VOL. V, ISSUE NO. 4

Volume V

KALIBO, AKLAN, (PIA) – Eight graduating students in Aklan who performed well in the field of development communication through their school publications are set to receive this year’s IWAG award.

The IWAG Award is a yearly incentive scheme designed by the Philippine Information Agency in Region 6 to give recognition to campus paper writers who excel in development communications and related fields, including academic performance.

Of the eight awardees in the province, three are college graduating students while five are graduating high school students.

Among the college awardees are: Darwin T. Tapayan of The Forum of the Northwestern Visayas Colleges; Raffe E. De Juan of The Aklan Collegian of the Aklan Catholic College; and Zeus Bryan V. Nicolas of Eamigas of the Aklan State University – Banga campus.

High school Iwag Award qualifiers are: Chloe S. Reynaldo of Scholar’s Gazette and Ivanne Jopert A. Idorot of Pa-

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) – Assistance desks posted by the Department of Health (DOH) at various points of entries like airports and jetty ports to serve delegates of ASEAN 2017 attending meetings in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan also cater to everyone seeking health-related help from the deployed staff at these desks.

In Aklan, areas of entry with DOH assistance desks are the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) in Kalibo, Aklan; the Caticlan Airport in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan; the Caticlan Jetty Port at Caticlan, Malay, Aklan, and the Cagban Jetty Port in Boracay Island.

A doctor and two nurses from the DOH’ Nurse Deployment Program (NDP) are serving these desks 24 hours on a 12 hour round routine.

According to Argel dela Cruz, one of the nurses posted at the assistance desk

Issue 04

hayagang Iskolar, both from the Regional Science High School for Region 6; and Mary Erlyn I. Ricarto of The Garcian High of Garcia College of Technology Tech-Voc High School.

Other awardees are from Linabuan National High School namely: Mica Relor Meñez and Kate Lyzell C. Motus of publications The Viewfinder and Pagsipeak, respectively.

The awardees of the said recognition will be given each a special medal and citation, preferably during the school’s graduation or recognition day. (JCM/ SQP/PIA Aklan)

at KIA, they have yet to assist an ASEAN delegate seeking their assistance as of this writing but already, there had been some plane passengers who went to their desks to have their blood pressure taken,or seek advices.

The doctor who sits together with the nurses at the DOH desks at KIA is Dr. Jessica Amelia Lorenzo, who came all the way from Antique province to render her services for ASEAN 2017 in Aklan.

Besides the assistance desks at various points of entry in Aklan, there are also DOH desks at various strategic ASEAN staging areas n the province along the Kalibo-Caticlan Highway.

In Kalibo, the staging area is at Magsaysay Park just in front of the Municipal Hall.

Continued on page… 02

February 16 - 28, 2017

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -The ASEAN meetings held in Boracay Island from February 13-21 were successful and peaceful, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a radio interview, Police Regional Office 6 spokesman Police Sr. Supt. Gilbert Gorero said no negative incidents happened during the meetings.

Security in the island had been tightened even before the ASEAN meetings for the safety of delegates with forces deployed at airports, jetty ports, highways, billeting areas, and the surrounding seas.

The PNP said the deployment of thousands of police and other force multipliers in the island is a usual standard preparation for national events.

As of this writing, the Task Group Boracay ASEAN 2017 team organized by the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) specifically for the summit is still in Boracay Island to secure the safety of ASEAN delegates who remained for a few days in the island with their families.

Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ASEC Charles Jose, in another radio interview, revealed that some foreign ministers who attended the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Retreat expressed their interest to come back to Boracay together with their families in the future for their vacation.

ASEC Jose was in Boracay Island during the duration of the ASEAN meetings and held a briefing with the media on the progress of the meetings together with DFA Undersecretary Enrique Manalo.

Media briefings/press conference were held by the DFA at the media center located at Alta Vista Hotel in Boracay, while the meetings were held at Shangrila Resort and Spa. From February 13-21, three ASEAN meetings were conducted in Boracay – the 23rd Meeting of ASEAN IntergovContinued on page… 02

PIA AKLAN BALITA

PAGE 02

Vol. No. V Issue No. 04

The average Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) in Aklan in 2016 was pegged at P0.70, according to Philippine Statistics Authority-Aklan.The same value of peso was recorded a year ago.

This value means that the goods and services worth one peso (P1.00) in 2006 is now worth seventy (P0.70) centavos in 2016.

Interpreted in another way, this means that the same basket of goods and services worth P70 in 2006 can be bought at P100 in 2016.

Aklan’s peso value remained stable from January to October with P0.70 but dropped to P0.69 on the last two months of the year.

Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet B. Catubuan said that the purchasing power of peso gives an indication of the real value of the peso in a given period relative to the peso value in the base period.

