Bohol to give cash incentives to

professional exam top-notchers

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 25 (PIA) –Cash incentive and priority for local government job placement for top-notchers in professional examinations and the bar should motivate more Boholanos to excel.

Although a tad too late, Bohol Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Bohol SP) under Vice Governor Victor Dionisio Balite is setting up for second reading proposed ordinance “Granting Cash Incentives and Recognition to Boholano top-notchers and appropriating funds for the incentive.

When passed, the ordinance would allow test examiners from Bohol schools or studying within the Philippines, who land in the top 10 list of their respective professional licensure examinations as conducted by the Philippine Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) or the Supreme Court in the case of the Bar, to get a cash windfall and earn specific privileges for local government job placements, in line with the applicable rules of the Civil Service Commission.

The proposed ordinance also only qualifies for Filipino citizens and Bohol registered voters prior to the Examination.

The measure, which was also been deliberated by the SP Committee on Social Services, SP Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations, SP Committee on Education, and the Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations for study, review and formal recommendation, has now gone past first reading and could potentially hurdle the third and final reading, unless vetoed, according to SP sources.

Billed under proposed Provincial Ordinance No. 008-2022, the measure, SP Committees found out, is in accordance with Article XIV, Section 2 (3) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates States to establish and maintain scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and other incentives system for deserving especially poor students from public and private schools.

Proposed by Board Member Lucille Lagunay, the ordinance exemplifies the Provincial Government’s commitment to promote excellence in education and profession, legislators agree.

Incentivizing means aside from the customary plaque of appreciation for the top-notch professional plus another SP commendation, if he tops the exam or is declared excellent passer in the bar, he gets P 100,000.

Those who land in top 2 to 5 gets P75,000 while those who get in the 6th to 10th place gets P50,000, as to the proposed ordinance.

More than that, the Boholano top-notch earns a priority for employment in the Provincial Government, subject to the existing rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

And to make sure the top passer is a Boholano, top-notchers submit photocopies of their Birth Certificate; Voter’s ID or Voter’s Registration, Barangay Residency Certification, Board Examination Result and Proof of Inclusion in the Top 10 as validated by the Education Development Center (EDC).

The EDC of the Office of the implements the program and is mandated to disseminate information once the ordinance takes effect, validates all requirements submitted by the top-notchers, prepare the plaques and commendations, and exercise other functions needed to implement the ordinance provisions.

For this, the proposed ordinance also empowers the Provincial Government of Bohol to appropriate P1.5Million annually, which may be supplemented if needed to sustain the program. (PIA-7/Bohol)

Makapiko bridge still safe and passable – DPWH

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, January 27 (PIA)--The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bohol Third District Engineering Office said that the Makapiko Bridge remains safe and passable to motorists even if there has been some soil erosion at the bottom part of the said structure.

The DPWH Bohol Third District Engineering Office released a public advisory on Thursday, January 26, after the office received calls of concern on a post circulating around the social media with speculations on the structural integrity of the Makapiko Bridge.

The said post advised the motorists not to take the Balilihan-Hanopol-Batuan Road route, specifically along the above-mentioned bridge, due to its so-called “unsafe” status and instead to utilize the Loay Interior Road.

Immediately after the report broke, the DPWH team, consisting of technical personnel along with the maintenance group, were deployed for a quick inspection on the area of concern.

After thorough inspection, no significant untoward incident was observed, according to the public advisory.

The DPWH Bohol Third District Engineering Office ensured the public of the safety of the Makapiko Bridge as it has undergone the annual bridge inspection as part of the mandate of their office.

Although defects are visible below the deck of the bridge (particularly slope protection at abutment A), palliative measures were performed to make sure that the bridge is safe and passable, the DPWH Bohol Third District Engineering Office assured.

Accordingly, the said defects were brought about by the impact of Typhoon Odette on December of 2021. But no new defects were observed based on regular monitoring.

A budget allocation from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for fiscal year 2023 will fund a major repair work for slope protection and on the damaged abutment of the bridge. The DPWH assured that repair works will commence as soon as funds will be available. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

After monitoring and assessment of Makapiko Bridge on Thursday afternoon by the DPWH Bohol Third Engineering District Office, LGU-Batuan and PDRRMO, the bridge is safe and passable. (Photo: Dr. Anthony Damalerio/PDRRMO)