Bohol Town Qualifies Child Friend Search

For the third time, Catigbian qualified to the annual Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Cities and Municipalities regional search for 4th and 5th class municipalities.

      According to Mayor Roberto Salinas, "this evaluation is an opportunity for our town to enhance our performance in the delivery of basic services, especially for the welfare of our children. Winning the search is not our primary purpose of joining, but on how we can improve our services, and of course, the experience after the tedious work we had in preparation of this search".

      The regional evaluation team of the 2008 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Cities and Municipalities - -composed of Josephine Belotindos of the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office, Lawyer Ma. Luisa Ong of the Department of Interior and Local Government regional office, and Julieta Tutor of the Department of Health regional office- -validated Catigbian's entry to the August 13 search.

      "Everytime I visit Catigbian, there are new developments and it surprised me much. If I am a mother, I will surely bring my child in front of your municipal hall. It's a beautiful place. I hope this time you can make it," Belotindos, the team leader, said.

      The team religiously scrutinized the local key implementers of children's programs and services together with barangays Baang, Causwagan Norte, Haguilanan and Sinakayanan that were identified through random sampling by the team, except for Baang which was picked out by the local government unit.

      Mayor Salinas, Vice-Mayor Nicetas Digaum, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members and members of the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children stayed inside the municipal conference hall until the end of the validation that lasted up to 8:00 pm.

      The mayor expressed gratitude to the team and hoped that the findings will also serve as basis in improving the services of the national agencies to the local governments. 

Bohol Tourist Police Unit Deployed

With the resolution from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) approving its activation, the Bohol Tourist Police Unit (BTPU) can now operate in full-swing.

      In Resolution 402, dated July 25, 2008, the Napolcom, chaired by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, approved the activation of the BTPU as provided in the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Orders DPL 08-12 issued by PNP Director for Plans Romeo Ricardo upon instruction of Police Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who also serves as one of the three commissioners of the Napolcom.

      The two other commissioners are Celia Sanidad-Leones, and Miguel Coronel.

      Earlier, Governor Erico Aumentado, through PNP-Bohol Provincial Director Edgardo Ingking, had requested Razon for the operation of BTPU in the province's major tourism towns.

      On this, the Napolcom granted the govenor's request, through the PNP, which makes official, the operation of six Tourist Police Assistance Centers (TPACs) composing the BTPU.

      The TPACs will be stationed in barangay Bolod, Panglao; Alona area, in Panglao; Chocolate Hills, Loboc River area; Sagbayan Peak; and the Tarsier Habitat.ß

      This is to "implement measures aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of both the foreign and domestic tourists/travelers in designated tourist areas.

      There will be six Tourist Police Assistance Centers (TPACs) composing the BTPU.

      The Napolcom resolution provides that the Police Commissioned Officer shall head the BTPU with a rank of police chief inspector to take charge of enforcing the law, and prevent and control crimes in their assigned areas of jurisdiction.

      It shall also "conduct regular patrol and police visibility to ensure the safety and protection of the tourists/travelers and residents within the locality; facilitate and provide tourists with adequate assistance, service and security protection; monitor and investigate all cases involving tourists in coordination with concerned police stations, resolve conflicts, and take immediate action on security and public safety concerns of tourists brought to its attention".

      In times of crises, it shall also secure and contain critical areas and immediately call for the participation of emergency respondenders and the Crisis Management Council (CMC).

      It shall also "assist in the conduct of emergency/disaster response like Search and Rescue and CPR or first aid; and promote good understanding among people in the tourism business the importance of public safety, preservation and rehabilitation of natural resources, and help address the problems of environmental deterioration".

      The resolution also provides that the PNP regional director shall deploy personnel who would complement the BPTU, equipped with necessary training on tourist protection or security, investigation, human rights, firearms proficiency and other related courses.

      The PNP regional office shall also provide the logistics for the BTPU. - Angeline Valencia, Sunday Post

P272 Million Pesos Port to Port Road Budget for Bohol Province

Land trips to ports of Tubigon and Jagna will soon be as comfortable and smooth in shorter travel time when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finishes next year, the P272-million cementing and rehabilitation works on the Sierra-Bullones to Jagna portion of the port-to-port road.

      This, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo instructed the DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to include in his department's 2009 budget, the appropriation for the project.

      Secretary Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff, in letter, recently informed Governor Erico Aumentado that the project has already been programmed for funding from the budget of DPWH, as Arroyo instructed.

      Remonde's letter was in response to Aumentado's earlier request for the completion of the road linking the port of Tubigon to the port of Jagna as part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).

