Five towns in the province of Iloilo are free again from the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Based on the April 9 bulletin released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), San Miguel, Dueñas, Anilao, Bingawan, and Mina no longer have active COVID-19 cases.

All infected patients in Dueñas (52) Bingawan (34), and Anilao (30) recovered from the disease.

San Miguel recorded 60 confirmed cases of the disease, of which 6 died and 54 recovered.

In Anilao, two of the 37 cases died and the rest recovered.

Active cases are patients who are still infected with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Passi City, Tigbauan, Alimodian, Batad, and Tubungan were able to bring down their active cases to only one each.

The PHO logged 27 new cases of COVID-19 on April 9 and all of them are considered local.

Of the additional infections, 6 are from Dumangas, 5 from San Joaquin, 3 each from Guimbal, Pavia and Oton, 2 each from Igbaras and Sara, and 1 each from Lemery, Tubungan and Pototan.

Ten of the newly infected individuals are symptomatic and 17 are asymptomatic or have not manifested any symptom of COVID-19.

The total case count in the province currently stands at 5,603, including 5,058 recoveries and 149 deaths.

Santa Barbara accounted for the most number of active cases in the province at 50, followed by Igbaras with 42; San Joaquin, 30; Calinog, 25; Guimbal, 24; Dumangas, 23; Pavia, 19; and Pototan and Sara, 17 each.

From April 1 to 9, the province recorded a daily average 17 cases. Last month, the daily average was 30.IMT

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Mayor Jeffrey “Calay” Alonsabe said the strictest form of quarantine was recommended by the Department of Health (DOH-6) to contain the spread of the coronavirus in their town.

“An ECQ is hereby enforced in the whole municipality from June 30 until further notice,” a part of Executive Order No. 42 stated.

The 13 cases involved the following:
▪16-year-old female
▪27-year-old female
▪3-year-old male
▪28-year-old female
▪55-year-old female
▪46-year-old female
▪47-year-old female
▪45-year-old female
▪23-year-old female
▪20-year-old female
▪22-year-old male
▪40-year-old male 

The 13 infected residents are considered “indigenous cases” or cases of local transmission.

They had no travel history to high-risk areas in Philippines or to foreign countries.

Alonsabe said it is still unclear how the patients who are mostly frontliners contracted COVID-19. 

The patients are asymptomatic or have not showed symptoms related to the dreaded disease.

Alonsabe urged the residents to remain calm and not to panic.

“Hindi kita magkahadlok,kag magkahangawa sa sining sitwasyon nga may ara kita nga positibo sa COVID-19. Relax kag magpangamuyo,” he said.

“Ginapasalig namon ang inyo seguridad nga ang ining mga positibo naton nga mga kasimanwa naka-isolate sa aton quarantine facility,” Alonsabe added.IMT

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A 30-year-old female and a 42-year-old male from the towns of Tubungan and Pototan, respectively, are among the 12 new COVID-19 patients reported by the Deparment of Health (DOH-6) on Thursday, June 25. 

The resident of Tubungan is a locally stranded individual (LSI) while the resident of Pototan is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

The two are asymptomatic and are currently staying in their towns’ respective quarantine facilities.

The 10 other new COVID-19 patients in the region are from Negros Occidental (9) and Bacolod City (1). 

TThe DOH-6 also reported two new patients who recovered from COVID-19.

The region now has a total of 240 confirmed cases of the dreaded disease. The figure includes 106 active cases, 123 recoveries, and 11 deaths.

Of the active cases, three are “indigenous cases” and 103 are cases involving LSIs and OFWs.IMT

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The Department of Health (DOH-6) reported on Wednesday, May 6, 11 new cases of the deadly disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus.

The latest coronavirus-positive patients in the region are as follows: 

GUIMARAS
◾24-year-old male from Nueva Valencia 

ILOILO CITY
◾33-year-old male from Arevalo district
◾46-year-old male from Arevalo district
◾28-year-old male from Mandurriao district 

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
◾30-year-old male from La Castillana
◾43-year-old male from Escalante City 

BACOLOD CITY
◾27-year-old female
◾42-year-old male 

ANTIQUE
◾38-year-old male from Laua-an
◾42-year-old male from Tobias Fornier
◾34-year-old male from Hamtic 

The health department said nine of these new COVID-19 patients are stranded overseas Filipino workers who were repatriated from Manila. 

Only the two from Arevalo district in Iloilo City are not repatriates.

The region now has 22 repatriates who tested positive for COVID-19.

The 33-year-old patient from Arevalo is currently admitted at a hospital and the rest are staying at quarantine facilities.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Western Visyas includes 31 recoveries and 10 deaths.

