MikeLigalig.com

by Bohol Chronicle

It’s all systems go for the 2011 Eusebio “Ebyong” Morala Memorial Chess Tournament set to commence on October 28 and 29 in this city, as held yearly in honor of the late Eusebio “Ebyong” Morala, a known chess enthusiast and a keen player during his heydays.

The newly established chess group, Chessmen Inc., an organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the organizer wherein the event is divided into open and all-student (under 18 years old) categories with the lion’s share of prizes at stake.

Morala Cup serves as the main tune-up tournament and appetizer to the forthcoming 2011 President Carlos P. Garcia Chess Festival calendared on November 3 and 4.

This yearly chess activity will employ a seven-round Swiss System format of 45-minute time control for each player play-to-finish for both divisions.

Expected to slug it out for the Open division top purse of P3,000 and will likewise serve as part of its preparation are the members of the Team Chessmen Bohol Province-Taghilaran City chess team composed of candidate masters Johnny Torralba (Tagbilaran City) and Glenn Pardillo Jr. (Tubigon), Fide Rated Jayson Salubre (Maribojoc) and its Top Board Player International Master Oliver Dimakiling (Antequera) slated to join in the 2011 National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) organized National Inter â€" Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championship set on November 4â€"8 in Tanuan City, Batangas.

Registration for the said Eusebio “Ebyong” Morala Chess Tournament is now on going at the Blatz N Bolitz Chess Clubhouse (BNBCC) located inside the McJac Foodcenter, J.S. Torralba corner Gallares Sts., this city and look for its club manager Jose “Boy Metric” Mitra.

Only the first 40 registrants in the open division and first 20 registrants in the all-student division will be accepted to participate in this event. Registration for the said chess competition is accepted only until the October 28, strictly no on-site registration for the tournament. For more information you may contact through text or call the Tournament Director at mobile no. 09189591439.

CHESSMEN INC. chess events is supported by our Provincial Officials under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Governor Edgar M. Chatto thru its Constituency Chief Honorable Anthony Damalerio, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through 1st district Honorable Board Members Dr. Ceasar Tomas “Yul” Lopez and Atty. Abeleon Damalerio as well as the Tagbilaran City Officials together with the private sectors in particular to PETRONAS GAS, Water.com, Edulan Realty Accounting and Law Firm and the Blatz N Bolitz Chess Clubhouse (BNBCC) who all believe that every Boholano can achieve greater heights when given the opportunity and chance to prove & excel oneself (Renzkie Ligan)

by Bohol Chronicle

Team Bai Cristobal Basketball Camp All Stars “A” bowed down to defending champions Bohol Wisdom School Golden Dragons, 91-80 in a triple bill of the elimination round of the ongoing 17th BSAAA 2nd John Geesnell Baba Yap inter-School Hoop Cup at the IAE of EnScieMa hardcourt.

The Golden Dragons were overconfident as coach Jay Daganato, fielded in his mixed first stringer even as they could not leave behind the All Stars as Khan Morris “the Captain” Lim led his team to a tumultuous attack against the defending champions. He was joined by Eping Calipusan, Felix Galido and Jaye Libay in its effort to take control of the 1st half, 41-36.

Sensing that the Team Bai Cristobal All Stars are in serious business, Daganato went through with his formidable combination of first stringers but to no avail as Clifford Galido fought the opponents firing his arsenals and other artilleries with accurate precision to give the All Stars a hold of the upper hand, 58-54.

Amiel Seth Sacdalan, Benz Ephraim Lungay, Vincent Jay Eronico, and Tom Wesley Seroje were in full battle gear as they connived to ignite an assault of the Tagbilaran City Science High School Virus against the stubborn Bai Cristobal Basketball Camp All Stars “B” to erect a 7 point lead 41-34, at lemon time.

The Virus continued to play like a well oiled machine which caught the all stars “B” flatfooted and further committeed miscues to enable them to widen the gap in the 3rd canto, 61-46.

The final score 86-63.

But Feilbien Maurice Coquilla, James Kevin Mascariñas, Lindyl Binoya, spitfire Ven Excel Garrote, and slotman John Paul Romo conspired to stage a last ditch rally to overcome the deficit and furthermore put the Golden Dragons ahead, 91-80, as the buzzer sounded ending the regulation time.

In another game, the heavy favourite title contender Holy Spirit School led by the most improved Jeff Villaruel with 21 points walloped sophomore Internationale Academe of EnScieMa, 127-36.

The 17th BSAAA 2nd John Geesnell Baba Yap inter-School Hoop Cup is ably supported by Bohol Tropics Resort Club; First Consolidated Bank; Atty. Gamaliel Bonje; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hontanosas; Mr. and Mrs. Gerardo Bas Madanguit; Jocelyn Ortiz Chua; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Bas Madanguit; Dr. Aurora Bas Madanguit; Benneto Daquipil; and Grandma’s Purified Water.

by Bohol Chronicle

The Bohol Football Association (BOHFA), in cooperation with Bohol Star Press and the Provincial Government of Bohol, had just concluded its second major tournament--the BOHFA CUP 2011--held at the CPG Sports Complex last September 10-11, 2011.

The festival was participated in by Football Clubs (FCs) in Tagbilaran City and from the municipalities in the province.

The FCs involved were Panglao White Sharks a team composed of foreigners based in Panglao, Tubigon FC, Jagna FC, Tamblot United, Petronas FC, Fresh Meadows, Tamsik FC and school-based teams PMI Colleges, University of Bohol, Bohol National High School and City Central School/Tamblot Bombers.

Holy Name University confirmed it's entry but later backed out on the last minute because of coaching staff lapses.

Categories on this event were the Men's Open, under 17, and under 12.

In the Men's Open category the championship match was played between the Petronas FC vs.Tamblot United. The league favorites Tamblot United clinched with Petronas FC in an upset 2-O victory.

In the Under-17 category the Tubigon FC defeated Jagna FC in an exciting penalty kick which gave Tubigon FC Coach Ploy Cosgafa boys the upper hand after 7 kickers.

Tamblot Bombers beat Jagna FCin the under 12 category in their best of 5 match.

The festival was spearheaded by BOHFA officials Coach Tady Simpao and Engr. Dario Rosalejos and officiating consultant Allan Dinsay with referees Karl Paumig , Jun-Jun Echavia and table official Louie Supremo.

BOHFA will soon announce its upcoming major provincewide football event which is targeted in the last quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, BOHFA had a joint project with the Dauis Parish and concluded the 1st Dauis Men’s Open 7-aside Football Festival last August 20, 2011 at the Dauis Parish mini-football pitch. The event was participated in by different FCs in Bohol wherein Tamblot United grabbed the championship trophy with a win against Panglao White Sharks.

The Dauis event was organized by BOHFA officials and parish priest Fr. Jimboy Saco with CAFÉ LAWIS, Bohol Star Press and Coca-Cola.

by Angeline Valencia

Bohol ricefields still have high potentials to produce higher yield even after the impact of the mild dry spell in the first quarter last year which dragged the total yield for the entire year.

Engr. Eugene Cahiles, head of the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center, explained that innovative farm practice and the gradual gains of organic farming will eventually lead to maximum yield per hectare, especially with the introduction of hybrid rice seeds.

Cahiles recommended the SL-11 and SL-8 farm formula already tried in the town of Lila which produced a minimum yield of nine tons and maximum of yield of 11 tons per hectare.

In fact, Rep. Erico Aumentado and wife, Greenie, wanted to pilot the SL-11 practice in their 8,000-square-meter ricefield in Calanggaman, Ubay which used to produce 144 cavans.

Marlito Uy, president of Alturas Group of Companies, dubbed as agri-business guru in Bohol, cited that Bohol can achieve what Vietnam and Thailand have in producing 150-260 cavans of palay per hectare which stabilized their prices at P17-P18 per kilo.

Boholano farmers just need to adopt the latest technology in farming designed by BAPC.

Uy assured Boholano farmers that Marcela Farms have enough supply of organic fertilizers at a much lower cost than those sold in Cebu and Mindanao.

Marcela Farms also has the milling facilities that can polish rice grains to higher quality to help maximize the local output.

For his part, Engr. Maximino Servillon, head of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics in Bohol, confirmed that Bohol's average production per hectare only reaches 2.5 tons or 50 bags, based on field surveys and interviews with farmers.

The yield in a weighted computation, he said Siquijor produced more in every hectare and had maximized the limited irrigated and rain-fed areas they have.

Bohol remained the top producer of rice in Central Visayas in terms of volume, but produces the least on the average yield per hectare.

The data from the field surveys are released within 45 days. Municipal agriculturists report real-time data to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. The consolidated data from the province will then be forwarded to the regional and national offices of the Department of Agriculture, contrary to allegations that random data collection is haphazard.

Bohol has a total of 19,000 hectares of irrigated areas and 30,000 hectares of rain-fed ricefields.

The computation of average yield per hectare is based on the derived yield in relation to the size of the riceland. In the first quarter last year, the average yield per hectare only reached 2.5 tons because of the effect of slight El Niño or mild dry spell on rain-fed areas. In the second semester, from June to December, the harvest improved as the larger rain-fed areas was already able to complement the production in irrigated areas.

