SALAAM POLICE ADVOCACY GROUP

Peace police anchors gov’t anti-terror

anti-crime programs in Muslim areas

Muslim communities. Like mushrooms after a lightning storm, they are sprouting, but unlike the usual huddling stilt houses of light materials that tiptoe on the waters, their houses are more permanent.

They are in new and rising commercial centers; first in loose portable tarpaulin tents and dismantle-abled stalls with their ubiquitous dry goods from compact disks, to slippers to electronic devices and appliances.

And then, their portable stalls are now fixed, and their homes lie somewhere, not on stilts but in concrete homes like most homes in the community.

But, while many shiver in imposed fear having them in the community, police officials of Camp Francisco Dagohoy, Bohol Provincial Police Office assure, “they are far more peace-loving than some of us.”

For the unbelievers, the Salaam police is there as the government’s anchor engaged in these communities.

“There are now 14 Muslim communities here and another one is starting,” shares Police Corporal Jonald Avinido, during the weekly Camp Dagohoy police community affairs program billed as Strategic Information Broadcasting over the Internet and other Access (SIBIA).

And in each community, there is a police group that keeps the line hot to the community leaders.

This is the Salaam Police, a peace and anti-crime, anti-terror advocacy group that keeps the relations between Christians and Muslims here, civil.

Salaam, from the Arabic word of universal Muslim greeting Assalamu alaykum (Peace be upon you), is a peace advocacy group and is, for peace, so there is nothing to worry about the Salaam Police.

In the world news in the 2000s, Muslim were also unfortunately skipping in and out of the national news due to the news coverage of the centuries-old conflict between the Sunni and the Shiite rivalry, rooted from as to who between the factions, succeeds the Prophet after his death.

The conflict has caused broken international relations, left countries at war and many seeking refuge, spread out to find peace.

Unfortunately, however, some of those who slip out, continue the fight from other countries, to generate support to sustain the ongoing conflict.

The Philippines has been among those identified and suspected countries hosting Muslim populations, and unbeknown to their blood brothers, some refugees are dormant terror warriors.

Successive arrests of Muslims suspected of orchestrating terror attacks and bombings in the country led to meetings with the muslim community and Malacanang, which insisted that the anti-terrorism arrests were solid intelligence information and were not targeted on ethnic bias.

Not really intending to aggravate the situation, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the organization of the Salaam Police.

“These are composed of Muslim and non-muslim officers and men assigned to counter-terror operations and liaise with Muslim communities for a better exchange of cultural understanding and intelligence information,” explained Avenido, the Salaam Police Advocacy Group (SPAG Bohol) Provincial coordinator.

Based at the BPPO Police Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU), the SPAG has its municipal units in town stations with muslim populations.

In short, SPAG are vital members of community active force multipliers in helping the PNP maintain the peace and order and in the implementation of various programs of the organization, as it also involves citizen counterparts in the muslim communities, he summed.

Of the 15 communities now in Bohol, eight are with their own advocacy groups helping the police in keeping their community crime and criminal free and insulating the community from the entry of suspected terrorists, according to Camp Dagohoy.

“Muslims in Bohol are now about 2,000 families spread out in Tagbilaran City, with the biggest population at over 1,000 families in four settlements in the Muslim Village, the Islamic Muslim Community, the Darussalam Muslim Community and the Unitop Muslim Community,” Avinido said.

And then, there is Jagna Muslim Community with Maranaws under Ali Ahkbar Marohum and Tausugs under Amalam Abbas; a total of about 500 families.

In Ubay, some 300 families are there, while the rest of the towns have a presence of Muslim Communities of small families are in Tubigon, Catigbian, Batuan, Talibon, Trinidad, Clarin, Baclayon and in Inabanga.

“We have them under the control of their leaders, who are our allies,” the police official who is also a Balik-Islam convert said.

While the muslims in the communities are also organized, there is a muslim police officer, who coordinates with the community and the force for a more efficient crime control, and anti-terror, considering that the Muslims are everywhere, they can also be good sources of valuable intelligence information.