The province of Iloilo remained to have the most recorded cases of the disease at 18, followed by Iloilo City, 15; Antique, 14; Bacolod City, 9; Aklan, 6; Capiz, 5 and Negros Occidental, 2.

Guimaras is the only province in the region that has zero cases of COVID-19.IMT

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The local government unit (LGU) of Tubungan has been providing services to rebel returnees since 2012 before the government’s Balik-Loob Program through Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) under Executive Order (EO) 70 that aims to end local communist armed conflict was implemented last 2018.

A group of rebel returnees named TAGPDA (Tubungan Amnesty Grantees for Peace and Development Association) was organized by the LGU under its Tubong-Tubong Project spearheaded by former Mayor Vicente Gargaritano Jr. and former Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-) Director Ponciano Ligutom in partnership with the Philippine Army to provide sustainable programs for the returnees to be productive and to prepare them for reintegration to mainstream society.

In order to sustain the said program, the LGU headed by Tubungan Mayor Hon. Roquito Tacsagon initiated Project ROKIT (Reintegration Oplan Kabalaka for deserving Individuals in Tubungan).

Under this program includes the services LGU has to offer if rebels decide to return to the folds of the government by providing opportunities such as formal employment whether local and abroad through skills training; livelihood projects which includes giving of cattle, sari-sari store or swine production; and values formation conducted by the Parish Pastoral Council.

Now through E-Clip and LGU’s local inititaive, these rebels are offered much more holistic package of benefits such as education, housing, medical assistance, legal assistance, firearms remuneration, psychosocial assistance, market livelihood and employment opportunities.

Municipal Labor and Employment Officer Emelyn Tano said that this program was established in 2012 through Tubong-Tubong project because of Tubungan being a “red-tag” area since 1980s and the LGU never failed to see its people experiencing struggle and starvation in the mountains while doing in struggle.

“The LGU did this to bring the government closer to the people and to urge them that the purpose of this program is to let them know (rebels) that may nagahulat nga programs and services for them kung magbalik sanda sa sabak kang gobyerno unlike their misconception nga basi i-threat sanda or patyon,” Tano said.

Each returnee received a livelihood assistance from LGU in partnership with DOLE-6 amounting to P10,000 for the first batch and P20,000 for the second batch.

This year, another three surrenderees received P30,000 worth of cash and livelihood assistance from the local initiative of LGU Tubungan.

In 2020, DOLE is allotting a budget amounting to P3.5M for insurgency affected areas in Tubungan to be facilitated by the PESO (Public Employment Service Office).

Data from the Former Rebel Information System showed that a total 43 rebel returnees was able to avail these programs and services since it began and the LGU is also assessing the surrendering rebel to pass the criteria to avail the program as others are maybe using the E-clip to benefit and after that they will go back again to the armed struggle. 

To change the system is to change one’s lives

“Nagbalik loob ako sa gobyerno kay budlay kung ga sunod kaw sa hublag bala kay gamo tapos kis-a nalipasan pa kamo kang kang gutom kay gapanago kamo kapin pa kung may operation ang army budlay pa gid kay rayo kaw sa pamilya mo,” said Alias Nona, 53, former Head Officer of the Alliance of Mass Campaign.

The program changed the lives of its rebels after they decided to return to the refuge of the government when realizing that life in the movement is not easy and are now enjoying a peaceful and productive life.

“Didto man kami nagkilalahay kang bana ko sa hublag, indi man pwede nga sige sunod mo sa grupo tapos may bata kaw nga na atipan alangan mo ra dar-on ma bakwit, amo to nagtukod kami kang pamilya kag nagdesisyon kami bala nga ma gwa nalang kag mangabuhi ti malinong,” Alias Nona added. 

Ka Nona left the group together with another member who turned out to be her husband and became the president of their organization and she influences others by being a living example that a rebel can change if one wants to, through Balik Loob progams that can end violent extremism and bring about peace in the town.

“Wara ako ga take initiative nga manghaylo gid sa mga rebels nga dyan pa sa bukid gapanago nga mabalik sa goyerno bala kay delikado, ang akon lang nga sanda mismo makatalupangod paagi sa kung paano da makita ang pagbalhin kang kabuhi namon,” she added.

Now, Ka Nona’s daughter is a registered nurse in United Kingdom and his son is a priest in South Africa.

A returnee who introduced herself as Rosa in her 50s, said that she is thankful for the government intervention and she is working as a teacher in a Day Care Center in a barangay of the municipality with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Five rebel returnees also undergo and successfully complete Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Skills Trainings that enable them to work abroad as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) abroad.

