Today, organizers of the Ati-Atihan Festival opens the week-long festivity with the Ati-Atihan Product Showcase. It will feature the province’s unique products.

Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena Jr. of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says that the activity is part of the 898th celebration of religious Ati-Atihan Festival.

The product showcase is facilitated by the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association Inc., Kalibo Ati-Atihan Management Board and the local government of Kalibo.

37 Aklanon owners of micro, small medium enterprises (MSMEs) will be able to promote their products like indigenous abaca, piña cloth, house wares, furniture, raffia cloths and souvenir items in stalls at the Kalibo Pastrana Park.

The main goal of DTI is to help local entrepreneurs market their products and be competitive.

The DTI will also initiate One Town, One Product booths in the same area to showcase the unique products of the 17 different municipalities in Aklan.

Here's this year's Ati-Atihan shcedule...

ATI-ATIHAN PRODUCTS SHOWCASE

PAHILOT OR PAEAPAK

PAGPADUNGOG

-January 17, 2010, 7:00 p.m., Magsaysay Park

-The finale and last hurrah of the three- weeklong festival. After a day of street dancing and gastronomic feast in praise of the Sto. Niño, winners of the Ati-atihan Contest give their last energy as they receive their awards

parked

one of the Bacabac brothers entertaining the crowd before the final race

aggressive mid-air duel

riders push hard till the first turn after the start

racers jockeying for position

speed

one foot air in the finish line

moped madness

two riders still jostling for position

dramatic finish

fin

Moped Class Winners

1. Jay Delo Santos
2. Jv Bacabac
3. Jimboy

Beginners Enduro Winners

1. Jimboy
2. Joclef Reyes
3. Joseph Navarette

1. Nic Castronuevo
2. Recel Delo Santos (ATR)
3. Jv Bacabac

1. Dexter Bacabac
2. Jv Bacabac
3. Nic Castronuevo

Chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Engr. Percy Malonesio, mentioned that the target date for the completion of the new terminal building was supposed to be last April 17.

He said that "the contractors failed to finish the new terminal building on time because of the changing weather. Right now, the contractors could not determine when the construction would be finished."

the new terminal building under construction

Kalibo International Airport hopes to accommodate the the growing tourist traffic after the construction of the new terminal building. The current building of the Kalibo International Airport cannot conveniently accommodate the passengers because of its limeted space.

Kalibo International Airport management aims that after the completion of the new terminal building they will be strictly adhering to the international standards. Modern facilities will also be installed in the new terminal.

However, after the completion of the new terminal building, porters will be layed off because the CAAP will be using new methods for carrying the luggage of the tourists.

by Tara Yap

Just to add to what Tara said, I was also evicted last year at stage 4. The cop who they say was from Villa, Arevalo was very rude. They treated me like a stray animal. Thanks to my friend Bernardo Arellano III of taralets.co.cc, the guy in the red shirt, who helped me manage the situation. These cops must be taught a lesson. They must serve the people, not harass them and treat them like animals... And I thought they were professionals...

PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) assured to help the DOT (Department of Tourism) in promoting tourism.

Chairman Efren Genuino visited the province of Aklan as part of PAGCOR'S aim to assist in tourism promotion in the countryside.

This year, he says, he will be visiting other provinces to study the possibilities of how they could be able to help tourism promotion. He says that the assistance and projects will depend on the needs of the province.

PAGCOR plans in helping the countryside by bringing in potential investors and to assist in sports and tourism development of the province.

PAGCOR is currently exploring the potentials of the town 0f Libacao as an alternative tourism destination. They say their plan for Libacao is still a secret.

Libacao, Aklan

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon called on House Speaker Prospero Nograles to sponsor a bill that will set up a P10-billion “Bangon Panay Rehabilitation Fund”. He said the economy of the “food bowl of the Visayas,” was devastated by Typhoon “Frank” last June 21.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said that more than P10 billion is actually needed, he increased the proposal to P15 billion for the full rehabilitation of the typhoon-ravaged provinces of Panay island. He assured that the Lower House will pass a bill creating a rehabilitation fund for the island.

Aklanon families who was rendered homeless by Typhoon “Frank” will soon start building their houses with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

According to Evangeline Gallega of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) , they will distribute P10,000 each to families whose houses were totally destroyed by Typhoon “Frank.”

Gallega said that the DSWD is currently validating the actual number of families in the province whose houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon. Presently, the validation is focused on Kalibo.

The PDCC (Philippine Disaster Coordinating Council) has listed approximately more than 10,000 totally destroyed houses in its report on damages caused by Typhoon “Frank,”. Meanwhile, the PDCC is currently listing names of those who perished during the typhoon in Aklan. Immediate families of these victims, according to the PDCC, will receive P10,000 each.