Irrigated areas also include those relying on communal irrigation systems, small water impounding projects, small riverimpounding project, and small diversion dams, Servillon explained.(AV)

A male juvenile melon-head whale was found dead after being washed ashore in this eastern town.

The team of Dr. Alessandro Ponzo of Physalus attempted to rescue and revive it but they failed.

A certain Rosalito Balighot Sr., a resident here, reported to Bohol Rescue Unit for Marine Mammal (BRUMM) at around 8:30 AM of September 25 that a whale was found on the shores of barangay Luyo in this town

According to Balighot, a resident of the barangay named Jovencio Pilbera Sr. was first to find it.

After examining it, Ponzo concluded that the whale must have been dead for a week already since it is already decomposing.

"The skin were already peeled off with evident signs of entanglement from net or fishing line and a bruise and blade cut below the lower right jaw," according to Ponzo.

They later buried it in an area at the back of Dimiao Police Station so they could later recover its skeleton next year for educational purposes.(RVO)

by Bohol Chronicle

Tagbilaran city residents raised a bigger howl over the apparent ineptitude of the present city leadership in the manner the burgeoning daily garbage problems are being managed even as mounting calls for the closure of the Dampas Open Dumpsite located 3 kilometers north of Tagbilaran City has recurred.

Exasperated residents vented their ire on top local officials for ignoring a slew of garbage problems that have been besetting city residents ranging from non implementation and enforcement of local and national garbage laws, lack of garbage disposal facilities, apparent non prioritization of garbage collection and disposal by top city officials, among others.

According to results of a survey by DYRD's "Radyo Merkado" on the residents appraisal of the city's waste situation - surprisingly 45% pushed for waste segregation at source while 40% blamed city hall for the shameful garbage situation and 13% wanted Dampas dump site closed and others preferred the Albur Sanitary landfill and a ban on the use of plastics.

With an estimated population of 92,297 generating more than 100 tons of waste generated - the city garbage situation has been hobbled by the non implementation of city ordinance mandating segregation at source that would greatly relieve pressure on the 2.6 has Dampas open dumpsite.facility.

Garbage collection in the city is being implemented on designated daily pick-up time schedules by less than ten city garbage trucks. Five years ago, estimated generated garbage was tagged at 31.9 tons daily.

Reports reaching the Chronicle showed that the City Solid Management Waste Office has been plagued with equipment breakdown due to maintenance problems.

Barangay officials have also been blamed for its failure to put up Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) as mandated by Section 32 of RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) that would serve as a waste transfer or sorting station, drop off center, composting and recycling facility.

MRF's are the best response to the mounting garbage problems in the city that is considered environment- friendly and makes it a sound economic venture.

The sorting strategy - separating materials for disposal from those that are re-usable and recyclable for marketing and selling has been proven effective in communities where MRF's were established, according to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Numerous junk shops in the city are an indication as to the commercial viability of waste segregation. Establishment of MRF's are best in barangays with space limitation problems.

According to experts waste segregation at source is the best way to solve the garbage problem but top city hall officials have tolerated city households to deliver trash sans segregation.

Even residents of nearby Sitio Cangguining, Barangay La Libertad, Baclayon joined the fray after the nearest accessible road leading to the city was blocked by mountains of garbage reportedly strewn across the roads.

Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy has interceded in behalf of his constituents but no positive response from the city government has been received as of press time.

A check with the City Solid Waste Management office showed that only one bulldozer is in use for clearing operation but is presently undergoing cleaning operations since it got bogged down in the mud filled area of the dump site.

According to Cenas Batonghinay of the Solid Waste Management Office the privately owned bulldozer is the quarry type not suitable for pushing large amounts of trash.

Beleaguered City Solid Waste head Engr. Edmund Jimenez has his hands full after politics seemingly seeped into the garbage problem when Mayor Lim ordered Dampas brgy. Captain Frederickson Ingles to solve the waste problem in the city.

The 2.6 has. garbage facility has been recommended closed due to large areas of exposed waste that could leak leachate into ground water and drainage systems aggravating the present health situation of surrounding communities.

by Bohol Chronicle

An ordinance institutionalizing the Countryside Development Program through "purok system" in all the 1,109 barangays in the province has been pushed during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Friday.

The move was sponsored by Liga ng mga Barangay provincial federated president Crispina Vergara from the town of Mabini, who also sits as ex-officio member of the SP .

This is to recognize the significance of sub-villages or puroks in facilitating development at the barangay-level.

"There is a need to institutionalize the purok system in every barangay to carry out a more holistic mode to development. Puroks can also be made as a powerful tool for community mobilization and action," Vergara said.

Under the proposed ordinance, each barangay shall have seven purok systems and all households situated in the defined area shall be registered as the members of the particular purok.

Each purok will have seven sectoral volunteers composed of a health worker, tanod, representatives for agriculture, environment and the youth.

The ordinance also includes fund allocation from the provincial government to ensure its efficient implementation.

"The system is totally a community work. purok officers will be elected among members and they function as volunteers in their respective areas," Vergara added.

by Bohol Chronicle

Recognition continues to pour in for the province as it garners yet another regional award in the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

DILG Provincial Director Louisella Lucino revealed the news Thursday during the 183rd Sumad celebration of the municipality of Balilihan.

An award for exemplary performance in local governance, the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is conferred to a province, city, or municipality based on the Local Governance Performance Management System, the Seal of Good Housekeeping, national agency-bestowed awards, and other acknowledged innovations.

This year, the Bohol Provincial Government is accorded the honor for responsible governance, sharing with the national government the objectives of advancing economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental integrity.

The DILG also recognizes the province's efforts in upholding the principles of performance, accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in local administration and development, consistent with its pursuit of quality of life for all.

Governor Edgar M. Chatto, for his part, said that while victory when shared is sweet; it is made even sweeter knowing that this achievement was due to the unified efforts of leaders and the active involvement of the community.

Chatto also acknowledged the contribution of previous leaders to the governance of the province.

Lucino attended the Sumad festivities in Balilihan which also highlighted the blessing of the waterworks reservoirs in the barangays of Cabad and Hagilanan Grande.

Both water projects were funded from the P1 million the town received from the DILG as the Performance Challenge Fund, an incentive to LGUs in the form of counterpart funding for projects in their Annual Investment Program.

Balilihan was one of 15 local government units awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal in 2010. The annual incentive is given to LGUs that have excelled in the areas of planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management and budget execution, procurement, and resource mobilization.

This year, Balilihan is still among the recipients of the Seal of Good Housekeeping, along with the towns of Maribojoc, Clarin, Dauis, Loboc, Panglao, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Jagna, and Ubay. (Leah/EDCom)

by Bohol Chronicle

A medical mission that was supposed to render free diagnostic services to barangay residents of Loboc turned sour after some beneficiaries claimed that they were pressured to purchase an herbal medicine as cure for their diagnosed ailments.

Residents of Barangay Jimilian, Loboc told DYRD "Inyong Alagad" that a certain Dr. Osias A. Asuncion together with his team composed of 4 nurses and an ECG Technician conducted a series of free medical services - ECG test, Random Blood Sugar, Urinalysis, Consultation adult/children and wound cleaning.

The medical team under the name Dugtong Buhay (Life Extension) Medical Foundation, Inc.headed by Asuncion as the medical doctor has been granted verbal authority by the office of the vice mayor to conduct medical services in the 28 barangays and the municipal employees from Sept. 22 - Oct. 28, 2011.

Documents furnished to the Chronicle revealed that the foundation requested Mayor Leon Calipusan to "conduct free medical and health services" as part of its mission nationwide.

Since Calipusan was on official travel they appeared during the session of the Sangguniang Bayan presided by Vice Mayor Louie Digal.

Digal told the Chronicle that they were never told by the team that medicines will be made available through purchase even as he informed the team that medicines were available for free to Philhealth members at the Municipal Health Center.

Digal also said that they were told that the medical mission was on their own with no sponsors supporting the mission.

Antolin Adorable, a retired teacher narrated that he was told by a female nurse that his blood pressure of 140/80, if left untreated would result in a stroke. He was also told that based on the results of the tests the female nurse determined that he had been experiencing difficulty in breathing which he vehemently denied.

She advised him to purchase 30 pieces of tablets of red Korean ginseng valued at P30/tablet. When he told her that he could not afford the P900 he was told to borrow money from friends for his medication. He refused to heed the doctor's orders.

But several residents fell prey to the subtle manner of convincing them to purchase their product after being told that they were suffering from a range of illness that can be alleviated by the korean ginseng which they believed was medication.

One resident who refused to be identified told the Chronicle that she panicked when told that she was suffering from enlargement of the heart.

She rushed home and retrieved her savings to buy the P900 worth of Korean ginseng or a months supply as instructed by the nurse.

A retired police chief also purchased P1350 worth of ginseng from the medical team.

Digal expressed surprised when told by the Chronicle that the team has been dispensing medicines paid by the beneficiaries.

The LGU provided the requested logistical needs of the medical team including the municipal ambulance used for the transportation of the team and a request for assistance from the Municipal Health Office, Barangay Health Worker, a bed for ECG patients, four tables for consultation and a set of curtains.

