House OKs SS bill

By June S. Blanco

THE Lower House Wednesday approved on third and final reading the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2015.

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) who co-authored the bill said government workers now need to only wait for the Senate version of the same – now at the committee level.

Once approved by the president, the SSL will standardize the salary increases of government workers in four tranches from 2016 to 2019.

Aumentado said this is his small contribution lift the plight – his “little Chirstmas gift” – for government workers so that they can cope with the price movement of commodities.

Meanwhile, also last Wednesday, at the Carabao Festival in Brgy. Lomangog, Ubay town, the solon broached the idea of tourism stakeholders, particularly the resort and hotel owners, to offer carabao’s milk as welcome drink for their guests.

This would be the healthier and more nutritious alternative to liquor-laced drinks. This would also provide a guaranteed market for the carabao’s milk that local farmers get from their work animals.

Pausing from his message to get Gov. Edgar Chatto’s reaction, the chief executive vowed to issue a circular to tourism stakeholders adopting his proposal – a move that earned the audience’s approval by way of applause. ~~~ END

Link:

• Photo credit - CNN Philippines

Aris: CFO to inspect areas, dams for corporate farming

Farming

By June S. Blanco

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado’s (Bohol, 2nd District) exploration for still another livelihood scheme for farmers is nearing realization.

This after the chief financial officer (CFO) of a multi-billion peso company said he will visit Bohol before the year ends for a look-see of rice lands and other areas as well as dams preparatory to the implementation of corporate farming. The dams are a plus factor for the rice farmers as these provide irrigation during dry spells. Irrigated rice lands stand a better chance than rain-fed fields when the El Niño phenomenon or extended dry spell strikes.

The solon said the CFO will conduct a financial feasibility study in order to draw the best scheme to implement the program. The study will also map the criteria to determine qualified farmer-participants.

He said he is stepping up on best farming schemes to boost productivity so that Bohol will be competitive when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration is implemented in 2017.

Under the scheme, the company will spend for everything needed to plant palay – the farmers do not spend anything at all.

On top of that, Aumentado said the investor will pay at least the minimum wage to the farmers for the land preparation and rice planting, weeding and fertilization as well as pay rent for the use of their lands.

He added that the investors will assume the risks brought on by typhoons, drought, pest infestations and the like.

On top of that, participating farmers will also be enrolled with the Social Security System (SSS) so that after years of work while in their prime, they can have support to tide them over during their sunset years.

The investor admitted that they chose to partner with the solon for this venture after knowing fully the brand of leadership the Aumentados have. ~~~ END

Links:

• Photo - Living in Bohol

Tapal Wharf expansion starts

Tapal Wharf, Tapal, Ubay, Bohol

By June S. Blanco

EXPANSION of the Tapal Wharf in Ubay has started.

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) said the expansion is funded with P60 million inserted into the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) 2015 budget and implemented by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) – its attached agency that focuses on the financing, management and operations of ports throughout the archipelago.

Aumentado said the expansion is expected to allow cargo boats, even ships, to make their deliveries on time instead of staying at anchorage and waiting for their turns to dock and unload.

To note, each day of the cargoes’ stay on board spells a corresponding day of fees for the boat by the suppliers. The solon said the suppliers however just pass on to the consumers this added cost so that the prices of goods skyrocket.

The wharf expansion, he said, will provide Bohol with a bigger gateway of commerce. The approach to Tapal, he explained, is deeper so that it has the potential for development into one even bigger than the Ubay port.

The roll on-roll off ramp at Tapal will also be expanded and extended to accommodate bigger boats instead of only the pump boats and smaller barges that ply the Tapal-Popoo, Tapal-Leyte and Tapal-Mindanao routes. Popoo is in the island town of President Carlos P. Garcia.

The expanded wharf that is able to accommodate bigger boats opens the possibility of a direct Ubay to Manila route for passengers and cargoes, Aumentado said. 

The solon said this will complement the expected landing at the Ubay airport of commercial flights as DoTC through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is developing the same with a P56 million allocation from its 2016 budget.

The infrastructure revs Ubay to be an alternate route for quicker travel to the tourist attractions on the northeastern side of Bohol and make it an alternate port for commercial vessels, he added. ~~~ END

Rep. Aris pushes for salary standard’n law

By June S. Blanco

WHEN major issues are up for deliberation in the House of Representatives, the Speaker usually calls allies for support.

