A total of 56 foreign and national investors from various companies joined the first-ever Capiz Investors’ Forum, April 21, at the Circulo Convention Center in Pueblo de Panay.

The activity, in line with the Capiztahan 2023 celebration, was hosted by the Capiz provincial government, in partnership with the local private sector, to encourage potential investors to establish a business in the province.

Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro said that the province is a nice investment area because of the accommodating and hospitable traits, among others, of the Capiceños.

Castro and Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas led the officials of the provincial and city governments in receiving the guests and participants.

The forum was attended by European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Florian Gottein, Consulate of Jordan in Manila Honorary Consul General Michael Alexander M. Ang, Philippine India Business Council

chair Johnny Chotrani and Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Joselle Sigue, among others.

It was also participated in by 19 national government agencies and 15 representatives from the concerned local private sector.

The possible investment potentials in the province presented during the forum include Information Technology and Business Process Management, Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project, Hydropower, Wind Power, Forestry Investment Portfolio Approach, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital, Aqua-Culture Multi-Species Hatchery, Feed Mill and Inland as well as Island Resort Development.JBG/AAL/PIA Capiz

“It’s the result of the surveillance of the province. We received samples on Feb. 22 and the next day the result of the polymerase chain reaction test turned out positive for the ASF,” said DA Western Visayas OIC-regional executive director, Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, in an interview.

He said that all 18 samples from a backyard farm in Barangay Canapian in the municipality of Maayon were positive as per the test conducted by the Regional Animal Diseases and Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL).

The DA executive said the local government has been provided with the protocol that includes depopulation of hogs within the 500-meter radius of the infected site.

“We give them the protocol but the implementation is with the local government unit. We only assist if they wanted to depopulate within the 500-meter radius,” he added.

Barrogo said there is a need to boost public awareness to protect the P30- to P31-billion swine industry in the region.

He added that it is expected to slowly spread in Panay Island if the people will not be educated on “how serious the problem is.”

With the inclusion of Capiz as among the ASF-infected areas, only Antique and Aklan in Panay island remain ASF-free.

Iloilo continues to battle the animal disease that has already spread in its 22 towns.

“While they may claim that it will not be harmful to humans, but then they haven’t seen the effects to the industry,” he said.

The department has already partnered with shipping firms for the continuous showing of their information videos about the ASF.

He said they have already provided Aklan with a disinfection vehicle.

Antique, on the other hand, has a lower risk since the volume of hogs and pork products coming in to the province is not that huge; and mostly they supply hogs outside of the province.

Barrogo said they will be creating local livestock technicians and incentives will also be provided to barangay biosecurity officers to intensify their surveillance campaign.

Negros Occidental will be the first to benefit since there is an immediate need to protect the province that hosts national and internationally accredited breeders.

They will also do the same in Capiz since the province is also proactive in its campaign, Barrogo added.

Aside from Iloilo and Capiz, the animal disease has been recorded in two municipalities in Guimaras.PNA

The victim was identified as Jaypee Buendia, 28, of Barangay Roxas, Tapaz town.

Buendia went missing on Thursday, Oct. 27, after he drowned in a river in Barangay San Roque.

Brigette Abordo, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, said the victim tried to cross the river but was swept away by rampaging waters.

Buendia’s body was found in Barangay Carida on Friday, Oct. 28.

He became the first casualty of TS Paeng in Western Visayas.IMT

The Bulletin disclosed that Sapian Bay which covers the coastal waters of Ivisan and Sapian towns as well as well as the coastal waters of President Roxas town are now positive for PSP. These areas are in addition to Roxas City and towns of Panay and Pilar which have been declared as toxic red tide-affected based on meat sample of shellfishes collected and tested that were beyond the PSP regulatory limit.

The first three PSP – affected LGUs were were announced by the BFAR thru its September 29, 2022 Shellfish Advisories No. 14, 15 and 16.

“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” said BFAR OIC lawyer Demosthenes Escoto in the Bulletin.

However, the advisory noted that fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh, washed thoroughly and internal organs such as grills and intestines are removed before cooking.

A continuous monitoring of these coastal waters will be conducted by the BFAR and concerned LGUs to safeguard public health and to protect the fishery industry.

The PSP has also affected four municipalities in the province in 2015.JBG/AAL/PIA Capiz

Capiz candidates who ran under the Liberal Party (LP) emerged victorious in the May 9 elections, taking most of the highest positions.

Second District Congressman Fredenil “Oto” Castro defeated incumbent Governor Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras in the gubernatorial race.

Castro’s running mate and re-electionist Vice Governor James “Mitang” Magbanua retained his post.

His wife, former congresswoman Jane Castro, and another LP member re-electionist Congressman Tawi Billones also won the congressional race in the 2nd District and 1st District, respectively.

Meanwhile, re-electionist Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas and his running mate Teresa ‘Inday’ Almalbis were also winners.

Eight out of the 10 bets for councilors who won in Roxas City and four board members in the province also belonged to the Liberal Party.

Other LP candidates who won in the mayoral race were Henry Tumlos (Pontevedra), Kit Dequiña-Belo (Panitan), and Mon-Mon Malapajo (Maayon).IMT