Year-end report: Foreigners fall in Boracay drug busts

 Several foreigners were arrested in illegal drug buy-bust operations in this island resort from July to December.

At least 20 Taiwanese, seven Chinese and two British people were caught, according to the Aklan Police Provincial Office.

The Philippine National Police launched in July an intensified antidrug campaign in keeping with the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid the country of illegal drugs in months.

But Flosemer Gonzales of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office said the courts have allowed 15 Taiwanese and Chinese nationals arrested over illegal drugs to post bail.

“The Taiwanese government is coordinating [with local authorities] to ensure their [citizens’] safety,” said Gonzales.

Meanwhile Provincial Board Nemesio Neron gave Duterte credit for his resolve.

But “I give him [only] 88 percent because his campaign policy was not clear and perfect,” said Neron. “It seems that his antidrug policy was infested by politics. He should use an iron hand if he is really serious.”

He also called on the Philippine National Police to review unresolved criminal cases linked to illegal drugs.

“I know several [unresolved] cases in Aklan and Metro Manila perpetrated by influential personalities, who have gone scot-free,” said the former police general.

Neron served as police commander in Aklan and Valenzuela City before entering politics./

AKELCO on red alert for Christmas

 The Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) is on red alert this Christmas season to ensure continuous power operation in the province, especially in Boracay Island.

Engr. Joel Martinez, assistant general manager for engineering, said that they had deployed 25 personnel in Boracay to operate 24/7 to ensure power reliability.

They are advised to be on alert mode to immediately respond in cases of major power failure.

For several months, AKELCO had been criticized for series of power failures. Several resorts had complained of losing millions of pesos on damaged appliances brought about by power failures.

"We are doing our best to ensure power reliability. The strong wind blowing in the island is one of the factors causing disruption of electricity in Boracay," Martinez said.

He also urged member-consumers to immediately report to their respective AKELCO offices cases of power failures. This is to alert AKELCO personnel to immediately restore the broken lines, especially this Christmas season.

Christmas and New Year are seasons with the most demand for electricity.

Task group formed for ASEAN 2017

The Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO) has officially formed a task group that would ensure the security preparation in time for the anticipated international event here next year.

SPO1 Nida Gregas, public information officer of the APPO, said that they had already organized the Task Group Boracay Asean 2017.

"This means that we are already ready to secure the ASEAN Summit where series of meetings in Boracay are anticipated to be held from February 11 - March 2," Gregas said.

ASEAN delegates all over the Asia-Pacific are excited for such event, which is considered as the golden anniversary of ASEAN.

The 2017 theme is " Partnering for Change, Engaging the World."

This is the third time that the Philippines would be hosting the ASEAN Summit. First was in Manila in 1987 and second in Cebu in 2007.

Boracay bans begging

Aklan — Begging is now banned at the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
Gemma Santerva, social welfare officer of Malay town, said begging is an eye sore to Boracay tourists.

The Malay Municipal Social Welfare Development Office (MSWDO) is partnering with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement the no-begging policy in the resort island.

Santerva is encouraging tourists to report to Boracay PNP if they encounter someone asking for alms.

Santerva is also appealing to tourists coming this Christmas season not to give money to those who beg along the famous white-sand beach front.

Aklan police gears for 2017 ASEAN Summit

The Aklan Provincial Police Office has started its security preparations for the anticipated series of ASEAN Summit meetings to be held in this resort island in 2017.

SPO1 Nida Gregas, police information officer, today said that they are now attending series of meetings, trainings and gather information for the ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN Summit is expected to be held in this resort island from February 11 to March 2, 2017.

It could be recalled that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has formally accepted the challenge of hosting the ASEAN Summit next year.

Catacutan stars in Boracay promotional video

Rogelie Catacutan, the Philippines candidate for Miss Supranational 2015, is starring for the Boracay Island promotional video to be launched soon.

Raffy Cooper, the marketing officer of the Boracay Foundation Incorporated, said that the length of the promotional video for social media is 10 minutes. For international promotion, the full video may last up to 20 minutes.

"Sponsors of the video production had chosen Catacutan as the official endorser for the video. We believe it would boost our tourism promotion," said Cooper.

The BFI has been joining the Department of Tourism's travel abroad to promote Boracay.

AboitizPower welcomes SC’s final ruling on 153.1-MW Cebu power plant complex

Aboitiz Power Corporation welcomes the Supreme Court’s Nov. 28 Notice of Judgment denying with finality Salcon Power Corp.’s motion for reconsideration in relation to the 153.1-MW Naga Power Plant Complex in Barangay Colon, City of Naga.

"We are pleased that the Supreme Court has ruled on this issue with finality. The High Court’s decision supports a transparent and fair bidding process that encourages open competition," said Antonio R. Moraza, AboitizPower president and COO.

The SC denied with finality the motion for reconsideration of SPC seeking to revise the Oct. 5 Resolution of the High Court that reinstated the notice of award of the Naga Power Plant Complex (NPPC) to AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Power Visayas, Inc. (TPVI).

In its Oct. 5 resolution, the High Court ordered the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) to execute the asset purchase agreement and land lease agreement on NPPC in favor of TPVI “with dispatch.”

The SC reiterated that SPC’s right to top, granted in SPC’s lease agreement for the Naga Land-Based Gas Turbine, is “null and void.” The SC also annulled and set aside the asset purchase and land lease agreements that PSALM and SPC executed.

PSALM held the first bidding for the Naga Power Plant in 2013.  The first two rounds were declared failed bids as only one bidder, SPC, showed up. TPVI joined the third round and won with a bid of P1.088billion, higher than SPC's bid of only P858,999,888.88.

PSALM issued a Notice of Award dated April 30, 2014 in favor of TPVI but it (PSALM) executed SPC’s right to top based on its land lease agreement and asset purchase agreement of the land-based gas turbine plant within the Naga Power Plant Complex.

The right to top, however, was declared null and void by the SC in its Sept. 28, 2015 decision and reiterated in its Oct. 5, 2016 resolution

Business, tourism robust under Duterte's leadership

Both the business and the tourism sectors in the province of Aklan have turned robust under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Ramel Buncalan, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Aklan, said that the conduct of business in the province is doing well.

"Because of the sincerity of the Duterte administration and the Philippine National Police to solve the drug menace and criminality, it boosts the trust and confidence of the business sector to have more investments," Buncalan said.

"This is also the same with the strong determination of the President to end corruption at the different branches of the government," said Buncalan.

Aside from business sector, the tourism industry in Boracay Island is also doing well under the Duterte administration.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that from January to December 5 this year, Boracay has already registered 1, 604, 192 tourists arrivals.

"The said figure is already higher compared to that of 2015 over-all tourists arrivals which registered at 1, 560,106. This shows that the Duterte presidency has been doing good for the tourism industry," Maquirang said.

Preparations underway for the 14th Boracay Body Building Championship

Preparations are now underway for the 14th Body Building Championship (BBC) in this resort island on December 16.

Georgen Dela Cuesta, event organizer of the BBC and who manages the Muscle Tribe Fitness Center-Boracay, said that body builders coming from around the country are gathering for the said wellness competition. For several years, foreign body builders are also joining.

The venue of the said tilt this year is the Ambassador in Paradise Resort at Station 1 Boracay Island.

The said competition is recognized by the Philippine Committee of Bodybuilding and Fitness (PCBF).

"The PCBF is the governing body for bodybuilding and physique competitions in the country. The PCBF is the only bodybuilding federation in the Philippines affiliated with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB).

