by Misael | May 14, 2008 | Features
ANOTHER window opens with brighter prospects for Bohol as the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), one of the country’s most recent sources of funds in development assistance comes here.
The Bohol visit though, is no indication that Bohol’s priority anti-poverty development projects would automatically funnel funds from the multi-million dollar grants portfolio that the MCC has been granting to the world’s countries thrashing out of poverty, MCC Vice President John Hewko says.
He stressed however that the Philippine is already eligible and a core team in Manila actually decides which projects, sectors or geographic area can be granted aid in the Philippines.
The Philippines has lately achieved MCC grant eligibility and all local development efforts needing assistance now compete for it.
On the other hand, Department of Finance Undersecretary Roberto Tan assured that the Philippine government would like to be very broad in its consultations to be able to come out with a framework that has the most impact to communities.
The MCC in Bohol also immerses the bigwigs of the US grant agency to the development innovations in Bohol, one which was presented to them by Provincial planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal.
Hewko lauded Bohol presentation calling it excellent, and one of the best in their 20 or more provincial and city government interactions across the globe.
With the rave, hopes still remain high as MCC’s hinted that Bohol could hold an ace in its attempt to dip into MCC fund sources. MCC saw that its goals are consistent with Bohol’s development priorities.
In another show of unity and support, both Governor Erico Aumentado along with Capitol department heads and Vice Governor Hererra with his flank of legislators sat through the entire interaction held at the Chatto Conference Hall May 14.
In another presentation, Hewko cited that their corporation aims to provide greater resources to countries that are taking responsibilities in their own development.
He added that their assistance jibes with development as a key pillar in US policy aims.
According to Hewko, the MCC is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world.
MCC, he said is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people.
Its mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth.
Citing local efforts, MCC said they are into helping countries with sound governance and economic policies, broad country ownership of development efforts and with clear objectives, measurable results and with a high level of transparency.
Bohol has all of these in place, MCC officials said after the presentation. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 14, 2008 | Headlines
Malacanang has directed agencies to accelerate infrastructure projects under the “super regions”.
President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo said “super regions” help to sustain growth that has been weighing heavily on two of the economy’s key drivers — exports and remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
President Arroyo has asked the Budget department to coordinate with the implementing agencies for the prompt release of funds for the “super regions” projects.
Currently, the Pro-Performance System and the Procurement Transparency group formed in September 2007, have started monitoring, releasing advisories and remedial action for projects that encounter problems.
Malacanang has allotted P156.6 billion for infrastructure spending this year from more than P22.6 billion allotted last year.
Last month, the President formally launched the Roll-On, Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) system linking the ports of Tubigon and Jagna in Bohol province to the Central Nautical Highway (CNH). The project is part of President Arroyo’s super region programs. (PIA/Bohol)
by Misael | May 13, 2008 | Headlines
ARON hubaron ang kasagaran gubot nga pamaagi pangagamhanan ilabi na sa pagpatigbabaw sa gahum sa balaod, gilagdaan nila ni Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Manuel B. Villar, House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, ug Chief Justice Reynaldo S. Puno sa Malakanyang ang usa ka kasabutan aron magmugna sa Judiciary, Executive, and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC)
Pinaagi sa paglagda sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) alang sa katukuran niini, mamugna usab ang usa ka forum diin ang mga representante sa tulo ka sanga sa kagamhanan magsabot sa unsa nga paagi mapatigbabaw ang hagum sa balaod.
Sukip usab sa MOA nga mapa-epektibo gilayon human malagdaan, ang pagtumbok sa mga suliran ug nga hisgutanan lakip na ang hiniusang kasolbaran ug pagpatuman sa mga kasabutan nga nakalakip niini.
Ang JELAC dunay 9 ka sakop. Si PGMA maoy isipon nga chairperson kauban sa Bise Presidente, ang Senate President, House Speaker, ug ang Chief Justice isipon nga mga sakop.
Ang ubang sakop niini mao ang usa ka tinumbok nga sakop sa Kabinete, usa ka Senador, usa ka Kongresista kinsa paga-pilion usab sa ilang mga tagsa-tagsa ka pangulo ug ang Associate Justice sa Korte Suprema nga tudloon sa Chief Justice.
