by magnolia_eic | Jul 7, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
USA ka radio commentator ang gipusil-patay niadtong Sabado sa gabii sa probinsya sa Kalinga, ang unang tigbalita nga gipatay sa lima pa ka adlaw nga Aquino administration.
Si Jose Daguio, 75 anyos, gipusil samtang nanihapon kini sa iyang panimalay sa Barangay Tuga sa lungsod sa Tabuk mga alas 8 sa gabii matud pa sa taho sa kapolisan. Napusilan si Daguio sa tuo nga bahin sa iyang lawas ug gidala kini dayon sa Kalinga Provincial Hospital, apan gi deklara nga dead on arrival.
Si Daguio kanhi reporter-commentator sa Radyo Natin Tabuk ug part-time columnist sa usa ka community newspaper, matud pa sa municipal police.
Ang Tabuk Police investigator nga si Jose Candelario nagkanayon nga sa pagkakaron, wala pa silay nakitang motibo sa pagpatay kay matud pa sa pamily ni Daguio nga wala silay mahinumdoman nga pagpang-hulga sa kinabuhi sa tigbalita. Apan wala isalikway sa kapolisan ang posibilidad nga ang pagpatay adunay kalabotan sa trabaho sa tigbalita tungod kay usa man kini ka beteranong radio announcer.
Si Daguio ang unang media nga gipatay ubos sa usa pa ka semana nga administrasyon ni President Benigno Aquino III, kinsa gi pressure sa mga grupo sa local ug international media sa pag undang sa media killings ug pagpadali sa imbestigasyon sa labaw sa 100 ka gipamatay nga tigbalita ubos sa siyam ka tuig sa administrasyong Arroyo. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
IT is not exactly sleeping with the enemy, but somehow closer to that.
Army soldiers here embrace their enemies and even build shelters for them, one premium they dangle for insurgents who would opt the path of peace.
In Danao Bohol, government forces picked the hammer and pounded to build 18 new housing units for former rebel families who now partner with government in their sought reforms.
“The houses, which the army soldiers built also come with a sizable farm-lots which they can till and get a decent life in their attempt to re-integrate with the mainstream of society,” says 802nd brigade Civil Military Officer 1Lt. Jaicris Jan Mendoza, who helps foresee the program.
In fact, the 18 units are just some of the 25 units set to be constructed in Barangay Remedios Danao, as of June 28.
Some 7 more are up to be built within the next week, says Romeo Teruel who narrated that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) told him the fund can be downloaded as soon.
Funded in part by the President’s Social fund, OPAPP and the local government, the 50 hectare area comprising of house and lots also come with electricity, water services and forest rehabilitation programs the settlers can implement.
This manifests the government’s sincerity in its Social Integration Program (SIP), Mendoza said.
He also reiterates that it gives the former rebels a head start in working out for a decent life and live peacefully.
Not a few poor people in Bohol joined the rebel movement disillusioned by poverty.
But around 185 rebel returnees who have signed up for the government’s program have seen the futility of a fight against a government when their common enemy is poverty, says Provincial Social welfare Constancia Tunacao.
With a fight that bullets can’t solve, local sectors here draft a widespread poverty alleviation initiative that runs parallel to the government’s anti-insurgency drives.
Soldiers then who used to wield weapons now get into community organizing, skills training and implementing anti-poverty initiatives in rural areas to dent on poverty, says peace worker Romeo Teruel.
But without any amnesty program to offer, convincing people to come down was a problem, until it was clear that local peace efforts could proceed despite the stalled national peace programs, he added.
To make good of the intent to place a sanctuary for surrenderees, Gov. Erico B. Aumentado introduced the resettlement project via Administrative Order No. 172 series of 2007, which aims to provide the rebel returnees a chance to be reintegrated into the society, army sources also revealed.
The project, later to be called Kalayaan Resettlement Center was administered by 802nd Brigade and implemented by the Army’s engineer support battalion, the 53rd Engineer Brigade, according to Lt Mendoza.
“Although they were once enemies of the state, when they laid down their arms and returned to folds of the law, they can now enjoy the benefits of the government program,” he reasons.
With the apparent sincerity of local government officials in making a mark on poverty, Maj Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, who used to command army units here said he has seen the day when peace would be made in Bohol.
I had a feeling this day would come, Maj Gen Tabaquero, 8th Division commanding officer bared.
This was documented as one of the most successful anti-insurgency drives in the country. (PIA-Bohol with 802nd Bde reports)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
“WE are up to the challenge”, says Mayor Thomas Louis Gonzaga, committing to the huge task of sustaining the government help to facilitate easy social reintegration for former rebels.
Gonzaga, heads the host town allowing 50 hectares of agricultural and residential lands for the construction of KR Kalayaan Resettlement Center (KKRC) also helped the government screen the ten families who shall live in the new community with 15 rebel returnees.
KKRC is implemented in line with the government’s Social Integration Program for rebel returnees and by putting up the resettlement program, former governor Erico Aumentado hopes he could continue convincing rebels to lay down their arms and go back to the mainstream working for peace.
Danao has greatly reaped from the benefits of the project, he told media covering the turn over of the 18 units initially built by the government for the resettlement site.
