Herrera says “rice complex” lessens post-harvest losses

by anyajulia | Oct 27, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita

VICE GOVERNOR Julius Caesar Herrera assures that the government is pressing its foot on the ground to assure that Bohol’s rice production can be maximized and the savings would benefit the farmers right away.

After the groundbreaking ceremonies of the modern rice processing complex in a one hectare Pilar owned lot, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Agriculture Committee Chair underscored that the best legacy the government could leave its people is giving them the best value for all their efforts.

Herrera claimed that the establishment of the complex is expected to escalate some more domestic rice self-sufficiency especially when the complex is built in a very strategic rice producing town served by irrigation facilities as Malinao, Capayas and Bayongan dams.

The integrated rice processing complex would be equipped with state-of-the-art postharvest facilities providing services on training; continuous drying, storing and milling; purchasing of wet paddy rice and selling of high-quality milled rice, he explained.

The modern rice complex in Bohol is a clear indication of Capitol’s strong commitment and political will to streamline agricultural development here, he shared.

The complex would surely enhance efficiency in the post-production system through reduced post-harvest losses, enhanced quality of milled rice, improved distribution system, and maximized rice by-products.

The grant would include buildings, provision of equipment and machinery, dispatch of experts to provide technical advice on the implementation of the project, and technical and managerial training.

He also claimed that Boholanos are lucky to get one of the four, one of its kind integrated rice processing complexes in the country, and added the complex happens to one of the two established in the Visayas.

In Bohol, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) brings down a grant of P125M forming the bigger bulk in the P148M Pilar complex.

The Philippine Government and KOICA shares in the funding three similar complexes in Santa Barbara Pangasinan, Pototan Inlo-ilo and Matanao in Davao del Sur, the Department of Agriculture through Grace Len Dagala said.

DA Secretary Arthur Yap personally came with Korean Ambassador Choi Joong-Kyung, Governor Aumentado and Mayor Pajo in the groundbreaking ceremonies along with Aggie bigwigs. (PIA)

With stalled peace talks : Govt documents Bohol peace process as national template

by anyajulia | Oct 26, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita

ADVANCING peace amid the suspension of government peace talks take on a new plane.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (PAPP) Undersecretary Danilo Encinas hinted the government can not afford a pause in its peace with the stalled peace talks.

With the peace agreements between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines New Peoples Army National Democratic Front stalled, the government has to exhaust all means to achieve an end to the 40 year old insurgency.

Sharing the new government adopted strategy, Usec Encinas said, “you capacitate the ground so they can provoke the two parties to talk.”

Hoping to exactly do that, the Office of the PAPP now comes to Bohol to document a successful peace process which has been mulled as a new template for peace in other areas.

Admitting he did not imagine Bohols peace champions could start off with a worthy peace process, he said he is humbled by it.

During the Reflective and Generative Dialog on the Documentation of the Peace Building Good Practices at the Bohol Plaza October 22-23, Encinas cited Bohol achievements in peace which happens to be snagging in firsts in the country’s peace process history.

The forum was attended in by Bohol peace advocates who come from various sectors: church, civil society and government.

He noted that the convergence of all efforts in Bohol has baffled the OPAPP because it was a totally hard thong to replicate in other places with peace issues.

He also mentioned the army’s giving of lands to rebel returnees as a rare practice.

The OPAPP would like to know how the anti-poverty program has helped and what prompted rebels to go down and join the mainstreams despite a no amnesty package available for them.

He also said OPAPP wants to know what prompted the establishment and installation of the Local Monitoring Board as a local body that accepts and processes human rights violations complaints as alleged against the military and the insurgents.

Brought down to Bohol by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Program, the generative dialog was a venue to generate and evoke the strategies, which made Bohol successful in its present peace building efforts.

Since implementing the local programs, Bohol moved out of the country’s 20 poorest provinces and discouraged the insurgents’ four guerrilla fronts off Bohol into nearby provinces. (PIA)

Abatan ni Tamblot musicale highlights fiesta novenario

by anyajulia | Oct 23, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita

THE tale of Tamblot, the pagan high priest of Abatan comes to life in songs through an original musical play set last night, October 24, 2009 at the Antequera Cultural Center.

Produced by Centro Boholano (SB) for the Local Government of Antequera, the musical uses original music by Boholano composers and was also commissioned for the main cultural menu for the Antequera stop of the newly launched Abatan River Community Life Tours, Gardy Labad, SB artistic director said.

Tamblot, the legendary pagan priest who was the historically referred to as the initiator of the country’s first serious religious revolt against the Spaniards in 1620 was so successful in his initial months of revolution that he dealt so much embarrassment on the Spanish forces.

Sidled out from his wide sphere of religious influence after Sapaniards took their residence in Loboc, Tamblot moved out and claimed the civilization of river side Malabago as his seat of power.

Officiating over the religious rituals of the community in the upper tributaries of the Abatan, Tamblot was relentlessly pursued. His Spanish foes traced him finally in the far away Malabago where he was again forced to flee to Tupas, on the other side of the riverbank.

Doing precision ambushes against the abusive Spaniards, Tamblot’s fame soon caught like wild fire, until he completely engaged communities to an uprising, when Spanish authorities were in Cebu in 1622.

Because of such shame he and his men gave to the superior armed Spanish soldiers, his name could seldom be seen in historical records, opines historian Jess Tirol in his writings.

Perhaps another victim of the slanted annals by biased writers detailing Spanish conquests, the Tamblot victories against elements of the Spanish garrisons remain as footnotes of the records a student can glean from research sources.

Now, using the artistic elements of story-telling through songs, Antequera Cultural Collective, a gathering of community based amateur artists aided by Centro Boholano artists present a fast paced action account of the life and exploits of Tamblot through an hour-long musicale.

Playing major roles are students and villagers also put up exemplary performances, shares play director Jun Camacho after the play.

The play also includes a rare ribbon and fire dance using trained local stage artists who underwent workshops.

The Abatan ni Tamblot musicale is also sponsored in part by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Information Agency, Teatro Bol-anon, local government of Antequera and well-meaning Antequeranhons. (PIA)