Accommodation waas reportedly taken cared of by the Vice Mayor while meals were charged to a Loboc municipal Kagawad.

According to Alegria Barangay Captain Alex Mandin, the medical team contacted him from a list of ABC officials at the DILG office in Manila.

Dr. Remoises Cabagnot, Head of the Provincial Health Office said that dispensing of herbal medicines need Food and Drug Authority (FDA) approval. Prescribing herbal medicines for a host of illness puts a patient in danger since these drugs have no specific dosage.

He also said that not all doctors are not qualified to interpret results even as nurses are not qualified to conduct laboratory tests such as urinalysis.

Barangay residents reported that nurses who were members of the team conducted the urinalysis and other tests even signing in behalf of doctors prescription.

Urinalysis tests were done haphazardly with no microscopes to check the presence of bacteria, they added.

But Edward L. Canoy, Medical Coordinator/Nurse of the Medical Foundation, Inc. in an interview last night said that they informed the SB that they were bringing in medicines but will not force residents to purchase which was contrary to Vice Mayor Digal's assertion that they had no prior knowledge of the medicines.

They also showed the SB all necessary documents including FDA approval of their Korean Red Ginseng with brand name Panax.

Canoy further added that they only conduct random blood and urine tests therefore sophisticated lab equipment such as microscopes are not needed.

Canoy also said that prior to selling the drugs they informed residents that these are food supplements only which also run counter to the allegations of residents who bought the so called medicines.

by Bohol Chronicle

Marcela Farms of the Alturas Group pioneers the Public-Private Partnership program in the province with the implementation of the “Plant Hybrid Rice and Fertilize Now Pay Later” project.

Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd district), initiator of the project, said it takes the lead of PPP projects coming in the province.

The plant and fertilize now pay later, with Marcela Farm, Inc. as the private partner, will be implemented without any subsidy from the national government for the rice seeds and fertilizer.

Marlito Uy, president of Alturas Group of Companies, representing Marcela Farms signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the implementation of the project with 24 irrigators associations (IAs) represented by their presidents, Land Bank of the Philippines represented by Regional Head Ruel Romarate,

National Irrigation Administration represented by Regional Manager Modesto Membreve, Department of Agriculture represented by Bohol Agricultural Promotions Center Manager Eugene Cahiles for Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda, and Aumentado.

In the project, rice farmers can avail of a supervised loan of up to P30,000 with LBP that would be released through the IAs they belong in the form of farm inputs.

Since its signing on September 26, 2011 at the Bohol Tropics, the MOA stays effective for a period of three years or equivalent to six croppings.

With the use of hybrid rice seeds, the program can raise the harvest of farmers from 2.5 tons or 50-60 cavans per hectare to five to 11 tons or 100-226 cavans per hectare.

Membreve said the program will solve the usual woes of farmers lack of funds to buy seeds, non-availability of seeds on the time they are needed, lack of finances to purchase chemicals to rid of the pests.

In the “Plant Hybrid Rice and Fertilize Now Pay Later program”, Marcela Farms will purchase 80 percent of all their produce, while NIA and Aumentado will provide farm facilities and DA will provide technical assistance through the BAPC.

This is in consideration that Marcela Farms, Inc. needs hybrid rice grains and is willing to buy all grains from the IAs subject to standards.

Marcela Farms is willing to supply locally available agricultural inputs to concerned farmers through their IAs based on the approved farm plan and budget as recommended by the DA.

The rice farmers who are members of the 24 IAs who are willing to participate in the program will serve as producers of quality hybrid rice and will supply the raw material need of Marcela Farms.

The LBP will provide the funding needed to implement the project subject to the standard terms and conditions and other provisions necessary.

NIA has committed to assist the farmer-irrigator-members of the irrigators associations as well as the other parties involved in the program for the implementation of project.

by Bohol Chronicle

Cagayan de Oro-based Boholano trader abducted for five days last week was released last Saturday by his alleged kidnappers.

However, Manny Boniao, who hails from Loay town, refused to give details, leaving investigators with testimonies of witnesses who positively identified the two suspects to rely on in solving the kidnapping incident.

According to reports, six armed men barged in Boniao's farm supply store in Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City in the evening of September 19 and abducted him.

Boniao was reportedly blindfolded until his release in the evening of September 24 near his home.

Family members denied reports that the suspects freed Boniao after they allegedly paid some amount of money to the suspects as "board and lodging" fee.

Some reports even had it that the abductors demanded P100-million ransom.

Investigators described Boniao as "uncooperative" in the efforts to solve the case, but they never let it hamper from pursuing the probe and prosecuting the suspects.

The PNP-Northern Mindanao already filed a complaint before the City Prosecutor's Office against Abdul S. Raco and Malik M. Guro, both residents of Marawi City .

Police Chief Superintendent Jufel C. Adriatico, PNP-Northern Mindanao director, was quoted in reports to have said that Raco and Guro were allegedly seen with four other men who went inside Boniao's establishment on the night of his abduction.

He said it is based on tactic identification and on actual accounts of the witnesses who positively identified the two suspects.

Adriatico already ordered hot pursuit on the suspects and their accomplices as he appealed cooperation from public to report any information that could help solve the case, according to reports.

Adriatico had also been quoted by the media having expressed intention to file amended charges to include one Enrique Goltiao, the owner of the red Mitsubishi Adventure with plate number KCF-331 used in abducting Boniao.

The vehicle is registered under the name of Abdul Hakim Grande who claimed that he already sold it to Goltiao on September 15, four days before the incident.

by Ven Arigo
Bohol Chronicle

Thousands of Boholanos worldwide are expected to come home for a grand reunion in May next year 2012 - the set date for the holding of the 5th Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibouk Kalibutan (TBTK) set on May 8-18 next year.

The next (TBTK) will be the 'supermodel' of the 2011-2016 Pinoy "homecoming years" program as declared by Pres. Benigno S.Aquino III.

This explains why the TBTK 2012 was launched simultaneously with the revival launching of the "Balik Pilipinas" campaign of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in New York last June, according to TBTK Chairperson Betty Veloso Garcia.

The New Jersey-based Garcia flew in from the United States last week and presided together with Tagbilaran City Councilor Anne Mariquit Oppus over the meeting on TBTK preparation.

Oppus is the overall coordinator of TBTK, which will be held here for the fifth time and the first ever to be done in the fiesta month of May instead of July during which are held the traditional Sandugo festivities.

"Bonding" among relatives and friends is more pronounced in the fiesta season because most Boholanos come home on the occasion.

Garcia, a sister-in-law of Gov. Edgar Chatto, said the DOT is supporting the TBTK 2012 promotion and marketing.

Top Philippine tourism officials, some senators and congressmen, and Gov. Edgar Chatto himself witnessed the twin US launchings of the Balik Pilipinas program and next TBTK, also projected to be the grandest ever.

Accompanied by his wife, Bohol First Lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto, the governor was then on the way to the convention of the Confederation of Boholanos in the USA and Canada (CONBUSAC).

CONBUSAC officials and members are most eager to come home for TBTK, regarded as the grandest reunion of Boholanos and a phenomenon in Philippine provincial homecomings..

Two weeks ago, Chatto and First District Rep. Rene Relampagos guested during the gathering of the Boholanos in Hong Kong where the commitment to TBTK calendar was further sealed.

In their meeting at the capitol last Tuesday, Garcia, Oppus and other organizers tentatively set the TBTK and its major activities on May 8-18 next year.

Boholano grand homecomers from around the world are set to pay a courtesy call on Pres. Aquino at Malacañang on May 8 and then proceed to their mother province.

The following are the other major activities as tentatively set.

May 8 -- Courtesy call on the Governor at the capitol, formal opening of Bohol Product Showcase with the welcome party hosted by the province and Showcase of Boholano Talents

May 10 -- Swimming Competition, Miss Bohol International Talent Show, Presentation of Mrs. Bohol International Candidates and Final Canvassing, and Basketball Competition

May 12 -- Fun Run and Mrs. Bohol International Coronation Ball

May 13 -- Eucharistic Celebration and Awarding of the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW)

May 14 -- School Reunions for the Holy Spirit School, Bohol Island State University and PMI Colleges, Investment Forum and Miss Bohol International Competition

May 15 -- School Reunions for the Holy Name University and University of Bohol, TBTK Meeting and Election, and CONBUSAC Midterm Meeting

May 16 -- School Reunions for the Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association (BPHSNAA), Bohol Institute of Technology and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School

May 17 -- Gala Night for BPHSNAA and School Reunions for Bohol Wisdom School and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

May 17 and 19 -- TBTK Derby

May 18 -- Family Reunions, TBTK Motorcade and Recognition Night

With prominent support, Garcia and Oppus hope to convince airline companies, hotels, resorts and related establishments to grant discounts to the home comers for the TBTK.

