Balete: Fast Facts

·        Balete was founded as a “pueblo” or Municipality in 1804[i] during the Spanish time. Then one of the 33 pueblos of the Province of Capiz. It had 3,089 souls. Well-loved tales of the past tell us that Balete got its name from the Balete tree growing at the heart of the town.

·        The Municipality of Balete is a 4^th class municipality located in the eastern part of the Province of Aklan. It is located 21 kilometers (km) southeast of the capital town of Kalibo where an international airport is located. It is 106 km southeast of Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay; 35 km away from Dumaguit, New Washington, the commercial seaport of the Province of Aklan; 65 km north of Roxas City, the capital of the province of Capiz where an airport is also located and 155 km north of Iloilo City, the regional capital of Western Visayas. The road arteries connecting these places to Balete are well paved and part of the Philippine Nautical Highway. Transportation is serviced by bus and other public utility vehicles with daily trips from Cubao to Iloilo and vice versa via the roll on-roll off scheme transportation facilities.

·          The Municipality has a total land area of 11,760 hectares and made up of ten (10) barangays from which nine (9) are situated in a mountainous area. It is thus considered a Geographically Isolated and Depressed Area (GIDA) by DOH with a poverty incidence of 56%. 

Physical Characteristics Per Barangay[ii]

Name of Barangay	Land Area (hectares)	Topography				Distance from the Poblacion (kms)
		Coastal	Plain	Hilly	Mountainous
1. Aranas	1,227.46	10%	12%	50%	28%	3.5
2. Arcangel	854.26		25&	70%	5%	5.5
3. Calizo	1,623.76	10%	30%	58%	2%	6.5
4. Cortes	1,394.95		30%	40%	30%	4.0
5.Feliciano	777.51		40%	60%		6.0
6. Fulgencio	889.35		37%	50%	13%	6.0
7. Guanko	2,715.34		15%	45%	40%	12.0
8. Morales	901.79		50%	40%	10%	3.5
9. Oquendo	1,368.11		25%	20%	55%	15
10. Poblacion.	7.47		100%			-
TOTAL	11,760.00

·       It has a population of 27, 197[iii] per 2010 Census of Population and Housing. Its density ratio is 3 persons for every 1 hectare of land. It has a projected labor force of 10.70 thousand as against child-dependent of 9.11 thousand by 2016

Development Plans of the LGU

Our lack in financial resources enables us to maximize all the potential of pro-active governance through quality legislations and harmonizing our existing plans and codes with budgeting and utilization of our resources. To date, the municipality has already complied with the following development plans to serve as our roadmap to good governance:

·        Comprehensive Development Plan (2010-2016)

·        Comprehensive Land Use Plan  (2004)

·        Ecological Profile

·        Solid Waste Management Plan (10 Year Plan)

·        Executive and Legislative Agenda (ELA) 2010-2013

·        Environment Code (2004)

·        Gender and Development Code (2006)

·        Children and Youth Welfare Code (2010)

·        Balete  Citizen’s Charter (2010)

·        Annual Report

·        Local Investment Incentive Code (2009)

·        Revenue Code (Revised-2008)

·       Code of Administrative Ordinances (Revised-2012)

·       Code of General Ordinances (2011)

·        Poverty Reduction Plan

·        Compliance on Full Disclosure of Local Budget and Finances  and Bids and Public Offerings

·        Apart from this, we take pride in backing up our dreams and aspirations with the involvement of Balete’s human resources who are cordial, facilitative, productive and professionalized through the establishment of our People’s Booth. This is bringing local governance to the people through streamlining and making readily accessible service it mandated to extend.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:

·        Recipient of the 2010 and the 2011 Seal of Good Housekeeping and Performance Challenge Fund  (PCF) conferred by DILG

·        2012 Best Performing Sanggunian, Local Legislative Award conferred by the Philippine Councilors League (PCL-Aklan)

