Tagb LGU announces details for mass civil wedding

This is the Nov. 25, 2021 infographic posted on Facebook by City Mayor John Geesnell Yap for II announcing the annual free mass civil wedding sponsored by the City Government of Tagbilaran. Contributed photo

Nothing could stop a couple in love. In this connection, couples will get a chance to exchange “I do’s” before City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II as the solemnizing officer during the annual free mass civil wedding which is being conducted yearly by the City Government scheduled on February 22, 2022.

Mayor Yap will be spearheading the event based on the initiative  pursuant to Proclamation 682 which declares the month of February of every year as Civil Registration Month.

The city government announces that in the mass civil wedding, each couple will be given a wedding cake, wine, bouquet, corsage and a wedding token plus a “wedding feast” good for 8 persons.  

Only fully vaccinated couples will be given slots to the mass civil wedding and each person will be required to wear a face mask and observe physical distancing during the ceremony.
The local civil registrar in each local government unit (LGU) which is under the auspices of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is mandated by Republic Act 10625 to carry out, to enforce, and to administer civil registration functions in the country. 

The celebration of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Month enhances public awareness on the importance of civil registry documents.

Civil Registry is the mandatory recording of permanent records of vital events in the life of a person such as birth, marriage, and death.

Tagb conducts 3-day training on managing oil spill incidents

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Gerard Lavadia (standing, with microphone) delivers his opening message for the three-day workshop, held from Nov. 24 to 26, 2021, which tackled the management of oil spills incident. Contributed photo

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has conducted an activity in relation to the contingency planning in the event of oil spill incidents. This is critical as the city has 9 coastal barangays and oil spills may happen any time.

CDRRMO Head Gerard Lavadia emphasized the importance of the activity, specially that Tagbilaran City has existing sea ports.

At the onset, Research Head Marko Emmanuel Longjas asked the participants of the activity of any oil spill incident that happened in Tagbilaran City.

Representatives from the Philippine Coastguard Bohol narrated some incidents of oil spills and outlined the response they made in respect to the incidents.

Longjas also asked the participants about the identified marine protected areas in the city. Engr. Gil Cabalit, chief of the monitoring and surveillance group of coastal resources in the city, enumerated 4 marine protected areas in the city which include Ubujan’s Mabaw Reef, Taloto’s Kinubkuban Reef, Bool Marine Sanctuary, and Manga Marine Protected Area.

Meanwhile, City Environment Natural Resources Officer Ceasar Pelaez reported that there are currently 500 fishermen in Brgy. Manga Public beaches are also being maintained in barangays Manga, Ubujan, Taloto, Booy, and Mansasa.

During the training, it was revealed that the most dangerous type of oil spill event is the one involving spillage of bunker fuel. Bunker fuels don’t evaporate and these stay in the water causing possible fires and environmental damage.

Furthermore, oil spills may happen at the docking area and storage facilities or fuel depots, tanker vessels of gas stations specially during discharging activities. Collision between ship vessels is another reason for oil spills.

The two fish ports in the city are also being closely monitored for potential sources of oil spills. Drainage outfalls starting in Bool Junction, going to Mansasa, Poblacion 1, Katipunan, Poblacion 2, Cogon, and Manga are also tagged as a source of oil spill. The mapping of areas where possible oil spills may happen will help the CDRRMO to outline a contingency plan in case of oil spill incidents.

During the activity, coast guard personnel shared their response plan on oil spills.

First, the coast guard will first assess the situation to formulate  the best response. Second, the coast guard is going to implement containment strategies. Third is recovery and then clean up of the oil spill area.

The representatives from the Philippine Ports Authority said that the barangay officials have a crucial role in the containment of the oil spills.  A contingency plan was drafted after the 3-day workshop. Lavadia is thankful to the active participation of all the invited stakeholders.