by anyajulia | Dec 22, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
STALLED or not, the government is opening all avenues for engaging communities to do local peace negotiations to keep the country’s peace.
Thus insists Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary Danilo Encinas, who was here in Bohol last week for a workshop with Bohol peace advocates and their counterparts across the country.
He added that the government welcomes the removal of Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/ National Democratic Front leader Joma Sison for the list of terrorists.
The Council of the European Union has deleted Sison as terrorist blacklist.
Over the development, Encinas shared Malacanang position of elation as this portends to good times especially with the possible resumption of the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Even before that however, the government has been looking at other areas of engagement to keep the peace talks going, even in the local levels.
Here in Bohol for the solidarity and learning workshop among six monitoring Local Monitoring Boards all over the country’s areas with ongoing localized peace efforts, Usec Encinas said a stalled peace talks do not stop the government from exhaustively seeking ways to make communities decide for peace.
Set up to form alliances between and among set up monitoring groups with their unique moves to keep the tables open for local peace negotiations between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front / Communist Party of the Philippines, the workshop also allows local groups monitoring the compliance and implementation of the agreements on the respect for human rights and the international humanitarian law (CARHRIHL).
With peace a top priority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration, the she has called for everybody’s cooperation in a bid to forge a final peace negotiation with the left and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and sustain the gains in her peace and development efforts.
And with the relaxation of restrictions on Sison, government sources believe that it could expedite the resumption of negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF.
“Hopefully this will lead to good things as far as the peace process with them. This is really what we are concerned about here in the Philippines, the resumption of the peace negotiations with the left,” Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar said.
The resumption of peace talks between the government and the NDF was supposed to be held in Oslo, Norway last Aug. 28, but was put off after the NDF made another demand as a precondition.
“We are hopeful that Mr. Sison given this latest improvement in his circumstances abroad will now be in a better position to assist in facilitating the peace process between the CPP-NPA-NDF on one hand and the Philippine government on the other. That is our fervent hope,” Olivar said. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 18, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
A TALIBONGNON finally fulfills serving his homeland dream after failing to get the coveted post in 1995.
Police Senior Superintendent Anthony Lao Obenza could not, but be melodramatic as he stammered when he admitted his nostalgia for Bohol as he took the podium during his assumption to officer ceremonies at Bohol’s Camp Dagohoy.
PSSupt Obenza took over the reins as Bohol’s top cop, Tuesday, December 15 amid full police honors ceremony and key civilian stakeholders along with Police Chief Superintendent Lani-O Nerez as the highest officiating official.
Obenza, who has been serving as personnel officer for the police regional office in Cebu said he has long wanted to go back and serve his homeland Bohol.
When that day arrived, he said he wants to dedicate his peak moment with two persons he misses so much.
He cited former Police Constabulary Captain Inocencio Obenza who as a model, has goaded him to join the force and his daughter would have been happy, but has died of dengue some two years ago.
Taking over the reigns from PSSUpt Edgardo Ingkling who has been promoted to the position as chief of staff of the police regional office in Cebu, Obenza admitted his new task would seem to be a huge challenge.
Taking over a highly accomplished status of the innovative Bohol Police Office would be Obenzas first test of fire as he takes on his new top command job after long years of largely office work, Camp Dagohoy insiders revealed.
Over the daunting job, he asks the 48 strong chiefs of police in Bohol’s 47 towns and one city to give him the same support they had extended to the past chief.
Obenza assured outgoing chief PSSupt Ingking he would continue to live up to the good standing of the Bohol Police Office under the latter’s watch.
“let me ask for the same teamwork and cooperation like what you gave to your past chief”, he said before a company of integral men and women of the camp who stood on loose parade rest during his acceptance speech. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 18, 2009 | Election 2010, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
SOME nine million voters who may have missed voters’ registration deadlines set last October 31 have their final chances as the Supreme Courts tells the elections body: reopen voters registration starting December 21 until January 9.
But reports from the Bohol Comelec office however bared that Election Commissioner and lawyer Eliseo Labaria accordingly said he would await for the officials go signal from higher Comelec office to start the implementation.
Whenever it arrives, the holiday break may well be the perfect time for registering, as the High Court declares null Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 8585.
The resolution fixed the deadline of voters registration last October 31.
Via its nine-page decision, Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales wrotes, the High Court directs the Comelec “to proceed with dispatch in reopening the registration of voters and hold the same until January 9, 2010.”
With the decision immediately executory, the SC cited the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, which says the Congress has determined that the period of 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.
Such is to give enough time for Comelec to make all the necessary preparations with respect to the coming elections.
The 120-day period starts on January 10, 2010. Thus, the deadline of application for registration of voters should be on January 9, 2010, and not October 31, 2009 which is 70 days earlier than what the law provides.
In Bohol, sometime few months agoi, Kabataan Party-list representative Raymond V. Palatino revealed he has petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the Comelec resolution for being unconstitutional.
The COMELEC ruling reportedly usurps the power of Congress to legislate.
On another hand, the Comelec fixed the deadline of registration on October 31, 2009 to better prepare for the 2010 elections.
The COMELEC needs to complete voting precincts, constitute the Board of Election Inspectors, finalize computerized voters list, supervise the campaign period and prepare, bid, print and distribute voter’s information sheets. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 16, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
CRUCIAL legislative support is the common element present in the 10 outstanding municipal nutrition council winners to bag for them this year’s nutrition honors handed by the Provincial Nutrition Council.
