SugBohol sisterhood pact to create Visayas’ super power
MODERN SANDUGO. Then connected by unwritten laws of ancient brotherhood and united against common pillaging enemies, now that age-old collaboration is put into writing as both provinces, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado representing Bohol and Governor Pamela Bariucuatro representing Cebu are now “one in blood” and destiny, as they commit to a partnership that will make Boholanos and Cebuanos winners in every way. (PIAbohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—As a fitting lid to mark the end of the month when Bohol rises in revelry commemorating the world’s first treaty of friendship and equality between distinct worlds, Bohol and Cebu authorities recreated the Sandugo, to transform a shared dream into an unbreakable bond of attaining a destiny as a regional superpower.
Accompanied by Cebu legislative officials, Governor Pamela Baricuatro this time stepped into the typical warm Boholano welcome and with Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and with the authority of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol, signed the three-pages of sisterhood agreement.
The historic milestone is set to strengthen the bond of kinship and mutual respect between the people of both provinces, promote and enhance tourism, commerce and economic activities, share and adopt best practices in governance and administration as well as collaborate on initiatives leading to sustainable development and prosperity in the region.
In terms of Commerce and Economic Power, our alliance creates an economic titan in Central Visayas, Aumentado shared.
It may be recalled that Aumentado along with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan sailed off to Cebu over a year ago to sit together with Cebu Sanggunian to lay down the framework upon which the ancient connection since pre-Hispanic confederacies forged in between Bohol and Cebu can be finally written as one pulse, one blood and one in a shared destiny.
“Our histories are intertwined, our cultures are closely connected, and even our people move between our islands as if crossing to visit family,” Governor Baricuatro also added.
Envisioned by administrations before, the signing forms the culmination of a vision sparked during the joint inaugural legislative session in November of 2024, according to Governor Aumentado.
“Today, we officially transform that shared dream into an unbreakable bond,” Aumentado beamed as he finally saw history getting written; something that early Visayans may have wanted to do then, but could not.
On her behalf, the Cebu chief executive remarked, “Today is special because this Sisterhood Agreement simply puts into writing what has long existed between Cebu and Bohol. We have always been neighbors, partners, and friends.
An agreement executed in the shadow of the Sandugo sa Bohol, the SugBohol partnership breathes new life into the timeless spirit of Sandugo.
“In a rapidly changing national landscape, our two provinces are consciously choosing to blend our strengths, align our ambitions, and drink from the same cup of unity to secure our region’s future,”Aumentado said.
“The name SugBohol represents a shared vision—that together, we can create more opportunities in tourism, trade, agriculture,
investment, disaster preparedness, education, and many other areas that will improve the lives of both Sugbuanons and
Boholanos,” added Gov Baricuatro
As to the areas of cooperation, the agreement binds government to a joint promotion of tourism destinations and cultural heritage.
Bohol governor said, in terms of Tourism Infrastructure, we are merging Cebu’s global aviation and cosmopolitan hub with Bohol’s internationally acclaimed eco-cultural and UNESCO Global Geopark wonders.
The male governor believes this develops a seamless inter-island travel corridors and shared marketing, while ensuring that a tourist footprint in Cebu naturally extends into a journey through Bohol.
The pact lays the development of joint tourism packages and events and exchange of knowledge in best practices in tourism management and development.
For commerce and economy, SugBohol pegs facilitation of trade and investment opportunities, collaboration on economic projects and initiatives, and support for local business and entrepreneurs through joint programs and activities.
“We are opening unrestricted channels for trade, MSME promotion, and shared infrastructure. Together, we will protect our food supply chains, bolster our local entrepreneurs, and ensure that our shared economic growth lifts up the micro-industries of both provinces,” Aumentado, who aggressively fought for the establishment of a robust economic backbone for the Visayas as the former Regional Development Council said.
“This sisterhood agreement is not a passive document to collect dust in our archives. It is a living blueprint for an empowered, unified Central Visayas,” Governor Pam also pointed out.
In the area of Governance and public administration, the pact stes exchange of knowledge and experience in public administration and governance, establish joint capacity building programs for government officials and personnel, as well as implement best practices in various sectors like social services, health, education, disaster mitigation and infrastructure.
Beyond business and leisure, SugBohol bridges institutions through governance and public administration. We will seamlessly collaborate on digital governance, environmental protection, and climate disaster resilience through synchronized policies and, we elevate public service for everyone.
Together, as SugBohol, we are stronger, we are more resilient, and we are unstoppable. Let us sign this pact with the pride of our ancestors and the hope of our youth, Aumentado quipped. (PIABohol)
PRO7 RD Abad hands Bohol PCADs outstanding awards
BUILDING RELATIONS BY BUILDING HOMES. For its Libre’ng Alagad ug Balay for identified law abiding Boholano (lab) families in calamity-wrecked houses all over Bohol, the Bohol PCADO earned the region’s Outstanding Provincial PCADO, something Camp Dagohoy is also thankful for the partnership with the Aumentado Family whose advocacy allows the PNP to turn over 124 houses, expand police visibility in remote areas and cement community relationships in anti-crime and illegal activities. (PIAbohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Central Visayas Police Regional Director Brigadier General Arnold Abad hands out to Bohol Provincial Police Office’s (BPPO) Police Community Affairs and Development (PCAD) Office, to the City PCAD, to Talibon Municipal PCAD and an official, the outstanding PCAD awards as the country culminates police community relations (PCR) week, July 31 at the BPPO parade grounds.
BGen Abad with Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and BPPO Provincial Director PColonel Patricio Degay handed out the awards to the BPPO for Outstanding Police Community Affairs and Development Office (PCADO) in this year’s PCR week.
Also awarded were Tagbilaran City Police Station for Outstanding PCAD City Police Station Category, Talibon Municipal Police Office for Outstanding PCAD for Municipal Police Stations category for 2026 and Police Major Romar Labasbas as Outstanding PCAD junior Police Commissioned Officer for 2026.
Keynote speaker and guest of honor, Governor Aumentado, whose family’s personal advocacy of building houses for the poor but law abiding Boholanos (LAB) in Balay sa Paglaum, in partnership for the Bohol PPO’s Libre’ng Alagad ug Balay (LAB) has cited the partnership critical in building sturdier police community relations (PCR).
Since the partnership with the BPPO started two years ago, the spirit of collaboration has turned over 122 houses to poor disaster-wrecked Boholano families, and has increased police visibility and presence, which enlarging community responsibility in anti-crime watch and curbing criminality.
