2 Boholanos Land in Top 10 of March 2026 Teachers’ Board Exam
Two Bohol natives placed in the top 10 of the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Teachers secondary level, the Professional Regulation Commission reported.
Jasper Leonard Amejan of Clarin, a University of Bohol graduate, and Deborah Galope Boiser of Duero, a Visayas State University-Baybay graduate, both scored 93.20 percent.
Of the 61,561 examinees who took the secondary level exam, 45,001, or 73.10 percent, passed.
First-timers accounted for 39,446 of the passers, while 5,555 were repeaters.
One-Stop Shop Helps Bohol Wood Furniture Makers
Bohol Provincial Board Member Jamie Villamor lauded the successful launch of a One Stop Shop for Wood Furniture Compliance, describing it as proof that inter-agency collaboration can deliver concrete results for the public.
The initiative united the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Trade and Industry, provincial offices, legal volunteers, and wood industry stakeholders to help local furniture makers secure permits and continue their livelihoods.
“Meaningful change is not achieved overnight, but through patience, perseverance, and genuine collaboration,” Villamor said.
The provl govt echoed the sentiment, saying the program provides relief for workers and entrepreneurs who depend on the wood furniture industry.
Motorcycle Driver Dies Days After Corella Collision
A motorcyclist died Tuesday afternoon, two days after a two-vehicle collision in Barangay Canangcaan, Corella, Bohol.
Marcial Tasong, a resident of Corella, succumbed to his injuries at approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The other rider involved in the crash, Daniel Balili, remained hospitalized as of this report.
The accident occurred Sunday when Tasong’s motorcycle suddenly swerved onto the main road and was struck by an oncoming motorcycle traveling at high speed, according to initial investigation by Corella police.
Both victims were rushed to the hospital following the crash.
PDEA seizes PHP4.08M in suspected shabu, arrests high-value target
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents seized an estimated PHP4.08 million worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation Friday in Tagbilaran City.
Christian Torres Celerejia, 26, single, a resident of Purok 6, Calceta Street, Barangay Cogon, was arrested, according to PDEA.
The operation was led by PDEA officer Ma. Chona Igam and supervised by PDEA chief Jordan Lunesa.
An undercover PDEA agent acting as a poseur buyer purchased one package of suspected shabu for PHP1,000. The suspect was arrested immediately after the transaction.
During a search, authorities recovered 11 additional packages of suspected shabu weighing about 600 grams, with a standard drug value of PHP4.08 million.
PDEA classified Celerejia as a Regional High Value Target in the agency’s anti-drug campaign.
Charges of illegal drug sale and possession are being prepared against the suspect under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Lineman dies of electrocution in Ubay
A lineman for Bohol II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BOHECO II) died Sunday after being electrocuted while on duty in the town of Ubay, the cooperative said.
The lineman, whose name was not immediately released, was serving in the community when the incident occurred.
BOHECO II expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing the employee as dedicated and courageous.
The cooperative called the lineman a true hero of service and a warrior of light for his fearless efforts to ensure electricity supply to consumers.
BOHECO II extended its condolences to the lineman’s family, friends and colleagues and promised continued support for the bereaved family.
Uncle faces murder charge in teen’s stabbing death
Murder charges will be filed against the uncle of an 18-year-old woman found dead in Sitio Talisayan, Barangay Doljo, Panglao, Bohol, Police Maj. Sherwin Destora said Sunday.
The suspect, 37-year-old Elmo Lood, confessed to killing his niece, Jerose Lood, following a drinking session that led to an argument, according to Destora, chief of the Panglao municipal police.
The victim was stabbed in the chest with a knife.
Destora said Elmo Lood had brought the victim from Plaridel to Panglao for work.
Police are also investigating the possibility of sexual assault, as the victim was found without underwear.
The victim’s body was discovered shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, lying among trash along a shoreline and grassy area in Sitio Talisayan.
NGCP places Visayas grid under red and yellow alert status on May 13
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a notice that it raised the Red Alert Status in the Visayas Grid from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM today, May 13, 2026, while Yellow Alert Status will also be implemented from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Based on grid data at 2:00 PM, the available capacity of the Visayas Grid was 2,510 megawatts (MW) while peak demand reached 2,413MW, showing the thin reserve power due to high electricity demand.
According to the report, 21 power plants were affected by forced outages, including 12 plants that have not been operating since March 2026, four since 2025, two since 2024, two since 2023, and one plant since 2021.
In addition, 15 plants were running under rated capacities, which resulted in a total of 862.3MW being unavailable to the grid.
Among the reasons for raising the Red and Yellow Alerts were the forced outage of TVI Unit 1 (169MW), TVI Unit 2 (169MW), and PEDC Unit 3 (150MW), lack of imported power from Luzon, and high system demand.
