Boholanos Will Prevail in Hard Times

            Bohol Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera yesterday said he is confident that Boholanos will prevail despite the prevailing crisis.

            "I have faith in the Boholano and I see no reason why we will not come out triumphant of our present difficulties," he added.

            The vice-governor however said the process requires a deep resolve to start from the individual.

            "We cannot demand change from everybody else while we ourselves refuse to change," he noted.

            Herrera said that in many places today, there is a prevailing doom that borders on paralysis. He added that many people have lost their resolve to solve their problems.

            "Many people particularly those in urban areas are very angry about what is happening but they do not want to do anything about it anymore," he added.

            The vice governor said he is sad about this because there is no way for the situation to improve if people refuse to do anything.

            "Nobody else will help us so nothing will happen if we refuse to help ourselves," he added.

            According to the vice-governor, people have to make a decision to make a fresh start if they want the future to improve.

            "We have to build now if we want our children to enjoy a better life than the one we have now," he added.

            Herrera said this generation should rise from the culture of despair and frustration to stop the cycle of disappointment.

            The vice-governor challenged Boholanos to start change among themselves and not wait for things to improve in other parts of the country.

            "We have to make things happen among ourselves now," he pointed out.

            Herrera said Boholanos are better than people in other places because they have a deep faith in God and are known for their resiliency.

            "We have proven in the past that we refuse to give up in the face of crisis," he noted.

            Herrera recalled that in the past, Boholanos sought work and opportunities in other places instead of giving in to despair.

            "I have faith that the Boholanos of today, like our forefathers, will rise to the challenge of a better life," he said.

            To do that however, he said it would require people to begin a fresh resolve to change from within.

            He said people should learn to submit to authorities like their parents, the leaders in the community and the church.

            "No country will prosper unless people are obedient to authorities," he noted.

            Herrera said there is also a need for discipline starting from those in government.

            "We who are in government should set a good example for our people," he added

Tuberculosis (TB) Orientation in Bohol

     The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Health (DOH) last week jointly sponsored a one-day orientation seminar for all personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and representatives from other as sectors of the community.

      Participants from the PNP included representatives from the 47 municipal police stations and Tagbilaran City Police Station who were registered nurses, nursing graduates and Police Community Relation staff from Loon, Tubigon, Talibon, Carmen, Ubay and a representative of the provincial command.

      The orientation seminar on Tuberculosis held on July 15 at JJ's Dimsum, Tagbilaran City, was aimed at establishing a strong provincewide community support for the to campaign against Tuberculosis.

      It was held in coordination with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) as the first in a series of scheduled to be held in the future to help acquaint the police, the firefighters and the BJMP personnel on the latest trends to control the spread of TB.

      Police Senior Supt. Edgardo Ingking, provincial PNP director, tasked Police Supt. Ernesto Agas, deputy provincial director for administration, to led PNP personnel in the activity..

        Dr. Pilar Mabasa of USAID-TB LINC, the main lecturer, presented to the participants the situation which indicates that at present, Philippines posts the ninth largest incidence of tuberculosis in the world, with approximately 390,038 Filipinos having TB and 75 people dying daily from TB.

        The TB LINC Project is a new USAID-funded and DOH-led initiative that aims to sustain the coordination and collaboration of TB control partners from both the public and private sectors and support the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce TB prevalence and mortality by half by 2010 through detection and treatment process.

        The Bohol PNP participants were composed mostly of registered nurses and nursing graduates are expected to boast the campaign on TB prevention by way of information dissemination, especially to PNP personnel, detainees and the community in particular. SPO4 Lucito Redulla, OIC-PCR BRANCH, BOHOL PPO

Total Ban of Scrap Buying in Bohol?

Reason prevailed over an amassing frustration at the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) special meeting Thursday, July 17, 2008 when mayors instead voted to regulate rather than impose a total ban on the scrap metal industry.

  Admitting a total ban is too harsh for the thriving scrap buying industry, Tubigon Bohol Mayor Luna Piezas withdrew an early motion against the junk business and proposed to the LMP to regulate the business instead.

  But by regulation, scrap metal buyers may not sigh in relief yet. 

  The LMP contemplates on adopting stricter policies before scrap buying permits could be granted.

  In fact, Maribojoc Bohol Mayor Leoncio Evasco, who earlier expressed alarm over the indiscriminate use of minors and school children in the industry said he still would find ways to flag down the mobile scrap metal buyers who pass through his town.

