by jeyzsonic | Jul 24, 2008 | National News
Gipanguluhan ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang paglusad sa kina-unhang Landfill Gas-to-Energy nga Proyekto sa Pilipinas.
Nahimutang sa Rodriguez (kanhi Montalban), sa Rizal, ang methane power plant mogamit sa landfill gas nga methane gikan sa Montalban Sanitary Landfill aron maka-mugna og elektrisidad sa maong lugar.
Kini usa ka US$ 33 milyones o P1.65 bilyones nga Build-Own-Operate nga Proyekto sa Montalban Methane Power Corporation (MMPC).
Base sa panahon karon, ang presyo sa lana mi-abot na sa US$130 kada barel, ang nasud, tungod niini nga proyekto, makaginansya og kapin sa US$94 milyones sulod lamang sa 10 ka tuig, dugang ni Ermita.
Makatabang usab kini sa kinaiyahan tungod kay kini gamiton niini ang ‘methane gas’, nga mao ang gitawag og green house gas (GHG), nga 21% ang grabeng kadaut kon itandi sa ‘carbon dioxide’, apas sumpay ni Ermita. (PIA/Bohol)
by jeyzsonic | Jul 20, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
“TO whom much has been given, much is also required.”
Bohol arts patron and Rajah Sikatuna Awardee Beatriz Susanna Zobel de Ayala sums up her message in stressing the call to unite some more to protect and sustain the tourism Bohol has started.
Zobel de Ayala received the award together with Philippine Airlines President Lucio Tan, Cebu Pacific Chief Executive Officer Lance Gokongwei and Philippine Ports Authority’s Atty. Oscar Sevilla during the 154th Bohol Day.
The annual award is bestowed upon individuals and institutions who have shown remarkable contribution to the betterment of Bohol and its constituents.
Zobel, who had experienced the caves and forests, the communities, the heritage sites and structures, splendid beaches, islands and the angelic children’s choir admitted it is difficult to find all these together in a province.
But reminding Boholanos not to pollute the rivers and tear down the heritage structures, she suggested to stakeholders instead using local architecture and the local styles to benefit the people of the community.
Having seen the remarkable changes in tourism arrivals since 2003, she intoned that Boholanos should be reminded that it is not the number but the quality of tourists we should invite.
Moreover, she said “it is not the quantity of resorts but the quality of service we give.”
Zobel, along with Ayala Museum and Ayala Foundation has been helping communities in Baclayon, Pamilacan and Dauis to come up with integrated tourism activities to raise the conditions of the people and their communities.
In Poblacion Baclayon, the Ayalas help a local heritage conservation group in adaptive re-use of the old houses and transform them into home-stay program venues.
In Pamilacan, along with Joel Uichico, the Ayalas help the islanders come up with better diving and dolphin and whale-watching package tours to lessen the impact of over-fishing.
In Dauis, the Ayalas help the community rediscover the value and resources of the Assumpta Heritage Complex so the community could regain the glory of the town and transform the town’s economic landscape. (rachiu/PIA)
by jeyzsonic | Jul 20, 2008 | Local News / Bohol Balita
DOG owners who refuse to register and vaccinate their pets against rabies would be slapped P2,000, a national law’s implementing rules states.
And if by any chance, the unvaccinated dog figures in a biting incident, the owner is obligated to pay for the victim’s medical expenses as well as his dog’s mandatory vaccination.
The policy is part of the national step to rid the country of the threat of highly contagious rabies, which has killed a lot of people.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9482 commonly known as the Anti Rabies Act of 2007 prescribes the procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Anti-Rabies Act to facilitate nationwide compliance, states the joint department order of 4 participating concerned government agencies.
Jointly issuing the Administrative Order are the Departments of Agriculture, Health, Education and Interior and Local Government.
According to the Section 11 of the joint department order, an owner is legally bound to put his biting dog under observation after it has bitten an individual, or he shall be slapped a penalty of P10,000.
If he refuses to shoulder the victim’s medical expenses and have their biting-dog surrendered for observation, owner is also liable for P25,000 in fines.
As the new IRR for the Anti Rabies Act of 2007 asserts the role of the state to put up a system for the control, prevention of the spread and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies, it also impresses on the need for responsible pet ownership, says Bohol Provincial Veterinarian Stella Marie Lapiz.
Lapiz, also leads the multi-million Rabies Prevention and Eradication (RPE) Program implemented all throughout Bohol in a bid to declare the tourist island rabies free by 2010.
But with the legal and fiscal saddle the Bohol RPE Council, Lapiz recently appealed anew for cooperation among mayors gathered at the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) meeting last week just as the local rabies watch noted a slight decrease in bite cases compared to the data from last year.
In Bohol towns, only San Isidro has successfully attained a 100% vaccination rate for dogs while elimination programs in Maribojoc, Duero and Panglao have met legal opposition from animal rights groups and residents who seem not aware of the threat of rabies spread in their places, Lapiz reported.
Over this, Lapiz added the presence of a provincial ordinance that metes similar penalties prescribed by the national law.
The ordinance also includes mandatory leashing of vaccinated dogs when they are brought outside the homes, or owners are liable for a P500 fine for each incident.
This way, Bohol minimizes the incidence of stray dogs contaminating the vaccinated population, just as the Bohol RPE Council push for massive impounding of stray dog prior to elimination across the province. (rachiu/PIA)
by jeyzsonic | Jul 18, 2008 | Features, Headlines
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 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 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. (rachiu/PIA)
by jeyzsonic | Jul 18, 2008 | Features
BOHOLANOS pause from work on Tuesday, July 22 as the entire province celebrates 154th Bohol Day.
The day has been declared a non-working special public holiday for Bohol by virtue of Republic Act 7683, enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives February 23, 1994.
The day is actually 154 years after Bohol was officially separated along with Siquijor from Cebu.
The Spaniards also recognized Bohol as a separate politico-military province, a tradition that was carried on by the American regime until present time.
To commemorate the day, Capitol, through Acting Governor Julius Caesar Herrera bared that the activities lined up for the day include a formal commemorative program with Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro as guest of honor and speaker.
The day starts with a flag raising ceremony at Plaza Rizal, followed by the unveiling of the marker for Capitol’s Water Treatment Facility nearby.
Activity shifts to the Bohol Cultural Center at 8:30 for a holy mass followed by the event’s commemorative program.
Herrera also said that the commemorative program includes the conferment of Datu Sikatuna Awards for outstanding individuals and institutions.
From there, at 1:00 pm, another activity: the Bull Ride Fun unleashes at the Tagbilaran City Government Compound where a Cultural show is also slated at 8:00 in the evening. (rachiu/PIA)
