Press Release

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has 15 nominees for the different categories of the GawadSaka Search at the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 for this year.
Dr. Larry M. Pamugas, Officer-in-Charge, OPA said that last Monday the provincial agriculture had respectfully endorsed to Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, Ph.D. LLM, Regional Executive Director DA-RFO7 the list of the provincial nominees of Bohol for the regional level search who are the following: NunelitoVen C. Garrote of Purok 3, Dela Paz, Cortes (Outstanding Small Animal Raiser); Vicente Rosales, Jr., Purok 2, Casate, Ubay (Outstanding Large Animal Raiser); Eulogio C. Galler, Omjon, Valencia (Outstanding Corn Farmer Adoption Integrated Farming System); Canlusong Women’s Association, Canlusong Valencia (Outstanding Rural Improvement Club (RIC); Ubojan Young Dreamers 4-H Club, Sagbayan (Outstanding Young Farmer Association Club);
PoncianoSumampong, Batuan (Outstanding Farmer-Fish Culture); Rodrigo Evardo, Talibon (Outstanding Fish Capture); Ubay Fish Vendor Association, Ubay (Outstanding Fishermen’s Association), Efrenia Holt, Cabayugan, Calape (Outstanding Rural Woman); Canjulao League of Women (CLOW), Canjulao, Jagna (Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Crop); Cornelio Galamiton, Matin-ao, Sierra Bullones (High-Value Commercial Development Program (HVCDP) Farmer); Jorge M. Pamugas, Dangay, Albur (Coconut Farmer); Vicente and MarcianaLuminarias, Trinidad (Farm Family); AquileoColumnas, Carmen (Rice Farmer Adopting Integrated Farming); and Emerson Añasco, Carmen (Young Farmer category).
Dr. Pamugas explained that the PGBh has abled to summit the nominees for GawadSaka Search at the regional level after the evaluators had completed evaluating all the nominees for the SuhidsaMalampusong Mag-uumang Bola-non 2020 and come-up the winners of the different categories which would automatically be the nominees of the search.
It may be recalled that since February 3, 2020, the SUHID evaluators from National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Provincial Field Office, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office-Department of Agriculture (PATCO-DA), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and OPA had done the evaluations to the 108 nominees for the 27 categories of the provincial search after they were being asked by Pamugas to fast track the evaluations to come up with the winners for the GawadSaka Search nominees.
The GawadSaka Search is one of three activities of the DA-RFO7 tripled with the Regional Achievers Award (RAA) and Regional Organic Award (ROA) of which the awarding ceremony will be simultaneously conducted.
Helen Igot, section head-Institutional Division Section, Agribusiness Division, OPA said that there are other nominees from Bohol for ROA and RAA. However, their endorsements have not come from OPA but through the Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs) or Municipal Agriculturists (MAs).
Last year GawadSaka Search, RAA and ROA, the nominees from Bohol bagged 18 of the close to 30 categories.
Pamugas is expecting that more categories would still be garnered by Boholano nominees besting other provinces in Central Visayas; Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. (Atoy Cosap)

