by admin | May 28, 2019 | Headlines
CAMP LINO CHATTO, Cabulijan, Tubigon, Bohol, May 28 (PIA)—After rendering a stellar performance as commanding officer of the 47th Infantry “Katapatan” Battalion (47IB) for two years and 18 days, Lieutenant Colonel Eufracio Malig Jr., steps off and hands the command flag to Lieutenant Colonel Ramir Redosendo, in a simple but fitting turn-over of command rites officiated by no less than 3rd Infantry Division Presiding General Officer and 37th commander, General Dinoh Dolina at the Camp Lino Chatto in Cabulijan Tubigon, May 28.
In his acceptance message, LTC Redosendo, who handles matters of military operations at the general headquarters, rallies the men and women of the Battalion to help him bring the 47th IB to remain committed in performing its mandate.
“Let us continue our partnership in supporting the people in the pursuit of a lasting peace and development in our community,” the newly installed officer appealed during the rites attended by officers and men of the 3ID, 47IB and the 302nd BDE as well as local officials led by Governor Edgar Chatto, board members, municipal mayors and civil society representatives.
On the other hand, LtCol Malig, who distinguished his two-year meritorious service to Boholanos by fighting a different kind of battle, one that allowed his unit to forge partnerships with the local government and the civil society, is reporting to the Central Command in Camp Jamindan in Capiz for another challenging mission.
While assuring local officials and sector representatives of this intent to continue the partnerships, he still called his men under his new command to do the best they can.
“Let us all remember that we are all pieces of a puzzle, we have roles top play, and only we can see the beauty of the puzzle if we put ourselves to where we should be,” the unassuming military official said.
Malig bowed out from service to the Boholanos but not without bagging a coveted a military medal of merit for his “eminently meritorious and valuable service as Commanding Officer of the 47IB.”
He steered the battalion in various combat and TRIAD operations that resulted to the tactical engagement with the ASG and the communists NPA terrorists in Bohol, scoring high in the military scoreboards.
Malig also nailed his stint with accomplishments in the joint AFP-PNP law enforcement operations resulting apprehension of illegal drugs, assorted firearms and wanted personalities.
While surviving with high waving flags after two major elections: Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan and the Midterm National and Local Elections, Malig’s management style earned the respect of his men when he prioritized series of in-house trainings, seminars and unit sustainment activities that put his unit at the peak of its performance.
While he intensified intelligence operations by developing intelligence networks that provided accurate and timely information, LtCol Malig’s legacy would largely be on its civil military operations.
Malig focused on the internal security and peace operations and forged convergence of different stakeholders, which resulted in more community development projects like the Community Development Program, Purok Power Movement partnership with Bohol.
As to matters of discipline, when the army in the past never slipped through the allegations of human rights violations, the 47 IB under LtCol Malig instilled the highest form of discipline to his men bay attaining zero human rights violations which resulted in his unit earning the 2017 Best battalion Streamer Award of the Central Command, according to General Dinoh Dolina.
Having developed friendships in Bohol, Malig, who signed his relinquishment of command May 28, said there is no such thing as goodbyes.
“Friends, this is not goodbye, because friends never say goodbye, they simply say, see you soon,” Malig capped his speech. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
PASSING ON THE COMMAND. Lt Col Ramir Redosendo accepts the command flag which Lt Col. Eufracio Malig Jr., relinquished to 3ID Presiding General Dinoh Dolina who also handed it to the new Commanding Officer of the 47th IB now assigned in Bohol. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | May 26, 2019 | Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
THE bill seeking to create the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) now awaits the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District, chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, and author of the bill, said the bill is one step towards realization after the Senate passed its own version.
Aumentado said it is high time that the country fully harnesses available resources and advances made in science to provide precision the guide for man that technology can offer.
The solon refers a satellite that the country may launch to provide hairline accuracy for peace and order enforcement, national security, climate change monitoring and hazard management, weather forecasting and communications.
The Philippines, even if located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains to be an agricultural country. This means, Aumentado said, the data that such satellite can beam will go a long way towards preparedness for any eventuality in cases of calamities.
At the same time, he said, it can assist in surveillance and even actual operations during events of crime or threats to security.
The Science Education Institute und the Department of Science and Technology is handling the Philippines Space Science Education Program. When the proposed Philippine Spaces Act will be signed by President Duterte, this program will be given focus by the PhilSA.
by admin | May 19, 2019 | Features, Local News / Bohol Balita
It is the merry month of May again.
And while the fiestas all over Bohol allow the people to shovel into themselves huge cholesterol overloads, local bikers look up to the annual two-day ride that brings them to pedal around the island’s belting road, bond, have good clean fun and detox.