Catigbian Mayor Roberto Salinas said his town has drastically raised their budget for health and nutrition to P7M as local officials agree that the problem of nutrition needs tow pronged solution.
Aside from regular supplemented feedings for preschoolers and elementary kids, Salinas said they have put up budgets to show their sincerity in solving the problem as well as craft ordinances on backyard gardening, mandatory tree planting.
The same is true with Inabanga, which has cascaded their legislation to the barangays, said Virgincita Aunio of barangay Cagawasan and the provincial winner in the barangay nutrition scholar category for this year’s nutrition search.
The legislated program for zero malnutrition in the barangays, says Aunio is also complemented with Barangay Nutrition Council (BNC) Sari-sari Store, Malungayan sa Purok and the equally innovative BNC Garden.
Garcia Hernandez vice mayor Miguelito Galendez added that their rationalized Development of Agriculture and Environmental Program (DAEP) has streamlined all their operational nutri-program.
Mabini Vice Mayor Ester Tabigie also agreed that legislative support for nutri-programs get children a better chance to get out of malnutrition. She added that her town has legislated for malunggay tree planting and cultivation, increased budget for nutrition and regular BNC meetings.
Tubigon Mayor Luna Piezas, who also innovates with his waste recycling facility now being used to generate funds for nutrition programs said he has allowed local governments to plan and map out solutions just as the town council assures whatever support they can give.
Also using innovative fund raising activities, several towns have upped their nutrition status by creatively engaging people to help.
For her town, Antequera Mayor Cecilia Rebosura puts up Little King and Queens and donation boxes during meetings to raise their pot money for their supplemental feeding programs.
Talibon councilor Tomas Garcia said his town innovates by using Sensilyo Mo, Kalusugan Ko to raise funds for supplemental feeding. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 16, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TUBIGON Nutrition Council Program achieved the highest provincial nutrition recognition when it bested all other Bohol towns with total of 94.91 nutrition credit points to top ten other towns already in the top list.
Mayor Luna Piezas proudly received the trophy and cash prize, which the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) prepared for the winners in different categories during the awarding day Wednesday at the Jjs Seafoods Village.
That day, nutrition advocates from winning towns and nutrition awardees converged at the venue to receive their awards and get recognized for their outstanding efforts in fighting malnutrition.
After the highly innovative Tubigon NC program came Garcia Hernandez program with 93.82 and Panglao at 93.00 at close third.
Mabini program came fourth at 92.6, Catigbian at 92.3 placed fifth, Trinidad scored 91.35 to be at the sixth followed closely by San Miguel at 91.3 at seventh position.
Antequera got 91.28 to place eighth, Ubay at 90.71 placed ninth while Candijay and Balilihan reaped 90.17 to stay tied on tenth place in the province-wide search for best town nutrition programs.
Also awarded during the day were district honors for best barangay nutrition councils.
Dorol, Balilihan packed 90.5 points to win for District 1, Soom Trinidad got 91.5 to hitch the best spot on District 2 and Concepcion, Mabini won hands down for District 3.
Also winning in the town nutrition council program maintenance awards were Talibon at 99.4, Inabanga at 98.9 and Calape at 98 points.
On the outstanding nutrition scholar category, Inabangnon Virgincita Aunio bagged the prize.
Provincial Nutrition Council Coordinator Juliet Manliguez shared that a team composed of representatives from the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Agriculture Office, Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Education evaluated the town programs last April 12 to June 2.
Towns that get an average of 92 to 94 ratings usually get to be considered outstanding winner in nutrition and has to maintain it to be called consistent outstanding winner in nutrition, she explained. (PIA)
by anyajulia | Dec 16, 2009 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
THE Provincial Development Council (PDC) has favorably endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) the 2010 proposed one point one billion peso annual investment plan (AIP) includes some P203M funds for the projected 20% development funds.
Of this, the PDC has put in an estimated P134.8M for economic services, P27.5M for general public services, P21.7M for social services and P18.9M for the next year’s priority projects.
Believing in the crucial role of good road networks as economic assets for Bohol, PDC has proposed some P95.7M funds for the provincial roads development program and another P12M for the Provincial motor Pool fund support.
The AIP has also identified some P10M more barangay road development and other vital infrastructure projects as priority project for the calendar year and another P500K for Uptown subdivision road improvements.
Capitol Barangay electrification and waterworks programs put in a combined P10 M or at P5 M each to mark the administration’s priority policy of spurring economic development in the country sides.
Meanwhile, in support of its agricultural development in line with Bohol’s dream of a string agro-industry support to tourism, the AIP also puts in a total of P6.5M support fund for organic agriculture, rice, corn, high value commercial crops and fisheries and resource management programs.
The same Bohol agri development is running with a separate fund for priority projects in jathropha for biodiesel and organic fertilizer production, coco-hybridization, dairy production support, backyard gardening, mushroom development at a total of P7M.
For livestock industry, the PDC through the AIP puts in P5.3 M funds for animal dispersals, livestock disease management program, meat safety control, dairy development program and for the construction of a rabies laboratory, all to be implemented by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
The AIP also puts in a P12M counter-parting fund source, P1.8M disaster preparedness fund and P5.5M aid to barangays, attests the letter of endorsement from Governor Aumentado to Vice Gov, Herrera. (PIA)
