Aklan province forges MOA with Makati Med

The Aklan Provincial Government, in cooperation with the Department of Health, has forged a  partnership with the Makati Medical Center Foundation.

Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores said the partnership was made through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) also being supported by the Zuellig Family Foundation.

“The partnership will focus on the improvement of quality healthcare delivery through the organizational strengthening of all the eight public hospitals in the province,” Miraflores said.

The MOA signing was held in Manila last week. It was not yet clear what were the details of the MOA.

The public hospitals in the province include the Altavas District Hospital, Libacao District Hospital, Ibajay District Hospital, Malay District Hospital, Buruanga District Hospital and Boracay District Hospital, among others.

All of the district hospitals were being part of the Economic and Enterprise Development Department of the Aklan provincial government.

Dr. Adrian Sallaver of the Malay Health Office said the Malay District Hospital was also being modernized prior to the signing of MOA with the Makati Medical Center.

“Here, we did some innovation by acquiring this [digital] software that makes it easier for us to process the results of lab exams down to the sanitation units. This is to better serve the increasing number of clients that we have,” he said.

Aside from the Malay District Hospital, other hospitals in the province are undergoing training for its information technology (IT) support. The IT’s are being updated on the Hospital Billing System and eventually transition to an Integrated Hospital Operations and Management Information System. The Aklan Provincial Government spends at least P100 million annually for the health-care services of the province population.

The healthcare services are being subsidized by the increasing growth of the tourism industry brought by the island of Boracay.

Hybrid boat proponent hopes for tech body OK

A private cooperator is confident that the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) will give its final approval for the implementation of his proposed hybrid trimaran fast craft project.

Engineer Jonathan Salvador, owner of the Metallica Shipyard in New Washington, Aklan, said the project’s final evaluation will be on Oct. 13 in Manila.

Salvador’s project uses renewable energy from the ocean to fuel the boat.

He teamed up with the Aklan State University-Marine Science Campus in proposing the project to PCIEERD for funding.

PCIEERD is one of the research arms of the Department of Science and Technology.

“The PCIEERD has already expressed commitment for our proposed project,” said Salvador.

He also shared that PCIEERD is planning to introduce the “institutionalization of a new academic program related to marine engineering.”

After the final evaluation, PCIIEERD officials are expected to arrive in the province to test the proposed project./

18 minors violate Boracay curfew

 At least 18 minors have violated the curfew in this island resort, according to the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC).

The apprehended minors were under the custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for counseling, said Senior Inspector Mark Anthony Gesulga, BTAC chief.

The curfew has been implemented in the island since last week.

The MSWDO has been monitoring the beachfront, internet shops and recreation centers, among others.

Municipal Ordinance No. 212 prohibits minors from roaming Malay town and the island resort between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The ordinance also fines the minors’ parents or guardians.

For the first offense, parents or guardians are required to undergo a seminar, the ordinance said.

For second and third offenses, they are fined P500 and P1,000, respectively.

Earlier, the BTAC received a complaint from Korean tourists. They said they were harassed by minors who were creating sand castles./

Aklan OKs higher real property tax rates

Gov. Florencio Miraflores signed a provincial ordinance that raised real property tax rates in Aklan.

Ordinance No. 2017-001 adjusted the schedule of market values of all real properties in the province. It shall take effect starting Jan. 1, 2018.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed the measure on third and final reading during a special session on Wednesday.

Vice Gov. Reynaldo Quimpo, SP presiding officer, said raising real property taxes was necessary for Aklan to be “competitive.”

“Among the features of the RPT (real property tax) hike was a 10-percent increase among residential and agricultural lots, and at least 50-percent hike among commercial areas, including Boracay,” said Quimpo.

Revenues from increased real property taxes will be used for the town’s special education fund and health services, he added.

Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, requires local government units to adjust real property tax values every three years.

The last time Aklan made general revisions in its real property tax rates was on Feb. 9, 2005. The adjustments took effect in 2006.

“Certain localities have experienced rapid development in commerce, trade and investment, sparked mainly by the booming tourism industry [over] the past 12 years,” read part of the consolidated SP committee of the whole Report No. 2017-182.

“In effect, the (current) real property tax level is no longer reflective of the current true market assessment values in Aklan and therefore should be updated,” the report read.

Real property owners in agricultural and residential areas may avail themselves of a 20-percent discount if they pay in advance, said Quimpo.

Real properties in Aklan are around 97 percent agricultural and residential and only 3 percent commercial and industrial, he noted.

“We tried to implement a new RPT hike in 2014 but this was considered void after some sectors questioned it in court,” said Provincial Assessor Kokoy Soguilon. “We have learned our lesson, and we are more ready to face court charges.”

Assuming it could achieve a 100-percent collection rate, the province expects P41 million worth of additional revenue with the new real property tax rates, according to Provincial Treasurer Suzette Pioquid.

