FEATURE:

Forging iron (willed) men,

thru Bohol Ironman 5150

Boholano resilience and resolve to take on anything, this can well be the lesson the recent Ironman 5150 has to teach Boholanos.

Being just the best in wherever and whenever one has to, and in elite racing or in struggling to clamber up after the crippling effects of the global pandemic, Bohol and Boholanos have shown unparalleled resolve.

The story of Jonathan Pagaura, a Boholano athlete who has elevated his game to the international arena could aptly be Bohol’s story as well.

Faced with an opposition of as much as 342 eager and raring athletes who wish to top over their best records, Pagaura, to Boholanos was an infant in elite triathlon where age matters the least.

He was last seen competing in local duathlons and bike races, not much of triathlon, especially when the sport is yet to earn its wide followership in Bohol.

Yet another man, who has also transitioned into the elite sports is a young guy from Lanao de Norte.

Two men, who are now elite triathletes with almost the same build, with pandemic-disrupted training and finally raring to shake off the rust gathered during the two years of contained workouts.

Two years of indoor training as pandemic restrictions prevent them from openly competing, is simply not enough to approximate the strain of physically sensing the heat of competition breathing at your nape..

Pagaura, now part of the Cebu-based Team Rider Omega and Satar Salem of the Tri-Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND) Barracudas of Lanao del Norte were among the 342 who competed in last Sunday’s Ironman 5150 Bohol edition.

Racing in an Olympic style competition sanctioned by the Ironman as a tune-up swim-bike-run race for the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu next month, it was a nobody’s game at the starting line.

Pagaura, a Bohol favorite, wearing bib 313, was bobbing on the wakes of Salem 15 minutes in the 1.5 kilometer swim segment and the Boholano finished the open water course in front of the Bellevue Hotel and Resort in 22:22.

He was some 39 seconds behind Salem on racing bib 288, who finished the same in 21:42, but was still slower, compared to Waldo Van Der Nest (bib 63) who first came out of the water into Transition 1 at 19:59.

On T1, Pagaura was a tad faster by 11 seconds against Salem, towards the bike segment, but that only put him closer to the competition.

On the bike segment, Salem again came out stronger finishing the 40 kilometers in 58:50 while the Boholano did it in 1:00:58, nearly two minutes of time deficit.

By T2 to the run segment, Pagaura was faster again by 15 seconds, slowly edging close to the Lanao del Norte athlete.

In the run segment, Pagaura finished the 10 kilometer route by 40:46 while Salem came nearly 2 minutes later.

At the end of the 3-discipline endurance, speed and agility competition, Salem came out the fastest over-all at 2:07:40, the first also to cross the finish line on the Male 24-29 age category while Pagaura came in next with 2:08:04, who was also 2nd in the M-24-29 age category trailing the fastest man at the Bohol triathlon only by 24 seconds.

Finishing third over-all was Salem’s team mate Jailani Lamama (bib 289) with the time of 2:12:24, who also came in 3rd in the same age category and had Pagaura’s team mate Jorry Ycong (bib 431) on fourth with 2:14:05. Ycong finished first in the Male 30-34 age group.

Fifth over-all was Mohammad Hanin Maruhom, at 2:14:12, who belonged to the M24-24 with Salem, Pagaura and Lamama, grabbing the fourth in the age bracket.

After Maruhom was Julian Sebastian Teves who was a second slower and claimed the 5th place in the M25-29 group with 2:14:13 in his time chip.

Cebuano Kristiane Glendale Lim, with a time of 2:14:26, came in first in the M35-39 age category and 7th over-all.

After the Cebu sensation is John Dedeus Alcala, at 2:14:31 or 5 seconds after Lim. Alcala came home with the 6th place in the age bracket and 8th overall.

Jethro Karl Ramos blurted out into the finish at 2:14:43 and grabbed first in the M40-44 category, while Justice Sousa cane 10th at 2:14:54. He was also first at the M20-25 age group.

The Bohol 5150, which was a tune-up competition for elite athletes who would be joining the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu next month, also brought out Boholano aspiring thriathletes.