The IFBB has over 190 country affiliates. It organizes most prestigious competitions in the world including Olympia Weekend and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival.

Malay includes TB in HIV/AIDS info drive

Tuberculosis (TB) awareness will be included in the HIV/AIDS information campaign during the World AIDS Day observance on Dec. 1.

This year’s theme is “Creating Alliance and Strengthening the Fight to Stop TB, HIV and AIDS,” said Arbie Aspiras, health and educational promotion officer of the Municipal Health Office of Malay, Aklan.

“There is now around 34, 999 cases of HIV/AIDS all over the [Philippines],” said Aspiras. “Cases of TB are growing, too.”

Municipal health officials also urged locals and tourists to avail themselves of free HIV/AIDS testing and other medical screenings at their offices here and in mainland Malay.

TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV worldwide, according to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB usually affects the lungs but can also affect the brain, kidneys, spine, or other organ systems, the CDC said. It can cause serious health problems, including death, if left untreated, it added.

TB is a serious threat, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS, because both infections can work together to make a person very sick, an article on the American advocacy website AIDS.gov stated.

Due to the health risks for TB and HIV coinfection, the CDC recommends that all HIV-positive people should be tested for TB, while those who test positive for TB should begin treatment immediately, the article stated.

The risk of developing TB is estimated to be between 26 and 31 times greater in people living with HIV than among those without HIV infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2014 there were 9.6 million new cases of TB, of which 1.2 million were among people living with HIV, the WHO said.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). 

More Chinese tourists expected to visit Boracay

More Chinese tourists are expected to visit Boracay for the year 2017 due to the growing friendly relations between China and the Philippines, a official said on Tuesday.
Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Jetty Port administrator, said he had already received notifications from the travel agents of China.
"This is part of the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte recently in China to promote Philippines," Maquirang said.
In 2015, Chinese tourists comes in second most number of tourists arrivals in Boracay with 177,926. Boracay has been named as the 16th favorite tourists spots by the Chinese.
"Chinese usually comes to Boracay via direct plane flight from the Kalibo International Airport and some through the chartered cruise ships," Maquirang added.
The Caticlan Jetty Port is considered as the main gateway of tourists coming to Boracay. 

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Aklan province starts preparation for ASEAN Summit

Aklan province and the municipal government of Malay are now starting to prepare for the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit in 2017.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said that the National Organizing Council (NOC) of the ASEAN has already conducted initial ocular inspection for Boracay as a summit venue.

Report said Boracay will host at least four separate meetings on January and February of 2017.

"We still had to receive information on what topics would be discussed in the ASEAN meet in Boracay," said Miraflores.

The Aklan provincial government is confident that the anticipated ASEAN summit in Boracay would be done peacefully and successfully.

"We had already hosted series of international events in this resort island such as the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) and the ASEAN Summit on Chief Justices. It will be easy for our security officers to initiate enforcement as they had already done it before," Miraflores said.

Boracay ‘endo’ forum

The campaign of the Duterte administration to put a stop to end of contract (endo) system has kicked off at the world-famous Boracay Island in Aklan.

Undersecretary Dominador Say of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) led a recent forum on endo, which was attended by 299 representatives from hotel and resort managements.

“This forum is only to discuss among owners in this resort island regarding the legal aspect of the implementation of the no endo policy. I hope they should not wait for its full implementation,” Say said.

For the endo to be legitimate, contractors must clearly specify in the contract the specific job of the worker, he said.

Say reminded that once the contract expires, the company must either let the worker go or regularize his or her contract.

For her part, DOLE Western Visayas Regional Director Salome Siaton said her office has started the endo campaign in other areas of the region.

Clampdown on human trafficking

The entry ports to Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan are beefing up security measures against human trafficking.

Niven Maquirang, administrator for the Caticlan and Cagban Jetty Ports, said it recently launched its anti-human trafficking campaign in time for the Christmas season.

The country’s premier beach destination, Boracay attracts workers from all over Western Visayas as well as the rest of the country.  Among them are women who were offered lucrative jobs but ended up as prostitutes instead.

Last March, 24 women forced into prostitution in Boracay were rescued by the Aklan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Philippine National Police.

Boracay however has lost its luster as a tourist hub. It expects to reach its target of 1.7 million tourists this year.

From January to October 31, 1.46 million foreign and domestic visitors flocked to Boracay.

Helping curb HIV/AIDS

The tourism sector in Aklan is being urged to help curb the rising cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the province.

Debbie Villaflor, HIV/AIDS coordinator of the Aklan Provincial Health Office, said the tourism sector must participate in its “Getting to Zero” campaign.

Based on latest data, there are 83 HIV/AIDS in the 17 towns of Aklan, including at world-famous beach destination of Boracay Island.

Villaflor said the tourism industry needs to be re-oriented on HIV/AIDS.

MISS USA WINS MISS EARTH SWIMSUIT TILT

Miss USA Carrin Stellakis won the swimsuit event in this year's Miss Earth competition held in this resort island Oct. 21.

For this group 2 competition, Alexandra Cherepanova (Miss Russia) reaped the silver medal while Colombia's Michelle Gomez clinched the bronze.

Special awards went to Klaudia Parsberg of Denmark who romped away as Miss Boracay Body while Sweden's Cloie Syquia Skarne was named Miss Movenpick Resort.

Around 25 candidates out of 90 finalists joined the competition held in this resort island.

Themed "Climate Change through Rethink, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Respect (5Rs)," this year’s Miss Earth pageant will be aired on StarWorld for Asia and Middle East, MVS/Uno TV, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and USA and other participating countries.

Pageant night will be held on Oct. 29.

Help desks now established in jetty port

 A help desk has now been set up at both the Caticlan and Cagban Jetty ports to assist tourists coming for the long weekend.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said they expect the influx of tourists in time for the long weekend brought about by the observance of both the All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

The help desk is composed of operatives coming from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and a medical team.

"Aside from the tourists coming to and from Boracay, we also anticipate the surge of the passengers coming to the jetty port via roll on roll off transport," he said.

The features of the help desk include immediate medical assistance, guides for tourists, and security concerns, among others.

Aklan police on red alert for Miss Earth candidates' visit

The Aklan Provincial Police  Office will impose a maximum red alert status in anticipation of the visit of 30 Miss Earth Candidates here on October 1.

The Miss Earth finalists are expected to lead a series of environmental advocacy activities in several eco-tourism site in the province.

These include the planting of mangroves at the Bakhawan Eco Park in Barangay Old Buswang, Kalibo and the beach clean up in Boracay Island.

A swimsuit and resort wear competition will also be held at the Movenpick Resort and Spa-Boracay.

The coming of Miss Earth Candidates is expected to boost the tourism industry of the province of Aklan,

Miss Philippines Earth Imelda Bautista Schweighart, a German-Filipina model will join the trip.

Boracay gets new wastewater treatment plant

Another wastewater treatment facility has been put up in this island resort.

The Manoc-manoc Sewage Treatment Plant can accommodate 5 million liters of used water daily, the Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) said.

It will complement the Balabag Sewage Treatment Plant, which takes in 6.5 million liters of used water daily.

The P570-million new plant is “dedicated to treating mixtures of domestic raw sewage and/or septic tank effluent from connected households and establishments in Barangay Manoc-manoc,” Fernando Zobel de Ayala, chairman of the board of the Manila Water Company, said at the launch on Monday.

The BIWC was created in 2009 through a partnership between Manila Water and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

With an activated sludge system, the Manoc-manoc plant ensures that the treated wastewater is safe for marine life and suitable for recreational activities before it is discharged into the sea, said the BIWC.

