Bohol News, Hotels, Travel and Real Estate Property

A Cebu-based consortium will extract in 25 years great volume of water in Corella, which local government unit (LGU) has an existing contract with the Bohol Water Utilities  , Inc. (BWUI). The ARN Builders and AsiaMizu, Inc. and the LGU on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will allow the consortium to draw as much as 500,000 cubic meters (CM) of water every month, according to Mayor Vito Rapal. The mayor sealed the contract for the municipal government while Engr. Arnold Espinoza represented the consortium as its president.? Like BWUI, the Cebu group is interested to supply bulk water to the island town of Panglao in anticipation of the concrete start of Panglao Bohol International Airport Project probably early next year. Gov. Erico Aumentado and Rep. Edgar Chatto are set to meet with the warring Panglao leaders on the urgent solution to water crisis in the prime tourism island on Friday. The BWUI has long eyed to also solve Panglao island's water problem. ...

Insurance incentives for barangay tanods? Why not? Seeing the logic behind the move to motivate more police force-multipliers to actively keep crimes at bay in their districts, City Mayor Dan Neri Lim has directed Police Chief Julius Cesar Gornez to study the prospect of giving insurance incentives to barangay tanods hurt in the performance of their duty. With the order given during the recent City Peace and Order Council Meeting (CPOC) at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall, the city mayor said he wants the city police to submit the study to his office within five days. The provincial Government puts up death insurance to barangay peace officers but this does not cover for the government agent's hospitalization and other medical benefits in case of job-related accidents, Gornez told the council. This as the city police chief assessed that criminality in Tagbilaran is still manageable, especially wit the 86.98% crime solution efficiency as reported. Despite the relatively h...

By Ven Arigo Many poor sons and daughters who have the talent and potential to be useful Bohol citizens now cling to study grants as their best hope in this time of crisis that has pushed quality education seemingly beyond reach. Their diligence and talents luckily cannot go to waste because there are educational programs that prepare them for a well-deserved future, according to Rep. Edgar Chatto. A youth and education champion, the lawmaker secured in Congress allocations for various approaches like full scholarship, study grants and educational assistance. Grateful parents have hailed Chatto's effort, feeling in no other hard time the value of aided education. They have themselves known of fellow parents who have started to bite their lips despite their having the purse. Chatto has linked with right agencies like the Commission on Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Two more scholarship ...

The Bohol Investment Board (BIB) chaired by Gov. Erico Aumentado recently endorsed two proposed economic zones to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza). These are the Frankho Saltern Corp. Properties and the Gershon Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Inc. Frankho has a 120-hectare area in Barangay Achila in Ubay town. It intends to go into lime processing as well as establish a Jatropha processing plant. On the other hand, Gershon has 50 hectares, 30 of which are contiguous, in Barangay Tanghaligue in Talibon town. It intends to expand its pharmaceutical laboratories, preferably with a foreign partner, and set up a carrageenan processing facility. It also intends to go into agricultural research and development, particularly on carrageenan and DHA, an additive for milk, as well as lactose byproducts. The site is adjacent to Barangay Bagacay, which already has a municipal port – making it doubly ready for when it decides to export its products. Maria Fe Dominise, head of the Boho...

By Jes Tirol Proem In the year 1885 there was a government circular requiring the local government to submit the list of local officials involved in law enforcement that was supported by public funds. The politico-military governor of Bohol during that time was Don Augusto Linares y Pombo. He submitted his report on October 2, 1885. The report listed all the names of the officials of the 40 towns of the main island of Bohol and the 5 towns of the island of Siquijor. During that time the island of Siquijor was still part of the Province of Bohol. It got separated when Negros Oriental became a separate province in 1892 and Siquijor was attached to Negros Oriental because it was nearer to Dumaguete, which became the capital town of Negros Oriental. The Officials The officials listed were, a) Gobernadorcillo (Mayor), b.) Juez de Ganados (Judge for Cattles), c.) Juez de Sementeras (Judge for Farms), d.) Juez de Policia (Judge for Police), e.) Tenientes (Lieutenants), f.) Alguaciles (Cons...

By Atoy Cosap Relatives and friends of the late Rev. Fr. Josemaria Salutan Luengo can bid their last farewell on Tuesday before he will be laid to rest at the Tubigon Catholic Cemetery after a requiem mass at 9 a.m. at the St. Isidore Parich Church in Tubigon, Bohol  . Fr. Luengo, who had been an inspiration to many, passed away last August 29, due to complications following a stroke in 2004.  It maybe recalled that sometime in 2000, Fr. Luengo undergone a heart by-pass operation in the United States. Some of his greatest legacies of being a priest, educator, and philanthropist were the establishments of Mater Dei College and Salus Institute of Technology in Cabulijan, Tubigon, Bohol.  He also supported the studies of some deserving youth who later became priests, CPAs, mentors, engineers and other professionals. Oyong as he fondly called by his relatives and friends, Fr. Luengo founded Mater Dei College in 1983 and Salus institute of Technology in 1998.  Now, the...

