The Provincial Development Council Executive Committee in its July 2017 meeting approved the Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIP) for Highland Vegetables in the Province of Bohol under the PRDP and endorsed the same to the Central Visayas Regional Development Council and the Department of Agriculture for funding assistance.
OIC-Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas explained that the PCIP is a strategic plan that rationalizes the interventions within the various segments of the value chain of commodities that are of significance to the province and that will contribute to the national goals of the agriculture and fishery sector.
The PCIP is a 3-year rolling consensus plan between the DA and PLGU based on the value chain analyses of the commodities conducted with strong participation of the various stakeholders in the chain. The PCIP shall be the basis for PRDP’s I-BUILD & I-REAP in selecting eligible sub-projects for funding.
Mr. Pamugas said that highland vegetables identified are cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, and lettuce. He showed the geographical flow of products from Canlaon City, Cebu City, Dalaguete, Dumaguete City, and Siquijor.
The Annual Investment Program for CY 2018 of the Provincial Government of Bohol was also approved en masse by the PDC ExeCom. Mr. Retutal explained that the AIP is a list of projects that are not yet funded. Based on the DBM guidelines, the AIP should be approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by the month of June. He stressed that the AIP is a plan and is not sure to be funded. The total estimated cost of 20% Development Fund is P558,025.00 and P15,973,242,200.00 for the Other Funds.
Mayor Piezas said that Clarin is being developed as an alternate port for passenger vessels in order to decongest the road traffic of Tubigon. Gov. Chatto remarked that roads leading to ports and seaports are all considered tourism roads.
Engr. Pedrito Tupas, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator of LGU Clarin, then presented the complete project profile for the improvement of Clarin Municipal Port. He explained that the improvement aims to accommodate bigger vessels by extending the port to four hundred (400) meters.
The feasibility study, detailed engineering design and causeway embankment will be done in 2018 with a funding requirement of P58M while the causeway embankment will continue in 2019, as well as concrete paving and reinforce concrete curb, which has a funding requirement of P67M. PPA will shoulder P120M of the funding requirement while the Province will share P3M with LGU Clarin will counterpart P2M from its local funds.
The PDC ExeCom then approved the resolution favorably endorsing the improvements of Clarin Municipal Port to the Philippine Ports Authority and the Regional Development Council of Region VII (RDC-7) for inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program.
Clarin’s Municipal Tourism Officer, Mr. Jay Marc Sotto, explained that Clarin is being developed as an additional gateway through its three tourism destinations. Mayor Piezas added that the GMA TV Network has already shown Clarin’s tourism attractions.
Mr. Sotto said that the Caluwasan Spring will be connected to Binaliw Falls, where an environmental fee will be charged. Tourists will be asked to plant a tree. The tourism circuit, which has a rope bridge and a plank bridge, is in conjunction with the 2017 global tourism that will cater to millennials and baby boomers who do not want to spend much but can still see much tourist attractions. The funding scheme of P51.55M for Caluwasan will be sourced from donors (P41.24M), Province (P7.732M), MLGU (2.525M) and Barangay LGU (P51, 550.00). The timeframe is CY 2018.
Without further discussion, the PDC ExeCom approved the resolution favorably endorsing the development of eco tourism circuit from Caluwasan Spring leading to Binaliw Falls in the Municipality of Clarin, Bohol to the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC-VII) for inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Infrastructure And Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for support and funding.
Mr. Sotto said that about 1.5 kilometers away from Caluwasan is the Tontunan Heights, which has a botanical garden, picnic grove, and restaurant. The place strikes a balance between relaxation and adventure. Tontunan Heights is expecting a funding requirement of P7.5M budget, which will be sourced from donors (P6.4M), Province (P825, 000.00), MLGU (269,500.00) and Barangay LGU (P5, 500.00).
The PDC ExeCom then approved the resolution favorably endorsing the development of ecotourism site for Tontunan Heights in the Municipality of Clarin, Bohol to the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC-VII) for inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Infrastructure And Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for support and funding.
Various national government agencies presented post-earthquake status updates on their agencies’ programs and projects, as follows: Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – 1st, 2nd and 3rd Engineering Districts, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Governor’s Office on the donations for Earthquake Recovery and Regabilitation Program (ERRP).
Gov. Chatto said that among all projects that were presented, only DSWD has a shelter project. The project is divided between P10M for Habitat, which was immediately used because of the P71M funds from Geneva. Any unfinished project from Habitat will be financed by the government. The National Government owes P10M and the project was delayed due to the review of the P10M project, which has a project outside Bohol that is unliquidated. DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo committed to finish all the unfinished projects in Bohol.