The TBTK 2012 will be formally launched here probably in November. It was suggested to coincide with the first-ever Bohol Food Festival which was also mulled during the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by, among others, the governor's wife who is a younger sister of Garcia; TBTK Philippine coordinator Betty Balatero; Liza Flores, provincial coordinator and head of the governor' Special Project Unit; Jerome Gabin, DTI; N. Tolentino Gallares and Pie Pardon, FCB; Marissa Diadula, Office of the Provincial Agriculture; Marie Bernadette Manigque, Council for Culture and Arts Development; Maria Leticia Zafra, JCI Chocolate Hills; reigning Mrs. Bohol International Rose Soy, Glorivic Yap-De la Serna, Bayanihan Center; former PBA star Peter Naron and former City Vice Mayor Jose Veloso.

Also present was Babie Bonite of the DCPNHS alumni group and overseas seafarers' sector. She is the wife of Elias Bonite who is based in Saudi Arabia and the TBTK coordinator for the United Arab Emirates and Middle East.

TBTK organizers planned to invite some of today's hottest young stars to enliven a TBTK event such as the showcase of Boholano talents or Miss Bohol International competition.

Names of Coco Martin, Anne Curtis, Jodi Sta. Maria, Mateo Gudoccilli, Maja Salvador, Angelica Panganiban and Derek Ramsey, all ABS-CBN properties, and Boholana Rich Asuncion of GMA were suggested.

Outside theTBTK meeting, some personalities at capitol preferred KC Concepcion, citing her involvement in the global cause against hunger.

They hinted that a TBTK activity can at the same time raise funds for identified beneficiaries like a certified food-poor community.

Besides, they said, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan can assist the Boholanos in TBTK by bringing the Concepcions here. The actress is a daughter of the senator's wife, megastar Sharon Cuneta and actor Gabby Concepcion. (Ven rebo Arigo)

by Bohol Chronicle

The continued strict implementation of the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) and widening the intelligence network in barangays (up to the smallest sub-villages) top the priorities of the new city police command.

The new city chief of police, Supt. Gil del Prado, said a noticeable reduction in the crime volume has been observed since the strict implementation of PIPS as a nationwide thrust of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Del Prado also pointed out that strengthening the police intelligence network can be achieved by training more agents without necessarily needing additional intelligence funds.

Aware that the media needs information from the police from time to time, Del Prado assured that there would be somebody to attend to the queries provided that delicate information remain properly handled.

The new chief of police intends to designate a public information officer to attend to media men. But he also said he can answer the queries himself, if necessary.

Del Prado, the third official to assume as the city's chief of police for this year alone was formally installed in a turn-over ceremony at the city police stationlast Wednesday.

Del Prado left his post as deputy director for operations of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO), to replace Supt. Arcadio Jamora Jr. as head of the City Police.

by Bohol Chronicle

The official ticketing agency of Philippine Airlines here absorbed the impact of the sit-down strike of PAL Employees Association (PALEA) members last week which is expected to smoothen out as the Airline management's outsourcing program for non-core operations started yesterday.

Emma R.Caseñas, manager of PAL official ticketing agency in Tagbilaran City, said she had to arrange alternative flights for their clients who had already booked ahead of time and the hotel accommodation of passengers coming from outside the city.

Caseñas was left with little time to arrange with PAL's sister company, Air Philippines, considering that the illegal strike was declared unexpectedly..

In fact, her company shouldered the cost of hotel accommodation of foreign clients who had connecting flights for Japan, Hongkong, and Korea.

For passengers of the supposed PAL flights here that were canceled because of the strike in Manila, Caseñas arranged with Air Philippines for their seats so they could still catch up with their schedule on the same day.

Caseñas even thought PAL flights could return to normal on Wednesday, but the strike continued and no PAL planes arrived from Manila throughout the week.

Passengers who chose to cancel their trips had their tickets refunded without penalty, while those transferred to Air Phil 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. flights had been arranged without any extra expenses or surcharge on the part of the passengers.

Aside from income losses, Caseñas' company shouldered the cost of hotel accommodation for those from outside Tagbilaran City.

published by Bohol Chronicle

A motorized banca capsized off Maribojoc seawaters Monday night as strong winds triggered with the entry of Tropical Storm "Pedring" started to intensify into a typhoon by 4-10 p.m. on Monday heading to a landfall in Aurora-Isabela area

In Loboc, the Philippine Coast Guard received an emergency call at 7:45 p.m. on Monday, regarding passengers of capsized motorized banca needing help somewhere in Maribojoc. So, a search and rescue team was sent out.

The PCG rescued eight passengers of a motor banca that capsized off Maribojoc seawaters.

CPO Rolando Dango of the PCG identified the survivors as Bienvenido Matildo, 46, Cheryl Matildo, 45, Alfredo Lagang, 46, Joel Lagang, 46, Claro Kolehiyo, 56, Roy Sabadlab, 41, Naro Matildo, 54, and Arnel Matildo, 28â€"all residents of barangay Ugpong, Loboc.

According to Dango, the survivors were sailing home early Monday afternoon from Santander, Cebu after delivering nipa shingles.

At around 2 p.m. when already near the Bohol side, the outrigger of the motorized banca suddenly broke causing the banca to capsize later.

They drifted, clinging on the capsized banca until the PCG team found them at around 9 p.m. in Maribojoc area.

published by the Bohol Chronicle

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is under fire after a senator took the cudgels in demanding for public disclosure on the results of its investigations of two recent sea tragedies between the Cebu-Bohol seawater which killed three passengers and crew

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked MARINA Administrator Emerson Lorenzo to immediately impose the necessary sanctions against the shipping companies involved in the sea tragedies which included the burning and sinking of "M/V Island Express I" in the seawaters off Cebu City port where two passengers and crew perished during the mid-day incident. Passengers on board the vessel from Tubigon Port said that if the incident happened at night, there could be more casualties.

The Cagayan de Oro- born senator asked the MARINA administrator to personally check the regional offices of the agency based in Cebu amid reports that some shipping companies are given "special treatment" under a highly questionable arrangement.

Senator Pimentel said he will temporarily hold the disclosure on the identity of the shipping firm which reportedly is getting favors from regional MARINA officials. The senator was informed that a shipping firm based in Cebu gets the "least sanctions" from MARINA despite several complaints from the riding public which include the frequent stoppage of its engines at mid-sea thereby causing delays in their arrivals and departures. The same shipping firm would sometimes sail even if their air-conditioning units do not function causing extreme discomfort among its passengers who are paying the fare as to be accommodated on board an air-conditioned fast sea craft.

"Needless to say, we would not wait for a more serious incident to happen," Pimentel stressed who is familiar with the vast movement people in sea travel in the Visayas and Mindanao.

"Safety of our riding public should be of paramount importance," he added while he awaits MARINA to declare on whether laws were violated during the two recent sea accidents.

Sen. Pimentel told Administrator Lorenzo that "responsible parties should be held answerable."

by Associated Press

A woman who killed her newlywed husband and chopped and cooked his body parts over the Thanksgiving holiday feast weekend in 1991 is seeking release from a California prison.

Omaima Nelson, an Egyptian-born former nanny, is set to appear before parole commissioners Wednesday at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla where she has been serving a life sentence.

Nelson was convicted of murdering her 56-year-old husband William Nelson in a grisly killing that authorities likened to the fictional slayings of Hannibal Lecter.

Prosecutors said the then-23-year-old killed Nelson and likely plotted to steal from him as she had done with other middle-aged men she had seduced in the past. Authorities said she tied up her husband of less than a month, killed him and dismembered the body, churning his parts through a garbage disposal that neighbors said ran nonstop in the hours after the murder.

Authorities found some of Nelson’s body parts stuffed in garbage bags and mixed with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. His hands had been fried in oil and his head boiled and stuffed in the freezer, said Randy Pawloski, a senior deputy district attorney in Orange County who prosecuted the case and will argue against her release.

“She’s tremendously dangerous,” said Pawloski, adding that Nelson sought help from two different boyfriends to try to remove her husband’s teeth and dispose of his remains to cover her tracks.

Just playing, Bugs. Ligo nalang inig human.

published by the Bohol Standard

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ruled that Bohol Light Company’s Inc.’s documents submitted to the agency for its application power rate increase are flawed and cancelled the public hearing conducted Sept. 20, 2011 at the Governor’s Mansion in this city.

Citing certain the agency’s rules of procedures, ERC Commissioner Atty. Rhett Mislang told both parties, “The Commission rules in favor of the intervenor-oppositors that any documents should be verified and proof of publication for the party to fully interact and intelligently examine the documents. And with that ruling the Commission could not proceed with this hearing” unless the pre-requisites are complied with.

Lawyers representing the provincial government and lawyer-intervenors were able to convince ERC presided over by Atty. Mislang to rule in their favor for what they called company’s lapses in procedural requirements.

Atty. John Mitchell Boiser and Atty. Peter Iman Mende representing the provincial government and Atty. Nerio Zamora II and Atty. Doni Piquero and certified public accountant Bebiano Inting as intervenors found that the company’s copies furnished to them did not have the signature and were not verified by its counsel. Zamora, Piquero and Inting are incumbent city councilors but did not officially represent the city government in the said hearing.

A careful perusal of the application including documents and annexes filed and submitted to ERC secretariat headed by clerk of court Atty. Rolando Gomez indicated that the said documents were not verified, ERC found out. This raised the question why the documents were not signed and notarized.