But former guerilla and legendary fighter, Epitacio Ramirez, or Kumander Vargas, who represents the 15 rebel returnee beneficiaries of the KKRC has earlier aired his fear that government may discontinue support after the project turn-over.
Funded by the President’s Social Fund and in collaboration with the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Provincial Government of Bohol, the P6 Million KKRC includes electrification, water system installation and the putting up of a multi-purpose pavement and community Center.
Government funds, specifically the P1.5M form OPAPP could not be downloaded as fast that only 18 of the original 25 houses were completed during the turn-over, says retired Provincial Social Welfare Officer Constancia Tunacao.
The incomplete development of the area has concerned Ramirez who wanted the assurance that the government would still be true to its promise.
Over this, Mayor Gonzaga, who easily reclaimed his town’s to seat when he was uncontested in the last elections assured he will keep the local government working for its completion in as much as he also has 10 civilian beneficiaries living in the center.
8th Division Commander Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, who turned over the project from the government o the beneficiaries also wished that the KKRC sustain and continue to be the symbol of unity and cooperation among the people of Bohol, and among the people in the region.
In his turn-over message, Gov. Aumentado vowed to continue and sustain the project by monitoring its full implementation, as Danao is under his district.
For Mayor Gonzaga, he said we in Danao, as part of Team Bohol look up to it, and we welcome this challenge. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
PUTTING a premium on people rather than on projects still highlights city Mayor Dan Lim’s plan for the city in his last three years.
Lim, who spoke before a huge crowd during his inauguration said “obviously, we will have more of the cornerstone programs that form the nucleus of our development thrust. More than ever, we put premium on people over projects.
He stressed that people should be the beneficiaries of all efforts, not mere collatilla to any grandstand project.
Considering however the difficult times engulfing the country, he argued that putting up health and education subsidies would be the city’s provision when people are forced to prioritize food clothing and shelter.
Pioneering multiple intelligence for pre-school children and now hoping to adopt it in elementary education, Lim said Tagbilaran would continue implementing the novel teaching approach which redefines the way people understand intelligence.
Since school year 2005-2006, we have reached 3,540 children, he said, hinting that the program would still mold city preschool mindsets in the next three more years at least.
Convinced that the program works even if “its too early to see the results”, he presented Philippine Jaycees awardee in 2009 for implementing the novel approach to stress his point.
He also said the city follows on its schoolchildren assistance program for elementary school pupils, one it has done in its seventh year.
The City school children assistance program gives free uniforms and school supplies to elementary kids in an effort to help parents send their kids to schools.
“A total of 57,012 pupils have availed of our freebies. Hopefully, from here on, the succeeding administrations will see to it that every public elementary school pupil in the city will be a beneficiary of this program,” the mayor who will have used up his full term said.
Admitting the city’s limited resources, he promised to continue giving tuition fee subsidy of P5,000.00 per semester to college scholars.
This subsidy program is available for students whose gross family income is not more than P120,000.00 annually.
“This is opening a window of opportunity for a better life not only for the 181 beneficiaries so far but for those who will qualify in the coming years,” he explained. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 5, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
POLITICS barely affect the community life tours, says Abatan River Development and Management Council (ARDMC).
New leaderships or any wayward development plans along the Abatan river is decided by not just one but a council, and that consultative forum does not threaten the operation of the tours, agree both erstwhile and present council chairs and former Maribojoc Mayor Gavino Redulla and current re-elected Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas.
Mayor Salinas said even with new leaders elected for Antequera and Balilihan, the new-comers are not new to the program as they have been a part of the widespread participatory planning process, which laid the ground-works for the new eco-tourism product.
Former Mayor Gavino Redulla, who used to head the council also said that they were careful that the product development, that is, that the community life tours undergo participatory planning sessions from communities in five towns to make sure everybody knows what they are into.
Speaking at the recent Kapihan sa PIA which tackled the newly launched community life tours of Abatan River towns as ecotourism development strategy to sustainably manage the river resource, both council leaders believe newly leaders are generally familiar with the activities and the Abatan River development master plan.
Balilihan’s new mayor, Dominisio Chatto was then vice mayor, while Antequera’s Mario Pahang also sat as the town vice mayor during the product development stage.
Cortes Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy, Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr and Catigbian’s Mayor Salinas have retained their seats and would continue so in the next three years, at least.
Often regarded by many as a competition for the already famous Loboc River Cruises, the Abatan Community Life Tours is an entirely different experience, stresses Governor-elect Edgar Chatto, whose congressional funds then helped finance the endeavor.
The community life tour as managed by the beneficiary towns showcases aside from the often misunderstood mangrove ecosystems, the communities living about in their usual daily rituals, Redulla said.
Starting from the main community village center in Cortes, the tour takes one to some five major stops, all in riverside communities of Abatan-Lincod, Santo Rosario, Kawasan Falls and Catigbian’s Dagook Falls.
The tour also includes artistic and cultural presentations showcasing rituals of Wadji, nipa mangrove livelihood activities, basket-weaving and home industries, rural community immersions in Balilihan and Catigbian as well as a package of innovations in governance.
Interested tourists can drop by at the Abatan Main village center at national Highway in Junction Cortes and book a trip. (PIA-Bohol)
