Catigbian mayor cites recognition from PopCom, highlights town’s initiatives
Catigbian Mayor Benjie Oliva announced on October 22, 2025, that his town has been recognized by the Population Commission (PopCom) for its initiatives.
He shared the news during his guest appearance on Wednesday’s Open Forum, although he was kept in the dark about the nature of the award.
Meanwhile, Oliva also participated in relief operations in the northern Cebu town of San Remegio, which was affected by a massive quake, and handed over P200,000 checks each to the towns of Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remegio.
The mayor also highlighted some of his town’s blessings, including projects from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Additionally, Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) will build a warehouse and cold storage in Catigbian to support the P20 per kilo rice program.
Oliva expressed confidence that Catigbian is on the right track with its key projects for the sustainable livelihood program and other initiatives that will benefit the people of Catigbian.
US immigration strict on visa holders, says US-based Boholano lawyer
US-based Boholano lawyer Glen Hubahib shared his observations on US immigration policies on October 20, 2025.
Hubahib noted that the United States has always been demanding when it comes to people with visas entering the country.
He attributed this to national security concerns, citing the presence of unscrupulous characters that pose problems to security.
According to Hubahib, US immigration is well-trained to detect those who may violate or overstay their visas.
The US may impose a bond on certain individuals before entry to ensure they leave before their visa expires and do not overstay.
This requirement, however, only applies to persons from specific countries.
Hubahib also mentioned that border control may deny entry to tourist visa holders suspected of intending to work in the US.
He acknowledged reports of bribery at the Mexico-US border, particularly involving those engaged in drug or human trafficking.
Hubahib noted that immigrants’ loyalty can be questioned from a national security perspective since they are not yet citizens.
Bohol Light reduces power rates for Tagbilaran consumers
Bohol Light has announced a reduction in power rates for Tagbilaran consumers for the October bill.
According to Sheryl Paga of Bohol Light, who made the announcement during her guest appearance on Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Oct. 22, 2025, the residential rate will be at P12.23 per kilowatt hour (pKwH).
The commercial rate, on the other hand, will be at P11.65 pKwH, representing a reduction of P0.54 pKwH.
Paga explained that the rate reduction is due to a decrease in generation and transmission charges, which account for a significant portion of the electric bill paid by consumers.
In a related announcement, Paga also informed 6consumers about a scheduled power interruption on Oct. 25, 2025, as advised by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines due to hotspot correction and line switch disconnect along it Corella-Tagbilaran 69 kv feeder at Corella substation.
Calape police launch Oplan PIPOY to foster community relations
The Calape police station launched a new program on October 22, 2025, aimed at fostering relations between the police and the community.
The program, dubbed Oplan Peace Integrity Protection Order and Yield (PIPOY), was officially launched by Calape police chief Maj. Neon Francis Alvarez.
The launch was witnessed by Bohol police spokesman Lt. Col. Norman Nuez and local officials of Calape.
As part of the launch, the station conducted a community outreach program for persons with disability from selected barangays in the hinterlands.
The beneficiaries received grocery items, five kilos of rice, vitamins, and medicines as a gesture of care and concern for the less fortunate.
Mayor Junie Yu expressed his appreciation to the Calape police for their dedication and said the Oplan PIPOY initiative will strengthen the bond between the police and the community.
Nuez lauded the program and expressed hope that it will be replicated in other towns.
Alvarez thanked the community for the support his program is receiving.
P612,000 worth of shabu seized from slain suspects in Tagbilaran
Police seized P612,000 worth of alleged shabu from two suspects who were killed in a shootout with Tagbilaran police operatives in Barangay Dampas on October 22, 2025.
The suspects, identified as Adonis Chavez Gequillo and Francis Cesar Lumothang, were engaged in a gunfight with police who were attempting to serve a warrant of arrest for murder and frustrated murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 49.
Gequillo was the primary target of the operation, and he allegedly opened fire on the police, prompting them to return fire.
Both suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were later declared dead.
