Bohol News January 2012

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Bohol Province

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Bohol chocolate hills.jpg
Chocolate hills of Batuan, Carmen, and Sagbayan Bohol. When there isn't enough rain, the grass on these limestone hills turn brown. Hence, the name Chocolate hills. These hills range from 40 to 120 meters high.

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.


Bohol tri-media prexy swears in new set of public info officers

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- Bohol tri-media association president Teofredo Araneta officiated the swearing in of the 2012-2013 new set of officers of the Association of United Development Information Officers in Bohol (AUDIO-Bohol) on January 26 during its 2-day Annual Assessment and Planning Workshop at Casa Rey Francis Pension House & Restaurant, Tagbilaran City.

AUDIO is a network of information officers of the various municipalities and national government agencies (NGA) based in the province.

The head of the Provincial Capitol’s Effective Development Communication (EDCom) Augustus Escobia, was re-elected as president.

Other info officers that were elected and sworn in were Trinidad town info officer Jojeline Ruiz-Buendia as Vice-President for LGU and Ma. Lydia Bantugan info officer of DAR as VP for the National Government Agencies (NGA).

LGU-Candijay info officer Judith Villamor and DENR info officer Ma. Corazon Colarines were elected as treasured and assistant treasurer respectively.

Lindsey Marie Vismanos of LGU-Gracia-Hernandez as Secretary; Elvira Bongosia (PIA) as Assistant Secretary and Bruce Zabala (BDJ) as PRO (1st Dist.) also joined in the ceremony.

Teodulo Yecyec of LGU-Dagohoy as PRO (2nd Dist.); Ruben Tenio of LGU-Duero as PRO (3rd Dist.) and Jildo Cempron of LGU-Sagbayan as Auditor completed the new set of AUDIO officers.

“I am very proud of the information officers’ work of helping the government and in bringing the government closer to the people,” Araneta said, in his short message.

He encouraged all the information officers to help and be united with the media in disseminating ‘good news’ to the people.

In closing, Araneta borrowed the word from a famous newsman that said “news writing is like learning to play a new musical instrument. The more you practice, the easier it gets and the better you become”.

LTO Bohol erring buses

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- The Land Transportation Office in Bohol said bus companies may face sanctions such as cancellation of their franchise if they continue to ignore the law against overspeeding.

A concerned citizen has recently filed a complaint against overspeeding drivers to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC)

PPOC member and Land Transportation Officer Joel Maloloy-on said that the complaints have sufficient basis based on the investigation that the agency has conducted. Bus units found to be overspeeding have been tagged, he said.

Among the bus companies that have been warned by the LTO were the City Transport and Super Five plying the Tagbilaran City-Tubigon-Tagbilaran City route. Its bus units have been found to be overspeeding along narrow highways, thus putting the lives of their passengers in peril.

At the PPOC meeting during the HEAT Caravan in Antequera the LTO said that it has already warned operators and threatened to suspend their franchises if they are found to have violated the speed limits.

LTO added that they have also issued similar warnings to Clynn and St. Jude Trans operators whose franchise areas are in other parts of Bohol.

Although it is the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that has direct authority to suspend or cancel land transportation franchises, the LTO has the recommending power that compels the LTFRB to act, sources said.

P11.063M allocated for 12 towns under DENR’s greening program

At least 12 towns in third district of Bohol have been chosen as sites of the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with total allocation of P11,063,034 for forest development projects in a total of 654 hectares.

Third District Rep. Arthur Yap already informed Mayors Norman Palacio of Bilar, Conchita Toribio-delos Reyes of Carmen, Marnilou Ayuban of Alicia, Cornelius Ocay of Duero, Maria Fe Piezas of Guindulman, Sergio Amora of Candijay, Alfredo Gamalo of Sierra-Bullones, Ernesita Digal of Sevilla, Francisco Pepito of Batuan, Esther Tabigue of Mabini, Angelina Simacio of Anda, and Henrietta Gan of Valencia about the implementation of forest development projects in their respective towns starting this year.

Yap hopes that the projects would convey more consciousness among the people and develop their commitment to take part in protecting the environment.

“It is a welcome development that will open more livelihood opportunities to our people and the projects will serve as additional strong support to the eco-tourism campaign in project sites as the anchor of tourism in the third district of Bohol,” Yap added.

