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.