San Jose dB fisherfolks received BFAR fishing gears

Photo by Michael Tonding

Eleven small-scale fisherfolks received deep sea fishing gears from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through the local government unit of San Jose de Buenavista in a simple turn over ceremony at the town’s hall.

The recipients were small-scale fisherfolks living near the municipal marine protected area.  They were selected and indorsed by their Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (BFARMC).

In 2003, San Jose dB established a marine protected area with 67.22 hectares of coral reef covering the barangays of Funda-Dalipe, Madrangca, Barangay 3 and Barangay 4. Of this, 6.57 hectares is the core or the no-take zone located in Funda-Dalipe.

Deep sea fishing gears were given to selected fisherfolks to encourage fishing activities beyond the no-take zone.

The distribution of deep sea fishing gears is part of the livelihood support program of BFAR which complements the livelihood component of the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Program of the local government of San Jose de Buenavista.     

Mayor Rony Molina (center) with Rotary Antique President Fe Osorio, Designated Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Cornelius Yanga, Peace Corp Volunteer Benjamin Martin (back, wearing black shirt) with the beneficiaries. Photo by Michael Tonding

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.

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.

Officers of municipal senior citizens org swears into office

Photo by Michael Tonding

The newly elected officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Matatanda ng San Jose de Buenavista, Antique swore into office on January 30, 2012 with Mayor Rony Molina as inducting officer.

Officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Matatanda ng San Jose de Buenavista, Antique
President - Pelagio Ausan
Vice President - Daisy Nufable
Secretary - Crestita Acido
Assistant Secretary - Anita Ocido
Treasurer - Dorotea Ambrosio
Assistant Treasurer - Jose delos Santos
Auditor - Maria Davo
Business Manager - Ruben Nerecina
Assistant Business Manager - Anita Galopo
Public Relations Officer - Rogelio Sangalan and Juan Oriel


Consultants - Rodolfo Fernandez and Aurelio Tating

Tribu Mandaragat bags 1st Runner-up in Kasadyahan 2012

Tribu Mandaragat representing the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista won First Runner-up and Best in Music in the Kasadyahan Regional Cultural Competition 2012 in Iloilo City.

Their dance presentation featuring underwater creatures such as jellyfish, fishes and seaweeds and fisherfolks dancing in thanksgiving for the bounty of the sea and to the intervention of local patron San Jose won over many of the judges and the crowd in the four judging areas - Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, near Gaisano City La Paz and Iloilo Sports Complex.

The group received P75,000.00 of cash and trophy as First Runner-up, and P10,000.00 and trophy for Best in Music.

Tribu Mandaragat was composed of students from the San Pedro National High School of Barangay San Pedro with tribe leaders Mayor Rony L. Molina and Councilor Jo Reuel Galindo, and assistant tribe leader Mrs. Ma. Luz Fullon. Choreographer was Mr. Junkenet Menguete and assisted by Mr. Bunny Severino and Mr. Herman Cortes.

The Kasadyahan Competition was open to all municipalities, cities or schools in Western Visayas region especially those with festivals in their own locality. The dance entries in Kasadyahan depicted the local festival or the local culture, customs and traditions in Western Visayas.

Tribu Mandaragat was also First Runner-up during the recently held Binirayan Festival of the Province of Antique.

Special thanks to the following who supported Tribu Mandaragat in cash or in kind:

• 168 Construction and Supply
• Sandoy Construction and Supply
• JGM Finance Corporation
• Nilodel Commercial
• C.L. Gella Merchandising
• Regina's Ice Cream House and Restaurant
• Cordero Construction
• RP Marketing
• Iloilo City Development Bank (San Jose, Antique Branch)
• La Vita Park Resort and Restaurant
• Barbaza Coop
• Centillion House 2000
• Boysen Paint
• Ms. Beth Dable and Family
• Sentina Construction and Supply
• Cong. Paolo Everardo Javier
• SB Member Erech Alocilja
• San Pedro National High School community
• Barangay Council, Barangay San Pedro
• Victory Fishing 

San Jose dB shares DRRM best practices to LGUs in Western Visayas

 San Jose de Buenavista shared its best practices in disaster risk reduction and management in a series of orientations on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for local government units in Western Visayas.

The activity is part of the “Strengthening LGUs Institutional Capacity in Mainstreaming DRRM and Climate Change Adaptation in Local Governance” Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government – Region VI.

The program aims to build the needed competencies among LGUs to deliver their institutional mandates and strengthen the capacity of the Local DRRM Councils and Local DRRM Offices to exercise and effectively perform their roles as overseeing and implementing bodies of LGUs DRRM and climate change adaptation program. 

The participants in the training were local chief executives, LGU department heads, Municipal/City Local Government Operations Officers, and Municipal/City DRRM Officers of 130 LGUs that were identified as high risk to disasters and located mostly in the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz.

According to Engr. Alex Crespo, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer of San Jose de Buenavista, “DRRM is wide-ranging and cross-cutting various issues thus DRRM and climate change adaptation initiatives were integrated into the various sector of development like agriculture, education and environment.“

San Jose de Buenavista is a National Gawad Kalasag awardee for two consecutive years for Best Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for 1^st-3^rd Class Municipality Category. 

