Guimaras ranks 2nd in Gawad “KALASAG”

Guimaras’ Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council ranks second in the Gawad KALASAG Award regional level conducted on April 22, 2009.

This result came after the Search for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance for year 2009 was conducted. There are three provinces that competed: the province of Antique, the province of Guimaras and the province of Iloilo. Guimaras got the overall rating of 95.25 with one point difference from the Province of Antique while the province of Iloilo ranked third.

Meanwhile, in the municipal level under the 4th-6th class category the Municipality of Sibunag tops the record, a tie, with the Municipality of Guimbal with overall rating of 95.37 percent. Ranked second is the town of Bugasong, Antique. For the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council Rural Barangay category, Barangay Hoskyn placed second from its competitor, Barangay Pis-anan, Sibalom, Antique. Read the rest of this entry »

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Guimaras Marine Resources recovering

Guimaras marine resources show recovery after three years of oil spill tragedy in the island province, though there are still stresses that can be seen in marine lives.

This was according to scientists of UP-Institute of Environmental Studies and Meteorology (UP-IESM) who are conducting their respective studies in the province. “Although there are still some stresses that can be observed in marine lives, however, these living things are surviving”, they added.

Dr. Florentino Moya discusses on hydrological impacts

Dr. Lemnuel Aragones, scientist on fisheries and marine wildlife resources said that there are indications of some marine species in coastal areas affected by oil spill that are depleted and some transferred to another breeding ground. This was noted during the conduct of fisheries monitoring and analysis which is also in support to the study of Dr. Rodelio Subade, scientist for Socio economics Guimaras Integrated Coastal Management.

The initial study of Dr. Benjamin Vallejo in beach ecology and the coastal management program corroborated the findings of another study on health and on inter-tidal areas where the bunker oil remained for a period of time, and probably penetrated the food chain.

This finding results to the continued monitoring of the UP scientists in the presence of lead, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), specifically on water and crabs. Read the rest of this entry »

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Guimaras not fully ‘healed’ yet

GUIMARAS – Environmental experts are not about to give this island-province a “clean bill of health” yet, three years since the tragic oil spill on August 11, 2006.

Studies have shown that there remain traces of bunker oil residue in the island.

Yesterday during the provincial government’s commemoration of the third anniversary of what remains to date as the worst oil spill in the Philippines, scientists from the University of the Philippines unveiled the results of their studies.

These confirmed their doubts over the long-term impact of the oil spill, said Dr. Lemnuel V. Aragones of the University of the Philippines – Institute for Environmental Science and Meteorology (UP-IESM).

The UP Poison Management and Control Center led by Dr. Lynn R. Panganiban collaborated in the studies. Read the rest of this entry »

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Guimaras fisherfolk find new life as bamboo weavers after oil-spill tragedy

JORDAN, Guimaras—In the aftermath of the Guimaras oil spill, a group of fishermen in nearby Buenavista town found a new way of life among upland dwellers and are now into small-scale production of bamboo products.

The fishermen belong to the Guimaras Upland Farmers’ Association Inc. (GUFAI) and are among the beneficiaries of a livelihood project called “Production, Utilization, and Processing of Bamboo as Supplemental Livelihood.”

The project is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in barangay Dagsa-an, one of the 36 barangays in the province affected by the oil spill.

The livelihood project has 60 beneficiaries, mostly fishermen, who produce various bamboo products including creative display items sold in the local market. Read the rest of this entry »

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New packaging for Guimaras fresh mangoes developed

Guimaras fresh mangoes are known worldwide as the sweetest mangoes. Tourists and visitors of the island usually crave for the world’s famous mango and more often they bring along with them fresh mangoes from Guimaras as presents and “pasalubong” to their family and friends.

Fresh mangoes sold within Guimaras are usually packed in plastic bags or in reused boxes of other goods. The current practice of packaging Guimaras fresh mangoes were improved by the Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST VI) by providing a proper packaging that will enhance product presentation and protect the mangoes from stress that might affect its taste. With DOST’s packaging design and development, fresh mangoes will be more appealing to the market and also protecting its premium quality.

DOST VI provided technical assistance in the packaging design and development through the collaborative efforts of Taytay sg Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI), taking into consideration various parameters among which would be product-package compatibility. Likewise, its label design has taken into account the Philippine labeling laws as well as visual presentation and impact. The packaging material for Read the rest of this entry »

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Seeking applications for LED Partnership Advisers for Regions I and VI

Please be advised that the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) Program Manager is seeking applications for LED Partnership Advisers for Regions I and VI . The Terms of Reference (TOR) detailing the background, scope of work, roles and responsibilities and qualifications is attached.

• LGSPLED_PA_R1- LED Partnership Advisor for Region 1 / One Pangasinan Alliance of LGUs (pdf)
• LGSPLED_PA_RVI – LED Partnership Advisor for Region VI / Province of Guimaras (pdf)

The LGSP-LED Philippines is a collaborative 8-year program of the Governments of Canada and Philippines, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and implemented through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Its purpose is to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development (LED). The Canadian Executing Agency (CEA) of the program is a consortium of the Canadian Urban Institute and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. Read more…

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Guimaras government focuses efforts on ‘agricultural tourism’

ILOILO CITY — A program funded by the Canadian government aims to spur “agricultural tourism” on Guimaras Island.

Guimaras Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava said the provincial government has identified agricultural tourism as the most appropriate and marketable concept to develop the tourism industry of the island.

Mr. Nava said they noticed that most tourists visit Guimaras for a farm experience, aside from buying agricultural and food products.

“Agri-tourism may include visits to coastal and fruit farms, pick your own fruits on roadside stands and orchards, farm bed and breakfast, agricultural festivals and fairs and even food processing facilities. Visitors will not just buy and eat our mangoes, they will also learn about our agriculture sector,” Mr. Nava said. Read the rest of this entry »

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DILG, CIDA to launch LGSP-LED in Guimaras

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will launch the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) in the province of Guimaras on June 2, 2009.

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero and May Wong, First Secretary for Development of the Canadian Embassy are expected to grace the occasion, which will be held at the Guimaras Trade and Information Center, Guimaras Provincial Capitol in Jordan, Guimaras.

The Guimaras launch signals a series of similar activities that will be held in three other provinces – Bohol, Pangasinan, and Zamboanga del Norte – and will culminate in the national launch on June 22 in Metro Manila. Read the rest of this entry »

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DILG, CIDA to launch LGSP-LED in Guimaras

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Oil spill keeps punishing mangroves

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

ILOILO CITY – Mangroves in Guimaras continue to suffer from the effects of one of the worst oil spills in the country, three years after the disaster.

Scientists have discovered more abnormalities in mangroves that were contaminated by the oil spill, which pointed to the continued effects of the disaster.

Dr. Resurreccion Sadaba, program manager of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Oil Spill Response Program, said recent samplings on mangroves showed “albinism” among trees.

This is characterized by the pale color of mangrove saplings instead of its normal green appearance.

“This can be attributed to the effects of the oil contamination,” Sadaba said in a briefing on Wednesday attended by Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Cayetano chaired the Senate committee on environment when the oil spill occurred on Aug. 11, 2006 after the MT Solar 1, chartered by Petron Corp., sank in stormy seas southeast of Guimaras and spilled more than 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel oil, which it was transporting from Bataan to Zamboanga. Read the rest of this entry »

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