In August, the SP consulted with municipal assessors, treasurers and elected officials in reviewing the current land valuation assessment levels and rates, and the impact of the resulting increase, or incremental tax due.

“The 2005 assessment level resulted to negative real property tax for certain real property kinds and classification, therefore an adjustment is necessary in consonance with the principle of progressive taxation,” the SP had said.

Public hearings on the then proposed new real property tax rates were held in Barangay Old Buswang in this capital town on Sept. 5 and at the Nabas town covered court on Sept. 7.

SMC developing 130-hectare property in Aklan town

San Miguel Corp. is developing a 130-hectare property in Barangay Union here, its town mayor said.

In an interview, Nabas Mayor James Solanoy said that, because of such development, the town is currently bracing for a faster economic growth.

“Just last week SMC invited me to grace the groundbreaking ceremony of a 400-room hotel under the Marriott Hotel brand. More development is expected to grow in their property,” Solanoy said.

Aside from the Marriott Hotel, other plans being put up include an ocean park, an entertainment complex and more hotels, among others.

“They are also now building a departure and arrival terminal for the Boracay Airport being anticipated to open during the last quarter of 2018,” he said.

The Boracay Airport’s current terminal is at Barangay Caticlan, in adjacent Malay, Aklan. With the ongoing development, it is being transferred to the town of Nabas.

“SMC’s 130-hectare property was not included in the airport’s development plan. The Boracay Airport is still being managed by the SMC,” Solanoy said.

Meanwhile, Kathleen Paton, the newly crowned Miss Teen International, said she is also planning to promote the ecotourism of Nabas, such as its cold springs.

Paton, from Barangay Laserna, Nabas, is the first Filipina to win the prestigious beauty-teen pageant.

“I am planning to organize friendship tours among teenagers to promote the welfare and camaraderie among teens around the world,” said Paton, whose father is an Australian.

Her mother hails from Barangay Laserna, Nabas town.

Council probes proposed 200-MW pumped-storage hydro project

The Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan is investigating the alleged illegality of the proposed operation of the 200-megawatt (MW) pumped-storage hydro project of the SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.

Malay Councilor Frolibar Bautista said the council is not objecting the project but against the apparent railroading for the legality of the project.

The SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. obtained permits both from the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the Forest Land Use Agreement since 2014.

The project is to be undertaken through the Strategic Development Power Corp. of the SMC.

“Based on our initial investigation, former Malay Mayor John Yap has issued a certificate of no objection for the project sometime in 2016. This, we considered illegal because the project is supposed to pass through the council and should conduct a public hearing,” Bautista said.

Yap could not be reached for comment.

“The council is also planning to ask an explanation from the National Water Regulatory Board [NWRB] to explain to us the project,” he added.

The NWRB earlier conducted a study indicating the Nabaoy River can produce 70 million liters a day of water.

Joy Salibio of the 3Cs Farmers Association said the Strategic Development Corp. in Malay, Aklan said they are worried about the water sustainability in their farms once the project would push through.

The hydro project will be put up at Nabaoy River to supply power to the barangays of Nabaoy, Napaan and Motag.

Jollibee sets ‘chicken bucket’ for mangrove propagules in Aklan

The Jollibee Foods Corp. will officially launch its “Chicken Joy”  bucket program in exchange for mangrove propagules.

In a news forum here, Jen Orven Ariel Zaragoza, Trade Marketing Officer of the Jollibee Foods Corp. Visayas, said each bucket of Chicken Joy sold to the costumers in their four Kalibo branches will help purchase mangrove propagules.

“In 2014 a store in Kalibo started to plant mangroves at the Allen Salas Quimpo Bakhawan Ecological Park. After this, it started to grow, encouraging other volunteer groups to join our tree-planting activity. We are going a notch higher this year by involving our consumers,” he added.

The four Jollibee Foods Corp. branches involved in the said activity were the Citymall Branch-Kalibo, Gaisano Branch-Kalibo, the Jollibee Foods Plaza and the Jollibee Foods Branch at the back of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital.

Zaragosa said “the bucket for propagule program” will start on October 1 and will end on November 30.

“When one consumer buys a bucket of Chicken Joy from any of our four Kalibo branches, he will be given a sticker to place his name. He will then stick it on a signboard dedicated to the ASQ Bakhawan Eco-Park,” he added.

After November 30 Jollibee will be scheduling another tree-planting activity under the program.

Medalyn Cuadra of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources said Jollibee Foods Corp. has coordinated with their office and the Kalibo Save the Mangrove as partners.

The company will be buying the mangrove propagules from the DENR at P1.50 each.

“On September 30, Jollibee together with some volunteer groups will plant 1,000 mangrove propagules to our sprawling 220-hectare plantation. It will be the official launch of Jolibee’s Chicken Joy bucket for propagules,” Cuadra said.