Aklan sets auction sale of properties

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL (Aklan Forum)

KALIBO, Aklan – The Aklan provincial government is set to sale a number of real properties through public action on November 18.

By virtue of provision of Section 260 and 263 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the Office of the Provincial Treasurer has certified the properties to be delinquent in the payment of realty taxes.

A total of P22.092-million tax due and P12.650-million penalties were accumulated for the past several years for non-payment by property owners.

Some property owners owed the government in back taxes since 1972. Other owners – government banks and private companies also failed to comply their tax obligations, the records showed.

According to the notice, the towns of Kalibo and Buruanga led the municipalities with the most number of lots and machinery for auction with 53 each followed by Altavas with 48, Madalag (47), New Washington (45), Libacao (35), Malay (25), Makato (23), Batan (20), Ibajay (19), Banga (15), Balete and Lezo with five each and the towns of Tangalan and Numancia with four parcels of properties each for auction.

The towns of Nabas and Malinao have no properties for auction based on the notice of sale of delinquent real property issued by the Office of the Provincial Treasurer.

Of the 25 properties for sale in Malay, 20 are located in the island of Boracay. The town of New Washington has the highest unpaid tax due of P4.928-million followed by Altavas with P3.544-million, Batan with P3.396-million, Malay with P2.417-million, Banga with P1.913-million, Libacao with P1.341-million and Kalibo with P1.255-million in back taxes.

Oriental considers Aklan as site for ferronickel and power facilities

Oriental considers Aklan as site for ferronickel and power facilities

BY MIGUEL R. CAMUS (Aklan Forum)

Listed Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc. (ORE) is studying Aklan province in Western Visayas as a possible location for its proposed ferronickel plant and coal-fired power plant.

 In a recent interview, ORE Vice President for administration Ferdinand Pallera said the mining company is proposing to establish the facilities in Aklan, citing its strategic location in terms of logistics.

“The business models we are conceptualizing are appropriate to Aklan,” Pallera said. He clarified that ORE is also eyeing other locations, including mainland China. He said the company may tap Chinese partners to build the facilities.

ORE Chairman and President Caroline Tanchay said in September the company expects to invest up to $300 million for the power and nickel processing facilities.

ORE currently owns two nickel mines in Palawan through subsidiary Citinickel Mines and Development Corp.

Citinickel started operations at its mine in Española, Palawan during the third quarter and commenced operations at its Narra site in March.

The company plans to end the year with 23 nickel ore shipments to its Chinese and Australian clients said Pallera, who also serves as Citinickel president. He said the company will ship 2.4 million tons of nickel ore in 2012, roughly double its output this year.

ORE reported earlier that net income in the three months to June jumped to P280.38 million, reversing a net loss of P8.73 million in the same period last year, while revenues amounted to P506.33 million. Gross mining revenue stood at P312.91 million as production costs hit P193.42 million.

The miner did not book mining revenues last year as it only started commercial operations toward the end of the first quarter of 2011.  ORE shares added 1.27 percent to P3.99 each on Friday’s trading.

For more information about Boracay, including accommodations, tours, activities and loads of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: Helen and the Go Discover team at  www.boracay.travel

Celebrate a wicked Halloween at Discovery Shores Boracay

Celebrate a wicked Halloween at Discovery Shores Boracay On October 31st, come in your fearsome best and win amazing prizes at the most wicked Halloween event in Boracay Island — Discovery Shores’ haunted Galleon Playhouse! From 4 p.m. onwards, Discovery Shores Boracay’s magnificent beachfront turns into the ultimate spook fest.

At the Horror Room, resort guests can create their costumes, paint on their horror faces, and make their own loot bags while enjoying exciting games and activities. The Horror Road is a haunted playground where the children get to play with little Jackie, the doll who comes to life every Halloween to look for “trick or treat” playmates.

As Boracay’s endangered Flying Fox bats fly above the sky at nightfall, the little ones get to parade and vie for prizes for the best costumes, followed by the much-awaited entry into The Galleon Playhouse to witness a magical horror show, followed by a wicked and sumptuous “Boo-fete” at Sands Restaurant, prepared by Corporate Chef David Pardo de Ayala and his team of kitchen wizards!

Halloween events at Discovery Shores have become a tradition for their guests and for Boracay Island’s fun-loving families. This Hallow’s Eve, in the spirit of good clean fun and huge doses of screaming, Discovery Shores summons spirits from beyond to breathe life into little Jackie, the menacing doll that has been abandoned in the Galleon Playhouse.

As the haunted playhouse comes alive with amusing horror antics and malevolent scares, the gleefully confused, bewildered and content children merrily move on to the next magical adventure.