The BIWC said the new facility’s output complies with the Class SB effluent standard of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Ayala said the Manoc-manoc plant is expected to increase the BIWC’s used water service coverage to 61 percent.

Its capacity will be further expanded to accommodate 3.5 million liters more by 2017, raising the BIWC’s used water service coverage to 75 percent, according to information released to the press.

Also present at the launch were Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores, Department of Tourism regional director Helen Catalbas, TIEZA’s Guiller Asido, and BIWC chief operating officer and general manager Joseph Michael Santos./

Boracay remains a strong tourism destination

This resort island continues to be a strong tourism destination despite the recent presidential declaration of a state of lawlessness.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that from January to September this year, Boracay registered a rousing 1, 310, 670 foreign and local tourism arrivals. The said statistics is notably higher compared to the same period of 2015 with only 1, 199, 742 tourists.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has declared the country under a state of lawless violence to prevent possible terrorist attacks in different tourism areas in the country. Because of the declaration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are on maximum alert level.

"We implemented tight security measures in Boracay and the tourists understood it. It is a welcome note that our tourism figures still continue to increase," said Maquirang.

Of the statistics, foreign tourists registered 662, 829 arrivals while domestic tourists registered 614, 338.

"If these increasing trend continues, we are anticipating our tourism arrivals may reach 1.7 million this year," said Maquirang.

Boracay legislator calls on Muslim women to show faces in beach, hotels

 A lady councilor of Malay, Aklan has sought the support of the Muslim community here as she asked their women to show their faces while at the beach or in hotels.

Councilor Nette Graf said this is in connection with the terrorist attacks that have occurred in the southern Philippines and in other tourist destinations in the world.

At least 15 people died and scores were injured when a bomb ripped through a night market in Davao City last September 2. Explosions were also reported in New York and New Jersey in the US over the weekend.

The suspect in the Davao explosion reportedly wore a mask.

"This aims to ensure the safety of everyone in Boracay. I also plan to talk to Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling to issue an executive order similar to that of Davao," Graf said.

Muslim women in the country by tradition cover their faces.

"If one is wearing a mask, be it a face mask or a hijab or a burqa, it is difficult to determine whether one is a male or a female," she said.

Since last year, the Boracay Tourists Police and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been monitoring the beaches by conducting foot patrols and through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Swede held in Boracay

A Swede and his Filipino companion were arrested for allegedly selling illegal drugs to tourists in the resort island of Boracay in Aklan.

Authorities identified the suspects as 31-year-old Daniel Wilhelm Guntli of Sweden and 36-year-old Rey Buendia of Butuan City.

They were arrested by a team from the Boracay Special Tourists Police Office.

Recovered from Guntil and Buendia were five sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Native food eyed as new tourism attraction in Aklan

 Native food are being eyed as the newest tourism attraction in the province of Aklan, including world famous Boracay island.

Roselle Ruiz, provincial tourism information officer, said they have been preparing for the food tourism as the province joins the United Nations Tourism Day and the National Tourism Week celebration this September.

"Among the foods we are eyeing to promote is the traditional 'Inubarang Manok' (Coconut Simmering Chicken). We are also looking at the possibilities of each town having its own unique food such as the Ampaw (Pop Rice) of Lezo," Ruiz said.

On Sept. 21, the tourism office will also showcase a cooking contest among the culinary students in the province.

"Highlight of the cooking contest is the use of taro as the main ingredient. Whoever wins in the said contest will be featured in several restaurants including Boracay," Ruiz said.

The Philippines has been considered as the new gastronomic destination in the world by the CNN. It described the Philippine food as colorful and historical.

In a related report, Ruiz also bared that the province is coordinating with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts for cultural mapping in the province.

Boracay gateway gets more CCTVs

An additional 30 high-resolution CCTV cameras have been installed at the Caticlan Jetty Port, the gateway to world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said the additional CCTV cameras aims to ensure more extensive security for foreign and local tourists coming to and from Boracay.

“This is also to monitor possible crime incidents,” said Maquirang.

“In case of criminal incidents, we are willing to provide a copy of the CCTV footage to the police,” Maquirang said.

The installation of the CCTV cameras came in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of the state of national emergency on account of lawless violence after the Davao City bombing on Sept. 2.

Personnel from the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and the Philippine Coast Guard were deployed to secure the jetty port and the Caticlan airport (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport).

Tourists, airplane passengers advised to go early to airports due to strict security measures

Tourists and airplane passengers in the Western Visayas region have been advised to go to airports early in anticipation of stringent security measures.

Regional head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Efren Nagrama, said all airports in Western Visayas are on red alert.

Airports in Western Visayas include the Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Roxas City Airport and the Godofredo Ramos Airport in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

"Everybody coming to the airports could feel the enhanced security we are implementing," Nagrama said.

Malacañang has declared a "state of national emergency on account of lawless violence" following Friday's bomb blast at the night market in Davao City that killed 14 people and wounded 70 others, and the military's relentless efforts to crush the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Taiwanese, Chinese indicted over visiting a drug den

The 18 Taiwanese and seven Chinese nationals who were recently arrested in a villa in Boracay had been indicted for visiting a drug den.

The recommendation to file the charges was penned by state prosecutors Dearly Inado and Cayo Venturanza. Said recommendation had been approved by Provincial Prosecutor Maya Bien Tolentino.

Operatives of the Aklan Provincial Police Office had filed the case of illegal drugs against the suspects Tuesday night. Copies of the resolutions had been made available to the local media here, Thursday.

Of the 25 suspects, 24 of them had been allowed by the prosecution to post bail worth Php 400,000 each.One of the suspects identified as Lin Szu Wei could not post bail since he was arrested in a buy-bust operation.

Wei was also tested positive for drugs certified by the Crime Laboratory of the Police Regional Office 6.

Charged for violating Section 7 of Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Acts of 2002, for visiting a drug den were 32-year Lin Szu Wei; Shau Wei Hu, 30; Tian You Jhou, 26; Shao Wei Zeng, 25; Guo Siou Hong, 25; Chia Hui Sun, 25; Yu Ting Lien, 34; Wei Chieh Weng, 29; Jhih Hong Chen, 26; Hsiao Chun Huang, 27; Yu Lung Fan, 29; Ching Ching Chang, 25; His Ao Chu, 23; and Shuang Chuan, 22 from Taiwan.

Police also arrested four Taiwanese women identified as Yung Chun Wang, 23; Pei Yu Wu, 23; Yuan Shun Chou, 27; and Li Yin Lo, 23.

Chinese nationals charged by the police were Honghua Zhou, 25; Zonglong He, 29; FengShuang Han, 32; Chun Gong, 29; Hui Zeng, 29 and two Chinese women - Juan Wang, 28 and Yuling Zhong, 23.

State prosecutors said that they were anticipating the arrival of lawyers coming from both the Taiwanese and Chinese embassies to defend them in court.

Aside from the drug case, police are also awaiting results from the Police Cyber Crime Group wherein the foreigners are being suspected to be engaged in internet fraud.

Also, police said they have seized volumes of tablets from the foreigners suspected to be of ecstasy, heroin and party tablets. Local investigators are awaiting for the results from the police crime laboratory.

Cyber police probes internet fraud in Boracay

Operatives from the Cyber Crime Group of the Philippine National Police is conducting a thorough probe into the operations of suspected international internet syndicate discovered in a villa in this resort island.

