By Mary Joy Cavañas
Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo, is considered to be one of the agri-industrial areas in the Philippines as it produces many products, such as, vegetables, sugarcane, corn, rice, bananas, and pineapples.
To improve the growth and productivity of harvests in farming, one must learn how to think of the ways not only to the amount or quantity being harvested but also the nutrients that shall be gained through an organic way such as using organic foliar fertilizers.
Thus, a natural and organic type of fertilizer was introduced which is the NutriBoost Nano Plus Smart Fertilizer which is made to enhance the growth and productivity of agricultural products such as rice, corn, vegetables, sugarcane, and other crops.
Manufactured in Israel, this organic innovation was made available to the country through the efforts of Mr. John Nestor Villagomeza, Importer and Country Manager of the said product, along with the support of his wife, Mrs. Jona Villagomeza.
As a foliar fertilizer, NutriBoost aims to introduce smart farming and prevent the usage of pesticides and other toxic chemicals which may cause harm to the bodies of people once they intake the food being harvested.
“Environment friendly ni siya, indi ni siya makaguba sa mga duta or tanom,” Villagomeza said during the NutriBoost press conference on April 10 at Hangout Resto in Jaro, Iloilo City.
In addition, the said fertilizer can be directly applied to a plant’s leaves, particularly in the stomata which results to improvement of the plant’s health and fertility as well as to gain more nutrients or nutrient absorption.
The best time to apply the said product in plants is about 4:30 in the afternoon wherein its 10-gram sachet is equivalent to 200 liters of water, sufficient to water a one-hectare of rice field.
On the other hand, the acidity level of soil decreases within 45 to 60 days and no longer needed the soil analysis when using the product. This also increases the yield of harvests in the farm as this has a special blend of nanotechnology which nutrients are delivered through smaller particles.
At the height of El Niño season, the use of such organic innovation could help in increasing the production of crops to a hundred percent as this product is approved by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and has been tested in Regions 1-8.
“Ang aim gid naton is to have the purpose nga mag-increase ang aton nga pananom kag para hindi kabudlay sa aton farmers nga magtanom subong,” Villagomeza emphasized.
Pioneering in the market for five years, NutriBoost is also being imported and distributed by Quanergy Agri Trading within the Philippines. It was also tested in the Iloilo Province and even used in Mindanao area.
Meanwhile, the said fertilizer was registered and has also been tested by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in its different areas such as Ajuy, Benguet, and Isabela.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Negros Occidental has also proven NutriBoost’s effectivity in terms of decreasing its input in rice along with sugarcane and it also helps to increase the yield.
“Ang aim gid naton is to have the purpose nga mag-increase ang aton nga pananom kag para hindi kabudlay sa aton farmers nga magtanom subong,” said Villagomeza
NutriBoost was also validated by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) due to its effectivity while the Iloilo Province is also getting such supply for their farming needs.
Through Villagomeza’s innovative effort of creating Nutriboost, this could help in educating the farmers to upgrade and practice the use of organic, non-chemical smart fertilizer so that they will not left behind in terms of having a sustainable agriculture not only during the present times but also in the future.
NGCP’s CNP-backbone project to resolve Panay grid’s power issues
By Mary Joy Cavañas
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has conducted the ceremonial energization of the 230-kilovolt (kV) Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) backbone project on April 8, 2024 at NCGP Substation in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
The backbone project, composed of CNP1, CNP2, CNP3, and Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2 (NPIP L2), aims to strengthen the grid as well as to improve the power transmission’s reliability in the islands of Cebu, Negros, and Panay to support the existing 138kV facilities.
In addition, the said project also aims to give relief and solve the power issues being faced by the Panay Grid and is also considered as one of the most significant transmission infrastructure initiatives by the NGCP.
Present in the ceremony were Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas alongside with Barotac Viejo Mayor Nielo “Bongbong” Tupas, MORE Power Electric Corp. CEO Mr. Roel Castro, NGCP Board of Directors, and other significant people involved in the said project.
Castro commended and recognized NGCP for completing the said project.
