CLICK ME

Showing posts with label NEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEWS. Show all posts

Iloilo’s 2012 Kasadyahan Festival goes regionwide

Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 13 (PNA) –- Expect a more grandiose Kasadyahan Festival next year following the expected participation of best festivals not only from the province of Iloilo but from other provinces of Western Visayas.
Iloilo City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena announced that the Department of Tourism (DOT) currently under the auspices of Atty. Helen Catalbas, OIC regional director has committed support to the project.
He added the DOT will be the one to send out invitations to various provinces. It will also extend subsidies to participating groups and provide accommodation to accompanying local government officials.




If realized, the 2012 Kasadyahan Festival will be a showcase of the region’s best festivals.
The Kasadyahan Festival is staged during the second day of the three-day highlights of the Dinagyang Festival.
It used to be participated by schools and local government units from Iloilo. (PNA)
LDV/PGLena/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph

Photos courtesy of Hawili Hurom (from Aztik Photography)



San Joaquin, Iloilo celebrates 101st Foundation Day

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 13 (PNA) – The southernmost town of Iloilo, San Joaquin, is now celebrating its 101th foundation anniversary.


The celebration kicked off Monday with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. gracing the opening program.
Gov. Defensor lauded San Joaquin Mayor Ninfa Garin for her sterling performance in making her town progressive as he assured full support to all the endeavors of the mayor and the municipal government.
Coinciding with the opening of the town’s Foundation Day celebration was the inauguration of the municipal covered gym called Garinasium.


The Garinasium is a gift to the people of San Joaquin with the help of Rep. Janette Garin.
Mayor Garin said the Garinasium is “another feather in our cap as San Joaquinhon”.
She said that the highlight of the celebration will be the 7th Bayluhay Festival, originally held as part of the town’s fiesta celebration in January.
Garin said they tried to move the Bayluhay Festival to December to give prominence to the event which is usually sidelined by the Pasungay during the fiesta celebration.
Various activities have also been lined up from December 12 to 24 in celebration of the founding of San Joaquin as an independent municipality. (PNA)
LAP/MGCaoyonan/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph

Photos courtesy of Hawili Hurom



Iloilo City is best Pantawid Pamilya Program implementer in Western Visayas

Posted on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) – This city has been chosen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as outstanding implementer of the national government’s Pantawid Pamilya Program in Western Visayas.
Being the best program implementer in the region, Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog was invited to share this city’s best practice in the National Consultation Workshop with City Mayors (with Pantawid Pamilya Areas) organized by DSWD in Davao City on Tuesday.
“We are honored that in the whole region our implementation of the program has been recognized thereby showing our city’s concern for the welfare of indigent families,” Mabilog said.
Alfredo Villanueva, department head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), said the smooth and effective implementation of the program here is due to the harmonious relationship between the implementers and beneficiaries.
“So far we have no major problems or complaints here when it comes to implementing the program,” Villanueva stated.
It is very easy to access households in the validation, conduct assessment and even the delisting of beneficiaries, he added.
Iloilo City now has a total of nearly 8,000 beneficiaries, with 4,828 during the program expansion this year, and 2,812 grantees since 2008.
DSWD’s consultation dialogue gathered more than 70 local chief executives and their representatives to draw together inputs and recommendations to further improve the program next year.
It intends to strengthen the relationship between the national and the local government in order to reach the objectives of Pantawid Pamilya.
Aside from Mabilog, others who shared their best practices were Mayor Philip Tan of Tangub City, Mayor Amelita S. Navarro of Santiago City and Mayor Cecilia V. de Asis of Naga City.
The Pantawid Pamilya Program invests in the education and health of children aged 0-14 years old through conditional cash transfer.
It is implemented by the DSWD in partnership with other national government agencies in coordination with local government units. (PNA)
LAP/LMSinay/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