At least two personnel from Camp Crame arrived in this resort island Monday to track the laptops and internet routers of the suspects. Some 18 Taiwanese and seven Chinese nationals were arrested by authorities.

Police officials stormed the compound of a resort in Barangay Balabag here which they initially thought was allegedly being used as a shabu laboratory.

Prior to the raid, police has arrested one of the suspects Lin Tzu in a buy-bust operation. The police then searched the compound where Tzu is staying.

When they arrived, they discovered a sound proof building that has at least 10 cubicles complete with telephone lines, laptops and other gadgets. Aside from the gadgets, police has also recovered volumes of suspected illegal party drugs such as ecstasy, shabu, heroin, and cocaine, among others.

According to a Taiwanese interpreter who helped the police and the immigration personnel in investigation, the suspects claimed that they were told to allegedly work as an internet gamer.

Many of the suspects, as affirmed by their passports, had toured international destinations such as Malaysia, Uganda, Bangladesh, Kenya, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

They claimed of not having been paid by their employer for "internet gaming jobs" thus they came to the Philippines to find another employer. In the Philippines, they were promised by their employer to pay them PHP75,000 aside from the leisure of visiting other tourism destinations in the country.

The interpreter said the suspects are calling companies and businessmen in China, who had allegedly committed certain violations and must pay penalties.

Boracay execs prepare again for hosting of int'l events

Government officials in this resort island are starting to prepare for a series of international events beginning the last quarter of this year.

Rowen Aguirre, island administrator, said that the Department of Tourism has informed the local government of Malay Aklan that Boracay is one of the areas in the country where an activity related to the Miss Universe pageant will be held.

Next year, Boracay will also host one of the meetings for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

"The National Organizing Committee of the ASEAN Summit has already informed us to be ready," Aguirre said.

Aguirre is confident of the successful hosting due to its past experiences. Boracay played host to two meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference here last year.

Also, Boracay had served as the main venue of the meeting of the ASEAN association of Chief Justices.

18 Taiwanese, seven Chinese arrested over party drugs

At least 18 Taiwanese and seven Chinese nationals were arrested in a resort here Monday morning after police operatives allegedly caught them in possession of ecstasy, cocaine and illegal party drugs.

As of this writing, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation officials are undergoing inventory of the names and identities of the Taiwanese nationals.

A police investigator coming from Camp Crame in Metro Manila is expected to arrive here to also probe the suspects for of possible cyber crime violations.

Aside from the illegal drugs, the police also seized desktops computers and telephone lines believed to be used in cybercrime operations.

Immigration officials said they were blacklisting all those involved in the illegal drug operations. Aside from the arrested suspects, immigration officials are expected to make more arrests as some of the suspects reportedly escaped during the police operations.

Inventory of the illegal drug items continues as of press time.

Chinese nationals came second and Taiwanese ranked third in the top ten foreign tourists arrivals in this resort island in 2015.

Government prosecutor Chris Gonzales said the suspects would be detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Kalibo, Aklan

Boracay business groups urge AKELCO to invest in power supply

 Business groups such as the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay urged the management of the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO), a power distributor, to invest in power supply.

This developed after stakeholders in this resort island experienced a series of power interruptions. Earlier, AKELCO officials blamed "habagat" or the southwest monsoon rains to be causing the series of power failures in this resort island.

Djila Winnenberrer, PCCI board member, said that the AKELCO management should consider the importance of electricity to the tourism industry. Others, she said, could afford to buy generator sets, but many small entrepreneurs could not.

For her part, Malay Councilor Nette Graf of BFI urges AKELCO to meet world class standard as they are supplying electricity to Boracay considered to be a premier tourism destination.

South Korean tourist in Boracay robbed

 A 38-year-old South Korean tourist here was held up and robbed.

Ma Dohyun was driving a motorcycle in a dimly lit area in Sitio Bulabog, Barangay Balabag, when two unidentified Filipino-speaking persons flagged her down.

The persons declared hold up and forcibly took her P110,000 and $2 cash.

After which, they fled, the Korean told the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. on Monday.

Police launched a manhunt against the still unidentified suspects.

Almost 200,000 Korean tourists visited Boracay in the first seven months of the year.

Koreans, along with the Chinese, make up 68 percent of the foreign tourists in the island during the period./

Environment summit eyed in Boracay

 An environmental summit may be held in this island resort this year.

Primarily, the summit aims to discuss and find solutions to the environmental problems in Boracay, one of the best islands in the world.

It was supposed to take place in 2015 but did not push through because of preparations for the May 2016 elections, said Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay member Nette Graf.

“The Boracay Foundation, Inc. and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay are willing to serve as event secretariat,” said Graf, chairperson of the SB committee on environment.

The local government of Malay, which has jurisdiction over Boracay Island, will help organize the summit.

“We want it to happen soon,” said Graf. “Boracay, as an international destination, deserves international standards in environmental protection.”

The provincial government of Aklan and the Department of Tourism will also support the summit.

Boracay Foundation expects more Australian tourists to arrive

The Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) is confident that more Australian tourists will visit this resort island soon.

Pia Miraflores, BFI secretary, said that this developed after they had undergone a successful tourism expo during the Travel Industry Exhibition both in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.

The Travel Industry Exhibition was held July 11-12 in Melbourne, Australia and July 18-19 in Sydney.

"We gave out our 'Complete Guide to Boracay' book including pamphlets and leaflets to travel operators there. We consider it successful," she said.

The Australian tourists are reportedly considered as high spenders.

"We believe that Australians are big boosts to Boracay, especially that they are known as big spenders," Miraflores said.

In 2015, the Australian tourists were at the top six in the list of top 10 foreign tourist arrivals in this resort island

Boracay lot for sale

Boracay lot for sale

Priest urges proactive stance against climate change

A Franciscan priest urges President Rodrigo Duterte to be pro active in its stance against climate change.

This was part of the message given by Fr. Dexter Toledo, one of the convener of the Global Catholic Climate Movement-Philippines.Toledo was at the Aklan Catholic College Gymnasium Saturday to discuss about the 'Laudato Si' of Pope Francis.

The 'Laudato Si' is an encyclical letter of Pope Francis which contains poems of praise and worship to the Almighty on nature.

"I agree that President Duterte do not recognize the Paris Treaty on Climate Change as develop countries must put more effort on minimizing carbon emission. The Philippines however must continue its proactive stance against climate change and climate justice," Toledo said.

The priest also bared that they have given a copy of the said encyclical letter to DENR Secretary Gina Lopez serving it as an inspiration in environmerntal conservation of the country.

He also urges devotees at the different parishes participating in the forum to implement parish based initiatives in the mitigation and mitigation of the climate change.

Also, Fr. Toledo urges young people to enjoy and appreciate nature at its best.

"Young people nowadays (especially those in the urban areas) seems to more engaged in mobile technology rather than going to the river to swim nor running along the rice fields. With the fast growing development in the countryside, young people will soon not see clean rivers and farms any longer," he said.

Hotels in Boracay urged to go 'green'

The Department of Trade and Industry-Aklan (DTI) is urging hotels in this resort island to go 'green'.

Carmen Iturralde, Aklan-DTI chief, said that this was the response of her office to the call of preserving the environment by the present administration.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte in his state of the nation address called for the public to preserve the environment.

"We had already scheduled a meeting with the accommodation sectors (hotels) in Boracay soon to meet with their representatives on how they could be able to use 'green' items," she said.

When the resorts buy products made up of local recyclable products in the province, farmers and entrepreneurs will be more motivated to plant more trees and plants.