Speaking before the officers and men of the BPPO, awardees and stakeholder partners during the 31st Police Community Relations Week Culmination, Governor Aumentado, who helped the BPPO snatch the best police community relations award by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Region Best Community Service-Oriented Policing System (CSOPS) last year, said the project allows communities and police to build mutual trust, strengthen crime prevention efforts, and give our police a more meaningful role in local and national development.
Strong partnerships between the police and the community are essential to maintaining public safety and effective policing. These collaborative relationships also provide a strong foundation for addressing the various social challenges that continue to affect our communities.
“We are not just building houses, we are also building hopes and new start at life for the beneficiaries of this project,” he added.
The project is given to police-identified law abiding Boholano families with calamity-ruined houses and still have shown a deep sense of police and community service and partnership, as to the project design.
The initiative allows police patrols to scour their area of responsibility to look for these beneficiaries, increase police visibility and let the community feel that the authorities take care and look up to them.
It is therefore a source of great pride that, through this partnership, Project LAB and the Bohol Police Provincial Office gets to show a testament of the power of genuine collaboration in advancing peace, security, and community development, the top official of Bohol said.
Through shared projects such as these, our PNP-BPPO goes beyond maintaining peace and order; they help transform lives and uplift families from the ground up, the governor cited.
Effective problem-solving happens when police and neighborhoods identify root issues early, address local concerns together, and maintain open and honest communication, he pointed out.
BPPO also honored its stakeholder partners Representative Vanessa C Aumentado, City Mayor Jane Yap, Mayor Arturo Piollo II, Liberty Baptist Church Panglao Founder Rev. Jonathan E. Aparre, Ph D, Brother Muhammad Jamil Gelbolingo of the Salaam Police Advocacy Group-Talibon Chapter and Rommel Gonzales, chair of the Provincial Advisory Group for Police Transformation and Development.
Because of this, Bohol remains one of the country’s most peaceful and safest provinces, a testament to effective community policing built on the enduring partnership between the police and the people. (PIABohol)
Bohol inks sisterhood pact with City of San Juan, MM
SISTERHOOD IN A BAG. When the first Sandugo sa Bohol was about exchange of blood, this year, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado handed to City of San Juan Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora a Bohol tote bag that forms as the first of the exchanges that Bohol and City of San Juan would be engaging in the next days, as both agreed to a sisterhood pact that is expected to facilitate the transfer of information, technology and processes for the betterment of both LGUS. (PIABohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)— Bohol may have found itself speeding in a development lane, but then local leaders see that it can step on the gas further with the help of others, and it needs a sisterhood agreement that can spare the province from the costs of experimenting.
Honoring the essence of the Sandugo, Bohol legislative body authorized Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado to sign a sisterhood pact, similar to the 1565 truce, establishing a symbiotic relationship with the City of San Juan, Metro Manila, a few minutes before Bohol witnessed the dancing showdown of culture and heritage during the 2026 Sandugo Festival of Festivals at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex, July 26.
The promotion and sharing of innovations from either local government units as agreed are within the fields of tourism, trade commerce and Industry, Science and Technology, Culture and the Arts, Urban Planning and Development, Education, youth and sports development, environmental protection, public health and social services, according to the Memorandum of Agreement which both Gov Aumentado and San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier Zamora.
The sisterhood agreement establishes a sisterhood relationship that ‘binds’ both parties to adopt and or conclude an arrangement of programs for sharing especially on the areas mentioned above.
To pick which programs, a joint technical working group to prepare and recommend a set of short or medium term program for cooperative implementation, as to the signed agreement.
Governor Aumentado said the sisterhood agreement also bolsters friendship between the two local government units and its people, cement a way for information and technology to pass through.
Bohol can possibly learn from the City of San Juan in putting up mechanisms for its effectively implemented programs.
San Juan City is a consistent recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) by the Department of Interior and Local Government, and is a top Performing Local Government Unit in Fiscal Management, an award given by the Bureau of Local Government and Finance.
An Urban Governance Exemplar Awardee in several categories: the City of San Juan is an ideally functioning Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) for 2024 for its effective implementation of child protection policies, programs, and services and is a top performer in the functionality audit for Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) with its outstanding performance in preventing human trafficking and addressing violence against women and children.
San Juan City, although just a little over five square kilometers is Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRP) compliant in the LGU Compliance Assessment while implementing environmental management measures supporting the Manila Bay rehabilitation program.
The city, smallest among Metro Manila Districts is an Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) certified Drug-Cleared City, the first city in the NCR certified as drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee, reflecting sustained anti-illegal drug initiatives.
As to Peace and Order Council (POC) and Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC), San Juan is identified as a significant and invaluable Partner for its valuable contributions to maintaining a safe, secure, and drug-free National Capital Region.
In governance, the city is also cited for its Local Legislative Award (LLA).
The City of San Juan has integrated demographic and socioeconomic data into local planning through its population and development planning, keeps a registry of Barangay Inhabitants and Migrants (RBIM), and uses these as basis for evidence-based programs in health, education, youth development, and family welfare.
For these, the city earned the Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award for outstanding localization of the Population and Development Agenda Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award.
In tourism, the City was also an ATOP Pearl Awardee as best Tourism-Oriented Local Government Unit in Metro Manila.
On the other hand, the City can also learn from Bohol in various ways.
In 1996, Bohol was among the few provinces in the country which established the first provincial environmental management office, institutionalizing an integrated environmental governance and natural resource management, thus earning for Bohol Environment Management Office, now the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office the Gawad Galing Pook.
The move also established for Bohol the country’s first environment ordinance, mapping out local development but that which is biased on conservation of resources and sustainable development.
In 1999, the Bohol Integrated Area Development (BIAD) Program was nationally recognized when it introduced an integrated, area-based development strategy that clustered municipalities for coordinated planning, infrastructure, livelihood, and social services. It became a model for inter-LGU cooperation.
Bohol’s Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO) established a province-wide, convergence-based poverty reduction mechanism that coordinated government agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and communities to target poor households, making it a successful strategy against insurgency.
In environmental management, the Bohol Marine Triangle (Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management); a collaborative coastal resource management initiative among LGUs and stakeholders to protect marine biodiversity while supporting sustainable fisheries and community livelihoods, became a national awardee.