Other presenter sharing best practices on DRRM were Governor Filipe Nava of Guimaras which stressed science-based planning and decision-making and partnership-building.

The orientations were scheduled on October 17-18, October 20-21 and October 24-25 in Iloilo City.

Production Center for PWDs to rise in San Jose dB

Photo by Michael Tonding

The Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista breaks ground for an “accessibility model” Production and Promotion Center for persons with disability. 

PWDs and their family are among the untapped human resources that have not been given full equal access and opportunity to economic activities. 

Among the hindering factors on the inability or the non-consideration of PWDs in gainful employment is their physical incapacity thus a working area that complies with all accessibility features and standards must be established. 

             The Center aims to promote equalization of opportunities, provide several sources of income and enable PWDs and family members to become producers, service providers and business managers.

Aside from being a productivity center, it shall also serve as a learning center for accessibility features to encourage and advocate public’s compliance to the Accessibility Law.

            The activity is part of the Developing Opportunity Equalization in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism (DOERS) Program to be implemented by Persons with Disabilities Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Association of Disabled Persons, Inc. – San Jose, Antique Chapter and the local government of San Jose de Buenavista.

Photo by Michael Tonding

            A Memorandum of Agreement between the LGU, and ADP-San Jose, Antique Chapter and project donor Liliane Foundation was signed during the ceremony. 

            Present in the event were San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Rony L. Molina, Liliane Foundation National Coordinator Sr. Agnetia Naval, Governor Exequiel B. Javier, ADP-Antique President Nancy Tejares, Municipal Council for Disability Affairs (MCDA) Chairperson Engr. Jose Magbanua, SB Members, LGU Department Heads and council members especially the medical practitioners.

Tubbataha Mg’t. Office conducts IEC in San Jose dB

Two personnel from the Tubbataha Management Office conducted information and education campaign in selected schools and brangays in the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista.

This initiative is conducted to increase awareness on the importance of the marine environment. 

The advocacy activity of the TMO lasted for four days. They conducted lectures and forums with students of Maybato North Elementary School, Evelio B. Javier Primary School in Brgy. Maybato Sur, Antique National School and Delegate Angel Salazar Memorial School, and with fisherfolks of Brgy. Maybato North and Brgy. Maybato Sur.

TMO implements the policies and regulations created by the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board, and is in-charge of the day-to-day operations of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is 130 kilometers southwest of the Municipality of Cagayancillo, Province of Palawan and lies within the Cagayan Ridge. The name “Tubbataha” came from the Samal, the seafaring people from Sulu, and means “a long reef exposed at low tide.”

According to the first scientific research in Tubbataha in 1982 conducted by the Natural Resources Management Center of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the University of the Philippines, destructive fishing methods were causing damage to Tubbataha. (sjdb_mio)

San Jose dB bags Nat’l Best Disaster Risk Management Council award

San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council bagged its second National Gawad Kalasag award for the 1^st to 3^rd Class Municipal Category.

The National Gawad Kalasag is an annual recognition bestowed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in recognition of the local governments’ exemplary achievements in the field of disaster risk management.

One of the good points of DRRM in San Jose de Buenavista was that DRRM projects were not stand-alone. They were holistic and complimented each other. 

Safety regulations were also in place and were backed with executive orders, resolutions and ordinances thus ensuring their sustainability. 

In the presentation of DRRM accomplishments during the evaluation, Mayor Rony L. Molina said, “Our Municipality may not always experience disasters but we should invest time and money to protect people’s lives. “

  “Protection of people as a statement for governance is commendable,” one of the evaluators said.

            Gawad Kalasag awarding ceremony will be on October 11 at the Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

San Jose dB breaks ground for new police station

Photo by Michael Tonding

A Type “A” police station will soon rise in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique after local government unit and local Philippine National Police held a ground breaking ceremony in San Jose Tradetown. 

          The new municipal police station is a standard two-storey unit amounting to P15.138 Million. The funding source is primarily from the PNP being included as a priority project of the agency for 2011. Meanwhile, the LGU provided the 1,000 sq. meter lot and P1,513,800.00 fund as LGU counterpart. 

          According to Mayor Rony L. Molina, this is so far the biggest budget released by the PNP and the Police Regional Office VI for a municipal police station. 

          San Jose Chief of Police Gilbert Gorero, who is among the top three police leaders in the Philippines, said that he is very thankful to the local government –executive and legislative, for making their dream of having a separate and standard police station fitting for a capital town come true.

In attendance to the ceremony were PNP Regional Director PCSupt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., Deputy Regional Director PCSupt. Ernesto A. Tesoro, Jr., Antique Police Provincial Director PSSupt. Ruperto Floro and other officer from the Police Regional Office VI.

Also present in the occasion were the Governor Exequiel Javier, San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Rony Molina, Vice Mayor Elmer Untaran and the Sangguniang Bayan Members of the Municipality. 

        Among the nine participating bidders for the project was awarded to FLT Enterprises. Construction is expected to commence soon with target completion of six months. (sjdb_mio)