by Misael | May 23, 2008 | Features
PANGLAO ISLAND, Bohol – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the construction of the P4.17-billion Panglao-Bohol International Airport here to boost the tourism and trade potentials of this world-class destination province.
The President led the capsule-laying ceremony in Barangay Tawala assisted by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi, Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, and Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala.
After the capsule-laying, the President was briefed by Cusi on the status of the project funded through MIAA’s P3-billion income and P1 billion from the DOTC.
Cusi informed the President that the international airport is targeted to be operational in the first quarter of 2010 and can accommodate one million passengers per year.
The President said no foreign loans were sourced in the construction of the Panglao International Airport as government revenue agencies have consistently exceeded their targets these past few years.
Upon completion of the project, the President said foreign tourists can now come directly and visit the famous destinations in Bohol that include the Chocolate Hills, a candidate in the Internet search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and Balicasag Island, a popular breathtaking dive site which she herself had a look.
The President said Bohol, the tenth largest island of the Philippines, is one of the tourism centers of the country. Located in the heart of the Visayas, it is famous for the tarsier, the world’s smallest primate; pristine beaches and dive spots, caves and crystal springs, ancestral homes, and centuries-old churches.
In an earlier interview, Cusi and Mendoza said the Panglao International Airport would not only cater to tourists and cargo but is expected to boost trade, investments and economic activity in Bohol as it would be a magnet for industrial parks and economic zones.
AMID CRITICISMS
The multi-billion key infrastructure project also merited a good number of critics, one which is led by University of the Philippines Professor of Economics Ernesto Pernia and long-time airport critic and former Panglao Municipal Tourism Committee Chairman Agustin Cloribel.
Working against time in efforts to at least stall or scrap the project, Boholanos for Truth, Accountability and Reform (BOTAR) posted a paid ad in a local paper daring the provincial leaders to clarify issues involving the project.
Questions raised against the plan are its economic viability, serious environmental concerns, perceived corruption and dirty politics.
Governor Aumentado however shrugged off all these assuring that everything has been in order and that the government is doing its best to put up mitigations to outweigh the environmental issues against the economic and social benefits Bohol and the entire region can get from it. (rachiu/PIA)
by Misael | May 20, 2008 | Features
WELCOME alang sa Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) isip usa ka government entity nga ipahigayon sa usa ka senate blue ribbon committee inquiry ang giingong dili kasarangan nga pagpatuman sa Panglao Bohol International airport.
Sumala ni Tirso G. Serrano, kinsa assistant general manager sa Airport Development ug Corporate Affairs sa MIAA, dili nila isipon nga suliran ang usa ka inquiry tungod kay sayod sila nga gipailawom sa tukma nga proseso ang katumanan sa tugpahanan dinhi sa Panglao ang promal nga sugdan kariong adlawa.
Una na nga gipasupot ang panaghap nga ang Panglao Airport wala masubay sa tukmang proseso tungo sa gikataho nga may nidaug na nga contractor niini, bisan wala pay open ug competitive public bidding.
Kini hinuon nga pasangil gihimakak usab ni Serrano atul sa usa ka interview gahapon didto sa Kapitolyo.
Butyag ni Serranio nga wala pa sa bidding stage ang proyekto sa airport sa Panglao, aniaa pa sa pre-engineering design ug niiini nga punto, wala pay bidding nga ipahigayon hangtud nga makita sa MIAA ang specifications.
Iya usab nga gipasalig sa MIAA nga nasayop ang naghimo ug spekulasyon nga human sa paglubong sa time capsule sa Panglao Airport, dili na kini kahimuslan.
senate inquiry ang Panglao airport
WELCOME alang sa Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) isip usa ka government entity nga ipahigayon sa usa ka senate blue ribbon committee inquiry ang giingong dili kasarangan nga pagpatuman sa Panglao Bohol International airport.
Sumala ni Tirso G. Serrano, kinsa assistant general manager sa Airport Development ug Corporate Affairs sa MIAA, dili nila isipon nga suliran ang usa ka inquiry tungod kay sayod sila nga gipailawom sa tukma nga proseso ang katumanan sa tugpahanan dinhi sa Panglao ang promal nga sugdan kariong adlawa.