5 die in motorcycle crash in Iloilo

Posted on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) - Five persons were killed while another injured in a bloody motorcycle crash midnight of Saturday in San Enrique, Iloilo.
SPO1 Nerio Gecoli of San Enrique Municipal Police Station, identified the victims as Aron Casamayor y Aguilay, 25 and his four backriders Arvie Maritana y Alaro, 19; Jenelle Sucaldito y Perez, 17; Michael Angelo Satonino y Lamera, 17, all residents of Brgy. Madarag, Passi City; and Warren Palmes y Casamayor, 14, of Brgy. Hagimitan, Passi City. The fifth backrider, Rogelio Albasete y Alaro, 19, also of Brgy. Madarag was injured.
Gecoli said the Honda 155 motorcycle driven by Aron Casamayor with five backriders on board was speeding when it crashed into the big talisay tree at the roadside in Brgy. Asisig, San Enrique town.
The violent crashed resulted to the fatal injuries of six persons onboard the ill-fated motorcycle. They were rushed to the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Passi City where the attending physicians pronounced the five of the victims dead on arrival.
Albasate is presently confined at the hospital in Passi City. (PNA)
FFC/VLO/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



Iloilo City police now ready for ‘Simbang Gabi’

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is now ready for the traditional "Simbang Gabi" starting December 16.
ICPO director S/Supt. Marietto Valerio said that there will be maximum police visibility in all thoroughfares where there are churches aside from plain clothes personnel who will be deployed to neutralize crime elements.
Nevertheless, he said that they are not expecting much cases this month as even in Metro Manila, Director-General Nicanor Bartolome also announced during his visit to Negros Occidental last week that the volume of crime incidents has declined by around 18 percent.
Last year, crime cases in this city reached around 158.
The low incidence was attributed to the police integrated patrol system, implementation of special laws, checkpoints, arrests of wanted persons, maximum police visibility and the police’ performance of its other mandatory functions. (PNA)
LAP/PGLena/vlo


www.pna.gov.ph



2 guards shot dead, another wounded in Passi City heist

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA)– The Passi City police has launched a manhunt against a group of armed men who tried to rob a warehouse of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in this city and killed its two security guards Saturday night.
Supt. Noel Dumalag, Passi City police chief, said the armed robbers, brandishing handguns and 12-gauge shotguns, swooped down on the bottling compound along Simeon Street, Passi City at about 8 p.m. last Saturday by cutting the barbed wire at the back of the warehouse.
An exchange of gunfire ensued after security guard Augustos Montefreo, who was detailed at the guardhouse, spotted the group's entry.
Unfortunately Montefreo was felled by bullets from the intruders, Dumalag said.
After gunning down Montefreo, the armed suspects proceeded to the warehouse office where they also gunned down the flat-footed guard Roy Padernal and wounded Charlie Salvania who were viewing television program at that moment.
The suspects went on and ransacked the office of cash but hastily left empty handed after they failed to open the safety vault containing the money.
Meanwhile, the responding policemen rushed Montefreo and Padernal to the nearby Don Valerio Palmares Memorial Hospital where the attending physicians pronounced them dead on arrival.
The 30-year-old Montefreo of Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo sustained fatal gunshot wound on his breast while Padernal of Barangay Bitaugan, Passi City succumbed to a bullet wound on his back.
On the other hand, the 17-year-old Salvania from Barangay San Jose, San Miguel, Iloilo is presently confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City for further treatment from the bullet wound he sustained during the incident.
Dumanlag said the suspects sped away aboard two motorcycles towards the direction of the adjoining towns of San Enrique and San Rafael.(PNA)
RMA/VLOrquiola/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



Aquino underscores importance of improving PHL criminal justice system

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the importance of improving the country’s criminal justice system to be up to date and in tune with the rigors and necessities of solving crime in this day and age.In his speech keynoting the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit on Monday at the Manila Hotel, the President said this gathering of stakeholders of the justice system was an opportune time to reexamine institutional criminal justice issues and forge strategies towards the enhanced delivery of justice.
“Ang pagtitipon natin ngayong umaga ay isang pagkakataon para higit na masuri ang lakas at kahinaan ng ating kasalukuyang criminal justice system, at makalikom ng mga makabago at napapanahong inisyatibang pangkatarungan,” the President said.
The President cited the timeliness of holding the Summit as it brings to fore the important role clerks of court, lawyers and judges play in our democracy.
“Masasabi nating napapanahon ito: dahil sa mga araw-araw na headline sa diyaryo at telebisyon, nasasaksihan din ngayon ng buong bansa kung gaano kasalimuot ang trabaho ng mga clerk of court, abugado, at huwes. Walang duda sa halaga ng inyong trabaho: ang inyong mga desisyon at hakbang ay may makabuluhang implikasyon sa ating demokrasya,” the President said.

