DTI clears 2 Kalibo firms of overpricing

Two establishments here have been cleared of alleged overpricing after super typhoon “Yolanda.”

They were able to justify their prices, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DTI provincial director Diosdado Cadena said they have received complaints about overpricing by a generator set dealer and a water refilling station here.

The DTI has imposed a Visayas-wide prize freeze following the onslaught of the super typhoon on November 8.

“We had conducted an investigation” using the receipts given to the complainants as evidence, Cadena said.

“We found out that their pricing was justifiable,” said the DTI provincial director.

Cadena said the generation set dealer explained that he bought his units for a high prize already.

In the case of the water refilling station, the establishment said their water distribution was held for a limited time, he said./

PAL Express Plane suffered glitch at the Kalibo International Airport

Another plane, this time the Philippine Airline (PAL) Express suffered a glitch from the Kalibo International Airport Thursday night.

Initial report from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP-Kalibo) cited that the plane came from Metro Manila to KIA. It was about to taxi its way to the departure area when the pilot decided to stop the plane at the middle of the runway.

CAAP officials said the front wheel of the plane stocked up which prompted the pilot to call for an emergency. CAAP authorities then assisted the plane as it taxis its way to the departure area.

Problems on hydraulics at the front steering wheel of the Flight Number 2P-975 is being eyed as the possible source of the glitch. The plane has 186 passengers.

Passengers reported that they waited for 45 minutes before they were allowed to depart on board the plane. CAAP officials continue to investigate the incident.

Last December 21, a Zest Air Plane bound for South Korea overshot at the runway of the KIA.

FAO extends assistance to Aklan farmers

The Food and Agriculture Office (FAO) of the United Nations recently extended assistance to the farmers in the province affected by typhoon "Yolanda".

The Aklan province has estimated P2.8 billion worth of both agriculture and infrastructure damaged by the super typhoon in November.

Because of this, the FAO extended 800 bags of certified seeds and 800 more bags of urea as fertilizers to the province. The said agricultural inputs were distributed to the 17 towns of Aklan.

The assistance is under the "Planting the Seeds of Recovery" Program of the FAO in coordination with the Department of Agriculture.

Local agriculture officials urged farmers to cooperate with their respective agriculture technicians to avail of the said seeds.

No imminent power rate hike in Aklan -- AKELCO

The Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) assured the public that there will be no price adjustments not only this Christmas season but also until the forthcoming Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival in January 2014.

Engr. Joel Martinez, assistant manager for AKELCO engineering department, said that they received a lot of queries recently as other power corporations had announced its increased price adjustments.

"We had just received the normal power supply from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and we do not intend to increase prices in the coming months," said Martinez.

The AKELCO however still urges energy conservation as the NGCP reportedly offers limited amount of electricity. This is because several independent power producers had shut down this year.

The AKELCO also said that it may request for power adjustments in the near future depending on the demand.

Korean star helps build homes for Yolanda victims in Aklan

A Korean star personally came to Aklan over the weekend to show support for the victims of super typhoon 'Yolanda.'

Jocelyn Park, a student volunteer of Sun Moon University in South Korea, said that Lim Dae Ho who starred in Jumong, a Korean telenovela watched by Filipinos in GMA show, came here last weekend.

"Ho was here together with university officials and 40 Korean student volunteers to help build five houses in Barangay Mambog, Banga, Aklan over the weekend," said Park.

Park is a resident of Mambog and studies a Korean language at the said university. Her schoolmates, upon knowing what happened to her hometown, decided to embark on a mission to build houses damaged by the typhoon.

The students contributed their allowances and used the amount to purchase housing materials. All of them also helped in the construction of the houses.(

BIR: Statement of Loss deadline today

Business establishments and employees have only until today to file for their Statements of Loss relative to super typhoon “Yolanda,” according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The Tax Code states that the Statement of Loss must be filed 45 days after the disaster struck.

Amounts stated in the Statement of Loss will be deducted from the establishments’ and workers’ income tax.

Prior to that, officials of the BIR will verify the statement.

In a statement, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said businessmen should fulfill several requirements needed for their claims.

But losses with insurance are not considered tax-deductible.

For establishments that have been looted during the typhoon, their owners should provide a copy of the police blotter report about the incident to the BIR.

Zest Air Chartered Flight to South Korea Overshoots Aklan Airport Runway

A Zest Air chartered plane flight bound to South Korea had overshot the runway of the Kalibo International Airport Thursday afternoon.