In fact, Bohol may not be as financially wealthy as San Juan City, but the smallest metropolitan hub could learn a thing or two about how Bohol hitched a 7.1 percent Gross Domestic Product growth in 2023, how the province attracted P29.3 billion in investments and pegged a 313 percent increase in tourism arrivals since 2021 levels.
Bohol is an awardee of the Department of Energy’s Pioneer Energy Champion to advancing sustainable and affordable energy initiatives.
In recent years, Bohol has distinguished itself as a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, the first in the country and among Asia’s very few designated sites. (PIAbohol)
City streets explode in ‘Sandugo merriment’
OCULAM
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Expect the rumble and rhythm to mask the din of celebration a little after lunch today, as 9 town dancing contingents spill into Tagbilaran City’s main street, in a street dancing and rituals showcase of the rich heritage and artistic excellence in commemorating the Sandugo peace pact.
Expect the throb of celebrations tugging every street reveler attuned to the beat to blend in as this year’s drumming beats approximating the boom of the goat-skin stretched drums in gimbaws, basaw, kalatong, tingko with the percussions of brass gongs, kulintangs and other improvised indigenous instruments that carry the quaint rhythm of the Boholanos for centuries.
For years, the Sandugo has, kept the historic encounter of the Spanish conquerors and the natives alive in the memory of the young, and this time embellished in the pomp and pageantry of the region’s best musical and theater directors, choreographers, historians, cultural researchers, dance instructors and instrumentalists and in celebration of Bohol’s geosites.
Sandugo, otherwise a peace treaty sealed in blood of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and chieftain Sikatuna, has pinned Bohol in the international map as the venue where the seed of the United Nations was first sown.
Over the years, Bohol’s most famous festival brings to the streets an array of tattooed dancers in period costumes from the pre-colonial bahag with gold and silver adornments, saya, to colonial Spanish costumes like the traje, boda, cassocks and accessories jewelries, armors, blades as period design elements to help bring out the narratives of local festivals, heroes or stories that refused to die.
This year, dancing contingents are Asinderos de Alburquerque, Banay’ng Mangbubukag of Piskaya Antequera, Pundok Katigbawan of Catigbian, Banay sa Kulturang Dimiaonon of Dimiao, Banay Loaynon of Loay, Lumad Maribojocanon, Tribo Matahum nga Talibon, Pundok sa Nagkahiusang Ubayabon of Ubay and Tribung Hamiling Sang-at of Valencia would be pitted against each other on the most creative interpretation of the Sandugo in both street dancing and ritual showdown.
Expect then at least two thousand dancers, instrumentalists, propsmen, choreographers and support staff to unveil in their most artistic way local themes, concepts and stories to the kuradang sa Sandugo beat.
Tagbilaran City, a heavy contender for the championship is not among the competitors, being the provincial entry to the nearby Sinulog Festival in January.
Also, past major contenders: Loon, Loboc, Tubigon, Panglao are notably begging off, making this year’s street dancing hurdle more open for participating towns with Catigbian as the only entry with a champion pedigree.
While the past Sandugo dancing was saturated by borrowed beats and steps courtesy of choreographers from other festivals, this year’s Sandugo promises a do-away from those, with trained Boholano choreographers and directors seeing to it that the past cultural blunders do not recur.
And to make sure that ingenuity surfaces over tainted and borrowed culture, judging this year’s showdown are the country’s top culture and heritage aficionados.
Among them are Chris Millado, a Multi-awarded Theater Director and producer, former CCP Artistic Director, and Festival Director of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival; Marichu Tellano, former Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Eminent Specialist on Culture and the Arts Sustainable Development, Culture in Governance, and the Creative Economy; Shirley Halili-Cruz, Outstanding Dance Teacher and founder of multi-awarded and internationally renowned Shirley Halili Cruz school of Dance; Dr. Nicanor Tiongson, Cultural Heritage Expert and Guru, Critic and former Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Alice Reyes, National Artist for Dance, Outstanding Choreographer and Founder of the globally renowned Alice Reyes Dance Company.
Up for grabs, aside from the bragging rights are P1,000,000 and a package of development project for the Grand winner, P800K and development project for the first runner up, P700K and project for second runner up, P600K and development project for third runner up, P500K and development project for fourth runner up.
Consolation prizes of 300K and development projects are in for the next 4 contingents, so nobody comes home with an empty bag.
Best in Street Dancing Contingent also sets P300K, Best in Musicality and Best in Props and Design gets P100K each. (PIAbohol)
Big fuel price hike to burden motorists and transport sector in Bohol
Fuel prices went up again starting Tuesday, July 28, which is expected to increase costs for motorists, motorcycle riders and public transportation operators in bohol.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), gasoline will rise by ₱6.80 per liter, diesel by ₱7.32 per liter and kerosene by ₱4.22 per liter.
Operating expenses for tricycle, jeepney, bus, taxi and other transportation operators are expected to go up further, including costs for motorists and riders who rely on fuel for daily travel.
Transportation and delivery costs may also increase, which could affect the prices of basic goods and other services in Bohol.
The province’s transport sector is one of the sectors most heavily affected by the continued rise in fuel prices.
According to the DOE, the new oil price adjustments were implemented nationwide starting Tuesday at 6 a.m., July 28.
₱81.8 million worth of illegal drugs from Bohol burned and disposed of in Cebu City
About ₱81.8 million worth of illegal drugs seized from various operations in the province of Bohol were disposed of and burned today, July 28, 2026, through thermal destruction at an accredited thermal facility in Cebu City.
Police Major Joseph F. Lopena, chief of the police community affairs and development unit (PCADU), personally witnessed the official destruction of a total of 12,040.55 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
The seized evidence has an estimated value of ₱81,875,740.00 and is part of the evidence confiscated in the province of Bohol and other areas in region 7.
The destruction was carried out in accordance with section 21, article ii of Republic Act no. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) as amended by Republic Act no. 10640, and the directives from the Dangerous Drugs board (DDB).
The goal is to ensure that all confiscated drugs are completely destroyed by heat so they can no longer return to circulation or be used again.
According to the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), the large volume of drugs is the result of the BPPO’s continuing campaign against illegal drugs in partnership with PDEA Bohol, other law enforcement agencies, and with the support of the people of bohol.
In an official statement, Police Colonel Patricio C. Degay Jr., provincial director of the BPPO, stressed the importance of the operation for community safety.
