DA-7 enlists Bohol information officers 

in ‘Be RICEponsible’ campaign

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA-7) has asked information officers of Bohol’s local governments and national agencies to help promote responsible rice consumption and support for local farmers.

DA-7 Information Officer Jolina Daño-Bacus presented the agency’s “Be RICEponsible” campaign during the Nov. 5 assembly of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO)-Bohol, in observance of National Rice Awareness Month.

The Department of Agriculture launched this year’s national observance on Nov. 3 under the theme “Be RICEponsible Every Day.”

The department has adopted “Be RICEponsible” as the observance’s theme through 2028, and its Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) now runs the campaign year-round.

Daño-Bacus asked the information officers to practice the campaign’s “ABC” pledge:

A – Avoid rice waste by taking only what you can finish.

B – Buy from local farmers.

C – Choose healthier rice, such as brown or pigmented rice.

PhilRice estimates that each Filipino throws away about two tablespoons of cooked rice a day.

That adds up to 10.85 million sacks worth of P24.4 billion a year, enough to feed about 5.17 million Filipinos for a year.

“Supporting the farmers' harvest will motivate them to continue their efforts, ensuring a reliable food supply,” Daño-Bacus said.

She said the campaign also seeks to revive the Half-Cup Rice Ordinance, which encourages food establishments to offer smaller servings so diners take only what they can finish.

AUDIO-Bohol Vice President for Local Government Units Khem Pendejito said information officers serve as bridges between government programs and the communities they serve.

“Let’s use our platforms, our voices and our influence to bring agricultural programs and advocacies closer to our communities,” he said.

“Let’s amplify the stories of our farmers and ensure that their contribution received the recognition they truly deserve,” he added.

The assembly, hosted by DA-7, ended with members reciting the “Be RICEponsible” pledge to reduce rice waste, support local farmers, and choose healthier rice.

Rice Awareness Month activities in Bohol

-Nov.6: National Rice Awareness Month-Rice Festival Kick-off program at National Museum of the Philippines, Tagbilaran City, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

-Nov. 10: Rice Symposium for children at Bagongbanwa Elementary School in Tubigon, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

-Nov. 12: Rice Symposium and Experimental Learning at Labonite Integrated Farm in San Isidro, Pilar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-Nov. 20: Young Farmers Big Day at Bohol Island State University in Bilar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Nov. 28: RICEponsible Fun Run, starting at 4 a.m. at Bohol Wisdom School and ending at Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran City.

National Rice Awareness Month is observed every November under Proclamation No. 524, signed on Jan. 5, 2004.

It aims to raise awareness about rice, help fight malnutrition and poverty, and achieve a sufficient rice supply through domestic production. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

‘Be RICEponsible’ pledge. Members of AUDIO-Bohol, led by San Isidro Information Officer John Carlo Rasonabe (holding a microphone), recited the “Be RICEponsible” pledge—committing to sustainable rice consumption, reducing food waste, supporting local farmers, and improving personal health—during the association meeting on November 5, 2026, hosted by DA-7. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

Bohol-Panglao airport gets P340-M 

fuel farm under PPP deal

By Rey Anthony Chiu

PANGLAO, Bohol (PIA) — Bohol-Panglao International Airport will receive a P340-million jet fuel storage facility as part of upgrades under its 30-year public-private partnership with the national government.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines signed the concession agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital in December 2024.

It was the third airport public-private partnership awarded under Republic Act No. 11966, or the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines.

DOTr turned over the airport’s operations to the company in June 2025.

At the signing, the Public-Private Partnership Center said passengers can expect modernized terminals, optimized airport capacity, and reliable operations.

Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in May that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had instructed DOTr to improve regional connectivity through airports to boost tourism and livelihoods.

The airport’s operator, Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corp., has partnered with Petron Corp. to design, build, and operate the fuel facility.

Petron ranked first in the operator’s request-for-proposals process and holds exclusive rights to the fuel farm, the operator said.

The facility will have three 477,000-liter storage tanks and will hold at least five days’ supply. It is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2027.

The airport uses about 102,000 liters of jet fuel daily: 43,000 liters for international flights and 59,000 liters for domestic flights, the operator said.

The operator said it will regulate all facility usage rates to keep the fuel farm open to airlines and protect them from supplier discrimination.

Petron already owns and operates the fuel farm at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

“This milestone agreement underscores our commitment to modernizing the Bohol-Panglao International Airport,” Aldwin Uy, general manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corp., said in a statement.

Uy said the partnership will provide fuel infrastructure that ensures operational efficiency and can “safely accommodate the growing aviation demands” of Bohol.

Jonathan F. Del Rosario, Petron vice president for operations and corporate technical services, said the fuel farm will be built and operated under Joint Inspection Group standards, the international benchmark for aviation fuel handling.

“We are bringing our extensive operational expertise to BPIA, ensuring that the new fuel farm is built and operated in strict accordance with the latest Joint Inspection Group (JIG) standards to provide a safe, reliable, and seamless fuel supply chain,” Del Rosario said in a statement.

The airport on Panglao Island is Bohol’s main gateway.

It was inaugurated in November 2018 as the country’s first eco-airport, designed with energy-efficient features such as natural lighting and ventilation.

It has flights to Manila, Clark, Davao, and Cebu, and international flights to South Korea. (RAHC/PIA Bohol/with a news release from Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corp.)

Passengers arrive at the departure area of Bohol-Panglao International Airport in Panglao, Bohol. A P340-million jet fuel storage facility is set to be completed at the airport in the third quarter of 2027. (PIA Bohol)