Now, as more and more Muslim communities sprout, rest assured that there is a corresponding SPAG organized for one major function: keep the peace here and make Bohol terror-free, peaceful and progressive. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

WE COME IN PEACE. Salaam Police Provincial Coordinator Police Corporal Jonald Avinido explains the presence of the Salaam Police Advocacy Groups (SPAG) in 8 muslim communities in Bohol, stressing that these anti-terror and anti-crime force multipliers not only keep these communities criminal-free but insulated from any terrorist intending to hide in these communities. (PIABohol)

BEAT IT. Beatbox king and police officer Corporal Aldrin Palaca helps Corporal Avinido dispel the fears of communities with the sprouting of Muslim Communities. Over their live streamed program SIBIA, police LtCol Norman Nuez, Corporals Palaca and Avinido bared the philosophy behind the police advocacy group. (PIAbohol)

ATI offers garden options, trainings

to help in El Niño food production

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 17 (PIA) – While agricultural services served by government agencies under the Department of Agriculture continue to flow despite the shortening possibilities of planting brought about the searing heat and sparse humidity, an aggie official said “there is no barren land, only barren mind.”

Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Information Officer 2 Jun Oliver, who came to the Kapihan sa PIA to discuss programs, projects and activities of the government’s Department of Agriculture presented ways on how people can contribute to the much-needed food production, if the projected El Niño phenomenon happens.

“Kon diha sa balay nato, maingon ta daan, dili ko makatanum kay wala koy lugar, pwede ka motanum,” he said as a matter of fact. (If at home, we say we cant plant because we do not have space, you actually can. “…through containerized gardening,” he pushed.

Containerized gardening is growing plants in pots, and having the opportunity to move these into areas where the planter knows the plant can thrive and flourish.

Plastic containers, empty water bottles, broken pails, plastic basins, empty sacks, grocery bags, everything that can hold the soil is fair enough.

Fill these with good soil: which could be a combination of fertilizer, rice hull, mulch, something that would give enough nutrients for the edible plants you wish to grow.

You can make your own soil medium through vermicomposting activity, according to Oliver.

He said people can ask from the Municipal Agriculture Officers for the technology and the African night crawlers, some things that people can ask from the MAO.

You already have house refuse, dry leaves, just add a little of animal manure, as long as it does not contain any e-coli, making sure this is safe as this is for edible plants.

Then, considering that these would need a little bit of water more than those planted on the ground, he suggested planting cash crops.

And since these are for the family’s own consumption, he proposes to plant eggplants, tomatoes, petchay, okra, something than can give you a yield within a month or so.

“Do not throw your kitchen wastes: vegetable peel, rotten fruits anything biodegradable, because in time, it will rot and become organic soil, which can be mixed with rice hull, and you can have a good soil medium,” he said.

Parallel to this, he also talked about introducing a technology called wall gardening or vertical gardening.

“This is still containerized gardening, we only need to hang these to our walls, Oliver, who is also a trusted livestock artificial inseminator, hinted.

Plant alugbati. Kangkong which you can hang, its safe food, and its secured, you only need to nip from it to cook

Posed with an issue on water shortage especially with the rains getting fewer and farther in between, Oliver, who had over three decades of government service as agricultural training officer since the ATI once was named the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Extension, advised: Save on water.

But with fewer rains, Oliver said save water and go for cash crops.

By saving water, he hinted that since fertilizers are salt based, dishwashing water refuse can be used to water plants.

I wash my dishes outside so the water I use can also water the plants, he said.

Beyond all these, the ATI as the government’s training arm, is always there, offering the kind of training to equip people with the skills and the technology to help ease the food production clutch.

“We all can do this, all we heed to have is a little of hard work, because as long as you stop thinking creatively, then you are done,” he summed. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

ONLY BARREN MINDS. ATI Information Officer Jun Oliver presents ATI menu of technology adoption training for everyone as the government attempts to engage everyone into agricultural production in the onset of a long dry season. He also presented gardening options so families can help grow their food and save. (PIAbohol)

Bohol notes 48% increase

in 2023 dairy production

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 17 (PIA) – From the remnants of a traumatized livestock surviving after typhoon Odette, the milk volume in Bohol increased 48%, in 2022 to 2023, revealed Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz.

“Actually, from 2022to 2023, around 48% ang increase sa milk production,” Dr Lapiz, who has been on the reins of the project since its inception in 2020, shared.

Although the increase may not be as grand considering that before the super-typhoon hit in December of 2021, which left most of Bohol farms in shambles, Bohol has already attained a consolidated daily dairy production of nearly a thousand liters.

As to the market enterprise business plan which the provincial dairy council submitted for funding from government funding institutions in 2022, the funded dairy enterprise project targeted some 15 to 20% increase in production, the veterinary head of office added.

This is also considering that the herd has to recover from the traumatic experience of weathering the storm, farmers growing the proper forage sources to feed the animals for milking and draft.

For time immemorial, Bohol has topped Central Visayas provinces in keeping the most number of carabaos, which are mostly used as draft animal and for meat, as to Dr. Lapiz, who shared Bohoano fiestas would seem incomplete without stewed carabao meat.