Even though that the prices of copra are low, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the province of Bohol has strongly urged the Boholanos to plant coconut for future income, four to five years to go if properly grown.
PCA Provincial Manager Emiliano Romero and PCA Senior Agriculturist Primo Galendez have made the call amid the continued re-planting program of coconut spearheaded by their office.
Romero and Galendez said that the two coconut nurseries in Bohol namely: Central Visayas Coconut Seed Production Center (CVCSPC) in Calanggaman, Ubay and the Loay Code Farmer (LCF) in La Salinas, Loay have produced the hybrid and dwarf varieties of coconut seedlings and are ready to be planted in the re-planting program to include the participatory coconut planting, coconut seedling dispersal, and accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation programs.
They said that the CVCSPC has produced the hybrid PCA 15-9, Hybrid PCA 15-4, MRDX Tagnanan and green dwarf varieties (Katigan and Takunan) while the LCF has only produced the green dwarf varieties.
The hybrid varieties will bear fruits within five years after planting while the dwarf varieties have four years if properly grown by the farmers to include the proper application of fertilizer.
Earlier, Romero disclosed that in the coconut seedling dispersal program, the farmers were given coconut seedlings by PCA for them to plant while the participatory coconut planting program, requires the farmers to plant utilizing their own seedlings and they would be paid by the PCA at P45 per stabilized coconut seedling.
On the other hand, the accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation program is another of which the farmers were given the coconut coir-based organic fertilizer.
Romero and Galendez said that the two nurseries are not only supplying the needed coconut seedlings in Central Visayas but also in Tacloban and Leyte areas or in Region 8.
They said that the drive against illegal cutting of coconut trees has no letting up considering that there are still violators of which some of them were already penalized and convicted.
As of now, Bohol has 104,000 hectares (has.) of planted coconut and the area is still increasing due to the re-planting program. (AtoyCosap)

CAPTION:

VARIETIES OF COCONUT TREES. The hybrid variety (left photo) and the green dwarf variety (right photo) of coconut trees are both recommended by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for plantingthrough the re-planting program in the province of Bohol. These varieties are produced at the Central Visayas Seed Production Center in Calanggaman, Ubay, Bohol and Loay Code Farmer in La Salinas, Loay, Bohol.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) like any other offices in the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has implemented the “Skeletal Force Manpower” work arrangement.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Larry M. Pamugas explained that this work arrangement were the revision of what he has first requested Governor Art C. Yap last March 16, 2020 for a flexible work setup in the OPA. This is intended as an alternative to further lessen the number of employees reporting to work in the new capitol which means lesser number of people to monitor and lesser chances of virus transmission.
Pamugas further explained that this scheme has been implemented after being approved by Provincial Administrator Atty. Kathyrin Fe D. Pioquinto by authority of the governor but must observe and respect the normal office hours at the office to comply with the Civil Service Commission directive for the 40-hour work week.
ALTERNATIVE WORK ASSIGNMENTS
The approved alternative work assignments and guidelines in the homes implemented at the OPA state to allow all office-based employees including contractual and job order workers to work at home and perform agriculture and fishery-related tasks that may be assigned subject to further internal office guidelines such as but not limited to:
The field employees assigned in facilities nurseries and hatcheries shall remain dispensing or rendering their work during normal working hours subject to the social distancing measures that health experts suggests;
Bagging of soil media for seedlings at 200 bag per day, mangroves or fruit tree growing at a minimum of 10 trees a day, vegetable growing at a minimum of 20 hills per day either in containers or in plots, encoding of agriculture and fishery database, drafting of different OPA Information Education Communication (IEC) materials, technical staff will focus their job in their respective target areas, any office target that may be performed at home authorized by the immediate supervision;
All OPA employees working at home and facilities shall be obliged to keep their phone lines open for office actionable matters needing immediate attention; allow pregnant women and other employees with health concerns to strictly adopt the work at home performing whichever activity is applicable subject however to supervision of their immediate supervisor.
SKELETAL FORCE
The skeletal force or manpower assigned at the office in rotation basis shall be tasked to receive communications and tend to clients needing assistance. However, matters needing immediate action by specific personnel authorized to work from home shall be immediately communicated to such person and his/her immediate supervision for appropriate action, he said.
Pamugas said that an employee who has an important activity outside of these guidelines shall seek approval from his/her immediate supervisor prior to the performance of such.
The Assistant Provincial Agriculturist in the provincial government clarified that while these alternative work assignments may have adverse effect to our precious and official primary work targets and assignments, we also recognize that this COVID 19 crisis needs the most effective measures to resolve it altogether.
This means that we have to explore all our options to stop the spread of the virus through any means necessary and through minimizing the number of employees in office spaces, he added.
SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTION,
MITIGATION OF COVID-19
Last March 23, 2020, PA Pioquinto by authority of Gov. Yap issued a memorandum to all provincial officials, employees and workers regarding the supplemental guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of the COVID-19 stating to further take necessary steps in minimizing risk or to prevent, contain, and mitigate the possible transmission of the fast-rising horrific COVID-19 in the communities, thus alternative work arrangement in the PGBh is being implemented.
It stated that the Department Head/Head of Office/ Chief of Hospital is directed to organize a scheme that is applicable and customized to the nature of its office services; flexible work schedule of not earlier than 7 a.m. and not later than 7 p.m. is allowed as far as practicable, except those on 24/7 duty; work from home arrangement shall be approved by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital as recommended by the division heads based on applicable and agreed upon work load deliverables.
WORK FROM HOME
In making schedules and priorities in “Work From Home” arrangements, the following would take into consideration: categorized as senior citizen employees (ages 60 and above); pregnant and lactating mothers; employees with the following health circumstances: cancer, diabetes type 1 & 2, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, immune-compromised among others; maintain a skeletal staff of not more than 50% daily to decongest the office, maintain social distancing and a mandatory wearing of face mask; temporary suspension in the use of biometric machines in recording employees’ attendance in office retroactive March 16, 2020 until April 30, 2020.
Wearing of office uniforms is optional for employees’ convenience but shall be on appropriate business attire considering the scarcity of means of transportation in going to and from their respective offices wherein many opt to reach their offices by just walking than waiting for a vehicle;
And a Work From Home accomplishment shall be required by the department head, head of office and chief of hospital and concerned employee shall be on call anytime during working days when services so require, otherwise, the privilege accorded to the employees would have been abused to the prejudice of public service.
In the quest that the province of Bohol and the new capitol are free from the spread of virus, Dr. Pamugas always reminded the division heads of OPA to monitor the health of each employee of which anyone who has flu like symptoms (fever, cold, or cough) should not be allowed to report to work and the heads shall be held responsible for any lapse of his directive.
Pamugas emphasized that the normal office operations shall be restored immediately once the situations become normalize and a subsequent proclamation from the office of the governor be issued. (Atoy Cosap)