Rep. Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) was among those who Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. called to support the new salary standardization bill that seeks to rationalize the salary increase of government workers over the next four years.

Aumentado said it is high time that the salary of government workers is increased for them to cope with the rising cost of living.

Given the price movement of products through these years, the solon observed that the salary of ordinary government workers is no longer enough to support a family of four.

The bill also has a provision for a 14th month pay for these workers to have fallback funds to use during the school opening in May on top of the yuletide season bonus.

Aumentado vowed that he will fully support this bill when presented at the plenary for deliberation. ~~~ END

Link sites:

Photo - http://www.pesomatters.com/g1/how-much-is-the-fair-salary-increase.html

Aris: Power for far-flung, smaller islands assured

By June S. Blanco

FAR-FLUNG islands and islets in Bohol’s 2nd District will soon get 24/7 electricity – and with it, development and progress – through the National Power Corporation’s (NPC) Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG).

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said this is on top of the assurance of National Electrification Administrator Edita Bueno of funding for submarine cables for the energization of the bigger and nearer islands in Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido and Ubay towns.

The solon quoted Bueno as saying that site inspections have been conducted and studies are now being transferred on paper to support the release of funds for more islands after Mahanay of Getafe and Talibon towns.

With the bigger islands prepped for energization, Aumentado trained his sights on the smaller islands farther from the mainland.

These being too costly for energization via submarine cables, the solon met up with Vice President Edmundo Veloso Jr. and Engr. Rene B. Barruella, Project Management Division Manager, both of NPC’s Small Power Utility Group (SPUG).

To fast track implementation, the solon told the SPUG officers that NEA has allocated funds to procure distribution lines as its counterpart in order to deliver electricity from generator sets to be installed in the islands or islets for distribution to the households and consumers.

Aumentado said according to Veloso, NPC-SPUG has already allocated funds in the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the generators. They have conducted the study, paperwork and site inspection for plant location. 

For the “blessings,” the solon expressed gratitude to NPC President Maria Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, Veloso and Barruela, as well as Bueno and her staff. 

Aumentado said the technology is like the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project (LBIP) Stages 1 and 2 that brought power from the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant in Leyte that his namesake father and immediate congressional predecessor Erico Boyles Aumentado had shepherded from conception and gestation up until realization.

Once the generators are in place, and upon notification by NEA, the Bohol II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Boheco II), will install the lines from the generator sets and distribute power to the consumers.

The project forms part of Aumentado’s total electrification project for the 2nd district’s 35 islands. The solon said he has been addressing the lack of electricity even before it surfaced as one of the problems identified by the 100-strong population of the district among the 400 respondents of the Bohol Poll 2015 ran March 26 to April 17 by the Holy Name University Center for Research and Publications.

The solon said development can set in only when power is available. Power enables fishermen to keep part of their catch to sell during full moons when fish is scarce and the demand is strong, or during stormy weather.

Without power, fishermen are constrained to sell their catch cheap, especially if abundant, rather than risk spoilage. ~ END

Ubay airport gets P56M in 2016 CAAP budget

By June S. Blanco

DEVELOPMENT next year of the Ubay Airport in Barangay Camambugan is guaranteed.

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) said the “guarantee” comes in the form of a P56.5-million allocation inserted in the 2016 budget of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Aumentado said CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss III showed him a copy of the authority’s finalized budget submitted to Congress.

In a separate meeting with Deputy Director General Rodante Joya, the solon said he was shown a copy of CAAP’s Annual Procurement Plan (APP) that allocated such amount for the improvement of the runway, construction of a terminal building and of a water reservoir.

Aumentado said the funding came about following the request of his namesake father and immediate congressional predecessor Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado, and his consistent follow-ups, including filing House Bill 5889 seeking to improve the Ubay Airport and requesting funds for the purpose.

He said the House Transportation Committee chaired by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes, Lone District) helped him arrange to outsource the same from the CAAP general fund.

The explanatory note said the improvement of the airport will be in preparation for the feeder of the Panglao Airport and the Mactan International Airport, flying school hub in the Central Visayas in the near future and even commercial flights.

The solon waxed sentimental when he said the project would be a another dream-come-true for his father.

The elder Aumentado had been a “dreamer” who was able to implement mega projects, among them, the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project (BCRIP) Phases 1 & 2, the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project (LBIP) Stages 1 & 2 and the Bohol Irrigation Project Phases 1 & 2 (BHIP).