Some 120 Boholano lawyers and few others from nearby provinces are expected to attend the 36-unit Mandatory Continuing legal Education (MCLE) seminar at the Bohol Tropics Resort Hotel, this city starting tomorrow.  The seminar, which will culminate on Thursday, is sponsored by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Bohol chapter with the University of the Philippines, Institute on Judicial Administration (UP-IJA) as service provider. According to lawyer Isabelo Sales Jr., IBP president, the 4-days seminar would enable participants to complete the mandatory requirement for the compliance period 2007 to 2009 as directed by the Supreme Court. Sales said that the high court has recently ruled that lawyers who are unable to comply with the MCLE requirement would be prohibited from the practice of law even if they are lawyers. Among the subject courses in the seminar are substantive and procedural law, the writ of Amparo and Habeas Data, Environmental laws, properly registrati...

By Ariel Fullido Press Release The big sale is back! It's a great shopping adventure with savings galore as Island City Mall will hold a 3-Day Sale on September 19, 20, and 21, where up to 50% discount will be given away on great selections at the Home & Fashion Department and tenant shops. During the sale, the mall is open until 12 midnight on September 20, Saturday, featuring Viva Hotbabe and one of the country's hottest sexy stars, Katya Santos, at the Activity Center at 8 PM. The event is presented by Viva Video, in cooperation with Bohol Tropics, Grand Luis Lodge in Mariveles, Dauis, and Rai-Rai Ken. Other events during the 3-Day Sale include: September 19 (Friday) – 9th Provincial Tourism Quiz at the Activity Center and Sunnex Cooking Demo with Celebrity Chef Tristan Encarnacion of GMA-7's "Unang Hirit" at the Foodwalk, from 1 PM to 5 PM; September 20 (Saturday) – Denim Fashion Show at 3 PM and Kids Quest Grand Finals at 5 PM, both at the Activity Ce...

Bohol will be in the limelight anew with the holding of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Women Summit 2008 dubbed as 5th National Biennial Summit on Women in Policing, in coordination with Soroptimist International Philippines Region (SIPR) scheduled at the posh Bohol Plaza Resort and Restaurant, Dayo Hill, barangay Mayacabac, Dauis town. The summit will kick off on Thursday and culminates on Saturday. This development surfaced after Bohol PNP Provincial Director, PSSupt. Edgardo Casiguran Ingking disclosed to the media the holding of the summit. Most likely it would deal on the present issues and concerns involving female PNP members. Expected to attend in the three-day summit are some 500 women PNP officers and PNCOs nationwide who are handling Women's and Children's Desk, Family Juvenile Gender Development, Police Community Relations and vital designations to tackle pressing issues and concerns relating to the police service.  The Bohol PNP Boss in his capacity as h...

Planning for the 2009 Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) budget will push through even as city executive officials will not participate in its deliberations. City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso told the Chronicle that the 2009 SP budget programming and planning workshop will be rescheduled this week. Earlier, City Mayor Dan Lim snubbed an invitation from the SP to attend the budget planning originally scheduled on Friday at the Bohol Beach Club  . Lim likewise informed SP secretary Mansueta Sale that city planning and development officer Eduardo Macalandag, city budget officer Rosemarie Palma and city local government operations officer Mardonio Roxas will not be attending the budget workshop. According to Veloso, the members of the Sanggunian agreed to invite the mayor and the three city officials to be guided with the policy directions of the executive. The vice mayor explained that it is not only the preparation of the budget that needs to be taken up but also formulating a legislat...

Having been graduated in the past two poverty fairs, this time, the provincial government embarks on the next phase - now, it's development projects in the show at the Bohol Cultural Center in October. It serves as the next phase after the two annual Bohol poverty fairs successfully facilitated linkages with funding agencies for the different poverty reduction projects of the participating municipalities and the capital city. The annual tradition was launched in October 2006 as Poverty Fair: A Marketplace of Poverty Reduction Initiatives. The second chapter was on October 16-17, last year. Then the tentative schedule this year is October 17, but with the new banner, Bohol Development Fair.     In the event, the participating local government units (LGUs) put up booths at the cultural center where they can display the profiles of their development projects, then the potential funding institutions- -foreign and local- -will go around, assess them, and pick out which ones the...

