Bulawan Queen Taga-Monkayo

Taga-Monkayo ang “2018 Bulawan Queen”

Compostela Valley Province--- Si Elaisa Monica M. Mascariñas sa lungsod sa Monkayo maoy gikuronahan ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy nga “2018 Bulawan Queen” sa Compostela Valley human gideklarang mananaug sa mga hurado atol sa bag-o nahumang “Bulawan Queen Pageant Night” niadtong Marso 5, 2018 sa gabii nga ikaduhang adlaw sa lima ka adlawng selebrasyon sa “11^th Bulawan Festival” ug 20^th Founding Anniversary” sa probinsiya.

Parte sa Contest ang interview portion nga tungod sa maayong pagpanubag ni Miss Mascariñas misaka ngadto sa 90.20% ang  total points nga gihatag kaniya sa mga hurado, ug nagsunod kaniya si Bulawan Earth 2018 Princess Faye T. Fernandez sa Laak sa Total Points nga 87.60%.

Apil sad sa mga mananaug sa Major Awards sila 1^st Runner Up Winner Recell Jean A. Bitanga sa Compostela, 2^nd Runner Up Winner Goldy Bless Esmeralda sa Nabunturan, ug 3^rd Runner Up Winner Marielle Zyra V. Go sa Mabini.

Dugang attraction sa “Bulawan Queen Pageant Night” ang Serenade Portion ni Cris Lawrence- usa sa mga labing sikat nga singer sa nasud nga mihatag sad og dugang pa nga mga paglingaw sa mga katawhang Comvaño.

Alas 8:00 sa gabii niadtong Marso 5,2018 gisugdan ang “Bulawan Queen Pageant Night” sa Opening Remarks ni Bulawan Festival Action Office SP Member Joanna Aileen Gentugaya ug human niini ang Festival Message ni Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy.

Gipasabot sa gobernador nga timely ang pag-evolved sa Bulawan Queen karong tuiga ngadto sa taas nga lebel sa Beauty Contest tungod mas gipakusog ang Women Empowerment labi na nga International Womens’ Month ang Marso ug Womens’ Day ang Marso 8 nga Founding Anniversary sa Compostela Valley. (Gilbert M. Cabahug, IDS-Comval)

Philippines to declare state of calamity at Boracay Island

By: ELLIE ABEN 

An aerial view of Boracay Island in the central Philippines. (Shutterstock)

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he will declare a state of calamity in world-famous Boracay island amid continuing environmental concerns.

Twice named as the best island in the world in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Boracay has been a popular destination with tourists who are drawn to its white, talcum-powder fine sands and warm, crystalline waters.

In recent years urban and environmental planners have been warning of environmental degradation at the resort which in 2017 posted a record 2,001,974 tourist arrivals.

In February, the president himself labelled Boracay a “cesspool,” describing its waters as “smelly.”

“You go into the water, it’s smelly. Smell of what? Shit,” Duterte said. He then ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to clean up Boracay within six months.

Following the president’s directive, a “mission team” was deployed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to serve notices to establishments initially found to have violated environmental laws.

Members of the team likewise went to check if the establishments are properly connected to the main sewer lines or have their own wastewater treatment facilities, at the same time, identify those directly discharging untreated wastewater into Boracay waters.

Reports indicate that over 60 establishments, including five-star resorts, were found draining their untreated sewage water directly into the sea.

In his speech during the oath-taking of new government officials in Malacanang on Tuesday, the president announced that he was placing Boracay under a state of calamity.

He explained that this action would allow the government to extend assistance to those who are displaced financially.

Interior and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Ano has been put under orders by Duterte to “put an end” to Boracay’s problem in six months.

The president appealed to the public to work with the government to clean the island.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III declared his support for a plan to close some parts of Boracay to tourists from June 1 to July 31.

“We must carefully assess the damage to the local environment and take the necessary steps for the clean-up. The process is more easily done and more effective if there are no tourists around,” Pimentel said.

He added that while he understood the difficulty involved in closing the island for two months, he added: “It will be good in the long run for all stakeholders, including the tourists who are there for the natural beauty of the island.”

He noted that closing tourist destinations to preserve them is nothing new, as Thailand closed Koh Tachai island in May 2016 when record numbers of tourists threatened the natural environment.