When Red Alert Status is implemented, it means that the supply of electricity is insufficient to meet consumer demand, and rotational brownout or manual load dropping in some areas may be implemented to avoid a larger loss of supply across the entire grid.
The impact will depend on the decision of local power distribution utilities and the actual condition of power supply in each area.
Meanwhile, Yellow Alert Status means that reserve power is thin and interruption is still possible if there is a sudden problem with a power plant or transmission line.
Therefore, the public is urged to conserve electricity use especially during peak hours to help reduce the pressure on the Visayas power grid.
BWUI continues with WASH caravan to expand water access in Tagbilaran
Bohol Water Utilities Inc. (BWUI) continues its WASH caravan, initiated on April 15, 2026, in barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City, as part of its initiative to facilitate water line connections and bring safe water to consumers.
The caravan aims to improve consumer access to potable water services, highlighting their commitment to expanding coverage, said Victor Tambis.
The Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is a United Nations program and was adopted by the Philippines to expand water supply services for everyone.
In line with the Connect Now Pay Later program, an applicant does not need to shell out any fees when applying for a water connection with BWUI, as all fees and costs used in the connection may be settled later on an installment basis.
The installment is charged on top of the monthly water charges reflected on the bill.
BWUI’s customer service section conducted the caravan at the consumer’s area to process the applications and make it easier to apply for water connections.
WASH will then visit Cabawan and Tiptip after Cogon to help urban poor communities.
Meanwhile, the new line along CPG North Avenue from Baguio Drive and Salazar St. in Ubujan is available for water connection applications starting May 25, 2026.
Consumers near the new line are urged to take advantage of the new line and file their application for water connection.
BWUI office is open to process the application for those wishing to have water connections.
For more details please call 412-3154 and 411-0210 or 0917-7208672 or 0917 730 6331
Bohol Light follows ERC advisory on consumer protection during energy emergency
Sheryl Paga of Bohol Light said the company is following the advisory released by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on the protection of consumers involving power industry stakeholders.
This is under Executive Order No. 110 issued by President Marcos Jr. back on March 24, 2026, declaring a state of national energy emergency to cushion the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which is causing a crisis in the energy supply and affecting the country.
Based on the mandate, all distribution utilities in the country are suspending disconnection of unpaid accounts for both residential and non-residential consumers.
This means no consumer will be disconnected for the meantime for failing to settle the electricity bill from the May, June, and July 2026 bills.
Paga said consumers may be given payment option plans for consumers whose consumption is less than 200 kilowatt hours (kWh), including extended grace periods in settling the bill for up to three months.
The consumers need to submit a promissory note to Bohol Light via the customer welfare desk associate to process the application.
However, Bohol Light encourages all consumers who are able to settle the bill in full to pay the bill by the due date to avoid inconvenience and help in the operational cash flow of the distribution utility.
For more inquiries, one may check the Bohol Light Facebook page or the official website http://www.boholpower.ph.
One may also call the hotline at 038-427-2372 or 0920-960-2372, http://www.boholpower.ph.
Panglao gets two new patrol boats
The local government unit (LGU) of Panglao has acquired two new patrol boats, reports said.
This comes during the pre-acceptance sea trial held in Manila Bay in early May.
This was conducted to ensure operational readiness of the said seacraft before the formal turnover to the LGU.
The seacraft will be used to boost coastal security, peace and order, search and rescue, tourist and environmental protection.
The seacraft were funded by the taxes and the LGU thanked the local finance committee of Sangguniang Bayan of Panglao under Vice Mayor Daisy Delambaca.
The council has supported the acquisition of the seacraft and it will be used for public service.
Panglao is at the heart of Bohol tourism and prides itself on having pristine beaches and top-notch diving spots.
It is also home to top-caliber resorts providing services for both local and foreign tourists.
Police file raps vs disco stabbing suspect
Police filed a case of frustrated murder against the suspect in a stabbing incident in a disco in Maribojoc.
The case was filed by the police before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
A suspect stabbed a man inside a disco on May 5, 2026.
Police were unable to arrest the suspect in the ensuing hot pursuit operation and thus the police opted to file the case via regular filing on May 11, 2026.
The victim remained at the hospital and is getting treatment for his injury.
Apparently, the suspect invited the victim for a drink but the victim refused the invitation as the victim had his own group occupying another table.
Out of the blue after getting rejected, the suspect stabbed the victim from behind using a broken glass bottle.
Motorcycle accident in Corella report section
Meanwhile, a motorcyclist who met an accident in Corella died as a result of the accident.
The accident happened on May 11, 2026.
The motorcyclist figured in an accident with another motorcyclist and both were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The other motorcyclist remains alive and is being treated in a private hospital in Tagbilaran City.