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Government of Bohol and the coconut farmers are bracing against the possible full-blown infestation of coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa Longissima) to coconut plantation in the province to curb if not totally control the damage.
Emiliano Romero, Bohol Provincial PCA Manager, quoting the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network data, said the coconut leaf beetle is one of the most damaging pests of coconut and other palms.
The larvae and adults of the beetle feed on the soft tissues of the youngest leaf in the center stem of the palm. Affected leaves dry up, resulting in stunting of the palm and reduced nut production. Prolonged attacks on young palms can lead to decay.
Romero said that almost all towns in the province of Bohol have been infested especially the newly planted coconut tree, however, at a minimal stage.
The PCA manager in the province said that farmers whose coconut plantations are affected by the palm leaf beetle were given parasitoid (biological control agent) cultured at their laboratory in Loay, Bohol to control the spread of the beetle.
According to an Asian-based palm research institute, biological control by using parasitoid, predator and entomopathogenic fungus has a good chance to depress population of B. longissima in the field. Pest control by using natural enemies is not as popular as using pesticide. Biological control would decrease the use of insecticides. Therefore, it has a good impact on the environment. Additionally, this practice has a long-term impact to depress or manage the pest population on coconut plantation in low level of palm damage.
Romero further explained that the coconut leaf beetle was accidentally brought here in the Philippines through ornamental importation from the affected countries abroad.
AREAS PLANTED WITH COCONUT
The province of Bohol has 104,000 hectares (has) of coconut plantation and increasing with the continued re-planting program of the PCA to include participatory coconut planting, coconut seedling dispersal, and accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation programs.
In the coconut seedling dispersal program, the farmers were given coconut seedlings by PCA for them to plant while the participatory coconut planting program requires the farmers to plant utilizing their own seedling and they would be paid by the PCA at P45 per stabilized coconut seedling.
On the other hand, the accelerated coconut planting and rehabilitation program is another program of which the farmers were given the coconut coir based organic fertilizer.
Romero bared that in the re-planting program, the province has an average area of 1,200 has. planted annually.
COPRA PRICE
In the present condition that the buying price of copra is P70 per kilo, Romero suggested that coconut farmers become entrepreneurs by utilizing the whole nut. They can sell eight months old young nut and process these into dried coconut chips. The nine months old nut demands higher prices. This can be an alternative from solely depending on copra.
Romero said the income of the coconut farmers in the Philippines have been greatly affected by low prices of copra in the international market which also dictates the prices in local markets because of so many competitors in the source of edible oil such as oil palm, soya beans among others.
He said that copra industry in the country is not locally but internationally market driven commodity with 70% exportation and only 30% domestic usage and as such if the prices are shaken the income of the farmers would be greatly affected.
Romero said this is a reverse situation in other countries where exportation is only 30% and the domestic usage is 70%.
ILLEGAL CUTTING
The PCA manager said that the campaign to go against the illegal cutting of coconut trees has no letting up.
In fact, he said that there are three violators from the towns of Loboc, Sikatuna, and Getafe who are convicted.
In Loboc, the chainsaw operator was sentenced to two years of imprisonment and in Sikatuna the culprit has meted a fine of P100,000 and imprisonment of two years while in Getafe a couple was convicted of which the wife had paid a fine of P100,000 and the husband has served two years of imprisonment.
Romero urged the Boholanos to refrain from illegal cutting of coconut trees, and instead engage in re-planting program activities of the plant species coined as “The Tree of Life.” (Atoy Cosap)

