Headlines
Gov wants national government to fund carrying capacity studies
Governor Edgar Chatto brings the issue of a tourism area’s carrying capacity anew as Bohol tourism stakeholders gathered for the Forum on Sustainable Tourism: Bridging the gaps between standards, legislation and practices, March 28 at the Reynas Garden, Tagbilaran City. Carrying capacity, a critical consideration in sustainability, is the maximum number of individuals that can be accommodated in an area without significantly affecting the state of the environment, the level of the visitor’s satisfaction and the local culture. According to former research and project officer of the Department of Tourism and a professor of the University of the Philippines Institute of Tourism Carlos Libosada Jr., the issue on carrying capacity can even be categorized into environmental and social. Environmental carrying capacity takes into consideration the impacts tourism brings in an area and may include waste generation, food and water consumption as well as the physical effects of over presence of people in a hiking trail that could cause soil erosion. Ever since Bohol started to be a known tourism destination, local leaders have been pressing for the agriculture sector to fill in the food production gap considering that, at present, tourism arrivals in Bohol has almost equaled the local population, while the local food production has since been insufficient. Carrying capacity also considers the wildlife resources that may be affected by the huge groups coming in, like the tarsiers for example. Moreover, certain animals have adverse reactions to human presence, like in birdwatching sites. On the other hand, social carrying capacity is the actual number of people who can truly enjoy a destination or activity, without having to be... read moreUniversal Health Care Law” reorients health care system
What could be the most salient point of the newly passed Universal Health Care Law (UHCL) which President Rodrigo Duterte signed not too long ago? Asked this question, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Visayas Vice President Lourdes Diocsonhinted the reorientation of the old health care system. From the generally post confinement assistance, much of the new health care law steps towards a proactive primary health care system marks the biggest paradigm shifts in the Philippine public health system. Speaking at the weekly Kapihansa PIA which is aired live over DyTR and on a delayed podcast from PIA Bohol twitter and facebook pages, Diocsonsummed the UHCL as a law that will now provide every Filipino the highest possible quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public. This is based on the government mandate to ensure that every Filipino gets affordable and quality health benefits by providing adequate resources: health human resources, health facilities, and health financing, she explained. As the UHCL expands the right to have access to a health care system that does not just work when one is confined at a health facility, it works not just in financing one’s health risks (which the PhilHealth provides) but also includes providing human health resources in the Department of Health’s (DOH) network of medical practitioners, pharmacies and medical professionals’ organizations to be contracted by the government as well as the string of health facilities and medical specialty institutions where consultations and laboratory tests may be free. Here, as the new law automatically enrolls everyone eligible... read more
DENR launches “RIVERS For Life awards”for ‘19
Consistent with the idea of shared ownership to make communities realize a better environment management and conservation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launches in Bohol its awards Recognizing Individuals and Institutions towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (RIVERS). The awards, formally called Rivers for Life would be given out to the best rehabilitated and most improved water quality from the country’s class 3 rivers, this June 2019 in time for the DER’s 32nd anniversary, authorities from the government’s environment agency shared. The program is basically to raise awareness on the need to protect and conserve the country’s rivers as the lifeblood of the earth and human civilization, and taking the cue from Manila Bay clean-up, tap concerted action to protect the country’s rivers from degradation and pollution and assure their suitability, sustainability and further improvement, explains Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre at the Kapihansa PIA Thursday. Aware that the government could not lend a presence enough to cover the protection and management of the entire river systems in the country, this time it looks at communities and stakeholders to help them come up with appropriate mitigation measures and interventions to help address the continued worsening conditions of river systems nationwide, the DENR official said. Earlier, the DENR PENROs and Community ENROs submitted an inventory of all rivers in their respective areas of responsibility and from these, the DENR regional committee selected class C rivers for adoption. According to the DENR, Class C rivers are those which may not be safe for swimming owing to the presence less than 100 coliform presence in the...A Step Closer to Digital Bohol