“Imagine ang kadaot nga mahatag niini sa atong katawhan ug mga komunidad kon wala kini makompiska sa mga awtoridad?Ang atong paningkamot dili alang lamang para sa organisasyon, kundili alang sa kaluwasan sa matag pamilya, sa katawhan, ug sa nasud nga Pilipinhon,” PCOL Degay Jr. added.
Authorities continue to urge the public to cooperate and immediately report any suspicious activities related to illegal drugs in the locality of Bohol to maintain peace and security in the province.
Dumaluan criticizes Marcos’ SONA for gaps on inflation and food security, ends with “I will resign”
PDP member Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth state of the nation address (SONA) fell short in addressing key issues like inflation, food security and the increasing cost of basic commodities.
Dumaluan said the address needed clearer and more concrete measures to bring down food prices and reduce the tax burden on fuel, including the value-added tax and excise tax.
He also urged stronger support for farmers through cheaper or subsidized fertilizer, reduced dependence on imported food, and a more focused approach to food security.
According to him, the government should prioritize free and improved hospital and medical services, free college education, more classrooms, and higher pay for teachers.
On energy and public utilities, he suggested nationalizing petroleum, electricity and water, and pushed for an independent foreign policy to expand the country’s trade ties beyond the united states.
Dumaluan likewise called for fair enforcement of laws, full press freedom, and a tougher drive against corruption.
He also backed giving the opposition and minority bloc the chance to head the Blue Ribbon Committee as a way to help rebuild public trust.
Closing his statement, Dumaluan said “i will resign,” which he delivered in a lighthearted tone but intended as a challenge to Marcos and a call for stronger action and tangible results on the issues he highlighted.
He issued the reaction following Marcos’ SONA on Monday, where the president outlined his administration’s achievements and priorities amid ongoing economic and governance challenges in the country.
Philhealth pushes Yakap program for preventive care in Bohol
CINCHEZ
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, or Philhealth, is pushing for Yakap.
According to Dina Mae Cinchez, Philhealth Yakap is the primary preventive benefit package for members.
This benefit also extends to the legal dependents of members, she said.
Philhealth wants to shift the mindset toward getting preventive care instead of waiting for therapeutic care.
The goal is to help members prevent illnesses from getting worse and becoming difficult to manage when it is too late.
Under Yakap, the benefit includes consultation and free maintenance medicines covered up to P20,000 per year.
Also included are basic lab tests for common illnesses.
Yakap is separate from the hospitalization benefit and there is no need to be confined in a hospital to use it.
Yakap can be used in accredited facilities including rural health units and clinics.
Philhealth encourages members to get regular check ups and prevent diseases from getting worse.
One can use the eGovPH app to find Yakap providers.
One can also choose through the member portal.
The list is also posted on the Facebook page of the Philhealth regional office.
There are 42 Yakap clinics all over Bohol, she said.
The choice of clinic is good for the whole year and changes may be allowed next year.
Cinchez said there are doctors who are not accredited and this do not accept Philhealth members.
She said claims are being given priority and are paid within seven working days.
SSS explains pension reform program to ease burden on retirees
MADANGUIT
Social Security System (SSS) branch manager Dioscoro Madanguit served as spokesperson for the pension reform program.
He said it is an initiative to ease the burden of pensioners as directed by President Marcos.
He said the program will run for three years and each year there is an increase in the pension of pensioners both regular and disability pensioners.
Each year a 10 percent increase in pension will be given for three years.
The increase for survivor pensioner is five percent.
The program started last year and there’s a round this year and next year.
SSS decided to advance the increase this year and released it last June 2026 instead of Sept.
There will be computation of a round of increase for those who will file from June to August.
Those who will file for pension in Aug 3026 will receive 10 percent increase in pension by Sept.
Pension is computed based on law, Madanguit said.
Certain factors can affect the computation of pension like contributions and membership length.
Youth leader Jay Doydora pushes agenda for empowerment and better benefits
DOYDORA
Youth leader Jay Doydora is doubling down on his advocacy for the benefit of young people.
Doydora describes himself as a self-styled leader who wants to bring better benefits to the youth.
He wants young people to develop their own principles in life.
This is why he continues to be a youth advocate, he told Carl Hinlo.
Doydora has been busy joining various activities in the community.
He is conducting community outreach activities.
He also wants to help those who struggle with mental health and to provide leadership trainings.
He said there is a lack of investment in education and a lack of programs that truly empower the youth.
He said the private sector helps in aligning benefits for the youth, he added.
He noted that the youth lack awareness, and this affects efforts to empower them.
Young people have a propensity to commit crimes, he said, and this is often influenced by social media.
He is engaged in a pure love campaign of the International Association of Youth and Student for Peace.
They are pushing for conscience-driven decisions when dealing with personal issues like vices.
In that way, issues like teenage pregnancy can be avoided.
They are also pushing the no to vote buying campaign.
He said it matters because voters are often oblivious to reality.
Us-based Boholano lawyer Glen Hubahib laments state of government leadership
ATTY. HUBAHIB
Us-based Boholano lawyer Glen Hubahib expressed dismay over how the Philippine government is being run today.
According to him, many leaders seem more focused on business interests than on public service.
He said politicians appear more concerned with what they can gain for themselves.
The real focus on serving the people, he noted, often gets lost.
Hubahib stressed that the public deserves a government that truly responds to their needs.
He pointed out that we often end up in conflict, and because of that, progress gets stalled.
A country that is at odds with itself, he added, will never move forward.
He believes the formula used by former President Fidel V. Ramos of bringing all sectors into government could be a good way to assess and address the current situation.
Mayor Benjie Oliva rejects dole outs, pushes for livelihood programs instead
MAYOR OLIVA
Catigbian Mayor Benjie Oliva has rejected the idea of dole outs and is pushing instead for livelihood programs.
Oliva said he would rather see people with livelihood than rely on aid from the government.
He frowns on the idea that people depend on assistance.
He said he would rather ask for livelihood programs and teach people how to earn than have them wait for aid.
He said he has been working to get livelihood programs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He also said he was able to secure funding to help with cattle raising in his town.
He hopes that the government will reduce dole outs and help people earn a decent livelihood.
Meanwhile, Oliva looks forward to defending the town’s title as champion of Sandugo street dancing competition.
He admitted that he has yet to explore options but the town will certainly return next year to defend its title.
Catigbian won cash prizes as a result of its victory in the competition.
Oliva said the hard work of the performers paid off.
