ILOILO CITY – Three successful Ilongga businesswomen shared their experiences in a symposium held by the Gender and Development Focal Point for the DENR men and women employees to inspire them to go on business as part of developing their economic contribution to the government.

The symposium in celebration of the Women’s Month this March was held at the DENR ERDS office last March 9, 2009.

The first speaker was a private food caterer, a nurse by profession, and who had worked abroad as a nurse for 15 years. After realizing her dream of building a house for the family, she eventually quit her flourishing career as head nurse of a prestigious hospital in the Middle East and went home to be with her family to support her agriculturist husband in their farm and to be near her children. Read more…

ILOILO CITY – Political and government leaders in the city and province of Iloilo have ask the postponement of turn-over of the National Power Corporation’s Panay Diesel Power Plant 1 and Panay Diesel Power Plant 3, both situated in Dingle, Iloilo to a later date when additional sources of power will have been identified and contracted.

In a meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Infrastructure Committee here March 13, 2009 and chaired by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas moved for a resolution to ask Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management (PSALM) and the Department of Energy to delay the privatization and hold back the turn-over of the power plants slated on March 26, 2009 to private owner Salcon Power Corporation (SPC) and for the Napocor to continue operation of the two plants.

Out of its 5 plant units generating a total of 57 megawatts power (MW) for Panay Island consumers, only 14 MW are being generated as of March 13 as several units are undergoing major restoration and rehabilitation, according to Napocor Vice President Danilo Sedillo. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – This southern city was allotted 100 scholarship slots in the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Scholarship Commitment for a two-month training on short courses such as small engine repair, massage, spa therapy and baker.

The scholars, selected by the Liga ng mga Barangay here, will receive P60 daily allowance for transportation, meals and cash allowance. The scholars will also be assisted in looking for employment after their graduation or may be given P5,000 capital assistance in starting up a business.

On the other hand, a memorandum of agreement was signed March 10, 2009 for the launching of Bagong Hanapbuhay 2009 integrated livelihood assistance program spearheaded by TESDA Director General Augusto Syjuco, Filipino Hairdressers Cooperative (FilHair) headed by Ricky Reyes, the city government headed by Mayor Jerry P. Trenas and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in providing a training program and livelihood opportunity for out-of-school youths, underemployed adults and displaced overseas Filipino workers in this city. Read more »

Iloilo City (1 March) — The MIGEDC-JICA Technical Working Group (TWG) will undergo another training to hone their know-how on Transport and Traffic on March 3-4 at the UPV Training Center here.

A press release from the MIGEDC-JICA Project Team said the training will focus on the topics of Road Pricing, Environmental and Social Costs, Public Transport Policy Trends and Traffic Safety, intended to familiarize the transport sector group with the evolving issues and problems of traffic in the MIGEDC.

The training will be conducted by a team of experts from the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) of U.P. Diliman, which is a recognized authority on national transport and traffic concerns operating with national government agencies. Read more »

Iloilo (1 March) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has accepted for validation four eco-tourism project proposals in Iloilo and Guimaras under its Grants for Entrepreneurial and Eco-Tourism (GREET) Program for 2009.

Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta said the proposals from Iloilo include that of Expansion and Development of Adventure Tour Services and Packages for Iloilo/Guimaras and the Bulabog Puti-an National Park Tour and Cave Guiding, Catering, Accommodation and Transport Services, in Dingle, Iloilo.

The former, which is proposed by the Panay Adventure Tours and Transport Service, is envisioned to promote local destinations around Iloilo and Guimaras for eco-tourism, through adventure tour packages, like trekking, mountain biking, caving, diving, kayaking, and horseback riding, including interfacing with tribal groups. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The Traffic Technical Working Group (TTWG) has recommended for closure one perimeter boundary terminal or miserable in shape and Unsatisfactory ranking while two terminals were reported closed after operating for few months in 2005.

TTWG is chaired by city councilor Erwin Plagata, Atty. Edgardo Gil of the city legal office, TMEU chief, SInsp. Robert Bob Foerster, CPDO project coordinator Engr. Jose Tengco, CMO executive assistant Neuns Mitch Antiquena and TF Asis head Engr. Robert Dumanil.

In its report to Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the TTWG recommended the closure soon of the Baldoza Transport Terminal operated by Jerry Dunlao but currently being managed by Annie del Rosario and Atty. Romeo Gerochi which has a franchise 2005-073 issued in February 23, 2005. The terminal operator failed to secure a Mayors and business Permits since it started operation. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The continuous supply of power to all electric power cooperatives, distribution utilities and directly connected customers in Panay Island having existing contracts with the National Power Corporation (Napocor) is now threatened due to the turning over of successfully bided diesel power plants in Bohol and Panay that will be turned over to its new private owners on March 26, 2009.

It was feared that the impending turn over of the diesel plants in Dingle, Iloilo would effect a shortage of about 54 megawatts in Panay alone and the shortage will happen during the time of highest demand especially during the summer months.

City mayor Jerry P. Trenas said that with the turnover of Panay Diesel Power Plant 1 and 3 to its new owners Salcon Corp., it was feared that the power supply will be greatly affected in areas receiving power from Napocor. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be in Iloilo this morning, March 3, 2009 to lead the inauguration of another TeleTech regional site in this southern city.

The President will be accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque and Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas Chua of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and will be met by TeleTech officials headed by Maulik Parekh, executive vice president for Asia. Read more »