"We hope that hotels in Boracay would appreciate our initiatives," said Iturralde.

'Habagat' causing power interruptions in Boracay

The southwest monsoon or hanging habagat is causing a series of power interruptions in Boracay Island, the Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) said.

"Throughout the years, we notice an increasing trend of wind being blown during habagat. This maybe due to climate change. The strong wind moves our distribution lines causing power interruptions," said Engr. Joel Martinez of AKELCO.

AKELCO officials were invited by the Malay Council Tuesday to shed light on the series of power interruptions in Boracay. The council has been receiving complaints from tourists and resort owners affected.

Trees along the distribution lines were also observed to increase its height faster during rainy seasons.

"Grown up trees become the habitat of lizards, snakes and birds. They also contribute to the power interruptions as they come near to our electrical transformers," said Martinez.

Reports from AKELCO indicate that Boracay, including the entire Aklan province, consumes 36 megawatts of electricity during off peak hours. Around 54 megawatts of electricity are being consumed during peak hours.

"We assure the public that there is enough electricity for both Boracay and Aklan province. We have existing bilateral contracts with several independent power producers in Panay and in the Wholesale Spot Market," said Martinez.

Boracay cleared of Zika virus -- Aklan PHO

This resort island has been cleared by the Department of Health (DOH) of any case of the dreaded Zika virus.

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr. of the Aklan Provincial Health Office said that DOH personnel from the regional office came to Boracay in several occasions to do random field testing. The personnel took random samples of mosquitoes in Boracay to determine if they have acquired Zika virus.

Last April, a South Korean tourist was reported of having contracted the Zika Virus after visiting Kalibo and Boracay.

"While Boracay has been cleared we still continue to be vigilant. We urge the present administration to improve the health facility monitoring system on tourists coming to the country," said Cuachon.

The PHO admitted lack of capability in handling an outbreak of diseases such as the Zika Virus in Boracay as it does not have enough equipment and facility to monitor possible cases.

"Right now, we urge every tourist coming to Boracay to be honest. Contact medical health personnel immediately if they feel something different... We don't have available ambulance yet in transporting patients with specialized type of disease to a medical facility," said Cuachon.

Quality tourism, environment to highlight Cawaling’s governance

The quality of tourism and the conservation of the environment will highlight the administration of newly-elected Malay mayor Ciceron Cawaling.

Nette Aguirre-Graf, also a newly-elected Malay councilor, said that the council will be working closely with the new administration. Graf and Cawaling are partymates under the performance team during the May 13 election.

“Quality of tourism means that we lure tourists who are known to be extravagant in their travel. In the previous administration, they are known for luring more tourists despite they are on a tight budget,” said Graf.

From January to June of this year, tourists arrivals registered 982,710 both for foreign and local tourists.

“I think, it is better to lure fewer tourists to Boracay who are high paying rather than open this resort island to everybody. Fewer (but quality) tourism also translates to environmental conservation,” Graf said.

For his part, Mayor Cawaling is planning to regulate road constructions in this resort island.

In a report by a local radion station, Cawaling emphasized that the unregulated road construction in this resort island resulted to both traffic and flooding.

“Because of this, I will require all those agencies that will be undergoing road construction to first submit a project plan in my office for study,” Cawaling said.

WSSA launches first stacking sports association in PHL

The World Sports Stacking Association (WSSA) launched its first stacking association outside Metro Manila. It was held at the Star Hometel in Kalibo, Aklan Sunday afternoon.

Gracing the activity were Larry Goer, an American and Chief Executive Officer of WSSA; Rossana Chiu of Taiwan, advisor to the WSSA; Allan Ong, WSSA ambassador of Singapore; and Steve Tubao, WSSA ambassador of the Philippine Sports Stacking Association (PSSA).

Speedstacks, the world leader in distributing stacking supplies, also supported the activity.

In his speech, Goer said that he came personally from the United States to express his full support to the association.

"The Philippines is one of the countries we love so much. In Metro Manila, we saw many potentials in sports stacking and many of them competed worldwide. This launching in the province (outside Metro Manila) is meant to look for new generations of professional sports stackers," he said.

For his part, Steve Tubao said the province of Aklan is a strategic area for the reintroduction of sports stacking.

The PSSA is planning to hold international sports stacking associations in nearby Boracay Island.

After the launching, the PSSA are planning to hold series of school based sports stacking events especially for the children. If all things go smoothly, the PSSA would then proceed to holding series of international sports stacking events in the country.

The sports stacking was first introduced as children's sports in Oceanside California, USA in 1981.

Structures at disputed island lot demolished

Several structures in Sitio Sinagpa, Barangay Balabag here were being demolished in light of a recent court ruling on a property dispute.  Tapuz and Tirol families have staked claims on the 10-hectare property, but the regional trial court in Kalibo, Aklan, ruled that the property belongs to the Tirols and ordered the demolition of structures there.  Originally, the demolition order covered the entire 10 hectares, but laborers hired for the demolition operated only on a 4-hectare lot, Sheriff Danilo Yap. They started taking down several boardinghouses and a hotel on Monday.  Owners of structures in other areas of the contested property have already vacated their areas, according to Yap.  The court sheriff said the demolition may take two or three days.  “The family affected by the court ruling (the Tapuzes) continues to appeal for reconsideration,” Yap said, “but the demolition order has to be carried out this time. The plaintiff (the Tirols) has spent too much.”  The demolition was originally scheduled on June 21 but was postponed upon the request of the Tapuzes.  Meanwhile, Malay mayor Ciceron Cawaling reprimanded provincial police officers present at the demolition for the “tight security.”  “This is Boracay. Why are the police in full battle gear? This may affect our tourism industry,” Cawaling stressed.  Upon Cawaling’s request, the Aklan Police Provincial Office pulled out its civil disturbance unit from the area./

Marquez vows to modernize agriculture in Aklan

Newly-elected congressman Carlito Marquez vowed to prioritize the modernization of agriculture in the province of Aklan.

This was the gist of his message during the inauguration of the newly-elected officials of the town of Kalibo, Thursday.

"Few days after the election, our newly appointed agriculture secretary Manny Pinol visited me in my house. We talked about the modernization of agriculture in the province," Marquez said.

Before the election, Marquez ran as independent candidate. After his winning, he immediately joined the PDP-Laban party of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"In other countries, those people working in the agricultural sector are rich. We wanted to attain such standard," he said.

He also added that the modernization of agriculture in the province is needed to enhance food security especially on tourism industry.

The province of Aklan is home to Boracay Island considered as the Philippines' premier tourism destination.

Canadian firefighter donates goods in Boracay

A retired firefighter in Canada has donated firefighting gloves and rescue shirts to be used during emergencies in this resort island.
Commodore Leonard Tirol, adviser of the Boracay Action Group (BAG), said he personally received the items from David Civitarese. Tirol works for the Philippine Coast Guard-Auxilliary.

Civitarese, a retired firefighter in Canada, came to Boracay to personally hand his donations.

"We are grateful for his help. We will be using the donated items for the Boracay Fire Rescue Ambulance Volunteer (BFRAV)," Tirol said.

The BFRAV is under the operational command of the BAG.

Malay bats for waste-to-energy program

 The town of Malay will introduce a waste-to-energy program to minimize its problem on wastes.
Councilor Manuel Delos Reyes said the Sangguniang Bayan is nearing the approval of the proposal from Vietnam-based El Elyon Orion Renewable Solutions Corp. The company has selected the town for their waste-to-energy (WTE) program.
“The proposal has already passed the committee report in the council. The WTE would provide an additional 60 megawatts of electricity for our town,” he said.
For several years, the local government of Malay has been having problems with tons of garbage as the tourism industry continues to flourish in Boracay Island, the Philippines’ premier tourism destination which is under the geographical jurisdiction of Malay.
Delos Reyes is confident the town council will approve the said program once it reaches the second and final reading.

