Volume VI

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) - The island of Boracay generated a total of P56,147,744,220.60 in tourism receipts last year, according to the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office. The “tourist-spend”receipts in 2017 increased by 14.83 percent as compared to the 2016 figure of P48,895,469,783.40. The said earnings came from the 2,001,974 tourists the island received in 2017; surpassing the two million target. APTO record showed that the 1,052,976 foreign and 42,060 overseas Filipino tourists from January to December 2017 were able to spend a total of P38,781,844,608.00 in Boracay. Meanwhile, the 972,994 domestic tourists spent about P17,365,899,612.60 for the whole year of 2017. Chinese comprised the biggest number of foreign tourists on the island last year at 375,284; followed closely by Koreans at 356,644; and Taiwanese at 40,802. Also included in the top 10 list of foreign nationals who visited the island were tourists from United States of America with 22,648 arrivals; Malaysia with 20,585; United Kingdom 17,416; Saudi Arabia 15,944; Australia, 15,365; Russia, 14,074; and Singapore, 9,897. The local tourism office targeted 2.2 million tourist arrivals in Boracay this year. (JSC/SQP/PIA6 Aklan)

Issue 01

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- The Atiatihan Site Task Group (ASTG) which was formed by the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) to secure this year’s week-long Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival is aiming for ‘zero’ major incident. This is according to APPO Acting Provincial Director PSSupt. Lope Manlapaz, who said tight security must be enforced to secure the safely of thousands of Ati-atihan revelers flocking to Kalibo’s main streets during the celebration’s highlights – the traditional street dancing and the devotion to Sr. Sto. Nino by attending the Pilgrim’s Mass, daily ‘Paeapak’ and novena at the St. John the Baptist Cathedral. Since January 15, the APPO, through the task group, has established 19 police assistance centers at strategic areas in Kalibo, particulary near the festival and staging areas. Before entering the festival and staging areas, revelers will also be subjected to inspections of their bags and backpacks at pedestrian screening areas also operated by police officers. The PNP forces at assistance centers and pedestrian screening areas are augmented by Kalibo’s municipal auxiliary police. There are also checkpoints for inner border security in the towns of Numan-

January 1 - 15, 2018

A policeman (left) checks belongings of Kalibo Atiatihan revelers before they are allowed to enter the festival zones during the 2018 Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival. Source: http://www.kaliboaklan.gov.ph

cia and Banga, the neighboring towns of Kalibo, and at Barangay Pook in Kalibo, which is near the boundary of Kalibo and New Washington, another neighboring town. The checkpoints are jointly manned by the PNP and the Philippine Army. The security of this year’s Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival is being augmented by 700 additional policemen from the Police Regional Office. PSSupt. Manlapaz said these policemen will be deployed in the streets and at police assistance centers to augment the local police force. First batch of these policemen from PRO6 arrived in Kalibo on January 13, while the last batch of the augmentation forces will be deployed on January 18. Kalibo Chief of Police Senior Police Continued on page… 03

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan attained for the first time its targeted 1% blood collection representing 1% of the province’s total population, days before 2017 ended. Based on records from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here, Aklan’s 2017 total population is 600,348. 1% of this is 6,003, while actual blood units collected reached 6,053, bringing the blood collection percentage to 1.01. As in previous years, blood collection activities in the province were spearheaded by the Philippine Red Cross in

coordination with various health organizations and volunteers. Major sources of collected blood through Mobile Blood Donation (MBD) activities were the local government units (55%); Private organizations, (23%); Walk-in donors (9%); agencies, (10%); schools (2%); and religious groups (1%). Six Aklan municipalities were also able to attain their blood collection target corresponding to 1% of their respective population. These are the towns of Banga, which

was able to collect 1.56%; Madalag, 1.39%; Tangalan, 1.36%; Malinao,. 1.34%; and Batan and Lezo, 1% each. PHO-Aklan said top three of these municipalities will be awarded during the Blood Olympics activities of the province later this year. Meanwhile, the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council (ABCC), which was formed in support of the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the Department of Health, vowed to help maintain and sustain the attained 1% blood collection of Aklan. Megs Lunn, ABCC President, said Continued on page… 02

PIA AKLAN BALITA

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Vol. No. VI Issue No. 01

The Philippine Statistics Authority is currently conducting the agricultural wage rate survey in 35 sample households in Aklan. The survey aims to generate estimates of average wage rates of agricultural farm workers, specifically for the four major crops comprising ofpalay, corn, coconut, and sugarcane. The survey, also, intends to generate gender-based data for wage rates, and determine the extent of women’s participation in agricultural production activities. According to Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet B. Catubuan statistics on wage rates are useful inputs in investment decisions, policy making and program formulation related to agricultural sector. The statistical unit in this survey is the households that hired farm workers from July to December 2017. Among the important data to be collected from identified samples comprise daily wage rate of farm workers by crops, by basis of payment and by farm activity; number of mandaysper hectare by crop, by farm activity, by source of labor and by sex; distribution of hired workers by terms of payment, and distribution of farm households employing hired workers by farm activity. Results of similar survey conducted in 2016 revealedthat agricultural laborers in Western Visayasreceived, on the average, a real wage rate of P160.43 per day. Male farm workers were paid P161.03 per day, higher by P1.34 than what was received by female farm workers at 159.69. Workers in palay farms registered the highest real wage rate at P169.13 per day, while corn farm laborers received the least real wage rate at P146.27 per day. The daily real wage rates of those working in coconut and sugarcane farms pegged at P149.86 and P169.83, respectively. PSO Catubuan urges respondents to give truthful and correct answers to data collectors. She assured them that all information will be held strictly confidential as provided for by law. (PSAAklan)