www.president.gov.ph



JICA to pilot Iloilo irrigation system on future ICT assistance

Posted on Friday, December 2, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



LOILO CITY, Dec 1 (PNA) - The river irrigation system (RIS) of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo was identified by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as pilot area for Western Visayas on its survey for future assistance on Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The JICA survey team headed by its co-team leader Tatsuya Ieizumi is currently in Iloilo where they met with concerned agencies, particularly the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in line with the project implementation, according to Sunshine Jamero, information officer of NIA.
He is joined by Hitohiro Sakurai, ICT Expert and Hideaki Hiruta, Agriculture Extension Expert.
Ieizumi said they are gathering data on how to utilize ICT to improve irrigation water management and extend agriculture extension services. Through the survey, they can conceptualize a project where JICA will extend support.
On the other hand, Isidro R. Digal, local consultant on irrigation water management for JICA, said that Sta. Barbara RIS was chosen because there is a big potential area for improvement in the system.
There is also a proposed project for Sta. Barbara RIS under the National Irrigation Systems Rehabilitation and Improvement Project and the JICA is considering the application of ICT as a combination project for NISRIP.
“The ICT component may accelerate the approval for NISRIP,” Hiruta said.
The federation of irrigators’ associations of Aganan-Sta. Barbara RIS has previously received assistance from JICA to improve its post harvest facilities. It now boasts operating one of the largest post-harvest facilities in the nation.
JICA is hoping to finish the survey by March next year and if considered, the ICT project will be implemented in 2014. (PNA)
LAP/LAM/PGLena/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



Mayor mulls water rationing to curb shortage in Iloilo City

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) – Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog here is eyeing water rationing as an option to serve city areas seriously affected by water shortage especially in the city proper.
The city mayor also acted with dispatch and called Local Waterworks Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Rene Villa regarding the critical water supply situation, saying that almost 50 percent of barangays in the city proper has no water supply from the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).
Villa, an Ilonggo, immediately called up MIWD general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena and ordered to do everything to solve the water crisis immediately.
The problem has seriously affected 22 barangays in the city proper, or more than 50,000 people. The water crisis is also felt in some areas in Jaro, Molo and Arevalo.
Seriously affected with water shortage are city proper barangays of Tanza Baybay, Tanza Timawa Zone 1, Tanza Timawa Zone 2, Rizal Palapala 1, Rizal Palapala 2, De la Rama, Muelle Loney, Gen. Hughes, Concepcion-Montes, Zamora-Milleza, Monica, Ma. Clara, San Jose and Ortiz.
Mabilog said he is requiring MIWD to come up with a contingency plan and explain why there is not enough water supply when the country is still in the wet season.
Through his spokesman Jeffrey Celis, the city mayor said among the contingency measures will be the emergency water supply rationing which MIWD is capable of doing so with several units of big water tankers.
“MIWD has the capacity for temporary outsourcing units to deliver water to areas especially in 12 waterfront barangays. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) also assured assistance to deliver water in the affected barangays,” Celis said.
Regarding the truck ban which prohibits delivery trunks and tankers to the city, Celis said the MIWD had never coordinated with the city mayor’s office regarding exemption from the truck ban.
“The city mayor assured that the Traffic Management and Transport Regulation Office (TMTRO) will allow the entry of MIWD tankers to deliver water here,” Celis said. (PNA)
LAP/LCPendon/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