Fifty-two Aklanons died at the height of the typhoon, mostly due to drowning. Others were victims of landslides while some were hit by fallen trees. The town of Numancia had the highest number of deaths with 16, followed by Kalibo with 7 and Ibajay, 6. The towns of Banga, Makato, Malinao and New Washington had 4 deaths a peice. Lezo had 3 casualties. And the municipalities of Libacao, Tangalan and Madalag had one each. There were no reported deaths in the towns of Malay, Nabas, Altavas, Balete and Buruanga.

The Department of Tourism asked the municipality of Malay Aklan to prepare a land use plan for Boracay by December. Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano says that the town officials should not allow any new construction in the island. The island paradise, which has been experiencing over-development without systematic planning, needs a comprehensive land use plan so that various problems on the resort island such as vehicular traffic, squatting and pollution would be reduced. He said that the challenge for Boracay is to balance development and sustainability. To sustain the natural beauty of the island, he asked the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to allocate funds for restorative programs and technologies aside from exercising its regulatory powers on the island.

About 387,000 foreign and domestic tourists arrived at Boracay in the first seven months of 2007, generating more than P7 billion for the local economy. They also mentioned that despite of the rainy season, occupancy rate at hotels and resorts in the island averaged 70 percent in August, as confirmed by the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. First-class accommodation facilities in the island charge between P3,000 and P15,000 a night. Arrivals are expected to increase in the coming months dueto the opening of direct flights from South Korea to the Kalibo Airport in Aklan.

The DOT is also promoting other islands, such as the Elephant Island in Marinduque and Carabao Island in Romblon, as alternative sites to Boracay.

Cong. Florencio Miraflores believes that Aklan's road to recovery is slow but sure. After his short absence in the height of relief efforts, the congressman is expected to return to office next week and oversee the rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the towns of Kalibo, Numancia and Banga.

Medical health personnel prepare for the re-opening of classes in schools. They warn about the possibility of a surge in cases of leptospirosis, dengue, asthma and tetanus infection. Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief Dr. Myrtle Pelayo anticipates an outbreak on these diseases.The PHO recommended to the Department of Education (DepEd) to require the children to wear protective gear like boots, long-sleeved shirts and long-pants to avoid contracting the said diseases.

The Department of Health (DOH) averted an outbreak of typhoid fever in Ibajay, Aklan through its Center for Health Development (CHD). They employed early check-ups for people suspected to have typhoid fever and proper treatment of drinking water in the area. According to Regional Director Lydia Depra-Ramos, who personally oversaw the operation, the interventions done helped reduce the incidence from 38 cases to one and no additional cases has been reported.

Collaborating with the rural health unit and the hospital staff, the team gave the suspected patients rectal swabs which were sent to Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Manila to confirm their diagnosis.

Together with two sanitary engineers from the Cordillera Administrative Region and CARAGA Region, the team also collected water samples from the area. Findings revealed that all water sources of the town is contaminated with coliform. With this in mind, the DOH promptly advised the Association of Barangay Captains to instruct the town's people not to drink water that is not treated with chlorine or boiled.

Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo hopes to build a flood control dam at the Aklan River to minimize the effects of heavy flooding. He urges the national government to hasten its construction. According to him, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will help in the construction of the proposed project, headed by Aldo Mayor. The department will also help in the cleaning and enhancement of the town's drainage system.

The poposed project is expected to benefit the people living in the towns of Banga, Kalibo, and Numancia. Since the flood waters ravaged several barangays of Kalibo, namely Tinigaw, Mobo, Bakhaw Sur, Bakhaw Norte and the town proper, the project is expected to be completed before the start of the rainy season to avoid another flash flood. It was noted that the flood claimed the lives of 5 poeple and injured more than 100.

The Department of Enviroment and National Resources fears that Aklan may face another disaster if another big storm hits. According to Provincial Environment Officer Raul Lorilla, there are still enough mud on the mountainous areas of Aklan that can be eroded if another storm comes. There is still a possibility that the flood will carry mud to the lowlands again.
As of now, the DENR and LGU Aklan are requesting the Philippine Air Force to survey the mountainous areas of Libacao and Madalag.

Also, the Department of Health was alarmed that there were several cases of Leptospirosis and Tetanus in the province. 48 cases of Leptospirosis heve been diagnosed and 3 of them has already expired. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Myrtle Pelayo advised the people to be more careful about their health and avoid getting cut or injured. She warns the people not to wade in the flood waters and the mud especially if they have open wounds, and about only drinking clean water.

Locals from the town of Ibjay also reported suspected cases of Thypoid fever and several has already been hospitalized. They were advised to sterilize their drinking water.