Under the program, the town of Bilar has been chosen to host a clonal nursery to be established in a one-hectare area within Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape in Sitio Logarita.

The 11 other towns will develop forest areas in a total of 574 hectares of upland sites and 80 hectares of mangrove areas.

The local government of Carmen will develop two upland sites with a total funding of P1,387,112—a 70-hectare site in barangay Alegria with an allocation of P1,184,120 in, and in a 12-hectare site in barangay Nueva Vida Este with an allocation of P 202,992.

The town of Duero will also develop two upland sites for a similar project this year wherein P439,816 has been allocated for the 26-hectare area in barangay Anibongan and P422,900 for a 25-hectare site in barangay Danao.

Two target sites have also been identified for forest development in Candijay this year—a 30-hectare upland in barangay Cabadian with allocation of P507,480 and a 40-hectare area for mangroves in barangay Panas with allocation of P676,640.

In Mabini, trees will be planted in an 80-hectare upland area in barangay San Roque with a budget of P1,353,280 while a 40-hectare area traversing barangays del Mar and San Jose will be developed into a mangrove forest with a budget of P676,640.

Two more sites have been identified in the town of Batuan—both covering a 70-hectare upland areas with budget of P1,184,120 each—one in barangay Behind the Clouds and one in barangay Aloja.

Alicia’s forest development project costing P845,800 will cover 50 hectares in barangay Cayacay.

A similar project in Guindulman covering 30 hectares of land in barangay Canhaway has been allocated a budget of P507,480 to be implemented this year.

In Valencia, a 30-hectare site has been identified in barangay Maubo for the forest development project with a budget of P507,450.

More trees will be planted in an 11-hectare project site in barangay Ewon, Sevilla with allocation of P186,076.

In Sierra-Bullones, an area of 30 hectares in barangay Abachanan has been identified for forest development with project cost of P507,480.

In barangay Badiang in Anda, an area of 40 hectares will be developed into a mangrove forest with a total project cost of P676,640.

Residents around the project sites will be hired to produce and plant the seedlings and do the maintenance routine.

Priest calls on gov’t. officials to tackle climate change issues

THE challenge in addressing the effects of climate change is getting government officials to implement sustainable adaptive measures, an Augustinian priest said during a mass offered for the protection of the environment.

“Our challenge is to policy makers and the government, (climate change) is not just about the balloons,” Fr. Tito Soquiño said in his homily during the mass held at the Basilica del Sto. Niño last Tuesday night.

“Who will wipe away the tears of children, the victims of environmental degradation?” he said.

Soquiño was referring to the two boys featured in a short video shown before he delivered his homily at the Pilgrim Center, which was packed with devotees.

The boys are from poor families living in Barangay Bilang-Bilangan in Bien Unido, Bohol. They live at the edge of Danajon Bank, a double barrier coral reef, which is known for its rich marine biodiversity.

The priest also preached against tying petitions to balloons and releasing these into the air.

He said the balloons end up in the sea where fishes mistake them for food and eat them, which causes their death.

The third annual environment mass is aimed at promoting the conservation and protection of natural resources through Catholic teachings on creation.

Soquiño said the small fishing village in Bohol is one of the sites visited by the Sto. Niño Social Development Foundation as part of the Duaw Sto. Niño activity.

He said there is a lack of political will to implement land use plans, particularly in stopping the construction of subdivisions within watershed areas.

There is urgency in addressing the effects of climate change, which include storm surges and rising sea level, he added.

"The climate is now determining our future and the first victim is the family. We are here to proclaim that Sto. Niño is the refuge of the Christian Filipino family. We are also challenged to become stewards of creation," Soquiño told churchgoers.

Businessman explains MOA on investment project

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- A businessman said that rescinding a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the provincial government and a development company here would hinder investment prospects in Bohol.

The Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan recommended for Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto to rescind the MOA for leisure island development offshore Panglao.

“This means suspending golden development opportunities for the province,” said Bohol businessman and one of Oasis Leisure Islands Development Inc. (OLIDI) proponents, Norris Oculam.

Oculam added the joint-venture MOA signed by then Governor Erico Aumentado and OLIDI are still in effect until the governor acts on the SP recommendation.

