by admin | Jul 28, 2019 | Local News / Bohol Balita
By: JUNE S. BLANCO
REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District stands by his previous statement that “the Cantakoy hydroelectric project found no support from the next administration.
This solon emphasized that “this was not a misleading statement”, but a statement of facts.
Aumentado said partners Ayala Group and Sta. Clara Power Corp. were well on their way in establishing the Cantakoy project – taking extra diligent care in providing mitigating measures for what experts had described “critical” and “dangerous” – during the incumbency of his namesake father and immediate congressional predecessor, former governor Erico Boyles Aumentado.
Sta. Clara Power Corporation is an independent power producing company in the Philippines. It focuses on hydro power development. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Mandaluyong, the Philippines. Sta. Clara Power Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Sta. Clara International Corporation
But for reasons of their own, the next administration did not pursue Cantakoy – despite the impending and expected stark increase in power consumption due to the operationalization of the Panglao Bohol International Airport.
Airports are stand-alone natural investment come-ons, but since Bohol has been vigorously inviting investors, the province should have taken more aggressive steps in meeting the increasing power demand. After all, he said, only in the power industry is redundancy welcome.
The recent price hike scare prompted Aumentado to walk what has so far been merely talk. The resumption of the Cantakoy project would be his “little contribution” to ease the current power crisis in Bohol.
He said Cantakoy can augment the power “imported” from the Tongonan Geothermal Plant in Leyte by from eight to 10 megawatts.
With no source other than Leyte tapped, the Boholanos are now experiencing a shortage in the supposed to be redundant power supply for which the elder Aumentado had taken steps to avert as early as 2008-2009.
The younger Aumentado says he is now taking the cudgels for the Boholanos to rekindle negotiations – and also push for the laying out of another submarine cable from Cebu.
After all, the Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group (BEDAG) has yet to announce a project geared towards alleviating the fear of the Boholanos of a power shortage leading to rotational blackouts – an additional burden to businessmen and even government offices who have to spend for generators and fuel.
He added that had the Cantakoy hydro project been not aborted, this would have been operational by now.
by admin | Jul 27, 2019 | Headlines
When learning facilities of the differently abled are scarce, persons with disabilities (PWDs) whose rights, advocates are pushing, are pleading the government to put up a dormitory for them to stay while studying in city schools that cater to their learning needs.
Leading the pleading and giving voice to the deaf-mute and the mobility challenged PWDs were Bohol Deaf Academy (BDA) principal RizalinaPeligro.
Waving the placard to catch attention to this call for action, Peligro, along with BDA Senior High School principal Julius Canda, who administers one of the very few, if not the only school in Bohol that offers senior a high school for the hearing and speech impaired, said that they have students from all over the island who are forced to rent in the city so they can attend their classes.
Peligro said, for the needed special attention and care for these physically challenged students, a common facility that would allow the deaf mute to interact with persons with the same predicament like theirs, would already mean so much, in a society that commits to expand PWDs rights.
Whilesome of their students are not necessarily financially capable, PDWs rights advocates support the move, considering that allowing these students to live out of the school compound to their towns every single class day is too much hassle. And it may be risky.
As if the inconvenience of communicating to the transport sector workers through sign language is not enough, the same learners have to haggle for the mandatory 20% discount, which the society has not been as keenly giving in.
For lack of such facility, out of pity, Peligro said faculty members at the BDA are forced to adopt their students in their homes, if only to assure them that they are covered and to stop them from dropping out.
And while providing a government operated facility as possible boarding houses for PWDs needing special care, is possibly a novel project for the government, many believe that providing such a facility would attract more and more PWDs to come out and get properly educated for a better chance at being productive in life.
According to Bohol Provincial Disability Affairs Office Administrative Officer Jowel Robin, about 14,000 PWDs are already on their database, and many of these are not as keen in learning because of the discomfort of traveling.
Special Education (SPED) schools, while there are established facilities in some towns, also echo the same concern for the discomfort of travel of PWDs.
After they graduate in the basic elementary, many would just opt to stop, for with only few secondary schools offering SPED classes, distance is always a consideration.
Complaints emanating from PWDs as regards the mandated discount in public transport still ring high and, at an already disadvantaged position, a PWD almost always, would just skip the trouble of pressing for their rights, accessibility monitoring team members remarked.
Of the disadvantages that PWDs are forced to accept, and with slow progress in getting them their rights and privileges as the law provides, setting up the facility would be a great move to allow PWDs a better chance to get into the mainstreams. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
GIVING VOICE TO THE DEAF MUTE. Bohol Deaf Academy high school principal RizalinaPeligro pleaded for government to help build a dormitory facility near SPED schools to lessen the discomfort of PWD students who are forced to brave it out daily to get them to schools and home every day. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
PDAO Administrative Officer Jowell Robin bared that there are already 14,000 PWDs in their database for Bohol, but only very few of them go to schools due to the discomfort and their handicaps. With Robin is Mateo Quilas, a sight impaired an a staunch PWD rights advocate. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jul 26, 2019 | Local News / Bohol Balita
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas opened its regional products showcase in Bohol, July 24-28 at the Island City Mall, with a bigger, wider participation of government assisted and developed products.
