Discover Guimaras

GUIMARAS…SUSTAINS EXCELLENCE!!!

The province of Guimaras was in the limelight for sustaining its title in excellence award during the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly and Excellence Awards on December 4-6, 2009 at Roxas City, Capiz.

Awarded as Best Tourism-Oriented LGU (Provincial category) became an edge for Guimaras in recognition to the efforts of Gov. Felipe “Nene” Nava in coordination with the officials of the five municipalities in implementing tourism development and promotion of the CBRT approaches. This involves managing and protection of natural assets, preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage and implementation of Guimaras’ vision as an agri-tourism province. Proving its worth to excellence, 10 more awards (major and special) were grabbed. These are: Best Tourism Council for Barangay Hoskyn, Jordan for their community activities linking with tourism, Best Tourism Emerging Destination for Barangay Dolores, Nueva Valencia, special award for Barangay Sapal, San Lorenzo for its weaving village and Barangay Lawi, Jordan in its Marine Turtle and Rescue Center.

Best Tourism Officer for Ms. Angeles Gabinete, OIC Tourism Section for her outstanding performance and commitment in promoting Guimaras contributing to the province’s economic growth.

The municipality of Nueva Valencia gained recognition as Best Tourism Oriented LGU (Municipal Category). This town is the tourism capital of the province having the seven active Community-Based Rural Tourism Councils and LGU support programs such as formation of Nueva Valencia Municipal Tourism Arts and Culture. In involve public-private composition of tourism stakeholders in the municipality.

Lin-ay sang Guimaras, Mary Ann Petrola was into a public eye when she vies for the Search for Western Visayas Tourism 2009. Petrola seized two corporate awards from Globe and RDEVZ Pharma.

The Pasundayag sang Guimaras drew crowd during the theater play of traditional courtship, love and marriage which include, “Sinulog sa Kasal” by Sibunag Cultural Group and the featured family of violinist of Salvacion, Buenavista.

To explore further about Guimaras, the Tourism Destination Booth brings out the replica of a 19^th century old Punta Luzaran Lighthouse Station, CBRT festivals, and video presentation about various destinations. While the trade fair and Exhibit Booth offers the province’s products such as its famous mangoes, the only producer of tultol, weaved bags and delicacies and processed foods.

Delighted to the awards received by the province, Gov. Nava said, “It is the quest of Guimaras to be the center of tourism not only in the region but in the country.” He added that he would try to make Guimaras to be in the super region.

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CIDA: Sees CBRTs Positive Outlook

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was overwhelmed and impressed to the pilot sites they visited on October 23, 2009.

This is in connection with the alliance of Guimaras to the CIDA in the implementation of the Local Governance Support Program – Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) project headed by Rachel Bruneau, Project Team Leader and Marion Villanueva Canadian Field Director (LGSP- LED).

The top rank CIDA officials rolled up to see, observe and validate the maturity of the province Community-Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) program. Of the five (5) pilot barangays, the guests immersed to San Roque, Nueva Valencia and Sapal, San Lorenzo. Overwhelmed of what had been observed in the pilot sites, Ms. Brureau gave an impression: “these things I believe were not prepared just for the visit, these had been institutionalized with the communities hence, my positive outlook for a very successful partnership henceforth.”

Another visit was made by Liza Moreau, Canadian Field Director together with Jay Prezaldo and Nerio Luhan of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) at the Guisi Community-Based Heritage Tourism Project (GCBHTP), Dolores, Nueva Valencia and Sapal Weaving Village, Sapal, San Lorenzo on November 19, 2009.

Governor Nava strongly believed in the strong partnership of the Canadian Urban Institute and the Province of Guimaras. According to him the partnership is able to help and led the province in its proper governance and provides a better future for Guimaras.

The LGSP-LED Guimaras has a total budget of Php 10 million for its implementation starting on January to September 2010. This will be utilized to fund the Capability Building Activities and Demonstration Projects of the CBRTs in the operationalization of the Agri-Tourism Development Program of the province.