What also surprised the lawyers was that only a copy of such application in BLCI’s possession bore verification by the counsel. The city and province counsels also raised the concern whether or not what the company’s in possession is the same copies it furnished to them.

But BLCI counsel Michael Ancheta II argued that even the documents provided to the oppositors (city and province) were not verified as required by ERC rules of procedures still the same (documents) are furnished to them (oppositors). He also told the commission that he assumed the said documents submitted to the commission and furnished to the opposing parties were in order.

But Atty. Mislang told BLCI that the commission cannot rules based on assumption.

On publication of notice of application, aside from the newspapers, the company failed to get certifications from both city and province because the latter did not issue them, citing the said defect.

Citing ERC rules of procedures, BLCI thru Ancheta insisted that though the company fall short in securing the said certification the same (notice of publication) is still in order because its personnel executed a sworn statement to support that indeed it made public the said notice within the city and provincial bulletin boards.

Provincial board members Atty. Benjie Arcamo, Atty. Abeleon Damalerio and Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez preferred to be just observers while the hearing was going.

It will be recalled that both city and provincial governments expressed vehement opposition of BLCI’s application for electric power rates hike.

Both city and provincial officials pointed out earlier that the plan hike for electric consumption is sure to be a huge burden in addition to the unbilled water rates increase since 2006 for the city consumers. The company has already started to collect the said unbilled water rates added to the consumers’ monthly billing following the court ruling in favor of the BWUI.

True to form, on transparency and good governance, top Capitol officials went on project site tour to check if they are effectively implemented or projects had not become ‘ghosts’.

Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, Vice Gov. Concepcion O. Lim, members of the Provincial Board and other key officials of the province conducted a site inspection and evaluation of the programs and projects of the provincial government which have province-wide impact in rural communities.

According to National Statistical Coordination Board data in 2003, 2006, and 2010, poverty indicators remain high. The same is true with the National Household Targeting System data which has been made basis for pro-poor programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

To address poverty, the Chatto-Lim administration is banking on the advantages of a strong purok network through the recently launched Comprehensive Countryside Action Program by directing more livelihood to the people through partnerships with Local Government Units (LGUs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).

The first stop was the Bohol Biodiversity Complex in Bilar where massive production of tree planting materials is facilitated by the Bohol Environmental Management Office (BEMO). Inside the complex was recently installed Regional Climate Change Center.

At the OPV Livestock Center, cattle, native chicken, goats, and hogs are raised by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) for dispersal. This forms part of the Chatto administration's poverty alleviation advocacy with its banner title: Bahay Kubo FAITH (Food Always In The Home), HOPE (Herbal Organic Plant Enhancement) and CHARITY (Chicken Always Ready In The Yard).

From there, the group visited, a Multi-Species Freshwater Fish Hatchery facility inside the BISU Bilar Campus. and run by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA). They then had ceremonial fingerling seeding of 1,500 tilapia and hito fingerlings were done for the newly opened ponds. It was a enriching experienced as some officials shared that it was their first doing such activity.

The group also inspected the progress of the multi-million Pilar Modern Rice Processing Plant. It is in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The processing plant, one of five in the country, is said to be the most modern in the region where drying, milling, and packaging will be done for the production of well-milled rice. The target operational date is February-March of 2012. The other processing plants are located in Aurora, Pangasinan, Davao del Norte, and Iloilo.

Another part of the itinerary was the Bohol Organic Agriculture Technology (BOATech) Center in Gabi, Ubay where organic fertilizers are produced and continuous research is done to supply quality and affordable fertilizer.

The next stop saw the board members all amazed with Gulayan sa Paaralan Program implemented by the San Agustin Elementary School in Sagbayan.

The Bohol Provincial Government (PGB) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI-7), Bohol-Agricultural Promotion Center (B-APC) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd Provincial and City Offices has been spearheading this program,

The “Gulayan sa Paaralan Program” (GPP) focuses on the involvement and participation of schoolchildren in agriculture. It not only promote good nutrition among children in school but will likewise introduce them to agri-business at their young age.

The group then travelled to nearby San Vicente Norte, Sagbayan to visit an Abag sa mga Mag-Uuma Farmer’s Center under the Bohol Corn Seed Assistance Program, a support project for food security.

The top leaders also made quick stops at the Carmen Samahang Nayon Multi-Purpose Center to turn over financial assistance as counterpart to the rice mill project that DA Sec. Proceso Alcala committed during his visit to the province, as well as at the Kalayaan Resettlement Center in Remedios, Danao to check on the situation of the Kasama sa Reporma (KRs), a Social Integration Program to encourage the KRs to lay down their arms and facilitate assimilation into the community.

The project visits also became avenue for project monitoring results vis-a-vis project budget as a preparatory step in the drafting of the 2012 budget. (Leah/EDCOM)

press release

Human Right victims during the martial law period the late deposed president Ferdinand Marcos can now avail of formerly classified military records now made available to the public during a turn over ceremony marking the 39th anniversary of that infamous rule.

House of Representatives committee chairman on Human Rights Rep. Rene Lopez Relampagos (1st District-Bohol), these records are of great help to hasten the claims and compensation of human rights victims and their surviving kins.

Earlier, the first district congressman filed on Jan.3, 2011, House Resolution No. 01035

”A RESOLUTION URGING HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III TO IMMEDIATELY ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ORDERING THE FAITHFUL PRESERVATION AND SYSTEMATIC ARCHIVAL OF ALL MILITARY AND POLICE RECORDS PERTAINING TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING THE MARTIAL LAW PERIOD FROM 21 SEPTEMBER 1972 TO 26 FEBRUARY 1986 AND OPENING SUCH RECORDS TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND SCRUTINY.”

In a brief interview yesterday, Rep. Relampagos said, now that the martial law period human right violation documents are made public, his committee is looking at compensation to victims, separate from what the U.S. Federal District Court of Hawaii have favorably decided, which Congress had already recognized.

Some P10-billion, transferred to the Philippine government by virtue of the December 10, 1997 Order of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, is now in a trust fund, which will be the source of compensation. These funds are part of the Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth, adjudged by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in the case G.R. No. 152154, GRP vs Sandiganbayan, a judgment that has become final and executory.

by Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA

Minimum daily wage in Bohol is now pegged at P275.00 following the recent round of additional P20.00 wage increase granted, less than a year after the last increase was ordered.

Department of Labor and Employment Bohol information Officer German Guidaben said the increase took effect September 22 and would still be valid despite the absence of a corresponding implementing rules and regulation for the increase.

The minimum wage law would always be retroactive, so that those who would not immediately implement the raise would still be bound for the retroactive pay, he explained at the recent Kapihan sa PIA Thursday.

Labor unions in the Visayas have asked for an even bigger increase citing the recent surging prices of fuel and basic commodities, which has also greatly affected daily wage earners and their families.

The Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board however, in consultations and countless meetings with business leaders and representatives was finally convinced that a new increase was due even if it comes less than a year since the last increase.

Increases were supposedly not to happen twice in a year’s time, unless a supervening condition exists, according to the law.

Guidaben also revealed that formula to help determine the increases for workers who have already attained the minimum is available at the local DOLE Office.

Dole also stressed that since the minimum wage determination is as good as a law, any worker who feels he is not given his rightful pay by his employers can seek DOLE assistance for possible mediation.

Over this, the DOLE spokesperson said he hopes the business sector would also be keen enough to see that they would have to adjust wages or face sanctions.

Typhoon in the Philippines: Who will rescue the cats and dogs?

Hikalimti Ako
sinulat ni Mike Ortega Ligalig

Hikalimti ako ug hikalimtan ko usab ikaw
sama sa adlaw nga nahikalimot sa panagway
sa bulak panahon sa ting-ulan diin ang panganod
nagsampong sa pagpanghupaw sa langit

Gidughit ko sa makadaghan ang imong pagtagad
apan daw idlas ka pa sa langgam manatad
nga bisan ang hinog nga biyabas ug bugnay
dili makatarog sa katikig sa imong liog

Hikalimti ako kay dugay ka na nga nahikalimot
sa pagsubang sa akong pagbati. Imong gipaabot
ang pagsalop sa akong pailob - ug ikaw malipay
nga magsud-ong sa nagkaawop ko nga paglaom

That's good news, Churtz. Hope you'd finally meet your uncle in Ubay, Bohol.

Would you pay a five-cent increase in the gasoline tax to fund alternative energy research?

Would you support an independent third-party candidate for president if he or she forced the other parties to return to their platforms?

Do you believe America's future will be better than its past?

welcome tagaBaclayon. kaliwat Bol-anon gyud ka.

by Angeline Valencia
PNA

The new city chief of police has formally been installed today in a turn-over ceremony at the city police station her eon Wednesday.

Police Senior Supt. Julius Cesar Gornez, deputy director for administration of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), administered the turn-over of command from PSupt. Arcadio Jamora Jr. to PSupt. Gil del Prado.

Gornez represented police provincial director, PSenior Supt. Constantino Barot Jr., who had to address participants of the one-day seminar on the guidelines in the implementation of the petty cash disbursement scheme here.