He continued to envision more infrastructure, including a flying school and even a commercial airport for smaller planes on the other end of Bohol, opposite to Tagbilaran City, on the fist-shaped island – and a bridge to link Bohol and Cebu. ~~~ END

CONSTANT. Doggedly following up projects with concerned agencies really pay. On his visit to Deputy Director General Rodante Joya (left), Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado was given a copy of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ Annual Procurement Plan showing, among others, the P56.5-million allocation for the improvement of the Ubay Airport. Aumentado recently visited the Ubay Airport in Barangay Camambugan. CONTRIBUTED

House Bill 04979

Rep. Aris Aumentado

Rep Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado co-authored the Bill filed by Cong. Emil L. Ong. The House Bill 04979 " AN ACT PROHIBITING THE RANKING SYSTEM IN THE HIRING AND SELECTION OF TEACHERS IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL IN THE PHILIPPINES".

The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers provides for the minimum educational qualifications for teacher-applicants without precluding the Department of Education to lay down any recruitment order has been issued which provided for guidelines in hiring teachers. Thus aside from the minimum qualifications that must met by teacher-applicants, more criteria have been added which in a way made it more difficult for teacher-applicants to be hired although the need is high. 

Ranking under the Department of Education Order shall apply only when there are no qualified applicants for the vacant positions in public schools and other learning centers. That is, when there are no qualified bona fide residents of the barangay, municipality, city or province where the school is located. 

Moreover, the Civil Service prescribes only minimum qualifications to qualify in a certain job position. It is on this note that any hiring of teachers should and must comply only minimum requirements of the law. Ranking therefore as requirement in hiring of teachers must be prohibited. ~~~ END

Rep. Aris pushes funds for Ubay causeway in ’16 budget

By June S. Blanco

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) is pushing for the funding to complete the causeway linking Barangay Tapon in Ubay town to the public market.

Aumentado said work of CCM Construction on Phase 2 of the project costing P48 million has so far been good.

He said CCM had also worked on Phase 1 that cost P31 million implemented during the time of his father and immediate congressional predecessor Erico Boyles Aumentado.

The elder Aumentado who hails from Ubay, had witnessed the economic growth of the town. He predicted the congestion of the road around the public market and leading to the Ubay port owing to the increasing volume of market-goers and port users. 

As early as during his term as governor, he had observed that the container vans unloaded at the port were becoming bigger due to the increasing volume and variety of goods Ubay “imports” from Cebu. The latter is nearer to Ubay than Bohol’s capital, Tagbilaran City, which is on the opposite tip – on the southwest side of the fist-shaped island, some 125 kilometers away.

The businessmen’s preference to move cargoes by sea than by land and growing economy contributed to the congestion and gave birth to his father’s causeway concept, implemented by phase.

Remaining works are expected to cost less than P50 million. Aumentado said he will push for the insertion of funds for the purpose in the 2016 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways. 

He said provided a project costs below P50 million, it will be implemented by the Engineering District office concerned.

As soon as the funds are downloaded, he said, the DPWH district engineering sub-office in Ubay can conduct the bidding for Phase 3 or the causeway’s completion stage. ~~~ END

Pa establishes infra; son pushes livelihood

ROAD TO DEVELOPMENT

By June S. Blanco

IT PAYS to work closely with the visionary, planner and implementor.

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) may be into his first term yet as congressman. But unlike some of his neophyte colleagues, he has been way ahead in learning the ropes for the job. 

He had been doing some legwork for his father, Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado in his both his capacities as son and as chief of staff. He held the latter position until his father died on Christmas Day in 2012 – a few months before the 2013 elections.

The family and party consensus saw him as the replacement candidate. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Aumentado was there when his father conceptualized, shepherded through gestation and implemented his mega projects – the Bohol Circumferential Road Phases 1 and 2 that now provides safe and convenient travel in less time, the Bohol Irrigation Project Phases 1 and 2 that have saved the crops of the farmers during long dry seasons, the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project Stages 1 and 2 that now supplies 100 megawatts of power for the province’s demand, and parallel infrastructure.

The elder solon had always said development can only be achieved with the attendant infrastructure in place.

The younger Aumentado said these infrastructure – already laid out – have made the Boholanos’ life easier. At the same time, he admits that these are far from complete, and he is even exploring ways to add more locally generated power, more upgraded roads, irrigation, school buildings and bridges including the proposed 17-kilometer Bohol-Cebu Bridge anchoring in Getafe town in northern Bohol and Cordova in Cebu.