“This will be a significant relief for us at MORE Power and the entire Panay Island. Although the capacity is very good, there is a substantial relief for us. However, it is essential to consider whether ancillary services are necessary on the Island of Panay,” Castro said.
The MORE Power CEO stated that the possibility of experiencing another series of power outage similar to what happened last January will be reduced due to the CNP Project. “For consumers, if before the energization of the CNP project there was a 50% probability of experiencing again a 4-day blackout, now the probability is only 10-20%. However, this probability, as it’s called, can still occur. I would attribute it to the configuration or the identification of whether ancillary services are needed on the Island,” Castro added.
On the other hand, Castro explained the ancillary services through the usage of a spare tire’s analogy wherein a spare one will readily replace a tire which became flat. Similar to power industry, once the major power plant is offline, there will be another one to readily replace it in order to prevent the uncertain power outage scenarios to happen just like on April 2023 and January 2024.
Treñas also expressed his gratitude for the completion of NGCP’s backbone project through a Facebook post on April 9.
“As the Mayor of Iloilo City, I am deeply grateful for the completion of NGCP’s CNP Backbone project. This transformative development holds the potential to be the much-needed solution to the power issues our city has been facing. With its enhanced transmission capabilities, I am optimistic that we can now provide a reliable and efficient power supply to our residents, paving the way to a brighter and more prosperous Iloilo,” Treñas stated.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also attended the ceremonial energization in Bacolod City alongside with NGCP President Mr. Anthony Almeda, Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla, Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, and Rep. Greg Gasataya, and other important guests.
During his speech, Marcos also recognized NGCP’s effort with regards to the project.
“We must recognize NGCP for the successful completion of CNP. The completion of this project marks a milestone in our pursuit to enhance the resilience and reliability of our power infrastructure, especially in this area. We have to align the different power systems available in Panay and Negros,” said Marcos.
By Mary Joy Cavañas
The Iloilo City Government in partnership with the Global Business Power (GBP), held a ceremonial turn-over of the Butterfly Garden and Koi Pond at La Paz Plaza in Iloilo City on April 5.
The P2.1M project which underwent Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was graced by Mayor Jerry Treñas and his wife, Mrs. Rosalie Treñas along with GBP representative Mr. Antonio Cabaljug Jr.
“These are very important projects nga malipay gid ang mga pumuluyo ta sa siyudad.” Mayor Treñas said.
In addition, the said project aims not to only enhance the La Paz Plaza but also to create a stress-free and recreational attraction especially for students who shall visit the said area.
“The Koi, the butterfly, are additional attraction and they show that the city of Iloilo is livable.” Treñas added.
On the other hand, the admission is free as everyone are welcome to visit the place and must be regulated once being opened.
“Ang koi ni may schedule ni dapat (ang pagpakaon) but because gusto ta man nga daw interactive man so ginapangitaan nila paagi nga maka feed man bisan sin-o,” Treñas stressed.
Also, the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water assures the city mayor that they will also provide water supply to maintain the said pond while the watering of plants inside the butterfly garden was shifted at night time as the water quickly evaporates when it is done during daytime.
“Ang Metro Pacific has assured us nga kung mawad-an tubig, dugangan nila aside from that ang dako-dako naton nga cistern
sang butterfly garden, Metro Pacific is continuously providing water there,” said Treñas.
Meanwhile, also present in the event were Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, councilors of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), GBP staffs and personnel, and other key figures who made the project possible.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has been recognized as 2023 “Outstanding Public Servant” by RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD).
Representatives from the Foundation, on March 19, arrived in Iloilo to hand over the award’s plaque and certificate to Treñas.
“This prestigious accolade reflects a comprehensive performance assessment by our department, concluded in January 2024, and is a testament to the democratic voice and trust of the people of Iloilo City, who have bestowed Mayor Treñas with exceptionally high job performance and trust ratings,” the certificate, signed by Dr. Paul Martinez, a Global Affairs Analyst and the Executive Director of RPMD, read.
Treñas expressed his profound gratitude to RPMD for the recognition, which he dedicates to all the Ilonggos.
He thanked everyone for the continued trust and confidence in his leadership and vowed to serve better and come up with more programs beneficial to the whole Ilonggo community.