BESS alone not enough; Bohol still needs baseload power plant, NGCP Says
While Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can help store excess power generated by solar farms during the day for use at night, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said a baseload power plant remains a more sustainable source of reliable electricity for the province.
NGCP Visayas Network Supervisor Engr. Amado Otara said solar power has only a 16% reliability rating as a dependable electricity source.
Speaking at a Power 101 briefing held by NGCP Visayas, Otara explained that while solar farms can generate significant power during sunny hours, output drops sharply when skies are cloudy or rainy.
He added that peak demand for electricity typically occurs at night, when solar power is unavailable because there is no sunlight to convert into energy.
Because of this gap, NGCP stressed the importance of building BESS facilities alongside solar farms so that power collected during the day can be stored and released at night when demand is high and supply is limited.
However, Otara said the most reliable source of steady power supply remains a land-based baseload plant.
A baseload power plant is a type of generating facility designed to operate continuously, providing a steady and uninterrupted supply of electricity to the power grid 24 hours a day.
Unlike solar facilities or plants that ramp output up and down depending on demand, baseload plants are built to run continuously and supply electricity at the lowest possible cost once operational, according to NGCP.
Because baseload plants operate without interruption, they typically have high capacity to deliver a consistent volume of electricity, eliminating the need to repeatedly shut down and restart — making them a reliable foundation for meeting power demand, NGCP said. (PIA Bohol)
Free Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive Set for Children Aged 6 years to 59 Months, Aug. 10-28
The Department of Health will launch a free vaccination campaign against measles and rubella for children aged 6 to 59 months from Aug. 10 to 28, 2026, the agency announced.
Rather than wait for children to receive protection through the regular immunization schedule, the DOH will roll out the vaccines ahead of time as part of a nationwide Supplemental Immunization Activity targeting measles and rubella, also known as German measles.
Dr. Faith Curaraton, a DOH medical officer, said measles remains a major viral threat to children even though it is preventable through vaccination.
Measles cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is viral, according to Curaraton. She said the disease is marked by fever, colds, cough, red eyes and a rash that spreads from the face down to the rest of the body.
Curaraton said untreated or severe cases can progress to encephalitis, stunted growth, pneumonia and death.
The disease spreads through the air via breathing, coughing and sneezing, and poses greater danger to children with weaker immune systems, she added.
Children are typically given the measles-rubella vaccine between 9 and 12 months old, with booster doses administered when they begin school, health officials said.
Unlike previous rounds in which health workers went house to house, this year’s campaign will be conducted at fixed vaccination sites in each barangay to ensure the vaccines are not compromised while being transported, said Machiavellia Caliao, immunization focal person and nurse at the Provincial Health Office.
Magnitude 3.9 quake jolts Carmen, Bohol; students, teachers stay alert
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck Bohol at 11:21 a.m. on July 30, 2026, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported.
The quake had a depth of 6 kilometers, with its epicenter located near Sagbayan town, PHIVOLCS said. The shaking was felt in several areas of the province, including schools in Carmen.
At Ambassador Pablo R. Suarez National High School, students were seen wearing hard hats during class hours as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Despite the alarm, students and teachers remained calm and followed safety protocols. No damage or injuries have been reported so far, and residents of Carmen remain safe, according to local authorities.
The incident underscored the importance of preparedness and proper earthquake safety practices in protecting students and school personnel during disasters.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bohol has mandated regular earthquake drills to ensure that learners and school staff know the appropriate actions to take during and after seismic events.
Student to face charges over bomb threat ‘joke’
A male student who admitted to being behind a bomb threat at San Miguel Technical Vocational High School (SMTVHS) is set to face criminal charges, police said.
The suspect, identified by the alias “Rey,” 20, a student at the school, formally admitted to the act through an extrajudicial confession made with the assistance of his lawyer, according to police.
Investigators said Rey told authorities the threat, sent to classmates via Messenger claiming the school building would be destroyed, was meant as a joke.
He said the threat had no basis and that he only wanted to get his classmates’ attention after his younger sibling was reportedly bullied.
Police said they are preparing documents to file criminal charges against the suspect for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, or the Anti-Bomb Joke Law.
The Bohol Provincial Police Office reminded the public, especially the youth and students, that making bomb threats is never a joke, warning that such acts carry serious legal penalties and can seriously disrupt public peace and order.
Bohol leaders meet CAAP on Ubay Airport development
Bohol Gov. Erico Aris Aumentado, together with 2nd District Rep. Erico “Van-Van” Aumentado Jr. and Dr. Jose de la Peña, met with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Raul L. del Rosario and other CAAP officials to discuss upcoming development plans for Ubay Airport in northeastern Bohol.
Aumentado said he hopes the airport can become fully operational and utilized to help boost the province’s economy and tourism. Bohol officials also emphasized the importance of establishing mixed-use development plans to create additional livelihood opportunities for residents in the eastern part of the province.
Aumentado said the discussions included plans for mixed-use development to ensure the success of projects planned for the area. He thanked CAAP for its continued support and partnership with the provincial administration’s programs and plans, and expressed hope for continued progress in developing Bohol.
Officials said continued coordination between the provincial government and CAAP is expected to speed up steps toward fully utilizing Ubay Airport for the province’s development and tourism.
23,000-plus WGP beneficiaries in Central Visayas to receive UPLIFT cash aid
A total of 23,206 beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in Central Visayas will receive a one-time cash assistance of P2,000 under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
Of the total, 19,579 beneficiaries are from Cebu and 3,627 are from Bohol.
Under UPLIFT’s Group 1 category, the list of WGP beneficiaries is based on official records of active and qualified beneficiaries as of May 2026, using the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) as the primary data source.
UPLIFT assistance is divided into three categories aimed at cushioning the impact of reduced purchasing power among poor, near-poor, and low-income households amid inflation. Group 1 covers poor households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and WGP, while Group 2 covers poor and near-poor households identified through CBMS that are not currently receiving regular social protection assistance under 4Ps or WGP. Group 3 covers low-income households in the CBMS cross-matched with the Social Security System (SSS) registry.
DSWD Field Office 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said 4Ps and WGP beneficiaries qualify only for the one-time cash assistance under the initiative, unlike Groups 2 and 3 beneficiaries, who will receive the P2,000 in six installments, since 4Ps and WGP members already receive support through existing government social protection programs.
Beneficiaries were advised to coordinate with their respective Community Engagement Coordinators and field staff to verify their qualification and get information on requirements, payout schedules, food claim schedules, and designated sites.