An unidentified robbery suspect was gunned down during a shootout in a Caltex Gasoline station in Batuan town shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday. The robbery suspect, about 30 years old, heavy built was shot while two other suspects fled on board a yellow Ramstar motorcycle. Police said the owner of the gas station, Boyboy Tahale, shot one of the suspects after they carted away cash from the cashier near the gas pump. Manhunt by the Batuan and Carmen PNP stations was launched immediately after the robbery incident yesterday afternoon.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano called on town mayors in the province to develop viable tourist destinations in their respective municipalities. Durano issued the appeal after he expressed elation on the enthusiasm of LGU Sikatuna in developing the eco-tourism destination, the Sikatuna Tree Park. Sikatuna Vice Mayor Tranquilina Maniwang received the DOT secretary's commendation for actively developing a site which was conceived in response to a call for an environment-friendly destination. Town mayors hold a great role in developing new destinations, he stressed while urging them to be receptive and dynamic once tourism stakeholders will provide them with ideas on what are saleable to the visiting tourists. Durano led tourism attaches of the country during a tree planting activity last Friday. The visiting tourism officials noted the dynamic interaction with the local residents in the area while town and barangay leaders led by Mayor Ireneo Calimpusan were there to welc...

The DYRD-All Stars basketball team continues to raise funds for the less fortunate residents of the province who seek financial assistance to help defray their medical needs through the DYRD Inyong Alagad Foundation. The team gets invited by various LGUs for exhibition basketball match in their respective municipalities.     The latest to invite the radiomen was Corella LGU under Mayor Vito Rapal whose team of local officials and department heads staged an exhibition match last Thursday at the covered court of Corella. The event was part of the town's Foundation Day activities. The DYRD All Stars led by playing coach Kag. Dandan Bantugan won 110-100 against the host team. Corella Mayor Rapal and Vice Mayor Epifanio Bolando turned over the P5,000 donation for the Inyong Alagad Foundation.

Nobody is claiming responsibility just as yet about talks circulating around that a so-called Gang of 4 is ganging up the bid of V-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera for Bohol governor.  It may be because the source of the story came from opposition channels and therefore "polluted".  A source who was described as "unimpeachable" leaked to the Post this latest political development saying that Herrera was given the option of running for first district congressman instead of pursuing his gubernatorial dream.   "Why should I be given this option", Herrera barked when asked over the radio of  the supposed game plan of his administration cohorts.  He said if given his way, Herrera said he will be the one to give the option to anybody aspiring for governor, not the other way around.  The latest configuration which reportedly has the blessing of Gov. Erico Aumentado has Cong. Edgar Chatto for governor and Cong. Roberto Cajes for vice governor.  For Aumentado...

There's no mistaking that he is being looked up to as the father figure of the opposition. But after seeing it in a different light, he finally admitted that if the challenge is there, why not. The challenge of heading the opposition, that is.   That's Chito Castillo's curt reply when asked  just what kind of politics he is espousing right now.   The challenge of injecting new faces into Bohol's electoral system is what Castillo is dreaming of after the province was stampeded with patronage politics all these years.   But much as he wanted to shy away from any tag given his role in the opposition, his loyalists just cannot help but christen him as their own godfather that will lead the group to its desired objective as the party of choice for the Boholanos.   With political democracy as his battle cry, he is longing for the day that people will be given a real choice of their leaders.   Sounding nostalgic, he recalled the days of his father when the two-...

Eye Opener Column Bohol Sunday Post In one of the issues of the Post ex Congressman Eladio Boy Jala was of the opinion that time is still early for a charter change. One of his reasons was the escalating Mindanao conflict. This is not reason enough. Charter change would be the answer and it must start now. However, before we start to prove our case, the Mindanao problem should be first analyzed. Then the merits of federalism discussed.  First of all, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF is not really a coherent organization. A splinter group of the Moro National Liberation Front, the MILF is only a gathering of warlords, which want to have their cake and eat it too and a group of chosen spokesmen who have no authority over them. They have only a parody of a central government.  While the latter negotiates with the Manila government for a piece of real estate to be their so-called homeland, the former commits acts of terrorism like banditry, mindless mass murder, extorti...

By Angeline Valencia World's top dive site, Balicasag Island, finally caught an advancer of its formal identity with the municipal government of Panglao being in-charge.  This was after Governor Erico Aumentado and First District Rep. Edgar Chatto asserted in last week's meeting in Manila with national officials, the municipal government's role in the development and protection of Balicasag Island, the top dive site in the province and among the best in the world.  Aumentado and Chatto discussed the matter with Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) General Manager Mark Lapid; the flag officer in command, Rear Admiral Ferdinand Golez who led ten delegates from the Philippine Navy; an assistant secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) under the office of Vice-President Noli de Castro; the chief of the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB), Julian Amador; some representatives of the B...