This year’s products’ showcase feature 190 exhibitors bringing in gifts and novelty items, home decors, wear-ables and fashion accessories, home style and quality furniture and furnishings, and processed food from the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) of the 11 regions joining this year’s trade fair, according to DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte.
Bohol’s Sandugo Trade Expo 2019 is now a far upgrade from what used to be a provincial products’ fair held at the open grounds of Plaza Rizal, some 31 years ago.
DTI Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona, Asec. Demphna Du-Naga of the of the Regional Operations Group, Regional Director Asteria Caberte, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap, visiting DTI regional directors and Central Visayas Provincial directors Maria Soledad Balistoy (Bohol), Nimfa Virtucio (Negros Oriental) led the ceremonial opening of the fair which accordingly aims for an ambitious P40 million in sales.
Asec Lantayona, in her message however knows that the P40 million is easy to achieve citing that last year’s P25 million target was easily attained.
The Sandugo regional trade fair in 2018 even piled up an additional P7 million over the target, or a whooping P32 million in cash and booked sales.
Lantayona, who now likened the Sandugo Trade Expo this year to a national trade fair, pointed out that exhibitors all over the country are all looking forward to joining the Sandugo trade fair in Bohol because sales here is good.
Besides, she said the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Promotions is helping out in inviting international buyers, while she believes going past the P40 million sales target is easy for silent workers behind the Bohol trade fair.
A concept of the DTI to provide a venue for home and cottage industry products from Bohol’s 47 towns and a city, the provincial fair then improved into a regional fair as the DTI used the products of the One Town One Product (OTOP) and the DTI assisted products developed by micro, small and medium enterprises.
Also among the exhibitors are producers who benefit from the DTI shared service facilities project and its Kapatid Mentor Micro entrepreneurs program.
Now considered among the oldest surviving products showcases, the Sandugo Trade Expo has consistently helped open up markets for local products and has been among the fairs which promise huge sales and international exposure.
This year, even without “The Block,” which has been the home of the Sandugo Trade Fair in the past years, some 32 new exhibitors have joined the regional hot sellers, as this year registers a total of 190 exhibitors, according to the DTI.
It is 20 exhibitors more than the 170 exhibitors who joined the trade fair last year, despite the usual problems of space limitations, DTI sources added.
And on its second year, Bohol’s cacao and chocolatiers, along with the Philippines Great Women Project put up the innovative “Tsokolaterya,” a chocolate snack nook which also aims to mainstream the cacao industry and further strengthen the dream to bring back and bank on the heirloom cacao.
The 151 booths of the Sandugo Trade Expo from Regions 3, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 4A, Region 4B, National Capital Region, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 10, Region 11 and Region 13 can be found at the ICM Activity Center and ground floor, second floor, a nook at the third floor and at the west parking lot where furniture and home furnishings are found. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
DTI TRADE EXPO 2019. With 190 exhibitors from 11 regions participating, the Bohol Sandugo Trade Expo has become a national trade fair, a legacy the DTI credits to the leadership of Boholana regional director Asteria Caberte. The expo opening at the ICM Activity Center July 24 had Caberte, DTO Asec Demphna Du-Naga, Governor Arthur Yap, Asec Blesila Lantayona and Bohol Provincial Director Maria Soledad Balistoy. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jul 26, 2019 | Headlines
A team composed of persons with disabilities (PWD) proves they too can be competitive in a sport that banks on strength, endurance and timing to bring out a winning teamwork on a small boat by netting two championship awards in the recently concluded Sandugo 2019 Dragon Boat Festival held at the Miramar Promenade here.
Fresh from their international dragon boat feats, Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team of Cebu City marked history again in Bohol for perfect paddling to steer into winning the Sandugo 2019 women’s category and sopen masters category.
This year, 11 teams competed in the race.
Composed of amputees, deaf and blind, PADS team has always worked on the motto that says “Our combined disabilities are our greatest strengths,” has shown again that disability is no barrier to being winners.
PADS Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team beat Bohol favorites: Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates and Dauis Wild Dragons in the 300 meter race, the locals have to content themselves by settling as first runner up and second runner up in the day long race at the Tagbilaran City-Dauis Strait July 20.
