by admin | Nov 1, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, October 31 (PIA)—Crimes in Bohol slid down 29% or 157 cases less in October compared to the previous month, as law enforcement authorities continue to innovate and lessen crime opportunities here.
September this year recorded 533 crimes all over Bohol, compared to the 376 crimes reaching police blotters all over Bohol, according to a report from Bohol’s Provincial Police Office, Camp Dagohoy.
The same crime reports, delivered before the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Meeting October 30, showed similar decreasing trend in both index and non-index crimes in the month.
October showed 219 index and 157 non index crimes while September had 299 and 234 respectively. This showed both 26 and 33% decreases with in the month, data showed.
In fact, according to police reports, about 40% or 108 of the 376 crime cases in Bohol in October are traffic-related and have something to do with poor traffic rules enforcement.
These include 80 cases of traffic related incidents causing physical injury cases, 27 cases of damage to property and one single case of homicide, statisticians at Camp Dagohoy bared.
by admin | Nov 1, 2015 | Editorial
All Saints Day and All Soul’s Days are sure weird days.
For once in a year, or twice for that matter, cemeteries all across the Christian world teem with people whose idea of remembering their departed is nothing short of spectacular.
On these days, people pick back at the forgotten and eloquently speak good of them, laying the freshest of the most expensive flowers, lighting the biggest and the most thought provoking of candles to elaborate the truth that whoever is down there has no need of all these accoutrements.
Well, to sort out these people, we find several kinds, or unkinds of them by the tombs.
Some are media men, eloquently broadcasting the departed’s good deeds and ornately embellishing their now so good deeds, as if such make the rotten flesh as tasty for the feasting organisms under the whitewashed niches.
Some are more solemn in their tributes: taking the long and hassly trek to the otherwise packed cemeteries, bringing with them flowery intentions and burning desires for the departed to just remain down there and make life as palatable as over the times when they were still alive when life was twice as miserable.
Some others however have nothing of the sort.
Their visit to the cemeteries is to resurrect the dead, stirring the departed enough for them to squirm from their caskets, if they still can, reminded of their folly.
Just as recently too, some people managed to break the tradition and re-opened an otherwise sealed casket of a case.
And instead of seeing a dessicated issue behind the closet, the Ombudsman saw skeletons.
Buried somewhere was the issue of an grossly undervalued assets of the Provincial Government, offered for a joint-venture agreement with a private company. And it was not an ordinary grave digger and under-taker who found that.
The Ombudsman, whose noses are as accurate as bloodhounds, saw that at P150 million, a property of over a billion including its franchises, when offered at that amount is grossly reeking of stench of corruption.
Well, when it got uncovered, cemetery caretakers immediately grabbed long shovels and commenced work.
Some poured their best perfumes namedropping the USAID citing first and best LGU-PPP innovations (despite being undervalued).
When they argued that the SP authority granted is above board, they forgot to see the implications that the SP also expressly greenlighted the sale as a tragic act of collusion to rob the people.
Of course, they would say that the RTC in 2001 dismissed these cases as warrantless, and that the possibly friendly Ombudsman in the Visayas dismissed these charges in 2008.
When the case got resurrected by the Ombudsman in 2014, the denied motion for reconsideration tells us that something indeed oozed out of the sealed deal.
So now, the stench wafted into our noses. And this is something a paid hack’s poured perfume all over the shroud could not cover.
As the perfume fails to mask the escaping smell which the bloodhounds at the anti-graft body found, whether it’s All Saints or All Soul’s Day, or pre-election grind, we come to the burial sites and see.
It is a stench, escaping every election, they said.
It is. But in those past elections, the rancid odor of the rotten deal did not catch the Ombudsman’s senses until now.
And when people attest that the water and power is evidently serving better now than before, that is a non-issue.
You sell a muscle car for a patently cheap price because all you can do is run it on third gear is wrong. When the buyer can run it firing all cylinders, and it screams as its glides past our fancy, it is still purring graft.
Luckily, it does not smell funny to those who have grown accustomed to the stench. Simply ask the shovel wielder grave diggers and you’ll get see why they’ll never pinch their noses over exhumed bodies.
by admin | Oct 31, 2015 | National News
The Commission on Elections concluded the voter registration period on Saturday, 31, 2015 with the expected large crowd of registrants beating the deadline. Chairman Andres Bautista said that there will be no extension to the registration. He said that the 17 months registration period was sufficient for voters to register.
The COMELEC has announced its “No BIO, No BOTO” policy on election day in 2016. The registration process includes capturing of biometrics data such us finger print, photo and signature. Registered voters may verify their information on the COMELEC online precinct finder found on its website.