“Na paminsaran namon nga kung mabato kami sa gobyerno kag magamit kang pakusog nga paagi, kami ang perde kay na sugal amon kabuhi ti indi sabat ang armas kung gusto mo nga magbag-o ang sistema kang pang gobyerno kay ang pagbag-o dapat kanimo mismo maghalin,” said Ka Badong, a former rebel.

A returnee called alias Ka Lino also became a Bantay-Gubat Forest Protection Officer under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) program to deter illegal activities in our forest and for the preservation of wildlife since he knows a lot about the terrains by staying in the mountains for a long time.

Tungod ka dya makaturog ron kami ti mahamuok nga wara ti kakulba bala tapos namon ronda,” added Ka Lino.

Four returnees also became officials in their respective barangays indicating that they have fully regain the public’s trust and are now serving the people.

The LGU was also able to employ a returnee whose name was Ka Stanley and was hired as job order employee of the local government for almost 10 years and was given tasks and functions suited with his skills and capabilities.

“Livelihood program is an opportunity for surenderees’ potential source of income and make the returnees busy, thus it prevents from from going back to their armed struggle and being by an agricultural town, the lives of the people depend on farming,” Tano said.

Now these surenderers became active citizens of the society and are actively participating in government programs.

“Kung ipatawag sanda [during their monthly meetings] naga attend sanda kag they are free to suggest plans kung ano ang makapamayad sa banwa unlike sang una nga sa bukid sanda kag naga rebelde,” Tano added.

Thru the continuous collaboration of 1LT Ferdinand de Vera (FS) PA, Commanding Officer Bravo (MUSANG) and Company under the leadership of Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer 61st Infantry (HUNTER) Batallion, 3ID Philippine Army, they encourage the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) terrorist here in Tubungan to peacefully surrender and avail the government’s E-CLIP program and they are assuring the returnees of the legitimacy of the E-Clip Program. 

The 61st 3ID of Philippine Army commends Tubungan LGU for implementing programs for rebel returnees. 

“The LGU is sincere to improve the lives of our surenderees by giving them sustainable source of livelihood for their families we are hoping that more rebels will return to the fold of law and seek a peaceful and productive life,” Mayor Roquito Tacsagon stressed.Flory Ann Tacuban/ University of the Philippines Visayas

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Tourists visiting the famous Gigantes Island in Carles town, Iloilo have been urged to report unregulated tourist operators and opportunistic resort owners.

Carles Mayor Seigfredo Betita said he had received negative feedback on tour operators and some resorts in the tourist destination.

He said the local government unit, through its municipal tourism office, had already set up tourist assistance booths to respond to the queries and other needs of the visitors.

“One of the problems there is transportation. There are people approaching tourists and offering a ride,” Betita said.

He said they have already barred fixers and unaccredited tour operators in Gigantes Island and in Bancal port, which is the jump-off point from the mainland to the island.

“We disallowed unaccredited tour operators there but there are some opportunistic people (who) want to create money. They (tourists) should not entertain fixers. They should go to the booth and inquire,” he said.

It also reached the mayor that some resort and business owners in Gigantes Island set overpriced fees on services.

He said he would schedule a meeting with these owners to discuss the matter.

“I always tell them that if you want repeat customers, you should look for ways to make them come back. The customer will choose you if you are responsive to their needs. Without them, your business will not exist,” Betita said.

He said tourists can also drop their complaints at complaints sections and suggestion boxes provided by the local government units.

The concern on unregulated fixers and erring resort owners has already come to the knowledge of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 (Western Visayas).

Lawyer Helen Catalbas, DOT-6 director, in an interview last week, recommended a three-month closure of the tourism site.

She said she already recommended the same during a meeting with former Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. before the May elections.

“If the people of Carles and Gigantes want to save and put order to the island, I recommended a three-month temporary closure. If the place is not well taken care of, it (would be) worse than Boracay Island,” she said.

Catalbas said she already advised the tourism promotions board to tone down the marketing of the island.

Aside from unregulated tour operators and erring business establishments, Catalbas said the island also faced a problem with waste management.

Betita, meanwhile, said they have already established material recovery facilities in the island, and have made efforts on waste management programs.

He said he was also open to DOT-6’s help and thus backed the recommended temporary closure of Gigantes Island. “We need help also of the region and the province,” he said.

He added the island is open to DOT representatives who can point out things that need improvement.

“I am not objecting to the closure. It is good that we temporarily close Gigantes for the resort owners to also know what is wrong and we can change their mindset. The closure is good for the tourism industry,” he added.