Walay dugang nga sweldo nga madawat ang mga sakop sa JELAC ug magsilbe sila sa ex-oficio nga kapasidad, matud sa mga tinubdan. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 13, 2008 | Features
FOR YEARS, elusive capital has evaded Danao leaders intending to shake off insurgency baggage to hitch ride with Bohol tourism development bandwagon.
Without a reliable investor willing to risk and left with nothing but raw manpower and cascading tourism resource potential, Danao Mayor Thomas Louis Gonzaga claimed they could not just easily surrender to fate.
“We have been urging investors to come [to Danao], did not get any,” Mayor Gonzaga said in his message during the ceremonies marking the turn over of DOT grants to Bohol communities tourism development efforts two weeks ago.
Staking his political career on the line, the adventurous mayor confessed that their natural resource and the people here finally decided to get matters in their own hands.
On their drawing boards, they witnessed the slow emergence of a tourism community based tourism package that enhances their natural environment and gives its people the pride in their place.
Then the strategic and impenetrable camp of Dagohoy rebellion, the country’s longest serious uprising against Spanish authorities, Danao’s impenetrable forests, intricate network of caves, steep cliffs and rippling river has also hosted local insurgents supported by residents mired in hip deep poverty.
Now, getting government presence via the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) “Grassroots Entrepreneur-ship and Employment in Tourism (GREET) Mayor Gonzaga, said “this time the government hit the nail right on the head.”
With people now committed to develop and enhance its resources, the town has slowly carved a name as new tourist adventure destination in Central Bohol, admits Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, in his recent visit to the mountainous town.
What used to be historic base camp of the country’s revolutionary leader Francisco Dagohoy, Danao now uses its almost impenetrable forests, riddling caves and deep limestone cliffs also provide a perfect opportunity for development with a new eco-educational adventure tourism (EAT) package.
“We are offering the modern experience of allowing tourists to re-trace Francisco Dagohoy exploits in the mountains here, so we offer caving, zip-lining, root climbing, rock scaling, bouldering, rappelling, navigating the rapids through rubber tubes and this time, with river kayaks,” said a local guide while explaining how to lash the safety harnesses for the zip line tyrolean traverse over the green Wahig river.
Not only that, the tour package also includes community immersion and interaction plus a countless chances for communion with nature in a park that boasts of pristine rivers, creeks, forests and cave with river system experiences.
“Experience respect for nature, the ecosystem and Danao’s history would be the main reason why tourists would come here and with locals getting livelihood, this should be sustainable, the local guide added.
Over this, Mayor Gonzaga added “It has to be the community that takes care of our environment, that is our main resource and that is livelihood for them.”
As to Sec. Durano, he said giving [the people] livelihood helps the community rid of the problem of insurgency.
To this, Gonzaga agrees, while adding that tourism is not just about jobs, but about community livelihood as well.
In addition, the country’s top tourist promoter shared that the Bohol tourism is environment-based and protecting it is just the way Danao is doing.
Now, Danao has proven that investing in its people and the resources can be a profitable experience, not just for the people’s pockets but their cultural being as well. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 12, 2008 | Headlines
SA kamahinungdanon sa pagtapos sa pagtungha (graduation) sa kinabuhi sa mga batang magtutuon, giduso karon ni National Youth Commissioner (NYC) Benjie Oliva ang magpabalaod sa usa ka mandatory nga day-off sa mga trabahante alang ning katuyuan.
Kini alang sa paghulip sa dako nga haw-ang sa kinabuhi sa mga bata kansang mga pagtapos sa pagtungha wala matambungi sa ilang mga ginikanan.
Matud ni Comm. Oliva, kinsa Chairman sa Committee on Values sa NYC, ang pagtambong sa ginikanan sa pagtapos sa usa ka bata dako nga emosyonal nga suporta nga gipadayag, ilabi na sa kamabulokon sa maong okasyon.
May daghang mga hitabo nga ang ginikanan sa magtutuon nahikawan sa pagtambong sa graduation o commencement exercises tungod kay absenan kini kon mopalta sa pagtrabaho.
Mituo usab si Oliva nga ang pagpalta sa ginikanan sa graduation sa bata makahimo ug dako nga emosyonal nga kasakit sa bata samtang mahimong maulaw kini kay wala tambongi. (rachiu/PIA)