DPWH 1st DEO confirms holding of rebidding for third bridge project
First district engineering office (DEO) chief John Paul Gascon, in a radio report, was quoted that the rebidding for the third bridge project was held on May 12, 2026.
Gascon said the rebidding for the P6.9-billion Panglao-Tagbilaran Offshore Connector Bridge, also known as the Panglao-Tagbilaran Third Bridge, took place.
The rebidding was held at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office in Manila.
A radio report quoted Gascon who confirmed the rebidding for the project was held as scheduled.
He said there were no Filipino construction firms who joined the rebidding process and all participants are French firms.
The said project is funded by the French government, reports said.
Gascon said the bidding for the construction of the third bridge was postponed twice, once in February and then in early May.
The bidding was cancelled on two occasions as the participants were unable to complete the requirements.
Gascon cannot say who won the bidding but he said the Bids and Awards Committee of DPWH has issued a notice of award to the winning bidder.
Bohol’s inflation rate surges to 7.2%
As of April 2026, headline inflation in Bohol accelerated to 7.2%, up from 4.5% in March 2026 and 2.0% in April 2025.
This rate aligns with the national average and is driven by higher costs in food, non-alcoholic beverages, and transport.
The inflation reflected the challenges posed by the global crisis created by the war in the Middle East.
The main drivers of the April inflation are food and non-alcoholic beverage at 8.3%, transport at 22.7%, as well as water, electricity, gas, and other fuels that contributed to the upward trend.
In 2025, Bohol experienced significant volatility, starting at 3.4% in December 2024, dropping sharply to 0.2% by December 2025, with an average 2025 inflation of 1.7%.
The data was presented during a press briefing of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on May 12, 2025.
The inflation of Bohol remained lower compared to the regional inflation rate of 10.8%.
PSA Bohol chief statistician Jessamyn Alcazaren said Bohol is much more manageable compared to other places in Central Visayas.
In Cebu province, the inflation reached 12.9% and in Cebu City it is at 9.4%, while in Lapu-Lapu City the inflation reached 11.4% and Mandaue City is at 10.7%.
EMB holds public scoping for SM Tagb project
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) conducted the official Public Scoping activity for the proposed SM City Tagbilaran Project on May 12, 2026, at the Cogon Covered Court in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
SM Prime Holdings is the proponent of the project that is planned to rise on a lot in barangay Cogon.
This public consultation serves as a vital early stage of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process required to draft the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The proponent presented the project details including all related activities and possible effects on the community and environment.
The public scoping was attended by Cogon residents, who will be possibly affected by the project especially in the road right-of-way and other concerns related to the implementation of the development.
Mall officials faced the government regulators and answered the inquiry about the project, including concerns raised by Cogon residents.
Barangay officials of Cogon were in attendance led by barangay captain Geneson Balbin as they listened to the issues and concerns related to the project especially those coming from the community.
Physical construction is currently on hold despite a contractor being selected months ago, as the project awaits the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
It was learned the mall will soon rise, according to JP Aranas, assistant mall manager SM Seaside Cebu, who arrived in Bohol to help in the processing of the project that will soon rise in Tagbilaran City.
Libreng Sakay list not intended for impeachment
The City General Services Office (CGSO) clarified that the list used to log passengers utilizing the Libreng Sakay program is not intended to be used for the impeachment.
There were allegations that the Libreng Sakay list may be used in connection with the impeachment as insinuated on social media.
CGSO Tagbilaran chief Chris John Rener Toralba clarified there is no truth to the allegations on social media.
The allegation said the logging of signatures of those using the free ride program will be used for other purposes such as in the impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Torralba lamented that the program of the city is attracting intrigues and being used for political mileage.
He said those who are on the ground are the ones most vulnerable in relation to the allegations.
He said the logging of the names and signatures of users of the free ride is the basis and solid supporting document to allow drivers to be reimbursed for their services.
The free ride uses the city’s funds and these funds are used to reimburse the drivers who provide free rides to commuters.
Toralba said it is important everything is documented as public funds are at stake and to ensure transparency and proper use of such funds.
The documentation is a hallmark of proper processes to avoid problems and in order to account for how the funds are properly used.
These documents are also needed because of the audit rules followed in the government, he said.
Torralba called on the public to avoid believing malicious information scattering around that remains baseless.
The main aim of the Libreng Sakay is to provide ease in transport for Tagbilaran residents, he said.
BOHECO 2 mourns loss of lineman
Bohol 2 Electric Cooperative (BOHECO 2) mourns the loss of its lineman following an accident in Ubay on May 10, 2026.
The company is in mourning following the death of a lineman who was electrocuted while conducting repair work on a power mainline in Barangay Ilihan, Ubay town, on Sunday.
The lineman, a dedicated “Warrior of Light,” was performing repairs when the accident occurred.
BOHECO 2, along with partners, extended their deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues, promising support to the family during this time.
