Boracay sand, returned with a Plaque of appreciation

Some Boracay sand was took as it is but was returned with a Plaque for the island.

Last November 29 was the turnover ceremony of the said sand that the Department of Tourism (DOT) had used for the International Expo 2012 held in South Korea.

And along with the turnover, DOT Philippine Pavilion Director Gwendolyn Batoon brought with her a plaque for Malay Mayor John Yap which was received by Municipal Tourism Chief Operation Officer, Felix Delos Santos on his behalf.

With this, Batoon commended how the Boracay sand had helped during the 3-month International Expo held last May 12 to August 12 of the current year.

At the Expo the Philippines was titled “Island of Diversity – Seas of Connectivity” and millions of people was amazed at the displayed sands of Boracay for its whiteness and fine texture.

And it cannot be denied that Boracay is indeed well known in Korea.

The Plaque of appreciation that the DOT has given to Mayor Yap was also because of the awards which the Philippines has acquired which included “Creative display and theme development.” 

The Philippines is on of the 11 countries that joined in the Expo.

1st National Climate Change Summit & Strategy on Disaster/Calamity Preparedness Competition Held - IN Observance of the Climate Change Consciousness Week - ON Climate Change Month - November - IN BORACAY ISLAND

By Rodel J. Abalus

The first National Climate Change Summit and Strategy on Disaster /Calamity Preparedness Competition was launched by the National Council Commission to Combat Climate Change, in coordination with the Climate Change Commission, on November 24 to 25 at La Carmela Hotel, Boracay.

The launching was held in observance of the Climate Change Consciousness Week from 19 to 25 November, and to celebrate the “Climate Change Month” of November and it has the theme: “Climate Change in action: All for One, One for All thru Public Awareness.”

Different Government agencies, including the Department of Education and the private sector participated in the event.

In a phone interview, Dr. Erlinda “Erly” S. Curro, the Project Chair of the National Council to Combat Climate Change, stated that the “Strategy on Disaster /Calamity Preparedness Competition” was held on November 24 and the LGU of Tacloban City won a Free Travel Abroad to a future event dubbed as Asean Climate Change Awareness but that the venue was yet to be determined as of press time.

 A Slogan Contest was also held bested by the representatives from DOLE Philippines, Polomolok, South Cotabato, followed by a symposium on how the national council can assist on projects or developments and other concerns pertaining to climate change.

The 5^th National English Jazz Chants Festival followed with the Tupi National High School, of Tupi, South Cotabato, winning the Grand Prize and the whole team will be travelling to Hongkong and to the “Windows of the World” at Shenzhen, China.

               

On the second day, LGUS, CENRO Boracay, Film Actor Carlo Maceda, and other sectors participated in a “Fun Run for a Cause” held along the shore which according to Delilah S. Maugeri, DENR-CENRO Acting Chief of the Forest Management System Services  in a separate interview, was indeed fun.

English skills of participants were also honed in an Oral English Enhancement activity.

When asked about the future developments and for final words, Maugeri mentioned the Executive Order No. 23 which declares a Moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force.

Dr. Curro hoped for participation from regional, provincial, community and other sectors when climate change awareness activities will be organized in the future.

Garbage Fee and Business tax, reasons for the LGU’s increased collection

“Garbage Fee and Business tax”

These two are the primary contributors to the collection of the Local Government of Malay, and is the reason why the annual fund for 2013 reached up to 305 million pesos, from more than 280 million fund of the current year.

This is what Malay Municipal Treasurer Didiosa Dioso has revealed during an interview.

According to Dioso the payment from the stakeholders and residents in Boracay for Garbage Fees and Business taxes are the leading contributing factors to the increasing collection of the LGU.

The Treasurer also acknowledged that the strict implementation of ordinances in Boracay has greatly helped, since a huge number of sums have been added to the municipal fund from the fines and penalties.

On the other hand, Dioso explained that 75% of the Environmental Fee collected from Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports goes to the Solid Waste Management’s expenses, while the remaining 25% goes to the programs of the Municipal Tourism and Environment.

If recalled, the Aklan Provincial Government and LGU-Malay shared with the environmental fee collections where 15% goes to the province while 85% goes to Malay.

"NO SMOKING aT tHE BEACH ORDINANCE" ↔ sTILL dISOBEYED bY mANY

It is possible that the national law will be implemented instead if violation of the ordinance prohibiting smoking at the beach of Boracay continues.

This possibility is being taken into consideration since according to Island Administrator, Glenn Sacapaño, many are still caught violating the ordinance.

Allegedly, it seemed that others do not consider which place to smoke at since even inside tricycles and other public places, there are still those who smoke.

However, the Island Administrator stated that they are at watch at the beach and the ordinance is strictly being implemented.

He added that, it is not only the tourists who are caught smoking but even locals and residents of Boracay, and are even caught littering cigarette butts.

Sacapaño also clarified that individuals carrying cigarette are not being caught, rather those with a lighted cigarette and smoking at the beach line.

Furthermore, cigarette smokers at the vegetation area are not being caught unless their cigarette butts are thrown just anywhere.