Among the Bohol 5150 top finishers are Kim Zian Bartolata, who came in 10th in the M20-24 and 62nd overall on the race with 343 participants finishing the three discipline race, and Jervis Marimon, coming in 78th overall and 7th in the M40-44.

Also in were Jeffrey Real at 2:49:49 ranking 90th over-all and was 9th in the M40-44; Val Anthony Uy with 2:53:29, the 107th overall and 10th in the M40-44.

Philip Tan had 3:04:18 in his time chip came in 147th and was 9th in the M50-54 while Norie Calimbayan finished at 3:47:29 finishing second in the Female 45-49 age category.

The Bohol event, which came after the 2017 race of the same name at the Bellevue, had athletes bringing in their families, support crew and friends of at least three days of fun in the beaches of Panglao and exploring Bohol.

Coming right when Bohol is recovering from the pandemic, the race, according to Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer Anthony Damalerio had athletes spending at least a thousand dollars for their Bohol sojourn and race.

As not much of the infusion is visibly shown in thick wads of bills, a big portion of it went to pay hotel staff, food providers, local bike shops and crew, roadside stalls and drivers who were into logistical support for the event.

Even if just half or the registered athletes got accommodations in the event hosts: Bellevue, Amorita and Bluewater, that is still about 150 thousand dollars, as an economic stimulus for Boholanos.

The race had also attracted several local athletes in the Sunrise Go for Gold Sprint event with 120 slots opened for the shorter course.

While most of the Sprint event had locals, nearly half of the competitors were also from outside Bohol billeting in Panglao resorts, further perking up the local economy.

As to local sports scouts, the Sprint event had a local team of the Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO), Triathlon Bohol (TriBo) and many locals in their individual capacities.

For Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado who himself bikes and does indoor training, in his term, the Ironman 5150 would the first among the many in the months to come.

And for Pagaura and the hundreds of Boholanos now into multi-sports, it certainly would be a venue to forge the body develop stronger cardio, grow muscle mass and stretch that stamina to be just as tough and resilient as a real ironman. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

THIS CLOSE. Boholano triathlete Jonathan Pagaura minces in defeated agony as elite athlete Salem crosses the multi discipline finish line and claimed the bragging rights as the fastest guy in Bohol that day. The Ironman 5150 here attracted about 620 triathletes who brought in their families, crew and supporters, to also relish Bohol during the race weekend. (PIABohol/SunlifeTri)

PRDP projects forthcoming

for Bohol’s agro-industry

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 16 (PIA)—Thanks to what other local government units’ perceived tough documentary requirements for the possible avail-ment of a grant for provinces for agro-industrial development, Bohol now tends to get some more funds for its priority projects.

And the good thing is that this window of opportunity opening, fits into the development agenda of the new Capitol Administration, Provincial Planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal said, during the first episode of the Capitol Reports.

A weekly press conference set every Friday, Capitol Reports allow the Capitol to update the media and the Boholanos on the most recent developments and track the accomplishments of the local administration.

Although already a recipient of Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP)-funded projects in agriculture, there are still more coming for Bohol, announced Atty Vistal, who sat with Capitol spokesperson Atty. Handel Lagunay and Sandugo Festival 2022 interim coordinator Ana Loinda Saluan.

PRDP is a six-year project lodged at the Department of Agriculture, and is designed to establish the government platform for a modern, climate-smart and market-oriented agri-fishery sector towards inclusive growth through broad-based agro-industrial development.

Partnering with LGUs and the private sector, PRDP provides key infrastructure, facilities, technology, and information that will raise incomes, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside, thus attain its objectives for the six year project term.

The project in general targets to increase annual real farm incomes of PRDP in household beneficiaries, create and develop enterprises for beneficiaries, increase annual marketed output and increased access of farmers and fishers to DA services.

Contracted as a national government loan for the DA, PRDP is granted to fund LGU projects with a minimal 10% leverage fund which forms as the LGU counterpart, explained the development planning officer.

As it turns out, there are provinces in Region 7 which have deactivated their PRDP management offices, we can get these resources from them, Atty Vistal said.