The annual Unity Ride, also known as Bohol 360 this May 25-26 this year is sponsored by TriBohol, the local elite triathlon group, who since the start, wanted to nurture amateur bikers and pedal with them through the 264 kilometer course.
The Unity Ride is a long ride and surviving it is enough of a feat. As to surviving the pain, a perfect fit with the bike helps a lot.
So what is perfect fit? It is your fit and the bike’s adjustments to attain your stance as against the bike geometry.
Considering your height, that means your stand-over-clearance (standing between the frame leaves your groin at least an inch from the frame) and your reach (which is often measured by the tip of your elbows touching the front of the saddle, knuckles reaching the tip of the steering tube). By attaining a good if not a perfect bike fit, it allows one the most comfortable painless ride especially over long distances.
Also, put in the right seat-post height, saddle position, stem length, stem length and right handle bars for long rides.
Having done that, now, gear up.
The month of May happens to be one of the hottest months. A good rash guard or those fitting arm sleeves would be helpful.
Or maybe a generous slap of sunblock on exposed skin. Sun shades.
And bike gloves if you have it. Wearing leggings, cleat shoes and a hydro bottle.
The Unity Ride is a no-helmet, no-ride event, so gear up and more: ready a spare tube and air pump.
Next up, your rig.
Do some bike spot-conditioning. Re-grease, check for chain slack, dampen the creaks, check on the tire pressure.
With over a hundred bikers all together pedaling off from the Rizal Park in Tagbilaran Saturday morning, for newbies and riders who have not gone as far through the highways, learning simple and yet basic group ride etiquette might be of help for a safe, fun and gratifying ride.
We compiled some basic things a biker must do to be in an orderly group ride. Here are some of them.
1. Drafting. Staying very close to the biker ahead of you, riding directly behind on his stream lined airflow reduces your drag, watch out however from half-wheeling. That is, instead of maintaining a healthy and safe distance from the lead, you come so close that your front tire hits the leader’s rear, which could be causing dangerous pile-up crashes.
2. Signals. In group rides, if you are a beginner, it is always advisable to stay at the back of the pack and observe. Even then, chances are, some bikers are on your tail, that allowing them to know what is ahead is more of a safety than courtesy. Extend your right hand when turning left. Extend your right hand when turning right. Raise your left hand, palms flat to signal a stop. Pump your palms below the waits to signal to slow down. Point to a hazard on the road like potholes or stones. Wave your hands on your back to direct the tail to evade an obstacle (follow me). Do not ride more than two abreast, so you can share the road with other drivers. And, maintain constant speed.
3. Do not spit. At the urge of spitting, use the proper hand signal of breaking off to the left or right, check for other bikers behind and spit away from the group riders. Be careful when reentering the group.
4. Be predictable. Grabbing on the brakes unexpectedly, standing up out of the saddle when it isn’t necessary and decreasing speed without alerting others can all lead to a crash when riding in a group.
5. Announce when you are overtaking. In highway group rides, there might be times when you might have to advance to cover a gap in the riding column, use hand signal when breaking off and inform the biker ahead by saying: Biker on the Left, or Biker on the right. Communication is the key here.
6. Leave your aerobars at home. Pack riding is often keeping close distances between bikers so each can ride on the air flow of the leader to reduce drag. Using an aerobar or time trial rigs and putting yourself in that position keeps your hands far from the brakes, lessening your control of the bike immensely.
7. Help other bikers hurdle a climb or navigate a curb. In group rides, the consistent speed often exhilarates newbies that push them to pedal harder and show off. Coaching them on maintaining cadence, using the right gear ratio most often allows them to keep pace and tire less.
8. Give each one responsibility. Long rides can be sustained when everyone helps each other. Take turns in leading the pack, assigning a rider to take the lead for, say three minutes, after which he moves to the left so the one behind him can assume the lead and the last rider on the left can fill in the space vacated by the advancing riders. Rotate and you will find out you can ride faster and wouldn’t even realize you’ve gone that far in so short a time.
9. Wait for others on climbs. Keeping a group together on a climb can be tough. Because of this, avoid racing up long climbs unless it’s been agreed upon that the group plans to regroup at the top. Let the middle of the pack dictate the pace, and everyone adjusting to the pace, so that the slower climbers can be motivated. Help those who have mechanical trouble. For safety reasons, no single rider should be left on the road alone.
10. Maintain good attitude. Sharing with others your love for cycling is part of what makes group rides so much fun. Group rides are a great time to learn from others, make friends and enjoy the camaraderie that can only be shared with other cyclists. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | May 12, 2019 | Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
WHEN the Bohol Poll prediction of a landslide his win in the congressional race in the 2nd District comes true, Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said he will still remain friends with sitting Board Member Agapito Avenido.