But in a parallel move, he has been pushing for the doubling of the 2016 budget for livelihood projects of the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (Tesda) and the Departments of Labor and Employment (Dole) and of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

To note, he has been tapping the three agencies for livelihood funding for people’s organizations and associations in his district. This means, he has been giving out fund assistance for start-up capital for his constituents who belong to organized groups even in the absence of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel by whatever name it is called.

The Supreme Court had declared the PDAF to be unconstitutional. Funds previously given to congressmen for their discretionary fund are now given to the different departments. 

These funds are what Aumentado has been tapping to help especially his Yolanda-hit constituents to be back on their feet again. --- END

Rep. Aris distributes P30-M checks for livelihood capital

GOING BEYOND BOHOL SHORES. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (6th from left) and Region 7 Directors Asteria Caberte of Trade and Industry and Mercedita Jabagat of Social Welfare and Development (2nd and 4th from left) lead the distribution of checks worth P30 million to capacitate and bankroll the loomweaving, crab meat processing and fish (sardines) processing projects for Boholanos. Witnessing the event are Mayors Natividad Redulla-Gonzaga of Danao and Ronald Lowell Tirol of Buenavista (7th and 8th from left) and the municipal agricultural officers of Pres. Garcia and Panglao. At extreme left is Antonieto Pernia, Aumentado’s consultant on livelihood. CONTRIBUTED FOTO

By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) distributed Friday P30 million in checks for livelihood projects of weavers and fisherfolks in four Bohol municipalities in rites held at the cultural center of Buenavista town.

The checks will capacitate and bankroll loomweaving projects in Buenavista and Danao, crab meat processing in the island town of President Carlos P. Garcia and fish processing in Panglao.

The funds are from the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the 2015 General Appropriations Act – to be implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DSWD Region 7 Director Mercedita Jabagat and DTI Region 7 Director Asteria Caberte travelled with Aumentado to Buenavista in north Bohol for the ceremony witnessed by Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell Tirol, Danao Mayor Natividad Redulla-Gonzaga and the municipal agricultural officers of Pres. Garcia and Panglao.

In her message, Caberte said the loomweavers of Buenavista and Danao will take up the slack in the orders from Paris, France and other Eurpoean countries that current Bohol weavers could not meet. Caberte said new designs for raffia – the dried, bleached and colored fiber from the shoots of the buri palm – have been coming in. 

She said the Bohol weavers must grab the opportunity otherwise the European importers might look to other provinces that can meet their product demand.

DTI is also looking at teaching the Pres. Garcia islanders to process their own crab meat for added value – and to make their product available all year round not only in the town but in supermarkets in the main land as well. 

The same goes true for the fisherfolks of Panglao. Instead of the Boholanos importing sardines from other provinces, Caberte said the process can be reversed after capacitating the Boholanos.

For his part, Aumentado said he will tap other sources to fund the construction of the crab meat processing center.

He said it is high time that the Boholanos tap their innate talent and skill. With training, they can easily produce loomwovens like raffia fabrics, placemats, table runners, rolls and decors, processed crab meat and sardines – and offer these for sale beyond Bohol shores. --- END

Aris: Investors bullish on corporate farming

By JUNE S. BLANCO

August 16, 2015

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado’s (Bohol, 2nd District) exploration for still another livelihood scheme for farmers is nearing realization.

This after two investors he met expressed willingness to venture into corporate farming.

The solon said the investors will conduct a feasibility study in order to draw the best scheme to implement the program.

The study will also draw the criteria qualifying farmers for the program.

Under the scheme, the investors will spend for everything needed to plant palay – the farmers do not spend anything at all.

On top of that, Aumentado said the investors will pay at least the minimum wage to the farmers for the land preparation and rice planting, weeding and fertilization as well as pay rent for the use of their lands.

He added that the investors will assume the risks brought on by typhoons, drought, pest infestations and the like.

On top of that, participating farmers will also be enrolled with the Social Security System (SSS) so that after years of work while in their prime, they can have support to tide them over during their sunset years.