Implemented in the value chain analysis approach, projects to be funded under the PRDP are those which assures agricultural connectivity, meaning enabling farmers and fishers to sell their products to accessible markets, and in turn, improve on their economic status.

Basically, PRDP projects are those that reduce poverty.

In Bohol, PRDP has funded three water desalination projects, implemented in the islands off Talibon and Bien Unido, the government official said.

But expect more forthcoming projects, he assured. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

GOOD INVESTMENT. By putting up 10% counterpart funds, Bohol’s local resources would be extended as the PRDP funds for other provinces in the region is set to be funding Bohol agro development projects, says Atty John Vistal (extreme right). Atty Vistal, Atty Handel Lagunay and Ana Loinda Saluan met the press for Capitol Reports last Friday. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

‘ASF alert’ up on suspicious

meat sold in online markets

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 15 (PIA) –Be responsible online buyers, be responsible online sellers.

Feeling desperately helpless in the face of an invisible enemy and the task of convincing consumers of their rights, especially when it entails health and safety, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz added, they can only do as much.

Dr. Lapiz’s call blared as a hog disease called African Swine Fever (ASF) which can overwhelm Bohol pig farms and backyard pigpens in less than a month, has been detected in Camiguin, some two hours away from Bohol.

It was in late 2021 when the Department of Agriculture detected the presence of the disease in farms and piggeries in Pampanga and Cavite and it did not take long before the disease has spread in mainland Luzon and even in Mindanao.

“We can not afford to have the virus here,” Dr. Lapiz said, meaning the virus that is causing hogs to have high fever, decreased appetite and weakness, red and blotchy skin lesions, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and difficulty breathing.

Bohol, being isolated from the main land masses has been spared of the infections, but it may not be for long.

ASF has also alarmed Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado who has issued an Executive Order establishing the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on ASF and Avian Flu, another viral disease that affects birds and fowl.

As PEC Vice Chair, Provincial veterinarian Dr. Lapiz, who immediately set the wheels in motion to patch all possible entry-points of the disease that can enter Bohol through undeclared and illegally shipped raw meat, processed meat, cooked or even canned meat and pork products or for the virus which could be carried by a passenger’s garments, shoes or anything that has touched an infected animal, manure or contaminated run-off water.

Amidst coordination meetings and reinvigorated campaign to make sure no such meat, raw or processes, cooked or dried can be innocently brought in by passengers, reports of online selling of undocumented pork trimmings, pork jowl and pork scraps at cheap prices, dominate the an online market page Bohol Deliveries.

The online sales, which resupply on Tuesdays and Fridays, also come raise concerns of the meat origins especially when buses from Manila to Bohol are on regular schedules.

There is an ongoing regulation in the entry of raw, processed, cooked pork and pork products in Bohol, only those shipments accompanied by proper documents including certifications from the Provincial Veterinary Office of origin, are allowed entry.

As buyers, we need to know where these meat come from, and even if these were from within Bohol, how do we know these are from healthy pigs?, asks a PEC member.

While meat from outside Bohol have to have documents stating these are not from ASF-affected areas and that the farms from where these come from never had any reports of hog diseases, locally sourced pigs for butchering, are inspected and certified by a representative of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to ascertain for its health condition for human consumption.

Without the NMIS seal on the meat, these could just be from questionable sources and may not be fit for human consumption.

Years back, the selling of double-dead meat rocked the hog industry, until the practice was exposed.

It is the consumer’s right to know where the product they are buying comes from, and if these are legitimate, and we urge the online sellers to declare their sources of the meat they are selling, to once and for all, calm the people’s apprehension and clear the issue of a possible source of the disease in Bohol, authorities at the Provincial Veterinarians Office stated.