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Pride of Guimaras

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Pride of Guimaras

Rene Gamarcha Herrera stands out in the 2009 South East Asian Games when he won gold in the 3,000 meters steeplechase event in Laos. Herrera proved his worth after winning the 4^th gold in the SEA Games.

During his visit to Governor Felipe Hilan A. Nava recently, Herrera said that he dedicate his title to the Province of Guimaras.

It was noted that Herrera got the four golds from various SEA Games. He started to join the event in 2003 in Vietnam and got his first gold. His second gold was in 2005, SEA Games was held in the Philippines and his third gold was in 2007 in Thailand.

He encourages those students and youth to be inclined in sports so that that they could develop whatever talents they may have.

He said that he is thankful for his coach Mari Castro of the Philippine team for all the encouragement.

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Gov Leads Anti- Mining Forum

participants who attended the anti-mining forum

Spare Guimaras!

This is the voice of every Guimarasnon against the proposed mining activities in the province. This advocacy is led by Governor Felipe Hilan A. Nava who personally opposes mining in Guimaras. He leads his advocacy -SPARE Guimaras (Save Our People against Resources Exploitation) for people’s awareness.

Gov. Nava stresses to every Guimarasnon especially to barangay officials during the forum on October 29, 2009 that if mining permitted in the province it would only cause various ill-effects and imbalances to the environment.  He urges the barangay and municipal officials to lead and continuously support the advocacy for the better Guimaras.

Mr. Melvin Purzuelo of the Green Forum Western Visayas explained about the technical result of large scale mining while Atty. Elijo Sharon Herrera-Bellones discusses on the legal aspects and the stand of the Catholic Church represented by Rv. Msgr. Meliton Oso of the Archdiocese of Jaro.

It was noted that mining companies such as: Dorilag Cement Corp., P&N Mining & Dev’t Corp., FIl-Asian Strategic resources and Properties Corp., Global Philippine Mining and Dev’t Corp. and Next Generation Mining Dev’t Corp. are pursuing their applications in Guimaras despite opposition letters by the LGUs and other line agencies.

Through the forum provincial government of Guimaras aims to properly disseminate and educate  every Guimarasnon.

Gov. Nava urges barangay captains and municipal officials to lead the advocacy

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A smile from a heart. Gov. Nava receives his replica made of clay during the National launching of Paper Clay Art competition in Guimaras. This year’s themea: “Ako para sa kalikasan”, aims to promote environmental awareness among children and youth. It also helps stimulate their minds in the protection and conservation of our environment as well as our natural resources for the next generations.

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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 4^th-6^th 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.

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 6, Office of the Civil Defense Regional Office organized the activity. Winners received their awards during the formal awarding ceremony on September 23; at Bacolod City.

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Hundreds of Guimarasnons graduated from TESDA

A total of 319, Pangulong Gloria scholars graduated in TESDA last June 26, 2009 at the Capitol Covered Gym.

The graduates came from 5 different municipalities in the Province. In the municipality of Buenavista there are 28, in San Lorenzo 45, in Nueva Valencia 94, in Jordan 114, and in Sibunag 38.

Graduates/scholars together with their parents received their respective certificates in their various fields. Among of the training given to them by TESDA are:  Gas Tungsten Arc Welding NC II, Gas Metal Arc Welding NC I, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I and NC II, Reinforced Steel Bar Installation NC II, Masonry NC II, Food & Beverage Services NC II, Dressmaking NC II, Heavy Equipment Operation NC II and Commercial Cooking NC II.

Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava congratulates and gave an inspiring message to the graduates. The Governor said that in order to maintain the sustainability of TESDA, he is planning to assign a regular employee to administer TESDA in Guimaras. He added that he will make initiatives and support to the programs for TESDA because it helps a lot especially in producing skilled Guimarasnons. “Through the TESDA, many Guimarasnons were given an opportunity to work especially abroad,” governor said.