An example search result for voter’s registration with complete biometrics data.
by admin | Oct 31, 2015 | Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, October 31 (PIA) –To simply look at it, drastically cutting Bohol jail population is as simple as making ways to take out those facing drug suits, of which number over half of the 1038 committed in the five jails here.
That however is easier said than done.
The situation is made bleaker with the continuing uptrend in the number of drug cases filed, even at the level of the Regional Trial Courts.
According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) from July to September, the RTC saw 125 drug cases filed before it.
That same span of time of three months, Bohol only saw six convictions, three acquittals and five dismissed cases, PDEA bared at the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting October 30.
At this current rate, curbing the swelling population at the jails may not be as easy.
A report delivered by Bohol District Jail warden, Jail Senior Inspector Jose RusylviAbueva at the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting revealed that persons committed in Bohol jails due to drug related problems number 541.
In his report, Inspector Abueva, who also administers four more jails aside from the BDJ, showed that violations against Republic Act 9165 significantly populate the jails, several times over murder which ranks second among the top crimes committing persons in detention centers.
At the BDJ for example, as of October 26, 2015, of the 541 presently detained in jails, 321 are kept to be easily available for the different stages of case litigation from pre-trial conferences, arraignment, trial and those awaiting promulgation or service sentences.
At the Tagbilaran City District Jail, of the 201 detainees, 105 of them are facing drug suits.
Of the 105, 10 are on pretrial conference, three are presently arraigned, 85 are on trial and six are awaiting case promulgation while one is serving his sentence.
At the Carmen District Jail, one detainee is on arraignment while 30 are in trial, at the jail where its population is 87.
In Talibon District Jail, with a population of 87 detainees, 52 detainees are on trial for the different violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act, according to Abueva’s reports to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, of which he is an officer.
At the Ubay District Jail, 54 of the 122 inmates are currently kept safe to respond to drug accusations.
Of the 54, five are on pre-trial conference, one on arraignment and 58 are on trial, Abueva pointed out. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Oct 24, 2015 | Opinion
by: Jerome Auza
The country’s longest running noon time show Eat Bulaga has broken the world record on number of tweets for its hashtag #ALDubEBTamangPanahon on October 24, 2015. As of this writing, the number of tweets in 24 hours have exceeded 36 million, surpassing the 35.6 million tweets for the #Worldcup hashtag. This is a milestone for the local entertainment industry and my congratulations go to the cast and management of Eat Bulaga.
Why is the ALDub segment of the show so popular? On the surface, it’s just a love story with a major obstacle and a cast of comedians. Behind the scenes though, the Eat Bulaga team have brilliantly developed the story in a way that it appealed to virtually everyone.
In a previous article, I talked about Eat Bulaga’s first major tweet record of more than 11 million tweets.
During the episode on October 24, Lola Nidora finally gave permission for the pair to be together without the “1 foot” distance requirement because it was now the right time or “tamang panahon”. Fans of the show burst with joy when the Alden and Yaya Dub finally were allowed to hold hands and even hug. Lola Nidora had been forbidding them to even touch each other.
In subtle ways, the show is showing its audience how young people should behave especially if there is attraction between a boy and a girl. Lola Nidora reminds Alden and Yaya Dub about trust, patience and waiting for the right time. I commend Eat Bulaga for being very responsible in handling the popularity of the ALDub love team. There was not even a hint of inappropriate actions. The love team held hands and hugged, but they never kissed because they promised to Lola Nidora that there will be no kiss on that day.
And I think this is why many Filipinos are attracted to the show. It is wholesome. It is clean fun. The whole family could watch it. It reminds us of traditional values in a subtle but effective way. We may be in a very modern world, with state of the art technology in our pockets, but we really want to stick to traditional values.
The “Tamang Panahon” episode was even used to raise funds for the building of libraries throughout the Philippines. The ticket sales on the first day it was announced was in itself a record for Ticket World. 100% of the sales would go to the library fund.
On the technical side, what does it mean if Eat Bulaga could set Twitter records? For one, it becomes a very solid proof its popularity and thus it means it can demand a very good price for ad placements. Being a trending topic on Twitter means the show will get even more exposure on the web as people who have not heard of Eat Bulaga will see the hashtags and could get curious and see the information. The topic then gets even more viral over the Internet.
