ILOILO CITY: The Venice of the Philippines

Iloilo City is blessed with a wonderful gift – the Iloilo River. This river is the catalyst for the changes in Iloilo especially its marine industry. This river will truly makes Iloilo the beautiful city.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Iloilo City gov't boasts of biz permit release in 20 minutes

By Wenna A. Berondo (The Freeman) Updated November 29, 2011 12:00 AM ILOILO CITY ,Philippines - Good news for those who want to apply for business permits from the Iloilo City Hall.Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government will cut the processing time of applying for business permits from 15 days to only 20 minutes. "I have made a commitment that from almost 10 months in 2010 to make the processing of business permits to 15 days in 2011. Now, I made a commitment that by 2012, we'll make the processing time of business permits in only 20 minutes," the mayor said. Mabilog made this announcement during the signing and...

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Iloilo ang Banwa Ko

"Iloilo ang banwa ko guinahingadlan matam-is nga pulong ang amon guinmat-an indi ko ikaw bulagan banwa kong nahamut-an ikaw ang guintunaan sang kalipayan Ilonggo ako nga tunay nga nagapuyo sa higad sang baybay manami magkiay-kiay sa tagipusuon bug-os ang kalipay."...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Coal plant embarks on P1.5 million Iloilo watershed reforestation project

Iloilo River  @ the Heart of the City By TARA YAP November 27, 2011, 6:27pm ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant owned by the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) is embarking on a P1.5-million reforestation project at the Jalaur Watershed River Basin. PEDC, a subsidiary of the Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC), part of the Metrobank Group of Companies, signed a deal with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 6) for a reforestation program in a 40-hectare area of Bulabog-Putian National Park in the Iloilo towns of Dingle and San Enrique. GBPC president Arthur Aguilar...

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Esplanade project kicks off next week

By: Francis Allan L. AngeloTHE P48.44-MILLION Iloilo River Esplanade Project will kick off next week after the architect of the project met with the contractor and Iloilo City government yesterday.Architect Paolo Alcazaren arrived in the city Wednesday to discuss details of his design with winning bidder Roprim Construction and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).Roprim won the contract after bidding P38.46 million for the project which is P9.98 million less than the approved budget of P48.44 million.Alcazaren, who also designed the world renowned Singapore Quay, was tapped by Senator Franklin Drilon to plan out the esplanade...

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

City eyes medium rise buildings for informal settlers

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 9 (PNA) -– The city government is mulling the establishment of medium rise buildings (MRBs) for informal settlers upon the recommendation of Vice President Jejomar Binay.City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that two lot properties of the city are suitable for such housing projects that will help decongest the number of informal settlers currently living in danger zones such as banks of the rivers and creeks.Binay suggested to Mabilog the MRB concept which is a practice in Metro Manila to accommodate thousands of informal settlers with an initial funding for socialized housing project coming from the various shelter agencies...

Monday, October 17, 2011

Iloilo Natives

Iloilo City Hall Aerial View By MELITO SALAZAR JR.October 17, 2011, 4:50amMANILA, Philippines — In Iloilo City for the inauguration and office blessing of the Manila Bulletin branch, I am struck by the steady progress of the economy as borne out by the construction of new edifices and mushrooming of enterprises.Searching for the cause, I can see that the quality educational institutions led by the University of the Philippines, University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University, and University of Iloilo, among others, are one reason.But the determinant factor is really the people of Iloilo, their industriousness and their creativity....

Saturday, October 15, 2011

PAL increases flights to Iloilo

abs-cbnNEWS.comPosted at 10/15/2011 1:37 PM | Updated as of 10/15/2011 1:41 PMMANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will increase flights to Iloilo to twice daily starting on Saturday, October 15.This came after the airline suspended flight operations to Iloilo from September 28 to October 2 in connection with the transition process of the spin-off/outsourcing program, PAL said in a statement released Saturday.It resumed flights to and from the Visayan province last October 3."The flag carrier aims to further increase its frequencies to Iloilo and other domestic destinations once manpower requirements are fully met by the third-party service providers," the airline said.PAL implemented an outsourcing program last October 1, affecting some 2,300 airline workers involved in...