In an information provided to the local media, the incident happened around 3:45 PM as the plane was about to take off the runway. At least 180 passengers were onboard, majority of them were South Koreans.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) immediately conducted an investigation on the said incident. CAAP officials met with the plane pilots to discuss the incident.

Both CAAP and plane personnel also discussed whether to pursue the plane flight anytime tonight.

During the incident, operation of the KIA continued as there were no scheduled flights from other domestic and international destination plying the airport.

The plane that overshot the runway was brought to its parking bay after an hour, the CAAP said.

Freak fire kills boy in Libacao

A two-year-old boy, the only son of a couple in Brgy. Guadalupe, Libacao town, died after accidentally getting burned in their house on Saturday evening.

John Ervin Asiong succumbed to severe burns on Tuesday.

His father Erwin, a habal-habal (motorcycle) driver, and mother Shevelyn got burned, too, but survived, said Vivian Zolina, the barangay captain.

Many residents of their barangay, including the Asiongs, were using kerosene lamps or candles due to the province-wide blackout, Zolina said.

Erwin lit a lamp, apparently forgetting that he was stacking up gasoline in his house for his motorcycle, said Zolina, also the victims’ relative and neighbor.

Gasoline stocked nearby caught fire, accidentally burning the family, she said. Their house did not catch fire, she added.

The couple was rushed to a hospital in this capital town, but John Ervin, who sustained more burns, was taken to the St. Gabriel Medical Center.

The couple survived but their son expired three days later, according to Zolina.

“We are asking for financial assistance for the family, who cannot afford their hospital fees,” the barangay captain said.

The cost of their hospital bill and medicines has reached more than P300,000, she said.

“The couple was still in the hospital recuperating,” said Zolina./

DTI warns store selling substandard christmas decors

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-Aklan) has warned local businessmen here to be investigated if they found selling Christmas decors with no standard safety certificates.

Diosdado Cadena, DTI provincial director, said Tuesday that all stores selling Christmas decors should adhere to the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) Product Certification Scheme.

"Aside from the revocation of permit of the violators, they will also be penalized ranging from P100,000-P150,000," Cadena said.

Each Christmas decor being sold in the stores should have at least authentic Philippine Standards License and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) markings.

To date, the DTI-Aklan continuously monitors business establishments selling Christmas decorations especially Christmas lights.

Panay rehab to start next week- Roxas

The rehabilitation of Panay island damaged by typhoon "Yolanda" is expected to start next week, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas has said.

Roxas was in Kalibo on Tuesday together with Secretaries Corazon Soliman of social welfare and Voltaire Gazmin of defense.

While here, the officials met with the local chief executives of both Aklan and Antique to discuss the damages and how will the government plan to respond.

Roxas said that both Aklan and Antique shared their sentiments that they need both shelters and livelihood to recover from the onslaught of the strong typhoon.

"The DSWD are now finalizing the lists of those affected residents in Panay.We hope the DSWD could present the final lists to the cabinet meeting next week for approval. The government plans to allocate P130 billion for the rehabilitation plan," said Roxas.

"As soon as the final lists of those affected residents is ready, we will be giving the lists of those victims who suffered partial and total house damages to the Department of Public Works and Highways as they will be in charge of the reconstruction phase," said Roxas.

The DPWH will evaluate if the affected residents would be given a kit which contained housing construction materials or a housing project is needed.

"If everything goes to what is planned we expect to deliver the construction materials for the victims next week," said Roxas.

Super' Yolanda failed to dampen Aklan's campaign against HIV-AIDS

Super typhoon 'Yolanda' failed to dampen the spirit of Aklanons as they persist to campaign for zero target of HIV-AIDS cases and stigma in the province.

This as a successful holding of the first Miss World AIDS Day for gays was held at the NVC Gym Sunday night.

At least 15 finalists joined the pageant and the crown was gathered by Gretchen Tan representing Malay, Aklan.

Robby Bastareche, newly elected president of the Butterfly Brigade and organizer of the pageant, said that they had planned for the said activity since last year.

"At first we thought of cancelling the pageant due to the typhoon 'Yolanda' but we decided to push for it as we consider the campaign for the zero target on HIV-AIDS by 2015 is also urgent.

"We have chosen the gay pageant because records have shown that homosexuals and transgenders are most vulnerable in the said disease," said Bastareche.

The pageant was supported by the Department of Education and the Provincial Health Office (PHO). The PHO said that since 1980's, the province had registered 36 cases eight of them already died due to the said disease.

Part of the activity was a candle lighting ceremony to remember those persons who died of HIV-AIDS.