“I will offer my hand of friendship, a hand of reconciliation, to Aga,” Aumentado said, calling the latter “his worthy opponent”.
This after the solon got 83% while Avenido managed only 16% in the penultimate election round of the Bohol Polls conducted April 20 to May 7, 2019 by the Holy Name University’s (HNU) Center for Research and Publications (CRP).
Director Ma. Paz Espiritu of the CRP ensured that her team inserted questions on the voters’ preference for congressman of the 2nd District and vice governor in this round before tomorrow’s elections after they somehow “inadvertently” left these out in an earlier round conducted in February to March, the results of which were presented last March 15.
As the CRP boasts of a “scientific method” that the Social Weather Station (SWS) had trained them to do, Aumentado thanked the people of the 2nd District who participated in the polls for their trust and confidence in him, in what he has done for them, and will still do in his coming third term.
by admin | Apr 7, 2019 | Headlines
Over a hundred bikers on blinkers took to the City and Dauis streets to campaign for the commemoration and advancement of the global Earth Hour event.
But as organizers expected to see a load reduction for entire Bohol between 8:30 to way past 10:00 PM go down, with hundreds opting to turn off their appliances and gadgets for the three hour bike ride, the reduction noted in Bohol was too minimal compared to its island neighbors sharing the Visayas Grid.
The data however is unofficial, in a sense that it did not come from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) which monitors the grids for power consumption monitoring.
But, Department of Energy’s Energy Industry Management Division chief Jorey Maleza, who has been tracking the raw data from the NGCP, in a phone conversation said that the load reduction in the Visayas, reached a sizable 31.43 megawatts (MW).
This, he added, did not immediately register at 8:30, when Earth Hour organizers called for people to switch off their lights and appliances for an hour at least.
The load reduction came in a few minutes later, a fact that he said could be the difference in time synchronization among consumers.
In his monitoring, he said the load reduction all over Visayas was recorded at 8:35 and onwards, which he said could be because after switching off at 8:30, and on a weekend, most people possibly went on to sleep without waiting for the one hour to lapse.
In his post in his social media account, Engr. Maleza said the total load reduction in the Visayas Grid is broken down as follows: Cebu at 11.12MW, Negros at 5.40MW, Panay at 7.81MW and Samar Leyte at 12.97MW.
Bohol, where there are several self-proclaimed environmentalists who have been so vocal against coal as energy source turned out to have a load reduction of only 0.16MW.
In his post, Engr. Maleza added a note that said “the figure does not include commercial and industrial establishments not directly connected to the power grid.”
He also stated that the “figure refers only to the time indicated and may not represent the actual voluntary switch off.”
Finally he said, “the publication of this figure is unofficial, and not officially sanctioned by NGCP.”
This too as Earth Hour 2019 Bohol Bike Ride participants hardly noticed houses along the 24 kilometer road traversed, which turned off or kept their lights to a dim.
When major cities and country’s iconic monuments turned off or dimmed their lights for the Earth Hour, Bohol Earth Hour Riders noted at least four major events in the 24 kilometer circuit that featured blazing lights and power zapping sound systems.
There was even a fireworks display in one, that environmentalists have openly been very vocal about.
Fireworks cause extensive air pollution in a short amount of time, leaving metal particles, dangerous toxins, harmful chemicals and smoke in the air for hours and days. Some of the toxins never fully decompose or disintegrate, but rather hang around in the environment, poisoning all they come into contact with, according to terrapass.com.
Along the bike route was a political proclamation rally at the City Square, another political proclamation rally in Dauis, a pre-fiesta event in Bool and a roadside concert along JA Clarin, all within the 8:30-9:30 Earth Hour observance.
There is however some breath of fresh air with the 2019 Earth Hour Bike Ride, organizer Jude Ybas noted.
On its 7th year, the bikers have increased, and that is why the route was stretched a bit longer this year, from the usual
From the usual 16-18 kilometers, this year, Earth Hour Ride 2019 organizers opted for the 24 kilometers which pedaled off from the Tagbilaran City Hall open park at about 6:30 and returned to completed the loop at about 10:30 PM.
In the previous Earth Hours load reductions, the DOE engineer said in 2018, the load reduction was 49.38 MW, in 2017, 44 MW and in 2016, 29.8 MW, across the Visayas.
For Bohol, in 2018, its reduction was 1.47MW; in 2017, 2MW and in 2016, 0.3MW.
2019 and 2016 are election seasons. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
