Visiting the forgotten Meyto Shrine

Years after constructing the a memorial for the Meyto Shrine in Calumpit, Bulacan tourism officials in the province still have to place directional markers to inform Bulakenyo where it is located.

Newly opened Balagtas toll gate

Balagtas interchange was opened to vehicular traffic 1PM on March 20.

Farmers, fisherfolk to get assistance

Bulacan State University students inspects rice crops in Baliuag.

MALOLOS CITY- More than 1,500 Bulakenyo fishermen and farmers will gather at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium on March 20 at 8 a.m as Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado leads the distribution of agricultural assistance to the victims of the typhoons Pedring and Quiel.

Alvarado said that this program aims to provide farmers and fisher folk donations such as 200,000 mangrove seedlings, 20,000 nipa shoots, 20 shallow tube wells and 10 million fingerlings. 

“Through the years, Bulakenyos had proven that we are not the sort who gives up easily. That’s why, we would like to help our fishermen and farmers to start anew and gain back what they had lost during the typhoons. It will also serve as a step for the improvement of agricultural production,” said Alvarado.

Provincial Agriculturist Gloria Carillo added that majority of the affected fishermen comes from the coastal areas such as Paombong, Malolos, Obando and Hagonoy.

She added that Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will grace the event and discuss the rights of the workers. Other guest speakers will be coming from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Irrigation Administration and Department of Agrarian Reform.

Also, the oath taking of the new Barangay Agrarian Reform Council  (BARC), which serves as the main partner at the community level for the successful implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), will take place in the event. (PPAO)

Sunset

Brace for the heat, summer is here. Photo shows the tower of Ciudad Clemente Resort in Paombong, Bulacan.

Rehab underway to improve Kapitangan tourism

Alexie Dionisio during the annual crucifixion rites held three years ago.

Current stages that will renovated, walls will be removed.

A boy shows nails used in crucifixion rites.

PAOMBONG, Bulacan—This town is best known for its vinegar products made from nipa palms; and for the annual crucifixion rites at Barangay Kapitangan.

This year, the Bulacan Tourism Convention Visitors Board (BTCVB) has joined hands with the Samahang Katandaan ng Kapitangan to conduct improvement on facilities.

Jo Clemente, chair of the BTCVB said rehabilitation is underway on the stage where the annual crucifixion rite is held.  This is in coordination with Councilor Myrna Valencia an Roman Gregorio, of the Samahang Katandaan.

“We have less than three weeks to make improvements and organize everything from traffic flow to participants information,’ he said.

Among the improvements that the BTCVB initiated is the rehabilitation of the stage where devotees reenact Jesus Christ's crucifixion.

Roman Gregorio by the newly constructed public rest room.

They will also cover the irrigation canal behin the stage with concrete slabs to give more space to tourists and pilgrims. However, Clemente said that rehabilitation of the irrigation canal will be completed by next year.

He described Kapitangan as the only tourist destination in the province that need no promotion.

But he said that it requires organization and planning.

This developed, Gregorio and his team has implemented the construction of a public comfort room just beside the stage.

He said that for years, lack of comfort room is one of the biggest concerns raised by both pilgrims and tourists.

Tire processing plant totally shutdown

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan—Enterprises not friendly to the environment is not welcome in Bulacan as government officials shutdown with finality a used tire processing plant here late Friday afternoon.

They said that the total shutdown of Bio-Eco Solutions Inc., at Brgy. Tabang here should serve as warning to businessmen who will violate environmental laws and undermine sustainable development.

The shutdown came 10 days after the office Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Luzon along with the provincial government served a cease and desist order (CDO) against Bio-Eco Solutions Inc., which has been the subject of complaints of local residents.

“Anything that is destructive is not welcome in Bulacan,” said Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado.

He explained that operations of establishments that violates environmental laws undermine development of the province as it destroys the local ecology and threaten health and well-being of Bulakenyos.

The governor said that Bulacan is welcome for any investor, but they have to follow the law.

Love from Taiwan

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado accepts a sack of rice from Ambassador to the Philippines Raymond L.S. Wang of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) during the rice donation ceremony  on Thursday night, March 15 dubbed as “Love from Taiwan” for the 2,000 families who were hit by the typhoons Pedring and Quiel in Hagonoy and Calumpit.