Briton swims around Boracay for Red Cross

 In a historic swimming feat, British national successfully circumnavigated Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province by swimming non-stop for seven hours.
Richard Macartney, a retired 49-year-old British, swam non-stop, covering a distance of 18.5 kilometers last Sunday, June 12, 2016.

Macartney started his feat at exactly 6 a.m. and was able to finish his feat through heavy drizzle by 12:50 noontime.

“I was in constant muscle pain and that slowed down my swimming pace. The heavy rain that hit when I was near Tambisaan Port was another challenge,” Macartney told Manila Bulletin after successfully completing his feat.

Part of the resort island’s commemoration of the 118th Philippine Independence Day, Macartney’s swim was also to raise funds for the Philippine Red Cross-Boracay Island Chapter.

Specifically, the local chapter of the Philippine Red Cross is aiming to get more local children to become part of local search and rescue groups on the island by training them intensively for search and rescue activity.

When Macartney was done circumnavigating the island, children on shore welcomed him with cheers.

Macartney’s feat was closely monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard-Auxilliary – Boracay.

Council alarmed over hike in HIV/AIDS cases in Aklan

The Provincial AIDS Council expressed alarm over the increasing number of Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cases due to male to male sex.

Dr. Vic Sta. Maria, chief of the provincial health office, said that based on latest data, there are a total of 78 cases of HIV/AIDS. In 2015, the province only recorded 51 cases since 1984.

Based on the data provided by the Department of Health to the PHO, 74 of the cases are male and all of them are involved in male to male sex.

Sta. Maria said the strong influence of tourism brought by Boracay Island, a premier tourism destination, is a contributing factor to the increasing cases.

"Members of the council have identified their respective strategies on how to prevent HIV/AIDS cases in the province from increasing," he said.

The PHO sits as chair of the council. Members include the Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross, World Vision, and the Department of Education, among others.

Briton to dare swim around Boracay for seven hours

 A British national is set to do a daring record with his plan to swim around this resort island for seven straight hours.

Richard McCartney said the event to be held on June 12 is meant to raise funds for the benefit of the Philippine Red Cross-Boracay.

"I am planning to swim seven straight hours around the 18.5-kilometer Boracay beach," he said, adding that he is currently undergoing training in preparation for the tilt.

The activity also aims to increase awareness for Boracay youth to participate in the swimming trainings of the Red Cross.

McCartney is a retired private company director in the United Kingdom. He opted to become a resident of Boracay since last year.

PNP eyes putting up hotlines in Boracay

The Provincial Anti -Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group is eyeing the installation of hotlines in public areas Boracay in its intensified campaign against illegal drugs on this resort island.

Task group provincial chief, Police Senior Inspector Jigger Gimeno said that illegal drug dealers on the island usually pose as tourists. Because of this, Gimeno said the police force on the island is also asking tourists’ help and cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs proliferation.

The task group said around 20 suspected illegal drug personalities are on their watch list.

“We need the help of tourists especially since there are exclusive night parties held on the island. Police are often not invited to provide security in these parties,” said Gimeno.

Gimeno said the hotlines will soon be installed at public areas, particularly at the Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports.

The Aklan Philippine National Police (PNP) says it is bent on undertaking an intensified campaign against illegal drugs to make this resort island a drug-free tourism destination.

Marine Conservation Camp for Filipino Youth Begins June 6 in Boracay

The Young Southeast Asian Youth Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp, a project of Save Philippine Seas (SPS) and the U.S. Embassy in Manila, begins on June 6 and runs until June 12, coinciding with UN World Oceans Day, Coral Triangle Day, and Philippine Independence Day. The YSEALI SEA Camp aims to empower Filipino youth aged 18 to 23 to play bigger roles in conservation.

Twenty-five participants from across the Philippine archipelago have been chosen from a competitive pool of over 400 applicants. They will undergo an intensive leadership and environmental education program packed with fun and educational activities, such as panel discussions, workshops, snorkeling, and site visits to key sites on the island. On the last two days of the SEA Camp, the participants will pursue four projects in Boracay: a waste management initiative that aims to reduce the use of straws and sachets; an art workshop with indigenous peoples; a “gamified” environmental education activity with children; and an environmental law compliance audit.

“The SEA Camp is a great avenue to expand my horizon about saving the sea and environment. In my local community, people are not aware about ways to save the seas. This motivates me to be involved because we are not just talking about today, but our future, and the future of the next generation,” said Nur Taup, a SEA Camper from Maguindanao.

In the last decade, Boracay has been recognized as one of the world’s best beaches. The enormous growth of the tourism industry has resulted in various environmental and economic pressures on the island’s resources. The weekend of April 30-May 2, 2015, called “Laboracay,” left approximately 201 kg. of non-biodegradable wastes, while 102 kg. of debris were collected from the sea. A study conducted from 2010-2015 by Japanese and Filipino scientists revealed that the coral cover has declined by about 70.5% in the past 23 years.

“Boracay presents some of the biggest challenges that conservationists face, and we believe in the potential of the Filipino youth to create trailblazing and feasible solutions,” shared Anna Oposa, SEA Camp Founder and SPS Executive Director.

At the end of the camp, the participants are also expected to propose an environmental project that can be implemented in their respective communities. The best proposals will be given funding by the U.S. Embassy, in addition to assistance and guidance from local partners and SPS.
The SEA Camp is also supported by bobble, Havaianas, Thread 365, Human♥Nature, Lagu beach towels, Islands Souvenirs, Nipa Foods, and Aquamundo.

For more information and updates, please visit www.savephilippineseas.org, follow SPS on Twitter and Instagram @SavePHSeas, and like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/savephilippineseas.

Also follow U.S. Embassy on social media for updates at @usembassymanila on Twitter, Instagram and Google+ and www.facebook.com/manila.usembassymanila on Facebook.

###
Save Philippine Seas is a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to protect the country’s marine resources through information, education, and communication activities and community-based projects. For more information, please contact: Mr. Bryan Madera Project Manager, SEA Camp +63917 327 7736
info@savephilippineseas.org

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Power interruptions

Scheduled Power interruption in parts of Aklan on Wednesday June 1.

Affected: AKELCO (Boracay Substation)
Schedule: 7:00 AM- 6:00 PM

Reason: Annual Preventive Maintenance in the 30 MVA Power Transformer and associated equipment at Boracay Substation.

NGCP will exert all efforts to restore the line as scheduled or earlier.- NGCP

Sacked Kalibo International airport employees make public appeal

The contractual employees who were fired over a so-called P50-million terminal fee ticket scam at the Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo, provincial town of Aklan province, are appealing for sympathy from the public.

In an open letter addressed to the public, the 11 contractual airport employees said that “we are being judged before due process took place,”  and that they “are also being harassed in social media.”

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) fired Maria Briones, Precious Fernandez, Jovert Alejandro, Cherry Peralta, Shayne Alejandro, Sheila Orada, Andy Mel Jones Concepcion, Gerry Revister, Jojean Conanan, Shamar Glen Mabasa, and Daniva Acosta.

The P50 million that should have been collected by these former airport employees as terminal fee of passengers both for domestic and international flights have gone missing.

