Bohol Mirror

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) has ordered a stop to the mining activity of a certain Sofronio Simacio, after a field investigation conducted on the site of the alleged illegal mining activity found out that the area is outside of location indicated their small scale mining permit.

OIC-Regional Director Roger de Dios directed Simacio to immediately Cease and Desist from further conducting manganese mining activity at Brgy. Katipunan. Anda until such time when he can amend his Small Scale MiningPermit (SSMP) issued by the provincial government.

The Order was also furnished to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) and the Bohol Environmental Protection Office (BEMO-Bohol) for payment of fines and other sanctions to be imposed for said infraction.

The order was an offshoot of an earlier request for Field Verification and Investigation of illegal mining in said barangay, filed with EMB 7 by Hench Mining Services Development Corp., who has an existing Application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (APSA-000446) in said area.

Last August 6, 2008 personnel of Hench Corp. with Atty. Quinto and Ted Saavedra of the Bohol-NBI office, Rosalina Gaterin of EMB-Bohol conducted an ocular inspection and found out about in the site 115 laborers and two dump trucks allegedly owned by Candijay Mayor Sergio Amora, Jr. loaded with manganese.

A utility worker of the municipal government of Anda was also found acting as supervisor of the operation, upon orders of Anda Mayor Paulino Amper.

In the permit of Simacio, the coordinates of the permitted area are 9-48-00 North Latitude and 124-33-00 East Longtitude. The difference of about 1.8 kilometers away from the permitted area was verified.

There were 6,864 bags of fine manganese materials neatly stockpiled in the area with each bag reportedly weighing around 40 kilos.

MGB 7 tried to get in touch with Simacio but was instead told that Anda mayor Paulino Amper wants to see them.

It turned out that Simacio is the brother-in-law of the Anda mayor.

The NBI brought the 2 dump trucks to the Anda Police station for safekeeping but later on were released upon the order of Bohol PNP Provincial Director Edgardo Inking, who is also the concurrent assistant head of the provincial government-created Task Force Kabukiran.

MGB-7 also conducted its own separate field investigation on August 13, 2008 and found out that the area where the mining activity was conducted is outside the area and location as indicated in the SSMP of Simacio and in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by EMB 7.

With the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument, the ground location of the subject mine site was determined to be 9-47-09-40” North latitude and 14-33-10.3” East Latitude.

The SSMP permit of Simacio also indicated the location in Barangay Tanod but they were mining in the area claimed by Hench Corp in Barangay Katipunan.

MGB7 had recommended for the immediate suspension of the SSMP of Simacio.

CHUA CLAIM CLARIFIED

MGB-7 Director Roger De Dios also rectified Thursday the erroneous report that a certain Domingo Chua, a Cebu-based businessman, is monopolizing the mining claims in Bohol.

As guest of the monthly media forum ALARMA of the Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA) held last Thursday at the WRegent Hotel in this city, De Dios said Chua has actually only about 22.73% of the Application for Exploration Permit (EXPA) while about 26.92 % Application for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).

The other 76.67% for APSA application belong to other entities while another 77.27%

are in the application for exploration.

In a separate press conference held by Chua at the Metro Center Hotel afternoon of the same day, he said he has actually only about 6% of those tenement rights and that the present furor over mining claims has just surfaced now that China and other countries are looking for mineral resources here in the country.

“Before nobody seem to care about applying mining permits, but today everybody is interested including local politicians, which I won’t name their names now,” Chua told the local media.

“If I have many tenements for mining, it is because land owners themselves approach me and asked for a mining and product-sharing contract on their lands. These landowners told me I have a generous rate of P100 per cu.m. share for them, compared to the measly P10 per cu.m. offered by mayors,” Chua revealed.

No amount of assurance can tone down the shivers of those who experienced destructive earthquakes that hit Bohol in a span of a decade.

The mild quake that hit the seawaters between Anda and Southern Leyte, dawn of Monday was enough to rekindle fears recalled from a February 1990 earthquake of Intensity 6 that leveled houses, toppled stone church, bell towers in Jagna and Guindulman and left deep cracks on hundreds kilometers of concrete roads.

Engr. Jose Eucel Talisic, science research analyst of the city-based Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) said that Monday’s tremors dealt no damage to properties and was barely felt by residents in the area.

He bared that there are two off-shore faults and an inland fault within the island-province of Bohol.

The inland East Bohol Fault recorded its latest movement registered at Intensity 5 on March 31, 2005 felt in the towns of Duero, Jagna, Ubay up to Sierra Bullones.

