Sunday, August 3, 2008

Conbusac Organization Helping People in Bohol Island

By June Blanco

  Inspired by the success of the livestock dispersal program in Bohol, the Confederation of Boholanos, USA and Canada, Inc. (Conbusac) vowed to continue partnering with the province in its artificial insemination (AI) project under the Let's Help Bohol and the Livelihood Integrated for Food and Family Enhancement (Liffe) programs.

  Gov. Erico Aumentado was the guest of honor and speaker at the midterm conference Monday of the Conbusac Council of Leaders headed by Carlos Cagaanan of Lila town, held at the Cathay House Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

  He thanked Conbusac for the continued support in the AI program implemented by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian under Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz.

  Aumentado said from the least livestock-producing province in the region, Bohol leaped to No. 1 after Conbusac's assistance through nitrogen tanks to keep carabao, cattle and swine semen for easier application to females, thereby giving reproduction a much-needed boost.

  If given monetary value, the offspring alone would now be worth over P28 million, the governor told Conbusac, stirring the council leaders into rubbing on the zeal on their respective members.

  The Conbusac and provincial government AI project partnership started during the presidency of Angelito Dano of Sevilla town, with the support of past presidents Marino Aguhar and Bernardo Mag-aso, former councilor of Tagbilaran City.

  At the same time, Aumentado campaigned among the members with business acumen especially those planning to retire back home to invest in the areas of tourism and agriculture – the province's two major economic drivers – and in the burgeoning information technology (IT) industry.

  He also briefed them on the P4.2-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project (PBIADP) for which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo officiated groundbreaking rites last May 20 in Purok 2 in Barangay Tawala where the terminal building is proposed to rise.

  The project will be financed with local funds – not Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan. Specifically, P3 billion of the amount will come from the corporate funds of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and P1.2 billion from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

  The governor also gave updates on the now complete Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project (BCRIP) Phases 1 and 2, Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project (LBIP) Phases 1 and 2, Bohol Irrigation Project (BHIP) Stages 1 and 2, and the soon-to-be-started BCRIP 3, BHIP 3 and the Bohol Tourism Roads Improvement Project (B-Trip).

  The latter includes the Tarsier Highway or the Corella-Sikatuna-Loboc Road and the Bohol stretch of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway that links the ports of Tubigon and Jagna towns passing through the interior municipalities of Sagbayan, Carmen and Sierra Bullones. The alternate route passing through Alicia town will also be improved, he assured.

  While the airport is targeted for completion in 2010 yet, Panglao's skyline will already change soon with the construction within the quarter of the P1.2-billion Bohol Regency Hotel and Convention Center by the owners of the Boracay Regency Hotel.

  The Bellevue and other hotel chains are already acquiring property in Panglao Island, he intimated.

  Aumentado's briefing was interrupted several times with applause coming from misty-eyed US-based Boholanos so obviously missing home.

  Equally misty-eyed were the Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing (BPHSN) alumni and staff association who gathered at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino a day earlier for a two-day reunion.

  Aumentado praised Fe Hora-San Juan of Panglao town and Concordia Vistal, the association president and adviser, respectively, as well as the rest of the members, for regularly holding reunions.

  He said the activity "maintains unity and cooperation and upholds the tradition of excellence among the members."

  The BPHSN tradition, he recalls, was always giving a 100% passing average at the licensure examinations.

  The Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) or the global conference of Boholanos slated in Bohol next year is expected to have good attendance with Aumentado campaigning for balikbayans.

  He also found a sponsor in Bobby Guday to head the Official Support Committee (OSC) for the inclusion of the Chocolate Hills among the New Seven Wonders of Nature through internet voting.

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