Boracay Draws Tourists Year-Round

BORACAY Island in Aklan continues to draw in higher number of tourists every year, prompting the provincial government to declare that there is no “low season” in the island resort.

A report from the Aklan provincial government showed that a total of 628,243 foreign and domestic tourists arrived in the island from January to August, this year. This is 12% higher compared to the same period last year at 561,405 tourists.

Governor Carlito Marquez said the visitors generated some P13.2 billion worth of tourism receipts which include expenses on food, beverages, leisure activities and souvenirs.

This month, a total of 64,070 tourists enjoyed Boracay, also higher compared to 58, 202 tourists in August 2010.

Marquez said there are no more “low” or “off peak” seasons in island-resort, especially during the rainy season.

“Even if it is raining, visitors still flock to the island,” Marquez said.

The Aklan provincial government is eyeing to reach the 1 million tourist arrival mark in Boracay next year.

Last year, an estimated 780,000 visitors arrived in the island from January to December 2010, generating some P14.333 billion in tourism receipts.

Visitor arrivals in 2010 registered a 20.03% growth compared to the previous year’s 650,000 which generated a total of P12 billion in overall receipts.

Last month, an influential American travel magazine ranked Boracay as the fourth best island in the world.

Boracay received a score of 89.93 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2011, which was the cover story of the magazine’s August issue. This is the first time that Boracay was recognized by the magazine.

A survey conducted by Travel + Leisure evaluated the islands according to their natural attractions, activities, sights, restaurants and food, people, and value for money. The survey was conducted among the magazine’s readers from December 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

Also, Boracay has been voted by users of travel website TripAdvisor as one of the world’s top beach destinations this year.

FISCAL MESS IN TIGBAUAN (COA uncovers millions in fund misuse, misappropriation)

OVER P4.4 million in unliquidated cash advances. Wrong use of Special Education Fund (SEF). Millions in unimplemented programs. Over P7.4 million in lost earnings. Inadequate bond for town treasurer and an unsecured treasurer’s office.

Such summed up this year’s additional findings reported by Senior State Auditors on the 2010 operation of the Municipality of Tigbauan, Iloilo. This, as the latest Annual Audit Report (AAR) from the Commission on Audit (COA) uncovered as well town collections not remitted intact or in full for at least five years in a row.

As such, COA wants immediate action from town officials particularly Mayor James Excel Torres.

Exact amount wanting liquidation is P4,461,511.73 “thus exposing government funds to misappropriation and misuse,” COA said.

And wrong disbursements too from the SEF worth P223,027.39 “thus depriving the (town’s) students and teachers of the benefits derived there from.”

“In the post-audit of disbursements…it was noted that there were disbursements made by the Local School Board amounting…which were not in accordance with the rules and regulations on the utilization of Special Education Fund,” COA said.

With this, COA recommended for the immediate stop of SEF mis-use “not in accordance with the guidelines set for its utilization.” Provisions of the law, COA stressed, “should be strictly complied with.”

 

And then the issue of nearly P6 million in unimplemented projects identified under the mandatory 20% Development Fund which is sourced from LGUs’ Internal Revenue Allotment share. COA in validating the report said constituents were deprived of the benefits.

To note, it is mandatory for each local government unit (LGU) to set aside 20% Development Fund for local development plans. While compliance was met on the budget allocation, unimplemented were over P7.4 million in projects.

“It shall be the responsibility of every Municipal Mayor to ensure that the 20% of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is optimally utilized hence it is but proper that programs and projects contained in the development plan be fully implemented,” the COA said.

As for lost earnings, COA reported of unrealized income worth P7,440,000, no thanks to some 48 markets stalls left unused.

“The Municipality entered into a loan agreement of P20M from the Development Bank of the Philippines for the construction of public market perimeter stalls. The loan was released April 28, 2009. The project was completed sometime in the latter part of 2009 and is ready for occupancy on the early month of 2010. However, as of this writing, the stalls were not yet occupied/rented,” COA said.