The local government of Carles has ordered a one-month closure of the Tangke saltwater lagoon, the number one tourist attraction in Gigantes Island.

The closure from September 1 to 30 aims to rehabilitate the lagoon, Betita said.PNA

Photo credits: Alex Biaco

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The Iloilo City Sports Development Division will mount the 1st Mayor Jerry P. Treñas Inland Fishing Tournament at La Paz Lagoon on Sept. 28, 2019. 

In partnership with the city government, the first-ever tournament will start at 4 p.m. and will end at 7 p.m. With a first come-first-serve basis, organizers are limiting 50 participants in the one day fishing competition. 

Based on the rules, the winner is decided by the weight of the fish caught. In order to be fair, no practice fishing before the tourney starts and alcohol, smoke, and drugs are prohibited. The competitors must use a single-pole, line, and hook all the time. They can also use all hook baits only and species of the fish caught must be confirmed during the tournament.

The champion will receive P3,000, while second placer will get P2,000. The third winner will win P1,000, while the fourth and fifth placers will take home P500.IMT

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ProduktoLokal has come a long way. It started as a brainchild of three young Ilonggos who wanted to help promote entrepreneurship among the youth by inviting them to showcase the products of their hobbies. The first weekend fair was agathering of more than 35 crafters. Since then, ProduktoLokal has evolved into a weekend fair that gathers not just crafters but food entrepreneurs as well. The people behind ProduktoLokal has also grown in number. It is blessed to be backed-up by young, passionate, and creative minds.

ProduktoLokal is now on its third year.It has gone through a lot of challenges such as running the fair with limited resources especially manpower and dealing with inclement weather.Storms caused the weekend fairs to be cancelled several times. But just like any Filipino, ProduktoLokal is resilient. Learning from every experience, it kept growing back like banana shoots – sprouting unexpectedly here and there. ProduktoLokal has also inspired others to organize fairs, encouraging more youth to establish their own businesses.

What sets ProduktoLokal apart from other fairs is the fact that it is not just a fair. It has become a platform where the locals can showcase their ingenuity, talents, and advocacies. It does not only support local entrepreneurs but local artists and musicians as well. It also gives youth organizations a venue where they can raise the public’s awareness on their advocacies.

Last August 23-25, 2019, after being quiet for seven months, ProduktoLokalhung its famous colorful banderitas again, this time at FestiveMall Iloilo. Twenty local entrepreneurs, nine budding local artists, and fouryouth organizations participated in the fair. Theyouth organizations were able to actively promote their causes in public. Dugong Bughaw advocated for HIV/AIDS Awareness, Earthing.Ph and Youth Proyekto Philippines promoted environmental protection, while the University of Iloilo-College of Management and Entrepreneurship together with Youth First Initiative Philippines advocated for Youth Entrepreneurship. ProduktoLokal has become a venue for the community to supporteach other’s causes. By uniting and cooperating, these youth organizations were able to bring a small but significant impact to the community.

This September, the Ilonggos will experience something different and meaningful in ProduktoLokal. The Youth First Initiative Philippines, the mother organization of ProduktoLokal, will be launching the first Sustainable Weekend Fair in Iloilo. The ProduktoLokal Sustainable Weekend Fair will promote responsible consumption and production by encouraging its exhibitors to switch to eco-friendlier product packaging and its customers to refuse single-use plastics. The exhibitors with the least solid waste generated for three days will be awarded while customers who will bring their own eco-bags, tumblers, reusable straws, utensils and food containers will be given discounts. To support this advocacy, the ProduktoLokal Sustainable Weekend Fair in partnership with other youth organizations will be holding talks and workshops on segregating, upcycling, sustainable fashion, and composting.

A wise woman once said, “We owe to the future the kind of world we live in now so it is our responsibility to preserve and protect it.” By being responsible consumers, we can give the future generation a livable Iloilo City – a clean and healthy city with a vibrant economy.

On September 27-29, 2019, with your tumblers, reusable straws, and eco-bags ready, head over to Megaworld with your barkada and support our very own Ilonggo products! #supportlokal #produktolokal #madewithpassion /Keithlyn Bernardino 

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Farmers, fisherfolk, and animal raisers of Pres. Roxas, Capiz obtained information on how to avail themselves of the various interventions from the government to further their farm productivity and income during a caravan organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas, Aug. 20.

“This agricultural information caravan spearheaded by the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section is among the series of activities conducted to disseminate the different programs and services of the Department, its attached bureaus and agencies to its stakeholders,” said James Earl Ogatis, regional information officer.