In Mandaue, Talisay, and Cebu cities, 461 beneficiaries already received their financial assistance on July 20, among the first batch of WGP beneficiaries paid on the same day they claimed their nutrition-packed food products.
Councilor Zamora leads validation of local shelter plan
COUN. ZAMORA
Councilor Butchie Zamora, Chairperson of the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod – Committee on City Planning, Public Lands and Urban Poor, led the validation of the Local Shelter Plan 2026–2035 and Tenement Guidebook, to further strengthen the city’s response to the need for decent housing.
With him in the activity were the committee members Atty. Dodong Gonzaga, Engr. Gemma Inting, Engr. Charles Cabalit, and SPM Jose Floro Ringca.
The lawmaker explained that the Local Shelter Plan lays out the city’s direction for ten years to address the shortage of decent housing.
On the other hand, the Tenement Guidebook sets the standards for qualification and selection of beneficiaries of social housing units in Barangay Cabawan.
Coun. Butchie Zamora said that the data and reports were prepared by the City Planning and Development Office – Shelter Estate and Management Unit, in close coordination with the committee.
Cortes town receives high functionality level award against human trafficking
MAYOR UY
The town of Cortes has once again achieved a major victory and recognition!
The town received a High Functionality Level rating for the Local Committee Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT‑VAWC) from DILG Region 7, DSWD Region 7, and DOJ Region 7.
The awarding took place during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Regional Culminating Activity held in Tagbilaran City, which was also led by Vice Governor Nicanor “Nick” Besas and DILG Provincial Director John Joan Mende.
According to Mayor Rodrigo Dennis Uy, this achievement shows the town’s continued and strong efforts to protect women, children, and all Cortesanon from human trafficking and any form of abuse.
The Mayor also expressed gratitude for the dedication and leadership of Ms. Jesa S. Anore of MSWDO‑Cortes and Mr. Cecilio Nisnisan of MLGOO, who greatly contributed to achieving this recognition.
He also extended his thanks to the Sangguniang Bayan under the leadership of Vice Mayor Niño Lumanas, the offices and staff of the LGU, national government agencies, barangay officials, and partner organizations.
“Daghang salamat kaninyong tanan! Padayon kita sa pag‑abante alang sa matinud‑anon ug responsableng pag‑alagad ug pagpanalipod sa katawhang Cortesanon,” Mayor RUDY UY added.
Gov. Aris: Sandugo cash prizes released, Loay grant delayed due to incomplete documents
Governor Aris Aumentado clarified that all cash prizes for the winners of the Sandugo Festival from 2023 to 2025 have already been released, in response to the statement of Loay Mayor Hilario Ayuban that there are prizes that have not yet been released.
According to the governor, what has not yet been released is the 2024 project grant for Loay due to errors in the documents witch the town submitted.
Based on the records of the Provincial Budget and Management Office (PBMO), the project title in the Sangguniang Bayan resolution did not match the project that was approved in the budget.
Because of this, the province revised Loay’s documents and improved them before they were brought to the deliberation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Aumentado also said that all 2023 project grants have been released, while the 2025 project grants will be released this year.
The project grants for the winners of Sandugo 2026 will be released in 2027, according to the schedule.
The governor also clarified that the Local Governance Affairs Office (LGAO) processes the project grants, while the Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) coordinates with the participating local government units in submitting the required documents.
Aumentado’s statement came out after Ayuban announced his concern over the prizes that have not yet been released, following Loay’s decision to stop joining the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition.
According to the governor, the delayed grant for Loay was the result of lacking documents and not because the funds were not released.
Banay Loaynon signing off from Sandugo after four years of participation
MAYOR AYUBAN
The Banay Loaynon has officially ended its participation in the Sandugo Street Dancing Competition after four years of representing the town of Loay.
In his statement, Loay Mayor Hilario Ayuban announced that “Banay Loaynon is signing off,” which marks the end of the contingent’s campaign that started in 2023.
According to the mayor, Loay joined to showcase the talent of young Loaynons, to win infrastructure projects as prizes, and to give students the opportunity to become scholars through their participation in the contingent.
For four years, Banay Loaynon won 1st Runner-Up in 2023 and 2024, and 2nd Runner-Up in 2025 and 2026.
Because of these wins, the town received projects from the Provincial Government, including a ₱15 milyon road concreting project from Baybay Village going to the municipal hall, another ₱15 milyon road project in Botoc Oriental and Botoc Occidental going to Morning Hills, and two ₱6.5 milyon projects for the improvement of the surroundings of the market and municipal hall, and the Loay People’s Center.
Other projects have not yet been released.
Ayuban thanked the choreographers, artistic directors, dance masters, musicians, costume designers, LGU employees, barangay officials, donors, sponsors and volunteers who helped Banay Loaynon since it started.
He also thanked the Provincial Government under Gov. Aris Aumentado for providing infrastructure projects as prizes for Sandugo.
The mayor also gave special recognition to the dancers, ritualists, singers, instrumentalists and production team for their dedication and sacrifice in bringing pride and honor to the town of Loay at the Sandugo Festival.
Ubay bypass road nearing completion to speed up trips to the port
The Fatima-via Bridge–Poblacion Bypass Road in Ubay is nearly finished and will soon be available to the public, and it is expected to shorten travel time to the port and ease traffic inside the Poblacion.
Based on the latest status of the project, only a small portion of the bridge remains to be fully connected to the road.
It is also ready for concrete paving to complete the connection between Barangay Fatima and Poblacion Port.
Once it is opened, travel for motorists, passengers and vehicles carrying products going to the port is expected to be faster and safer.
Aside from its use for transportation, the boulevard-style bypass road has also become a favorite place for Ubayanon for walking, biking and gathering from the afternoon until the evening.
The project connecting Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Fatima was funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024.
It is part of the major infrastructure projects pushed by 2nd District Rep. Vanessa “Van-Van” Aumentado with the support of Gov. Aris Aumentado to improve connectivity and economic activity in the Second District of Bohol.
Also included in the projects they are pushing are the Talibon Bypass Road going to Talibon Port and the proposed San Isidro–Talibon Bridge that will pass through Barangay Nueva Esperanza in Bien Unido, which is expected to be the longest bridge in the province.
According to Governor Aumentado, these projects aim to strengthen infrastructure, shorten travel time, improve transportation and encourage economic activity in the northern part of Bohol through the collaboration of the national and local government.