      The 70.87-kilometer road traverses Tubigon to Sagbayan, Sagbayan-Carmen, Carmen to Sierra-Bullones, and Sierra-Bullones down to Jagna.

      Of the 70.87 kilometers, 36.40 kilometers had already been cemented from which is from Tubigon to Sagbayan, Sagbayan-Carmen, Carmen to Sierra-Bullones, while DPWH still has to finish the concreting project at the remaining portion along the Sierra-Bullones to Jagna stretch with a length of 34.47 kilometers.

      It is on this portion of the port-to-port road that the P272-million allocation will be spent.

      In reporting the development through the weekly radio program, Governor Reports, Friday, Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. explained that at present, it would take an hour and a half to travel from Tubigon to Jagna by normal speed.

      But when the project is completed, the travel would only take less than an hour from Tubigon to Jagna port via Sagbayan-Carmen-Sierra Bullones route, Abapo explained.

      "So we thank the President for having given an attention to the rehabilitation or cementing of the road, in response to the request of Governor Aumentado. So, we hope the project will be done by 2009 so we can have a smooth and comfortable travel in these areas," Abapo said.

      The provincial administrator further explained that in the present situation, one who travels from Clarin to Ubay or to Duero, he has to go around some towns passing through Talibon first before reaching Ubay; and has to pass Guindulman before reaching Duero.

      If one takes off from Loon, he has to also go round through a number of towns through Tagbilaran to Jagna before reaching Duero.

      But, when the road concreting project is finished, one can directly travel from Loon to Tubigon, Sagbayan, Carmen, then to Sierra-Bullones to Jagna straight to Duero or when one takes off from Ubay, he can then pass through Alicia up to Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, then to Jagna, which is a shorter travel. - Angeline Valencia, Press Release

Bohol and Makati As Sisters

The City of Makati, or simply Makati, is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the greater metropolitan area of the national capital of the Philippines. It is the major financial, commercial and economical hub in the Philippines, often referred to as the financial capital of the Philippines since many global companies have their offices and headquarters in the city. Makati is also home to the influential Makati Business Club and the Philippine Stock Exchange. Ayala Avenue, running through the heart of the central business district is often called the Wall Street of the Philippines.[citation needed]

 Makati is noted for its highly cosmopolitan culture, also being a major cultural and entertainment hub in Metro Manila. Many expatriates live and work in the city. Makati is also home to many first-class shopping malls, which are located at Ayala Center and Rockwell Center. Makati also has the tallest buidlings in the Philippines like PBCOM Tower, G.T. International Tower.

 The city also has many of the country's five-star hotels like The Peninsula Manila, the Shangri-La Hotel Makati and the Intercontinental Hotel Manila. Independent business travelers also benefit from budget hotels like the Saint Illian's Inn, El Cielito Inn, The Copa Businessman's Hotel, and The City Garden Suites, while serviced apartments like The Salcedo Suites, Fraser Place Manila, The Sunette Tower, and The Oxford Suites are gaining in popularity among business-minded travelers as well.

 Makati came from the Tagalog word kati, which means tide. this primarily refers to the rise and ebb of the tide of the Pasig River on the city's northern border. The city was also known as San Pedro Macati during the Spanish era.

 Today the city is one of the most modern cities in the country and the Philippines' major global economic competitor in Asia. It faces challenges due to the disparate gap between the new city in the west, which contains the Central Business District, and the old city in the east, which is largely poor and where most of the city's slums are located. (With reports from Sen Guingguing)

State Within A State in Mindanao? Are You Kidding?

Is a State possible within a State?  This question is reverberating all over the country especially in Mindanao as the stalled Ancestral Domain Agreement to establish a BangsaMoro Juridical Entity enters a weeklong debate.  And because the issue is super sensitive, its being unresolved sends goose bumps in the volatile peace situation in Mindanao particularly my former home province of North Cotabato.  I cannot just watch the events unfold without saying anything about the issue.

 The agreement would have been signed in Malaysia last week had the Supreme Court not timely issued a temporary restrainingorder (TRO) to prevent the agreement from being signed and taking effect.  The government panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are saying that the signing of the agreement does not perfect the agreement because it has first to pass scrutiny by Congress and the affected people through a referendum or plebiscite.

 That is precisely the objection of my Sanos in Cotabato.  The process of arriving at the agreement was not transparent.  There was no consultation with the constituents, even if only through their leaders, on the scope and content of the agreement.  Cotabatenosare wary of such moves.  They know how things could be rammed down their throats especially if this reaches the plebiscite stage without them first being consulted.