Continued delay, the Commission stressed, becomes “a burden by paying for the loan amortization without deriving income from it.”

“The projected income had the market stalls were rented during the year could have been a big help in sustaining market operation as well as accomplishing the programs and projects that would alleviate the lives of its constituents,” COA said.

And while a bidding for the stalls have been set, COA auditors learned of the delays thus calling anew the attention of Mayor Torres.

“The act of the Local Chief Executive in postponing the bidding and revising the guidelines is an offshoot of the possible mockery of the bidding.”

Meantime, COA also wants official explanation on the inadequate bond mandated on every town treasurer.

“In the conduct of cash examination, it was noted that collections of the municipality ranges an average of P1.5 million per month or more but the bond of the OIC Municipal Treasurer was only P225,000 thereby exposing government funds to risk in case the accountable officer absconds, transfers or is relieved from service,” COA said.

Worse even is the town’s treasurer office itself found by COA as “not properly secured exposing government funds and property to risk of loss thru theft due to its accessibility to unauthorized personnel contrary to sound internal control.”

Turned out that inside the treasurer’s office is a restroom for public and common office use with local taxpayers and employees in nearby offices “free to go in and out because there are no restrictions impose on them.”

Oil slick spotted in Visayan Sea

AN oil slick from the ill-fated M/V Asia Malaysia was monitored in the Visayan Sea near Negros Island.

According to Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commander in Western Visayas, an aerial inspection Tuesday morning revealed that at least 200 meters of bunker fuel was seen along the coast of Manapla town, Negros Occidental.

The ship, which originally sank off the coast of Ajuy town in Iloilo province last Sunday morning, was swept away by the sea’s strong current towards the coastal water of Manapla.

Ybañez said the oil slick was quickly contained by PCG teams who sprayed dispersants. As of Tuesday afternoon, the oil slick was no longer visible.

PCG is trying to determine if the oil slick came from the fuel cargo area which contains 21,000 liters of fuel.

Ship-owner Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. will deploy its privately-hired salvaging team to assess the leakage and how to remove the remaining fuel.

PCG also cordoned the area where the ship was found with oil spill booms to stop another oil leak from spreading.

Ybañez assured that PCG will be able to contain another leakage before it spreads into other parts of the Visayan Sea, which is considered to be a rich fishing ground.

All coastal areas in northern Iloilo, especially in the town of Ajuym are on alert for the possibility that bunker fuel may reach the shorelines.

On August 2006, Western Visayas was hit by the worst oil spill disaster in Philippine history. The more than 2 million liters of Petron bunker fuel from the sunken oil tanker M/T Solar 1 destroyed marine life in the provinces of Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

SHIP SINKS, OIL SPILL FEARED (M/V Asia Malaysia sinks off Ajuy waters, all 147 on-board rescued)

