Dating konsehal ng Malay nagpahayag kaugnay ng anomaliya sa fees sa Boracay

NAGLABAS NG pahayag ang dating konsehal ng Malay kaugnay ng kasong isinampa umano sa kanya ng National Bureau of Investigation nitong nakaraang linggo.

Una nang naibalita na ilang mga dati at kasalukuyang opisyal ng nasabing bayan ang sinampahan ng kaso ng NBI dahil sa umano'y anomaliya sa paggamit ng koleksyon ng environment fee sa Boracay.

Ayon sa broadcaster na si Jonathan Cabrera, kasama siya sa mga dating opisyal na sinampahan ng kaso. Handa umano siyang sagutin ang naturang kaso.

Sa kanyang facebook post, ito ang bahagi ng kanyang naging pahayag:

Meron nang Environmental Fee bago pa man ako naging konsehal noong 2010-2013.

Bilang Legislator, wala akong direktang partisipasyon sa koleksyon, pagremit at paggastos nito dahil ito ay nasa Executive departments na functions.

Ginawa ko rin ang oversight function namin dito sa pamamagitan ng pagpuna sa treasury department na dapat icorrect ang mga pagkakamaling nakikita ng Commission on Audit sa kanilang Annual reports at sundin ang mga rekomendasyon nito.

Aktibo rin akong nakibahagi sa mga usapin sa Munisipyo na may kinalaman sa paggastos ng pundo na nanggagaling sa Environmental Fee.

Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang specific na kaso na isinampa ng NBI sa akin dahil hindi pa ako nakakatanggap ng kopya nito.

Naniniwala ako sa due process of law at maipapaliwanag ko ang aking sarili sa Ombudsman sa takdang panahon...

Sinabi ni Cabrera na siya umano ang naghanap ng paraan para malaman kung sinu-sino ang mga kinasuhan ng NBI maliban sa kasalukuyan at dating mayor.

Ito ang inilabas niyang mga pangalan ng mga kinasuhan:

Former Mayor John Yap
Mayor Ceciron Cawaling
Former Vice Mayor Wilbec Gelito 
Vice Mayor Abram Sualog

Sanggunian Bayan members:
Jupiter Gallanero 
Natalie Paredes
Dante Pagsuguiron 
Floribar Bautista
Danilo delos Santos

Former SB members:
Rowen Aguirre
Jonathan Cabrera
Esel Flores
Leal Gelito
Paterno Sacapaño Jr.
Julieta Aron
Gideon Siñel
Cristina Prado
Mateo Tayco
Roldan Casidsid
Niño de Sullan
Charlie Villanueva

Municipal treasurer Dediosa Dioso at 11 collectors.

MAYOR AT DATING MAYOR NG MALAY SINAMPAHAN NG KASO DAHIL SA “MISUSE OF FEES”

NAGHAIN NG mga kasong graft at malversation ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) laban sa dati at kasalukuyang mga opisyal ng Malay.

Ang kaso na inihain sa Office of the Ombudsman nitong Martes ay kasunod umano ng “misuse” sa milyun-milyong koleksyon sa environmental fees mula sa mga turitang bumibisita sa Boracay mula 2009 hanggang 2017.

Kabilang sa mga kinasuhan ay ang suspendidong alkalde na si Ceciron Cawaling, dating mayor John Yap, dating vice mayor Wilbec Gelito at 18 former at incumbent councilors.

Kasama rin sa kinasuhan ang municipal treasurer na si Dediosa Dioso at 11 town collectors.

Base sa report, sinabi ng NBI-National Capital Region, ang koleksiyon umano ng Malay sa environmental at administration fees (EAF) ay ginamit ng hindi wasto.

Nakita ng NBI mula 2012 hanggang 2017 ang discrepancy na Php30,678,920.73 sa report na isinumite ng dalawang treasury officials.

Umabot naman sa Php84,860,570 ang nakitang discrepancy ng NBI sa report na isinumite ng municipal tourism office sa parehong period.

Una nang ikinatwiran ni Cawaling na ang discrepancy sa koleksiyon ng Php75 na environmental fee sa mga turista ay dahil sa mga exemption kagaya kung ang turista ay bata, senior citizen o Aklanon.

Nagsimula ang imbestigasyon ng NBI kasunod ng pagsasara ng Isla ng Boracay noong Abril.##

TATLO ARESTADO MATAPOS MAHULING HUMIHITHIT NG MARIJUANA SA KALIBO

ARESTADO ANG tatlong lalaking ito makaraang maaktuhan ng mga otoridad na humihithit ng marijuana madaling araw ng Huwebes sa Brgy. Pook, Kalibo.

Kinilala sa report ng kapulisan ang tatlo na sina Joemarie Perez, 32-anyos, tubong Iloilo, residente ng Brgy. Poblacion, Kalibo; Kevin Panagsagan, nasa legal na edad, residente Cubay Sur, Malay at; Kevin Bello, 39, tubong Iloilo, residente ng Brgy. Andago, Kalibo.