What was registered Monday was the movement coming from the active off-shore fault that are traced in the seawaters of Tubigon and Inabanga. It was 22 kilometers southeast of Bohol and 55 kms southwest of Southern Leyte registered at Magnitude 5.

The tremors felt here came following Saturday’s deadly quake that hit Java, Indonesia leaving a trail of 6,000 people dead and the same number of families made homeless.

On Sunday, two separate quakes also hit the South Pacific nations of Papua New Guinea and Tonga, at an interval of less than 30 minutes apart.

Both quakes registered a magnitude of 6.2 and 6.7 respectively, but had no reports of deaths or impending tsunami.

Philvocs director Renato Solidum, Jr. said that the Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire”- a region that include the recently ravaged Indonesia and Jakarta areas, prone to volcanic eruptions and quakes.

“It is something to worry about, not with a sense of panic but concern, so that we can prepare for a big earthquake in advance,” the Philvocs chief said.

A team of researchers from ABS-CBN Channel 2, television investigative program PROBE of journalist Che-che Lazaro was reported now winding their documentation of the foreign-assisted irrigation dams built here by the National Irrigation Administration.

The television documentary segment on dams will show how these multi-billion worth dams are performing and what benefits are derived from these projects.

Two gigantic dams, the Bohol Irrigation Project, (BHIP Phase -1) worth P1.4-billion in Malinao, Pilar and the BHIP-2 (with a new project cost estimated at P3.6-billion) in Bayongan, San Miguel were supposedly built to ensure available water supply for rice fields even during the dry season.

Another water impounding facility is operating in Capayas, Ubay.

The Capayas dam and the Malinao Dam have been operational since 1997 but despite the presence of these dams, the province was declared a calamity area in the prevailing 2005 drought that dried up rice lands in at least 22 towns.

Senator Meriam Santiago earlier introduced in the 13th Senate a resolution directing the Senate committee on Public Works and Highways and the committee on Agriculture to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the construction of alleged “useless” dams in Bohol.

The senator said the Malinao dam has failed to serve the farmers in Pilar and in neighboring towns even when there is sufficient rainfall. This dam is supposed to serve 4,900 hectares of rice lands but it irrigated only 3,060 hectares.

“The failure of the Malinao dam projects to alleviate the lives of the poor farmers should be an eye-opener to planners of the NIA and other agencies to ensure that their construction sufficiently meet the needs of the people in their service areas,” the Santiago resolution said.

The second phase in Bayongan also stirred controversy when it incurred a cost over run of about P1.2-billion, 52% higher than its original budget estimate of P2.3-billion only.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) had declared the cost over run as “excessive and illegal.”
The irrigation projects in Bohol are funded by a loan from the Official Development Assistance of Japan (ODA-Japan), with Philippine government counterparts.

Two weeks after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved a resolution granting authority to the Governor in re-hiring a Catholic priest as Capitol’s Moral Recovery and Spiritual Adviser, the stir created refuses to die down.

Earlier, Acting Human Resource Management and Development Officer Romeo Teruel sought a legal opinion on the hiring of Catholic priest Fr. James B. Darunday; concerned on the Constitutional prohibition under Section 29 (2), Article VI.

Section 29. (2) states, “No public money or property shall be appropriated, applied, paid, or employed, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion, or of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher, or dignitary as such, except when such priest, preacher, minister or dignitary is assigned to the armed forces, or to any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.”

Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay in his endorsement dated April 9, 2008 on the hiring of the Catholic priest said, “In the case of Fr. Darunday, the Constitutional prohibition will apply if he will be engaged by the Provincial Government as such priest and to be paid with public funds to conduct his priestly duties.”

“Apparently, the main reason why Fr. Darunday will be engaged by the Provincial Government is to implement the Moral Recovery Program which is authorized by the national government. His being a priest of the Roman Catholic Church is only incidental and this alone could not be considered as a legal impediment,” Lagunay said.

Capitol employees, however, said Fr. Darunday holds holy mass, novenas on Wednesdays and Fridays and practices other priestly functions building pursuant to the Catholic beliefs.

In those activities held inside Capitol using public time and resources, members of other religious groups like the Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Born Again and believers of Islam feel discriminated for they cannot avail or participate in those rituals.

Years back, the former Bishop of Tagbilaran, Msgr. Leo Tumulak openly discouraged priests in his diocese in accepting positions as government consultants.

