Embarking on a morning walking routine offers many health benefits, and the enchanting river esplanades of Iloilo City provide an idyllic backdrop for such invigorating exercise. The Iloilo esplanades, characterized by scenic waterfront pathways, offer a picturesque setting and serve as an inviting space to kickstart your day with a brisk morning walk. Against the backdrop of sunrise hues reflecting on the river, these esplanades create a serene environment conducive to physical well-being, mental clarity, and a harmonious start to the day.

As we explore the advantages of early morning walking, the scenic allure of Iloilo’s esplanades becomes a fitting illustration of how a beautiful environment can enhance the holistic benefits of this simple yet powerful daily practice.

Early morning walking offers a variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Here are some of the advantages:

1. Fresh Air and Vitamin D: Walking in the morning exposes you to fresh air and natural sunlight. This can enhance your mood and provide a natural source of Vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune system function.
2. Boosts Metabolism: Morning walks can jumpstart your metabolism, helping your body burn calories throughout the day. This can be beneficial for weight management and overall fitness.
3. Improves Cardiovascular Health: Regular morning walks contribute to better cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation, reducing blood pressure, and lowering the risk of heart disease.
4. Enhances Mental Clarity and Focus: Walking in the morning can clear your mind, improve concentration, and enhance mental clarity. It’s a great way to start the day with a positive and focused mindset.
5. Stress Reduction: Physical activity, such as walking, triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. Morning walks can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of well-being.
6. Better Sleep: Exposure to natural light in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep at night. Additionally, physical activity can contribute to better sleep quality.
7. Consistency and Routine: Establishing a morning walking routine helps in cultivating discipline and consistency. Regular exercise in the morning can become a habit, making it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
8. Improved Creativity: Some people find that physical activity, like walking, can stimulate creative thinking. The quiet and solitude of the morning can provide a conducive environment for generating new ideas.
9. Social Connection: If you walk with a friend, family member, or pet, it can provide an opportunity for social interaction and bonding. Social connections are important for overall well-being.
10. Weight Management: Incorporating morning walks into your routine can aid in weight management by burning calories and promoting 

Remember, the key is to find a routine that works for you and fits into your schedule. Some areas of the esplanade can be crowded at times, especially during late afternoons when people coming off from work prefer to walk home and pass through these paths.

Whether it’s a short stroll or a more brisk walk, the consistent practice of morning walking can lead to numerous health benefits.

The Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC) is a government agency established to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Iloilo City, Philippines. The council was created through Executive Order No. 55 issued by the former Mayor of Iloilo City, Jed Patrick Mabilog, in 2011.

The ICCHCC is responsible for the identification, protection, preservation, and promotion of cultural heritage sites and structures in Iloilo City. It is also tasked with the development and implementation of programs and projects that promote the cultural heritage of the city.

The council is composed of various stakeholders, including government officials, heritage conservation experts, cultural advocates, and representatives from the private sector. Together, they work towards the conservation and promotion of Iloilo City’s cultural heritage, which includes historic buildings, landmarks, and cultural practices.

The ICCHCC’s efforts have helped to raise awareness and appreciation for Iloilo City’s rich cultural heritage. The council’s work has also contributed to the city’s economic growth by promoting heritage tourism and preserving the city’s unique identity.

Presentation on the theme of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC)

I am posting here a part of my assignment on P214 on the description of the characteristics of the existing structure in a city or community. In this case, the subject is an old road and the question is 2.Identify any road constructed at least 10 years ago and narrate/describe the following phenomena in terms of:

– Structures
– Activities
– Connections/linkages and routes
– Types of Vehicles
– Other Characteristics

Road to Describe: Jalandoni Street, Iloilo City (from Delgado street intersection going to De Leon street, near Super market)

Structures:

Most of the structures aligned to this street are commercial buildings, establishments and two hotels namely Fine Rock and Eon Centennial. Also, a part of it is used by Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus with its side gate facing the road. Two churches are also aligned with this road.

Activities:

It is probably one of less dense city road in case of traffic volume as the peak hours wherein vehicles get to slow down or stop on this road is during 7am up to 8am and during 4pm to 6pm. The primary cause is the drop-off and pickup of the students of Hijas on the school side gate. Along with that is the unloading of stocks of the nearby grocery wholesaler store which also causes slight traffic build up.

Connections:

Jalandoni street connects the main road Gen. Luna street and intersects Delgado and Ledesma street. The road ends at Rizal Street while traversing through De Leon street which is one block away from the Iloilo City Super market.

Jalandoni street caters the jeepney routes of Lapaz, NFA Jaro Liko, Molo and SM City Mandurriao, & Molo, Compania Fundidor Timawa.

Types of Vehicles:

Jeepneys are usually the main vehicle type that goes on this road and followed by private vehicles and delivery trucks and van. Few tricycles and trisikad also pass by this road from Super going to San Agustin area.

Other Characteristics:

Most parts of the road already show cracks and potholes due to old age.

I am currently attending the REDAS Software training by PHIVOLCS & representing Iloilo City together with Ma’am Donna Magno of the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office. It is already Day 3 as of this posting but I’d just like to add here the notes I have taken on the first day of the training workshop just so for backup purposes and future reference.