The MOA in question allows Bohol and OLIDI to conduct scientific studies in relation to the proposed prime properties through offshore islands development over the otherwise less productive tide-flats of Doljo and Danao in Panglao, this is learned.

“We have brought our team of people to assess the area and came up with the proposal,” Oculam said.

The proposal, Oculam explained is to create extra prime real estate areas where huge local and international investors intending to build in Panglao can have and be spared from the hassles of consolidating declared small properties in mainland Panglao.

Oculam, who was also the past president of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared that not a few prospective investors intending to put up properties in Pangalo have returned empty handed.

“A huge investor in Panglao needs at least some 200 meters of beachfront and some five hectares of lots for his facilities, one which is nearly impossible to get now,” Oculam noted.

Oculam who is also an economist, commented that in the absence of such a consolidated piece of property, “we looked at creating artificial offshore properties, one with the least impact to the environment.”

He said OLIDI has initially sought the help of a team of technical people who surveyed possible areas and found the shallow tide-flats as potential for less impact to the otherwise productive and largely bio-diverse seas off Panglao.

“These tide-flats are so shallow water temperature is high; fish do not spawn here,” he said.

Oculam added that, "The experts see occasional sea grasses that support marine life and so we skirt away from them, planning for a series of islets away from these areas, compared to putting up a contiguous property.”

It’s like starting the development right, and then imposing applicable laws to make sure environment is less impacted in line with Bohol keeping its International Standards on Environment Management by the ISO, Oculam further said.

These islets have better master plans anticipating solid and liquid waste management, power generation and water services utilities, sewers and road networks in its planned island theme parks, retirement homes and major high end strips, Oculam said with high hopes.

OLIDI went into series of barangay public hearings last year to explain the plan and the results were more than it expected.

People from Doljo and Danao have seen the potential for better life with the development plan, adding that even a hotcake baker is optimistic the coming of more hotel staff means more sales and better food for her family, he noted.

“I have six daughters, I do not expect them to go out and fish,” a fisherman from Doljo once said. “Getting them service jobs in those planned resorts by OLIDI would keep them near us when we grow old instead of going abroad.”

“If Governor Chatto however cancels the MOA, these dreams would be nipped in the bud,” said Oculam but added they are not giving up easily.

Already unanimously approved by the past SP under then Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, the joint-venture MOA was referred back for further studies to the Bohol legislative body, months after Gov. Edgar Chatto became governor, narrated Oculam during the Kapihan sa PIA recently.

At the forum aired live over DyTR, Oculam feigned surprise how most senior members of the board who green-lighted the agreement they reviewed, suddenly reversed their stands.

The said MOA, Oculam said, contains the express permit for the parties to initiate scientific studies to finally take on the feasibility of the proposal to put up comprehensively planned artificial islets.

“We want the scientific study to start, not because we want to be proven right, but because we will need the study to convince our investors that we are doing right,” he said.

And like the MOA stipulation, if the study shows the resource use is not judicious, we would immediately withdraw the plan, Oculam pressed.

Bohol gov urges LGUs for creative solutions to waste problem

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol- Bohol governor Edgar Chatto urges local government units in the province to find creative solutions in waste management and garbage problem or Bohol government may be sued administratively for failure to comply with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program.

Chatto admits that “no LGU in Bohol could sufficiently say they have complied with the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law.”

While many people consider garbage disposal a serious problem, several local government units seemingly do not see it like they do, Chatto noted.

During the recent Ecological Solid Waste Management Technical Working Group meeting at the Crab House in Mansasa, members of the provincial monitoring and evaluation team detailed the apparent lack of concern from some local government units on trash.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) revealed that despite the law that banned the operation of open garbage dumpsites for solid wastes with the option to switch to controlled dumps since 2004, not a sanitary landfill facility has been constructed in Bohol.

If according to Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program, even the controlled dumps that were allowed until 2006 or five years after the law took effect in 2001, should have been closed for sanitary landfills this time.

Chatto recognized that resources are limited even if LGUs are determined to construct and operate sanitary landfill facility.

“It is high time that local governments explore creative ways to finally bury the trash problem this year,” the governor stressed.

A study by the National Solid Waste Commission Secretariat estimated that each person produces an average per capita of .5 kilos of garbage daily.

