The first Full Council Meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) in 2018 was conducted on January 23 as the Provincial leadership is looking forward to development and targets and expect new challenges. Governor Chatto informed that the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Manny Piñol, wanted Bohol to be the dairy capital of the Philippines, which will not only involve infrastructure but also livelihood projects for the farmers.
The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) will come in through financial assistance to the Bohol Dairy Producers’ Association (BoDPA). About 5,000 heads of buffalo will come from Sta. Catalina, Brazil to improve the stocks of Bohol.
Governor Chatto introduced before the PDC Full Council Col. Ignacio Madriaga, replacing newly promoted Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan who led the 302nd Infantry Brigade, 3ID, PA during government security forces’ successful operations against 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits who slipped into the province in April last year.
Col. Madriaga vowed to maintain peace and order and the insurgency-free status of Bohol and said that his new designation as the top Army official in Bohol is a big challenge considering the province’s brush with Abu Sayyaf bandits last year. He then solicited the support of the people of Bohol in maintaining anti-insurgency and security in the province oh Bohol, which is the envy of all provinces in the Philippines. Although it is peaceful in the province, he said that he will serve with guarded optimism, meaning he will always be on guard.
P/SSupt. Angeles Geñorga was also introduced to the Council. As the new PNP provincial director of Bohol, he said that Bohol is in good hands and he will try to do his best to keep peace with three things in mind – discipline, service with compassion and excellence. He is also soliciting the support of everybody because they can do the job of peacekeeping alone.
The new Provincial Fire Marshal, Fire Superintendent Sheila Caresosa Andrade, introduced herself as a native of Dagohoy, Bohol who had served the three big cities of Laguna – Biñan City, San Pablo City and City of Cabuyao. She shared that she plans to strengthen the capability of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and to strictly implement the Fire Code.
Lieutenant Col. Eufracio Joel Malig Jr. was also given the chance to introduce himself. A multi-awarded military official, Col. Malig has been appointed commander of the lone Philippine Army battalion stationed in Tubigon, Bohol, the 47th Infantry Battalion in May 2017. Col. Malig thanked the provincial government, Municipal Mayor Jao of Tubigon and other stakeholders for the support and hoped for a continuous partnership in the peace and order development efforts to maintain the current status of insurgency-free and best tourism development province.
Governor Chatto shared that the province got the third Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award and the Most Business-Friendly Award in 2017. This year the province is targeting all LGUs to pass the SGLG criteria. He encouraged everybody to help the LGUs through the guidance of MLGOOs for LCEs to keep track of the requirements. He said that there is cash and major prizes to be given out to SGLG awardees.
Mr. Joe Hibaya of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) presented the Implementing the PRICE ACT (R.A. 7581,R.A. 10623) power point presentation. Section 2 of the Price Act states: “It is the policy of the state to ensure the availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return of investment.”
Dr. Greg Julius Sodusta V then presented the Accomplishment Report of the Center for Drug Education and Counselling (CEDEC) from January 2017 to January 2018. There were 30 LGUs that had undergone training on “Matrix Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program”, one ongoing training in Sierra Bullones and five municipalities on deck. It has also conducted an orientation on CBRP-WoW to all barangay captains in Loon and Balilihan, all parolees under Probation and Parole, 7,404 Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars and 120 participants from JESUS CHRIST the Rock of Refuge Foundation.
Drug education was also conducted in the following schools: Manga National High School, City Central Elementary School, Bohol Island State University – Tagbilaran Campus, Holy Rosary Academy – Lila, Bohol, San Roque National High School – Albur, Bohol, Parole and Probation – all Parolees, Holy Name University (HNU) Nursing Department, Tagbilaran City Science High School and System Technology Institute (STI) Panglao.
PNP Provincial Director Angeles Geñorga presented the monitoring chart for PNP Drug-Free Sticker from December 30, 2017 to January 22, 2018. He reported that with a total number of 300,787 households and 1,109 barangays in the province, were released.
Engr. Hermilo Arcaya of the Provincial Planning and Development Office reported on the Bulk Water Supply Project for municipalities that takes into account the 2 studies conducted: Feasibility Study for Bulk Water Supply under the Bohol Water and Sanitation Project of United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-COMPETE and the Bohol Integrated Water Supply System Master Plan under the LGDP of AusAID.