AN ILOILO-BOUND vessel of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines met its last voyage yesterday with 162 on-board the ill-fated trip from Cebu even as the Philippine Coast Guard is vigilant of a possible oil spill in northern Iloilo seas. Based on the official Master’s Oath of Safe Departure (MOSD), among the survivors was a 10-month old baby and 70-year old Eufemia Abonales , the youngest and oldest of the 107 passengers. There were also 35 crew members on board led by ship Captain Romualdo Geraldizo. Scheduled to arrive about 6am, M/V Asia Malaysia never made it to Iloilo Arrastre Port as distress calls were instead made starting 5am. According to Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Western Visayas district commander, first to be alerted was the PCG in Bacolod. In minutes, more distress calls came as passengers managed to inform relatives by phone and text messages. Even Iloilo City-based radio stations received pleas for rescue. The ill-fated ship left Cebu Saturday evening and was a few miles off the coast of Calabasas Island in Ajuy town when the ship tilted more than 30 degrees to the right after being hit by successive strong waves. “At about that time (5am), M/V Asia Malaysia started to list on the right, by the starboard side. They were already in the vicinity of Calabasa Island off Ajuy, Iloilo or about 33 nautical miles to Iloilo City,” Ybañez said. “Immediately, rescue was launched with vessels nearby helping as well.” Based on initial findings, the ship was hit by strong waves and the ropes of the rolling cargo were also found to have broken apart, which resulted to the weight of the ship to further tilt to the right. Ybañez explained that the ship’s captain could no longer steer the ship back to a balance position. Due to the ship’s tilting, sea water penetrated the ship and it sank. First to arrive in the area, which is some 4 nautical miles to nearest shore, was Cokaliong Shipping’s Filipinas Cebu that was also en route to Iloilo City. Next to respond was motor tanker Fil-Visayas bound for Bacolod as fishermen in the vicinity also rushed to help. Ybañez further sought assistance of Bantay-Dagat patrol boats of the Iloilo Provincial Government as a PCG helicopter and vessel were also ordered to proceed to the area. Fil-Visayas rescued 92 passengers while MV Filipinas Cebu rescued 42. The Bantay Dagat team accounted for 28 survivors. Survivors on board MV Filipinas Cebu were given first aid by Iloilo City emergency responders while the municipal government of Ajuy took care of survivors who landed at Brgy. Culasi. Said PCG response units were temporary pulled out from a search and rescue mission in Masbate and will remain here for aerial and sea survey. “At about 6am, an order to abandon ship was made by the Captain with all of the passengers given life-jackets and transfer made to responding rescue vessels. The Ship Captain and nine others of the senior crew members stayed behind and were the last to abandon ship. By 8am we have gathered that a full rescue was made and by 8:50am, the vessel has totally sunk,” Commander Ybañez continued. M/V Asia Malaysia was acquired by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines in 1997 and served Cebu-Iloilo vice versa route. It was 71.6 meters in length with a 551 capacity. It was to be the first and last maritime incident for said vessel off to yesterday’s “Voyage 89.” Eighty-six of the rescued passengers were in the Economy Class while 18 were in the Tourist Class and three from Cabin Class. A Special Board of Marine Investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident, validate liability, if any, of the ship captain, officers and crew on board.Further still, the investigation will look into corrective measure to avert similar incidents in the future. PCG Western Visayas Deputy Commander, Captain Pedro Tinampay heads the probe body with three other PCG officers as members. The investigation is expected to start today which will hear the accounts of the survivors and crew. Radio accounts of survivors heard similar stories of fear in the last minutes on board the vessel yet “don’t panic” pleas were made from both crew members and their fellow passengers. Initially heard were concerns of survivors who had difficulty with the lifejackets given to them. “Indi kami kabalu magtakud dala na sang nerbyus namun. Ginbuligan lang kami sang crew kag buligay man kami nga mga pasahero (We didn’t know how to put it on because of our nervousness. The crew helped us and fellow passengers),” a survivor bound for San Joaquin, Iloilo said. While no official word has been released on the cause, it was believed that the listing was brought by the sudden imbalance of the vessel’s cargo. This as huge waves hit the vessel, caused it to list on the right side and the ropes that secured its cargo snapped. By then M/V Asia Malaysia failed to recover its position as sea water slowly overwhelmed the vessel. “We will look into the incident but for now we are grateful of full rescue of both the passengers and the crew,” Ybañez said. PCG called on the local Red Cross for assistance and treatment of the survivors who were brought back to Iloilo and Bacolod cities. Trans-Asia also owned the ill-fated MV Asia South Korea, which sank off the coast of Cebu on December 23, 1999. More than 50 people died in the Cebu-Iloilo bound ship. OIL SPILL The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is preparing for a possible oil spill from the ill-fated M/V Asia Malaysia. Commodore Ybañez said the passenger ship that sank off the coast of Ajuy town in northern Iloilo Sunday was carrying 21,000 liters of fuel oil. “We cannot discount the possibility of a rupture,” Ybañez said. While all 162 passengers and crew were safely rescued, maritime officials are turning their attention into the possibility that bunker fuel might have leaked into the Visayan Sea, which is considered as one of the country’s rich fishing grounds. Ybañez disclosed that an oil spill team composed of the PCG as well as a private oil spill combating firm hired by ship-owner by Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc. will be deployed to Ajuy as a mitigating measure. “We are ready to contain it,” Ybañez added. Coast guard officials will not discount the possibility of an oil spill as Western Visayas was hit by the worst oil spill disaster in Philippine history. On August 11, 2006, more than 2 million liters of Petron bunker fuel was spilled into Guimaras Straight after oil tanker M/T Solar 1 sank off the southern coast of the island province. The oil spill caused massive destruction in the marine life and fishing grounds in the towns of Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, Sibunag, Buenavista, and Jordan.