Indeed, smuggled meat could topple the biosecurity fence that Bohol is setting up, so, before you add to cart, make sure it does not include the ASF in it, Dr. Lapiz pleaded. (rahc/PIA_7/Bohol)

Tiger mosquito alert up as

dengue cases takes flight

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 14, (PIA) – If you are male, 11-15 years old from Talibon, Tagbilaran City, Ubay, Sagbayan or Dauis, you have slightly higher probability of getting afflicted with dengue, a report from the Provincial Health Office showed.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by day-biting Aedes Egypti or Aedes albopictus, commonly called tiger-mosquitoes due to its white stripes.

This as the 26th Dengue Morbidity Week, from June 27 to July 3 bared that, of all who have had the disease this year, those coming from the male gender between 11-15 years old have more chances of contracting the mosquito-borne disease.

This too as an unprecedented over-a-thousand-percent increase or 1,230 cases dengue cases surfaced this year as reported by the different reporting units in Bohol from January 1 to July 3.

The same period last year would only show 107 dengue cases and one death.

The PHO report by the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) showed that in Talibon for example, from zero dengue cases last year, this year the town had 195 dengue cases already.

The same is true with Bien Unido which records 27 cases this year, Loboc, with 22 dengue cases, Duero with 21 cases, Valencia with 15 cases, President Carlos P. Garcia with 9 recorded dengue cases, Batuan with also 9 dengue cases, Bilar with 8 cases, Lila, with 7 cases, and Dimiao with 3 cases. These towns did not have a case in 2021.

Carmen, which records the lone dengue death last year, is also saddled with 24 cases now.

Last year’s top ten towns with dengue cases were now spared this year.

Tagbilaran city which has 17 cases last year now records 138 cases; a 711.8% increase noted this year.

Dauis which had 76 cases last year has 40 cases this year, like Clarin but the latter had 6 cases in 2021.

Inabanga and Jagna, both had 6 dengue cases last year, but now, Inabanga records 43 cases while Jagna has 28.

Candijay, Tubigon and Baclayon last year each had 5 reported dengue cases, but this year, Candijay records 12 cases already, Tubigon has 31 while Baclayon has 13 as of the first week of July.

Towns to watch now includes Alicia which has 1 case in 2022, now with 28, Anda which had also 1 case last year but now has 26.

As this came up, local health officials call on barangays to activate their respective Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue and initiate anti-dengue drives as soon as possible.

Health authorities remind barangay officials to use the 4S strategy as a guide in their anti-dengue campaigns.

4S stands for Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, Secure self-protection from mosquito bites by staying away from areas frequented by mosquitoes like dark rooms, alleys and corridors, wearing bright colored clothing and using insect repellants.

Also important is to Seek immediate medical attention upon the early signs of dengue, and saying yes or no to fogging depending on the dengue situation in the cluster areas.

Indiscriminate fogging will only drive the mosquitoes to other areas by dispersion, authorities said.

Moreover, family members with high fever, usually going above 39 C and accompanied by headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, pain behind the eyes, swollen glands and rashes, have to be taken to a medical care center for appropriate attention. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Bohol creates ASF/ AI

Exec Comms, TForces

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 12 (PIA) – In the urgency of the situation with the cases of the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) in Camiguin Island, and with yet another threat of the Avian Influenza (AI) in the offing with the winter migration starting soon, Bohol creates a Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and Task Force for those two major concerns.

Through Executive Order No 7 series of 2022, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado caused the creation of an inter-agency as well as inter-sectoral PEC on ASF and AI, tasked to map out measures to prevent anc control the two diseases that have the potential to wipe out the local hog and poultry industry.

At its creation, Bohol will now a focused group to approve and review the provincial Preparedness and Contingency plan, provide policy directors and supervise its implementation, identify and recommend sources of resources and funds for the plan implementation and ensure awareness of the Boholano populace of the virus and the disease that can jeopardize its economic recovery program.

First among the lists of the PEC ASF/AI tasks in the formulation and adoption of a Provincial Preparedness and Contingency plan against ASF and AI, one that would also be adopted and implemented by municipal and barangays as their operational plans.

The Provincial Preparedness and Contingency Plan would be anchored of strategies like strict enforcement of quarantine policies and procedures, inter-agency and inter sectoral participatory collaboration, regular disease surveillance and monitoring, regular policy updating and ASF / AI issuances review and a strong information education management.