BRONTISPA INFESTATION. Deadly Brontispa Longissima or coconut leaf beetle (photo below) attacks the coconut tree through the soft tissues of the youngest leaf in the center stem resulting in stunting of the palm and reduced nut production and the prolonged attacks on young palms can lead to decay and eventually die. Emiliano Romero (inset), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) manager in Bohol, however, says that the infestation of the coconut leaf beetle in the province is minimal.

In an effort to rehabilitate the already non-productive mango fruit trees aging 20-28 years in the province of Bohol, the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has lauched the Mango Fruit Trees Rehabilitation Projects last Wednesday in Macaas Nursery, Macaas, Tubigon, Bohol.
Reinerio Makinano for and in behalf of Governor Art C. Yap together with Mario Silagan, Municipal High Value Commercial Crop coordinator; Jannes D. Cantones, Officer-in-Charge, Municipal Agriculture Office-Loon; Gertrudes S. Fuentes, Head, Crops Division – OPA; and Rufa S. Ugay, Head, High Value Commercial Crop Development Program(HVCCDP) Section – OPA led the turned over of chemicals, flower inducer and organic fertilizers to mango growers through Eduardo Anga, president, Mango Growers and Service Provider Association (MGSPA).
Makinano said that Bohol needs more mango fruit production to answer the demand of the growing population of the Boholanos and the influx of tourists who have come in the province being a tourist destination.
He said the PGBh under the Yap and Relampagos administration has been looking forward to expand or sustain the mango industry in the province, thus these projects have been established by undergoing rehabilitation of the mango trees aging 20-25 through pruning, applying organic fertilizer and flower inducer.
MGSPA pres. Anga thanked the PGBh for giving them the inputs to include the technology on how to grow mango trees.
Ugay gave the statement of purpose and technical briefing and demo on pruning and fertilization to the mango growers.
She said that those non-bearing fruits mango trees can be rehabilitated in order to bear fruits through pruning and applying fertilizers and flower inducer.
Mayor William Richard Jao of Tubigon also thanked the provincial government that in his town the Mango Fruit Trees Rehabilitation Projects had launched.
Mayor Jao said that in Tubigon there are so many non-productive mango fruit trees that need to be rabilitated.
In the ceremonial turn-over Fuentes delivered her welcome message while Silagan formally closed the program. By Atoy Cosap