A former Capitol spiritual consultant, Fr. Hipolito Namocatcat gave the same reason when he refused renewal of his contract for the same post now held by Fr. Darunday.

The Catholic priest receives a P12,000 monthly salary from Capitol.

“Morality and spirituality needs no expenses whatsoever; it simply requires one to respect and love his fellowmen and to constantly commune with his God and his conscience,” observers say.

Too late in the day!
There’s no turning back. The proposed Panglao, Bohol International Airport Project now takes off from its drawing board.

Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led Tuesday, May 20, 2008 the time capsule-laying and groundbreaking of the P4.2-Billion airport that is envisioned to be completed before her term ends in 2010.

The ceremony precedes the offer for public bidding and after the ward of the contact, commencement of works immediately follows.

The groundbreaking pushes through, despite a recent critical noise questioning the feasibility of the proposed airport. The group who calls themselves Group of Concerned Boholanos is lead by Dr. Ernesto Pernia, an economist from the University of the Philippines.

Pernia, a former lead economist of the Asian Development bank said the airport will be a wasted investment.

Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, however, considers the “noise” too late in the day although he expressed willingness to listen and discussed the issues raised in a meeting, probably after the May 20 presidential visit.

“The project is a product of extensive studies for several years, consulted and approved in a survey by Boholanos and definitely will be fully utilized and its economic benefits to boost Bohol’s tourism,” the Governor assured.

It was an inadvertent error that led to the relief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (DENR-Bohol) after he admitted lapses in his report submitted to the secretary that raised the eyebrows of proponents of the ambitious P4.2-billion Panglao airport project.

PENR Officer Arius Ilano, Sr. said he had already sent an Addendum to the Memorandum Report of his Office to the DENR Secretary regarding the letter of a certain Agustin Cloribel requesting reconsideration to the implementation of Memo Order No. 178 establishing the Panglao Tourism Special Infrastructure Program.

“This time, I attached relevant documents that would address the concerns raised by Mr. Cloribel in order to give the provincial government of Bohol its side on the issues against the construction of an airport in Panglao Island,” Ilano said.

The first report of Ilano carried a Subject captioned: “Requesting Reconsideration to the Implementation…” that on first impression suggests that Ilano is joining the reconsideration request not to implement the airport project in Panglao.

“It is an inter-office report and I only followed the usual format that we’ve been using in communications to our regional and national offices. Upon closer perusal, I indeed noticed that I overlooked the needed side of the province,” Ilano admitted.

His report dated March 23, 2006 focused on social, economic and environmental issues but appeared to be just a reiteration of the concerns raised by Cloribel against the airport project.

Contents of the controversial Ilano Report said, “presence of an airport in the island will definitely alter the present landscape and overdoing economic activities may eventually drive away tourists.”

He claimed that these general observations and comments came from different stakeholders that his office talked with and interviewed.

Ilano disclosed that the Governor called his attention and he apologized for his lapses.

He, however, said he did not alter anything in his first report.

“In the Addendum to my first report, documents from experts who studied the project, details in the environment impact assessment (EIA), social acceptability survey, feasibility studies by consultants and competent entities will all show a favorable endorsement for the project to proceed,” Ilano said.

While the Panglao Airport has not yet started, there is no loss to be incurred for its transfer to Tagbilaran, since the proposed location will discourage or destroy tourism.

The shrill noise of jet engines would dominate the Panglao Tourist countryside and will bother tourists staying especially in the southern coastline because the length of the runway stretches alongside the resort barely 2 kms. away.

It would also discourage the construction of tourist establishments and subdivisions towards inland Panglao (towards the center due to the proximity of the airport). Mactan has no development at its center because of the runway. This will happen to Panglao. There are already a million or more newly affluent Chinese, Japanese, Koreans due to their booming economy and many of them would pick Panglao and Bohol as their vacation paradise since we are one of the popular tourist destinations of the country. Bigger and more tourist establishments including high rise buildings would crowd Panglao. Tourists would want to escape from the noise of the workday world far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

To squeeze in a big airport in this soon to be crowded island would destroy its serenity. With the noise of jet engines, Panglao tourist establishment would gradually lose its customers as the latter would transfer to quieter and more idyllic surroundings. The advent of more tourists will need at least 10 to 20 flights a day from its present 4 flights in and out of Tagbilaran.

This creates a lot of noise.

