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)

Tagbilaran launches free rides, 

food vouchers, fuel aid package

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)--The Tagbilaran City Government has launched a P40.35 million Energy Crisis Social Protection Package to help families, transport drivers and fisherfolk cope with rising fuel and food prices – part of a whole-of-government response to a state of national energy emergency declared by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

On March 24, Marcos signed an Executive Order declaring a state of national energy emergency, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil supply, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The order activates the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) as the government’s coordinated response framework and explicitly urges local government units to undertake complementary measures within their jurisdictions.

Tagbilaran City’s relief package is among those local responses. Of the total amount, P28.6 million is allocated for a food voucher program benefiting every household in the city, P6.75 million for fuel subsidy assistance and P5 million for the Libreng Sakay program. The funds came from the city’s unappropriated surplus.

“Sa pagsaka sa presyo sa gasolina ug pagkaon, ang inyong City Government of Tagbilaran naglihok dayon pinaagi sa Tagbilaran City Crisis Management Committee para paspas ug tukmang aksyon,” Mayor Jane Yap said in an April 10 Facebook post.

(With the rising prices of gasoline and food, your City Government of Tagbilaran is acting immediately through the Tagbilaran City Crisis Management Committee for swift and appropriate action).

The package includes a P1,000 food voucher for every registered household, an expanded Libreng Sakay program and a P2,000 fuel subsidy for transport drivers and fisherfolk.

“Kini tanan kabahin sa atong Energy Crisis Social Protection Package klarong plano, klarong aksyon,” Yap added.

(This is all part of our Energy Crisis Social Protection Package, a clear plan, clear action).

The mayor said the package integrates immediate relief with longer-term reforms under an Urban Development Plan, with planned projects including new roads, mass-transport hubs, electric buses, and solar-powered terminals.

The city’s initiative aligns with directives under the UPLIFT framework. Under the Executive Order, the Department of Transportation is mandated to provide fuel subsidy allocations, commuter fare subsidies and expansion of public transport services through the Libreng Sakay Program – measures that Tagbilaran City has already rolled out at the local level.

Expanded Libreng Sakay program launched

The expanded Libreng Sakay program was launched on April 13.

The program allows passengers on public utility jeepneys and multicabs along various barangay routes to travel free of charge from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

City personnel issue coupons to commuters, which transport drivers can later redeem for cash from the city government – ensuring continued earnings for operators despite the free fare scheme.

“Ang paghatag og libreng sakay sa mga katawhan dako kaayong tabang karong panahona nga nagkataas ang presyo sa gasolina ug krudo. Kini nga programa ug inisyatibo nakahatag og suporta sa daghang pamilya nga naapektuhan sa krisis,” said Knika Ros M. Cubero, 35, a public school teacher who rode the Libreng Sakay from Tagbilaran City proper to Barangay Manga.

(Providing free rides to the people is a great help in this time of rising gasoline and crude oil prices. This program and initiative has provided support to many families affected by the crisis).

In March 2026, the city government rolled out the original Libreng Sakay program, deploying city buses on three designated routes to key areas in the city and back to three barangays, with consistent drop-off and pick-up points.

The fuel subsidy for transport drivers and fisherfolk is scheduled to for distribution April 16 to 18.

The distribution schedule for the P1,000 food vouchers will be announced in the coming days. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

Commuters ride a public utility jeepney under Tagbilaran City’s expanded Libreng Sakay program, launched at City Square. The program offers free rides on jeepneys and multicabs along barangay routes within the city as part of the local government’s P40.35 million Energy Crisis Social Protection Package. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)