 The territory of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao has been delineated a long time ago when the people where asked whether they would want to be part of the ARMM.  There is no need to expand this without first putting it through a process they all accept.  To deviate from that is to them a betrayal.

 There is no mistaking.  Cotabatenos are for peace but it should be one that they understand and accept which can only happen under transparent processes.  They will not agree to peace they do not understand.  They have fought fierce and bloody battles in the past.  Unless they know what is being agreed and how this is going to make up their future, Mindanaoans (not only Cotabatenos) will always express what they think is fair and just. And if they must fight for it, they will.  There is too much at stake now in Mindanao to just leave it to the MILF and the government negotiating panel to agree on what is best to attain peace.

 Is government becoming a party to a systematic dismemberment of the State's territory? The original goal of the Muslims when they staged their rebellion beginning late '60s was to secede and establish their own BangsaMoro Land.  They learned later that they could not do thatwithout giving away precious Moro lives.  And so they accepted piecemeal settlements offered by the Marcos administration for the Matalam- led Blackshirts.

 To show that they did not mind having a protracted battle to attain their goal,  the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) of Nur Missuari was born only to accept a new settlement to establish the ARMM from the Ramos Administration. Now here is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that has advanced the cause to a much higher settlement of a Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity (BJE).

 Who could the next group be that will work for BJE's independence to finally achieve the original goal of a separate Bangsa Moro State?  The Abu Sayyaf?  Can the Abu Sayyaf transform from its present state of organized terrorists to one that can rally the Filipino Muslims to a just cause?

 When that time comes, will secession be the last peaceful solution to the Mindanao problem that government can concede?  May be.  But when it is given it must be one that  has gone through the process that is transparent and coming from the collective will of those who will be affected, especially the Mindanaoans. - Romy Teruel, Sunday Post

Philippine Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) Unit

A FEW million pesos more and Bohol and Tagbilaran City will already have its own operational Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) Unit.

  This after the government and the private sector here contributed or committed to contribute funds for the training, equipage and operation of the unit that can immediately address the threats of terrorism and criminality which are attendant to a burgeoning economy like that of the province and of the city.

  Gov. Erico Aumentado has raised P5.88 million so far. Sr. Supt. Edgardo Ingking, Bohol police provincial director, earlier presented an P8.5-million budget to operationalize a lean but mean Swat unit.

  As such, the governor sought the assistance of Mayor Dan Lim for Tagbilaran City to contribute P1 million for the project.

  Aumentado expressed high hopes that Lim will favorably consider his request contained in a letter dated August 7  "especially in the light of the fact that the unit's headquarters will be in Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City, and therefore, the city will be the most proximate beneficiary of the project."

  To note, the provincial government has already allocated P1 million for the project. The Bohol Bankers Association headed by its officials Rodney Lumuthang of Chinabank and Argeo Melisimo of the First Consolidated Bank (FCB) committed P1.2 million to purchase a specialized vehicle for the mobility of the unit.

  The Confederation of Boholanos, USA and Canada, Inc. (Conbusac) headed by Carlos Cagaanan of Lila town who has now settled in Seattle, Washington also committed a minimum of P1 million.

  On the other hand, Reps. Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Adam Relson Jala of Bohol's 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts committed P500,000 each for the project even as the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) pledged P600,000.

  Aumentado also followed up the earlier verbal commitment of Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who committed P580,000 in trainings for the chosen elements of the unit and for whatever equipage it can make available to Swat Bohol.

  Trained members will need to serve Bohol under Swat for at least five years before they can apply or request for transfer.

  Aumentado has invited Razon to be the guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the training for the Swat unit. He will time the opening to coincide with another joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Development Council (PDC), Provincial Board (PB), the Bohol chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and Bohol's three congressmen.

Kia Cars On Sale in Bohol Philippines

Ever wonder why pint-sized cars are now the fastest selling vehicles in the local market?

A cursory look in Bohol roads would surely indicate that three of  five new cars are mini-compacts.

It is not hard to explain why this is so. With the soaring prices of fuel making a big dent in everyone's budget, the next big thing in motoring is to find fuel efficient vehicles.

As a car enthusiast, you don't have to look that far to look for cars that are fuel efficient.

In Bohol, with the opening of a Kia branch, the presence of pint-sized vehicles in local roads explains why  the Boholano motorist has finally found the answer to beat the ever increasing prices of fuel.

Sales of Kia cars in Bohol are so brisk that the local franchise decided to put up a new showroom for this Korean made compacts.

