P483 million will be released initially. Read more >>

Is your city child-friendly?

MANILA, Philippines – We’ve heard of pedestrian-friendly cities, disabled-friendly cities and bicycle-friendly cities. What about child-friendly cities? The fact that people are not even aware of it probably means people assume that our cities are child-friendly.

Take your typical fast-food restaurant. Most of them provide playgrounds for children. What about department stores, with their dizzying array of clothing, toys, and devices all meant for children? They all give the impression that our communities are children-friendly.

In reality, it is disturbing to learn that many of the world’s cities are extremely hostile to children’s most basic needs and are anything but child-friendly, and that includes Metro Manila. Continue reading…

3 successful business women share experiences

ILOILO CITY – Three successful Ilongga businesswomen shared their experiences in a symposium held by the Gender and Development Focal Point for the DENR men and women employees to inspire them to go on business as part of developing their economic contribution to the government.

The symposium in celebration of the Women’s Month this March was held at the DENR ERDS office last March 9, 2009.

The first speaker was a private food caterer, a nurse by profession, and who had worked abroad as a nurse for 15 years. After realizing her dream of building a house for the family, she eventually quit her flourishing career as head nurse of a prestigious hospital in the Middle East and went home to be with her family to support her agriculturist husband in their farm and to be near her children. Continue reading…

DOT 6 identifies eco-tourism projects for Iloilo, Guimaras

PGMA in Iloilo March 3

Urban Resources

• MIGEDC Focus For Action: Presentation by Dr. Gary Davidson and Beate Bowron
  Presentation by Dr. Gary Davidson and Beate Bowron (Canadian Urban Institute) consultants. CUI Urban and Regional Planning Program Iloilo, September 7 – 16, 2008 Beate Bowron, FCIP, RPP, former Director of Community Planning, City of Toronto Dr. Gary Davidson, FCIP, RPP, former Director of Planning and Development, County of Huron Click link below to download MIGEDC Focus For Action: Presentation by Gary and Beate (PDF) *
• Leadership Series
  Download here UPPP's Leadership Series, a learning tool for policy makers to promote understanding of pressing urban issues and encourage policy actions for urban sustainability. (more...) *
• Bangon Iloilo
  Please visit the Bangon Iloilo website at www.bangoniloilo.com. *
• Executive Order No. 712
  Here is the full text of Executive Order No. 712 ordering a review of LGU traffic rules. (more...) *
• Report of the Coal Fired Power Plant Evaluation Task Force
  NOW AVAILABLE for download is the 32-page report of the Coal Fired Power Plant Evaluation Task Force created by Mayor Jerry Treñas to study the plans of the project proponent, Panay Power Corporation and its partner Formosa Heavy Industries (FHI) of Taiwan. (more...) *
• What you need to know about Guisi
  EARNING around 70 pesos a day from the dwindling yield of the sea and from the tedious process of making charcoal isn’t really enough for every family of Barangay Dolores, a coastal village in the town of Nueva Valencia and is found in the southwestern-most tip of Guimaras Island in central Philippines. Perhaps, the community just simply wants to be true to its name, which in English means “pains.” (more...) *
• Anti-Coal Videos on YouTube
  These videos were produced by the Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy (more...) *
• Read more posts...

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