Nabatid na unang napansin ni Kagawad Lud Pinos ang mga nasabing grupo na humihihithit habang naglalakad. Agad niyang itong inireport sa Kalibo PNP at naaresto ang tatlo na mga miyembro umano ng isang music band.

Kabilang sa mga nasabat sa tatlo ang isang improvised na pipe na may residue pa ng pinaniniwalaang marijuana at isang plastic sachet na may lamang marijuana.

Nakakulong na ngayon ang tatlo sa Kalibo PNP Station at nakatakdang sampahan ng kaukulang kaso.##

-Kasimanwang Darwin Tapayan / Energy Fm 107.7 Kalibo

KALIBO PNP NAGBABALA SA POSIBLENG PAG-ATAKE NG MGA AKYAT-BAHAY NGAYONG UNDAS

NAGBABALA NGAYON ang Kalibo PNP sa taumbayan sa posibleng pag-atake ng mga akyat-bahay ngayong undas.

Sa panayam ng Energy FM Kalibo, sinabi ni PO2 Erick De Lemos, theft and robbery investigator, na sasamantalahin ng mga magnanakaw ang okasyong ito kung saan lumalabas ang mga tao sa kani-kanilang bahay.

Paalala niya sa mga aalis ng bahay na ikandadong maigi ang mga pinto, bintana ng bahay upang hindi mapasok ng magnanakaw. Maaari rin anyang iwan sa mapagkakatiwalaang kapitbahay ang iyong bahay para mabantayan.

Dagdag pa niya, alisin din sa mga saksakan ang mga appliances at patayin ang main switch na posibleng simulan ng sunog. Katwiran niya, mainam parin ang manakawan ng ilang beses kesa masunugan.

Maging alerto rin aniya kapag nasa loob ng bahay. Agad alamin ang mga yabag, ingay o tahol ng aso na naririnig sa labas lalo na kapag natutulog na sa gabi.

Samantala, patuloy pang iniimbestigahan ng kapulisan ang insidente ng pagnanakaw o akyat bahay sa isang apartment sa Brgy. Andagao madaling araw ng Miyerkules.

Ayon kay De Lemos, natangay ng magnanakaw mula sa apartment ang dalawang cellphone, isang tablet, ang pera na nagkakahalaga ng Php10,000.

Napag-alaman na nakuha ang mga ito ng magnanakaw dahil nakabukas ang bintana.##

Gov’t task force bats for casino-free Boracay

PLAYING IN casinos will not count among the recreational activities tourists can look forward to in the newly reopened Boracay Island.

This developed as the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) led by Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has formally requested the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to cancel all gaming franchises and provisional licenses issued in Boracay.

In a letter to PAGCOR chair and chief executive officer Andrea Domingo, the BIATF cited the “pronouncement of President Duterte that no casino shall be allowed in Boracay” in seeking for the cancellation of PAGCOR licenses on the island.

“We shall be grateful for your timely cooperation on this matter for the protection of one of our nation’s most treasured islands,” reads the letter signed by BIATF vice chairs Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on behalf of the task force.

Cimatu aired his continuing objection to the reported plan to build a casino complex in Boracay, which was floated even before the island was closed to tourists in April for a six-month rehabilitation.

He said the BIATF would be firm on enforcing Boracay’s daily carrying capacity with preference to “nature-loving tourists” rather than gamblers.

A study commissioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that Boracay has a carrying capacity of 19,000 tourists per day or about 55,000 people including residents, workers and tourists.

“Let us properly use the island for its real purpose—sun, sea and sand so that what we all worked hard for will not go to waste,” Cimatu pointed out.

Prior to the closure of Boracay on April 26, Cimatu has already voiced his opposition to the planned $500 million hotel and casino project of Galaxy Entertainment Group and its local partner Leisure and Resorts World Corp.

“Boracay already has enough hotel rooms. Adding more and filling these with guests will again lead to more trash and more wastewater,” Cimatu explained. “Then, we’re back to square one.”##

AKLAN AWARDED BY DOH6 AS BEST PERFORMING PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICE (PHO) IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOBACCO AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS

Mr. John Richard Lapascua, DOH regional coordinator presented several awards bagged by Aklan Provincial Health Office in the implementatiom of Non-Communicable Lifestyle-related Diseases control program.

* BEST IN TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM

With 10 of 17 municipalities who were able to pass anti-smoking ordinances (8 are WHO FCTC ordinance compliant), Aklan outweighed other provinces in the region as to policy implementation, technical assistance provision and multi-sectoral engagement.

* BEST IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM

With the greater number of persons who used drugs that were assesed, managed and graduated, Aklan was recognized as one of the best implementers in the region.

Over-all, Aklan PHO was recognized as one of the best provincial health office in the implementation of Lifestyle-related Non-Communicable Disease Program.

- PHO-Aklan

OVER 200 BORACAY ESTABLISHMENTS FINED P43M FOR ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS

The Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has fined 219 business establishments in Boracay a total of P43 million for violation of certain environmental laws.

PAB, a quasi-judicial body charged with adjudicating case
s brought by DENR’s regional offices against violators of environmental laws and regulations, slapped the erring establishments with fines ranging from P10,000 to millions of pesos depending on the length of time and gravity of offenses.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu had emphasized continuing vigilance in monitoring of pollution violations and swift adjudication of cases brought before the Board.