Parent finds snake inside child’s helmet
A parent and child got the scare of their lives after discovering a snake living inside a motorcycle helmet.
According to an interview with Maruc Amme, the incident happened on the afternoon of July 28, 2026.
Amme said he rushed to grab a helmet from their garage in Sevilla after receiving word that his child had a fever in Tagbilaran City.
In his hurry, he picked up an extra helmet hanging on a post near the road so his child would have something to wear on the ride home.
Worried about his child, he did not think to check inside the helmet before heading out.
When Amme arrived in Tagbilaran City, he put the helmet on his child without inspecting it first.
On their way home, heavy rain forced them to take shelter across from Island City Mall (ICM).
That was when they discovered the unwelcome visitor inside the helmet while waiting for the rain to pass.
To keep his child from panicking, Amme carried the helmet to the back part of the road and tried to poke the snake out with a stick, but the snake resisted and burrowed deeper inside.
Fortunately, a passerby from Ubay who was also taking shelter stepped in to help.
The parent is grateful the snake did not bite, and that the rain made them stop when it did.
If the snake had come out while they were still riding back to Sevilla, there was a strong chance the frightened child would have jumped off the motorcycle.
Bohol Light clarifies bill deposit adjustment is not a disconnection notice
Bohol Light Company, Inc. (BLCI) explained that its current notices to consumers regarding Bill Deposit Adjustment are part of a regular and ERC-mandated annual review of the bill deposit for each customer.
The company issued the statement after some consumers misunderstood the amount shown on their bill as an unpaid balance or a notice of service disconnection.
According to BLCI, it has nothing to do with penalties, surcharges, or disconnection notices.
The company also apologized for a technical glitch that caused confusion among some consumers.
It said they are continuously fixing the problem to ensure accurate billing information.
According to Atty. Beth Cabanugan, Assistant Vice President and Legal Officer of BLCI, the bill deposit adjustment is only a compliance measure under ERC Resolution No. 3, Series of 2026, which amends the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.
“We want to inform our consumers that this is a standard and annual review to ensure that the bill deposit of each account is aligned with the actual electricity consumption,” said Cabanugan.
Engr. Paul Almedilla, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of BLCI, also explained that the policy is fair for all consumers.
“If a customer’s electricity consumption decreases, there will be a refund for them. But if consumption increases, there will be an appropriate adjustment to their bill deposit,” said Almedilla.
To help consumers, BLCI emphasized the following:
– There is no risk of disconnection, because the bill deposit adjustment is not an overdue payment.
– There is an interest-free installment, where the adjustment can be paid in five equal monthly installments with no interest or additional charges.
Customers can also negotiate with BLCI for another payment arrangement.
– It continues to send notices to accounts affected by the technical glitch, including a detailed computation based on consumption in the past 12 months.
– The refund of the bill deposit is now easier.
Under the new ERC rule, consumers who have consistently paid their bill for two years will receive a full refund of their bill deposit including accumulated interest, which will be credited to their monthly bill.
– The bill deposit will also earn interest, which is based on the Land Bank of the Philippines peso savings rate and will be credited every anniversary of the customer’s service.
BLCI clarified that the bill deposit is a standard security deposit used by all electric distribution utilities in the Philippines and is usually equivalent to an estimated one month of average electricity consumption.
For questions or concerns, BLCI encourages consumers to call their customer service hotline, send a message to their official Messenger account, or visit the nearest Bohol Light office to receive personal assistance.
Vanessa Aumentado files bill to make Ubay National Science High School the regional science high school for Central Visayas
CONG. AUMENTADO
Second District Representative Vanessa “VanVan” Aumentado pushed House Bill No. 10297 which seeks to make Ubay National Science High School in the municipality of Ubay, Bohol the Regional Science High School for Region VII (Central Visayas).
Under the proposed law, the capacity of the school as a leading institution in secondary education focused on science and technology will be strengthened, while it will also allocate funds for additional facilities, equipment, and programs to further improve the quality of education in the region.
According to the title of House Bill No. 10297, its goal is to convert Ubay National Science High School into the Regional Science High School of Central Visayas to further expand opportunities for students with exceptional ability in science, mathematics, and research.
The initiative is part of the continuing efforts of Cong. VanVan Aumentado to develop the education sector through programs, services, and projects that will provide more opportunities for the youth of Bohol and the entire Region VII.
Baja seeks BP devices and glucometers for Bohol BHWs
BM BAJA
Senior Board Member Tita Baja filed a resolution requesting the Provincial Government of Bohol to provide blood pressure (BP) apparatuses and glucometers for all 8,360 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) across the province.
During her privilege speech in the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Baja disclosed that the request came from Resolution No. 1, Series of 2026 of the Bohol Barangay Health Workers Federation, Inc.
According to her, during the federation’s quarterly meeting on July 23, 2026 at Panda Tea Garden Suites, the BHWs expressed their lack of equipment even though they are the first to receive and care for residents in the barangay through blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, and providing various basic health services.
The federation also explained that it does not have enough funds to buy the equipment that BHWs need as partners of Rural Health Units in providing medical services to the community.
According to Baja, this is not only a request for equipment but also a way to strengthen the capacity of Barangay Health Workers who have long served as frontliners in caring for the health of the people.
“Kining atong mga Barangay Health Workers, kinahanglan gyud natong tagaan og pagtagad aron usab madasig sila sa ilang kinasingkasing nga pag-alagad sa ilang gisakupan,” said Baja.
Due to the large scope of the request and its budgetary and health program implications, Baja proposed that the resolution be referred to the Joint Committees on Finance, Budget and Appropriation as lead committee and to the Committee on Health and Public Sanitation for deeper study and to provide recommendations.
The resolution requests Gov. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado to provide BP apparatuses and glucometers for all Barangay Health Workers in the province of Bohol.
5th Sandugo Tourism and Travel Expo opens in Bohol
The Provincial Government of Bohol will open the 5th Sandugo Tourism and Travel Expo starting today, July 29 until 31 at the Island City Mall Activity Center here in Tagbilaran City as part of the Sandugo sa Bohol festivities.
Led by the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, the three-day expo gathered tourism stakeholders, travel operators and local businesses to showcase and promote destinations and tourism products of Bohol and other parts of the country.
Included in the expo are travel deals, staycation packages, local products and destinations for ecotourism.
