Bohol tells LGUs: Cut back on fiestas, 

redirect funds to essential services

By Rey Anthony Chiu

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — The Provincial Government of Bohol is calling on all local government units (LGUs) to scale down their usual celebrations and observe austerity measures amid current economic challenges, stressing that the directive does not impair local autonomy.

In Executive Order No. 13, series of 2026, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado emphasized the importance of austerity in holding foundation days and other local events, citing “the need to align local expenditures with the present economic realities by prioritizing essential services and minimizing non-essential and excessive spending.”

The order defines austerity as scaling down or canceling certain activities, while expanding celebrations that create economic opportunities for small enterprises, vendors, and community-based livelihoods.

“These activities that support local livelihoods include local trade fairs, food markets, and product showcases, cultural and tourism-related activities that generate local income and community-led initiatives that support local producers and artisans,” Aumentado said.

The order discourages excessive decorations, luxury accommodations, and high-cost entertainment, as well as extravagant activities that do not directly contribute to cultural preservation, community welfare, or sustainable tourism.

Instead, it urges LGUs to maximize local resources and talents to cut costs, while ensuring transparency and accountability in all event-related expenditures.

LGUs are also encouraged to “design celebrations that are simple, culturally rooted, economically inclusive and environmentally sustainable, reflective of Bohol’s vision as a regenerative island and UNESCO global geopark, by ensuring that festivities remain meaningful without unnecessarily costing much.”

Aimed at LGUs, barangays, and community-based organizations across Bohol, the order stresses the need for prudence, fiscal discipline, and responsible stewardship of public funds.

“With the savings, when applicable, these should be redirected to essential services such as health, education, food security, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness,” Aumentado said.

Leading by example, the governor has suspended the Governor’s Cup, a province-sponsored event, and hinted at a scaled-down Sandugo celebration. (RAHC/PIA-7 Bohol)

Consumers buy produce at Tabo sa Plaza, a Capitol-initiated agri fair, giving farmers and fisherfolk a direct venue to sell their goods. Under Executive Order No. 13, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado encourages LGUs to shift away from costly, showy celebrations and toward livelihood-generating activities such as agri fairs, food markets, and product showcases. (PIA Bohol)

670 served as DENR rolls out

Permitting on Wheels in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)--Edwin S. Sardido of the Pilar Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) was grateful he didn’t have to travel to Cebu to apply for an environmental compliance certificate for his local government unit’s integrated potable water system.

“Salamat aning easy access sa DENR. Amo unta nga purpose is moadto unta sa EMB Region 7. Maayo gani kay naa ni sila diri mao amo nalang gi take advantage ang opportunity aron pod makatipid sa plete among LGU,” Sardido shared.

(Thank you for this easy access from DENR. Our purpose was to go to EMB Region 7. It's good that they are here, so we took advantage of the opportunity to save on our LGU fare).

Sardido was among the 670 clients served during the two-day Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Express: Permitting on Wheels (POW) held at the Island City Mall in the City on April 14-15, 2026.

The POW was rolled-out nationwide on April 14, bringing essential environmental permitting services closer to communities across all 17 regions.

DENR Central Visayas Regional Executive Director Laudemir Salac described the rollout as a milestone in public service and a proactive shift toward responsive governance, highlighting real-time validation and on-the-spot assistance that help reduce processing time, lower transaction costs, and improve client satisfaction.

“With Permitting on Wheels, the DENR no longer waits for the people to come to us, kami na ang pupunta sa inyo. We bring with us not just services but solutions to your concerns and problems,” Salac said.

Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 Regional Director Atty. John Edward Ang emphasized that the initiative simplifies complex permitting processes and responds to long-standing challenges faced by stakeholders, particularly small and medium enterprises, by bringing technical experts directly to the field for clearer and more practical guidance.

“Allow us to demonstrate our ability to provide technical assistance. We hope that through this, we can give a significant change to our stakeholders,” Ang said.

A great help to Boholanos

In his message, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado emphasized the program’s impact on the local community as he welcomed the initiative, underscoring its benefits to local entrepreneurs and investors while reinforcing the province’s commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

“Dako kaayo og tabang sa mga Bol-anon ang serbisyong gidala sa DENR-EMB (The services provided by DENR-EMB are of great help to the Boholanos). By bringing the ‘Permitting on Wheels’ initiative here, we are providing our local entrepreneurs with the tools to be true stewards of our Geopark,” Aumentado said.

“Kita nisupor­ta sa tumong sa DENR-EMB nga mapadali ug mapasayon ang aplikasyon alang sa mga environmental permits para sa atong katawhan,” he added.

(We support the DENR-EMB's goal of speeding up and simplifying applications for environmental permits for our people).

Meanwhile, Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap reaffirmed the city's commitment to ease of doing business and environmental stewardship during the official launch.

In her remarks, Yap highlighted that the program aligns with her administration’s first Executive Order, which mandated the digitalization of government services.

The initiative provided faster and more accessible processing of permits, including Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC), permits to operate (PTO), and discharge permits (DP), alongside on-site technical assistance, consultations, and guidance to reduce travel and processing delays.

Beyond EMB services, the program also offered DENR-wide services, including free patent applications, land status verification, subdivision surveys, land title distribution, wildlife permits, chainsaw registration, and foreshore lease applications, as well as MGB services such as mineral permits and geohazard certifications.

The program also featured orientations and information sessions on key environmental laws and policies, including the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, hazardous waste management, solid waste management, pollution control, and climate-resilient practices, strengthening public awareness and compliance. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7), officially rolled out its “Permitting on Wheels” (POW) Program on April 14–15, 2026, at the Island City Mall Activity Center, bringing government environmental services closer to the Boholanos. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7), officially rolled out its “Permitting on Wheels” (POW) Program on April 14–15, 2026, at the Island City Mall Activity Center, bringing government environmental services closer to the Boholanos. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)