  Mayors have been alarmed of the rising cases of live service dropwire thievery cases, the stolen items ending up in junk shops or in the hands of scrap metal buyers.

  Majority of them also air apprehension over the apparent attempt of buyers employ an army of kids who at times steal but are immune from apprehension due to an existing Juvenile Justice Act.

  Provincial lawyer Handel Lagunay, who shed his expertise at the meeting said a total ban may be unconstitutional being restrictive of free trade. 

  Over this, he went for stricter regulations from the end of mayors who can demand when business operators get permits.

  Atty. Lagunay proposed qualifications before permits can be granted, where an agreement on age regulations requirements be imposed, additional clearances before a permit grant, the right to do on the spot inspections at their shops, and buyers keeping a daily establishment logbook which traces which items are sold by whom. 

  Piezas added that there indeed is money in the business and the LGU might as well use its power to maximize its gains on the matter. 

  Meanwhile, Inabanga mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy suggested that a technical working group be organized to make a thorough study on such a broad topic. The TWG, he said would draft an ordinance as a template for all local government units to work on and enhance according to their needs.

Total Quarry Ban in Bohol?

Bohol town mayors of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan ask Capitol to look into an executive order implementing a total quarry ban in their towns and possibly rescind or amend it so they could pursue development work using local natural resources. 

  Unlike some other towns in Bohol, these 3 towns host the famed Chocolate Hills and lost their privileges to enjoy gratuitous quarry permits from government. This, most perceived disadvantageous to their cash deprived local governments wanting to do road network maintenance projects.

  Taking the cudgels for other towns, Carmen Mayor Manuel Molina has asked the Capitol, through its newly formed Task Force Kabukiran and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) led by Jagna Mayor Exuperio Lloren to intercede and exempt their towns from the ban issued by Governor Erico Aumentado.

  Governor Aumentado in 2007 issued a quarry ban within the area designated as the Chocolate Hills National Geological Monument in a bid to stop activities that would result to the defacement of the national landmark.

  However, Molina argued that the quarry site that they intend to source out materials from lie in barangay Villafuerte; and not a Chocolate Hill is noted nearby. He added the source is an existing quarry site operated by a private company. 

  The quarry, according to him, temporarily stopped operating due to the Capitol executive order. 

  If the Capitol accedes, he said the town does not need to look farther to buy for its materials source. 

  In protecting Bohol's amazing hills, Senate Bill 534 of the Chocolate Hills Protection Act of 1997 specifically protects the hills located in 32 barangays in Carmen and Sagbayan, but does not mention Villafuerte.   

  Batuan Mayor Gregoria Pepito added she too faces the same predicament. Cash-deprived Batuan, she said wished to be granted by Capitol gratuitous quarry permits so they can start rebuilding their road networks now bearing the brunt of the long rainy days.

  Sagbayan Mayor Jimmy Torrefranca on his part shares the same sentiment.

  The chocolate hills areas have also excellent sources of lime stones, rocks, soils for road surfacing and back filling materials. 

  Over this, Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) Chief advised the mayors concerned to meet with the governor so they could appraise Capitol officials of the problem and possibly patch the infirmity of the executive order.

BEMO's Engr. Renato Villaber agreed that the Task Force Kabukiran would still apprehend illegal quarry activities unless the executive order is rescinded or amended.

How To Write Ad Headline

By Randy Lever

Writing headlines for your ads is the most important part of your online presence.  

When posting your ad to classified sites, directories, message boards, newsgroups or mailing lists, the only part of your ad that is showing is the heading. 

So, what your heading says will make the difference between your ad being read or being.................. 
....................passed right on by!

The overall importance of headings, as a means of bringing in targeted traffic to your site, is simpy immense. 
But, don't let that stop you from writing attention getting headings. 

These steps will allow you to write heading that the average surfer will want to see. 

Sit down and really go over what you're trying to sell.   Look at every word on every page of the site.  If you're selling an ebook, read it.  If it's for software or service, use it.  Learn everything you can about what you're selling.

Grab a sheet of paper and just start writing down all the phrases that can describe the product you are trying to sell.  The very first things that pop into your mind.  

