Typhoon Gener enhances monsoon damaging houses in Antique capital

Photo from MDRRMO San Jose dB

 Although no storm signal was raised over Western Visayas, some residents of San Jose de Bueanvista, capital of Antique, had to be evacuated due to enhanced southwest monsoon brought by low pressure turned typhoon.

On July 27, 2012, the low pressure before turning into a tropical depression brought huge amount of rain causing flooding in barangays Bugarot, Bariri and Durog. Also, a portion of the rain-softened Binirayan Hills had a minor landslide in Brgy. 5. damaging a house. 

Minor landslide in Brgy. 5. Photo from MDRRMO San Jose dB

The 24-hour rainfall data of San Jose dB Municipal DRRM Office was 247.4 millimeter while the rain gauge station in Aningalan, San Remegio reported 137.4 millimeters of rain. 

The incidents affected approximately 51 families leaving one homeless. Eleven families were at the evacuation centers and 40 families stayed with relatives. 

Estimated damage to properties is P75,000.00. Damage to agriculture is undetermined yet.

Barangay folks trying to save their fishing equipment.
Photo from MDRRMO San Jose dB

On the morning of July 31, strong winds due to enhanced southwest monsoon with 1.8 meter tide caused storm surge affecting Brgy. 4, Brgy. 8, Maybato North, Maybato South and Malaiba. 

As of 2:00 pm, an estimated 24 families were affected by the storm surge leaving six families homeless. Six families are at the evacuation centers while 18 are staying with relatives. 

Estimated damage to properties excluding damage to fisheries amount to P775,000.00. 

Response Operation to July 31 Storm Surge.  
Photo from MDRRMO San Jose dB

The barangays in cooperation with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and ManagementCouncil (MDRRMC) have conducted response and relief operation and the Municipal government is prepared to augment barangay relief supplies anytime. 

Plans of forced evacuation are being discussed with the affected barangays if strong winds continue on August 1 with an expected high tide of two meters. 

The MDRRMC headed by Mayor Rony Molina is on stand-by for any eventualities related to Typhoon Gener. 

More pictures of minor landslide here and storm surge here. 

Antique Atelier opens

VIPs at ribbon cutting of Antique Atelier. Photo by PIA-Antique

Antique Atelier opened July 23 marking the culmination of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week with theme "Mainstreaming Persons with Disability in Economic Development."

Antique Atelier serves as a showroom and promotion center of the fashion accessories made by persons with disability.  It a partial fulfillment of the Developing Opportunity Equalization in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism (DOERS) Program of the Association of Disabled Persons, Inc. - Antique supported by the local government unit of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and Liliane Foundation Philippines.

Gracing the inauguration and blessing ceremony were Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier, Vice Governor Rosie Dimamay, San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Rony L. Molina, Liliane Foundation Sr. Agnetia Naval, ADP-Antique President Nancy Tejares, Liliane Foundation Mediator Ma. Elena Molina, Municipal Council on Disability Affairs Chairman Jose Magbanua, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Agnes Gallano, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office representative and Department of Social Welfare and Development VI focal person for person with disability.

Guest list also included Department of Trade and Industry - Antique Provincial Director Jose Divinagarcia, Philippine Information Agency - Antique Manager Margie Gadian, former Lin-ay kang Antique Rubie Riza Estaris-Villavert,  San Jose LGU department heads, bank managers and local officials.

This is a pioneering project for persons with disability in the whole Western Visayas according to Mayor Molina.

San Jose dB improves accessibility of town's hall to PWDs

San Jose de Buenavista inaugurated its 1:12 slanted ramp so that everyone can access the municipal services.

The activity coincided with the culmination of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week.

Entrance of the ramp is located inside the Evelio B. Javier Memorial Library of the municipality.

San Jose dB establish water gauges in flood-prone barangays

Photos from MDRRMO San Jose dB

Disaster and finance managers meet for DRRM fund utilization

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) VI gathered the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers, Budget Officers, Accountants and State Auditors of Antique and Guimaras for a symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund Utilization in Boracay.

The activity aims to address the different issues and concerns on the utilization of the DRRM Fund which cropped up during the forum on Republic Act 10121 and the Local Chief Executives Forum on Geohazards in 2011.

