Land Use & Zoning Ordinance Validation in Maribojoc

Stakeholders of Maribojoc attended a one-day validation of land use proposals and its’ municipal zoning ordinance last Friday at the LGU Maribojoc Multi-purpose Hall, Maribojoc Presidencia.

Chief administrative officer Oscar Francisco E. Valles was optimistic that with the cooperation of all sectors, the final Comprehensive Land Use Plan would redefine the development of the town.

Valles appreciated the efforts, given by all punong barangays, sangguniang bayan members, department heads and heads of offices, POs and NGOs and private sectors, to come up with a very extensive CLUP. Municipal planning and development coordinator Engr. Maria Nenita R. Chiu talked about the purpose of the validation process.

Engr. Ronilita M. Bunado, of the provincial planning and development office, presented the major land use proposals for the town, while Engr. Wilfredo Bueno facilitated the general and urban land use maps’ validation. Engr. Bunado also took charged of presenting the updated municipal zoning ordinance to the participants, while Ma. Imelda Borromeo documented the valuable inputs from the participants.

A public consultation will be conducted to present the output of the draft CLUP. #

Maribojoc Celebrates 113th Independence Day

The municipality of Maribojoc commemorated the 113th Philippine Independence Day with simple yet momentous rites.

391 Maribojocanons where already at the Maribojoc Presidencia grounds as early as 6:00 a.m. to witness the raising of the Philippine Flag at exactly 7:00 a.m. by Mayor Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. and Vice-mayor Fructuoso F. Redulla, Jr.

Municipal councilor Cecilia P. Autentico conducted the singing of the Philippine national anthem with the Bohol and Maribojoc hymns. Punong barangays and their respective sangguniang kabataan chairpersons took charged of raising the 22 Philippine flags at the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Plaza grounds.

PNP Maribojoc and the Bureau of Fire Protection-Municipal Emergency Rescue Unit (BFP-MERU) sounded the serine at 7:00 a.m. sharp and the simultaneous flag raising ceremony commenced.

Afterwards, everyone convened at the plaza grounds for a program. Moises Descallar led a Prayer for the Nation that prayed for the country’s woes and for the people to triumph amidst its’ many challenges.

DILG-MLGOO Ted N. Mascariñas gave a meaningful opening remarks. He said, “Society dictates us that whatever, individual and moral, principles we have – these will also guide us to do what is right. I hope that we could attain independence in the future for the benefit of our country, for our government, for our Maribojoc community.”

Redulla gave a rousing inspirational speech during his first Independence Day message as municipal vice-mayor. “As a nation, we have gone through many ups and downs. For the Philippines to be independent, we have to build our economy. True independence is in the midst if we are being true to ourselves and have the choice to decide. As business executive Manny Pangilinan said – we have to change our way of thinking and the way we do things, more suited to us, Filipinos.”

Mayor Evasco commended Redulla for his critique on the country’s current condition. “His assessment reminded us that our country is far from what our ancestors aspired for ‘vis-a-vis’ other nations. Our fight for freedom and independence is far from over.”

Saint Vincent Institute student Kristel Empleo sung “Magkaisa;” one of the 1986 People Power Revolution’s signature songs written by Tito Sotto, arranged by Homer Flores and rendered by Virna Lisa Mananzan. Members of the Maribojoc Children’s Cultural Dance Group coming from Santa Cruz Elementary School performed “Kuradang,” a lively festival dance performed during celebrations.

A floral offering to the Dr. Jose Rizal Monument was made simultaneously with a mass singing of the “Ako ay Pilipino, Pilipinas Kong Mahal and Bayan Ko” medley. Wreath offerers included municipal councilors Lalai E. Pohl, Dodong Arangoso, Boyet Castilla and Poypoy Evasco as well as school administrators Alberta Patulin and Mercy Besa.

Liga ng mga barangay president and ex-officio municipal councilor Marcial S. Quiwag gave the closing remarks. Poblacion punong barangay Arnulfo D. Turco, Jr. was the affair’s master of ceremonies.