PNP says sell of firecrackers must be within identified zones only

Posted on Thursday, December 1, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) – Selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in this city will be from December 26 to 31 only in areas identified as firecracker zones, the police said.
“Selling of firecrackers beyond the schedule is prohibited. Confiscation of their displayed items awaits erring retailers and sellers,” S/Supt. Marietto Valerio, city director of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) said.
He said the move is part the campaign “Iwas Paputok.”
According to Valerio, the areas identified as firecrackers zones are the following: * City Proper – vacant lot in front of Vic Imperial Appliance Center on Iznart Street * Molo – Molo Plaza * Mandurriao – Mandurriao Plaza fronting the police station * Jaro – Jaro Plaza * La Paz – La Paz Plaza and the Promenade * Arevalo – Quezon - JV Jocson Streets to Osmeña Street , and the stretch of Bonifacio and Yulo Streets.
He said firecrackers' vendors are required to have buckets of sand, pails of water and plastics to cover their display pyrotechnics materials to ensure that no accident or ignition takes place. “No Smoking and No Testing” signages are also required in every stall selling firecrackers, he added.
On the other hand, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also monitoring minors who are possibly engaged in fireworks making. The PNP also prohibits minors from vending or buying firecrackers.
There are five licensed cooperatives in Arevalo district, known as fireworks capital of Iloilo City. These cooperatives, with more than 300 members, are into fireworks manufacturing and retailing. (PNA)
FFC/MGC/vlo

ww.pna.gov.ph



No hired killers in Western Visayas - PNP official

Posted on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 29 (PNA) - C/ Supt. Cipriano E. Querol, Jr., director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO 6), contradicted alleged reports that hired killers, particularly motorcycle riding in tandem suspects are part of loosely organized crime syndicates sowing terror in the different provinces of Western Visayas.
Querol made the confirmation in the presence of Philippine National Police Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome during the latter's recent visit in Bacolod City.
Answering queries from worried sectors seeking veracity on the allegations, Querol gave a resounding no, asserting that although motorcycles appear to be the favored get-away-vehicle by criminals, highway robberies and other forms of grab-and-run heist are carried out independently by groups not related to each other.
Moreover, Querol said the motorcycle is probably the easiest and quickest way to elude pursuers after the commission of the crime.
A number of unsolved killings and robberies has been blamed on suspects riding motorcycles in pairs. (PNA)
LAP/ELTorrecampo/vlogov.ph

www.pna.



DILG-6 sets mitigating measure to counter effects of climate change

Posted on Monday, November 28, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 27 (PNA) -- The provinces of Iloilo and Capiz are vulnerable to disasters, said Evelyn Trompeta, regional director of Department of Interior and Local Government 6 (DILG-6).
Trompeta said these two provinces are considered among the 27 provinces in the country that were identified to be prone to calamities like flooding, landslides and earthquakes brought about by climate change.
The DILG has conducted a one-day ‘development forum’ on disaster preparedness, together with Local Government Units (LGUs) in Western Visayas, Friday last week at Smallville 21 here to address the critical issue.
The forum focused in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) on climate change adaptation. The activity was participated in by municipal mayors, governors, Canadian nationals from Canadian Urban Institute, and several German national from GIZ.
The DILG regional head said “Through this forum, we could encourage building the resilience of local communities to disasters, encourage LGUs to create local development plans like Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and will make sure that by 2012 they would integrate DRRM and climate change adaptation on their plans.”
Trompeta added the forum is the right venue where they could share their experiences, planning in barangay level, participatory planning, best practices in mitigating measures, and pre and post-disaster rehabilitation works.
Among the speakers during the forum are Guimaras Governor Felipe Hilan Nava and Rodulfo Cabias of Municipality of Abuyog, Leyte who shared their mainstreaming in local planning.
“At the end of the forum, this effort might turn local government units into proactive participants in disaster risk reduction from being risk areas,” Trompeta said.
DILG is the vice chairman on disaster preparenedness, along this line, the department which under the law is tasked to implement measures on disaster preparedness, issued calamity response protocols and associated actions in flood and landslide-prone LGUs.
The protocol calls for the activation of all disaster command and auxiliary command centers, area-wide warning and alarm system and deployment of emergency response, rescue and medical teams in areas hit by disasters, among others.(PNA)
DCT/ajp/MGC/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



