ILOILO CITY – The province and city of Iloilo remain as sentinel sites for A/H1N1 with 22 and 18 confirmed cases respectively.

This was confirmed by the Center for Health Development regional office of the Department of Health after results from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) covering the period May 18 to July 25, 2009 showed a total of 55 laboratory confirmed cases.

Out of 55 confirmed cases, 51 are Filipinos with 29 patients having history of travel outside the country while the remaining cases are close contacts of confirmed cases.

The number of cases aside from the city and province of Iloilo are 1 in Kalibo, 1 in Antique, 5 in Capiz, 10 in Roxas City, 1 in Negros Occidental, 12 in Bacolod City, 1 in Bago City and 1 in Talisay City. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The city government here is asking the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fasttrack the dredging of the 15-kilometer Dungon Creek earlier reported with P50 million funding to be taken from DPWH’s budget.

The P481 million DPWH advanced funding earlier ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was earmarked for rehabilitation and improvement of selected areas and infrastructures in Western Visayas damaged by last year’s Typhoon Frank. The Dungon dredging project in this city is part of the DPWH rehabilitation budget.

City mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he is requesting the assistance of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact three resolutions that will include a request for the DPWH to fasttrack the dredging project in Dungon Creek starting from Brgy. Sambag in Jaro up to Marina Restaurant in Mandurriao district. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – The Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) of this city has approved and confirmed on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the sanitation management mechanics of the Iloilo City Environment Code of 2004.”

City mayor and board chairman Jerry P. Treñas issued Executive Order No. 26 Series of 2009 adopting the IRR of Title VIII and pertinent sections of Title VII in relation to Title V of Regulation Ordinance No. 2004-149 otherwise known as the Environmental Code of the City of Iloilo.

The mayors’ executive order will likewise call for the deputization of barangay officials and other persons as Sanitation Officers tasked to monitor and apprehend persons found violating the law. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Small entrepreneurs here have express increase level of satisfaction due to efficient and simpler business permit and licensing system (BPLS) implemented by the city government since early 2008 at the city hall offices located at a shopping mall.

City mayor Jerry P. Treñas admitted that he is eyeing a satellite office for the city treasurer and assessor once construction of the new city hall is completed by 2010 at the old site fronting Plaza Libertad.

As of the present, the bulk of cityhall offices that include the city mayor’s office, city treasurer, assessor and permits and licensing are concentrated at the Robinsons Place Iloilo.

A survey conducted by the German Technical cooperation (GTZ) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) last year showed that after implementing some reforms at streamlining the functions of the business permit and licensing division, offices of the treasurer and assessor, the customers and taxpaying public who transacted business at these offices showed satisfaction at the less tiring and less costly on their part. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately start its P50 million dredging project at the Dungon Creek here in identified staging areas along the 15-kilometer creek without houses.

Treñas said there are several areas where dredging can be started without hassle from residents and the excavated soil from the creek can be dried and brought to the Calajunan Creek as soil cover of the old dumpsite.

The initial dredging at the staging areas will be inspected by DPWH soon in a move to immediately start the project designed to help deter flashfloods. The long stretch of the creek from Sambag, Jaro to an area behind Marina Restaurant at the diversion road is expected to pass by 13 barangays in Jaro and Mandurriao districts. Read more »

ILOILO CITY – Admitting that indeed there was a closure order for the Calajunan open dumpsite in 2007, two city officials incharge of the dumpsite said there is an ongoing preparatory work for the eventual conversion of the dumpsite into a sanitary landfill in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003.

Landfill manager Engr. Neil Ravena and Engr. Raul Gallo of the General Services Office incharge of garbage collection here said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has given its approval for a five-year transitional period or until Year 2012 so as to give time for the city government to implement the gradual development of a sanitary landfill.

A sanitary landfill will cost the city government more than P50 million per hectare and the Calajunan dumpsite is more than 23 hectares, Gallo said. Read more »