With 1.2M population, Bohol produces a daily garbage average of 60 metric tons or 180 metric tons a month, according to DENR estimates.

A member of Bohol Tourism council shared that with no clear garbage disposal and treatment facility, it is safe to assume that these trash will soon get into the river systems, clog canals and cause irreparable damage to the tourism industry in the province.

While the cited law mandates the creation of the Environment Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Municipal Boards, Bohol Environment Management Officer Maria Socorro Trinidad said that based on their evaluation most of these boards do not even meet or could not present minutes of their meetings.

In her report to the council members, Trinidad said “only 15 LGUS have a 10-year Integrated ESWM Plans which are adopted by the Municipal Development Councils and Sangguniang Bayans”.

She identified these towns as Alburquerque, Baclayon, Balilihan, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Loon, Maribojoc, Sikatuna, Tagbilaran City and Tubigon.

Trinidad further reported that as to ordinances there are Very few ordinances that are aligned with the 10-year Integrated ESWM plan of the LGU and very few LGUs have deputized ESWM enforcers.

She noted that only 13 towns from the first district; six from the second and eight from the third districts have adopted their ordinances to the ESWM plan.

According to the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) reports, only the towns of Corella, Cortes, Loon, Maribojoc and Tubigon in District 1 and Duero, Jagna and Loboc in the 3rd district have trained ESWM enforcers but most of them are not even deputized by the towns.

Orientation, awarding for Civil Service exam passers set

THE Civil Service Commission in Central Visayas (CSC-7) will orient CSC examination passers and award them certificates of eligibility on Jan. 10 at the CSC-7 Multi-Purpose Hall in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

The examination was given last Oct. 16 in Cebu City and Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Passers from the University of Cebu testing site will have their orientation at 8 a.m.

Passers from the University of the Visayas testing site will have their orientation at 1 p.m.

The orientation will start with a registration.

Registration requirements include valid identification card with picture and signature and two passport-size pictures with complete name tag.

A similar activity will also be held for examination passers from the Tagbilaran City Test Center.

The time and venue will be announced later.

The top 10 passers of the career service professional examination are Saberon, Kitz Kevin R.; Rafanan, Ken N.  ; Pedroso, Kim Angeline A.  ; Mantilla, Maria Margarita A.; Limbaroc, Daisy Charlene I.; Panulaya, Mae Honeylet C.; Ucang, Aleza Kristine Niña L.; Quiachon, Lucito Jarn R.; Demetrio, Danelle Jo M. and Comiso, Jane Gliza V.

The top 10 passers in the subprofessional examination are Opada, Julie Rose T. ; Lumibaw, Mamerto Ali A.; Alvarado, Shirley G.; Dungog, Fritzie Mae C.; Mozar, Christopher J.; Acuña, James Kevin M.; Gubalane, Rafael B.; Manguiran, Kluh Elizha Beth C.; Cenerpida, Vingie S.; Maringuran, Lleuwellyn S. and Ladaga, Denissa P.

Of the 3,752 examinees who took the professional examination, only 15 percent passed. In the sub-professional level, 12.5 percent of the 751 examinees passed the examination.

Cruise ship port bookings announced

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines — The Bohol Cruise Ship port project in Loon town, Bohol province is still under final construction, but already, Governor Edgar Chatto announced that the provincial government has received early bookings from international tourist ships intending to come and dock in the port in 2013 and 2014 – a clear sign about the booming development in tourism in the province, particularly in the next two years.

The P80-million international cruise ship port project is the first of its kind to be built outside Manila and is expected to be fully operational by May this year.

It is situated in Brgy. Catagbacan Norte in the town of Loon - a second class municipality some 28 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City- and is part of an integrated complex that will also include a transport bulk terminal and container yard and other medium-and-large-scale port related industries.

Chatto described the area in which the international cruise ship port is now being built as a “natural harbor of deep waters which is seen as the most ideal port for international cruise liners as these would not hamper the operations of a regular port serving trade and commerce activities.

Meanwhile, he added, “completion of the second phase of the internationals ship port’s construction shall surely position Loon town as a new hub for tourism, trade and intercultural exchange activities.

Expected inaugural date of said project will be in April or May of this year and is seen to put the town of Loon as well as the entire province of Bohol in the global tourism map.

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