Fire destroys 15 houses in Boracay island

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 27 (PNA) - A fire of still undetermined cause gobbled up Saturday an array of residential houses in Sitio Hagdan, Barangay Yapak in the island resort of Boracay off mainland Malay, Aklan.
Report reaching here said the late afternoon fire destroyed 15 houses and stalls mostly made of light materials.
Fire Inspector Joseph Cadag of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Boracay said the fire, fanned by strong afternoon breeze, spread rapidly.
Fire trucks from the different hotels in the island resort immediately responded to the fire call following the second alarm level raised by the Bureau of Fire Protection. Islanders also doused pails of water to the raging fire to help firefighters.
Arson probers said the fire might have been caused by faulty electrical wiring at the ceiling of the house owned by a certain Paolo.
Property damage was estimated at P300,000. No one was reported hurt.
Meanwhile, the homeless families took temporary refuge at the barangay hall and chapel in the locality where they availed of emergency relief assistance from the local social welfare and development office in the island resort. (PNA)
scs/ajp/VLOrquiola/vlo

www.pna.gov.ph



Farmers group pickets DAR-6 office, demands immediate installation to land

Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA)- A group of almost 100 farmers from Barangay Palasyawan, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo has picketed at the regional office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-6) here to demand their immediate installation in the piece of land they claimed under the agency’s land reform program.
The move launched recently was in protest for the failure on the part of the DAR-6 to come out with an order for finality in their petition for inclusion of the 79 qualified farmer beneficiaries who were already given the Certificate of Land Ownerships (CLOs).
The hotly contested lands subjected to the government’s land reform program were the 115 hectares Jison-Lopez estate located in Barangay Palasyawan, Barotac Nuevo.
According to Bonifacio Nadura, spokesperson of the more than 80 farmer-beneficiaries, the DAR earlier assured farmers of their immediate installation to the land they were entitled for claim within the 15 days period after they received notice last August this year from the DAR office.
The protesting farmers group has asked DAR for the implementation of its commitment as soon as possible before the farmers could harvest their agricultural crops in the lands they have cultivated for the many past years. (PNA)
RMA/AJP/VLOrquiola/vlo


www.pna.gov.ph


Guimaras 'Paradise Island' up for tourism development

Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best



JORDAN, Guimaras, Nov. 23 (PNA) -- A little-known but breathtakingly enchanting Marine Reserve in the province of Guimaras holds great promise of becoming a major tourism attraction and give the country's jewels like Boracay and Palawan a run for their money.
But unless the national government steps in and provide more incentives, the vast tourism potentials of Taclong Island Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia town would remain regretfully untapped.
In a public dialogue initiated by the Guimaras provincial government, spearheaded by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), PENRO Officer Jessie Vego, accentuated the exigency of placing Taclong Island under the more comprehensive National Integrated Protective Areas of Republic Act 7588 to pave the way for bigger funding and also provide more teeth or authority to existing protective guidelines and lead to the Island's full development.
According to Vego, Taclong Island, which lies 38 kilometers off Jordan Wharf, was initially put under the protection of the National Marine Reserve in 1990, but little has been done to exploit its commercial and tourism potentials since then.
“More state funds and stricter guidelines would enable us to determine its peripheries, meaning knowing what areas can be utilized for the government's interests, and what areas should be prohibited for use,” Vego said.
The development of Taclong Island, composed of about 1,000 pristine hectares, as tourist destination, threatens to displace long-time settlers from making a livelihood in the marine reserve.
Governor Felipe Hilan Nava has vowed to identify resettlement sites should development plans pushed through. (PNA)
DCT/RMA/ELT/vlo


www.pna.gov.ph


City employment program sends 15 workers to Qatar

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 22 (PNA)– Fifteen Ilonggos, hired through the city government’s special recruitment activity, have just flown to Qatar to work, according to the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
In a report to Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, PESO-Iloilo City manager Alan Zaldivar said the workers, who left Tuesday for Qatar, were employed as service and delivery crew, and food handlers.
They are products of the special recruitment activity which PESO conducted in September, he said.
Last month, 34 workers who also found jobs through PESO were deployed to Kuwait to work in hotel and food industries.
Both workers for Qatar and Kuwait were under the agency, Lead Resources Management Corp. (PNA)
RMA/LMSinay/vlo