Write down everything that just pops in.  Not what you have to think about, but the phrases, words or benefits associated with that product, that enter your thinking with no effort.  Write them down until you have to sit there and think of something else. 
Stop right there.  Go over what you just wrote.  If more just happen to pop in your head again, write it down.  

Since you have just looked over the product and website associated with it, everything that you wrote down is what any potential customer will also remember. 

These are all the phrases and benefits that stick out and make people buy the product.  If your emotions have been stirred (excitement, passion, happiness or any impulsive feelings that make you really want the product), then these are the same emotions that you have just written down.  

I bet if you go over your sheet of paper you will find some great headings.  If not, then you were thinking way to hard!  
Impulse buying is one of the ways that we, as Internet Marketers, get people to buy our products or use our services. 
So why not use those impulsive feeling in your ads?  # # #

Small Seaweed Farmers Congress in Bohol

     The two-day Bohol Small Seaweed Farmers Congress recently conducted at Water Gate Inn here served as venue for the campaign in conserving and protecting the marine environment of Bohol, while it emphasized the significance of farmers in socio-economic development of Bohol.

      In his message, BFAR-7 Regional Director Andres Bojos vowed to facilitate that their group will be represented in the council of seaweed producers.

      The congress was also designed to understand the current and future directions of seaweed farming in Danajon Bank and other emerging production area in Bohol; assess the various social, environmental and economic issues affecting the primary stakeholders of seaweed farming, according to the Project Seahorse Foundation (PSF).

      It was also aimed at initiating the development of an action agenda that engages relevant stakeholders and contributes to the conservation and sustainable management of socio-economically and biologically important coastal resources in Bohol and provide an arena for key stakeholder groups to explore various mechanisms for dialogue and collaboration.

      There were around 120 participants who came from the towns of Talibon as host, Bien Unido, Getafe, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Tubigon, Calape, Loon, Ubay, Carlos P. Garcia, Anda, Candijay, Mabini, Guindulman, Duero, Jagna, Panglao, and Tagbilaran City.

      On behalf of Mayor Juanario Item, Municipal Councilor Jose Wayne Evardo, chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Natural Environment and Agriculture, gave the welcome address.

      During the two-day congress, Franco Villaruel of the PSF led the group in identifying the key issues and problems affecting small seaweed farmers in Bohol.

      Eleno Evangelista of Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) presented the organizational profile of Bohol Provincial Seaweeds Farmers Association.

      Then Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera inducted the new set of officers of the Bohol Provincial Seaweeds Farmers Association- -Feleciano Dabasol of Bien Unido, president; Eliseo Betinol of Talibon, vice president; Wilfredo Tubal of Bien Unido, secretary; Nolasco Lego of Carlos P. Garcia, treasurer; Ramon Minguito of Inabanga, auditor; PROs are Nestor Boncales, Bien Unido; Dioscoro Canlobo and Dante Mejias of Getafe.

      Herrera encouraged the officers and members of the association to establish their own processing plant and transform their group into a cooperative to establish strength, name and voice in the society.

      As chairman of the Provincial Board Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Appropriation, he also vowed to help the organization put up their own seaweeds processing plant in the northern part of Bohol.

      Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog explained the current thrusts and directions of the provincial government's seaweed production program.

Philippine Seat at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

The Philippines again made its presence felt in the United Nations (UN) with the election this week of Chairman Eugenio A. Insigne of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

In its report to Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, the Philippine Mission to the UN said Insigne was elected during the 32nd meeting of the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the 2008 Substantive Section of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN.

Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, said that with this election Insigne will be among 16 independent experts who will make up the Permanent Forum advisory body to the ECOSOC with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

The Permanent Forum, which was established by ECOSOC resolution 2000/22 on July 28, 2000, is called upon to provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the UN system through the Council, raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of relevant activities within the UN system as well as prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.

Davide said Insigne successfully ran against Ambassador Berenado Vunibobo, Permanent Representative of Fiji, to serve the unexpired term of the Asian representative Ms. Xiaomei Qin of China from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

A former government prosecutor and Philippine Congress sectoral representative for indigenous peoples, Insigne was appointed to the NCIP in 2007 and was a member of the Philippine delegation to various UN meetings in New York and Geneva.

Insigne's election followed that of Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan, Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, who was elected chairman of the preparatory meeting of the Economic and Social Committee of the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement to be held in Tehran later this month. - PNA

Philippine Mayors Oppose ARMM Election Postponement

By Mike Crismundo - PNA

Thirty five mayors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are opposing the postponement of the region's August 11 polls, this was learned on Sunday.