The 47 municipalities and one city are clustered into 7 clusters are as follows:
1 – Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Cortes, Dauis, Panglao, Antequera, Corella, Loon, Maribojoc
2 – Balilihan, Catigbian, Sikatuna, San Isidro, Sevilla
3 – Calape, Clarin, Getafe, Inabanga, Tubigon, Buenavista, Danao
4 – Alburquerque, Lila, Loboc, Valencia, Dimiao, Loay
5 – Bilar, Carmen, Sagbayan, Sierra Bullones, Batuan
6 – Garcia Hernandez, Guindulman, Jagna, Duero
7 – Bien Unido, Candijay, Dagohoy, Mabini, Pilar, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay, Anda, PCPG
Atty. John Titus Vistal, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, informed that Panglao Island-Tagbilaran Executive Committee (PITEC) collaboration took off from a prior collaboration emanating from a JICA Assistance to support the Sustainable Environment Protection Project component of the New Bohol Airport. The project duration was from May 2013 to September 2015 involving the Provincial Government of Bohol, Municipalities of Panglao and Dauis and the JICA Expert Team.
Provincial Ordinance No. 2014-002 was then passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) establishing the Panglao Island Executive Committee for SEPP, composed of the Provincial Government, Municipalities of Dauis and Panglao.
The entry of Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project in Tagbilaran City was started in November 2015 through assistance from the USAID. It has three main project components: Improve local capacity in inclusive and resilient urban development, Improve environment for local economic development and the “expand connectivity and access between urban and rural areas.”
SURGE is an economic growth project. One of the components of SURGE is connectivity / access from Urban to Rural Areas. The economic growth of Tagbilaran City and Panglao Island (Dauis and Panglao) will be influenced by the presence of a huge infrastructure – New Bohol Airport; Panglao and Dauis are emerging urban centers that share urban concerns with Tagbilaran City. Inter-LGU collaboration is needed to meet economic growth brought about by new airport and meet challenges of urbanization and increasing influx of tourists and visitors. It was logical to bring in the Provincial Government of Bohol providing oversight, technical assistance and overall development support to component LGUs, including Tagbilaran City, Dauis and Panglao.
Engr. Adeline Dadivas presented the Progress Status as of 31 December 2017 of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project (NBACSEPP). The actual accomplishment is 65.38% compared to the planned target of 75.33% of the runway extension.
Engr. Algerico Siga of BOHECO I presented the One BOHOL POWER (1BP) Long-Term (LT) Power SUPPLY Joint Competitive Selection Process with most of the transaction schedules in 2017 being moved to 2018.
Engr. Siga also presented the One Bohol Power Aggregated Forecast Baseload and Peaking Demand.
The Transaction objectives are least-cost (affordable and competitive) rates, resiliency (during Power Islanding), and environmental compliance to all internationally accepted standards, regulations and existing laws.
He then presented the One Bohol Power Aggregated Committed Baseload and Contracted Demand as well as the Joint CSP Scope of Transaction.
Ms. Rechale Ybañez of EMS-EMB 7 presented the overview and updates on the proposed pilot project for Volume-Based Waste Fee System (VBWFS) Implementation: Towards a Circular Society. She discussed the challenges: As of CY 2010, some 1,174 open and controlled dumpsites were operated nationwide. As of May 2017, some 450 illegal dumpsites are still in operation. As of CY 2010, there were 48 operational sanitary landfills (SLFs) and some 29 are under construction nationwide. However, the number of operational SLFs increased by 260% equivalent to 125 SLFs as of May 2017. In addition, some 11 SLFs are recently under construction despite the lack of suitable sites for landfilling.
Illegal dumpsites in the Philippines have been decreasing since 2010 from 1,174 to 450 in May 2017.
Sanitary landfills have been increasing from 48 in 2010 to 125 in May 2017 while those under construction have decreased from 51 in 2014 to 11 in May 2017.
Out of 563 LGUs in Luzon, there are only 82 sanitary landfills (SLF) while the 616 LGUs in the Visayas have only 21 SLF. On the other hand, there are only 22 SLF out of 455 LGUs in Mindanao.
The Philippines has a population of 102,250,133 in 2016 but has only 118 operating SLFs. There are only 248 LGUs (15.18%) with access to SLFs.
The solid waste problem in the country is behavioral in nature, cultivating a “throw-away culture”.
The proposed Pilot sites are initially with 7 LGUs in District 1; maybe expanded covering BIAD 1 (Tagbilaran Cluster) and BIAD 2 (Tubigon Cluster). The Project Duration is 3 years while the Implementing Partners are: Korean Ministry of Environment, Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Japan Ministry of Environment, EMB of DENR and beneficiary LGUs in the Pilot Areas.
An Environmental Cooperative shall be created with 2 Project Management Units (PU) to manage the operations of the Recycling and Resource Recovery Centers (RRRCs).
Governor Chatto informed the body that the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) will be the main coordinating office for this project.