www.pna.gov.ph




Philpost to operate remittance center, door-to-door delivery services

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



ILOILO CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) - The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) is embarking on a modernization program in a bid to enhance its services to the public and make these at par with emerging courier services in the country today.
Philpost Chairman Cesar N. Sarino, who visited Iloilo City Wednesday, bared that the modernization program includes putting up of remittance center for domestic and international transaction and door-to-door delivery services.
Sarino stressed the need to change the operations of postal office throughout the country.
He said they would rid the Philpost of its bad image following complaints of rampant robbery within the postal office and its slow services.
Unlike before, the Philpost will no longer depend on the delivery of mail matters as its major business because of the presence of so many mobile phones and networking sites in countries globally. (PNA)
LDV/VLO






www.pna.gov.ph


Iloilo: WINNER of the 2011 LIVCOM AWARDS

Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 by Iloilo At Its Best


Iloilo City won silver and bronze awards during the International Awards for LIVEABLE Communities 2011 in Songpa, South Korea.




Iloilo City received Special Project Award, for the project " Iloilo City: Post LiveCom: Advancing the Iloilo River Development Initiatives Through Integrated Sustainable Management". This project won Silver award.  



Iloilo City also received silver award for Dinagyang Festival and Bronze for the City Category.

Photo credits: Iloilo City Government FB Account


2012 Dinagyang organizers to ensure high standard performance of tribes

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



 Organizers of the 2012 Dinagyang Festival will create a monitoring team that will look into the preparation of participating tribes to “high standard of performance.”
This was disclosed by City Tourism Officer Benito Jimena during Tuesday’s meeting with the festival’s members of the board and working committees.
Currently, 13 tribes have already submitted their documents to the City Tourism Office signifying their participation in the festival.
This year, the festival organizers composed of the city government, the San Jose Parish and the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation have instituted several changes, one of which is the change in the venue of judging area number one from the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand to the Iloilo Sports Complex.
The change in venue was entertained to accommodate a larger audience as the festival continues to draw bigger crowd every year.
Likewise, the parade shall no longer be of the carousel type but it shall be a straight parade which will start at the Iloilo Sports Complex and end at the Freedom Grandstand.
The 2012 Dinagyang Festival anchors on the theme: Beyond Awards, A Culture of Excellence. It’s religious theme is Senor Santo Nino: One Beat, One Voice, On the Move to Serve.
The highlights of the celebration will be held on January 20-22, 2012. 


(PNA)
LAP/PGLena/vlo


www.pna.gov.ph


Treñas Boulevard closed for 6 months

Posted on by Iloilo At Its Best



The Treñas Boulevard along the Iloilo River will be closed starting Dec. 5, 2011 to allow the construction of the P48-million Esplanade project and the rehabilitation and widening of the 1.2 kilometer road.
City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the closure might last for six months or until May 2012 even as the contractor had already deployed heavy equipment in the area.
Joggers and other physical wellness buffs are enjoined to consider and look for other venues for their exercises pending the construction of the Esplanade project out to beautify and enhance the boulevard along the riverbank.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has bid out the project last month with Roprim Construction declared as the winning bidder for its P38 million offer.
Mabilog said the Treñas Boulevard was a component of the Iloilo floodway project, which is not yet turned over to the city government by DPWH.
He also said that there was no more legal impediment as to the ownership of the area since it was owned by the government.
The Esplanade project was facilitated by Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon in a move to protect and conserve the Iloilo River. International Filipino architect Paolo Alcazaren desined the Esplanade, patterned after a similar river project in Singapore, which he also designed.
The area will have a view deck, palm trees, lamp posts, food kiosks and a giant Dagoy statue, depicting the city’s famous Dinagyang Festival. (PNA)
RMA/LCPendon/vlo
www.pna.gov.ph
                                       Photo: Hawili Hurom


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)