They claimed that postponing the scheduled elections violates the law that created the region.

Suspending the regional polls is a serious violation of Republic Act 9054, the region's charter, which provides for the conduct of regional elections every three years, they noted.

The mayors said the national government should consult them on matters concerning the regional polls as this concerns fate of autonomy.

"Postponing the elections can delay the socio-economic growth of the autonomous region," said Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay.

The provincial governors are also opposed to its deferment, saying "it will delay the continuous development in the region", which is now gaining headway very ostensibly.

ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Oscar Sampulna said the governors and other local officials want the regional election held as scheduled.

The other day, House Speaker Prospero Nograles before local newsmen in Southern Mindanao, said he is not inclined to the idea of postponing the ARMM elections.

Early this month, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sought postponement of the ARMM polls "in deference to the GRP-MILF peace talks."

Big 3 Oil Firms Cut Fuel Price by P1.50

Heeding to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's appeal, at least three oil companies -- Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp., and Eastern Petroleum Corp -- announced they will reduce the prices of their diesel products by P1.50 per liter starting Sunday midnight.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, in a press conference on Sunday, said the President earlier issued an appeal to oil companies in the country in the light of the recent P3 increase especially on diesel fuel that took effect Saturday noontime in an effort to cushion the impact of such increases to the people.

He said President Arroyo had instructed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in coordination with Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to convey her appeal to the main players of the oil industry in the Philippines.

"We are happy to announce that there was positive response from oil companies," Dureza said.

Effective Sunday midnight, a roll back of P1.50 per liter for diesel fuel will be made," he said.

Malacanang thanked these oil companies for immediately responding to the President's call.

"We expressed our thanks to the oil companies for responding positively to this. It will go a long way in cushioning the impact (of oil prices) on the Filipino people especially those using diesel fuel," Dureza said.

Oil companies raised diesel prices by P3 per liter on Saturday, pegging diesel close to P59 per liter.

The increase shocked motorists and prompted jeepney operators to call for a transport strike.

Oil industry officials have said the increases are unavoidable as local prices are still below global levels.

Ermita earlier said that the Big 3 oil firms -- Petron, Caltex, and Shell -- and new oil players should be able to explain before the public their decision to raise diesel by as much as P3 a liter, kerosene by P1.50 a liter, and gasoline by P1 a liter.

Philippine DSWD Begins Rehab of Typhoon-affected Provinces

Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita said this morning that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun implementing its intensive recovery and rehabilitation projects for typhoon victims in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), V (Bicol) and VI (Iloilo).

Ermita updated the media on the latest developments in the government's rehabilitation efforts for victims of Typhoon Frank, and the implementation of pro-poor programs that are aimed to mitigate the continuing rise in the price of oil and commodities due to global forces.

He said some P33.9 million has been allocated under the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for the repair of 1,243 shelters in Kalibo, 240 in Iloilo City, 100 in Iloilo province, and 35 in Antique.

These efforts are focused on the repair of totally damaged houses through the ESA and the Cash and Food-for-Work (C/FFW) and livelihood assistance programs, he said.

To date DSWD has provided P40 million in relief augmentation to typhoon affected local government units in the form of relief, financial, livelihood and C/FFW.

In addition, the government, through DSWD, has released P70.47 million to the affected regions for, among others, the purchase of relief supplies.

In the meantime, Ermita also reported that based on Landbank data, the first P2-billion tranche of the Katas ng E-VAT on oil subsidy program, which has been channeled to the DSWD under the government's Pantawid Kuryente, has already benefited 916,444 claimants in Meralco-franchised areas in Metro Manila, and Regions III and IV-A, in the amount of P458 million.

This constitutes 88 percent of claimants in Metro Manila, 49 percent in Region III, and 40 percent in Regions IV-A.

On the other hand, Ermita also said that the National Electrification Administration has reported that 840,1331 lifeline users under its jurisdiction were served in the amount of P420 million. This comprised 18 percent of the 4.7 million target beneficiaries under NEA cooperatives. The initial P2-billion tranche is targeted to serve four million lifeline users.

A second P1-billion tranche for the above program was release last week by the President, for two million more beneficiaries, bringing the overall total to six million beneficiaries, or 75 percent of the eight million lifeline users. - PNA