Meanwhile, the province annual inflation rate in 2016 eased to 0.6 percent.

Inflation was noted higher in January with 1.5 percent but lowest in March and May at -0.1 percent, respectively.

Nine out 11 commodity groups recorded higher annual average gains, namely: Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (3.9 percent), Furnishings, Household Equipment and House Maintenance (3.7 percent), Health (1.5 percent), Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (1.3 percent), Recreation and Culture (0.8 percent), Clothing and Footwear (0.6 percent), and

Almost 4, 000 people died in Aklan last year based on the registered death certificates furnished to Philippine Statistics Authority.

Death incidence increased by almost 7 percent from 3, 688 in 2015 to 3, 925 in 2016.

This meant that 11 persons died every day in Aklan last year.

The Municipality of Kalibo, being the town capital, registered the highest number of deaths with 1, 637 or 42 percent of the total deaths in Aklan. It went up by 13 percent compared to death incidence reported a year ago with 1, 455.

This is followed by Ibajay with 305 or 8 percent of the total deaths, and Malay with 209 or 5 percent.

The highest increase in death incidence was noted in Madalag with 37 percent (from 78 in 2015 to 107 in 2016), followed by Makato with 28 percent

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- An initiative of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) of mounting a provincewide advocacy campaign against illegal drugs recently elicited support and appreciation from the Aklan Sangguniang through a resolution.

The resolution was sponsored by SP Member Nemesio Neron during the Aklan SP’s first regular session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan presided by Vice Governor Atty. Reynaldo M. Quimpo on January 9, 2017 with all members present, and approved by Governor Florencio T. Miraflores.

Dubbed ‘BAG-HAY’ (Bagong Buhay Handum Naton), the provincewide advocacy campaign was conducted by the APPO together with the Provincial Advisory Council for Police Transformation and Development (PAC-PTD) and the members of the Aklan Police Strategy Management Unit (APPSMU).

Its initial series of activities held late last year, composed of poster and slogan -making contest, 3K Run/Walk and SIKAD Kontra Droga sa BAGHAY, Symposium lectures and testimonials, ecumenical prayers and candle-lighting and a benefit concert did not go unnoticed by the Aklan SP, so it came out with Resolution No. 2017-175.

The Poster and Slogan-Making Contest was held November 17, 2016 at the Activity Area of City Mall-Kalibo, participated in by One Hundred Fifty (150) contestants from various schools of the province who, through their artworks/ entries, showcased a life free from illegal drugs and the dangers of using it.

On the other hand, the 3K Run/Walk and SIKAD Kontra Droga held November 19 were joined respectively by 1,205 runners and 153 bikers.

The group also conducted a symposium, lectures and testimonials with the theme :BAG-HAY’: Daean sa Pagkabaeaka, Pag-Edukar ag Pagbag-o” at the Aklan Catholic College Covered Gym which was attended by stakeholders, OPLAN Tokhang surrenderers in Aklan, and youth leaders.

The group conducted these series of activities with the aim of helping OPLAN Tokhang surrenderers rebuild their lives and re-integrate in the community and support the relentless efforts of the Aklan PNP with the ultimate goal of eradicating drug menace in Aklan.

According to the Aklan SP, this move is worthy of emulation. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (0.4 percent).

On the other hand, slower annual average increments were noted in Education (-0.8 percent), and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (0.6), while Communication showed zero growth during the year. (PSA/PIA)

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DOH…

ASEAN staging areas have a mix of deployed PNP, Philippine Army, DOH personnel and volunteers.

The DOH assistance desks were set up since February 11 and will be at the mentioned areas up to February 25.

Ongoing ASEAN meeting in Boracay as of this writing is the Ministerial Meeting Retreat while the next and the last one will be the ASEAN Committee (from 106 in 2015 to 136 in 2016), and on Migrant Workers slated February 21Altavas with 23 percent (from 131 in 22. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan) 2015 to 161 in 2016).

Buruanga has the highest percentage ASEAN meetings… drop in death occurrence with 25 per- From page 01 cent (from 97 in 2015 to 73 in 2016), and ernmental Commission on Human Banga with 21 percent (from 206 in Rights (AICHR), the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Retreat, and the ASEAN Com2015 to 162 in 2016).

The months of September and No- mittee on Migrant Workers Meeting. vember posted the highest number of (VGV PIA6 Aklan) death cases with 366 and 358, respectively, translating to an average of 12 deaths per day.

In contrast, October had the least number of deaths with 281 or with an average of 9 deaths per day.

According to PSO Antonet B. Catubuan the data were generated from copies of death certificates submitted to PSA by 17 local civil registry offices in Aklan every end of the month. (PSA/ PIA)