·        Exemplary Practice of Birthing Clinic for RHU Balete – DOH Rergion VI

·        First Runner up – Outstanding Sanggunian, Region VI (EXCELL 2009-2010)

·        Special Award – Best in Barangay Mobilization & Award Performance (Given by the Aklan Provincial Government)

·        Provincial Winner – Outstanding Sanggunian EXCELL 2008-2010

·        Provincial Winner – Excellence in Administrative Governance, Social Service, Economic Development and Environmental Management – EXCELL 2008

·        Regional Finalist – EXCELL 2009

·        Sentrong Sigla Awardee – DOH 1999

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[i] de la Cavada, Don Agustin y Mendez de Vigo Historia Geografica, Geologica y Estadistica con Datos Geograficos, Geologicos y Estadisticas de las Islas de Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao y Jolo, y los que Corresponden a las Islas Batanes, Calamianes, Balabac, Mindoro, Masbate, Tigao y Burias, situadas al n.so. y s. de Luzon. 1876:Manila, Imprinta de Ramirez y Giraudier

[ii] Cf. Barangay Profile

[iii] Cf 2010 Census of Population and Housing, NSO 

SB Balete Issues Notice of Call for Accreditation

NOTICE OF CALL FOR ACCREDITATION

July 22, 2013

To Whom It May Concern:

            Please be informed that the Sangguniang Bayan is now accepting applications for accreditation from interested civil society organizations (CSOs) which include the NGOs and POs, and private sector organizations (PSOs).

            CSOs and PSOs seeking accreditation are required to submit the following requirements, in five (5) copies, to the undersigned:

a)      Letter of Application;

b)      Duly accomplished Application Form;

c)      Board Resolution signifying intention for accreditation for the purpose of membership in the local special bodies;

d)     Certificate of Registration;

e)      List of current officers;

f)       Annual Accomplishment Report for the immediately preceding year; and

g)      Financial Statement, also of the immediately preceding year.

Kindly submit all pertinent papers within ten (10) days upon receipt hereof.

Please be guided accordingly.

Interested party will need to download and accomplish the following pro-forma documents and submit them before the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan, Balete, Aklan before September 23, 2013. You may secure the same forms at the Office for free.

1. Letter of Intent
2. Application Form
3. Accreditation Form for NGO (CSOs, POs) & PSO
4. Resolution Manifesting Intent to be Accredited 

The Sangguniang Bayan for the Period 2010-2013 Ends with a Bang

On June 30, 2013, the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Balete for the Period 2010-2013 will formally turn over the legislative torch to the newly elected incoming members of the 2013-2016 Sangguniang Bayan. As it let go of it, the dynamic Body will leave behind a legacy of being unopposed when all of the municipal officials of Balete sought office way back in May 2010. As if proving their worth, the 10-members of that august Body worked closely with Mayor Bobby Calizo and the rest of the Executive Departments for an effective and transparent local governance that won for the Local Government Unit the much coveted Seal of Good Housekeeping Award from 2010 to 2011 (It has been whispered that it won the 2012 Silver but as to date no "official" announcement has been made). Other than that, it have the following feathers added to its cap:

• ·  The Best Performing Sanggunian

4^th – 6^th Class Categories

Local Legislative Award

December 18, 2012

• ·         Conducted One Hundred Forty Eight (148) Regular Sessions (not to include its Inaugural Session & 2 Special Sessions) from July 1, 2010 to June 27, 2013