Barot sent the nomination to the mayor last week after the sudden order for Jamora to report for schooling in Manila to qualify for promotion.

Mayor Dan Lim picked out Del Prado among four other nominees.

Del Prado was the deputy police provincial director for operations prior to his appointment.

Del Prado had just finished the course for Public Safety Officer Senior Executive Officers in Cebu a month ago under the schooling program of the Philippine National Police.

Iraq agreed to buy 18 U.S. F-16 fighter jets, U.S. Gen. Michael Ferriter said Sept. 27, AP reported. U.S. contractors or forces could train Iraqi pilots, Ferriter said, adding that this could provide a basis for Iraqi air sovereignty. A second U.S. official said that the deal is worth an estimated $3 billion and that the planes are expected in Iraq in 2013. An Iraqi government spokesman said that a partial payment of $1.4 billion has been paid and that the F-16s could be in Iraq as early as autumn of 2012.

published by the Bohol Chronicle

Gov. Edgar Chatto has evolved into a rare specie in Philippine government career for being the country's only public official to be conferred the two highest honors in public service.

This compacts the stature of Bohol as the best-governed province in the country today under his provincial leadership as recently declared by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

No less than Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III will confer the prestigious national Civil Service Commission (CSC) Dangal ng Bayan Award to Chatto at Malacañang next week.

He received the same honor in the regional level from the CSC Regional Office in Cebu City on Friday.

The Bohol leader's upholding of excellence, integrity and commitment in public service provides a triumphant highlight to the 111th year of Philippine Public Service and peak September observance of the Civil Service Month.

True to his endearing character, Chatto humbly offered his newest achievement to all Boholanos, saying it is just another testament to the selfless unified effort of leaders for the good of the province and its people.

The Dangal ng Bayan is his second major national honor from CSC after receiving the agency's highest recognition, the Centennial Lingkod Bayan Award, in 2000 while he was vice governor.

Except for Chatto, no public official in the country has ever accorded these two highest Philippine Civil Service honors.

His Lingkod Bayan Award alone 11 years ago already distinguished him as the first and only elected government official in the country to achieve the feat.

As one of his prizes, the salary of the then Bohol vice governor was raised to a rank higher, equivalent to that of the governor.

Two weeks ago, Bohol led by Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim earned not just standing national ovation when the DILG proclaimed it the Philippines' best-governed province.

Bohol got an almost perfect score of 4.9 out of the maximum five points gauged on the LGUs' performance in administrative, social, economic and environmental governance, and fundamentals of governance which include transparency, participation and financial accountability.

DILG also declared the top performing component cities but Bohol's lone city, Tagbilaran, failed in the assessment.

Earlier this month, Bohol under Chatto was declared the national and regional winner of the Kabalikat Award from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

TESDA recognized the province's sustained and intensified programs in partnership with the agency to better Boholano lives thru globally-competitive technical-vocational education and skills training.

Chatto told his fellow public servants in all levels and the Boholanos as a whole that these feats "would not have been possible without your indispensable support and cooperation."

"These latest achievements of our province are a result of our unified effort and teamwork to bring progress to Bohol and uplift the living standard of our fellow Boholanos," the governor said.

According to national evaluation on the high poverty incidence and indicators and despite the efforts of the past, Bohol remained at the bottom among the poorest province when Chatto assumed as governor. in July last year.

Chatto considered the unsolicited recognitions of the works of his administration to be a mighty motivation to do more and do them best pursuant to capitol's crying service slogans HEAT Bohol and LIFE HELPS.

HEAT stands for "Health and sanitation, Education and technology, Agriculture and food sufficiency, Tourism and livelihood." The more encompassing LIFE HELPS means "Livelihood, Infrastructure, Food, Education, Health, Environment, Peace and Order, and Sports and Youth Development."

One institutional service mark of the Chatto capitol today is the HEAT Caravan that brings government to constituent doorstep. Another is the People's Day "and Night" at capitol every Monday .

Equally unprecedented are the governor's sub-offices in Talibon in the Second District and Carmen and, soon, Jagna in the Third District, all apart from the traditional formal official seat of the governor at capitol and one more office at the Governor's Mansion.

Overseas Boholanos congratulated, too, the governor as they reiterated their intent to return home for theTigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) here in May next year.

One highlight in every TBTK is the selection of the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) winners. Chatto was a TOBAW awardee during his vice governorship.

As congressman then, Chatto was honored by the Roman Catholic Church and Human Life International as a pro-God, pro-family and pro-life solon.

The National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL), an influential local league in the country, named him "an icon of the young political leaders in the country today." (Ven rebo Arigo)

by Helen Flores
Philippine Star

Metro Manila residents waded through floodwaters a meter deep yesterday as “Pedring” (international code name Nesat) pummeled Northern Luzon, killing at least nine people and toppling power lines and trees along its path.

Large swathes of Metro Manila were without electricity for several hours yesterday. Classes and work in government offices were suspended as well as trading in the stock market. Several flights were also canceled.

In Marikina, the rising river compelled the evacuation of residents in low-lying areas.

A storm surge worsened the usual flooding in northern Metro Manila, where rubber boats were deployed to assist residents in Malabon and Navotas.

The storm surge, which brought waves up to 20 feet high, also damaged the breakwater in Manila Bay as well as the seawall along Roxas Boulevard, spawning one of the worst floods about three feet deep along the thoroughfare.

Weather officials said Pedring made landfall over the boundary of Aurora and Isabela at 4 a.m. yesterday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

Rene Paciente, senior weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said another weather disturbance, to be named “Quiel,” was expected to enter the country this week but is unlikely to directly affect the country.

Earlier, PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Quiel was expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday and hit Samar province by Monday next week.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 3 remained hoisted over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet and Pangasinan.

Signal no. 2 was still up in Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.

Under signal no. 1 were Metro Manila, Cagayan including Babuyan and Calayan group of islands, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.

PAGASA lifted storm signals in other areas affected by the typhoon.

'Stinking rose' it may be, but don't dare to knock its detoxifying qualities. Garlic has been prized for its medicinal qualities (eat a raw clove when you feel a cold coming on and you'll clear right up), and it is rich in antioxidants that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions. It's also thought to be a potent antibacterial, mainly due to a compound called allicin, which hunts down and clears harmful bacteria from your system, leaving you feeling in tip-top shape.

source: MSN

Why is brown rice so much better for you than white? Consider these facts: the process of milling and polishing brown rice into white destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 90% of vitamin B6, half of the manganese and all of the dietary fibre and fatty acids, all of which are thought to aid the detoxification process. Brown rice, on the other hand, has only lost its outer layer, so the majority of this nutritional bounty is left untouched.

source: MSN

Grazing on nuts makes many of us think of Christmas and festive season weight gain, but in reality, nuts and seeds make the perfect snack for those of us in pursuit of a proper detox. Brazil nuts, for example, are packed with selenium, which increases the number of white blood cells in the body, which protects us from infection. Cashew nuts (plain, rather than roasted or salted) are a good source of monounsaturated fat and copper, which protect the heart and blood vessels. Sunflower seeds, meanwhile, are full of vitamin E, which strengthens the hair and skin. Keep a small pouch in your handbag to satisfy your hunger pangs and help along your detox.

source: MSN

Like drinking water - but better! Swapping caffeine for a herbal tea should be top of your detox 'to-do' list, so make sure you pick one with several purifying properties. Fennel, for example, is loaded with vitamin C, potassium and manganese, which are believed to aid digestion. It's also thought to reduce swelling and fluid retention. If you normally imbibe a lot of coffee, then cardamom is thought to be adept at detoxifying caffeine, and has also been linked to improving digestion and stomach problems (it is a mild laxative). More tea, vicar?

source: MSN

What better way to encourage toxins to make a sharp exit from your system than eating spicy food? But even if the curries and oriental dishes don't bring you out in a sweat, the spices used to make them are powerful detoxifying agents. Take turmeric, for example; known as the Indian saffron, turmeric contains curcumin, a nutrient which stimulates detoxification of the liver, the organ which deals with the substances we produce in our system on a daily basis as well as the toxins that we ingest through our naughty habits or purely because of the environment around us.

source: MSN

The dark hue says it all - blueberries are bursting with antioxidants, anthocyanidins and the nutritional equivalent of a superhero, ellagic acid, which all combine to prevent cell damage and remove unwanted particles from the body. But they're not the only berry central to your successful detox. Be sure to make the most of blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, while the slightly more exotic goji berries are packed to the gunnels with vitamins, beta-carotene and iron. Sprinkle berries on your cereal or porridge for the perfect detox breakfast.

source: MSN

Eat your greens! Why? Because veggies like broccoli, kale, sprouts, spinach and watercress are full of dietary fibre to boost your digestive system but also essential vitamins A and C (which the body can't produce on its own), iron, beta-carotene and calcium. The nutrients in green vegetables break down into sulphorophanes, which have a stimulating effect on the detox process. Nutritionists recommend eating them raw when you can (aim for one raw meal a day) as this prevents the loss of vital nutrients through boiling or other forms of cooking.

