DTI: Local food an emerging attraction in Boracay

Foods that are produced by the local entrepreneurs in the province are the emerging attraction in this resort island says the Department of Trade and Industry.

Maricar Iturralde, DTI acting provincial director, said during the monthly forum with the media held Friday, May 31, 2019 that tourists coming to Boracay has started to be attracted in buying locally made foods.

Prior to the media forum, the DTI has launched the One Town One Product (OTOP) Next Generation at the D' Mall on April 26. It also launched similar activity in Kalibo, the capitol town of the province.

“During the Aklan Fiber Festival at the Provincial Capitol (April 24-29), local entrepreneurs who participated in the exhibit reported of earning around P12,954,395.25 both in cash and booked orders. Most of those exhibited were locally made foods,” said Iturralde.

Among the best sellers of locally made foods were banana chips and processed foods such as choriizo and longanisa. In the old days, tourists coming in this resort island enjoys food coming from different countries such as Chinese, South Korean among others.

To further promote the emerging local food as a tourist attraction especially in this resort island, the DTI has also partnered with the Department of Tourism.

“Clients can now also order the foods online through the online application called OneAklan,” she added.

The DTI also urged other entrepreneurs in the province to venture in food production as the demands increases.

Because of the emerging demands of locally made foods among the tourists, an entrepreneur in Kalibo is also eyeing to branch out in Boracay before 2019 ends.

Jess Fernandez, owner of Cafe de Calivo, said that they are currently scouting a place in Boracay for the establishment of their new branch.

Cafe de Calivo which promotes food and heritage offers foods that are unique in the province

Newly built irrigation dam to open June 1

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has announced that it will open the newly built run-off irrigation dam in Barangay Sigcay, Banga, Aklan on June 1.

Engineer Lorena Sioco, division manager of NIA for Aklan and Capiz, said the irrigation dam has a budget of P650 million. It stretches at least seven towns, affecting some 5,000 farmers.

In October 2018, the irrigation was closed to farmers to give way to the construction of the dam. Because of this, the Aklan Provincial Government had to declare a state of calamity to aid farmers affected by the closure.

During the closure, farmers were discouraged to plant rice due to unavailability of water at the Aklan River. The situation worsened with the impact of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon that hit the entire country.

“On June 1, there will be no ceremony to be held. We will just open the dam early morning so that farmers could immediately enjoy it. We will close the said farm for some time during the year to give way to repair,” she said.

The depth of the dam would also be maintained at 1.5 meters.

Last May 15, the NIA conducted a test run of the operation of the dam to determine glitches. It was learned that it would take a day for the water to reach all the seven towns in the province.

The towns include Kalibo, Banga, New Washington, Numancia, Lezo, Makato and Malinao.

Re-elected Provincial Board Member Soviet dela Cruz, who chairs the committee of agriculture in the Provincial Board, said he will file several ordinances for the protection of the dam.

Among the ordinances he is looking into are anti-littering and prohibiting residents from passing through the dam for their safety.

“We in the province welcome this development as it would help for our food security and to also feed our tourists,” Dela Cruz said.

Many farmers in the province delivered their supply to Boracay Island for the consumption of both foreign and local tourists.

18 countries join FIVB Beach Volleyball Boracay Open

SOME 53 teams from 18 countries are joining the FIVB Beach Volleyball Open in Boracay Island, Aklan.

Charo Soriano, co-organizer of the tournament, said that they chose Boracay as the venue to promote sustainable beach tourism.

Boracay Island has gained international mileage in 2018 after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of this resort island to undergo environmental rehabilitation.

“This tournament is in coordination with the Boracay Inter Agency Task Force, the Department of Tourism and the local government of Boracay,” Soriano said.

The tournament held along the white beach near the famous Boracay rock starts in the afternoon of May 23

Royal Air opens Caticlan to Cebu route

The Royal Air Philippines has opened its Caticlan to Cebu route on Tuesday, May 21, hoping to contribute to the booming tourism industry in the countryside.

Eduardo Novillas, Royal Air Philippines executive officer, said that they wanted to focus on the millennials to lure them to travel to different destinations.

