by magnolia_eic | Jun 19, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
STRUGGLING through bad publicity thrown in its way into the homestretch, the Provincial and Municipal Coordinating Council for Clean, Honest and Peaceful Elections (CCCHOPE), emerged fairly unscathed to peg their aim of a successful election.
No less than the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) acknowledged this during the recent joint meeting held at the Bohol Tropics, June 14.
Council Chairman Governor Erico Aumentado and Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Rustical Mascarinas joined in handing out awards of recognition for each of Bohol’s 47 town mayors and Tagbilaran city, including their local government operations officers for leading local councils to ensure the conduct of free, clean, honest and peaceful elections.
Also receiving recognitions were town police chiefs and their stations, as well as the integral units of the army, for their relentless drive in ensuring that people go out to vote freely without intimidation by pressure groups.
It may be recalled that political camps accused the Provincial and municipal CCHOPE of bias in as much as they believed PPOC organized council was a brainchild of the governor, who will be throwing his hat in the second district.
Immediately after the establishment of the PCCCHOPE and the succeeding town coordinating councils, several news items made their way to the news.
Majority of them accuse police of harassment, especially in the towns placed by the Commission on Elections under its watch-list.
Several groups assumes that the scheduled police augmentation which came on the eve of the establishment of the PCCHOPE indicate that the governor had a hand in pulling more police units in.
Earlier, there were reports of armed men believed to be groups roaming in Bohol’s second district.
Not any moment later, at the exchange of accusations of bias and using position to advance political motives, Boholanos were shocked at the eventual relief of police provincial director Anthony Obenza.
PSSupt. Obenza, who has his roots in Talibon Bohol could not warm his seat as provincial police director before his relief came into effect. He was an Aumentado appointee.
But even with the damaging accusations besmirching the credibility of the PPOC organized council, elections, according to police and military assessments run peacefully and added that the objectives of the CCHOPE were generally attained. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 19, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
INITIAL steps in placating the development of the Loboc River as a potential source of processed water for Bohol’s thirsty towns tentatively shuffled as Mayor Leon Calipusan proposed the resource based project for endorsement.
At the joint meeting of the Provincial Development Council and three more Bohol key groups, Calipusan pushed for the endorsement of a project he called the Loboc Water Supply Development project.
Citing the current need for potable water to enhance Bohol’s tourism potential, Calipusan went on to say that the excess water in his town could actually be tapped for domestic, commercial or industrial purposes.
The Loboc river flows at a staggering rate of 56,355 cubic meters a day, the mayor said implying that aside from its being the channel for the famous river cruises, the river could also add up to the town’s fiscal resources when used judiciously.
He argued that developing the river resource would ensure sustainable bulk supply of processed water for Loboc and nearby towns as well as elevate the sanitation levels of the watershed areas.
Loboc’s successful endorsement for the project officially puts up the proposal on the showcase for interested organizations with a potable water supply in its investment portfolio.
While not necessarily saying that the LGU would own the project, the mayor of the tourism town made famous by its river cruises and singing groups, implied that interested groups can now start opening up their funding and development proposals for the river resource.
Observers also said that Mayor Calipusan’s projected project amount is appropriate as the project could operate on a funding somewhere in the vicinity of P800M.
Installation of mainlines, reservoirs and a water processing plant would ensure that the operators would store adequate supply for distribution to its consumers.
Asked as to the mode of the project implementation, Calipusan said his local government is presenting three options: LGU operated utility, an open–access mode where outside investors are invited to invest of any other option subject to the agreements entered into by the local government and the project proponents. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has included his defeated running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, in his 5-man presidential transition team.
In a letter dated June 11 sent to Malacañang on Wednesday morning, Aquino identified Roxas as one of the members of his transition team.
The other members of the transition team are: former Education Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, who may return to the Department of Education (DepEd); Julia Abad, Aquino’s chief of staff in the Senate; incoming Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr.; and, former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who is reportedly being eyed to head the Department of Finance again.
The letter informs Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Elena Bautista-Horn that the 5 individuals have been granted the authority “necessary and indispensable for the lawful and efficient transfer of government authority and responsibility on June 30, 2010.”
The letter adds: “These responsibilities include, and are not limited to, coordinating arrangement for the inaugural program, ensuring the smooth turnover of Cabinet portfolios, and assisting in the accounting and disposition of relevant records, information and equipment.” (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 18, 2010 | Headlines, National News
ECONOMIC Managers on Wednesday approved a new 5.0-6.0% growth target for 2010 — significantly higher than the 2.6-3.6% range it replaced but down from a proposed 5.9-6.9% — following the first quarter’s surprisingly strong 7.3% uptick.
Other macroeconomic targets were maintained, Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves told reporters, but the budget deficit could increase to a fresh high even as revenue agencies exceed their collection goals.
“Based on our fine-tuning of the recommendation of the technical working group of the DBCC and analyzing the factors that will drive GDP (gross domestic product) growth, we ended up with the 5.0-6.0% [target],” Mr. Teves said.
The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee, which sets the country’s macroeconomic targets, met yesterday to discuss proposals submitted by its executive technical board. Officials who attended the board’s meeting last week said one of the recommendations was a 2010 GDP growth goal of 5.9-6.9%.
While the deficit target of 3.6% of GDP will be maintained, Mr. Teves said increased spending to sustain the growth momentum could push the nominal shortfall to around P300 billion from the current P293 billion.
The budget deficit hit a record high of P298.5 billion last year, equivalent 3.9% of GDP. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Jun 17, 2010 | Local News / Bohol Balita
BY all indications, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo could be personally visiting Ubay Bohol this June 24 to launch the P500M port development project there.
The President, whom Governor Erico Aumentado calls Bohol’s greatest patron for the infrastructure support implemented during her nine-year tem would finish her help to Bohol with the inauguration of the Ubay Port.
The port development, identified by local officials as another gateway to showcase Bohol’s eco-cultural tourism and agro-industry potential, is also a component of the Administration’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).
With the archipelagic nature of the country, the government has decided to implement an intricate network of Roll-On-Roll Off system of ports to cut on the transport and handling costs of goods and services.
Ubay Port in Bohol, connects to Maasin and Bato in Leyte province towards Luzon or Mindanao and to Cebu City though regular slow boat and ferry services.
The opening of the port signals the dawning of countless opportunities for Ubayanons and those in the nearby cluster of towns who may feel the ripples of business opportunities arriving in the region. (PIA-Bohol)
