Cong. Aris against marijuana bill

Cong. Aris Aumentado, 2nd District Representative, Bohol

by:  MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG

EA Boholano lawmaker has expressed strong opposition to a proposed House bill seeking to legalize the Philippine use of marijuana for medical purposes, saying the bill, if it becomes a law, would only aggravate the already worsening drug problem in the country. Bohol's Second District Rep. Aris Aumentado in an interview with The Post said the bill, which will be filed in March by Isabela Rep. Isabelo Albano III, is a mere “duplication” of HR No. 499 – otherwise known as “Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013” – adding that such measure is not practical and applicable in a Philippine setting. “Our law enforcement agencies are already overburdened with solving the problem of illegal drugs in the country,” Aumentado said, “and enacting a law that would legalize the use of marijuana would just add headache to the authorities.” 

He feared that if the use of cannabis is no longer prohibited in the Philippines even if it is only for medical purposes, the law would be vulnerable to abuse and misuse. “It would be easy for criminals to raise the defense of medical purposes whenever they are arrested in the possession of marijuana,” the Boholano legislator said. 

There is a thin dividing line, Aumentado noted, between what is for medical purposes and what is for personal use and abuse. 

He stressed that the country is still ineffective in regulating the use and sale of prescription drugs, thus the government would “certainly fail” in the proper use of marijuana. “Even though the use of marijuana is already legal in certain states in America, it does not mean that we should also legalize it here in the Philippines,” Aumentado pointed out. “America has a very organized and effective mechanism in law enforcements, but still the US has not been able to eliminate the problem on illegal drugs.” 

Aumentado has vowed that not only would he oppose the legalization of marijuana, he said he would also campaign in the lower House enjoining fellow legislators to junk the bill. The Boholano solon believes that even if the bill would be approved in the House, Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III might veto it for being unpopular in public. 

Link:

Bohol Sunday Post --- [link]

Hydropower developer inspects prospective sites

FUTURE DAM SITE? Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (in sunglasses) of Bohol’s 2nd District leads Sunwest Water and Electric Co. Vice President for Engineering Mariano Caliva and other officials to a vantage point in Danao town to view Brgy. Bayongan in San Miguel town below. Other photo shows Aumentado and Robert Uy in part of the spillway system that brings the excess water from the Malinao Dam in Pilar town to Bayongan. Fotos: ROMEL TERUEL

By: JUNE S. BLANCO

RANKING officials of a power developing company recently conducted ocular inspections of possible dam sites that can be harnessed for hydroelectric power. 

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) guided officials of Sunwest Water and Electric Co. (Suweco) that specializes in developing renewable energy sources and bulk water facilities – and distributing the power or water generated especially to rural communities. 

Aumentado brought Suweco Vice President for Engineering Mariano Caliva and Robert Uy to vantage points along Second Rural Road Improvement Project (SRRIP) roads in Bonotbonot and Benliw in Buenavista and Ubay towns respectively, the Northeast Catch Basin in Danao and the Bayongan Dam in San Miguel that can easily produce three megawatts of power without submerging populated areas. 

The solon stressed that he and the Suweco representatives always take into consideration the welfare of residents. He said he does not want them to assume risks in development projects like this. 

Like his father and namesake Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado, the son says he is also forward-looking - taking steps this early to boost the power generation of Bohol to prevent province-wide outages like what happened when the geothermal power source in Leyte failed due to damage wrought by super typhoon Yolanda.

Credits:

Bohol Standard --- [link]

Aris donates fund to jumpstart alternative livelihood for co-op

Rep. Erico "Aris" C. Aumentado, 2nd District Representative, Bohol

 By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) has urged members of the Tagum Norte Multipurpose Cooperative (TNMPC) in Trinidad town to develop alternative means of livelihood on top of farming. 

Aumentado gave the encouraging words during the 45-strong cooperative’s general assembly at the TNMPC building. 

 He brought along John Luardo, who heads a group of local coffee growers and Adrian Escabusa, manager of Bionas Bohol. Luardo expressed interest in intercropping coffee with other high value crops like the jatropha which produces biofuel. Bionas Philippines is the first and sole company of the country to produce, manufacture, process and distribute bio-fuel from Jatropha curcas. 