The vision of Digital Bohol to have internet connectivity across the province is now closer to reality. This week, Gov. Edgar Chatto received PLDT Visayas Head Rito Ray Salas and PLDT Area Head Isabelo Rosales at the People’s Mansoion. They updated the governor about ongoing PLDT Fiber To The Home, the most optimum connectivity solution. Rosales said PLDT targets a minimum of 1 kilometer of fiber optic connection completed every day. This will allow fiber connectivity for the towns of Clarin, Tubigon, Calape, Loon, Maribojoc, Antequera, Balilihan, Sikatuna, Cortes, Jagna, Garcia Hernandez, Valencia, Dimiao, Lila, Loboc, Loay, and Albur at the end of this year. PLDT also targets connectivity for the remaining towns of Bohol by 2019. Fiber To The Home is the optimum connectivity solution, stated Rosales. Fiber to the home (FTTH), also called “fiber to the premises” (FTTP), is the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point directly to individual buildings such as residences, apartment buildings and businesses to provide unprecedented high-speed Internet access. The governor welcomed this development as Bohol positions itself in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. He recalled launching Digital Bohol when PLDT also launched its submarine and inland fiber optic network spanning 328 kilometers – from Cebu through Bohol to Misamis Oriental with PLDT president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno. Digital Bohol is aimed at making every Boholano part of digital technology revolution, and to make technology available. Next to tourism and agriculture, programs have been geared towards creating a niche for the ICT industry. A private sector-led initiative, Digital Bohol key component is the establishment of Technology for Education...Local News/ Bohol Balita
First Bohol Coastal-wide Dive Forum
The Province of Bohol through the Bohol Tourism Office conducted of Bohol’s first ever “Coastal-wide Dive Forum” on August 11, 2017 at Bohol Plaza Resort, Dayo Hill, Dauis, Bohol. The forum was in partnership with the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council (PTC), Inc. and the Panglao Association of Dive Operators (PADO) has taken new steps in its efforts for sustainable tourism development. LGU environment and tourism officers, representatives of Municipal and Provincial Tourism Councils, headed by Atty. Lucas M. Nunag, scientists, national agency representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Tourist Police and employees of the provincial government attended the forum. Also present and facilitated the workshop, were private sector stakeholders many of whom are dive operators all over the province, hotel and resort owners, business groups and individuals advocates for Bohol’s sustainable environment and inclusivity of business practices. Jo Cabarrus, Head of the Bohol Tourism Office welcomed the participants and gave the forum’s statement of purpose. Atty. Mitchell John Boiser, Acting Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Legal Officer in behalf of the Governor speaks of the forum as timely, considering that the diving industry in our province is flourishing with the influx of tourists who come to Bohol to experience one of the best dive sites in the country. Aside from Balicasag being famous as a world-class dive spot, there are other sites like Cabilao, Anda, Jagna and many more that offer the same exhilarating experience. He emphasized that the diving industry and the community need to be conscientious in creating balance between tourism development and ecological preservation and...Aris pushes for eco-zone, mitigate climate change
By JUNE S. BLANCO BETTER job opportunities for his constituents, and a cleaner, greener and fresher earth. These are the ends-in-view Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) is pursuing so that he filed twin bills last week. House Bill (HB) 5951 proposes to establish a special economic zone in Bohol. On the other hand, HB 5549 which he co-authored, aims to improve air quality and mitigate the effects of climate change. To manage and administer the special economic zone, the bill also proposes the creation of the Northern Bohol Special Economic Zone Authority (NBSEZA) with the corresponding appropriation. But, Aumentado said, businesses and industries that locate in the NBSEZA must only be light, and environment-friendly. These must complement, not compete, with agriculture and tourism which are Bohol’s prime economic drivers, he emphasized. Heavy industries, he noted, tend to be detrimental to the environment. The bill is now being studied by the House committees on Economic Affairs and on Trade and Industry. Meanwhile, Aumentado said, HB 5549 aims to require parents to plant one tree for every child born to them. The bill is now being studied by the committees on Natural and Resources, on Ecology and the Special Committee on Climate Change. Among others, the committees will finalize the mechanics of the requirement, including the types of trees recommended and the planting area for families who do not own land. The solon said when passed, this law will be the country’s contribution to the mitigation of the effects of climate change. He said the Philippines cannot compare to Bhutan wherein 70% of its land area...Panglao kids start Energy revolution
