In a few hours, we are going to usher in a new
year. As a matter of tradition, we at The Bohol
Tribune have complied the top 20 stories of 2023,
which have made a lasting impact in the lives of
Boholanos in the year that was.
Top 20: LGU Balilihan wages peace, not “water
war”. This story appeared in The Bohol Tribune’s
edition at the start of the year. The news story
presented the reaction of the local government
leaders of Balilihan to a news story about the
supposed water war between them and LGU
Sevilla. Balilihan and Sevilla have an issue
regarding water coming from Bugwak Spring.
Nonetheless, Balilihan insists that it is not picking
any war against anybody and wants to resolve any
issues–peacefully.
Top 19. Pamugas files petition for certiorari vs.
OGAR- The Bohol Tribune broke the story about
the move of Asst. Provincial Agriculturist Larry
Pamugas, questioning the legitimacy of the Office
on Government Accountability and Review
(OGAR).
Pamugas was the first provincial official charged
by OGAR. As a result, OGAR’s legitimacy has
been questioned in court.
Top 18. Fire at Marcela Farms hurts Bohol
economy – Back in April, a huge fire broke out at
the Marcela Farms in barangay Lomanog, Ubay
town.
The story was about the far-reaching implications
of the fire on the economy of the province.
Stoppage of production at Marcela Farms could
severely impact some businesses in the province.
Also, the fire could also put a dent on the tax
collections in Ubay town.
Top 17. LGU Balilihan wins rap vs. Richli Water-
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has
ruled in favor of the local government unit (LGU) of
Balilihan, Bohol after the Board set aside its earlier
decision, dealing a heavy blow on Richli Water
Corporation’s exclusive plan to use the town’s
Bugwak Spring for commercial and for-profit
purposes.
In a resolution the NWRB favored the facts and
arguments presented by LGU Balilihan in a Motion
for Reconsideration that disagreed with the
Board’s Resolution dated June 02, 2022 which
dismissed the town LGU’s Petition to Cancel
Water Permit of Richli Water.
Top 16. Controversy mars Bohol participation in
the CVRAA – Concerns have been raised about
the welfare of athletes participating in the Central
Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA)
Meet while other string of controversies had
erupted at the games held in Carcar City, Cebu.
Independent postings on social media accounts
bared that some parents of child athletes from
Garcia and Valencia complained that their children
were unfairly replaced despite qualifying as top
performers in a performance trial held in Bohol.
According to the parents, the coach allegedly
made last-minute decision to replace the children
with other athletes who were “close to their hearts”
or “had influential parents.”
The result of the replacement was rather dismal.
According to reports, the children were allegedly
made to sign that they received uniforms and
personal items such as soap and shampoo, but
these items were not complete or not received at
all.
Top 15. Robberies, shabu, killings alarming in
Bohol province – The series of killings and robbery
incidents in the province on top of the resurgence
of illegal drug proliferation have caused alarm to
Boholanos, and two church leaders have
expressed disgust and worry over the grim
situation.
Bishop Patrick Daniel Parcon of Talibon and
Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran, in a joint
statement, said these incidents are unacceptable
and must be condemned. “We … call on the
faithful … to be united in condemning this
shameful sin and crime of killing a person,” read
part of the statement.
Top 14. Gov’t negligence blamed on NPA’s revival
in Bohol – Frustration among some people in Bohol
due to the government’s negligence could be
attracting some individuals to join the New
People’s Army.
Despite promises of cheaper food prices and
stable sources of livelihood, some of these
promises, remain as promises waiting to be
fulfilled.
Top 13. Early politicking, power play propel cracks
in Bohol unity – Months before the filing of
certificates of candidacy for the 2025 mid-term
elections, political cracks both in the local scene
have started to surface defying long-held
expectations of unity.
This early, in Bohol province, Team Abante of
Gov. Aris Aumentado may disintegrate sooner
than expected after the governor’s wife, Second
District Rep. Vanessa Cadorna Aumentado, fired
her first shot, an opening salvo, taking down
prospects of having ex-City Mayor Baba Yap as
her group’s congressional bet in the First District.
In a Facebook post, not only Rep. Vanessa shot
down the endorsement of Calape Mayor Julius
Herrera for Yap, she also unplugged the possibility
of unification route in the local elections.
Top 12. Bohol becomes PH UNESCO Global
Geopark-Bohol Island has been officially
designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark,
making it the first in the Philippines to receive the
prestigious recognition and marking a decade of
hardwork from two previous provincial
administrations from 2013 to 2022.
The announcement was made during the 216th
Executive Board Session of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in Paris, France on May 24, 2023.
A UNESCO Global Geopark is a region that has
been recognized for its outstanding geological and
geomorphological heritage.
These sites are of international significance and
are managed in a way that protects their natural
and cultural resources.
Bohol Island is home to a wide variety of
geological features, including the famous
Chocolate Hills, the Hinagdanan Cave, and the
Loboc River, according to UNESCO.
Top 11. Sevilla attacks Balilhan, mayor shocked,
grieving-The local government unit (LGU) of
Sevilla, Bohol has stepped up its counter-
offensives by removing pipes and other physical
installations that supply water to Balilihan town.
The recent turn of events was preceded with an
ongoing war between LGU Balilihan and Richli
Corporation, a private water company that has an
eye on sourcing out its business from the
abundance of Bugwak Spring in Balilihan, Bohol.
The now hotly disputed spring shares its border
with the towns of Balilihan and Sevilla.