In support to Secretary William Dar’s ‘Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita’ perspective for agriculture, this information caravan seeks to capacitate farmers and fishers become competitive, resilient and income-oriented food producers through massive information campaign.

Farmers and fishers of Capiz town learned how to obtain services of DA and other agencies ranging from the provision of inputs such as seeds and fertilizers to training, support to mechanization, irrigation, insurance, marketing, scholarship grants, and credit facilities.

Meanwhile, Giovanni Baoy, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Capiz Lending Center manager, explained several legislated credit programs available to the agricultural stakeholders.

These include the Agricultural Credit Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) lending program which is available to individual farmers/fisherfolk, and micro and small enterprises; the Socialized Credit Program under the Sugar Industry Development Act for the sugarcane farmers; and the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance under Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund which aims to increase productivity of rice farmers and cooperatives.

On the other hand, Ruth Cely Jamelo of the National Irrigation Administration mentioned that the P416-million worth of Bayuyan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project to benefit some 477 farmers of Pres. Roxas is now underway.

Livestock raisers of the town will also benefit from the soon to be installed Multiplier Farm for the Native Chicken and Native Pig Modules that cost more than P2 million.

Municipal mayor Receliste Escolin commended the support of DA and attached agencies to better the lives and livelihood income of farmers and fisherfolk of Pres. Roxas, a fourth-class town in Capiz.

Participants received various farming reference guides (IECs), assorted vegetable seeds, planting materials, and advocacy giveaways printed with the DA Western Visayas’ slogan, “We serve what farmers deserve.”

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Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) President Lee Mi-Kyung had recently discussed some plans to further collaborations for rural and agricultural development.

“It is a good time to plan out for what we can do to symbolize the strong relationship between the Philippines and Korea. Maybe we will look into an activity where we could bring Filipino food in an agri fair in Korea to celebrate the 70 years of our diplomatic relationships,” said Piñol.

The two countries’ bilateral relations started on March 3, 1949, upon the recognition of the Republic of Korea as a sovereign state by the Philippines. South Korea is the Philippines’ seventh largest source of Official Development Assistance (ODA).

“We would like also to thank the KOICA for the support to the local rice industry with the construction of rice processing complex. We could explore other areas that we can collaborate with. We are learning a lot from Korea especially in empowering the farmers like what you are doing in Panay,” Piñol told. 

According to Philippine Agriculture Attaché to Korea Maria Alilia Maghirang, the collaborations between KOICA and DA aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and increasing farmers’ income.

“KOICA funded about P2.75 billion worth of agri-related projects since 2010 that included rice processing complex, seafood processing centers and other rural development projects,” Maghirang said.

Among the current projects of KOICA is the Panay Island Upland Sustainable Rural Development Project (PIU-SRDP), a five-year program that seeks to improve upland farmers’ living conditions, increase their income and boost their agricultural productivity and marketing system.

Another KOICA project for agriculture, “Enhancing Productivity and Production of High Quality Tomato through the Establishment of Smart Greenhouse” will be inaugurated on March 8 in Baguio City.

Meanwhile, KOICA provided another USD 4.89 million for the development and manufacture of agricultural machinery to accelerate mechanization in the Philippines. DA, on the other hand, has P5 billion budget on mechanization every year.

Piñol also sought KOICA’s support on the provision of high quality seeds, irrigation, technology on water management, and other agri projects to improve the agriculture value chain.

“We are starting seed production project in one town in Samar. The purpose of this is to produce quality seeds so that farmers in the neighboring towns could start planting. This is one of our anti-poverty and food productivity programs,” he said.

 The storage and seed processing facilities, also funded by KOICA in PhilRice, are necessary for the development of the rice industry in Samar provinces.

“A law liberalizing the rice industry has just been signed. Our farmers will really have to be competitive as Thailand and Vietnam in terms of production. Our farmers need to produce more, to lower the production cost of palay, so the prices of rice will be lowered,” Piñol stressed.

KOICA president Lee signified her support to DA chief’s proposals for the advancement of the Philippine agriculture. She also said that KOICA in coordination with the United Nations- Food and Agriculture Organization is supporting the agriculture and agribusiness enterprising in Mindanao.

Piñol mentioned that the DA’s share of the national budget is only about less than 20 percent.

“If only we could allocate more funds for agriculture, Philippines can be a major agricultural producing country. We cannot afford projects which entail huge investment. We prefer to implement small projects, but very quick and effective,” he added.

In a meeting held on March 1 in Iloilo City, Piñol offered Guimaras mangoes, mango rum, preserved carabao horn, and native handbag to Lee as the token of appreciation for KOICA’s support to the Philippine agriculture. #

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