KALIBO, Aklan (PNA) — Modern “Atis” and “Giant” paper maché will be the highlights of this year’s Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-atihan Festival. Dr. Jesse Gomez, division superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd), said that students, teachers, and school administrators from various 19 local districts will be joining the “Higante Festival” (Parade of Giants) on January 17. The “Higante Festival” is being organized yearly by the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office as part of the annual Ati-atihan celebration. This year’s theme is focused on animals. The Ati-atihan fest will reel off on the second week of this month.

ETHICS DAY

MAASIN CITY (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office celebrated the recent 19th PNP Ethics Day during the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Alfredo K. Bantug with its theme “Serbisyong Marangal at May Pagkukusa, Isapuso’t Isadiwa Tungo sa Mapayapang Bansa.” The celebration was led by Southern Leyte deputy provincial director for administration Superintendent Jacinto A. Cesar, said Police Senior Inspector Ronaldo A. Plecerda. “The activity was graced by retired police Superintendent Pepito Generan as the guest speaker,” he said.

ANNUAL RENEWAL

CEBU CITY (PNA) — Hundreds of applicants flocked to the one-stop-shop set up by the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) at the Trade Hall of SM City Cebu to renew their annual business permits. Some taxpayers said they were satisfied with the flow of the renewal and the service, but a few said it was still the same as previous years with long queues. Jaime Aray said the setup for this year’s renewal is better. “It is organized and a lot more spacious. I can easily figure out where to go next,” he said, comparing his previous experience at the Cebu City Hall where he had to go up and down the stairs.

ILOILO FACILITY

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. disclosed that the entire management and operation of the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail (IPIJ) will be turned over to the Region-6 office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP-6). Defensor said the provincial government is ready to pullout all the guards from the jail compound in Barangay Nanga, Pototan, by the end of February or early March this year. “All manpower for operation and manpower of the IPIJ will be under the BJMP,” Defensor said. The Iloilo provincial government will take care of the maintenance and other operating expenses of the IPIJ for this year. (Tara Yap)

VITAL EQUIPMENT

ILOILO CITY (PIA) — Eco-tourism sites in upland Iloilo covered by the Tigum-Aganan Watershed area were given gears and equipment for community-based tourism projects. The gears and equipment were donated by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), which has been helping the municipalities identify and develop their eco-tourism potentials through training. CUI project officer Jerilee Cameña said the gears consist of safety harness/carabineers such as static ropes, seat harnesses, utility helmets and gloves, carabineers and pulleys. The camping equipment consisted of tents, camp lanterns and stoves, headlamps and battery chargers, as well as emergency equipment.