Drug Gang to Rescue Suspected Pusher?

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) asked help from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to secure a suspected drug dealer who was wounded in a raid Tuesday morning.

PDEA legal counsel Ronnie Delicana confirmed that they requested the ICPO to send police officers to the hospital where Carlo “Jong-Jong” Balledos is confined to beef up his security.

Delicana said they taking extra caution in securing Balledos because of his status but belied reports that an illegal drug syndicate is either out to rescue or eliminate him in the hospital.

Balledos, who is the number 5 suspected drug dealer in Iloilo City, was wounded in a shootout with PDEA agents during a raid on his home at Zone 5, Brgy. Veterans Village, Iloilo City Proper the other day.

PDEA recovered 41 sachets of suspected shabu inside Balledos’ house and a caliber .45 pistol. They also arrested Soledad “Daday” Bayog, 26, and Febe Hilado who were inside the suspect’s house during the raid.

Supt. Giovanni Musico, ICPO deputy director for administration, said they received PDEA’s request Wednesday morning and was forwarded to the Operations Section for action.

Delicana said Balledos is on top of their list of alleged drug dealers because of the longevity and magnitude of his operations.

Alleged Pusher Wounded in PDEA Raid

A SUSPECTED drug pusher was wounded in a raid conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at Zone 5, Brgy. Veterans Village, Iloilo City Proper Tuesday.

Carlo “Jong-Jong” Balledos, 41, was shot in his legs when he resisted members of the PDEA raiding team who served a search warrant issued against him.

Aside from Carlo, PDEA agents also arrested Soledad “Daday” Bayog, 26, and Febe Ilado.

The raiding team recovered from Carlo’s house 41 sachets of suspected shabu worth more or less P40,000, a Sig Sauer caliber .45 pistol with six live hollow point bullets and P1,630 cash.

Atty. Ronnie Delicana, PDEA legal officer, said Balledos has been in their watch list but it was only now that there were able to sting his operations.

Delicana said one of their operatives could have been wounded or killed in the operation after Balledos allegedly shot their group.

“If not for the railing of the stairwell, one of us could have fallen.

Prior to the raid, PDEA agents conducted a test buy operation which yielded a sachet of suspected shabu from Balledos.

PDEA also noticed a CCTV camera outside Balledos’ house, an indication that he is keeping watch of people approaching his home.

PDEA will file charges against Balledos, Bayog and Ilado for selling and possessing illegal drugs and maintaining and visiting a suspected drug den.

Delicana said frustrated murder charges will also be lodged against Balledos “because the bullets he used in his gun is an indication that he intended to kill the operatives.”

Earlier, the PNP said the special task force established at Veterans Village failed its mission to curb the illegal drug trade in the area.

The barangay’s labyrinthine or complicated topography is the main hindrance cited by the police.

But Punong Barangay John Eric David of Veterans Village said the presence of the police task force reduced the number of illegal drug users by 40%.