It used to be that Kia's showroom was located along Belderol St., but with its patronage climbing up in fast clip, the local owners decided to build a brand new outlet along the Taloto highway near the crossing to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

The new building was  inaugurated last August 8 with Makati Mayor Jojo Binay and City Mayor Dan Neri Lim as principal guests. Fiscals and prosecutors from the city and province were also there to grace the occasion along with doctors who are friends of the owners.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was led by Markane Earl Goho, owner of Gateway Motors, Inc. (Kia Cebu), Mandaue and Gorordo branches.

Rev. Fr. Jose Conrado Estafia officited the blessing rites.

In the new showroom are such Kia models like  the Sportage, Carens, Carnival, Sorento, Picanto and Rio. - Sunday Post 

Fly Cebu to Tacloban With Cebu Pacific Airline

Cebu Pacific Airline announces direct Cebu-Tacloban service with P699 'ALL-IN' seat sale and Cebu-General Santos starts with P999 'ALL-IN' fare!

Head to the site of the Philippine liberation in Tacloban, Leyte, or visit Cebu, famous for its dive sites and sublime white beaches as Cebu Pacific introduces these new routes with the lowest fares!

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the country's low fare leader and leading airline to the ASEAN region, offers a P699 all-inclusive fare for its direct Cebu-Tacloban (Leyte) service. This new route will start on September 2, 2008.

The seat sale for the Cebu-Tacloban A319 service starts now until August 21, 2008 and is good for travel from September 2 to December 17, 2008.

CEB also starts flying its direct Cebu-General Santos A319 service on August 15, 2008 and has announced a P999 all-in seat sale for this route. The seat sale starts now until August 21, 2008 and is good for travel from August 15 to December 17, 2008. The seat sale is non-refundable.

Flights can be booked via its site or through CEB's reservations hotline at (02) 7020888 or (032) 2308888.

Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

Can Filipino newspapers abroad be a powerhouse in mainstream affairs, reach
national and international status, and attain financial profitability?

 How can Filipino media:
   -      Influence mainstream policy makers?
   -      Obtain Homeland quality and analytical news as against
   cut-and-paste journalism?
   -      Pay for news concerning Filipinos at the national and
   international levels?
   -      Get large mainstream advertisers and sponsors?
   -      Enhance profitability and financial sustainability?
   -      Attract community leaders to exercise power sans financial drain
   and 24/7 workload?

 Who should attend the Media Workshop  at the Seattle Sept. 25-27, 2009
Conference of National Federation of Filipino American Associations
(NaFFAA)?
   -      Existing newspaper publishers
   -      Community leaders or investors who wish to wield power
cumfinancial profitability

Email: victorsbarrios@gmail.com

Filipino Priests Are Ignorant About Separation of Church and State?

"You may not know me personally, but I always read the Bohol Chronicle on line on
Wednesdays and Sundays especially your column not because you are a companero but
because you write with sense. 

I have been in the US for almost twenty (20) years and I have observed that
Catholic priests here do not oppose birth control methods, artificial or
otherwise.  I believe that people here including Fil-Ams have been oriented to the
principle of separation of Church and State.  It doesn't make any sense why
priests and most Catholics in the Philippines would oppose birth control (other
than natural) when economically, the result will redound to the benefit of the
nation. 

Sex is beautiful x x x  but sex must be exercised responsibly!  The point is, you
can perform sex anytime without making your female partner pregnant by artificial
birth control.  Look what happened to the priest from ( ____ ) who was working in
the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey and who did not profess artificial birth control
because it is allegedly against the law of God, yet impregnated his married
girlfriend in Jersey City three (3) times.  And three (3) times he paid for the
abortion of the three (3) pregnancies until his married girlfriend reported him to
the Bishop of Newark, New Jersey.  He was eventually sent back to ( ____ ) and God
knows whether or not this priest went scot-free.

Sometime in December 1992, my priest friend (name withheld) invited me to attend
an annual meeting of priests at the (name of the church withheld).  In that
meeting, I discovered that there were three (3) groups of priests namely (1) mga
macho priests, meaning, siging inom sa Fundador, cigarillo ug estoryang binotbot.
To name a few (names withheld) (2) mga silent type or hinayon, hilom kaayo ilang
estorya o pinugngan ang katawa among them (name also withheld), I could not
remember the others, and (3) priests nga "macho" or mga (______) and I believe you
know who they are. x x x 

Finally, ang mga pari sa Pilipinas, strong kaayo ug appeal, meaning, apil-apilon!
Please explain to them about the Separation of Church and State.  Take care and
please say hello to companero Oscar "Dodong" Glovasa and Fiscal Dodo Montes."

- Letter to Atty Danilo Bantugan from Eddieboy Sanches