CAPTION: LAUNCHING AND CEREMONIAL TURN-OVER. Reinerio Makinano for and in behalf of Gov. Art C. Yap leads the turn-over of organic fertilizers, chemicals and flower inducers to the mango growers last Wednesday at the Macaas Nursery, Macaas, Tubigon, Bohol during the launching of the Mango Fruit Trees Rehabilitation Projects of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh). Photo by Queenie Atup-OPA

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has been determined to boost the Ubi industry in the province.
Dr. Larry M. Pamugas, Officer-In-Charge, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) during the special meeting of Bohol Ubi Growers Association (BUGA) in his office at the capitol last Wednesday said that a total of 25,294 kilos of Ubi planting materials worth P2.5M has been procured by the PGBh from the 2019 budget for Ubi dispersal.
Dr. Pamugas bared that the Las Suerta’s Fruit Trees Nursery, the supplier that based in Don Carlos, Bukidnon had delivered last Wednesday the 12,167 kilos of Ubi tubers and the remaining 13,127 kilos will be delivered momentarily.
Pamugas said that Gov. Art C. Yap is determined to boost the Ubi industry in Bohol.
He said the Ubi planting materials would be given to the members of BUGA and during harvesting time they have to return back to the provincial government the Ubi tubers produced equivalent to the number of kilos of the planting materials they acquired.
The OIC-OPA added that a subsidy of organic fertilizer will be given to the Ubi grower who could plant 1,000 kilos or above of Ubi.
Pamugas urged the Boholano farmers to engage in Ubi farming because it entails low production cost compared to the production cost of planting rice.
According to Rufa Ugay, High Value Commercial Crop Development Program (HVCCP) Coordinator, Crops and Production Division, OPA said that in one hectare of land area there are about 3,200 kilos of Ubi tubers could be planted at 10 setts per kilo of planting material.
Gertrudes Fuentes, chief- Crops and Productivity Division –OPA, bared that the tons of Ubi planting materials have been stocked at the vacated old ancestral house of Esmeraldo “Ondoy” Maligsa, the president of BUGA and at his garage in Pandol, Corella.
Fuentes and Maligsa urged the Ubi growers to get the planting materials enough for their planted areas to decongest the stocked areas so as to accommodate for another delivery.
They encouraged them to plant Ubi of at least ¼ of a hectare while they also stressed that most of the planting materials will be planted at the identified Ubi Demo Farm in Pandol, Corella.
Dr. Pamugas said that with this program Gov. Yap is expecting that on the next Ubi Festival come January more Ubi tubers will be produced and displayed for selling.
At present, the Boholano farmers could not answer the demands of big volumes of Ubi tubers from traders because the production is low.
It may be recalled that on July 1, 2019, on his second day of service as governor, Yap invited Philip Young, a trader based in Manila to attend for an investment forum together with the BUGA officers, Municipal Agriculturists/Municipal Agricultural Officers, HVCC Technicians and division chiefs of OPA held at the Panda Tea and Garden, Dao, Tagbilaran City.
In the forum, Young could not get the assurance from the Ubi growers when he asked them if they can supply his demands of tons of kilos of Ubi at P30 per kilo.
BUGA president Maligsa said that aside from being lack of Ubi production the price is very low.
He said the production cost of Ubi is P26 per hill that would usually produce at least one kilo. So if the buying price ofYoung is P30 only P4 per kilo would go to the farmers which is unfair on their part even though that the orders are in volume.
Last 20th Ubi Festival on January 28-31, 2020 held at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (BPAC) Ground, Dao, Tagbilaran City, the Ubi Kinampay was sold at P80, Baligonhon (P70), and P60/kilo for all the white varieties of Ubi.
However, Maligsa explained that the prices can be lowered if the orders or demands are in big volume but not less than P40/kilo. (Atoy Cosap)