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into the Local Development Process, Contingency Planning and Emergency Preparedness through the Use of the REDAS Software for Luzon and Visayas LGUs

Dates: April 16-21, 2018

Day 1 – Introduction

1. REDAS Pre-training assessment
2. Seismicity of the Philippines
3. REDAS 1.0
4. Recent REDAS Modules
5. HAZUS
6. SWIFT and FLOAT modules
7. REDAS ToSIR in Android Devices

REDAS Training Grading System
Attendance 30%
Land use 15%
SHA 20%
EDM Survey 20%
Volunteerism 20%

Lecture 1
Cartography – definition, uses
Maps – basics, elements, coordinate system, projection, maps in REDAS, types of maps, contour lines
Geographic Information System – definition, applications
Google Earth

Lecture 2 – Earthquake and Earthquake Hazards
Renato U. Solidum, Jr. DOST-Philvolcs

Types of Earthquake (Volcanic, Tectonic)
Plate tectonics
Earthquake activity in the Philippines – active faults, trenches
Magnitude, intensity estimation
Disaster losses
Goals of DRRM – reduce losses, ensure effective & efficient response, recover fast and build better.
Disaster imagination
Key actions for DRR – identify hazards and risks, monitor, warn and disseminate information, respond properly and timely
Earthquake-related Hazards

Faults – fractures where rock movement has taken place and earthquakes have been produced.
– Active faults are those that moved in the last 10,00 years.
Strike slip, Normal, thrust-reverse
Valley Fault System
Phivolcs Fault Finder – hazard and risk information through web application.
URL: faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph
Earthquake hazard – Ground Shaking
Strength of Earthquake: Magnitude – energy released during the earthquake event.
Intensity – effect or felt strength at the surface
PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) – ranks from I to X
Liquefaction – loose, water-rich sediments behave like liquid during strong ground shaking.
Liquefaction prone areas – water-saturated, low-lying
Landslide
Tsunami – natural signs of an impending local tsunami
Tsunami scenario
PHIVOLCS Geo-Portal – a web GIS-base portal, enables the public to view and collate hazard and risk maps.
Earthquake Preparedness and Risk Reduction activities

Volcano – classifications: active, potentially active, inactive
Volcanoes formed from divergent/convergent plate boundaries.
Subduction Zone (Arc) Volcanism – origin of Philippine Volcanoes
Volcanic hazards – Ashfall, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, lahar
Lahar – Flowing thick with mixture of volcanic sediments and water triggered by rain.

Volcano Risk Reduction – monitoring and hazards mapping, land use plan, avoidance/evacuation.
Volcano monitoring – with various devices/system.
Visual and other sensory observations.
Volcano Alert Level Scheme

Afternoon – REDAS Software installation

Software preliminary setup, requirements and installation.

The City Resilience Profiling Tool (CRPT) was developed to enable any city to assess their urban resilience. It is an essential element of UN-Habitat’s City Resilience Profiling Programme (CRPP), launched in 2012 with 10 Partner Cities. As a simplified version of CRPT, the programme developed CRPT ‘Lite’, a tool for a rapid assessment of urban resilience. The user interface is designed to be easily navigated and self-guiding. However, users are likely to face questions while using the tool (e.g. operational procedure, meanings of technical terms, or interpretation of the results). The questions will vary from city to city, according to their own experience or knowledge. The tool should be more objective than the existing tools. It needs to produce same results even by having different stakeholders using it and to produce results which are comparable over time, with clear and observable means of verification.

1) The Purpose

The City Resilience Profiling Tool (CRPT) was developed to enable any city to assess their urban resilience. It is an essential element of UN-Habitat’s City Resilience Profiling Programme (CRPP), launched in 2012 with 10 Partner Cities. As a simplified version of CRPT, the programme developed CRPT ‘Lite’, a tool for a rapid assessment of urban resilience. The user interface is designed to be easily navigated and self-guiding. However, users are likely to face questions while using the tool (e.g. operational procedure, meanings of technical terms, or interpretation of the results).

The questions will vary from city to city, according to their own experience or knowledge. The tool should be more objective than the existing tools. It needs to produce same results even by having different stakeholders using it and to produce results which are comparable over time, with clear and observable means of verification.

The purpose: The Tool is meant to identify aspects within the city to be addressed to enhance its level of resilience and to produce profiling results which are comparable over time, and is not meant to compare the status of resilience among cities.

Target: CRPP intends to develop an assessment tool applicable to any spatial scale. The CRPT is primarily designed for municipal leaders, managers, urban planners, and other personnel with a responsibility for ensuring the safety, maintenance, and security of all aspects and functions of an urban area, including critical infrastructure and services, health facilities, transport and telecommunications networks, sanitation, water, etc.

Assessment cycle: The assessment cycle can be divided into six steps, as showed in the figure below.

RESILIENCE ACTION PLAN (RAP)

CRPT will complement the Campaign’s aims by:
-Adding a layer of verification to self-assessments.
-Expanding the threat-hazard envelope to include social and economic risks.
-Building the evidence case for local-led policies and investments and catalyzing new opportunities.
-Helping cities ‘do more with what they have’