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez allayed the fears of Filipino consumers on the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) under Pr esident Rodr igo Roa Duterte’s administration. “While TRAIN is perceived to possibly increase the prices of products of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) in the market, DTI’s initial assessment of applying the excise tax shows only minimal impact on the prices of basic and prime goods,” Trade Secretary Lopez said. DTI is continuously monitoring market prices to ensure that any increase will be nominal, reassured Sec. Lopez. The products under the BNPC that DTI monitors are the following: canned sardines; processed milk; coffee; detergent and laundry soaps; bread; instant noodles; canned products like luncheon meat, meat loaf, and, corned beef; toilet soap; and cement. Sec. Lopez explained that DTI, through its Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB), evaluated the possible effects of the new tax rates on basic necessities and prime commodities, and found that it would cause minimal impact as most manufacturers would opt to absorb the increase for fear of losing market share. Listed below are the SRPs before the TRAIN Law, and with the excise tax:

will be increases of Php 1.00 for LPG and Php 7.00 for LPG. Sweetened beverages such as juice drinks, sweetened tea, all-carbonated beverages, flavored water, energy and sports drinks, cereal and grain beverages, and other nonalcoholic drinks that use caloric or non-caloric sweeteners will be taxed Php 6.00 per liter. Meanwhile, Php12.00 per liter will be taxed for those that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). All milk products, 100% natural fruit and vegetable juices, meal replacement, and medically indicated beverages, as well as instant coffee are exempted from this excise tax on sugar. “The TRAIN law should not immediately affect the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities because retailers still have inventories before the tax reform law took effect. As such, we encourage consumers to report to DTI retailers who are already increasing their prices using the implementation of the new tax reform law as a reason,” Secretary Lopez said. Business establishments that will commit illegal acts of price manipulation, specifically profiteering, shall be imposed a fine of not less than Php 5,000.00 nor more than Php 2M, and imprisonment for 5 to 15 years. DTI-Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo supported Sec. Lopez’s declaration, saying: “We will continue to closely monitor the market on the movement of prices of basic and prime goods and their raw materials to ensure that consumers will only purContinued on page… 03

Aklan attains… From page 01

The newly approved TRAIN law seeks to lower personal income taxes, increase excise tax on fuel products, and impose tax on sweetened beverages, among others. For diesel, a Php 2.50 tax per liter will be imposed this year, while there

the council targets to assist Kalibo and Libacao towns in their blood collection activities this year. In 2017, Kalibo was only able to collect 75 units out of its 842 target or 0.09%; while Libacao had no collection at all. Other towns which had attained less than 50% of blood collection will also be assisted by the council in order to have higher collection this year. (JSC/VGV/ PIA6 Aklan)

PIA AKLAN BALITA

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Vol. No. VI Issue No. 01

Task group… From page 01 Inspector Honey May Ruiz said everything is being done to secure the Atiatihan festival. Ruiz also called on vehicle owners never to leave their vehicles inside and outside the festival zones. The Kalibo PNP has started implementing the traffic rerouting plan since January 15, which will be up to January 21. Besides prohibiting the bringing in or carrying of heavy backpacks to festival areas, the local government unit of Kalibo also prohibits during the festival the selling and carrying of glass bottled drinks and smoking during the festivities. (JSC/VGV/PIA6 Aklan)

DTI Mobile Business Name Registration, through Negosyo Center Malay, will be visiting Boracay on January 10 11, 2017 at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Negosyo Center Malay, 2nd Floor, Action Center, Balabag, Boracay. Mobile Business Name registration aims to provide assistance for potential and existing micro small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in Malay in renewing/ registering their business names. Through this activity, MSMEs in far flung areas need not travel to Kalibo to register/ renew business names; and may avail of business counseling from Negosyo Center Business Counselor.

DTI business name registration is the first step in registering a single proprietor business enterprise; moreover, DTI business name registration will ensure business owners the legal right to use their respective business names. Per DTI Department Administrative Order No. 10-10, series of 2010, the following registration fees (including documentary stamp) for every application for registration of business name (original and renewal) depending on the territorial jurisdiction covered in the application are as follows:

All interested applicants are invited to attend and bring necessary requirements, such as valid/ government I.Ds and applicable fees. (DTI-Aklan)

TRAIN has… From page 02 chase reasonably-priced goods in the market in light of the new tax reform law. Our teams from the DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) and the DTI-Regional Operations Group (ROG) are ready to assist our consumers.” To report incidents of profiteering, call DTI Direct 751.3330 or send a text message through 0917.8343330. (DTI-Aklan)