1.      Of which Forty One (41) Regular Sessions had perfect attendance; and

2.      Two (2) Regular Sessions were Adjourned Sessions (No Quorum)

• ·         Milestone Legislations/Road Maps for Governance

1.      Joint Executive – Legislative Agenda (ELA) 2010 - 2013

2.      Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) 2010 – 2016

3.      Investment Incentive Code of the Municipality of Balete, Aklan (August 12, 2010)

4.      Children and Youth Welfare Code (Sept. 2, 2010)

5.      Omnibus Traffic Ordinance of 2011 (Sept. 8, 2011)

6.      Code of General Ordinances (Nov. 17, 2011)

7.      Revised Administrative Code of 2012 (Feb. 2, 2012)

8.      Amendments to the Environmental Code of 2004

8.1.Regulation on Chainsaw Operation

8.2.Declaration of Moratorium on Charcoal Making

8.3.Requiring All Barangay to Establish Plant Nurseries

9.      Amendments to the Revised Municipal Revenue Code of 2008

10.  Adopted 318 relevant Resolutions in support to Good Governance 

VM Roman Villaruel Greets the People of Balete on the Occasion of its 2012 Town Fiesta

The members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Balete, Aklan stand behind its Presiding Officer,
the Honorable Roman R. Villaruel

(Below is the message of Vice Mayor Roman R. Villaruel on the occasion of the 2012 Civic and Religious Fiesta of Balete, Aklan)

I take this opportunity to greet everyone a festive celebration of our annual civic and religious fiesta in honor of St. Raphael the Archangel.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Balete outlines significant legislative interventions since the last fiesta celebration in support to the Enchanting Balete paradigm for sustainable development as follows:

• Ordinance No. 024-2012, An Ordinance Requiring All Barangays in the Municipality of Balete, Aklan to establish and operate Plant nurseries and to set up mechanism for its maintenance thereof (Date of enactment: September 20, 2012)
• Ordinance No. 021-2012, Requiring All Establishments Catering/Selling Alcoholic Beverages and Cigarettes/Cigars to Put Up/Display Signage/Label informing the public that selling such products/merchandize to minors is prohibited (Date of enactment: July 5, 2012)
• Ordinance No. 020-2012, An Ordinance Declaring a Moratorium of Five Years on Charcoal Making (Wood Only) in the Municipality of Balete, Aklan (Date of enactment: May 24, 2012)
• Ordinance No. 018-2012, An Ordinance Imposing Curfew on Minors and Prescribing Penalties in violation thereof (Date of enactment: February 9, 2012
•  Ordinance No. C03-2012, The Code of General Ordinances of Balete, Aklan of 2011 (Date of enactment: November 17, 2011)

Corollary, the Sangguniang Bayan has also passed several numbers of resolutions authorizing the Municipal Mayor to prosecute certain programs as well as to enter into memoranda of agreement with various agencies to facilitate and hasten social-cultural and economic developments, environmental protection initiatives as well as disaster risk reduction management that are vital in our day-to-day life as Baleten-ons.

We have arrived at several milestones, but the road ahead beckons us to move forward telling us, there are miles and miles to keep. So we go on. With St. Raphael to guide us, we move forward.

Happy Fiesta!

                                                                                                               

Some Hallmark Legislation Passed by the Sangguniang Bayan Over the Years

The Sangguniang Bayan of Balete has been recognized regionwide as 1st Runner Up in Excell Search - Local Legislation category since 2009. Some of the factors that contributed to this feather on its cap are those hallmark legislation it has enacted over the years. They are as follows:

• Code of General Ordinances
• Environment Code
• Gender and Development Code
• Children and Youth Welfare Code
• Investment Incentive Code
• Revenue Code
• Zoning Ordinance
• Omnibus Traffic Ordinance

It has also introduced innovative legislative interventions to address certain special needs of the Baleten-on community, such as:

• Balete Labor Market Information System Ordinance
• Balete Community College Charter

A Bloodletting Activity to Celebrate PCL Week

The Sangguniang Bayan members observe the Philippine Councilors League Week not by touring around but by sponsoring a bloodletting activity municipal-wide.

