WITH PROJECT ASPIRE

7 of 20 island barangays to

get RE micro-grids by 2029

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—By 2029, business policies in renewable energy development would have been enhanced and at least 7 of the 20 Bohol outlaying electricity-less island barangays get their own viable solar power micro grid, as the attempt to transition Bohol from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy advances.

Bohol Association of Non-Government Organizations Inc. (BANGON) Renewable Energy (RE) Project Manager Engr, Jerrey David Aguilar bared this, during the recent Kapihan sa PIA tackling the initiatives of civil society organizations as government partners in community development.

“A study has shown that there are still 20 island barangays that are off-grid, without reliable service, which would certainly be left out when mainland Bohol consumers get more benefits with its shifting to renewable energy,” he explained.

For these, Bangon said they are looking at 4 island barangays coming from Getafe and 3 coming from Talibon, the project manager shared.

The umbrella NGO however clarified through Engr Aguilar that considerations are costs, land area, total consumption and the viability of establishing a community owned and sustained RE microgrid.

And from RE assessments in Bohol, viable RE in Bohol are solar, hydro, biomass and wind, based on a study from an academic research institution here.

Engr Aguilar said that it their efforts to advance environmental sustainability as BANGON has been generally identified, a Singaporean based philanthropic foundation aiming for facilitating Asia’s transition from dirty fossil fuel to a more sustainable RE, also noticed Bohol’s unique positioning in being a leading model for energy transition.

Through nationwide studies by Lumina, Tara Climate Foundation found Bohol with the perfect potential for modeling just transition to renewable energy.

Such is because Asia uses largely fossil fuels which contributed 70% to global emissions leading to warmer climates,

The partnership with BANGON for accelerating just energy transition and creating a ripple to effect a regional movement leading to Asia’s transition from a leading carbon emission economy to a sustainable region also allowed Bohol access to project resources.

And just as Bohol gambled in setting up land-based energy sources to propel its economy after getting hostaged by a submarine-cable served power that is vulnerable to calamities, the provincial option to call for investors in island-based RE resounded with a positive ripple.

But still, with about 70 islands and islets, 20 of then underserved by power, these people can not be left behind, asserted Bangon officials.

Soon to have a little over a hundred megawatts of clean energy generated from its solar farms when completed, the goal of generating more energy and making it available to power utilities and distribution companies, also keeps these off-grid island barangays behind.

The entry of initial RE investors has presented a situation where Boholanos need to be part of.

In here, BANGON presented its help with Tara Climate Foundation in Advancing Sustainable Provincial investments in Renewable Energy (ASPIRE), Aguilar said.

As The Philippines has been a jewel of renewable energy in Asia in the next coming years and Bohol as a leading LGU which has crafted its RE investments Code, many investors are now looking at Bohol.

The project looks at how we create a framework and craft policies that would guide RE development, how to make the decisions more participative of sectors, attract investors from these and without leaving communities behind, sums up Aguilar on project ASPIRE. (PIAbohol)

TO BE WORKED ON. Bangon Bohol would organize communities from electricity under-served islands in Getafe and Talibon for the community to come up with a viable and sustainable renewable energy micro-grid establishment plan before these could be built, as part of Bohol’s civil society participation in the government’s service delivery of clean energy for the environment, explains Engr Jerrey Aguilar of Bangon. (PIABohol)

SP joint committees recommend

Rigid enforcement, education,

livelihood for Malingin fishers

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has ordered the putting up of more government troops stationed in the island Barangay of Malingin in Bien Unido, to establish peace and enforce the laws, as the clustered Coastal law Enforcement Council (CLEC) and Bantay Dagay Task Force continue to conduct inter-agency sea-borne operations against illegal fishing in one of Bohol’s marine geo-sites.

This too as the joint committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committees on Peace and Order and Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection recommends livelihood assistance, regulated access to nearby municipal waters to fish as incentive, training and education campaign while immediately activating intensified joint marine law enforcement plus establishing a joint law enforcement detachment station in Malingin Island.

And while the government is offering its soft and hard hand against illegal fishing after the drive has since killed two alleged illegal fishers, authorities continue to scour for humane solutions to poverty-spawned criminality in the area.

Subject fishermen allegedly use Danish seine (liba-liba) in literally plowing the sea to drive fish of the world renowned Danajon Double Barrier Reef, into their dragged nets.

'Liba liba' is a fishing method already banned Section 92 of Republic Act 8550, also known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, which bans fishing gear that damages coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other important marine habitats.

Pushed by what people claimed as poverty, even Malingin Island barangay Chairman Arne Nellas, admitted that the use of Danish seine, which has been illegalized under the Philippine Fisheries Code is still rampant in his island.

To him, taking a stand against this illegal fishing method would entail sufficient resources and support, something that he could hardly get.

In the investigation, requested by former Carlos P. Garcia mayor and now Board member Fernando Estavilla tackled on the documented illegal fishing activities, to possibly address policy and implementation gaps and strengthen local fishery laws enforcement.

Based on the data from President Carlos P. Garcia (Pres CPG) police, 888 fishermen from Barangay Malingin have been caught for illegal fishing, mostly from Liba-liba, from 2016 until 2025.

The police also reported ceasing nearly 300 bancas used in illegal fishing, about 43 cases have been filed due to this illicit activity.

For the compassionate members of the SP, bringing the full force of the law against illegal fishers has to be twinned with community development projects in livelihood and skills training for alternative livelihood to liba-liba.

The SPN joint committees then recommended for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to design and implement a comprehensive livelihood training program for the island residents and the Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) to organize and empower local community and ensure they get the needed support to access livelihood grants and social services from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Board member Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor, during the meeting underscored education and community awareness as a prerequisite for enforcement success.

She called for intensified grassroots dialogues, to educate local fisherfolk on the long-term socio-economic benefits of abandoning illegal practices in favor of sustainable maritime management.

On the other hand, Pres. CPG mayor Kenneth B. Estavilla, committed to grant regulated access to their municipal waters fishermen from Malingin, as a direct incentive for these fishers abandoning illegal fishing practices.

Simultaneous to that, the Committees want the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO) to lead a multi-sectoral team of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bohol Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the immediate intensified, joint-enforcement campaign against illegal fishing activities.

And to secure that everything is done right, the SP resolves to request the PNP, MARPSTA, and the PCG to establish a station in the island to fortify maritime law enforcement, streamline inter-agency coordination, and enhance accountability mechanisms throughout the area. (PIAbohol)

FISHING FOR HELP. Bohol governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado meets with LGU Ubay officials who sought advice on the implementation of fishery laws; one of the most contentious issues on destructive fishing which continue to happen in pockest of areas in the Danajon Double Barrier Reef, a geosite in Bohol as UNESCO Geopark. (PIABohol/PIMO)