The recent TV ratings conducted by independent firms are all in favor now of Eat Bulaga compared to other shows. Add to that the popularity on Twitter, Eat Bulaga and the ALDub tandem will surely get worldwide attention. Who knows what endorsement deals they can get later on? Already there are hints of them being featured in regional magazines in Asia.
The ALDub phenomenon is a great case study in marketing, specifically in digital marketing where social media was effectively used. Businesses interested in how to get their products and services popular on the Internet can get a lesson or two if they study the methods used by Eat Bulaga. Or they can just do it the easy but expensive way: hire Alden and Yaya Dub as their endorsers.
by admin | Oct 24, 2015 | Tech Talk
Solar Philippines introduces its Do-It-Yourself plug-and-play solar power generation system which is intended for residential application for houses that consume about Php3,000 worth of electricity per month. The 500W system is grid-tied and includes everything needed to setup the system. It is estimated to save about Php700 per month in electricity consumption.
At Php57,000 per system, the savings will pay off the system in less than seven years. Solar systems, when installed and used properly, are expected to last 20 years.
The kit includes everything needed to setup the system:
2pcs – 250W Solar Panels
1lot – mounting structure (V-type)
4pcs – 6mm2 solar DC wire complete with MC4
1pc – 500W microinverter
1pc – kiloWatt-hour meter (single phase, two-wire)
1pc – heavy duty male plug
After installation and connecting the wires, the system is plugged into an electrical outlet and will automatically connect to the grid and supply electricity to the house. When there is brownout, the system doesn’t produce electricity, which is a safety feature to avoid accidentally electrocuting electricians who may be doing maintenance.
To know more about the system, visit the webpage at http://www.solarphilippines.ph/do-it-yourself/
by admin | Oct 21, 2015 | National News
The Philippines had two calamities sweeping across it yesterday. Storm Lando did not come unannounced.
Since its presence got into the weather watch radars, people did not believe it packs something as dangerous as its doomsday prophets project.
Every local government unit swore they knew what this typhoon packed in its over 600 kilometer cloud cover.
Everyone of them also professed they warned communities of the impending threat: real or imagined.
That still however resulted to millions of people evacuated, billions of agricultural losses and at least 18 deaths.
Then on the same day, a friend texted us about the earthquake happening in Manila.
No, it was not the feared Big One. It was even way too little some people in the city literally walked through it. Those on pretty stable positions however perceived the movement and smirked.
Seconds later, people spilled into the buildings corridors, out to the streets, impervious to the usual protocols that must be activated in cases like this.
The earthquake drills that they showed on television and documented on newspapers hardly happened. Hotels and residential tall edifices did not stir. Hotel and establishment workers did not shift to alarm mode. All they did was just allow people to slide back to normalcy.
Good no one was reported hurt as the earthquake which occurred in Looc Mindoro was too far out at sea and did not trigger the Marikina fault.
Of the two incidents, one gave us a preview of what would be the people’s response to a government warning during a storm.
Another gave us an idea how useless this educating people have become, especially for a threat like the big earthquake.
There is however a bigger and more calamitous event from these two unfortunate incidents happening a day.
When these popped up in the same day, no less than the government cashed in on it like it allegedly did during the past calamities. It has been proven to work in deaths. Now this must be like it.
On national television, we had flooding victims, people rendered homeless by Pablo’s wrath. They lined up for food and social relief.
And we had presidential candidate Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo roro-ing their way into the deluge sheepishly handling out food stuffs.
There should be nothing wrong with it if both were not filing for any posts. And if this government had opted for a non-political entity dishing out food packs.
But Roxas has ceased to be the Interior and Local Government Secretary and, the allegedly meek and mild Robredo has just morphed into that dish-rag of a trapo.
You see, if she did hand goods for her brother Bicolanos, it can be overlooked as human nature.
But she knows it is going to draw her flak and she still did it because her party is that which dances to the upbeat of death and suffering.
In a country where its leaders profess to stick it to the rule of law, and simply thrashes an election law flaw, because it does not apply to them is an incident sadder than sorry.
We have just created a calamitous situation when our aspiring leaders can as casually toss the law. Now, would you expect the people to believe in the government’s fair warning?
by admin | Oct 19, 2015 | Editorial
We have seen it happen and are seeing it again now.
Every time a storm threatens to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, we know something would be up and every tourism stakeholder would be crossing their fingers again.
A storm entering the PAR would almost always mean flight cancellations and suspension of sea trips.
This has always been bad for Bohol, who broadcasts to the whole world that it is a tourism paradise which aspires to feed its economy with the revenues the industry generates.
