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./