UBI PLANTING MATERIALS. The tons of kilos of Ubi planting materials loaded on a 10-wheeler truck (left photo) from Las Suerta’s Fruit Trees Nursery in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, the supplier, last Wednesday are ready to unload for stocking at the garage owned by Esmeraldo Maligsa, Ubi growers president, in Pandol, Corella while Dr. Larry Pamugas (right photo) explains to the Ubi growers on how to acquire the planting materials and expand the planting areas of Ubi in Bohol. Foto: GERTRUDES FUENTES-OPA

The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) is fast tracking to conduct an evaluation to all nominees of the Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon to come up with the winners which would be the officials nominees for Bohol to the different categories of the Gawad Saka Search at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 in Cebu City.
Helen Igot, section head-Institutional Division Section (IDS) – Agribusiness Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) bared that the DA-RFO7 has been waiting the nominees from Bohol for them to start immediately the evaluation for all the nominees from Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Cebu and Bohol.
Dr. Larry M. Pamugas, Officer-In-Charge, OPA after the 20thUbi Festival which was celebrated last January 28-31, 2020 requested all concerned SUHID evaluators to focus their activities in the evaluations so as the province could submit its nominees to the regional search within this month or early next month.
Since February 3, 2020, the SUHID evaluators from National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Provincial Field Office, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office – Department of Agriculture (PATCO-DA), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), and OPA have been doing the evaluations to the 108 nominees for the 27 categories of the provincial search.
The SUHID categories are the following: Rice Farmer (adopting integrated farming), Outstanding Fisherman, Large Animal Raiser, Small Animal Raiser, Fisherfolks (fresh water fish pond), Rice Technician, Outstanding Farmer (fish culture), Coconut Farmer, Rural Improvement Club, Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Crops, Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Fishery, Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council, Corn Farmer (adopting integrated farming).
Fisherfolk Association, Corn Technician, Farm Family, HVCDP Technician, Livestock Technician, Municipal Agriculturist/ Agricultural Officer, Fishery Technician, HVCC Farmer (vegetable), Hybrid Rice Farmer, Farmer’s Association, Young Farmer, Rural Woman, Banana Farmer, & Outstanding 4-H Club.
The winners of these categories would automatically be the official nominees for Bohol in the GawadSaka Search this year.
Last year Gawad Saka Search, the nominees from Bohol bagged 18 of the close to 30 categories of the search.
The Suhid sa Malampusong Mag-uumang Bol-anon is an annual search in the province of Bohol recognizing and awarding the Boholano farmers who have excelled in their field of agriculture. (Atoy Cosap)

Caption:
SUHID EVALUATION. Rosanna G. Lamdagan, Chief, Agribusiness Division, OPA (3rd from left photo) leads the evaluation of the SUHID nominees for Outstanding Agri-Enterprise for Crops category; the Badiang Self-Help Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BASHMUCO) in Badiang, Anda and Canjulao League of Women (CLOW) in Canjulao, Jagna last Wednesday.

Envisioning to enhance this year’s Sandugo celebration to make it more colorful than the previous years, it is most appropriate that the preparations for this month-long annual cultural celebration in July which the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) will host must start this early.
This was the statement issued by Provincial Administrator Atty. Katherine Fe D. Pioquinto as she presided over the first coordination meeting for the 2020 Sandugo Festival last Tuesday at Café Caloy Conference Room (CPG Heritage House), Tagbilaran City.
According to Atty. Pioquinto there’s a need to introduce or discover new ideas and more efficient coordination of the different activities to ensure a successful hosting of this year’s grand event.
Pioquinto and Rev. Fr. Valentino U. Pinlac, chairperson, Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council, said the grandeur the better for July activities.
They said that Gov. Arthur C. Yap has wanted that the Sandugo Festival would highlight the first treaty of friendship that happened in Bohol.
As a result, it was agreed during the meeting that a three-day Festival Management Workshop is conducted on February 27, 28, 29, 2020 as suggested by Lutgardo L. Labad, Section Head (Arts), BACH Council.
Labad said the province through BACH of which Gov. Yap is the Honorary Chairperson would invite somebody from National Center for Culture and Arts (NCAA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and organizers of the Sinulog in Cebu City, Dinagyang in Iloilo and Masskara in Bacolod City so as to come up with a design in this year’s celebration.
Also in the meeting that different activities have lined-up to savor the month-long celebration of Sandugo showcasing the rich culture in Bohol namely; Street Dancing, Miss Bohol, Trade Fair, 7 Arts Festival, Agri-Fair and Food Fusion.
The 7 arts has focused on music, architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, film and performing arts; exposure and training programs through local shows, competition and train the trainers program; partnerships for the 7 arts; developing the arts and crafts industry; publication; strengthening escuela taller partnership; integrating 7 arts in school and out of school activities.
Former Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio at the first part of the meeting reported the usual activities in the celebrations of the Sandugo Festivals such as; Sandugo Street Dancing, Miss Bohol Sandugo, Trade Fair, Agri Fair, Food Fusion, Bohol Pob Music Festival, Bohol Kayaking and Dragon Boat.
Damalerio suggested that it is important to establish a focal person in every activity.
Atty Lucas Nunag, Provincial Tourism Council, said that there’s a need to have a proper media exposure of the event. (Atoy Cosap)