Colleagues and the cooperative honored the worker’s dedication and sacrifice in keeping the power on for the community.
The tragedy highlights the extreme dangers faced by linemen, with authorities and cooperatives frequently urging strict adherence to safety protocols during power restoration and repair operations.
BOHECO 2 characterized the lineman as a “Warrior of Light” who lost his life in the line of duty, emphasizing the risks linemen take to provide power.
LTO Alturas mall starts releasing motorcycle plate numbers
The Land Transportation Office Alturas Mall Extension Office has started releasing motorcycle plate numbers for registered motorcycles under 2018 and newer registrations.
According to Ruel Agor Gonzaga, head of LTO Alturas Mall, their office is ready to serve motorcycle owners with MV file numbers starting with the prefix “0701.”
Gonzaga explained that included for release are the new 7-character alphanumeric plates and the old green plates that need to be replaced.
The LTO also urged the public to bring their OR/CR and valid ID when claiming the plate at the office located on the fourth floor of Alturas Mall.
For those who cannot go personally, an authorized representative is allowed as long as they have an authorization letter and complete vehicle documents.
The LTO said the office is open during regular mall hours to accommodate the expected number of claimants.
Motorcycle owners are also advised to check their MV file number on the Certificate of Registration first to ensure that their plate number is available for release.
Two drunk men arrested for causing commotion at fiesta disco in Getafe
Two men were arrested for Alarm and Scandal after allegedly causing a disturbance at a disco and benefit dance in Sitio Bunga, Barangay Saguise, Getafe, Bohol at around 2:00 a.m. on May 8, 2026.
Getafe Police responded following a report of a commotion during the patron saint fiesta celebration.
Upon arrival, the police saw the two suspects fighting while allegedly drunk, shouting, and challenging onlookers, causing fear and commotion among the attendees.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the two after they disobeyed the police’s orders.
The suspects are a 27-year-old and a 20-year-old, both unemployed and residents of Barangay Campao Oriental, Getafe, Bohol.
The two are in custody at Getafe MPS while the investigation continues for the proper filing of charges.
Over 300 complain of harassment by collection agency in Ubay
Over 300 people filed complaints after experiencing harassment from a third party collection agency of a cooperative on April 30 and May 1, 2026, in the town of Ubay.
Jimmy Eluna, an adult, reported that he and his companions were harassed by M DEBT Corporation, a third party collection agency allegedly based in Mindanao.
According to Eluna, they were summoned by the collection agency to its rented office in Barangay Poblacion, Ubay for an orientation.
He said they were prohibited from taking pictures, videos, and making noise once they were inside the office of the collection agency allegedly based in Mindanao.
They were also not allowed to leave unless they gave an initial payment, so they were forced to give it.
They were also promised that the interest would be waived, but this did not happen.
They have already blottered the incident with the police.
According to Eluna, he does not know if the collection agency was just using the cooperative.
Attempts were made to get a statement from the collection agency, but it could not be reached.
Two arrested for illegal “tigbakay” in Pres. CPG, Bohol
Two suspects were arrested by the police during an operation against illegal “Tigbakay” in Barangay Bonbonon, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol on Wednesday, May 6.
The arrested were a 22-year-old from Barangay Basiao and a 21-year-old from Barangay Bonbonon, who were allegedly involved in illegal cockfighting and gambling.
The operation was conducted at around 1:35 p.m. under the leadership of PLT Ricardo J. Busico Jr., where operatives posed as poseur-bettors to confirm the illegal activity.
When they noticed the presence of the police, many participants fled, but the two suspects were successfully arrested.
Recovered in the operation were two gamecocks with gaffs and ₱400 in marked money.
The two are now detained at the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Police Station while a case is being prepared against them for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or the anti-illegal gambling law.
Liga national president leads medical mission for Badjao community
Liga ng mga Barangay National President Jessica Dy led a charity and medical mission for the Badjao community in Barangay Totolan, Dauis, providing various health services and social assistance to residents.
Dy said the goal of the activity is to provide immediate help through free medical and support services as part of the outreach program with partner agencies and volunteers.
Among the services offered were blood sugar and blood pressure testing, medical consultation, dental extraction, free medicine, prescription eyeglasses, legal advice, feeding program, free haircuts, and distribution of grocery packs.
Dy thanked House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and UNILAB for their support of medicines and assistance for the community.
She also thanked the medical professionals, volunteers, barangay health workers, and local officials who helped in the mission, including Bohol Liga Chapter President Romulo Cepedoza, Governor Aris Aumentado, Dauis Mayor Marietta Sumaylo, Dauis Liga Chapter President Josever Sumaylo, and Barangay Captain Quiliano Clarin.
Dy said that this unity shows the importance of continuing outreach programs to reach more communities in need.