LTO to set up satellite office in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Malay Aklan - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is planning to set up a satellite office in this resort island to ensure that the clean air act is properly implemented.

This developed as concerns raised over hundreds of tricycles plying to this resort island daily. Tricycles emit chemicals coming from the engines believed to cause air pollutions here.

The move is currently being studied by the committee on transportation at the Malay council.

In the past, LTO personnel are coming to this resort island on an occasional basis to conduct a mobile smoke testing facility. The mobile testing could only accommodate 18 vehicles per day.

A satellite LTO office in this resort island could ensure monitoring of an accredited smoke testing facility. It will also assists in the smooth traffic flow here.

Currently, the traffic situation in this resort island is getting heavier with the continuous influx of tourists.

The Malay council said they are currently fast-tracking the needed resolutions for the setting up of a satellite facility to ensure air pollution issues are being properly addressed.

Filipino surfers triumph in 2011 Boracay Int'l Funboard Cup

http://elyvalendez.blogspot.com

FILIPINOS emerged champions in five out of seven categories of the 22nd Boracay International Funboard Cup held last week.

Reneric Moreno (Men's division), Rolando Francisco (Grand Master contest), Fele Kyanko(Women's), Gordon Gelito (Youth) and Manny Cabili (as the fastest rider with 58kph) were crowned in the event participated in by 100 surfers from 27 countries.

Fabrice Beaux of France/USA was hailed champion in Master's category and Germany's Simone Bartmann with 48kph speed was the fastest female rider.

We are not only good in boxing and are not only doing well in Football. This success shows that Filipinos' are great in water sports as well, despite the fact that, windsurfing is yet to be popularized in the country.

But of course the issue on "lack of support from the government" as our athletes commonly say, remains.

Maybe it's high time for the government to look more deeper at the potentials of Filipinos in sports, particularly in water sports. It is sad to know that it takes foreigners to say that we are the best in certain things, yet we don't invest on them.

Surfertoday.com describes the country, with it's more than 7,000 islands, as "one of the bestwindsurfing destinations in the world".

"The consistency of the wind (in Boracay) also puts (the island) in the epicenter of wind sports," it added.

This is something that the government should invest into, then bank on our growing popularity in sports and tourism. With proper training for athletes, good media mileage and better infrastructure facilities and services for the tourists, we could make great money out of sports.

Aside from Boracay, we also have Siargao and La Union that are known as great surfing sites. Lots are still undiscovered.

Take Palawan as an example. How I wish I could also see surfers playing with the winds and the waves at Sabang beach in Puerto Princesa City. Sabang, which serves as the take off point to the famousPuerto Princesa Underground River is a good place for water sports. If you've been there, you'll agree with me.

Palawan,  or the whole Philippines is beautiful, no doubt about that, but aside from the wonders of nature, we lack activities to offer our visitors. Adding water sports in the very short 'to do' list would be a big help for our tourism. I believe. We need to invest, really!

By the way, here's the list of winners in the 2011 Boracay International Funboard Cup.


Windsurfing

Grand Master
1. Rolando Francisco (PHI)
2. Robert Graf (SWI)

Master
1. Fabrice Beaux (FRA/USA)
2. Keiichi Kobayashi (GUM)
3. Typhoon (KOR)

Men
1. Reneric Moreno (PHI)
2. German Paz (PHI)
3. Gido Gelito (PHI)

Youth
1. Gordon Gelito (PHI)
2. Harold Madrigal (PHI)

Ladies
1. Fele Kyanko (PHI)
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST)
3. Simone Bartmann (GER)

Speed Men
1. Manny Cabili (PHI) – 58kph
2. Gilbert Gelito (PHI) – 57kph
3. Keichii Kobayashi (GUM) – 55kph

Speed Ladies
1. Simone Bartmann (GER) – 48kph
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST) – 46kph
3. Fele Kyanko (PHI) – 46kph

Opening casino is like opening hell — priest

BORACAY — Residents of this resort island will continue opposing the establishment of a casino here, a Catholic priest said.

This was despite the fact that the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay recently endorsed the Carino Development Corp. to operate a casino here.
The SB considered that the Philippine Amusement Games Corp. will regulate the casino operation.

But “allowing a casino in Boracay is like opening the gates of hell,” said Fr. Maglore Placer, priest of Balabag Parish here.

“If casino will be opened … it would also be the start of … uncontrolled prostitution, criminal elements and drugs here, making Boracay a gambling capital,” said Placer.

Boracay does not need a casino since the resort island’s tourism industry continues to flourish, he said

Instead, Boracay must be continuously promoted as a wholesome family tourism destination, he added.

The proposal to put up a gaming facility here started ten years ago and is continuously being opposed by the local Church.

Meanwhile, the SB of Malay plans to provide Placer a copy of their endorsement for him to understand why they approved putting up a casino here./

Malay Council denies receiving bribe from prospective casino operator

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- Members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Aklan which has a political and geographical right over this resort island have denied receiving money from the Carino Development Corporation (CDC) which proposed to establish a casino in this resort island.

This developed after a Catholic priest in Boracay insinuated during last Sunday' mass that the council allegedly received bribes from the CDC -- the reason it endorsed the operation of a casino.

