Baliwag, Bulacan Gears Up for Buntal Festival 2017

One of the notable photos of the Buntal Hat Festival 2009
(Photo credit: The Camera Club of Baliwag at http://cameraclubofbaliwag.weebly.com/buntal-hat.html#)

Baliwag, Bulacan, home of the world-famous buntal hats, gears up for the Buntal Festival 2017. This early, preparations are on deck for famed festival which is slated on May 5-26, 2017.

During the February 13, 2017 preliminary talks of the Buntal Festival Technical Working Group (TWG) spearheaded by Municipal Administrator, Mr. Enrique V. Tagle, at the Conference Room, Municipal Hall Annex, Baliwag, Bulacan, the group resolved to undertake the following meaningful activities:  

1. Pagkilala sa Mga Natatanging Baliwagenyo
2. Furniture Exhibits 
3. Fireworks Display
4. Business Forum
5. Recognition of outstanding tax payers
6. Institutional partners' night
7. Tatak Baliwag Expo
8. Buntal Hat Showcase
9. Float Parade
10. Concert
11. Balik Baliwag
12. Mardigras Costume Parade
13. Ginoo at Binibining Baliwag 2017
14. Fun Run 

The festivities last for the whole month of May 2017 with various activities scheduled everyday. The highlight of the events is the buntal hat showcase. Buntal refers to a very fine white Philippine fiber obtained from the stalks of unopened leaves of the talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) which were used in making hats. Originally, the festival was designed to revive the moribund buntal hat industry. Today, however, buntal assumed new symbolism - it exemplifies the skillfulness, creativity, hard-work and patience of the Baliwagenyos. The appreciation of these positive values and traits by the citizens of Baliwag, Bulacan is now the main thrust of the festival.

Buntal hat was historically, Baliwag's most notable product. Throughout the 18th and the 19th century, Baliwag, Bulacan, had been known around the world known as the home of finely-made hats - the Baliwag hat. Sombrero as it was then called by the Spaniards.   

During the American occupation, the hat was known as the Baliwag Bamboo. In 1904, during the Saint Louis World's Fair, one of the products brought to exposition was the Baliwag Bamboo. According to Albert Ernest Jenks, the Baliwag Bamboo is the finest, most wonderful hat weaving to be found in the Orient. Jenks headed the Ethnological Survey for the Philippines.

Baliwag, Bulacan Assures its Citizens of a Peaceful and Orderly Municipality

The Municipal Peace and Order Committee of Baliwag, Bulacan.

Baliwag Bulacan assures its citizens of a peaceful and orderly municipality in the next two (2) years. This was revealed by the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) during its quarterly meeting held last January 27, 2017 at the Conference Room, Municipal Hall, Baliwag, Bulacan. 

During the said meeting, MPOC approves the Municipal Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan (POPS plan) which mapped out the municipal policy directions concerning peace, order and public safety for the next two years (2017-2019). It analyzes the peace and order, as well as the public safety situation of the municipality, identifies and prioritizes major peace and order issues, and offers long-term solutions.

The POPS plan reveals, among others, that the Municipality that the municipality is still under threat of the crimes against property (theft, carnapping, robbery), crimes against persons (murder, rape, violence against women and their children) and crimes involving illegal drugs. Other public safety concerns like traffic, fire incidents, disaster preparedness were also detailed in the plan. 

The POPS plan offers, among others, long-term solutions to POPS issues, which include: establishment of police visibility, coordinated inter-agency response to crimes, installation of CCTV cameras, awareness campaigns, training and deployment of Barangay Protection Action Teams (BPATs). Plans for the reorganization and strengthening of the Municipal and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (MADAC and BADAC), awareness campaigns, and prompt prosecution of citizens in conflict with the law were also suggested. Plans for organizational, structural and infrastructural investments were in place to anticipate the problems of heavy traffic, fire incidents and natural disasters.

"This is the first time in the recent history of Baliwag, Bulacan that a POPS plan is formulated," Mayor Ferdinand V. Estrella said. Mr. Jayfie P. Nasarro, MLGOO, also said that the plan is a landmark feat as there was no POPS plan before. The total budget for the POPS plan is PhP 439,130,934.00. These budget will be sourced from the national and local funds. 

The formulation of the POPS plan is spearheaded by the Municipal Mayor's Office through the Municipal Administrator's Office. It is a byproduct of inter-agency collaboration especially with the PNP, BFP, MPO, among others.

Chief of Staff Ms. Lhan M. Cruz, Mayor Ferdie V. Estrella and MLGOO Jayfie P. Nasarro during the POPS Plan deliberations.