Iloilo City eyes P60B investments, P3B infrastructures until 2013

Aerial View of Iloilo River @ Gaisano Area

By Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO 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 such as call centers.

Road infrastructures, electric power and water supply and other amenities are already being addressed and waiting for business to come in, the city mayor said.

“Iloilo City is open for business and the city alone is considered as the most progressive area outside of Metro Manila for investments as an important next wave city,” Mabilog said.

“Manila, Cebu and Davao are already congested and saturated. We are here to offer business opportunities and together, we work to make our country grow and develop,” the city mayor added.

On the other hand, Mabilog also assured BOI Governor Pelagio Tan Ricalde an office space for BOI at the new cityhall upon completion by the end of this year. BOI offices are located in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Read More

Iloilo City mayor leads business campaign in Korea, China

Iloilo Capitol Area @ Bonifacio Drive

by Lydia C. Pendon

ILOILO 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 International Airport on October 8, 2011 to meet with Korean business leaders and local government counterparts and present business opportunities of Iloilo.

Mabilog said they are also going to discuss the possible direct flight between Iloilo and Incheon to take advantage of positive response of Koreans currently studying and residing in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo delegation is also going to Jeju City in Korea to present Iloilo’s business opportunities to Korea’s business leaders, especially for public-private partnership (PPP) on the P400 million Guimaras-Iloilo ferry terminal (GIFT) project.

Mabilog said he is also eyeing sisterhood and twinning agreements between Iloilo City and the two Korean cities.

On the other hand, Mabilog will also lead a delegation to Yulin, China on October 18, 2011 as official guests of the Chinese sister city. Another city sisterhood agreement will be forged between Iloilo City and Huabei City in China.

Read More

Why Millions of Filipinos Love Mang Inasal

By GeneralHowitzer

Barbecue, 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 Filipino cuisine whipped up with delectable and flavorful herbs, spices and ingredients that elevated the people’s dining experience to the new heights, that is, coming up with strings of foods that no one can resist.

Mang Inasal parades mouthwatering foods peppered with Filipinos’ novelty, creativity and enormous passion for fine dining like grilling with charcoal, using bamboo sticks as skewers, rice wrapped in banana leaves and marinade which is an amalgam of local herbs and spices. The ambience is also very inviting as it entices the Filipinos to eat with their hands as they feast on a hearty and scrumptious meal like the chicken Inasal. All these factors makes Mang Inasal basks on their success and spur further the Filipinos growing interests on their long lost culture and tradition at least on an excellent cuisine.

Yes, Mang Inasal is home to a 100% Filipino barbecue and the people who had taken a meal here will say with zest and gusto that Mang Inasal is truly “The Original and the Best”.
Mang Inasal Images, Pictures or Photos
The appetizing chicken barbecue...
What's inside Mang Inasal...
The people truly enjoy the foods served to them and shows with this pic...
Here are some reasons why Filipinos love Mang Inasal:

The tender grilled chicken barbecue is so juicy that it leaves wonderful concoctions of flavors in the mouth.

The beef and milkfish (“bangus”) served here are truly irresistible as its sourness can stimulates the nerves.

A myriad of spices such as chicken oil, chicken-soy sauce and vinegar, to name a few, combines perfectly together to satiate your cravings and caprices for a tasty meal.

Mang Inasal serves only the great tasting foods that every Filipinos will surely enjoy and make them feel at home.

And how about the genius concept of having unlimited rice to a flavorsome meal, well this makes eating at Mang Inasal truly interesting, enjoying and satisfying. At Mang Inasal you can have as many servings of rice as you can without worrying about the extra cost. Hehehe, I usually eat three (3) to four (4) servings of rice with my chicken barbecue, and wow, I always have a great feeling every time I’m done with my eating spree.

Mang Inasal doesn’t only make your tongue feel happy and wonderful it also fills your tummy very well. The price of each order here too is not only affordable; the price can be considered as a steal, too. If you feel like you can feast on 3 or more servings of rice… Go ahead!

How about the bottomless Iced tea anyone? Once you are done with your eating frenzy why not try the bottomless iced tea which is a perfect complement to chicken inasal.

Once you are done eating you can also hang around for a while and have a conversation with your companions about anything under the sun while enjoying a very Filipino ambience.

There is a rush of Mang Inasal madness taking shape all over the country and why not the meals served here are tempting and full of flavors. Ah, can’t wait to have another serving of chicken inasal.

Read More

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 in Lambunao, Iloilo.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor said 10,000 trees will be planted in the area aside from a medical mission to be conducted by provincial doctors and the Philippine Army.

On October 2, the province will launch ART 2 or the Artificial Reefs for Transformation. This project attempts to complete the ridge to reef loop and is envisioned to be implemented in the 22 coastal municipalities of Iloilo.