"We are worried on the statement of the Church, the council is planning to send the administration of the Holy Rosary Parish in Balabag, Boracay a copy of the endorsement for them to know that we are merely endorsing the CDC and we did not receive any amount from the corporation," said Councilor Jonathan Cabrerra.

The council had endorsed the operation of a casino after receiving assurance from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) that they will be the ones who will be supervising the CDC.

In their endorsement, the council said they considered the social impact of the casino operation wherein it would give more revenue to the local government to provide more economic benefits to the poor residents of Boracay.

BIR padlocks 2 Korean restos, diving shop

BY BAM LUCES

BORACAY — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here padlocked three business establishments for violating the Internal Revenue Code yesterday, 8 a.m.

Diva Korean Restaurant, Sea Park Diving Inc. and an unnamed Korean restaurant owned by Jefry Jung, were closed with a symbolic padlock and chain, and were posted with a BIR’s Oplan Kandado tarpaulin.

According to OIC Revenue District Officer IV Atty. Ricardo Osorio, the establishments were notified and warned to fulfill their tax obligations.

The businesses’ failure to comply prompted the BIR to issue the closure order signed by Internal Revenue Commissioner Nestor Aspe.

Together with Osorio during the operation were BIR-6 Director Glen Geraldino, Assessment Group Revenue Officer chief Antonio Fernandez, Revenue Officer Vicente Tady and BIR-6 Legal Division chief Atty. Yanson Chin.

The establishments will be padlocked for a minimum of five days, or until they have paid their tax dues.
Owners of the Korean restaurants were not around yesterday.

On the other hand, Olang Zhu, owner of Sea Park, insisted that his accountant already settled the problem with the BIR.

Osorio and Geraldino assured the Sea Park owner to settle the problem at the BIR office.

Geraldino appealed to tax payers to cooperate with the government by religiously paying their tax dues./

Protection of Boracay caves now official

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The move to protect the Boracay caves from further exploitation became official after the local council of Malay passed a resolution authorizing Malay Mayor John Yap to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Marlene Aborka, acting officer of the Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO), said that there are three caves in Boracay namely the bat cave, crystal cove, and the Dark Side of Paradise Cave in Barangay Balabag.

All of these caves were allegedly exploited by tour guide operators who are yet to be regulated by the local government.

Wildlife conservation experts said that Boracay in 1980's was inhabited by the world's largest fruit bats but were now extinct because of human development and exploitation.

The move to protect the Boracay caves are in coordination with several government agencies such as the Department of Tourism, National Museum, National Historical Institute, among others.

The MOA would allow DENR and the local government to regulate tour-guiding activities in these caves. The management will then be handled by the local government and fees collected from the management will be used for the protection of the caves.

"We will be the one who will be in charge to frame up the tariff rates to recommend to the council for adoption and approval," Aborka said. 

Aklan guv turns down casino proposal in Caticlan

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez has rejected the proposed establishment of a casino in the 2.6-hectare reclamation project at the Caticlan Jetty Port.

Niven Maquirang, Caticlan Jetty Port administrator, said that the Aklan provincial government has received proposals from different firms for the establishment of the casino but Marquez turned them down.

"Governor Marquez does not want to have a casino in Caticlan," Maquirang said.

For several years, many of the gambling firms have been seeking clearance from the Philippine Amusement Games Corporation (PAGCOR) to invest in casino in this resort island. These firms contended that it could raise revenue for Boracay.

The project, however, was turned town by the Catholic Church and several stakeholders in this resort island.

Meanwhile, Maquirang reported that the Caticlan Jetty Port has generated a revenue of P112,527 million in 2010, a big increase from the projection of P100 million. 

18th President's Cup Sailing Regatta in Boracay

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan- The Manila Yacht Club (MYC) has started the 18th President's Cup Sailing from Manila to Boracay.

MYC organizers said that the 202 nautical miles race started from Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard on February 4 for the Manila to Boracay Race.

After the race, the President's Cup Regatta follows on February 8 to 12.
The regatta race will travel from Boracay Island to Tablas Islands in Romblon.

"Boracay's beautiful island, crystal clear waters and consistent winds guarantee exhilarating sailing, thus Boracay has become an excellent racing destination," the organizers said.

Biz group welcomes Marquez’s plans

BORACAY — The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) welcomed Gov. Carlito Marquez’s plan of further expanding the tourism stake of this resort island in anticipation of a tourism industry boom here.

Ariel Abriam, president of the BCCI, said he believed Gov. Carlito Marquez when he said the province must prepare for the boom of Boracay’s tourism.

Abriam attended the governor’s State of the Province Address recently.
Marquez announced that the provincial government is currently working on a 2.6-hectare reclamation project in Brgy. Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

The project, Marquez said, will translate to more jobs and livelihood sources, more revenues for the government and expanded medical and other social services.
“The BCCI is supporting Governor Marquez on all his endeavors, especially on their proposed reclamation project,” said Abriam.

“We welcome his plans of further boosting the tourism industry of Boracay because we really need to prepare for the influx of tourists,” he added.
According to the Department of Tourism, tourism arrivals in this resort island reached 779,666 last year./