EARLY BIRD CATCHES WORM. It seems that this saying has been adopted by the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) as this early that barely five months to go before Sandugo Festival as Provincial Atty. Kathyrin Fe D. Pioquinto (extreme right) presides the first coordination meeting for the 2020 Sandugo Festival on July envisioning to enhance this year’s celebration.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar will grace the opening of the 20^thUbi Festival in Bohol slated on January 28-31, 2020 to be held at Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center (BAPC), Dao, Tagbilaran City.

The entire event will kick off with a motorcade at 8 a.m. with the following route: New Capitol Building – CPG Avenue – J.A. Clarin – Tamblot St. – B. Inting Extension – City Hall down to BAPC.

According to Larry M. Pamugas, officer-in-charge, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said DA Sec. Dar will deliver his inspirational message, while Governor Arthur C. Yap and acting Governor Rene L. Relampagos will give their messages, while messages of support would be given by Representative Edgar Chatto (1^st District), Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentato (2^nd district), Rep. Kristine Alexie B. Tutor (3^rd district), and Atty Salvador D. Diputado –Director, DA-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)7.

The DA Secretary within the program will lead the handover/turnover of agri-machineries, inputs, projects; signs the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Province of Bohol and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for the establishment of the proposed Soils and Water Laboratory and the Extension Services in Bohol; and also signs the MOA for Entrepreneurial (E-GPP) GulayansaPaaralan (DA, DILG, DepEd).

Sec. Dar together with Gov. Yap and Acting Gov. Relampagos would lead the ribbon cutting and opening of exhibits to be assisted by Acting Vice Gov. Dionisio Victor D. Balite, Board Member RickyMasamayor, all Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” L. Yap.

After lunch, Dar will travel to Dumaguete for the farmers’ dialogue and turn-over of projects before he will fly back to Manila at 6:30 p.m.

The Ubi Festival would be highlighted with different contests such as motorcade,Ubi eating, booth and highest volume of Ubi display to be conducted on the first day of the event right after the ribbon cutting; while the bugnosarondalya, Ubibalitaw and doble kara, and pinaka contests would be done on the second day, and the best new Ubi processed product contest will be conducted on the third day.

The winners of the Ubi Festival 2020, GulayansaPaaralan 2019, and Bahay Kubo 2019 will be awarded and recognized during the closing and awarding program in the afternoon of January 31, 2020 still at BAPC Ground of which Gov. Yap will lead the giving of awards and recognition.

The Ubi Festival has been institutionalized in the Province of Bohol through an approved ordinance to recognize and award the Boholano farmers who have sustained the Ubi industry in the Province.

This year’s celebration carries the theme “Ang Kabatan-onangBol-anon AtongDisigon, Arong Ang Industriya Sa UbiMagpadayon, Ug Turismo Maaswagon. (AtoyCosap)