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Book features 30 business leaders who made Iloilo interesting

Ilonggo Initiative: The Changing Face of Business in Iloilo ILOILO CITY – A newly issued coffee table book of 132 colorful pages focuses on 30 outstanding Ilonggo business leaders who contributed significantly to make this southern city and province an interesting place to a open a business endeavor.The Iloilo Business Club (IBC) produced the book entitled “Ilonggo Initiative: The Changing Face of Business in Iloilo,” to mark the club’s 20th anniversary with a launching last September 30 at Hotel del Rio here.The book features the business leaders who took the courage to put up industries based in this city and shared their business philosophies...

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Study marketability of int’l flights for new Iloilo Airport

Iloilo City's Night View: One fo the Reasons for Int'l Flight By: Tara YapTHE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is urging for a more comprehensive study on the marketability of international flights at the New Iloilo Airport.“It needs further study,” said DOTC Assistant Secretary Ildefonso Patdu Jr.“The decision whether or not to have international flights is dictated by market forces,” Patdu explained.Patdu earlier disclosed that a P698-million fund is set for a five-year development plan that will reconfigure the airport of international standard from its current domestic operations into international operations.Domestically,...

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Iloilo City mayor leads business campaign in Korea, China

Iloilo City's New Central Business District by Lydia C. PendonILOILO CITY – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here will lead an aggressive business campaign in South Korea and China this month of October 2011 to open the doors of this southern Visayan city to business investments and opportunities.“We are now open to international markets and positively back on the business trail,” Mabilog said during the Board of Investment (BOI)-led orientation-seminar on the 2011 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) on Friday, September 30 at Sarabia Manor in this city.Mabilog said his delegation composed of Ilonggo businessmen are leaving for South Korea passing...

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tourism enterprise zones for Iloilo pushed

The Original Seat of Government of Iloilo City ILOILO City – The city and province of Iloilo could further boost their competitiveness in the tourism market by establishing tourism enterprise zones, said Atty. Joy Balauitan, deputy general manager for administration of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). “Iloilo is a beautiful place, with several investors, and with appropriate infrastructure facilities that could qualify for the establishment of a Tourism Enterprise Zone,” according to Balauitan. Local governments and the tourism stakeholders should apply with TIEZA, a corporate body mandated to designate,...

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Iloilo City wins ‘Gawad Pamana ng Lahi’ award

Iloilo City Watefront Area ILOILO CITY, Sept. 26 (PNA) – This city has notched up another accomplishment by winning the regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).The award is given to outstanding local government units that have excelled in various performance indicators based on the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), including the Seal of Good Housekeeping, awards received, and innovative programs and projects.Iloilo City bested the cities of San Carlos, which placed second, and Bacolod in third place.It automatically qualifies for the Gawad National Award...

Friday, September 30, 2011

Iloilo City eyes P60B investments, P3B infrastructures until 2013

Aerial View of Iloilo River @ Gaisano Area By Lydia C. PendonILOILO CITY – This highly urbanized city in the Visayas is eyeing an ambitious but doable P60 billion in investments and P3 billion in infrastructures for three years or until 2013.This was announced by city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog during the orientation seminar on the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) led by the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Department of Trade and Industry regional office in Western Visayas.Mabilog said the investments of the private had already started coming in since 2010 by citing the entry of Megaworld Corp. and Ayalaland Corp. and other business locators...

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Iloilo City mayor leads business campaign in Korea, China

Iloilo Capitol Area @ Bonifacio Drive by Lydia C. PendonILOILO CITY – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here will lead an aggressive business campaign in South Korea and China this month of October 2011 to open the doors of this southern Visayan city to business investments and opportunities.“We are now open to international markets and positively back on the business trail,” Mabilog said during the Board of Investment (BOI)-led orientation-seminar on the 2011 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) on Friday, September 30 at Sarabia Manor in this city.Mabilog said his delegation composed of Ilonggo businessmen are leaving for South Korea passing the Incheon...

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Why Millions of Filipinos Love Mang Inasal

By GeneralHowitzerBarbecue, BBQ or inasal,no matter how you call this treats, it is a big hit in Mang Inasal in the Philippines...(Author’s suggestion: For first-time visitors in the Philippines I suggest that you try a dining place which is the Mang Inasal to have a sizeable overview of the country’s culture and tradition especially when it comes to the foods the people here loves to eat. By the way the “Ilonggo” word “inasal” means barbecue)Tracings its humble roots in the province of Iloilo, Philippines, the home of “Ilonggos”, the Mang Inasal have grown into a well-respected and well-visited dining place in the country. Mang Inasal offers...

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Iloilo prov'l govt prepares for holding of 2 environment-oriented projects

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) - The Iloilo provincial government is now preparing for the holding of back-to-back environment-oriented projects by next month.On October 1 (Saturday), the province will hold the second phase of the Action for Regreening and Transformation (ART) which targets to plant one million trees. The first phase of the project held last June 25 successfully planted over 700,000 trees.The October 1 tree-planting will be this year’s Pyesta sa Kakahuyan. Though the tree-planting will be province-wide, a ceremonial activity will be held at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) reservation in Sitio Agdalusan, Barangay Hayubo...

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Mayor urges participation in coastal clean up

Robinsons ILOILO CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) – Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog is enjoining every Ilonggo to join the International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday.“This is one occasion when we can all show our love for the environment, especially our oceans and seas, by ridding them of wastes and thus preserving the natural habitat of marine resources,” he said.The mayor will be one of the speakers during the program to be held 7 a.m. at the foot of Carpenter’s Bridge in Molo district where the clean-up will start.Together with the city government, volunteers from various schools, government offices, private groups and villages here will join the...

Friday, September 16, 2011

MOA signing on three major Iloilo City projects set

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) -- Senator Franklin Drilon is scheduled to lead the signing Friday afternoon of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on three important development projects in Iloilo City with members of the Iloilo River Development Council at the Hotel del Rio. Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the first MOA is between the city government and the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 6 on a P40-million development assistance for the upgrading of the city slaughterhouse to become a “Double A” category. Last week, the city government received Senator Drilon's special allotment release order (SARO) for the upgrading...

Friday, September 2, 2011

Iloilo City to host nat’l river summit

BY JEZZA NEPOMOCENOILOILO City – The city government has started preparing for the two-day 1st National River Summit slated either on last week of October or early November.The summit will summon at least 50 urban centers in the country known for their best practices in river development.It will be sponsored by Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Rivers of the World Foundation.According to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s spokesman Jeffrey Celiz, Sen. Franklin Drilon who currently spearheads the campaign to save the Iloilo River is supportive of the summit.“This summit will help people realize how crucial rivers are. It is...

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Iloilo City posts 9 finalists in 2011 LivCom Awards

by Iloilo City Government on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 2:54pmIloilo City doubles its entries to nine environmentally-sustainable initiatives chosen as finalists in The International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) 2011 to be presented at Songpa, Seoul, South Korea on October 27-31.Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog is elated with the city’s inclusion of nine entries in the LivCom finals which recognizes global best practices for management of the local environment.The city posted four finalists in last year’s LivCom awards in Chicago, USA.The chief executive and other city officials are expected to attend the final presentation of...

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Ed Defensor: “Lin-ay sang Iloilo”, The Icon of Ilonggo Pride

By Ed Defensor(Following are excerpts of the artist’s speech during the unveiling of Ilonggo Pride Statue, Lin-ay sang Iloilo, atop the New City Hall in celebration of 74th Charter Day August 25)When the good mayor, Honorable Jed Patrick E. Mabilog told me that he wanted a symbol of Iloilo on the dome of the New City Hall, the very first thing that came to my mind was that “I had dreamed of this before.”Yes, as early as 15 years ago I already dreamed of a commission that would enable me to mold the symbol of Iloilo in brass or in bronze – the image was already clear and complete in my mind.I dreamed of it in the same scale as it is today,...

Friday, August 26, 2011

4-hour civic-military parade marks Iloilo City’s 74th Charter Day

TWVillavertILOILO CITY, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- Mayor Patrick Jed Mabilog said that the overwhelming support of the various sectors in Iloilo City in the observance of the City’s 74th Charter signals the unity of the Ilonggos towards the attainment of the goal to make Iloilo City the premier city in the near future.Mabilog was happy to note that the August 25 civic-military parade, which was participated in by some 15,000 Ilonggos, lasted for almost four hours and was overwhelmingly successful.He said that the relevance in celebrating the 74th Charter Day has achieved its goals to create awareness among the younger generation the history and development...

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Iloilo posts remarkable rise in rice, corn production

Iloilo View - Agri and Terrain Beauty By: Francis Allan L. AngeloMORE than half of Western Visayas’ palay and corn production during the first three months of 2011 came from Iloilo, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).Citing data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the NSCB said Region 6’s 1st quarter palay and corn production significantly improved by 52.3% and 78.7%, respectively.“More than half of the region’s total production comes from the province of Iloilo being the top producer of palay and corn in the region,” the agency said.Palay production for the 1st quarter reached 642,749 metric tons...

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

More than 12,000 to join Iloilo City's 74th Charter Day Parade

Iloilo City on the Rise ILOILO CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) – More than 12,000 participants from the City Hall, national government agencies (NGAs), schools, non-government organizations (NGOs), barangays and festival contingents are expected to join the grand civic parade here to highlight this city’s 74th Charter Day on Aug. 25. “We are enjoining everyone to celebrate our Charter Day. This is part of our identity and pride as Ilonggos,” said Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog. Administrative officer Armand Dicen of the City Tourism and Development Office, who oversees the parade preparation, said thousands will join the activity The biggest number of...

Monday, August 22, 2011

Iloilo City to Host First Nat'l River Summit

By Lydia C. Pendon ILOILO CITY – The city government here will host the First National River Summit before the end of this year and expected to set the pace of river development with the private sector. City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the summit was inspired by Livable Communities (Livcom) Award garnered by Iloilo City during a ceremony in Chicago, USA last November 2010. Mabilog said the city will spearhead the national conference of about 40 to 50 local government units in the country invited to participate in a two-day summit showing the best practices in 9 to 11 rivers in the Philippines. On the other hand, Senator Franklin M. Drilon...

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Nice Future Plan: Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Tourism Strategy and Action Plan

Rich in culture, heritage, and flavor, the Iloilo Province and Guimaras Island are brought together in the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. In pursuit of economic cooperation, efficient infrastructure, and tourism promotion and development, the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council was established. The council is composed of the City of Iloilo, the municipalities of Leganes, Oton, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, and San Miguel, and Guimaras Island. To map out the potentials of the mini-region, a tourism strategy and action plan was prepared by Palafox Associates with a multi-disciplinary team of consultants. While both...

Friday, August 5, 2011

Power firm constructs facility starting Aug. 7

A RENEWABLE energy firm will begin construction of a biomass facility in Iloilo province this month. Global Biomass PLC Corp., a Philippine-based company focusing on development of biomass fuel solutions, said it will begin construction of the US$ 4-million research, development and manufacturing facility in Mina municipality on August 7. In a statement, David de Montaigne, Global Biomass Group chief executive officer, said the 5,000-square meter facility will be known as the Global Biomass PLC Corp. Research Development and Manufacturing facility (GBC R-D-M). “It’s the very first of its kind in the world. The GBC R-D-M will conduct research,...

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