The PCL National Executive Board has declared September 2-7, 2011 as this year's PCL Week. Several events have been designed for its members to get involve in, such as seminars, eco-tours, etc. SB Balete however opted organizing a multi-sector bloodletting activity on September 3, 2011 to be held at the Mayor Teodoro F. Calizo, Sr. Memorial Civic Center. This whole day activity will be participated by the Philippine Red Cross, the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Balete LGU employees Multi-purpose Cooperative. PCL Aklan pledged to provide meal and snack allowances to facilitators and contributors respectively.

The Municipal Officials with Red Cross Aklan 

A simple opening ceremony will usher the red letter day with Mayor Bobby and Aklan PCL President Jonna Morales-Torres as honored guests.

Enchanting Balete

The Honorable Roman R. Villaruel, Vice Mayor and presiding officer, and the Secretary to the Sanggunian attended yesterday's (July 5, 2011) Regional Forum on Transparency and Accountability in Local Governance at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City. Mayor Bobby was not able to attend the occasion as he has committed ahead to attend to a very important litigation involving the stake of the LGU on the Balete Public Market.

On a short notice (one week prior), the DILG which is the organizer of the said forum, invited the LGU officials to present a PowerPoint presentation of not more than 20-minutes highlighting the impact and the opportunities brought by the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH)/Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) among the local officials and the Baleten-on constituents at large. The organizer further specified the formula of the presentation (to guide us in threading the "Tuwid na Landas") which is as follows:

5 minutes of the LGU backgrounded;
5 minutes on the impact of PCF/SGH to officials and constituents;
5 minutes on the status of PCF project implementation; and another
5 minutes on the opportunities to maximize SHG/PCF impact. 

We were informed that no less than the Secretary of the DILG will grace the occasion. Thus, in response to the invitation, we hurriedly came up with a photo-story to show the impact of such program in our municipality.

We opted of showing--instead of telling what we've done as we deemed all the audience to such forum to be well-informed and are tired of "hearing" stories of success. We wanted to make an impression and we deemed too that 20-minute PowerPoint presentation will surely bore the audience. Sure enough, when we arrived at the venue, we came unnoticed. All were talking, everyone wanting to be heard. We were not even given a copy of the program. But we understand. We hold no grudges for such lapses. Later, we learned that we were the last to present--we who came from far-off place (a 3 and half hours one-way ride--we boarded a Ceres Bus around 5 in the morning and we're standing all the way to Iloilo as the bus was jump packed with commuters)--and were convinced that we made the right decision of doing away with the "telling".

The whole morning affair is typical of a forum. Lots of talking. All came with opinions. What impressed me most is that very brief message of Dr. Mayer of GIZ (Duetsche Gesellschalft fur Internationale Zusammerarbeit) who urged the pubic and civil servants (and technocrats) from refraining using too technical terms in communicating with the ordinary folks. Such is the first step to be taken if we wanted to be transparent and accountable, to generate their participation and active involvement in effecting change in their communities.

The attendees were thus weary and tired after lunch that most fell sleepy for the afternoon session--the presentation of the municipalities of Anilao and Balete--the only two municipalities on Region 6 to have won the 2010 Seal of Good Housekeeping Awards. Precisely that when it was our turn to present, they were glad and appreciative when Vice Mayor Villaruel announced that he won't be engaging them in boring narratives but for the 10 brief minutes, he will show them what Balete did for the PCF.

Copy of the photo story is uploaded in YouTube and can be viewed and downloaded at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abHL_Z5EBck

The photo story we presented, modesty aside, made an impression and even enchanted many. All of the sudden, we who came in discreetly and unnoticed were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. A few mustered enough courage to have "photo opps" with us, asked for our cell phone numbers and sought to have a copy of the presentation we made.

Credits:
   All the photos found in the photo story were culled from the stock files of the various offices of the LGU. The MPDC staff rushed off onsite to update the documentation. The graphics were hastily done by this writer and by SB Patrick Lachica. The artworks were by Baleten-on artist Cip Lachica. The soundtracks were the Fairytale and One by One of Enya and a sax rendition of As the Deer by Bro. John.