But the Mayor of Sevilla, Juliet Dano, an ally of
Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado, allegendly did
something that is rather unprecedented in recent
Philippine history: an LGU official cutting pipes and
water installations in a natural spring owned by
God and bestowed to the people of the Republic of
the Philippines depriving the people of a
neighboring town of water supply.
Top 10. Willy Ramasola indicted for 4 counts of
cyber libel – The City Prosecutor of Tagbilaran City
has found probable cause to indict Facebook critic
Emmanuel “Willy” Ramasola for four counts of
cyber libel.
The complainant, Atharra Primeland Development
Corporation, represented by Atty. Lord “Popot” R.
Marapao IV, sued Ramasola due to Facebook
posts that allegedly defamed the public image of
the company.
Top 9. Viral infection not ASF kills pigs in Bohol – A
viral infection has killed 87 pigs in Barangay San
Vicente, Pilar, Bohol, according to the provincial
veterinary officer.
Dr. Stella Marie “Bing” Lapiz, head of the
Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO), said the
reported African Swine Fever (ASF) virus
infestation in Pilar town was a false alarm,
assuring everyone that the situation is now under
control.
Lapiz said the infection is already an outbreak in
the barangay, which is more than 7 kilometers
from the town center and is a mountainous part
which is close to the forest.
Top 8. Bishop Uy against Bohol reclamation-
Bishop Uy has expressed his opposition to the
planned reclamation projects in the province of
Bohol.
In a pastoral letter, he said these sea reclamation
projects would cause irreversible damage to the
marine ecosystem and destroy the livelihood of
coastal communities.
In his letter, titled “Justice should flow like a
stream; goodness is also like a spring that does
not run dry”, he cited the words of the Prophet
Amos to reveal God’s will for the world and all its
inhabitants. Bishop Uy said God wants everyone
to live according to justice, peace, and harmony
with nature.
Top 7. Bohol loses 2023 competitive edge – Bohol
has long been known for its eco-cultural tourism
attractions, such as the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier
sanctuary, and the white sand beaches.
But starting 2023, Bohol has been losing its
competitive edge, according to a ranking released
by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The DTI’s Cities and Municipalities
Competitiveness Index (CMCI) is an annual
ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities
based on their performance in five pillars:
economic dynamism, government efficiency,
infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.
According to the 2023 CMCI results, Bohol ranked
58th among the provinces, down from 36th in
2022.
Top 6. City reclamation project conflict with
UNESCO’s global geopark-A Tagbilaran City
resident and environmental advocate has written a
letter to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP)
expressing her opposition to the reclamation
project of the Tagbilaran Bay.
Atty. Esther Gertrude D. Biliran, in her letter dated
October 11, 2023, said that the reclamation project
is “not necessary, destructive, and would conflict
with the UNESCO’s declaration of Bohol as a
Global Geopark.”
Biliran reminded the SP that the residents of
Tagbilaran City and environmental experts have
long opposed the reclamation project of then City
Mayor Jose Torralba during his term more than a
decade ago, for which the good mayor shelved the
project.
Top 5. Mayor Pureza, contractor cleared of illegal
water extraction charges – The Office of the
Ombudsman has acquitted Balilihan Mayor Chatto
and private individual Joniever Achacoso from
anti-graft and other administrative charges filed by
a barangay captain.
The complaint was filed by Victorino B. Barro, a
resident and Punong Barangay of Magsaysay,
Sevilla, Bohol. Barro accused Mayor Chatto and
Achacoso of illegally extracting water from the
Magsaysay, Sevilla Bugwak Spring, which is the
primary source of water for the residents of Sevilla.
Top 4. The Bohol Tribune receives Pres. Carlos P.
Garcia Award- The Bohol Tribune, one of the most
respected newspapers in the province, was
honored with the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Award
during the 127 th CPG Day Celebration on
November 4, 2023.
The award was conferred by Gov. Erico Aristotle
C. Aumentado, who led the commemoration of the
birth anniversary of the eighth president of the
Philippines and the most illustrious son of Bohol.
The Pres. CPG Award is given to Boholanos and
establishments that excelled in their respective
fields of endeavors and contributed to the
development and progress of the province.
Top 3. Baba vs. Atoy rivalry looms in 2025- The
controversial Tagbilaran Bay Reclamation Project
has become a source of heated debate and
potential conflict between two prominent political
figures in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Former Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II and
incumbent City Councilor Malvin “Atoy” Torralba,
who were allies during the 2022 elections have
expressed opposing views on the proposed project
that aims to reclaim 153 hectares of coastal land
from Bool to Cogon.
Top 2. Mayor Jane scraps reclamation project-
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap announced that
she will not continue with all activities related to the
proposed Tagbilaran City Waterfront Development
Project.
In a press conference, Mayor Yap said that she
made the decision based on the series of public
consultations that she conducted with various
stakeholders, including the affected coastal
barangays, the religious sector, the business
sector, the academe, the environmental groups,
and the general public.
She said she listened to the voice of the people,
who expressed their concerns about
the environmental and social impacts of the
project, as well as the lack of transparency and
participation in the process.
Top 1. Bohol SP comm junks OGAR budget for
2024-The appropriations committee of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has decided to
exclude the budget allocation for the OGAR for the
year 2024, effectively abolishing the controversial
anti-corruption body created by Gov. Aumentado.
The SP Committee on Appropriations, chaired by
Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, approved the
entire provincial government budget for 2024,
amounting to P4.2 billion, minus the P7.6 million
budget for OGAR, in its committee report.