Monday, September 1, 2008

Navy Patrol Boat To Stop MILF Spillover

Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado called on the police and military forces to intensify their gate-keeping strategy with the possible spillover of Mindanao conflict, as he also raised alarm on possible reentry of insurgents who had already fled the province.

      He raised the concern during the special meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Thursday in Trinidad.

      In fact, the governor said he will include the concern in the subject matters during his meeting tomorrow with Philippine Navy Admiral Golez and Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Mark Lapid in Manila, though the meeting was intended to discuss the proposed establishment of marine parks/sanctuaries in Balicasag Island in Panglao, and Pamilacan Island in Baclayon.

      Aside from purposes of protecting the marine resources in the area, the governor said he will push for consideration of security matters that may maximize the naval patrol in the area.

      Aumentado wants all points of entry to Bohol closed to return of insurgents and spillover from government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) conflict in Mindanao.

      "I understand that Col. Raoul Reyes has an additional company of the special forces will replace the 43rd IB. That is a welcome development. But, again, we shall not rest on our laurel. While it is true that under the Team Bohol- -the military, the civil government and the private sector, we succeeded to dismantle troops of the NPAs in the province of Bohol. But then because of this development, still there is the tendency for those rebels now outside Bohol to return," Aumentado told members of the PPOC.

      As he solicited further efforts to maintain the province's peace and order situation, Aumentado said, "we must have to be on guard all the time especially in our coastal area, of which Trinidad is one of the vulnerable ends. We should consider that the situation should be properly watched by us. And let us remember also that we have several brother Boholanos in the areas of conflict in Mindanao, so there is a possibility that some of them will return to the province."

      Col. Raoul Reyes, commander of 802nd Infantry Battallion, assured though, that they have one company of special forces that replaced the 43rd IB that was sent to Mindanao.

      He also reported during the PPOC meeting that they had already organized Integrated Territorial Security System (ITSS) or the expanded Bantay Bayan units in 74 barangays in 12 towns- -four barangays in Pilar, 12 in Mabini, three in Ubay, five in Alicia, four in San Miguel, five in Inabanga, one in Bien Unido, 29 in Buenavista, four in Catigbian, four in Danao, one in Dagohoy, and two in Talibon.

      For the period, July-August this year, the anti-government activities had decreased by 30 percent compared to the period, May-June.- By Angeline Valencia

Waterwork System in Catigbian Town

Water gushed from the tapstands here to the relief of kids who have finally graduated from fetching pails of water from open wells to fill their jars at home

The pre-school kids' elation spilled to the venue as presented their delight in an intermission number sharing the mood of local officials here during the inauguration rites August 29 in Rizal . 

About 200 households in Barangay Rizal, Catigbian town would benefit from the P2M level 3 waterworks recently established for the residents of sitios Karao-an, Centro and Caimbang, Mayor Roberto Salinas said during the ceremonial switch on ceremonies.

He said they have dreamed of providing potable water to its people to break the shackles of poverty and improve standards of living here. 

Moreover, SB committee on Health Mariano Maglahus Jr wished the development brings in better health resulting to better economic conditions for Rizal residents. 

The commissioning of the Rizal waterworks brings to 4 local water systems put up by the Salinas Administration, most of them in barangays not served by the municipal waterworks.

The Salinas-Digaum tandem has ably put up Ambuan, Causwagan, Maitum and Rizal water systems.

Echoing the local desire to expand its water services to those needing it, Vice Mayor Necita Digaum said next on their plans would be barangays Mahayag Norte and Sur Hagbuaya and Bagtic.

The Rizal waterworks system is supplied by a production well with a 230 gallon per minute output in Barangay Libertad Sur, the program profile states.

Due to need to pump out reliable water supply for the beneficiaries, the local government leaders succeeded in tapping funds from Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Congressman Edgar Chatto, development funds of the town, Akbayan Party list and counterpart funds from Barangay Rizal, all totaling P2M.

Aside from the provision of main and lateral transmission pipes Catigbian also bought two submersible pumps for the system.

The water pumps feed the water to a hilltop reservoir with a 9,500 gallon capacity, sourced out from the funds of Congressman Chatto, Barangay Captain Elorde Polbos shared.

He added his barangay put in P150T in counterpart for the project.

Senator Zubiri gave P500T for the systems main and lateral pipes while Akbayan also added P150T for the purpose.