PANGLAO, Bohol, August 7 (PIA) –Clean energy revolution in small amperage light rolls off from here and it is a wolf in sheep’s cloak. An ordinary dirty energy kerosene lantern which otherwise would have given a warm flickering incandescent glow now gets a new light source: clean Light Emitting Diode (LED) powered by solar energy. “Thanks to Liter of Light and MyShelter Foundation who taught us how to do it,” confesses Jane Heberly Bompat, Grade VI pupil at Lourdes Elementary School (LES) in Panglao. Assembled by LES kids, the repackaged lantern would soon be among the innovations the Liter of Light and its 34 Bohol children ambassadors would be using to spread light into the country’s communities still darkened by energy poverty. “How could we help 20 million Filipinos without access to light? Do we give them light from patented sources which is expensive and hard to repair or do we think of innovations?” asked Liter of Light and MyShelter founder Ilac Diaz. Asked how his mission came about, Diaz was more willing to share. It all started with one bottle, one carpenter, one inspiration and an empty liter bottle of soda. Diaz said they had to come up with a solution in providing light to help communities wiped out by Haiyan, and Filipino bayanihan was a good concept to start with. Liter of Light filled the PET bottle with water and bleach and stuck it in house roofs to produce refracted illumination indoors. But for Haiyan victims, “buying was an option but shipping cost would eat up about 70% of our budget, we need to come up with...YELLOWED
Anytime soon, we would be reading legal questions about why Vice Governor Dionisio Balite still clings on to his seat despite a suspension order which he and a good number of former provincial government officials have been meted with. For allowing then Governor Erico Aumentado to purchase heavy equipment by greenlighting a letter of credit to a bank, Balite, along with several officials have been given a slap on the wrist and a 3 month work suspension without benefits. Suspended, Balite and the concerned officials had a legal recourse: file a temporary restraining order (TRO) so implementing the order can be held in abeyance enough for the Ombudsman to decide on the propriety of the move to temporarily suspend perceived erring officials. Of course, while others just decided to wait out for the suspension, Balite, through his counsel filed for a TRO, which the courts also granted. Filing the TRO is just a statement that Balite thinks suspension was unjustified. Those who did not file for the temporary reprieve, might think a TRO is useless. So, those who just sat out for the suspension order, shamefully chastised, could also be an admission that they did know they were wrong. But Balite will have none of that. He, who felt there was nothing wrong with allowing the governor to get a letter of credit, questioned and got a temporary reprieve. From the courts, and from the people whose doubts have been expunged for Balite’s fighting for justice. Seemingly, by some kind of reckoning, Balite’s TRO may have expired already and the Ombudsman still has to blow the whistle and...Aris bullish on waste-to-energy
By JUNE S. BLANCO REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District is bullish on producing energy from residual waste. He met last week with a waste-to-energy expert to discuss where and how his constituency can participate. Aumentado said waste-to-energy calls for the segregation of waste. Biodegradable waste can be fodder for biomass energy, or at least, can be turned into organic fertilizer. But, the solon quoted the expert, residuals can be turned into energy as well. This, the solon said, is where his constituents can be motivated to better implemented Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act. Waste-to-energy is a two-pronged approach to contribute to mitigating climate change, he explained. On top of pushing for zero waste at the household level, turning residuals to power means less bulk for landfills, savings in tipping fees and contribution to the longer lifespans of sanitary landfills. The solon noted that once landfills are filled to capacity, a local government unit (LGU) operating it must look for another site to contain residual waste. Bohol may be the country’s tenth largest island, but it does not have the luxury of space. Aumentado said Bohol is basically agricultural and ecological. In order to feed the people, landfills and space-intensive solar panels must not compete for space with agricultural lands and the imperative forest cover. After all, he said, agriculture and tourism are the province’s economic drivers. Power generated from residuals, the solon said, will also be the 2nd District’s contribution to locally-generated energy. Aumentado pointed out that only the power industry approves of, and even requires redundancy. This...National News
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