A courtesy meeting was recently conducted between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Bohol Provincial Office headed by Provincial Director Floro T. Ringca and his staff with Batuan Mayor Emmanuel Aladin D. Tumanda (center). LGU PESO-CTEC Designate Edith Marie Cadungog also attended the meeting aimed at discussing the implementation of livelihood and skills training programs for identified priority barangays to focus on the government’s continuing efforts to sustain peace, promote inclusive developmentpursuant to DILG MC No. 2019-169 and TESDA Memorandum No. 042, Series of 2026 issued by ODDG-SC Felizardo R. Colambo. Following the courtesy meeting, a community visit was also conducted in the identified barangays together with TESDA representatives and LGU officials to personally assess the communities’ current situation, determine their training needs, and further strengthen coordination for the implementation of future livelihood and skills development programs. (Contributed photo)
The Sangguniang Bayan of Batuan, led by Vice Mayor Antonino “Dodo” Morala Jumawid (seated, facing the audience), has passed a resolution requesting both the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Provincial Government to extend full legal assistance to the Barangay Officials of Batuan who serve as members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Chocolate Hills National Monument (CHMN). The resolution highlights that these public servants are now facing criminal and administrative charges because they performed their sworn duties in good faith, acting only on the explicit assurances, advice, and directives of higher authorities, technical experts, and relevant government agencies; it notes that they were compelled to serve by law, are mostly humble farmers with limited education and meager honorarium, and simply followed established protocols and decisions of local officials, making them helpless and financially unable to defend themselves against legal battles, with special emphasis on immediate aid for those possibly facing trial at the in connection with the Captain’s Peak case and full legal preparation for related cases such as the Bud Agta controversy. (Contributed photo)