According to Lt. Col. John Kareen Escober, Gequillo was the number 2 most wanted person in Bohol, wanted for murder and frustrated murder.
Gequillo was accused of murdering Rodelito Tanio on June 28, 2025, in Barangay Bool, and was also linked to a shooting incident in Barangay Ubujan, Tagbilaran City, in 2024, where a couple was attacked, resulting in one death and one injury.
Bohol gov secures stay in DENR closure order for Batuan enterprises
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado successfully negotiated for a stay in the implementation of the closure order imposed on enterprises in Batuan.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had ordered the closure of establishments within the Chocolate Hills complex, including those in Batuan, without Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC).
Aumentado secured the stay from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which will send a team to Bohol to evaluate the order.
The governor reached out to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help Batuan enterprises facing closure risks.
The affected enterprises are located in Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, and Sagbayan, and are at risk of facing charges for operating without ECCs.
Aumentado sought a win-win solution, citing the livelihood concerns of business operators who have been operating in the area for a long time.
Batuan Mayor Emmanuel Tumanda reported that 143 establishments in his town received notices of violation from the DENR for failing to secure ECCs.
Tumanda believes that the situation created an unfair environment for business operators and may lead to economic problems in the town.
He suggested questioning the constitutionality of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018, citing its potential to deprive people of their rights.
After a meeting with the NBI in Manila, Tumanda announced that there will be no implementation of the closure order.
Tumanda thanked the NBI for understanding the town’s concerns and assured coordination with all agencies to ensure the smooth implementation of environmental laws.
Alicia reopens some tourist attractions after temporary closure
Some tourist attractions in Alicia have reopened to the public after a temporary closure due to a series of earthquakes.
Alicia Mayor Junjun Ayuban had ordered the temporary closure to allow the local government unit to inspect the structures and ensure tourist safety.
The earthquakes, which originated from northern Cebu and the Davao region, prompted the closure.
On October 21, 2025, Ayuban announced that some tourist attractions are now open to welcome guests.
The Alicia Panoramic Park and Birhen Nature Resort are among the reopened sites.
The mayor invited tourists to visit the reopened sites, while other sites remain closed pending further inspections and safety evaluations.
The temporary closure was ordered on October 13, 2025, to allow the LGU to assess the safety conditions of the tourist sites in Alicia.
Police close in on SM job scam mastermind
The police in Tagbilaran have a lead on the true identity of the mastermind behind a job scam at SM.
Seven Boholano workers were duped by a certain Raymond Godinez from Masbate, who used a fake identity.
The police verified the identity of the mastermind, but it turned out to be a mismatch compared to the person who recruited workers for a supposed SM construction site job.
The scammer promised workers P1,600 per day, enticing them to leave their old jobs.
The scam was uncovered when a concerned citizen alerted the police.
However, the suspect, Godinez, fled before the police arrived.
The police are now working to catch the real mastermind behind the scam.
BAHRR president advises members to avoid Alona fish vendors due to high prices
Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR) president Doer Escoto advised the group’s members to avoid buying fish from Alona Beach fish vendors.
Escoto shared his experience of purchasing fish from the vendors, saying the prices are exorbitantly high.
He claimed to have bought several types of fish and ended up paying as much as P5,000.
Escoto expressed his embarrassment when guests complain about the high prices of fish sold by the vendors at Alona Beach.
According to him, the vendors are forced to sell at high prices due to their own high sourcing costs.
BAHRR is calling on the local government unit and the Department of Trade and Industry to intervene and curb the high prices of fish sold at Alona Beach.
70-year-old man found dead in river in Trinidad, Bohol
A 70-year-old man died after allegedly drowning in a river in Barangay Tagum Sur, Trinidad, on October 20, 2025.
The victim was identified as Romeo Mercado, who went missing on October 18, 2025.
Residents searched for Mercado, and his relatives eventually found his body floating in the river.
A post-mortem examination was conducted by Dr. Noveliza Evangelista, Municipal Health Officer of Trinidad.
The examination determined that the cause of death was drowning, with no signs of foul play.