Wonderful rhythm of drum beats and Agongs soothed the ears and variety of colors filled the sights in the grand celebration of the Island Garden City of Samal Pigkaysan Festival at the Peñaplata Elementary School Grounds, Samal District, here recently.

The environmental, music, arts and culture fair was jointly presented by the offices of Cong. Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr., FABC President Vincent R. Floirendo and SKF President Maiki Ferrazini. It was organized as part of the Visit Samal 2012 Campaign program of the Department of Tourism and the LGU.

As part of Mayor Aning’s Sports Development and Physical Fitness Program, the MAPA Inter-Color Invitational Basketball League has officially started today.  Open to all government workers of the island, 10 teams are entered in this five-month long basketball competition. These teams are bannered by officers and employees of the Local Government Unit, Department of Education, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire and Department of Justice. As opening salvo, players donning their respective team colors and uniforms, paraded around the City Hall.

The Island Garden of City of Samal had collected P16,692,061.34, roughly P16.7 million, in real property tax from January 2012 to April 2012.

City treasurer Merlina Caballero noted that 74% significant increase in collection compared to last year’s turnout is due to the ‘Oplan Bayad Buhis’ implemented by the local government of IGaCoS.

“Daku kini nga pag-usbaw sa atong koleksyon ug mapasalamaton gayud ako sa kooperasyon sa mga lumulupyo sa atong syudad labi na sa mga opisyales sa barangay alang sa malampusong pagpahigayon niining Oplan Bayad Buhis (This is a huge increase in our real property tax collection and I thank the constituents and barangay officials for their support to Oplan Bayad Buhis).”