A CAAP audit team found that the P500 terminal fees for international flights and P200 for domestic flights were reused and money generated from these collections may have been pocketed.

However, the 11 contractual employees claim that they are innocent and that they are also victims as they were illegally terminated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

In the same open letter, the 11 former airport employees also blamed media for being biased against them.

Kalibo Airport serves as the gateway to the country’s premier beach destination of Boracay Island in Malay town.

PAO urges court to dismiss bullets case vs Boracay honeymooners

No less than the head of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is asking the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9 (Aklan) to drop the case against the newly-wed couple who were arrested for allegedly possessing bullets at the Caticlan Airport Boracay Airport in Malay town, Aklan province.

Atty. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta, chief of PAO, contends that Jerome Sulit of Quezon City and his wife are innocent.

To recall, the couple were arrested last April 28, 2016 as they checked in at the airport in Caticlan airport, on mainland Malay town.  They were supposed to fly back to Metro Manila after spending their honeymoon at Boracay Island.

Rueda-Acosta personally flew to Kalibo last Tuesday, May 24 and legally assisted the Sulit couple, who have been detained.  The Sulits are facing charges of violating the election gun ban.

The PAO chief told local media that “mere possession of bullet is not punishable… without any firearm, the bullet and its parts cannot be construed as ammunition where possession of it would be punishable.”

Acosta also cited a similar case dismissing the ‘tanim bala’ (bullet-planting) case of American missionary Lane Michael White by RTC Pasay City Judge Pedro Gutierrez.

“Bakit kakasuhan si Sulit, wala naman siyang intent to possess? At hindi naman dapat makukulong ang tao dahil sa bala lang…ang ammunition dapat may bullet, may gunpowder, may primer, may cartridge, at gagamitin sa firearm,” Acosta stressed. (Why file a case against Sulit when he has no intent to posses. People shouldn’t go to prison just for having a bullet. Ammunition should have a bullet, gunpowder, primer, cartridge, and a firearm to be used.)

Acosta is also appealing to other courts to dismiss cases against those who have been arrested for supposedly bringing bullets and other ammunitions.

Acosta also said that PAO has also filed charges against those who may have been involved in the laglag bala (bullet planting) scheme, which has been controversial since last quarter of 2015.

Aklan eyes probe on Kalibo airport terminal fee scam

The Aklan Provincial Board is eyeing a separate investigation on the alleged terminal fee ticket scam at the Kalibo International Airport.

Provincial Board Secretary Odon Bandiola said he has already been directed by members of the Aklan legislative body to formally inquire and get in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

In a May 18, 2016 statement, CAAP said 11 casual employees of the airport were sacked after they were found to be recycling terminal fee tickets and issued to international and domestic passengers.

CAAP said this modus of airport employees, who issued recycled terminal fee tickets of R500 for foreign flights and R200 for domestic flights, were allegedly carried out between January and February 2016.

In recent years, several controversies have rocked the Kalibo International Airport, which is the principal gateway to world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town.

Cawaling to 'rehab' local governance' to lure more tourists

 Newly-elected Malay mayor Ciceron Cawaling is planning to 'rehabilitate' the local governance system as part of his program to lure more tourists.

Cawaling said these include environmental programs.

In line with this, he already met with several stakeholders for the revival of the Solid Waste Management Board.

Cawaling defeated the incumbent John Yap during the May 9 election.

"I am also planning to abolish the Boracay Redevelopment Task Force. I am changing it to an advisory council where different sectors would be represented," he said.

He believes that this rehabilitation in the local governance will spur tourism growth for Boracay.

The Department of Tourism targets at least 1.8 million tourists for Aklan province this year. Majority of those are expected to be coming to this resort island.

Color coding scheme for tricycles suspended in Boracay

The color coding scheme of tricycles plying in this resort island will be suspended because of the anticipated influx of tourists coming here for the Laboracay event on May 1.

Enrique Gelito, operations manager of the Boracay Land Transportation Multi Purpose Cooperative (BLTMPC), said they already met with the local police and other agencies regarding this plan.

The color coding scheme had been implemented by the local government for several years already to ease traffic in this resort island.

But Gelito said that in the previous Laboracay event in Boracay, it had been observed that tricycles were lacking due to the influx of tourists. Around 50,000 tourists are expected to flock Boracay on April 30-May 1.

"We urge tricycle drivers to be respectful and not to charge over price our tourists," Gelito said.

The BLTMPC is ready to accept complaints from the tourists on hard headed tricycle drivers in this resort island.

Sale of alcohol to be prohibited in Boracay during election

BORACAY ISLAND – If you’re planning to spend the long weekend leading to election day on May 9 in this world-famous of local and foreign tourists, be forewarned that restaurants, bars, resorts and stores will not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on May 8 until the voting centers close the next day.

This was disclosed by Commission on Elections Aklan head Roberto Salazar who said the poll agency will be strictly implementing the liquor ban on May 8 and 9.

But he said Boracay businesses can seek an exemption from Comelec-Aklan.

“Only Boracay-based establishments accredited by Department of Tourism (DOT-6) can apply for liquor ban exemption from Comelec-Aklan,”  he said.

In the 2010 and 2013 elections, Salazar said only a handful of Boracay businesses applied for permit to legally sell liquor.

Aside from Boracay Island, Salazar is urging other applicants in the towns of Aklan province to also have their exemption permits processed.

Meanwhile, at least 50,000 tourists are expected to flock this famous resort island for the celebration of Labor Day on May 1.

The Malay Tourism Office said the week-long celebration, dubbed as Laboracay, attracts thousands of vacationers for the numerous events and promotional activities sponsored by various networks and companies.

Now on its third year, Laboracay activities will be held on April 27 to May 3 with highlights during Labor Day.

Malay Chief Tourism Officer Felix delos Santos said security preparation as well as clean-up activities are already in place for Laboracay.

In last year’s Laboracay week, the tourism office recorded a total of 50,099 tourist arrivals.

In line with this, members of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) are also on full alert for the expected influx of tourists.

Insp. Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, deputy chief of BTAC said over a hundred police and force multipliers have tightened security especially at the White Beach area where most of the events will be held.

Colorful new twist boosts Aklan fiber marketability

A new colorful twist to fiber made from leaves of pineapple plant is being pushed to boost marketability of the fabric which is one of the sought after products of Aklan province.

Exhibitor Jurel Fernandez said that showcasing colored natural piña fibers is the highlight of the ongoing 2016 Piña and Fiber Festival.

“The use of the natural dye is now the common trend in the global green market,” Fernandez said.

He  said the natural colored piña fibers are obtained by using different plants such as lampunaya and fruit stains coming from banana trees.

Aside from natural colors, Fernandez said piña fibers with reactive dye is also being introduced.

“The natural dye is common to European and American markets while the reactive colored dye is appreciated by Filipinos,” Fernandez observed.

On its 16th year, the Piña and Fiber Festival highlights the province’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with focus on fibers made from indigenous plants.

It is jointly organized by the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association Inc. and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Aklan).  The Festival is also in partnership with the Aklan provincial government, Aklan Piña Mantra Association Inc. and Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority.

Byproducts of piña fiber include clothes, bags, home decorations, and fashion accessories.

The trade showcase at the Capitol Grounds in capital Kalibo town opened April 21, 2016 and will last until April 26.  It is part of the 60th founding anniversary of Aklan province.