Turco announced during the celebration the national government’s massive reforestation project of planting 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of land in the country 2011 to 2016. All 22 barangays will have a simultaneous tree planting come June 25 in their respective barangays.

On the other hand, the municipality has long been implementing the national greening program through Executive Order No. 10, series of 2007 where it launched the Maribojoc Trees for Life Program (MT4LP) and organized the MT4LP management board. #

Maribojoc Revisits Barangay Budget Process

Some 66 Maribojocanons attended a Participatory Barangay Planning-Budgeting Workshop Process last June 8-9 at the LGU Multi-Purpose Hall of the Maribojoc Presidencia.

All punong barangays, barangay treasurers and secretaries of the 22 barangays of Maribojoc attended the two-day training-workshop to grasp the extensive budget process. Sangguniang kabataan (SK) chairpersons attended the second day to undergo supplementary mentoring on the SK’s budget preparation and other financial documents.

Mayor Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. was pleased that there was complete attendance among the expected participants. “Your presence shows that you are willing to learn the barangay budget processes and implement them in your respective barangays,” he said.

Evasco added, “We are very fortunate that our constituents are now aware of their responsibility in paying their taxes. The existence of a Citizen’s Charter in every local government unit is very advantageous. Now, we have to take the challenge of learning and understanding financial and governance policies if we aim to be good public servants.”

Municipal budget officer Elizabeth D. Racho facilitated the planning-budgeting workshop while municipal planning and development coordinator Engr. Maria Nenita R. Chiu facilitated the workshop on the preparation of annual investment program or AIP. Municipal accountant Gemma R. Ocular, CPA and Racho took charged of the workshop on barangay budget preparation in the afternoon.

On the morning of the second day, Racho continued the discussion and workshop on the budget preparation as there were more questions from the participants. The afternoon centered on the preparation of the budget message and the authorization form, as well as the preparation of personnel schedule.

Legal researcher and legislative liaison Pablo A. Baluma discussed the formulation of barangay and SK resolutions and ordinance. Vice-mayor Fructuoso F. Redulla, Jr. awarded the certificates of participation and appearance during the closing ceremony. After the program, Racho held a separate lecture regarding the SK budget with AIP and supplemental budget & augmentation forms.

Mayor Evasco, who attended the lecture, told the 22 sangguniang kabataan chairpersons that public funds should be utilized responsibly for projects that are responsive to the needs of the people. He said, “It is my fervent prayer that our young people in Maribojoc will always be following their own path, of new politics and not the path of the traditional politicians.” #

Maribojoc Holds FLUP-Module 1 Training

Members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) tasked to prepare the Municipal Forests and Forestlands Use and Management Plan (FLUP) attended the Module 1-FLUP Training last Tuesday and Wednesday held at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall, Maribojoc Presidencia.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel facilitated the two-day indicative forest resource utilization and management training. The training-workshop centered on the formulation of a draft situational analysis of the initial draft of the profile of the mangrove co-management areas and a SWOT analysis matrix based on the profile.

The TWG’s outputs will guide the municipal government, DENR, the provincial government, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and local stakeholders in preparing the resource management plan.

Membership for the TWG will be expanded as it was suggested during the training-workshop to include other stakeholders that can further contribute in coming up with a very comprehensive FLUP.

Training facilitators were DENR-CENRO personnel, namely: CDO II Erlita C. Juaton, Planning Officer Lorna Fernandez, Forester/Chief FEIU Narciso Gapas, IT staff Christopher Calipusan and Forest Management Services Chief Leonardo Elle.

In his opening message, Mayor Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. expressed his satisfaction on the partnership between the municipal government and DENR-CENRO. He said, “The LGU will always be up and par with the demands towards the protection of timberland in our town. This partnership is for the preservation and protection of our environment and not for economic purposes.”

The committee will undergo the FLUP-Module II training come September after all maps and data will be accomplished and validated at the barangay level. #