Major issues discussed were the 70-30 sharing of pre-disaster and quick response items in the DRRM Fund, the use of the unexpended DRRM Fund in the Special Trust Fund and the creation of the Local DRRM Office.


On the concern of the use of the Special trust Fund, Director Ronald I. Flores, Executive Officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said that the use of the Special Trust Fund could change depending on the needs of the LGU. It could be used to fund activities according to its original purpose or it could be reprogrammed to fund other activities, be it for pre-disaster or quick response.

On the creation of the Local DRRM Office, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Director Alfonso Bedonia, Jr.  said that it is DBM policy that the Personal Services (PS) requirement of the positions created for the Office shall be funded from the LGU General Fund, subject to PS limitation and it shall not be charged against the local DRRM Fund.

Meanwhile, Dir. Flores said that the DRRM Fund could be used to hire job order employees on project basis


Other speakers in the symposium were RDRRMC VI Chairperson and OCD VI Regional Director Rosario T. Cabrera and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) VI Mines and Geosciences Bureau Officer-in-Charge Mae Y. Magarzo.   

DOE and San Jose dB LGU unite for compliance on petroleum product retailing standards

The Department of Energy conducted an Information, Education and Communications campaign for Local government units and consumer groups in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique on July 11, 2012 on matters and issues related to the business of retailing LPG and liquid petroleum products.

This forum aims to enhance public awareness and encourage LGU’s participation in the implementation of the Department rules and regulations pertaining to the industry. Also, the Department hopes to pave the way for stakeholders to air their concerns and recommendations/ suggestions to problems encountered in the business of petroleum products retailing. 

Last week, an inter-government group from the Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection in coordination with the San Jose de Buenavista Treasurer’s Office conducted inspection of gasoline stations and LPG retailers in the Municipality.

Result of the inspection showed that generally retailers in the Municipality were compliant with the quality and quantity standards. (SJdBMIO)

San Jose dB installs rain gauge in neighboring San Remegio

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of San Jose de Buenavista installed rain gauge in neighboring Municipality of San Remegio in the Province of Antique.

The rain gauge will be part of a network of rain gauges being monitored by the MDRRMO for flood early warning. The rain gauge in San Remegio is located in Brgy. Aningalan near the headwaters of Mau-it and Tipoluan rivers, major tributaries of Sibalom River.

Rain fall will be monitored by local resident of Aningalan and will be relayed to San Jose de Buenavista DRRM Office thru VHF radio.


With the rain gauge in place, San Jose de Buenavista MDRRMO hopes to gather more rainfall data associated with flooding in the Municipality and it will augment rainfall data of the automatic rain gauge installed at the Municipal Hall. 


According to Engr. Alex S. Crespo, Acting MDRRM Officer, flooding upstream (Sibalom and San Remegio) affects San Jose de Buenavista located downstream like what happened during Typhoon Frank. Early warning could save lives.

San Jose de Buenavista is located on an area which acts as a deposition area and is bisected by river systems. There are seven barangays of the Municipality identified as highly susceptible to flooding and these barangays cover approximately 78% of the agricultural land of the Municipality.

This is not the first project of San Jose de Buenavista in San Remegio. Last year, the Municipality signed agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reforest 50-hectares forest reserve located also in Brgy Aningalan.

San Jose dB conducts Digital Literacy Tutorial for Women Entrepreneurs

A free digital literacy tutorial was conducted in San Jose de Buenavista Community eCenter for entrepreneurs from the tourism sector.

Through this digital literacy tutorial the local government unit hopes that the entrepreneurs will be equipped with skills to access market through the internet.

 Participants of the tutorial session were women entrepreneurs managing accommodation establishment or restaurant in San Jose de Buenavista. These entrepreneurs were looking forward that through the use of the internet they will be able to improve their business operations and sales.

The digital literacy module includes introduction to computer and operating system, introduction to internet and email and special topics on e-business/e-marketing.

The digital literacy tutorial aptly coincides with the celebration of the National ICT Month with the theme “ICT: Enabling Dreams.” 

Output Sample 1 and Sample 2.