“This is validation of all the hard work and dedication of all the men and women in the City Government, of course, with the support of our people and our various partners,” Treñas stated.
In giving the award, the RPMD cited that under Treñas’ transformative leadership, Iloilo City has witnessed significant advancements in infrastructure, public services, and community engagement.
“His unwavering dedication to the welfare of his constituents and his innovative governance approach have been instrumental in propelling the city towards remarkable progress, embodying the spirit of “Uswag Iloilo” (Progress Iloilo) and laying the foundations for “Rise Iloilo”, a vision that under his guidance, can be seamlessly realized,” it added.
The RPMD’s rigorous evaluation process examined the initiatives led by Mayor Treñas, gauging their impact on the city’s development and the residents’ quality of life.
“This award not only celebrates Mayor Treñas’ substantial contributions to Iloilo City’s upliftment but also highlights his role as an exemplary leader capable of navigating the complexities of modern governance to foster sustainable community development,” the RPMD emphasized. (Iloilo City PIO)
By Fems Pedregosa
Officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Western Visayas Regional Office V1 here in Quintin Salas, Jaro, Iloilo City are nowhere to be found to clarify some issues regarding the rice shortage and the skyrocketing prices per kilo of rice in the market.
NFA-Iloilo Branch information officer Lalaine Doronila told this reporter that Iloilo NFA Manager Epifanio Cosca, and NFA Regional Director Dianne A. Silva are not available for an interview. She tried to reach out their Operations Manager but to no avail.
The information officer also explained, because of the ongoing investigations NFA officials are hesitant to give their statement to media people.
Doronila told this reporter to refer all questions to the TV screen monitor being displayed at the NFA lobby because all the facts are there. This reporter was also being denied to take pictures inside the NFA bodega.
Doronila assured the Ilonggos that NFA has a buffer stocks of rice intended to the calamities and it is distributed thru DSWD and other related agencies. She clarified that NFA is not selling rice to retailers or traders since last year.
The mandate of NFA is to buy the palay produced by the farmers at P23.00 per kilo and sell it to DSWD, LGU and other related agencies at P1,250 per bag . She also explained that NFA is making money out of this buy and sell of rice. Their 50 years of existence is a proof of good management.
Doronila added that they are only buying the locally produced rice but they have no hands on rice importations since it was handled by the rice traders.
In an interview with the rice retailer, a certain Oscar told News Express since the time of President Rodrigo Duterte to date they no longer get their supplies at the NFA, and they have no choice but to get their supplies from rice traders. Since
As part of its effort in mainstreaming the use of renewable energy in its facilities, the Iloilo provincial government has embarked on the installation of solar rooftop projects in district hospitals.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the turnover of the 30-Kilowatt Solar Photovoltaic and Efficiency Project (Phase I) worth P3.5 million intended for the COVID Ward and Service Award of Aleosan District Hospital in the municipality of Alimodian on March 6, 2024.
The province also broke ground the construction of the Phase II which involves the installation of 30-kilowatt rooftop solar PV and streetlights which cost P3.7 million.
Joining the governor during the event are Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Hospital Management Office Chief Dr. Paz Calopiz, Aleosan District Hospital Chief Dr. Cherubin Estrellanes, Mayor. Ian Kenneth A. Alfeche, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Atty. Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco, Jr., PGENRO Energy Efficiency Excellence Focal Rey Victor Garin and representatives from the Department of Energy and Panay Energy Development Corporation, among others.
These renewable projects are funded through the province’s share from generation companies as provided by Section 66 of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or EPIRA Law.
Governor Defensor said the installation of solar projects in district hospitals is part of his development thrust under MoRProGRes Iloilo (Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo) which is to ensure a reliable energy source in the province.
“Why solar? Because we want our energy to be more reliable, more environment-friendly, and economical. That is the direction of the province with respect to our hospitals and other facilities,” the governor said.
Banias said the provincial government’s transition to renewable energy is part of its contribution to the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP). Last year, the provincial government received the Energy Excellence Efficiency Excellence Award from the DOE for its implementation of GEMP.
Banias said that the solar project saved the Aleosan District Hospital about P80,000 from its monthly bill.