DENR Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia, PAB’s presiding officer, said penalty notices had already been sent to the business owners, who are under obligation to pay the fines.

“We at the DENR believe that anyone who pollutes or destroys the environment must pay the cost for that destruction,” Garcia said.

Garcia said only those who settled the penalties will be allowed to process their permits to operate and discharge permits provided they have not committed other violations.

“The DENR, together with other concerned government agencies, is firm in its resolve to clean not only the waters and air of Boracay and to manage its solid waste. It also wants to clear Boracay of irresponsible and greedy business people who have placed care for the environment their least priority,” Garcia said.

According to Garcia, the rehabilitation efforts will continue even after Boracay has reopened to tourists. “We will continue to monitor all establishments and impose the necessary penalties should they be found breaking laws,” he pointed out.

Of the 209 establishments fined, 110 were found to have violated Section 1, Rule 19 of RA 8749 which requires permit to operate all sources of air pollution from the EMB. Their imposed fines totaled P1.5 million.

Another 72 establishments were fined a total of P2 million for operating facilities that discharge regulated water pollutants without a valid discharge permit, which is required under Section 27(c) of RA 9275.

Five establishments were fined a sum of P39 million for discharging untreated wastewater and exceedance of effluent standards under the clean water law.

For violating some provisions of both RAs 8749 and 9275, 22 establishments were fined a total of P900,000.

All erring establishments were issued notices of violation by the EMB Region 6 soon after Boracay was closed to tourists in April for a six-month rehabilitation from serious environmental damage.

The PAB is mandated to assess fines and issue cease and desist orders to polluting establishments, and specify compliance with the standards violated. DENR regional offices are responsible for implementing PAB’s orders. ##

- DENR

Inter-agency task force hopeful Boracay improvements will be sustained long term

As Boracay is all set for its much-awaited reopening on Friday, government agencies in charge of its rehabilitation are hoping the improved environmental condition of the world-famous resort island will be sustained for the long term.

“It is our fervent hope that the people of Boracay have learned their lesson well and that they are now ready to lead efforts to ensure the sustainability of Boracay as a world-class ecotourism destination,” said Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, head of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).

Boracay will reopen exactly six months after it was closed to tourists to pave the way for much-needed rehabilitation from serious environmental damage, particularly the concerns that its once-crystal-clear waters have been tainted by sewage and garbage.

Cimatu said that Boracay’s environmental sustainability would depend largely on how its residents, stakeholders and tourists will adhere to the guidelines laid down by the BIATF to protect the island from unsustainable tourism practices.

The environment chief strongly believes that more than the significant improvements and innovations done in Boracay, “a change in the behavior of the people—both the locals and tourists—will bring real change to the island.”

Cimatu expressed hope the BIATF has “successfully laid the foundations for a sustainable Boracay” during the six months the island was under rehabilitation.

Last October 15, Cimatu announced that Boracay waters are already fit for swimming based on the standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Prior to reopening, the BIATF has approved a set of guidelines to ensure Boracay’s environment will be sustained and protected from the expected massive influx of local and foreign tourists.

The guidelines include a regulation on tourist arrivals and number of persons allowed to stay in Boracay, in accordance with the island’s carrying capacity.

A study conducted by the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños revealed that the island’s daily carrying capacity is 54,945—19,215 tourists and 35,730 non-tourists, which refer to residents, migrants and stay-in workers.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor said that among the highlights of the reopening will be the unveiling of the so-called “Boracay icon” and inauguration of the reconstructed main road.

Rigor said the “reopening ceremony” will take place at Cagban Jetty Port in Barangay Manoc-manoc.
“Cagban jetty port is the main gateway to Boracay. It is only fitting that the ceremonies marking the reopening will take place here, as a symbol of the island welcoming visitors once again to enjoy its natural beauty,” he said.

A prominent marker in Cagban port constitutes of the word “Boracay” with a 50-foot vertical garden and backdrop of the “Boracay icon,” a phrase coined by the task force to refer to an image that the island is well known for.

The marker, Rigor said, would be a “fitting symbol showcasing the ‘new’ Boracay that has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of the government and the island’s stakeholders.”

According to the DENR official, the sheer size of the Boracay icon makes it visible as a welcome sign to ferry passengers approaching the mainland.

Another highlight of the opening will be the inauguration of the rehabilitated main road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be led by Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The 4.1-km road stretches from the Cagban port to the Elizalde property in Station 1.

Environmental warriors will also take their oaths as part of the “Kaligkasan” community multipliers group during the ceremony.

The Kaligkasan, a combination of the words “kaligtasan” (safety) and “kalikasan” (nature), will augment government personnel in enforcing environmental laws and regulations on the island.

Along with the island’s rehabilitation is the improvement of Cagban port’s facilities. Among these is the renovation of the jetty itself, as well as the construction of a rotunda where vehicles can drop off passengers purchasing tickets or leaving the island.

A walkway leading to the main road has also been constructed as a separate path for people entering the island.