“We wanted to connect Boracay to Cebu and in Mindanao destinations through our airline. We will also soon open our commercial flights to China,” he said.

The Caticlan to Cebu route and victory versa uses a 97-seater British Aerospace. Caticlan-Cebu flights is scheduled three times weekly.

Novillas also said that their day flights is scheduled for commercial flights. Night flights are scheduled chartered flights.

The Royal Air Philippines is a Filipino plane carrier based in Clark Pampanga.

Dismissed Malay mayor reinstated through election

Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling who was earlier dismissed by the Ombudsman for alleged neglect of duties has been given a fresh mandates after winning this year’s midterm election.

Elsa Salvacion Javier, election officer of Malay, Aklan proclaimed Cawaling around 2:17 a.m., Tuesday, May 14. Cawaling garnered 16,277 votes compared to his opponents John Yap with 12, 620 votes and Rodgiet Ranara 1,200.

Cawaling's team also gained majority of the winners in the just concluded election. His Vice Mayor Frolibar Bautista won with 16, 149 votes against incumbent Mayor Abram Sualog (12, 473) and Aloy Daqguno 567 votes).

Cawaling's son, Nino Carlos Cawaling ranks first in the winning councilors. Other winners were Daligdig Sumndad, Lloyd Maming, Danilo De Los Santos, Maylynn Aguirre-Graf, Nickie Cahilig, Dante Pagsuguiron and Junthir Flores.

Cawaling in an interview said that he urged local residents of Malay for a reconciliation and unity for a common good.

“I thanked my supporters for making me win. This is a vindication for me,” he said as supporters cheers to Cawaling shouting Lawin.

FastCat eyes to commission 60 vessels in 2030

FastCat, or the Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation (APFC), is eyeing to commission at least 60 roll-on, roll-off cum passenger vessels by the year 2030.

In a press conference here Monday, May 6, Christopher Pastrana, APFC president, said they wanted to promote local trade, tourism and capacity training for the maritime industry.

Pastrana was here during the ceremonial voyage of FastCat's Sulas-Caticlan-Bulalacao, Mindoro route.

"Currently, we have 20 modern vessels in the different parts of the country," he said.

With the available vessels, the APFC currently has 600 employees, and the number of job placement is expected to triple in 2030, said Pastrana.

He said all of their vessels are using state-of-the-art facility, including solar and wind energies.

The FastCat vessel, with its Culasi-Caticlan-Bulalacao trip, is expected to become operational before the year ends.

The maiden voyage has been set to sail upon the prodding of Senator Loren Legarda, who is currently running for a congressional seat in Antique. It was unveiled in February.

"This project will open up more opportunities for our kasimanwas (local residents. Antique's progress is truly unstoppable and I will make sure that this will be an inclusive development because we want to uplift the life of every Antiqueno," Legarda said.

DENR: Renewable energy to spur developments in WV

€The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) foresees economic developments through renewable energy that will soon cover Western Visayas.

Livino Duran, DENR assistant regional director for technical division, said Western Visayas has the biggest solar farm in Southeast Asia located in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

“We have windmills, hydro-power among others and we continue to receive more applications for the development of renewable energies,” Duran said during the whole day launching of the Oceans Month celebration.

He added the DENR is coordinating with the National Grid Corporations of the Philippines for the interconnection of renewable energy.

“To spur the development, the Smart Telecom coordinates with DENR to ensure the whole region has reliable internet connectivity,” Duran said.

Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, director of biodiversity management bureau of DENR-Western Visayas urged tourists and residents to avoid single plastic use and straws.

Rodriguez said they chose Boracay as the host of this year’s Ocean Month celebration with the theme, “Stand Up Save Our Reefs” hoping to minimize the use of single plastics use among hotels, restaurants and other establishments in the island.

Gilbert Gonzales, director of DENR-Central Visayas, said they saw the rehabilitation of Boracay “as a model in conserving different tourism areas in Central Visayas.”

“In our region, we have Panglao Island and we hope to conserve the environment based on the best practices in Boracay,” said Gonzales.