The argument that Mactan International Airport does not disturb the tourists cannot be used because the Panglao runway sits astride the length of the tourist establishments barely 1 to 2 kms away while Mactan Airport is much farther from the tourist establishments. Besides, Mactan is not the center of Tourism while Panglao is the leading tourist destination which we must protect. Mactan airport has no other alternative location and nowhere else to go since there is no other place in Cebu for an International Airport hence Mactan should be justified at all cost while we have other options like Tagbilaran.

The criticism against Tagbilaran is the prohibition of high rise buildings in the city. It would not affect the whole city but only on the path of the plane’s flight. Tagbilaran City proper can afford 4 story buildings which is okay for us and for the air transport office. High rise buildings can be set up in the Satellite City (Dampas).

Noise pollution in Panglao will drive high spending tourists who might go to other places. Why not retain the airport at Tagbilaran where the runway is finished already and transfer the terminal building and tarmac to Booy - Taloto in the 3 hectare HNU lot at Penaflor street. It would cost less than P 3 billion. This will make Tagbilaran more progressive and lots in the area will appreciate in value to the benefit of land owners. Developing the sides of the runway will convert the present runway to a double lane airstrip. An underground road crossing the runway would connect the coastal areas with Penaflor street and CPG North Ave. Although its present runway length is sufficient, a 500 meter extension could be made towards the Taloto Elementary School and transfer it into a 3 story school building near the Seminary and the Church with an ample plaza to spare. Funds can be secured from the savings of the P 3 billion allocated for Panglao. (OPINION)

Panglao is not safe for airport?
Findings of studies may imperil the realization of the long-dreamt Panglao airport. Experts studying the geological formation of the Panglao Island have concluded that the area is unsafe for an airport.

The report, entitled “Eco-profile of Panglao Island for the Panglao Island Tourism Estate Project,” said the entire island is composed of coralline limestone, which is highly soluble and solution cavities such as caves and sinkholes abound the place.

The study by SEASTEMS Inc. which cost the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) some P50 million, has not been made public since it was completed in 2001.

Earlier in1994, SWEDAVIA, a foreign consultancy firm, had also conducted a feasibility study on alternatives sites for the new airport since the Tagbilaran Airport can no longer accommodate bigger aircrafts and its facilities need to be upgraded and expanded.

SWEDAVIA said Panglao Island is a poor alternative if it is no longer possible to improve the city airport.

This earlier finding is now supported by the SEASTEMS’s report, which has been compiled into a book.

Environment Chief loses job!

That common impression that says: “inigkamatay nimo, impas tanan utang” is wrong after all!

Old-age GSIS pensioners and their immediate families are calling on all three congressmen of Bohol, representatives Edgar Chatto (1st District), Roberto Cajes (2nd) and Adam Relson Jala (3rd) to look into these extortionate policies of GSIS, a government entity that is supposed to look after the welfare of government workers and those who have unselfishly rendered services and have retired.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the wealthiest, money-earning government-owned-controlled corporation still collects a dead pensioner’s unpaid loan balance even after the member’s death.

In the GSIS Form No. A-PENL 0-01, the pensioner is made to agree that, “in case of maturity of this loan due to the death of the Pensioner-Borrower and it remains outstanding in whole or in part, both principal and interest, the GSIS is authorized to apply the funeral benefit due his/her beneficiaries, inclusive of interest, penalties and surcharges.”

Bohol GSIS Section Chief on Claims Ria Eva Sevilla said all these are clearly indicated in the terms and conditions for all pension loan application.

ALL FOR NOTHING
The GSIS funeral benefit is only P20,000 and if the dead pensioner has an outstanding balance loan of P50,000, the beneficiaries get no single centavo and they have to look for other funding source to bury their dead.

And the woes do not end there; the remaining unpaid loan balance will again be deducted from the monthly survivorship pension until the loan is fully paid. The GSIS further demands that should the benefits/claims from the GSI be in sufficient to cover the remaining balance, it shall not be prevented from filing the necessary civil and administrative actions for the recovery either against the borrower or his estate.

The pensioner’s beneficiaries will likewise be compelled to pay 25 % of all amounts outstanding as/ and for attorney’s fees and litigation expenses in case the loan collection reaches court.

GSIS under Chairman Winston Garcia has been an object of public uproar as it allegedly squanders hard-earned member’s contribution spent on perks, allowances and fat salaries among officials.

GSIS is also known to have unnecessarily invested billions on collector’s items like paintings, vintage buildings and putting money on losing business ventures.