Then, the shippers and sea travelers also hold their breaths. You see, a storm-induced flight or sea travel cancellation nullifies the carrier’s responsibilities. This also burdens the traveler with the discomfort of losing another holiday, and everything which he has invested in a much sought after dream vacation.
Well, for some of them, the sound of a storm brewing in the Pacific is enough to get them the latest updates from orld weather watchers and bulletins.
The wonders of today’s technology however prove to be so much for the world. Less.
The changes brought about by today’s climate makes science seem like a dart game where players hit more or less.
And when the national weather bureau failed to declare a gale warning while the coast guard saw fit to suspend trips, all the more people got confused. The Coast guard is also so mandated to call the shots when they see waves making sea trips by small crafts dangerous.
Fast crafts, Bohol’s aces on the sleeves headed off to safe harbors while the angry seas played to the stirring tempests.
But the planes, only very few are affected.
Which really states one thing. This is that which we have been saying since then.
Bohol’s precarious position in beckoning tourists can be as fickle. An inclement weather is all it takes to make this position sour.
Which pushes us to reiterate that which we have been insisting that should happen to Bohol.
While Panglao Airport is still in the beginning stages of construction and the only visible work done on it is the agitation it has caused tourism stakeholders, the need for Tagbilaran emergency apron to operate is in dire.
When planes are the only link of Bohol to the outside world when the seas get rough, then Bohol must assert to fortify this link.
Election season may be bad time for this, but it may also be a good time.
When election gives politicians the perfect reason to keep off projects, it is also elections when people can force politicians to perform better than ordinary.
So, when local leaders can always have elections as reasons for non-performing, voters can also compel politicians to finally work.
And let’s not keep the waiting, waiting.
by admin | Oct 19, 2015 | National News
MANILA, October 19, (PIA)—To make marine resources sustainable, the government opens up option for fishermen to sell their catch which may be on the stage of spawning.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through Leo Bongalos said the government is offering to buy bycatch which have been found to be spawning, the price is that of its market value.
The move, according to the BFAR is in support of the effort to keep the these resources into producing their offsprings by keeping them in laying pens to keep these fish or crustaceans into keeping its young.
This too as the government also implements close and open seasons for fish and crustaceans who are known to spawn in specific periods, Bongalos explained.
The government authorities have asked fishermen to release back to the sea whatever it is that they catch that shows signs of being pregnant or in the process of laying eggs.
But, at times when the gathering is low, and the only ones they get are spawning, there is always thus great chance that this becomes part of the fisherman’s meal.
We urge fishermen to turn over their spawning catch to the government laying pens in Sinandigan Ubay and in Calape, Bongalos appealed.
According to the BFAR, buying these based on the current market price earns for the fisherman and at the same time, allows the fish to complete the laying.
The BFAR however buys only those which are showing signs of good health and is still capable of hatching the eggs.
In the list of most common resource buy-outs are siganids and blue crabs, says BFAR Bohol.
The practice is also now becoming an innovation, coming after the sardines closed season implemented in the Visayan seas, BFAR, who talked about fish conservation explained. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Oct 10, 2015 | Opinion
By: Jerome Auza
The Philippines will conduct next year its third national election that uses automated machines to count the ballots. In the past two elections, accusations of electronic cheating abound but such accusations are very hard to prove without a manual count of the ballots. Manual counting, of course, is not feasible due to the massive cost involved and the huge logistics resources required. But is electronic cheating of the PCOS machines possible at all?
Of course, whatever method is used for counting the ballots, there is a way to engage in cheating. The PCOS machines are not excluded. Even if the PCOS machines and the system behind it are somehow built to be 100% cheat-proof, the cheating can happen outside of the system in the form of vote buying, use of government funds for campaigning and other tactics that can be done on election day to reduce or increase the voters able to vote for a certain candidate.
But is the so-called “E-Cheating”, where the numbers are manipulated electronically in the official tally, be possible at all? Republic Act No. 8436, the law covering the automated counting of ballots, does not explicitly specify the means to prevent electronic fraud. While giving copies of the ballot count to different parties and agencies can be deemed as a way to prevent fraud, the process is not protected if the cheating is done prior to the printing of the election returns.
Would the random manual count audit help detect electronic fraud? Unfortunately, in the way it was implemented in the 2013 national election, the answer is no. The reason is that the list of randomly selected precincts where the manual audit will be conducted is published days before the election. This may seem fine because the precincts are randomly selected. However, this process becomes pointless because the precincts to be audited are already known. So what would the cheaters do? Simple, exclude those precincts from ballot count manipulation. So when the audit is done, those precincts will show a very accurate match between actual votes and the machine count.