source: MSN

There are over 7,000 different varieties of apple in the world (meaning you could eat a different one every day for over 19 years), and they're all overflowing with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, which aid the detoxifying process. Apples are full of dietary fibre, which cleanses the colon, the antioxidants, flavonoids and terpenoids they contain also prevent cell damage and stimulate the production of bile in the liver, which again helps to rid the body of pesky, toxic invaders.

source: MSN

What could be simpler - or cheaper - than flushing your body of toxins with eight daily glasses of pure, crisp water? As well as improving cognitive function and boosting our energy levels, drinking plenty of water provides your body's cells with enough H20 to keep them functioning properly. Just one thing - if you're doing a lot of exercising and therefore losing a lot of fluids through perspiring, then you may need to drink more than the recommended amount. Just don't drink too much, as excessive amounts can lead to brain injury.

source: MSN

Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit; it doesn't matter which one of these gives your taste buds the greatest tickle, they're all part of the citrus family, which means a plethora of detoxifying qualities. Lemons, a favourite among celebs for their body-cleansing properties, are thought to restore the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut as well as flushing toxins from your system, so try substituting your morning cup of tea or coffee for a simple slice of lemon in hot water. Oranges and grapefruits, meanwhile, are rich in the antioxidants known as flavonoids, which expel damaging free-radicals from your system and protect against cell damage and disease.

source: MSN Philippines

maayo ni angay buhaton sa mga asawa nga nakabana ug palahubog, sugarol, ug sabungero.

mura ug professor na ka anang mga bahina, kuya lindy.

how good is good?

Satellite Map - Philippine Weather Forecast September 23, 2011

Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva

hahahah. mamuot man sab ta ning inyong mga sambingay bai bugs ug hubs.

by Philip Tubeza
PDI

While the Philippines is a model for other countries in combating human trafficking, a lot still remains to be done because up to “40 percent” of  foreign male tourists visiting the country come here primarily for sex, according to US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr.

Thomas said on Thursday morning that while the Philippines government secured a “record number of 25 convictions” against human traffickers, many problems have persisted in the fight against the criminal syndicates trafficking people.

“I estimate that maybe up to 40 percent of foreign men who come here come for sexual tourism and that is unacceptable,” Thomas said at a judicial conference on human trafficking.

He added that he had also told President Benigno Aquino and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that should an American be arrested for human trafficking, the US embassy in Manila would even assist in prosecuting them.

“Any of them who are engaged in things that violate the lawâ€"whether American or another foreignerâ€"should be prosecuted. That is against human values,” Thomas said.

by Aurea Calica
Phil Star

Malacañang is grateful for a Newsweek article ranking the Philippines 17th out of 165 countries as the best place for women.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace was “heartened” to read a recently published Newsweek article titled “The Best and Worst Places for Women,” citing the Philippines as the top country in Asia “that offers women the most expansive rights and the best quality of life. “

“Of the 165 countries, the Philippines ranked 17th, and is the only Asian country to be included in the top 20. Garnering an overall score of 86.3 out of 100, our country scored highest in the areas of education (92.2), economics (89.1), and justice (88.4),” Lacierda said.

“This is an affirmation of the respect our culture has always accorded to Filipino women â€" one that manifests itself as well in our government’s efforts to promote equal gender opportunities in all spheres of public policies and programs,” he said.

“Rest assured, our administration remains committed in advancing the quality of life of all Filipinos from all walks of life.”

The Top 20 countries for women, according to the article, are Iceland, Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, United States, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, France, Luxemburg, Portugal, Macedonia, Moldova, Philippines, Belgium, United Kingdom, and Romania.   

Gabii Sa Paghandom
sinulat ni Mike Ortega Ligalig

gibiyaan mo ako nga nagtindog
dinhi ning mangiob nga dalan,
ang kalibotan sa atong mga pagbati
dinhi nahimugso, diha nianang
mga mapahiyumong dahon sa Manga,
gisaksihan sa bulan ug mga bituon

buot ko pa untang dalhon ang kabugnaw
sa imong gakos ngadto sa tumoy sa bangaw
ug iuli ang kainit sa kagabhion
diha sa daganasan sa imong ngabil,
apan mitalikod ka na ug milakaw
paingon sa imong pinuy-anan
ug ako gimingaw sa awit sa aninipot,
sa huni sa imong talidhay, ug
sa pagpangalimyon sa mga kabulakan...

Ug Magsulat Ako Ug Balak Alang Kanimo
sinulat ni Mike Ortega Ligalig

magsulat ako ug balak alang kanimo
pag-abot sa tungang gabii diin ang kahilom
mao ra ang akong kauban, ang kahilom
nga nagdugo ug miawas ang kaguol
sa akong mga paghandum, ang kapait
sa imong kahilom, sa imong pagpalayo

magsulat ako ug balak samtang nagpaabot
sa imong mga pulong, sa imong pahiyom
bisan ug nagping-it sa kasakit
ang dughan sa kagabhion

wala ka masayod nga ang matag tunob
sa taknaan samtang ako nagpaabot kanimo
daw mga lakang sa katuigan nga nag-antos

wala mo nakita ang nagusbat kong kasin-kasing
sama sa bantayog nga gibuak sa linog
kay ako gitay-og sa kahapdos sa pagsalikway

ug ako magsulat ug balak alang kanimo
pamasin matambalan ang samad sa kagabhion...

Una ug Kataposan
sinulat ni Mike Ortega Ligalig


ang siga sa flashlight nga imong gibitbit
dili makapalong sa paghot sa mga iro -
sila nahibolong ning daklit ko nga pag-abot,
ug imong gipangayo ang akong pagsabot
sa kalanrakas sa mga mananap nga buot
mohasmag sa kangitngit aron pangitaon
ang akong anino nga nagsunod sa kahayag
sa imong kaanyag.

gisud-ong ko ang imong bayhon
nga nagkahanap samtang mitadlas sa kangitngit
paingon sa pultahan sa inyong balay
ug gihulaman ko ang kahayag sa bulan ug bituon
aron idan-ag sa naamang kong mga mata...

mobalik ako sa dalan nga atong gisubay
diin ang duha nato ka kasing-kasing
nangita sa mga eskina sa kalangitan
nga karon gidag-oman sa bag-ong kahimatngon

kini ang una ug kataposan nga higayon
nga madungog ko ang paghot sa mga iro,
makita ang imong panagway nga gikulit
sa mga damgo, mahikap ang kahumot
sa imong tingog, masimhot ang pinitik
sa atong mga dughan -
ug mobalik ako nga mag-inusara
paingon ngadto sa dalan nga mamingaw
maghandum sa mga gutlo nga nahanaw

it looks like a Buddhist temple.

reposted from Facebook...

If you would have to change your religious beliefs, would you marry the man you love?

Manang Dionesia: If i would change my religious beliefs? of course yes! i can. it's only a religion. if the man that i marry is from religion 2? and im in religion 8? i can move to religion 2 which is cagayan valley. abrelata brasil! :-)

Their website still exists: http://www.acsat.edu.ph/content/cdo/index_cdo.php

Palm Oil Worker

nahinumdum ko sa mga standby sa amo nga kung agdahon ug tuba motubag man ug moingon: "Galubong ba!"

Nagpakugos Bisag Bug-at

tinuod na Rachs. Way snacks, way mosabat.

The Best of Angelica Panganiban

Mo-eskwela Lang ug Naay Binignit

Mag-angay-angay Lang Ta sa Pandesal

This is completely new to me. Thanks Hubs for sharing.

Bill Gates Daughter, Jennifer Katherine Gates

Pwede pud Miss Green Cross Rubbing Alcohol. Unsa tong "hindi lang pampamilya, pang-sports pa?" Family Rubbing Alcohol?

kinsa man diay pud ni?

Ngano bisan asa lang mangihi?

Early First-Aid Experience

murag nalingaw ang baby sa pagkuri-kuri sa computer.

hutdanay tirada.

by Philippine News Agency

Outspoken retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz has strongly criticized the first ever Miss Casino Filipino held recently for supposedly “exploiting” women.

Cruz, who is a staunch critic of gambling, said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) put the women in bad light just to promote gambling in the country.

"This Miss Casino is a slap to Filipino decency. It is exploiting the girls… exploiting their ignorance and enthusiasm and this is to propagate the vice of gambling,” he said.

Cruz said popular beauty pageants such as Ms. Universe and Ms. World stand up for "something dignified, something humanitarian".

He said Pagcor held the beauty pageant to cover up “the evil it disseminates”.

“To me it’s a shame to a Miss Casino. I don’t know if there are parents or elders who will be proud to say that their daughter is Miss Casino,” said Cruz.

naay ubang iro arang ka kandingon.

kinsa man kaha ni nga TB member, Hubz?

by Maila Ager

Senator Miriam  Defensor-Santiago was “very disappointed”  that Shamcey Supsup, the country’s  bet in the 2011  Miss Universe, did not get the title  to the point  that she was planning to file a protest.

“I’m going to file a protest if possible, if there’s any legal remedy because all the fan ratings rated Miss Philippines very, very high,” Santiago told reporters on Tuesday.