Una na nga gipasupot ang panaghap nga ang Panglao Airport wala masubay sa tukmang proseso tungo sa gikataho nga may nidaug na nga contractor niini, bisan wala pay open ug competitive public bidding.
Kini hinuon nga pasangil gihimakak usab ni Serrano atul sa usa ka interview gahapon didto sa Kapitolyo.
Butyag ni Serranio nga wala pa sa bidding stage ang proyekto sa airport sa Panglao, aniaa pa sa pre-engineering design ug niiini nga punto, wala pay bidding nga ipahigayon hangtud nga makita sa MIAA ang specifications.
Iya usab nga gipasalig sa MIAA nga nasayop ang naghimo ug spekulasyon nga human sa paglubong sa time capsule sa Panglao Airport, dili na kini kahimuslan.
by Misael | May 16, 2008 | Features
Tagbilaran City (16 May) — While the Philippines scored low in investing in people, Bohol proposes one project that is to raise the country’s MCC rating and that is investing in internet connectivity for its public high schools.
Early this week, the national government sent to Bohol an entourage of key Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) officials to Bohol to let them pore through Bohol program framework for poverty reduction.
MCC, a subsidiary corporation of the United States Government has been granting multi-year agreements in funding programs aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth for low income countries across the globe.
Bohol, like many provincial governments and like many poor nations, vies for MCC funds when the Philippines has become eligible for the US help.
The country’s MCC eligibility was attained after the government instituted anti-corruption measures which gained a high MCC rating. Putting up anti corruption measures is a key country performance indicator before it becomes eligible for MCC funding.
The Philippine anti-corruption measure was accepted despite a low rating on investing in people.
Not to be left out this time, Bohol attempts to allow its 231,976 public school enrollees to widen their classroom knowledge by connecting them to the vast information superhighway accessible in the world-wide web.
The Bohol project, which would also be co-shared by local governments concerned proposed for equipment procurement, information management system set-up, training, support services and studies as well as program implementation, says Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal during an MCC interaction at the Capitol recently.
Consistent with the local governments 10 point agenda, other Bohol projects for MCC funding include the Rice Accelerated Emergency Response (RACER) for rice sufficiency, Livestock Integration for Food and Family Enhancement (LIFFE) an innovative livestock dispersal project, Skills Trainings Advocating Reliance and Self-Employment (STAR) a barangay based job generation project and Bohol Employment Placement Office job generation agenda.
Also proposed are environment protection projects in the Private Sector Assistance in Land Management (PSALM) and mari-culture zones establishment.
For the health programs, Bohol proposes for hospital laboratory equipment upgrading and flagship hospital projects as well as its province-wide anti-rabies campaigns. (PIA-Bohol by Rey Anthony Chiu)
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 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 | Features
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently launched the GMA (Greater Modular Access) Jobs Center kiosks. This provides free online Career Guide access for new graduates and jobseekers and is now operational in key malls and local government units nationwide.
According to Acting Labor Secretary Romeo C. Lagman said that by means of the Career Guide, relevant and career guidance information on highly in-demand occupations are accessible for free in the Internet, to improve employment the opportunities for Filipinos specially the youth.
He added that the guide covers occupations like; accountant, aircraft mechanic, animator, architect, barista, bartender, CAD operator, call center agent, caregiver, chef, civil engineer, commercial airline pilot, computer programmer, cook, dietician, electrical engineer, geologist, heavy equipment mechanic, heavy equipment operator, hotel reservations officer, massage therapist, mechanical engineer, medical technologist, medical transcriptionist, metallurgical engineer, mining engineer, nursing assistant, physical therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, physical therapist, professional nurse, receptionist, retail salesperson, room attendant, software engineer, surveyor, telemarketer, tour guide, travel agent, waiter/waitress, welding and metal fabricator.
Aside from the online kiosks, the Career Guide is also readily accessible at the Internet directly through the Philjobnet website at www.phil-job.net, or the Bureau of Local Employment website at www.ble.dole.gov.ph. (PIA/Bohol)