P1.5-M Agricultural Bi-Cable Tramline to Boost Patnongon Farmers’ Income

SAN JOSE, Antique – An agricultural bi-cable tramline was recently installed in Sitio Ventura, Barangay Igburi, Patnongon, Antique by the Department of Agriculture.

This bi-cable, which cost a total of P1,573,873 million, is a first in the province of Antique. It is powered by a motor engine, a 4DR5, and can carry a load of about 350 kgs.

The construction of the cable came about because of the difficulty found by farmers in transporting their farm produce from their far-flung barangays of Sitio Ventura, Igburi to the poblacion of Patnongon itself.

The upland barangay has wide agricultural area and produces a variety of farm products but lacks the necessary facilities for marketing their goods in the mainland without spending so much for hauling expenses or sometimes causing their crops to be destroyed due to delay in bringing them to town proper.

Mayor Johnnyflores S. Bacongallo together with the Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council requested for a one unit of Agricultural Bi-Cable Tramline to DA head office through Director Larry Nacionales in Iloilo City.

The request was also approved by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Office and accordingly released the amount of P1,573,873. This project is purely DA financed and therefore the LGU of Patnongon has no counterpart whatsoever. It took three months for the bi-cable to be finished. The long stretch of wire is about 500 meters from bottom to the top and the location is about twelve kilometers from the cable site to the town proper.

MULTI-BILLION PESO INVESTMENTS IN LIMBO

BACOLOD City – The Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals in Cebu City granted the 60-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) sought by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) against the Ayala Land Inc. purchase and lease of the Negros Occidental provincial government’s 7.7-hectare prime property.

The TRO came a day after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the endorsement of the Committee on Awards and Disposal of Real Property (CADRP) of the provincial government awarding the sale and lease of the property to Ayala Land.

In its resolution dated July 20 signed by Associate Justices Victoria Isabel Paredes, Edgardo Delos Santos and Ramon Paul Hernando, the CA stated that “after a careful scrutiny of the record, the court finds petitioner’s prayer for a temporary restraining order to be meritorious.  Hence, so as to preserve the rights of the parties during the pendency of the instant petition, as well as to prevent the judgment that may be promulgated in this case from being rendered ineffectual, the application for the issuance of a TRO is granted.”

SMPHI filed the petition for certiorari with prayer for TRO and or writ of preliminary injunction against respondents Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. in his capacity as Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 50, Governor Alfredo Marañon  Jr. as chairman of  of the CADRP, CADRP members Patrick Lacson, Atty. Mary Ann Manayon-Lamis, Nelda Generoso, Lucille Chavez-Pines, Merlita Caelian, Enrique Pinongan, Ernie Mapa and SP members.

The CA further stated, “Consequently, respondents are required to file their comments on the petition (not a motion to dismiss), within ten 10 days from notice thereof, and to show cause why the writ of preliminary injunction prayed for by the petitioner should not be granted. Should the petition be given due course, the comments may be treated as the answer.  Petitioners may file its reply within five days from receipt of the comments.”

The TRO is effective for 60 days, unless sooner lifted, conditioned upon the posting of a bond in the amount of P50 million by the petitioner.

The CA enjoined all parties concerned to refrain from enforcing and/or implementing the July 14, 2011 ruling of the RTC denying the TRO application of SMPHI.

SMPHI claims that it won the July 7 competitive bidding for the 7.7-hectare property. Such bidding was declared a failure by the CADRP because the bid price of both SMPHI and Ayala Land fell below the floor price certified by the Commission on Audit.

Thereafter, CADRP held a negotiated bidding but only Ayala Land participated, thus it was declared winner by the committee.

Both Ayala and SMPHI envision multi-billion investments in the property with Ayala offering a more attractive development package and bigger capital exposure.

Ayala Land promised to pour in P6.6 billion to develop the property which is several billions bigger that what SMPHI offered.

Ayala Land plans to build hotels, buildings for the business process outsourcing industry, and other commercial and business infrastructures in the area.