“I thought  it will be at least a contest between her and Ms. Ukraine but it turns out neither one made the top two positions which shows that I’m better as a senator than as a beauty consultant,” she said.

Asked if she was serious in filing the protest, Santiago laughed and said, “Well if there’s a legal remedy, I don’t think it might be taken as lacking in the fields of sportsmanship.”

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Franklin Drilon also expressed sadness over the Supsup’s failure to bag the title.

Supsup was proclaimed third runner-up in the coronation night held in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Angolan beauty Leila Lopes won the crown.

Sulat ni Tatay ug Nanay Alang Sa Pinalanggang Anak

naa diay hidden desire.

by Agence France Presse

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has announced he wants to retire from the sport and run for vice president of the Philippines in five years' time, local media reported Friday.

"In 2016, I plan to run for vice president. By that time there will be no more boxing for me," the 32-year-old said in an interview with Manila's GMA television from Mexico.

The high-school dropout, who is often cited as the world's best "pound-for-pound" fighter, is already a member of the Philippine parliament and has long been touted as a potential leader of his country.

But political observers immediately pointed out it was constitutionally impossible for him to run for vice president in 2016.

He will be just 37 years old when the May 2016 elections are held, below the minimum age requirement of 40 set in the country's constitution.

"If the constitution has not been amended by then he might have a problem," James Jimenez, spokesman for the government Commission on Elections, told AFP.

"But you can't tell someone not to dream."

Pacquiao won a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives in May last year, representing the impoverished southern province of Sarangani.

GMA network said it interviewed Pacquiao in Mexico, where he is promoting his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title bout against Mexico's Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on November 12.

5-17-11 Shane Mosley Talks Losing To Pacquiao, Mayweather, & Sexy Girlfriend on Lopez Tonight
Manny Pacquiao Hits Harder than Mayweather, says Mosley

kapugngan pa ang baha, apan dili ang pagtawag.

How to Capture a New Market by Stephen Wunker

“New markets are too poorly understood and change too quickly for the standard approaches of graphing trend lines and computing market share. Here are 10 approaches that workâ€"for businesses and the people within themâ€"when the market is fuzzy and in flux … ”

The Six Rules Women Must Break in Order to Succeed by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt

“To rise to the highest ranks in business, women need to unwind some of the traditional thinking that holds us back. We need to rethink the conversations we are having in our heads and tell ourselves a new story. We need to break our own rules.”

The Most Important Sales Conversations You’ll Ever Have by Mike Schultz & John E. Doerr

“Success as a rainmaker depends on your ability to lead masterful sales conversations from ‘hello’ to ‘let’s go,’ but the first sales conversation, the most important sales conversation, happens before you talk to actual prospects. The most important sales conversation you have… is the one you have with yourself.”

At the Speed of Seth: What I Learned Working With Seth Godin and the Domino Project by Michael Bungay Stanier

“Getting anything up and flying is a tricky business. I’m still learning how to catch the wind just right in most of the things I do. This story is about launching a new project, a book. But if it was a kite, right now we’d be seeing it crashed and broken on the ground.”

The Best Leader in the World: It Could Be You by Jon Wortmann, Jay Therrien, and Tom Endersbe

“As daunting as leadership can be, what you need to do is straightforward. We’re about to teach you a model that will make you the kind of leader whose team people beg to join; and the kind of person who develops other leaders as a natural part of your every day work and life.”

The Art of Hassle Map Thinking by Adrian J. Slywotzky with Karl Weber

“We’ve found that organizations that excel at demand creation … examine the lives of customers through the lens of what we call a Hassle Mapâ€"a detailed study of the problems, large and small, that people experience whenever they use their products.”

Pagkangilngig pud ani nga balita.

By Christina Mendez
Phil Star

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago claimed yesterday that former President Fidel Ramos could be a candidate for admission to a mental institution after he challenged her to invite fugitive Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to the Philippines to attend a Senate public hearing.

“So, any person who will do that is possibly a candidate for some institution, probably mental,” Santiago said.

She said Ramos is out of his mind daring her to call Gadhafi to a Senate hearing, as well as former US ambassador Kristie Kenney over the allegations that came out in WikiLeaks cable.

“He (Ramos) is now out of his mind. I think the stress of the presidency, for which he was unprepared in the first place, has been too much and has already gone off his rocker,” Santiago said.

“Biro mo ipa-summon niya sa (imagine, he wants to summon to the) Blue Ribbon (committee hearing) si Ghadafi na hindi nga mahanap-hanap ng (who can’t be found by the) major powers of the world, they are all searching for him on the basis of the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court.”

WikiLeaks reported that Ramos accepted an illegal campaign contribution from Gadhafi worth P5 million for the 1992 presidential election.

“The challenge is geriatric ranting and raving. You know it’s completely ridiculous. Isn’t this man acquainted with foreign affairs? Isn’t he acquainted with political science that we have no jurisdiction over any foreign national, much less another head of state?” Santiago said.

Santiago thinks Ramos is ignorant about international laws.

Dili kaha mabajookan si Hubag ani.

magnetic seguro ang smell

Right Fights: Making Conflict Productive by Saj-nicole Joni

“Your job as a leader isn’t to eliminate dissonanceâ€"your job is to make conflict productive. Right Fights enable you and your team to stop fighting about everything that doesn’t matter and start fighting, in a high-minded manner, about what really matters.”

The End of the Roundabout Way: Why Quality of Life Will Finally Take Center Stage by Julia Valentine

“The next quantum leap will occur when a critical mass of people realizes that one of the major purposes of life is JOY. Until then, most people will accept an ersatz, an imitation, or a roundabout way of creating joy.”

Lessons from S&P Recession Survivors by Larry Mallak

“Investors have heard many decry the decade of the 2000s as the ‘lost decade.’ A dollar invested in the S&P 500 on the first trading day of 1999 saw it worth just 65 cents a decade later. This “underperformance” is seen by many as a failure of the U.S. economic engine. If we look at the Top 20 performers of the S&P 500 during that same time period, we see a vastly different story.”

A General’s Guide to Deploying an Army of Entrepreneurs by Jennifer Prosek

“While I may have started out building a chainâ€"mindful that a chain is only as strong as its weakest linkâ€"I came to see that interweaving the threads of a rope came much closer to meeting my goal of a cohesive, interactive team.”

Adapt: The Benefits of Safe Mistakes by Tim Harford

“We cling on to the idea that successful business people are talented leaders running objectively brilliant corporations. But the world is far too complex and changes far too rapidly for us to have any confidence that this fondly held idea
is true.”

Sober Entrepreneurship: Why Modern Entrepreneurs Won’t Succeed Under the Influence by Carol Roth

“If we are going to hang our hat on entrepreneurship, we need to ensure more successes, avoid the number of true failures and make sure that we have the right people pursuing the right opportunities at the right time with the right preparation. Friends don’t let friends start businesses under the influence.”

Mura pud sija ug nag-wish nga mohuros pa ug kusog ang hangin para mawalis ang sayal.

Butanding has always been spotted in the seas off Anda, Bohol

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bohol emerged as the country’s best governed province while Valenzuela and Ligao came out as the best governed among highly urbanized cities and component cities, respectively, according to the latest performance report released by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The DILG on Sunday disclosed the 10 provinces and 20 cities that scored high in the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) report for 2010.

Managed by the DILG, the LGPMS is a web-based, self-assessment tool that measures the performance of local government units (LGUs) in key governance areas.

It assesses the performance of cities and provinces in administrative, social, economic and environmental governance.

It also assesses local government units in terms of transparency, participation and financial accountability, the guideposts for good governance.

The LGUs are scored accordingly, with 1 as the lowest and 5 as the highest.

Among the provinces, Bohol scored 4.9370 followed closely by La Union with 4.9115.

The rest of the 10 top-performing provinces are Bulacan with 4.8628; Negros Oriental, 4.8331; Pangasinan, 4.8185; Ilocos Norte, 4.8185; Albay, 4.8064; Cavite,4.8031; Compostela Valley, 4.7812; and Tarlac, 4.7773.

Valenzuela, meanwhile, scored 4.9150 to lead the top performing highly urbanized and independent component cities.

San Juan followed with 4.8875; Puerto Princesa, 4.8640; Angeles, 4.7410; Davao, 4.7380; Naga, 4.6940; Zamboanga, 4.6865; Iligan, 4.6710; Cebu, 4.6633; and Taguig, 4.6415.

Among component cities, Ligao was the top performer with a score of 4.9240; followed by Laoag, 4.9193; San Fernando, 4.9177; Vigan, 4.8617; Gingoog, 4.8568; Cabanatuan, 4.8363; Dipolog, 4.8113; La Carlota, 4.7553; Iriga, 4.7522; and Batac, 4.7430.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said a team composed of representatives from the national and local governments conducted the assessment while civil society organizations validated the results to ensure impartiality.

“I laud these local governments for their commitment in elevating and maintaining the highest standards of public service delivery in their respective localities. I hope that their shining examples will inspire others to strive hard in the performance of their duties,” Robredo said.

In Pampanga, three cities and 16 towns in Central Luzon received the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the DILG, enabling them to get P3 million (for cities) and P1 million (for towns), for local projects.â€"With a report from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon