South Korean funding sought for P15-B Iloilo river project

ILOILO CITY -- The planned P15-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II in Iloilo province may soon secure South Korean government assistance, Senator Franklin M. Drilon said in a public meeting here last Saturday.

Mr. Drilon said he presented the project to Joong-Kyung Choi, South Korea’s minister of knowledge economy and former ambassador to the Philippines, during a meeting in that country two weeks ago.


"I presented the project to him last week for possible funding by the Korean ExIm Bank (Export-Import Bank of Korea). The project has quite a big funding requirement," Mr. Drilon said in his speech during the 4th general membership assembly of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. last Saturday.


Mr. Drilon said a seven-man technical team from that country inspected the project site in Calinog, Iloilo last week.


Once the technical team submits its report, the Korean ExIm bank will bid out the contract on the work to revalidate the project’s feasibility study.
The revalidation report will pave the way for the signing of an agreement between the Agriculture departments of Korea and the Philippines on the implementation of the project, Mr. Drilon said.


The project will also be presented to President Benigno S. C. Aquino III this week.
"I hope to get his go signal before we can proceed further," Mr. Drilon said.


He added that he was hoping a memorandum of agreement on the project would be signed between the two countries when South Korean Lee Myung-bak visits the Philippines this November.


"I am confident that, if plans do not miscarry [sic], we can start the execution of the project by January 2013," he said.


The project aims to irrigate year-round an estimated 34,430 hectares of farmland in 24 towns.


It can also generate about 11.5 megawatts of hydroelectric power and provide potable bulk water supply of up to 100,000 cubic meters for household and industrial use in nearby towns, including Iloilo City. -- Francis Allan L. Angelo

source & related story(s):

  http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=South-Korean-funding-sought-for-P15-B-Iloilo-river-project&id=32242

Read More

Top traders to grace Iloilo Business Summit

TOP business leaders in the country are expected to grace the Iloilo City Business Summit slated on July 29 at the Sarabia Hotel.

“We are ready to present to the world the potentials of this southern city as the next important hub for business and priority destination,” said Felix Tiu, chairman of the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Promotions Board.

Tiu said that among those invited to grace the business summit are the Philippines’ top businessmen and industrialists Fernando Zobel de Ayala of AyalaLand; Manuel V. Pangilinan of PLDT; Amb. Jess Tambunting, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Tessie S. Coson of SM Prime Holdings, and Edgar “Injap” Sia of Mang Inasal.

The business summit is also expected to draw participation from other countries. (Lydia C. Pendon)

source:

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2011/05/30/top-traders-grace-iloilo-business-summit-158343

Read More

2011 Philippine Independence Day Celebration in New York City

 PIDCI’s Independence Day takes place on the first Sunday in June every year, this year on June 5, starting with an early morning (8:30 a.m.) Flag Ceremony at the front of the Philippine Center at 556 Fifth Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets, immediately followed by an Independence Thanksgiving Mass at Kalayaan Hall on the second floor of the Center. At 10:00 a.m., after New York Police has closed Madison Avenue from 23rd Street to 42nd Street from vehicular traffic, the Independence Day Street Fair opens on the Avenue from 24th to 26th Streets. It’s an all-day (until 6:00 p.m.) virtual Filipino Food Festival and a Mini-Expo.

At 11:45 in the morning, brief opening ceremonies are held at Madison Avenue at 38th Street after which at the stroke of 12:00 o’clock noon, the Independence Day Parade gets under way heading South (downtown). Marching contingents in brightly-colored costumes, others in uniforms, floats and open cars stop very briefly in front of a Reviewing Stand on the West side of the Avenue between 29 Streets before proceeding to the dispersal point at 27th Street. At 2:00 p.m., the Cultural Festival opens on an open air stage in the center of Madison Avenue north of 23rd Street. The Festival features Filipino and Filipino-American talents and performing artists until 6:00, which marks the closing time for the whole day’s festivities.

Organizations or groups wishing to participate in PIDCI’s Independence Day Parade may contact Committee Chairs Fe Martinez at (973) 222-0085 or Dr. Benjie Santos, Jr. at (347) 255- 0826, or Co-Chair Ner Martinez at (347) 837-5853. For booth rentals at the Street Fair, the contact is Chairman Raul Estrellado at (201) 421-6187 and for the Cultural Festival, the contacts are Chair Cathy Uy at (732) 687-2413 or Co-Chair Hector Magno at (908) 229-0155.

The culminating event of the commemoration is the Philippine Independence Ball, this year to be held at the Hilton New York Hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019-6012 on Saturday, June 11, from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. of the actual anniversary date of Independence Day of June 12. The Ball will feature an authentic Rigodon de Honor. For information or invitations, please call Independence Ball Committee Chairperson Tess Lobo at (917) 783-8673. For any and/or all matters you may call PIDCI President Joji Jalandoni at (201) 401-7559 or any member of the PIDCI Board of Directors.

Read More

Gawad Kalinga now serves poor families in 8 towns

ILOILO – The strength of Gawad Kalinga (GK) is “growing exponentially” and currently, its presence can be felt in eight Iloilo towns, according to GK-Iloilo coordinator Joey Mempin.
GK now has 16 villages in the towns of Ajuy, Concepcion, San Joaquin, Pototan, Barotac Viejo, Janiuay, Dingle and the latest is New Lucena.

Another village will soon be established in Dumangas.

“Here in Iloilo, the number of poverty incidence is a little bit high. We hope to eradicate poverty by 2024 by providing not only decent homes (but) livelihood and education,” he said.

GK is planning to cover the entire province even down to every barangay.
“GK is becoming like an infectious disease…people are starting to believe in the spirit that we need to solve the crisis of poverty,” he added.

Mempin explained that GK Villages in Iloilo are established through counter-parting between the local government unit s(LGU) which provide the site and GK which look for funds and target beneficiaries with the sweat equity.

However, he said GK is also making available its Legacy Village for private persons who wish to help where they purchase the lot and build houses. The GK just comes in to manage and operate.

Mempin stressed that beneficiaries of the GK Village are carefully screened to ensure that those who will be awarded are deserving poorest of the poor.

source & related stories:

http://panaynewsphilippines.com/

http://www.iloilonewstoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1783:gk-village-to-rise-in-new-lucena&catid=98:local-news

Read More

History 101: May 27, 1883 - Magdalena G. Jalandoni was Born

On May 27, 1893, Magdalena G. Jalandoni, a Hiligaynon poet, playwright and novelist, was born in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Her works span from the coming of Malay settlers in the Middle Ages up to the Spanish and American colonial eras as well as the Japanese occupation of World War II, all portraying the history of Panay and the evolution of the Ilonggo culture.

Her famous poem "Ang Guitara" (The Guitar) is read in classrooms all over the country today.

Her other famous works include "Anabella," "Sa Kapaang Sang Inaway" (In the Heat of War), "Ang Dalaga sa Tindahan" (The Young Woman in the Store) and "Ang Kahapon ng Panay" (The Past of Panay).

She received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1969 for her literary achievements from the government. She died on September 14, 1978 at the age of 85. 

source:

http://www.pna.gov.ph

Read More

119 structures to give way to Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal

By Montesa Griňo-Caoyonan

The 119 illegal structures alongside the abandoned Rotary Park in Brgy. Concepcion, Iloilo City will be demolished next month by the Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures to give way to the proposed Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal Service (GIFTS) project.

Engr. Robert Dumanil, head of Task Force Asis, said many of the dwellers are occupying the area only for livelihood purposes but they are not homeless.

He said they have been occupying a wide portion of the park, which is a government-owned lot – 95 structures are located inside the park while 24 outside.

Dumanil said these illegal structures are mostly in form of kiosks serving as sari-sari store, boarding house, repair shop, and other similar structures.

The illegal occupants are not only from Iloilo City as others are also from Guimaras province, he said.

Dumanil said they have been receiving reports that these illegal occupants are renting the place through the son of a village chief, however, he is not sure if their informants are referring to the son of Brgy. Captain Leah Severina Berciles.

He said they will notify the dwellers about the scheduled demolition and ask them to vacate the area within seven days. After the notification, they will issue a final and executory order to the illegal occupants even without a court order.

“They know already that it’s a public place and a government-owned lot so it’s not our obligation to look for their relocation site,” he said.

GIFTS PROJECT

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he is still waiting for President Benigno Aquino III to sign the presidential proclamation that will declare an area at Fort San Pedro as the site of the ferry terminal project that will cater to pump boat passengers plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route.

Mabilog said the proclamation will cover almost a hectare of land, including the lot currently occupied by the Philippine Coast Guard Iloilo District Office that plans to renovate their building once the illegal structures are removed.

Aside from the national government, the Asian Development Bank, German International Cooperation, and Cities Development Initiatives for Asia are also expected to fund the project.

MORE DEMOLITIONS SET

Aside from the 119 illegal structures along Rotary Park, the Task Force Asis and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are also set to demolish 280 illegal structures for road clearing along Diversion Road in Mandurriao district.

Dumanil said they are waiting for a go-signal from the DPWH for the demolition to proceed.

These illegal structures are mostly gutters, cemented gates, signages, tarpaulins, and posts that have been identified as obstructions to access roads.

source :

 http://www.iloilonewstoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1761:119-structures-to-give-way-to-guimaras-iloilo-ferry-terminal&catid=98:local-news

Read More

Football Reigns in Barotac Nuevo

BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo, Philippines – The exhibition game of the Azkals Tuesday was a clear indication that football reigns in this Iloilo town.

 

“Bisan wala kami inugsulod sa kaldero, basta maka lantaw lang kami football, ok na (Even if we don’t have anything to cook and eat, as long as we can watch football),” declared the stage announcer said halfway through the friendly game of the famed national football team against Central Philippine University (CPU).

The crowd, mainly natives of Barotac Nuevo, particularly cheered the Ilonggo players with the Philippine Azkals.

They were proud to point out that star striker Ian Araneta, co-captain Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong, Mark Ferrer, Roel Gener, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, Yanti Barsales, and Ricardo Becite III are all natives of Barotac Nuevo, which is considered as the football capital of the country.

The open field in front of the San Antonio De Padua Church was witness to a jam-packed crowd of some 7,000 fans that came to support the practice game of the Azkals who are preparing for the country’s first World Cup qualifying match since 1993.

Not even the 19th minute goal of Jovanni Sempron of CPU team dampened their spirits.

They kept cheering for the Azkals and were rewarded when Becite scored an equalizer in the second half. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Caligdong has earlier said that as Ilonggo players, they are always putting their best foot forward as they are aware that they are representing the essence of what it means to be products of the country’s football capital.

Caligdong and the rest of the Ilonggo Azkals played on the very same field which they grew up playing in as young boys prior to having the opportunity to represent the national team in several international games, most notably at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup.

They now hope to bring more pride to their hometown as the Azklas faces Sri Lanka on a two-leg qualifying match for the World Cup on June 29 and July 3.

The Tuesday exhibition match was made possible by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Jr. and Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron, both natives of Barotac Nuevo.

source & related stories:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/319870/football-reigns-barotac-nuevo
http://thedailyguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24481&Itemid=1
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/05/24/11/azkals-struggle-vs-iloilo-college-team 

Read More

Island Hopping at Concepcion, Iloilo

by Regi Adosto (ABS-CBN Iloilo)

The municipality of Concepcion is located on the northeastern part of Panay Island. It is the capital of the sub-province of Northern Iloilo from 1872 to 1899 and comprises the towns of Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Estancia, Balasan and Carles.


Iloilo has a lot to offer. You must experience island-hopping off Concepcion.

Stroll along the pristine white sand beaches and sandbars stretching about 200 meters. Set foot on a beautiful island called Pan de Azucar where Juan Salgado defeated pirates in two battles in 1604. Pan de Azucar is the biggest island in Barangay Tambaliza and is one of the largest of 16 island chains.

There is a mangrove eco-park in Barangay Tambaliza. It has at least 100 species of mangroves. The vast mangrove plantation can be seen from the highest island's highest peak.

You can find a small piece of paradise at the Sand Bar Beach in Barangay Bulubadiangan.

Passenger pumpboats can be rented for a whole-day of island hopping for Php1,500.

Tourists can contact The Tourism Office of Concepcion, Iloilo at (+63) 928-983-5476 for inquiries and to help with the island hopping itinerary.


How to Get There:

From Manila, you can fly to Iloilo (estimated cost of Php3,000++, round trip, one hour). You can also opt for a bus trip (estimated cost of Php875++ per head, air-conditioned bus and boat fare, 17 hours plus).

The municipality of Concepcion is 2 hours away from Iloilo City. HPQ tourist van or HPQ bus from Tagbak terminal at Jaro, Iloilo City will bring you to Concepcion. 

source & related story(s) box:

 http://www.choosephils.com/read_post.php?cat=travel&id=125

Read More