The launching ceremony will be held at Sitio Lacaran, Barangay Ermita in Dumangas where hundreds of mangrove seedlings will be planted.

The ART 2 project will have as components the coastal resource assessment, coral reef survey, alternative livelihood, policy formulation, enforcement of laws and ordinances and strengthening of coastal alliances.

The governor will convene a meeting with stakeholders and partners starting next week in preparation for the two upcoming activities.

Gov. Defensor is encouraging the entire community to participate in the project which, he said, will benefit the future generation. (PNA)

Read More

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 activity.

Some 46 kilometers of shoreline in 56 coastal barangays are expected to be covered by the clean-up.

A covenant signing on the protection of the marine resources will also be done during the program.

Signatories will include the city government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, councilor David Jamora, and the presidents or chairpersons of participating groups.

This is already the 9th year that the city is joining the International Coastal Clean-Up Day.

This year’s theme is “Trash-Free Seas.” (PNA)

Read More

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 of the city slaughterhouse in Barangay Tacas, Jaro into a modern facility being designed for pigs and cattle with complete waste water treatment plant, vehicles and drainage system.

The second project that will have a MOA signing will be the P150-million esplanade project that will cover 2.5 kilometers from Treñas Boulevard to the Railway Bridge.

The third project will be the P100-million additional support to the present P144-million worth of housing project in 5.6-hectare site in Barangay Lanit, Jaro for displaced riverbank dwellers with the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Mabilog said the construction of the housing units will have an allocation of P100 million, in which 75 percent will come from the NHA and 25 percent equity from the city government, payable in the next 10 years without interest.

On Thursday, Mabilog awarded land certificates to 15 homeless families living “on site” in Barangay South Fundidor, Molo district in this city.

These awardees are part of the 73 families who are the target beneficiaries of the said project covering the city-owned 5,000-square meter land. Each family will have 48 up to 52 square meters.

Each recipient will pay P220 monthly amortization within 10 years. One-time payment will cost P26,400. (PNA)

Read More

Iloilo City to host nat’l river summit

BY JEZZA NEPOMOCENO

ILOILO 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 also imperative for all of us to understand our social and corporate responsibilities towards our environment,” Celiz said.

Mabilog earlier said that the summit was inspired by the award garnered by the city during the international search for livable communities held in Chicago, USA in November last year.

The Iloilo River Development Project bagged “gold” or excellent citation in the “natural category” of the 2010 International Awards for Liveable Communities (Livcom).
“The Gold Award for our Iloilo River manifests that we, Ilonggos, take good care of our river,” Mabilog said.

The country has a total of 14 river systems intercrossing of different rivers.

Eight of these are in Panay Island and greatly need rehabilitation, conservation and massive watershed development.

In Western Visayas, there are 881 rivers, 27 lakes and 42 lagoons. Iloilo province hosts major river systems – Aganan-Tigum and Jalaur-Suague, among others.

Iloilo City hosts four tributary creeks and two major rivers -- Iloilo River that divides the seven city districts and the Batiano River in Molo-Arevalo area up the municipality of Oton, Iloilo./PN

Read More

Iloilo City posts 9 finalists in 2011 LivCom Awards

by Iloilo City Government on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 2:54pm

Iloilo 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 entries before the judging panel scrutinizing 50 sustainable projects and 18 Bursary Awards applications from 60 towns and cities around the world.

Iloilo City has made it to the Whole City’s Category E for communities with a population of over 400,000, where it won a bronze award last year.

A Post Livcom: Advancing the Iloilo River Development Initiatives through Integrated Sustainable Management and 2011 Dinagyang Festival are finalists in the Project Award.

Last year, the Iloilo River Development Project won a gold award in the same category.

The best practices on Livelihood Enhancement Project for Sidewalk Vendors in Heritage Area; Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives in Iloilo City, Pilot Integrated Coastal Environment Sanitation Project; Tuberculosis Social Mobilization: Iloilo City Experience; Composting: Alternative Livelihood for Wastepickers and Bamboo Reforestation in Maasin Watershed are finalists in the Bursary Award wherein the winner will receive a funding of £10,000.

Last year, the Wastepickers Livelihood Training Program, Community-based Water and Sanitation System and Community-based Disaster Preparedness Planning were finalists in the same category.

The finalists will be evaluated according to criteria such as enhancement of natural and built landscape; arts, culture and heritage; environmental best practices, community participation and empowerment; healthy lifestyle and strategic planning, according to a LivCom statement posted on its website.

Touted as the world’s only competition for local communities that focuses on environmental management and creation of liveable communities, the LivCom Awards encourage best practice, innovation and leadership in providing a vibrant, environmentally sustainable community that improves the quality of life.

Endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the LivCom Awards annually bring together some of the world’s leading innovators in the field.

The LivCom Awards were launched internationally in 1997 and being run as a UK Registered Charity.

Read More