The PEC ASF and AI would be having its Task Force Quarantine which shall implement prescribed biosecurity measures in seaports, airport livestock and poultry farms, ban or regulate livestock movement and document incoming and outgoing shipment of livestock.

Task Force Field Surveillance and Monitoring would conduct regular surveillance and profiling of livestock and poultry disease in identified priority areas, regular monitoring of livestock and poultry farms and facilities, supervise the implementation of border control, regular monitoring of swine and poultry products, its availability and price trend.

The EO also provides for the creation of Task force on the information, Education and Communication which is tasked to prepare a communication IEC plan and ensure adequate awareness of the general public on matters pertaining to ASF and AI.

It also sets up a Task Force on Disease Update and Policy Review which ensures up-to-date gathering of disease updates from the national agencies and recommend necessary policies and measures for implementation.

Morever, the EO also sets up the Quick Response Task Force as a quick response force on livestock and poultry emergencies like field disinfection, disposal, animal management and possibly facilitate and process indemnification procedures if the LGU provides for it.

And in the spirit of collaborative participation, the Provincial, City and Municipal Executive Councils in municipalities with airports and ports would be responsible in deploying their own quarantine personnel to put up a system of quarantine services in their areas, according to the EO No 7.

As to border control, the EO also provides that the provincial City Municipal and Barangay Task Forces which, would include the Bantay Dagat, Barangay Livestock Aides, Barangay Tanods and other key baranagya personnel are to coordinate in the establishment and implementation of a border control in the island and coastal barangays, and monitor incoming and returning fishing vessels.

The governor signed the EO No 7 last July 4 and that would take effect immediately. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

PROTECTING A BILLION-PESO LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado, in an Executive Order, created the Provincial Executive Committees on African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian influenza (AI) in a bid to make sure the island can unite and prevent the entry of the virus that would cause the diseases that have the capacity to wipe out and decimate the local livestock industry. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

EO 5 regulates entry of processed
frozen, raw, poultry meat, eggs

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 12 (PIA) –As the threat of the Avian Influenza (AI) spreads and nears Bohol and as the fears that local supply can not satisfy the need, Bohol issues an order to regulate the entry of fresh, frozen poultry products, fresh poultry eggs from mainland Luzon, mainland Mindanao and other infected areas.

Through Executive Order No 5, series of 2020, Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado ruled that fresh and frozen poultry meat of domestic origins as well as imported sources, should have an accompanying Meat Inspection Certificate issued by the national meat Inspection Services (NMIS) and should have a Veterinary Shipping Permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry, to be allowed entry to Bohol.

On the other hand, for cooked and canned processed products, the shipment should be accompanied by a copy of the License to Operate (LTO) of the processor as issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

It would also be tougher for uncooked processed poultry products to get in because border control officials here would be looking for the Veterinary Shipping Permit, the processor’s LTO as issued by the FDA and the Certificate of Product Registration issued again by the FDA.

The EO also sets a trickier process of entry for shipped table eggs, salted eggs and quail eggs.

The subject EO lists own five documents the shipper must show for the products to be allowed entry to Bohol.

These include a Veterinary Health Certificate from the Provincial Veterinarian of the port of origin, a Veterinary Shipping permit from BAI, Poultry farm accreditation by the Bureau of Animal industry (BAI), an Avian Influenza negative test result taken a month prior to the shipping and that these items should be shipped in new and properly sanitized containers or egg trays.

In the case of balut whether fresh or cooked, aside from a Veterinary Health Certificate and Veterinary Shipping Permit accompanying the goods, should have a certification of ultra violet light disinfection for fresh balut or using food-grade disinfectant for cooked balut as issued by the Veterinary Quarantine Officer of the port of departure.

Balut, whether cooked or raw, should also be accompanied by a Duck Farm Accreditation from the BAI, an AI negative test result take within one month prior to shipment, plus an Accreditation Certificate as Balut Distributor from the office of the Provincial Veterinarian and that these must be transported in pulp organic egg trays and paper boxes or cartons. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)