In conclusion, if many will still defy the ordinance, even smoking at the vegetation area will be prohibited, and the national law will be implemented which will then prohibit smoking at all public places.

Boracay, now has two seasons only

The word “Low Season” is no longer in Boracay’s vocabulary.

If Boracay previously has the so called low, peak and super-peak seasons, these three periods has currently been replaced with only two.

The island has now the Peak and Super-peak season, which reflected its tourism’s continuous booming.

This means that the island’s monthly tourist arrival is not lower than 10,000, said Department of Tourism or DOT-Boracay Officer in Charge Tim Ticar.

In fact Boracay’s average tourist arrival every month is now 100,000, which is unlike before.

In the past, he added, the months of July through September are the usual time when businessmen and or stockholders would go abroad, as some of the resorts and establishments would close down for renovation.

Also in the previous years, the tourists would start coming back again mid-October, and the period from the New Year to summer was coined the Super-peak Season.

However, nowadays there is no longer a “low season,” and Boracay now has two periods, the Peak and the Super-peak seasons, more so that the tourist arrivals reaches up to a million.

TWO (2) CLASSROOMS PROMISE fOR MALAY bY SEN. DRILON -- tO BE "BREATHED LIFE" tHRU a "PERS☼NAL LETTER"

A “Personal Letter “will be sent to Senator Franklin Drilon to remind him of his 2-classrooms promise for the Municipality of Malay.

Allegedly, Sen.Drilon had previously made the promise in front of Malay Mayor, John Yap and members of the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI). According to Town Council Member Jupiter Gallenero, the Senator should be reminded of his promise.

The promise was reportedly made last year when Senator Drilon attended a BFI occasion.

When the Senator attended the BFI occasion, he reportedly promised the two (2) classrooms: one (1) is for the Local Government of Malay, and the other is for the BFI. The locations of the pledged classrooms would be up to the two recipients to decide.

The “Personal Letter” is the formal means that the Town Council of Malay had agreed upon to send to the Senator instead of a resolution.

Another Birthing Clinic, to be put up at Barangay Caticlan

Previously, this station had a news item where Boracay Hospital’s Chief Operation Manager encouraged pregnant women to avail their free pre-natal check-ups.

This is the kind of news that makes us aware how the different sectors are giving importance to the Maternal and Child health in Malay and Boracay.

And this has been displayed again at the Municipal Council’s weekly session.

SB Member Rowen Aguirre mentioned about the proposal of putting up another birthing clinic at Brgy. Caticlan.

The Municipality currently has two birthing clinics, one at the Municipal Health Office at the central and one in Boracay.

This would also suggest the increasing number of births and pregnancies, which in turn is interrelated with the increasing population. This proposal is one of the answers to accommodate everybody, and may also be related to convenience in location.

Aguirre as the chairman of Laws and Ordinance also presented the ordinance determining charges on birthing clinic services.

The difference of charges between Malay residents and that of the non-residents is noticeable. “Malaynons” will have to pay Php2,050 in total, which includes a New Born Screening kit among others, while non-Malay residents will be paying more than Php3000. 

NO TERMINAL FEE INCREASE fOR nOW AT KIA (STILL aWAITING ORDEЯS)

The Terminal Fee at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) has not yet increased.

The KIA Manager, Engineer Percy Malonesio made this clarification in an interview on Saturday, November 24. He added that orders from the higher office of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regarding the increase implementation, is still being awaited.

In June of the current year, KIA made a proposal to the CAAP for a hike on its Terminal Fee which had been approved.

For now, the Terminal Fee for Domestic flights is still at P80 compared with the proposed P200 fee. While for the International flights, it is currently at P500 compared with the proposed P700 fee.

BLTMPC's "E-TRIKES" » ALL SET fΌR BORACAY ISLAND

Everything is set for the launching of the “E-trikes” of the Boracay Land Transportation Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BLTMPC) in Boracay Island.

This was learned from the BLTMPC Chairman, Ryan Tubi.

He added that BLTMPC went to Manila recently to inspect the Electronic Tricycle or “E-Trike” units since the cooperative had asked the supplier to change the machine of the upcoming “E-trike” units including the design. The move is to ensure that the units would be suitable for Boracay especially for Boracay’s terrain.

On Monday, November 26, the “E-trike” supplier will be in Boracay for the inauguration of the Charging Station for Boracay.

However, no date was mentioned by Tubi on when the “E-trike” units will be brought to the Island. 

Chipped tiles at KIA explained by Engr. Malonesio

Chipped and broken tiles on the floors of Kalibo International Airport or KIA’s passenger Terminal are caused by the rushing publics.

This is what KIA Manager Engr. Percy Malonesio has clarified regarding the building’s situation particularly of the passenger terminal’s “eye sore” floors.

In an interview with Malonesio, he explained that this is the case since the renovation of the terminal is yet to be completed.

But with the influx of tourists and increasing number of flights, the said terminal was hurriedly built for immediate use.

Despite the building’s incomplete state and due to “public demand” the site was opened, he said.

At this time however, the manager added, that the Department of Transportation and Communication or DOTC who is responsible for the project is currently working on it.

This has not been turned over to KIA yet since it needs to be completed.