The investors admitted that they chose to partner with the solon for this venture after knowing fully the brand of leadership the Aumentados have. --- END

Links:

- Photo from untvweb http://www.untvweb.com/news/tag/rice-farming/

Bohol-Cebu bridge on

Bohol-Cebu Friendship Bridge design

If the new Bohol Airport which construction will start this month took decades before it got implemented, the proposed Bohol-Cebu Friendship bridge is forecast not to take that long considering the economic viability of the project.

This was the identical statement issued by Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep.Aris Aumentado who are both bullish about the realization of the project.

Rep. Aumentado said initial meetings were already conducted among three Philippine based  and a foreign investor who are interested to work on the project under the Private Public Project modality. The young solon told The Chronicle last Friday that he wants to “make a dream come true” of his late father, Erico Aumentado in whose term as governor this project was conceptualized.

The proposed 22-km. bridge  linking  the two provinces will be connected from Getafe town in Bohol and Cordova, Mactan in Cebu.

It may be  recalled that it was during the term of the late Gov. Aumentado that the idea of a bridge linking Bohol and Cebu was thought about. The Chronicle was privy to the start of the project’s conceptualization which the late governor termed as the “3-in-1″ project. The business components of the project includes water, power, trade and commerce.

This  “3-in-1″ project which is a 22 km. bridge will make possible the selling of  water from Inabanga River to Mactan through a water pipe attached to the bridge and at the same time bring in cheaper power from Cebu to Bohol. The third component which would make the Friendship Bridge even more economically viable is the income to be derived through the trade and commerce bringing in goods and commuters as well as tourists between the two bustling provinces of Central Visayas.

Rep. Aumentado is scheduled to meet  interested investors of the  project which is estimated to cost some $2.5 billion using a floating bridge technology with an viaduct. Because of the huge investment in implementing the project, the fund is expected to come from private investors who at this early stage found the economic viability of the project.

The solon said  private investors have shown interest in the project. He even quoted some investors saying the bridge to be more economically viable than the new airport in Panglao.

Rep. Aumentado said the investors, once organized, would conduct the feasibility project  which is expected to be completed in a couple of years.  The “corporate vehicle” is expected to be established during the meeting at the end of this month in Manila.

For his part,  Gov, Chatto when interviewed by The Chronicle said he endorsed the project for funding during a meeting held last Tuesday with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget as well as with other national government agencies at the NEDA Central offices in Manila. He said the proposed bridge is among the projects being considered to be funded in the 2016 General Appropriations Act of the national government. --- END 

Link:

• Bohol Chronicle [link]

Jatropha mill, biodiesel plants & 'agropolis' to rise in Aris turf

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

By June S. Blanco

AN “AGROPOLIS” will soon rise in Bohol's 2nd District.

This after Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, together with Malaysian investors Bionas, led switching on ceremonies in Dagohoy town Thursday for a jatropha press mill, processing plants for both jatropha and seaweeds (guso), townhouse type resorts – with a stadium, commercial centers, recreational centers, clubhouse and swimming pool, airport and seaport – in an agriculture-oriented metropolis hence, agropolis. Studies have shown that jatropha – tuba-tuba or kasla in the dialect and guso – are top producers of biodiesel or “green” fuel that minimizes carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the exhaust pipes of engines caused mainly by partial combustion.

Aumentado said from Dagohoy, the jatropha extract will be brought to Ubay town where the processing plant will be located. The same holds true for the seaweeds, considering that Ubay has seaports viable for expansion when the time comes, and an airport waiting for development. The solon said the project will provide additional income for rice, corn and coconut farmers. These are the staple crops of Bohol while jatropha remains to be considered a wild plant and used as a quack doctor's favorite prescription for a range of maladies. On the other hand, guso will provide additional income for fishermen. In both cases, the Malaysian investors will provide competitive buying prices – higher than the going rates, he added.

He said the resort will construct an initial 303 rooms – targeting 3,000 rooms in five years. The Bionas investors – coming from 49 countries – will be required to visit the agropolis at least once a year. Under the time sharing concept, they will be staying in their choice of rooms in the resort that they financed. The rooms will be rented out to transients when they return to their respective mother countries where they will campaign for tourists and vacationers. Aumentado said top architectural firms will be presenting their designs for the biggest hotel cum resort by next month for the investors to choose from so that construction can start next year. He also assured his constituents that the laborers, hotel/resort staff including the cooks, chambermaids and even managers – if they qualify – will be taken from the local work force. --- END

Links:

• Bohol Sunday Post [link]
• Bohol Standard [link]