ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The city of Iloilo is safe for the upcoming Dinagyang Festival. Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), made the assurance Friday, saying the spate of crimes since the start of the New Year does not automatically mean that the entire city has become a crime haven.
The latest incident was the Jan. 10 grenade blast at the Jaro residence of a seaman who was involved in the indiscriminate firing incident during New Year’s Eve. Last Jan. 3, a suspected assassin shot and killed a high school basketball coach along Plazoleta Gay in City Proper district. Valerio said these crimes were isolated cases and should not affect the holding of the Dinagyang Festival on Jan. 21 and 22. (Tara Yap)
More revenues
CEBU CITY (PNA) – The total collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Central Visayas in 2011 exceeded by 14 percent its collection from the previous year. Five revenue district offices in the region contributed P12.343 billion in taxes, said BIR Central Visayas Director Rodita Galanto. While she is satisfied with their performance, Galanto said she believes they can do better this year.
“With the cooperation of very supportive taxpayers, we can,” she said. The tentative collection report showed that the region collected a total amount that is 11 percent higher than their goal of P12.42 billion. In 2010, the BIR Central Visayas collected only P10.849 billion. The Cebu City North revenue district office contributed the biggest amount at P4.721 billion. However, it failed to reach its target of P4.893 billion.
Leyte road
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, who sits as chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC-8), said the completion of the Burauen-Albuera Road, an alternate route in going to the south-western part of Leyte, is one of the priority projects of the RD in Eastern Visayas this year. The road will shorten travel time by one-hour from the usual route through Ormoc City or Baybay City.
It will also provide more economic activities in the villages that the road traverses. In a recent gathering with the Vice Mayors League-Leyte Chapter, Petilla said the RDC, through the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 8, has already called for the support of the national government to complete the project. (Jack C. Gadaingan)
OFW benefits
ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Forty-five overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Western Visayas have already benefited from the “Balik-Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay” program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The program assists displaced women OFWs.
OWWA 6 Regional Director Samuel Madrid said the program was designed to provide short-term training to women OFWs who lost their jobs abroad because of conflicts and tensions in the country where they used to work.
Processed mango
CEBU CITY, Cebu – Gandang Kalikasan Inc. (GKI), a social enterprise company, disclosed Friday that it will partner with Cebu-based non-government organizations to maximize the wastage of processed mango, particularly mango skin and seeds, for the requirement of its Mango Butter skin moisturizing product. (Malou M. Mozo)