Meanwhile, three more hospitals are added to the list of recipients for the renewable energy project – Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas, Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan, and Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial Hospital in Lambunao. (Capitol news)
Iloilo City is undergoing a significant transformation in its public transportation network with a focus on modernization and sustainability.
The city is implementing the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), launched in June 2022, to improve public transport services.
Under the LPTRP, Iloilo City is introducing 1,782 modernized jeepneys to replace older models, with 500 units already operating within the city limits.
These modernized vehicles are set to follow 17 existing routes, 7 new routes, and 1 enhanced new/developmental route. Restrictions have been placed on traditional jeepneys, limiting their operation to designated terminals in the city to streamline traffic and reduce congestion.
In February 2023, the Western Visayas Transportation Cooperative deployed 95 new modern jeepneys across 13 routes in Iloilo City.
These jeepneys offer a host of amenities including air-conditioning, CCTV systems, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a cashless payment system, all while adhering to European emission standards for reduced environmental impact.
Future projects are underway to further revolutionize transportation in Iloilo. The city is in the process of reviewing a proposal for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, envisioned to significantly improve the efficiency of public transportation.
The BRT system aims to reduce traffic congestion and provide a fast, reliable, and eco-friendly mode of travel for residents. In an effort to further modernize the city’s transport system, a mobile app-based bike-sharing system is being explored.
This initiative will promote a healthy lifestyle and provide a sustainable alternative to motorized transport, potentially alleviating traffic congestion. The move towards electrification of public transport is gaining momentum with plans to introduce a fleet of electric buses.
These buses are expected to be integrated with the proposed BRT system, representing a leap forward in the city’s commitment to sustainable and green transport solutions.
The ambitious PHP189 billion Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge project is set to significantly reduce travel times, cutting the current four-hour journey (via ferries/RORO) between Panay and Negros islands to approximately one hour by land.
This monumental infrastructure is anticipated to be a catalyst for economic growth and enhanced inter-island connectivity.
A significant upgrade is also on the horizon for the Iloilo International Airport, with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista advocating for its privatization.
The goal is to expand the airport’s capacity to handle 10 million passengers annually, thereby boosting tourism and spurring economic development in the region. However, these developments are not without their challenges. The phase-out of traditional jeepneys in favor of modernized alternatives has met with some resistance from drivers and operators.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are actively supporting displaced drivers through the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
TESDA Director General, Tonisito Umali, announced that 900 scholarship grants have been provided to aid drivers and their beneficiaries, aiming to ensure that the transition to modern vehicles is both fair and inclusive. Infrastructure limitations also pose a hurdle, with concerns that the current infrastructure may not adequately support a fully modernized system, particularly the proposed BRT.
Moreover, public awareness is a critical aspect of these changes. Ensuring that the public is well-informed about new routes and system upgrades is essential for a smooth transition.
The city is therefore investing in public information campaigns to facilitate understanding and cooperation from all stakeholders.
As Iloilo City navigates through these transformations, the collective efforts of government agencies, transport operators, and the public will be paramount in realizing a modern, efficient, and sustainable transportation network for the future.
Police Brigadier General Jack L. Wanky has assumed his post as the acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6.
He succeeded PBGen Sidney N. Villaflor in a turnover ceremony presided by no less than Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda, Jr. on February 19, 2024 at the PRO 6 headquarters, Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City.
Villaflor was assigned to an elevated position at the PNP Directorate for Human Resource Development Division (DHRDD) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Wanky, who hails from Benguet province’s Buguias town, was part of the PNP Academy Class of 1992, and also served as its executive officer.
He was also the former head of the PNP Aviation Security Group.
Wanky has served PRO 6 in the late 90s and was the former city director of Bacolod City Police Office from February to October 2017.
PBGen Wanky thanks the PRO6 personnel and the people of Region 6 for welcoming him.
“My vision of the PRO6 is a police regional office that provides fast, efficient, and quality services to the people of Western Visayas. I want us to become a model PRO across the country. Towards this end, I am excited to embark on this journey with you. I am confident that together we can make a meaningful difference,” Wanky stressed.