Also present in the event is Cong. JC Rahman Nava of the Lone district of Guimaras. Cong. Nava said that the new building which is under construction will serve as a good training ground for the students. Further, he said that he will still look funds in support to the programs of TESDA/PTEDC Guimaras.

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CBRTs recieve garden swings

Gov. Felipe Hilan A. Nava (3rd from right) together with Ms Charry Galia, Prov'l Economic Development Officer (extreme right) turn-over the garden swing to recipient barangay

Community Based Rural Tourism Barangays and municipalities receive garden swings from the Province of Guimaras on September 14, 2009 at the provincial capitol ground.

There were eight barangays and four municipalities that received their respective units. The provincial government led by Gov. Felipe Hilan A. Nava and the PEDO-Tourism Office distributed two garden swings for every barangay tourism council while one unit was given for every municipality. This is an incentive given to all the participating tribes during the festival showcase competition in the 2009 Manggahan Festival held on April 19, 2009.

A total of 20 units garden swings were turned over to 12 tourism councils of the province. These units will serve as an additional tool for their respective area as a tourism attraction. It is also an additional reward for those active barangays and municipal tourism councils who showcased their community based tourism initiatives during the 2009 Manggahan Festival.

Barangay Tourism Councils that received said facility are Barangays:  Dolores, Lanipe, Calaya, and Salvacion in Nueva Valencia, Sapal in San Lorenzo, Hoskyn in Jordan, Salvacion and Tastasan in Buenavista while the Municipal Tourism Councils are the Municipality of Nueva Valencia, Municipality of Jordan, Municipality of Sibunag and Municipality of Buenavista.

The units were formally turned-over by the governor together with the Head of the Provincial Economic Development Office, Mrs. Charry L. Galia; Tourism Section Head, Mrs. Angeles E. Gabinete to the recipients. Also present during the turn-over are: Mayor Cresente P. Chavez Jr., Vice Mayor Eros Elevencione of Jordan, SB member Fulgencio Lacson of Jordan, and barangay officials from the eight selected barangays.

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AusAID Orients Guimaras LGUs

Australian government represented by First Secretary Shayne Mckena orients the Local Government Units of the province of Guimaras about the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) project held on September 15 at the Guimaras Trade and Information Center.

Mckena explained that the PRMF in Guimaras is not the usual project they offer. He said that the province is among of the seven lucky provinces that become their recipient. According to Mckena that as a bilateral program, both parties are accountable and responsible for the direction, decisions and activities carried out under the PRMF. He further explained, the Australian government is providing financial support provided that the province of Guimaras has framework under which PRMF will operate.

Under the project principle, the provincial government will achieve a state of sustainable road maintenance within 5 years. The province will achieve a transparent and accountable budget and expenditure management system, achieve a fully functioning internal control system, procurement process; achieve and implement a comprehensive Human Resource Development Plan and Management Strategy.

As part of the project steering committee the DILG has the responsibility to assess the program. It serves as the lead agency to the province in all its undertakings; wherein the project is expected to start before the end of this year.

Gov. Felipe Hilan A. Nava expressed thanks to the AusAID. He said that the orientation is beneficial for the provincial officials and those offices involved were given proper background. He added, “It does not only mean project implementation but the financial management is needed most.” He urges the offices of budget, accounting, and treasurer to help on this project especially on financial matters.

The orientation is participated by barangay and municipal officials, department heads of the province particularly the Provincial Engineering Office with the participation of the. It also involve: DPWH, DILG regional office led by Dir. Evelyn Trompeta, and DILG Guimaras Dir. Roy Defiño.

Together with Mckena is AusAid PRMF consultant, Allen Williams and Ms. Christine Bantug.

AusAID Allen Williams talks with Gov. Felipe Hilan A. Nava after the orientation

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