The selection of precincts for random manual audit should be done AFTER the printing of the ballot counts is done. This will make the work of COMELEC more challenging but this is the right way of doing it. They should just provide resources for this method. This was the way the audit was done in 2010. Why it was changed in 2013 is strange but it could also be intentional so that cheating can be done.
So how can cheating be done if the random manual audit is done the same way as in 2013? The process is a bit complicated but can be done because the PCOS machines are capable of being online to a central system. It can only be done with the participation of people familiar with the system and have access to the PCOS software.
First, the software that runs the PCOS machine checks at the central system if the machine is among those listed for random manual count audit. If it is, then the software will count the ballots without manipulation of the results. Second, if the machine is not for audit, the software will access the central system for the list of manipulated results it will print. Then it will print the manipulated results in several copies. Each group receives their copies which will then match the results tallied at the national level.
Even if the PCOS software source code is reviewed by independent agencies, the actual software loaded on the PCOS machines are not readable to humans so it can be manipulated and programmed to be able to implement the cheating scheme.
With the incorrect random manual count audit procedure in 2013, the process above can be done without a trace. To avoid it, COMELEC should do the selection of precincts for random manual audit after 90%, or some significant percentage, of the PCOS machines have submitted and printed their results. That way, any electronic manipulation can be detected by the audit. Candidates should insist to COMELEC that they do this procedure correctly so that electronic manipulation of votes would be much more difficult to pull off.
The coming national elections in 2016 will be a very significant event in the country, more so with the growing clamor for real change in the way the government is run. Filipinos are tired with election promises that are forgotten until it’s time to make promises again. We’ve been doing the same thing before: electing a popular candidate based only on his popularity and perceived “integrity”. Many voters do not consider the candidate’s track record of performance.
The good thing is that the citizens are now actively participating in scrutinizing our candidates. Social media has exposed politicians with a severe lack of discretion. Candidates who have questionable backgrounds or have participation in corrupt practices are revealed.
Our next president has an insurmountable challenge in running the country, ensuring economic growth, keeping peace and order and protecting the country’s boarders. A candidate with strong credentials, a sensible platform, proven track record and can show actual results of his leadership should be selected. Popularity is never enough of a qualification.
We should be very vigilant in May 2016 to ensure any means of cheating can be eliminated or at least minimized.
by admin | Oct 5, 2015 | Editorial
We have a strong reason to believe that Bohol is lining up in the runway for a lift off.
Its natural resources abound. The fresh water which flows out to the sea each day eloquently talks about the excesses that Bohol has, which other places in the world can only dream of.
The land lavishly spreads Bohol’s bounty and this speaks of how the soil pays back the sweat that waters the diligence of every Boholano farmer.
Boholanos have been known for being warm, hospitable and hardworking: traits that make them assets by investors, who are lured by these other givens.
And the character of the Boholano, although already a deck-ful of aces, is even hyped by the heaping serving of skills, incomparable with similarly trained workers.
What we are telling is that everything, or almost everything has been set: the playing field is ripe with the promise of a good pay-back.
The conditions are almost perfect here, just a minute tweaking can already make a little over-the-break-even thresholds because worksman-ship and craftsmanship is innate in the Boholano.
The outer environment which is way beyond the worker however is still messed.
Other than inefficient government bureaucracy, circuitous business processes, corruption and inadequate infrastructure form the barriers, which keep the province from really taking flight, politics takes its nastiest self out.
While the country relentlessly pushes for competitiveness, we know of government offices and agencies sleeping on the job, taking things cruise through and sit on business proposals like they are cushions or simply butt wipes.
A business permit is easier to get in Dauis over in Tagbilaran, or maybe in some other areas. We also know that if the applicant is a political butterfly, things are a little bit harder.
Here, there are still processes than can be done faster depending on the obesity of one’s grease money.
While in business, a reliable and fast internet is a plus-plus factor, the only speed Boholanos can get is the quickness local officials talks about these plans.
And then, there is a challenge in keeping the peace now in the otherwise underperforming province.
While the internal security operators here stamp their feet to convince people that Bohol is insurgency free, the Commission on Audit hints that the continued presence of the army tells otherwise.
Death by shooting or execution in Bohol is high, at least a couple or people is killed weekly. Drugs have suddenly become alarming some people are now into the propensity that 70% of the crime cases in Bohol are drug related.
So here is everything but political will. Now that elections are looming and nothing has been as tangible from our leaders here today, the future can be defining for Bohol.
But the question remains. Shall we see the will soon?