The race, sponsored by Bohol Paddlers, the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government of Bohol, City of Tagbilaran and Municipality of Dauis, opened to the following categories: Small boat Women, small boat open, Small Boat mixed, small boat open Masters, and small boat mixed masters plus standard boat mixed category attracted teams like Aboitiz Dragon Boat (Cebu), Bagsik Dragon Boat Racing Team (Tacloban) , Cebu Fireblade (Cebu), Dauis Wild Dragons A (Bohol), Dauis Dragon Warriors A (Bohol), Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A (Bohol), Lions, Motley Crew, Nagabugsay (Cebu), Pundok Amila (Bohol), Sugbo Mighty Dragons (Cebu) and Bohol Paddlers.
In the small boat Open Category, claiming the Championship was Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A, followed by Cebuano Sugbu Mighty Dragons for first Runner Up and Pundok Amila (Bohol) as second runner up.
For the small boat Mixed category, champion was Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A, followed by NAGAbugsay Dragonboat Racing Team (Cebu) and Dauis Wild Dragon A
as second runner up.
In the small boat Open Masters category, PADS again emerged as champions, while the first runner up went to Bohol Paddlers Association Inc, and the next winner was Aboitiz Dragonboat Team
In the small boat, Mixed Master category, Sugbu Mighty Dragons snatched the championship while 1st RU was PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team.
For mixed standard boat Category, Dauis Wild Dragons A picked the prize as champion while Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A won as first runner up and PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team won second.
PADS trophies this might might just be a bonus, winning the recognition and admiration from the clearly unimpaired on the Natioanl Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week is a reaounding shoutout to those PWDs who refuse to come out.
Not only is there life after sulking, there is even a victory for the determined. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
FRENZIED PADDLING. Strength, endurance, stamina, cadence make up a winning teamwork as dragonboat paddlers compete for the fastest time in 300 meters race, during the Sandugo Dragon Boat Festival July 20 at the Tagbilaran City Strait. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jul 26, 2019 | Headlines
Hospitable as they are, Boholanos defended their turf and gave only three of the six championship slots to visiting paddlers in the recently concluded Sandugo Dragon Boat Festival held at the seas, between Dauis and Tagbilaran City Strait, July 20.
Local paddlers showed true grit, strength, endurance and teamwork to leave visiting dragon boat teams, some of them fresh from international competitions, in their wakes after 300 meters of synchronized frenzied paddling.
Amid resounding beats provided by a drum corps stationed at the Miramar Promenade where teams put up their team tents for paddlers to recover, Bohol paddlers of Dumalu-an Beach Resort Pirates A, Dauis Wild Dragons, Bohol Paddlers Association and Pundok Amila built a solid defense but yet allowed visitors to come home claiming also three championship trophies.
In the end, Dumalu-an Beach Resort Pirates A paddled in furious cadence to nail the championship slot for the Small Boat Open Category Small Boat, and another championship trophy for Small Boat Mixed category.
On the other hand, Philippine Accessible Disability Services (PADS) Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team of Cebu City, a team which recently bagged an international championship in Hongkong claimed the championship trophy for the Small Boat Women’s Category, and Small Boat Open Masters Category.
Winning for the locals however, was not an easy feat, as it would mean beating an internationally competing team of persons with disability who just wowed the entire dragon boating world with their Hongkong victory.
But, knowing the currents and the waters of Tagbilaran Strait neing their playground, Dauis Wild Dragons breathed fire in their after-burners to grab the Standard longboat Mixed Category, keeping the veterans of the PADS Adaptive Dragon Boat Racing Team, nearly half a boat length in the finish line buoys.
Meanwhile, Sugbo Mighty Dragons carried home the Small Boat Mixed Masters Category in the sunny generally high tide race.
Over-all, for Small boat Womens’ category, a women team of the PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team showed that even with disabilities, as they have blind, hearing impaired paddlers, they can still put up to speed against Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A which settled for the First Runner Up and Dauis Wild Dragon A who settled for the Second Runner Up.
In the Small Boat Open Category, with Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A as champions, Sugbu Mighty Dragons contended themselves with the First Runner Up (RU) while Tubigon’s Pundok Amila grabbed second RU.
In the Small Boat Mixed Category, Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A claimed the championship, while Cebu’s NAGAbugsay Dragonboat Racing Team of Naga City nailed the first RU and Dauis Wild Dragon A took second RU.
For the Small Boat Open Masters Category, PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team took the top post, while 1st RU was Bohol Paddlers Association Inc., and 2nd RU was Aboitiz Dragonboat Team.
In the Small Boat Mixed Master Category, Sugbu Mighty Dragons grabbed the championship trophy and PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team claimed the next spot.
For the Standard Boat (Long Boat) Mixed Category, Dauis Wild Dragon A packed the coveted championship trophy while Dumaluan Beach Resort Pirates A came up First RU and PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team has to pick second RU.
Dragon boating in Bohol has been identified as a come on for sports enthusiasts and tourists who enjoy water sports, even as Bohol pegs a stake as the eco-tourism capital in the Central Visayas. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