Boracay eyes ban on old tricycles

There are calls to ban old tricycles on Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
Malay town Councilor Nathalie Paderes said there’s the proposal to replace old tricycles with electronic tricycles or e-trikes.
Paderes said there are currently 140 units of e-trikes in Boracay while 527 units are still traditional tricycles that use gasoline and emit polluted air.
However, the campaign to use e-trikes has been generally opposed by Boracay tricycle drivers. They claim that even if they switch to e-trikes, there is a problem with the battery as local suppliers allegedly have default batteries that cannot really charge.
Drivers are more open to switching to e-trikes once the battery problem is addressed as they also understand the need to protect the environment.

Sea Air tire explodes upon landing

A tire of the Seair airbus exploded while landing at the Kalibo International Airport Thursday afternoon.

In a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) bared that thge airbus came from Incheon, South Korea. It carries 144 adults, four children and three infants.

The passengers mostly South Korean tourists are supposedly bound to Boracay Island for a vacation. All of the passengers are safe.

Because of the said incident, the operation of the airport has been temporarily suspended affecting two local flights.

The operation of the airport resumes at night.

Stone-throwing alarms Aklan transport group

A transport organization in Aklan was alarmed by stone-throwing incidents victimizing tourists in western municipalities.
The perpetrators were minors, according to the Kalibo International Airport Transport Association (KIATA).
Noemi Panado, KIATA president, said they have received reports on such incidents in Numancia, Tangalan, Nabas, and Ibajay from various other transport groups.
Recently police officers in Numancia apprehended two stone-throwing suspects.
A South Korean female tourist bound for this island resort was hurt.
She was on board a tourist shuttle bound for Barangay Caticlan, Malay, at that time. She was hit on the head. Immediately, she was rushed to the nearest hospital.
Last year a Chinese female tourist was also hurt in a stone-throwing incident in front of a Chinese cemetery in Kalibo.
“We do not want these stone-throwing incidents to worsen. We consider this a huge peace and order issue,” Panado said.
KIATA serves passengers from the Kalibo International Airport to Barangay Caticlan, Malay. It has more than 200 owners and drivers of L300 vans./

Pinoy diver to star in Hollywood film

A Filipino diver will play a starring role in an upcoming Hollywood movie on environment.

Benjie Tayag, a diver of the Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative (SPC), said he had already met with award-winning Hollywood movie producer and director Will Harper.

Harper has been known to direct more than 100 films of different Hollywood stars including Clint Eastwood, Jamie Foxx, and Oprah Wnfrey, among others.

"The working title is dubbed as Earth: Code Blue. It is more than just an ordinary environment documentary. It has major focus on human cause-and-effect specially its impact on the less privileged. Its objective is to immediately raise awareness on a worldwide scale and call for immediate action citing dire consequences if nothing is done," Tayag said.

Code Blue talks of a dying planet Earth whose resources on land, air and the sea are being used and abused by those driven by personal and corporate greed.

Fortunately, there is growing awareness of this alarming trend and remedial action is being taken by private parties and governments.

Code Blue touches on some of the conflicts between powerful forces on both sides, which has seen murder and other forms of violence.

On the brighter side of Code Blue highlights the heroic efforts of those who care and are making a difference.

The REEFBUD coral recovery project in Boracay, the Department of Science and Technology coral nursery and transplant program are but a few of them.

"I was asked what motivates us to do this. The answer is simple: we do or we die," he said.

The said film has shoot locations in this famous resort island, Singapore and Indonesia.

Suspected ‘Salisi’ members caught

Two suspected members of the Salisi Gang, a group of swindlers, were arrested at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan. They tried to victimize a money changer.
Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, identified the suspects as Vicente Galicia, 42, of Bohol province and Hector Paredes, 58, of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Recovered from Galicia were 16 $100 bills (totaling $1,600) and P37,000 in various peso denominations.
Paredes, on the other hand, yielded $2, P6,000 and some Indonesian rupiah.
The suspects tried to change some of their foreign currencies to Philippine peso at a money changer at the jetty port. But a staff of the money changer recognized them from videos circulating on social media. These were security camera recordings of those the suspects previously victimized in Kalibo, Aklan and Boracay Island.
The staff of the money changer immediately alerted the jetty port security guards.
The suspects were turned over to the Malay police station on Thursday morning and charged with large-scale estafa at the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office./

24 ‘trafficked’ women in Boracay ‘willing victims’

The 24 women who were alleged victims of human trafficking here refused to file any complaint in court, according to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Aklan.
They may be considered “willing victims,” PSWDO head Evangeline Gallega said in light of the office’s investigation.
The women, who came from different provinces across the Philippines, were purportedly being forced into commercial sex.
Authorities rescued them from Video King Bar in Sitio Tulubhan, Barangay Manoc-manoc here, on March 5 after an entrapment operation against bar workers Nestor Fabiano Jr., 32, of Mabolo Drive, Naga City, and Boyet Fajarito Jr., 29, of Gabawan, Odiongan, Romblon.
Fabiano and Fajarito were facing charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.
“The victims denied they were engaged in prostitution,” said Gallega. Still, “we coordinated with their respective provinces and asked them to go home.”
Fabiano and Fajarito were arrested after receiving P4,000 cash from an undercover agent who “hired” three of the women for sex.
All 24 women were temporarily billeted at the Comprehensive Center for Women in Kalibo, capital town of Aklan. Social workers interviewed them one by one.
Gallega admitted they can only do so much for these women. “We actually expect them to return to Boracay and return to their job,” she said.

Boracay workers warned vs ‘partisan resorts’

 Workers in this island resort who were being forced by their employers to vote for a certain candidate must report to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec issued this advisory in light of reports that some resorts here required long-term employees to change their residency status.
“Requiring employees to acquire local residency (in Malay, Aklan) is not illegal [under the] Omnibus Election [Code],” said the provincial election officer, Roberto Salazar.
What is illegal is when “the management forces employees to vote for [a certain person] running for [public] office,” he said.
This reporter asked representatives from several resorts and hotels here about the issue, but they refused to comment.
Salazar urged employees undergoing such pressure from their employers to report to Comelec or the Department of Labor and Employment.
“For years, Comelec has been lax in monitoring election-related activities in Boracay,” said Salazar. “This year, our office will be strictly implementing all existing election-related policies.”
Around 33,813 voters in Malay, including Boracay, had their biometrics data taken as of Oct. 31, 2015, figures from the local Comelec office showed. More than half of the voters were from the island resort.
In 2013, registered voters without biometrics data in the town numbered 27,268./

Belgian arrested in Aklan for hoarding guns

A 61-year-old Belgian has been arrested by combined operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for hoarding guns in Tangalan town, Aklan province.

Police Officer 3 Sheryl Teodosio identified the Belgian as Michel Wuestenbergs, who was nabbed in his own house in Pudiot village last March 16, 2016.

While Wuestenbergs is known to be an amiable man in the village, the Tangalan PNP received numerous complaints of alleged indiscriminate firing inside his house.

Combined operatives of the Tangalan PNP, the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG) found numerous guns and ammunitions when they came around to arrest Wuestenbergs.

Recovered from the Belgian national’s possession were seven live ammunition of caliber .45; 23  pieces of empty shells of 12-gauge shotgun; one piece 50 rounder bullet box; 37 empty shells of caliber .45; 29 pieces of empty shells of caliber .22 and three empty shells of caliber .38.

Wuestenbergs also surrendered his .45 caliber Armscor and another 12-gauge shotgun.

He told investigators that collecting guns and ammunitions was his hobby.

Manila Bulletin tried to interview Wuestenbergs at the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in the capital town of Kalibo, but the Belgian refused to comment.

Wuestenbergs is facing charges for violating Republic Act. No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.