The expo was officially opened at 1:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 29, through an opening ceremony attended by provincial and city officials, tourism officers and representatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Part of the program was a performance by the Sinag-Tala Dance Troupe and a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Governor Aris Aumentado, Vice Governor Nicanor Besas, Representative Baba Yap, Maria Vanessa Aumentado, Alexie Tutor, Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap, members of the provincial board and officials of the DOT.
Atty. Lucas M. Nunag, co-chairman of the Provincial Tourism Council, delivered the welcome remarks, while Governor Aumentado gave an inspirational message.
DOT Region 7 Director Gelena N. Asis-Dimpas was the keynote Speaker, while Mayor Jane Yap also delivered a message.
Joanne Pinat, head of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, deliveredu the closing message and acknowledgments.
Among the exhibitors were hotels and resorts, travel agency and tour operators, agritourism and adventure destination, and local government units (LGUs).
Among the LGUs that joined were Anda, Danao, Panglao, Tubigon and Loay which showcased their respective tourism attractions and local products.
The expo also highlighted Bohol’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism and its status as the country’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, where visitors are given the opportunity to get to know tourism offerings and local businesses and artisans.
LAHA flags issues in ₱3.5-b Loboc river project and asks for eco-friendly design
The Loboc Association of Accommodation and Hospitality (LAHA) presented structural and environmental concerns on the ₱3.5-billion Loboc River Protection Project during the presentation of their field findings to DPWH Region VII on July 24.
LAHA, through Sheryl Calipusan Ung, presented the results of the joint survey with the Loboc Municipal Engineering Office in six project sections in Barangays Sawang, Gotozon, Ondol, Ugpong, Valladolid and Villaflor.
Among the concerns is the lack of weep holes or drainage openings in the metal sheet piles and concrete retaining walls, which according to the group could cause water accumulation, increased pressure on the structures and affect the nipa and aquatic ecosystem due to the disruption of tidal water movement.
The survey also showed the difference between the proposed and actual height of the project sections, while issues such as tilting of sheet piles in Sawang, erosion in Gotozon, undercutting in Ondol and damage to nipa roots in Ugpong were reported.
In Villaflor, construction was stopped after the contract was terminated, while one of the healthiest nipa colonies in the area remains.
LAHA requested DPWH to consider an eco-friendly design before proceeding with the new contract or construction, including the preservation of nipa, installation of drainage openings and tidal culverts, and a joint feasibility review with the LGU and community stakeholders.
LAHA emphasized that it supports flood control and erosion mitigation, but also wants to protect the natural ecosystem of the Loboc River.
The DPWH, LAHA, Loboc LGU, Loboc Peoples Council, DENR, BPEMO and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol conducted a joint land-based inspection of the project sections to assess the condition of the Loboc River Protection Project in July.
Aumentado calls Bohol-San Juan pact a modern-day Sandugo
Governor Aris Aumentado called the sisterhood agreement between the Province of Bohol and San Juan City a “modern-day Sandugo” that aims to strengthen cooperation between the two local government units (LGUs).
The agreement was signed on Sunday, July 26, at the Bohol Cultural Center, as part of the celebration of the Sandugo sa Bohol Festival of Festivals.
According to Aumentado, the agreement is not just a document, but a historic bond between two progressive communities.
The governor cited the historic Sandugo between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi as the inspiration for the sisterhood agreement.
He said the sisterhood pact is a “bloodless covenant” of respect, shared vision and strong solidarity between the people of Bohol and San Juan.
Three important aspects were highlighted in the partnership which are inclusive growth, innovation and clean governance.
Inclusive growth includes sharing strategies that can help micro-entrepreneurs, farmers, tourism workers and technology workers.
In innovation, Bohol is ready to share with San Juan City the development of smart-city technologies and localized digital services, while working together to create solutions suited to their respective strengths.
In clean governance, both LGUs promised to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen-led public service through sharing best practices in governance.
Governor Aumentado added that the agreement will also open more opportunities for cooperation, shared progress, cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions between Bohol and San Juan City.
According to the governor, this is the “New and Bigger Sandugo sa Bohol.”
New Tagbilaran tricycle fare starts July 27
City administrator Alvin Acuzar confirmed that the regular tricycle fare in Tagbilaran city will revert to p15 for the first kilometer starting Monday, July 27, 2026, after the new city ordinance was approved.
The fare reduction will be implemented under city ordinance C-431 passed by the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod, which restores the regular base fare from the temporary p20 minimum fare that was imposed during the rise in gasoline prices and the energy crisis.
Under the city ordinance, the fare is p15 for the first kilometer and an additional p3 for every succeeding kilometer.
Discounted fares for students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities or PWDS will also remain.
They will pay p12 for the first kilometer and p2.40 for every succeeding kilometer.
Acuzar encouraged passengers and tricycle operators to follow the official fare matrix to ensure fair and transparent transportation service in the city.
The temporary p20 minimum fare was previously allowed to help tricycle operators cope with the increase in gasoline and energy prices.
Through city ordinance c-431, the city government has formally adjusted the tricycle fare, which is effective starting July 27, 2026.
Acuzar added that the business permits and licensing office (BPLO) at city hall has started printing the new fare matrix showing the updated fares, which will be distributed to tricycle drivers and operators in Tagbilaran city.
No protests in Bohol during Marcos’ 5th SONA
The situation in Bohol remained peaceful and orderly while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth state of the nation address (SONA) on Monday afternoon, July 27.
According to police Maj. Joseph Lopena, public information officer of the Bohol police provincial office (BPPO), the situation across the province was normal and there were no reported pro- or anti-administration rallies during the SONA.
Marcos delivered his SONA at 3:38 p.m. at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
The BPPO, under the leadership of provincial director PCOL. Patricio Degay Jr., was placed on heightened alert in line with the directive from the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters regarding the SONA.
Police personnel remained on standby to maintain peace and order and to ensure public safety throughout the province.
Baclayon man electrocuted while installing solar
A 54-year-old man died after being electrocuted while installing solar in Purok 6, Brgy. Montaña Baclayon at around 1:50 pm on July 29.
The victim was also a resident of the said place.
According to the Baclayon PNP who was interviewed by media, the man climbed onto the rooftop to install the solar, carrying a pipe with him, but it accidentally brushed against the live wire of Boheco which caused him to be electrocuted.
The victim was brought to ACE Hospital but after 30 minutes of administering CPR he died.
Due to the Data Privacy Act, the police withheld the name of the victim also out of respect for the family.