 Aumentado also introduced the making of powder detergent and fabric conditioner as another option to add income for his constituents. 

He turned over a donation of P10,000 from personal funds as seed money for the coop members who want to venture into jatropha planting. He also told the farmers that scholarships for qualified students are also available through the office of PB member Dionisio Balite. 

 The young solon admitted that he has a soft spot in his hearts for his constituents and always looks after their welfare.

Aris turns over master plans to 2nd District brgys

MASTER PLAN. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) accepts a copy of the Integrated Barangay Master Plan prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government from NEDA Deputy Director General Margarita Songco while NEDA Region 7 Dir.Efren Carreon and DILG Bohol Director Loisella Lucino look on. At right, government development partners witness the turn over from Songco to Aumentado. Fotos: ROMEL TERUEL

By JUNE S. BLANCO
  

REP. Erico Boyles Aumentado may already have gone ahead to the Great Beyond, but his dream to accelerate the development of the countryside especially in Bohol’s 2nd District is now one step closer to realization in his son and Congressional successor, Erico Aristotle.

The younger Aumentado led turnover rites of the Integrated Barangay Development Master Plan to the mayors, vice mayors – and to the barangay captains of all villages in the district – at the Kiddies Farm in Calanggaman, Ubay town.

He said the barangay master plan using the integrated area development strategy will become the road map of development in the villages, thereby ensuring the continuity of development regardless of changes of governance.

Deputy Director General (DDG) Margarita Songco of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said with the barangay master plan, all funding agencies shall have a ready reference to accurately answer the concerns of the barangays – gathered during several consultations with the communities. 

She said the late solon was a visionary leader – a cut above the rest. Just months after the executive order on bottom-up budgeting (BuB) was released, the late Aumentado immediately poured in P1.1 million from his pork barrel to implement the barangay master planning, with NEDA and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Central Visayas spearheading the process for all the 346 barangays in the district.

For his part, NEDA Region 7 Dir. Efren Carreon said the elder Aumentado was a man determined to improve the lives of his constituency. He had left no stone unturned to assure the completion of his dreams, now pursued by his son.

Local Government Affairs head Anthony Damalerio who represented Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto recognized Aris’ determination in seeing things done. He expressed appreciation for the father and son for their exemplary leadership. 

Also with Songco, Carreon and Damalerio were DILG Bohol Dir. Loisella Lucino, Social Welfare Region 7 Dir. Mercedita Jabagat, Dr. Portia Reyes of the Department of Health (DOH) Bohol representing DOH- Center for Health Development Region 7 Dir. Jaime Bernadas, Education Region 7 Dir. Carmelita Dulangon, Labor and Employment Region 7 Dir. Chona Mantilla, Trade and Industry Region 7 Dir. Asteria Caberte and Public Works and Highways Engr.Froilan.

Aris to NBI: Wage war vs. drugs, smugglers

Rep. Erico "Aris" C. Aumentado

By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) has a special request for his uncle: go after drug pushers and rice smugglers.

His uncle is the newly-appointed director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), lawyer Virgilio “Dodong” Mendez.

Aumentado expressed pride and elation over the appointment. Knowing his uncle, he said the trust and confidence of the appointing authority, the Department of Justice, the NBI and his colleagues in the bureau will not go to waste. 

His uncle is an operations ace has led sting operations leading to the capture of heads and members of syndicates and the busting of their groups. Proofs are medals, House resolutions among them those authored by his namesake father and predecessor in the congressional seat, and other tokens expressing gratitude and conferring honor on him for his achievements that occupy places of honor in his home and office.

To note, his father was responsible for creating the NBI office in Bohol that now occupies space at the Capitol Annex along J.A. Clarin St., Tagbilaran City.

The solon said drugs destroy the future of the youth who abuse them while rice smuggling hurts and cripples the economy as well as shortchanges the consumers.

Meanwhile, Aumentado sponsored the fees for the filing of certificates of no marriage (Cenomar) with the National Statistics Office (NSO) for over 80 persons in Ubay town who will be married in mass wedding rites that is one of the highlights of the town fiesta on January 29-30 in honor of its patron, Sr. Sto. Niño – a tradition began by his father. The late solon was born in Brgy. Fatima, Ubay.

Links:

Bohol Chronicle --- [link]