“Based on the proposal, ka kini gu’ng atoang Bohol Dairy Project marketing and enterprise, aduna man ‘ni siya’y gihimong business plan pagsugod, nagtarget ‘ta og at least between 15 to 20% annual increase in production, she informed listeners and viewers of the Kapihan sa PIA, which was streamed live on PIA Bohol facebook and youtube channels and broadcast over DyTR AM, Friday 4:00-5:00.

Based on the proposal, this Bohol Dairy Project Marketing and Enterprise has an accompanying business plan, and when we started, we targeted between 15-20% annual increase in production.

“So, last year, we overshot the target and for this year, while we sat down with the Bohol Dairy Council, and we set a target,” she remarked, although she admitted she is not confidently sure of the figure, but adds that they are confident that the target could still be surpassed.

Funded by the Philippine Rural Development Project, the dairy enterprise, as operated by Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BODACO) has established institutional buyers assuring them of sure market.

Dr Lapiz bared that the Department of Education’s annual feeding program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also uses the locally produced milk for their nutritional feeding and supplementation program.

More than that, the Provincial Government in its Community based Feeding program has allocated P10M annually for the purchase of the milk required for the program.

For these markets alone, Bohol’s daily milk production is still way not enough to supply the huge need.

In fact, according to Dr. Lapiz, they are using toned milk for the PLGU feeding program, which decreases the fats in the milk to be sure it does not upset kids’ stomachs, and stretches the milk to get to the most number of nutrition deficient kids.

Because of this, authorities continue to resound the call to go into dairying to supplement the family income and finally improve their lot a little bit.

With milk now selling at P70 a liter and a proposal to go even higher in the next few months, having a milking cross-bred carabao means an additional P500 a day, Dr Lapiz said.

Compared to a native carabao which can only produce 1.5 liters a day after feeding the calf, a cross breed can give you 7 to 12 liters a day, the lady veterinarian said.

And to be truly seeing the benefit, Dr. Lapiz recommends having 3 to 5 heads of milking carabaos.

It is still the same work that you do for one or five heads: build an animal milking shed, plant some forage grasses, dig azolla pond and add in a mineral block for the livestock.

That is of course, with the proper animal care, deworming, right feeding practices and minerals and vitamin supplements and good breeding practices, she pointed out during the livestreamed Kapihan sa PIA. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Aris consults mayors on legislating

3 ton boats into municipal waters

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 17 (PIA) –In the spirit of participative governance, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado opened to the mayors of the coastal towns in Bohol a proposal to open some portions of the municipal waters for small commercial fishing operations.

Calling for the first Agri-fishery Consultative Meeting held at the Capitol’s Ceremonial Hall, Aumentado through Capitol Fisheries consultant and former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional director Al Piloton, showed that Republic Act 10654 or the act amending the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, has provided a leeway for LGUS to allow small commercial fishers into the municipal water through an ordinance.

The consultative meeting forms part of the long-term efforts to bring the fish prices down, as the governor harped during the election campaign.

The market price for fish and fishery products soared accordingly due to lack of fish supply, among other challenges.

The lack of fish supply, authorities credited to the devastation caused by typhoon Odette of 2021, and the destruction of most fishing gear and implements including already productive fish cages, fish ponds, fishing boats and implements.

According to Piloton, with 1.4 million Boholanos to feed consuming 38.5 kilograms annually, the province would need 53.9 tons of fish supply, or a whooping 147,671 kilograms per day.

The actual daily harvest, or at least the ones that land in Bohol only amount to 15,038 kilos, based on the Food Security Cluster’s monthly inventory.

Authorities also believe that with fewer surviving fishing boats and fishermen using crude and inefficient fishing methods, allowing small commercial fishers into some parts of the municipal waters by ordinance may help Bohol fill in the supply gap.

Small commercial fishing boats have far more efficient fishing gears which could gather as much compared to the usual 3 to 5 kilos of catch for every marginal fisherman, Piloton illustrated.

It may be recalled that Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code designated the first 15 kilometers from the shoreline as municipal waters and the designated fishing grounds for marginal fishers.

Commercial fishers or at least using fishing boats weighing 3.1 to 50 gross tons and medium scale commercial fishers with boats weighing 50.1 to 159 gross tons could only operate outside of the designated 15 kilometers from the coastline seawards.

Piloton, in his presentation however revealed that LGUS are now given a leeway by legislating the entry and operation of small commercial fishing boats from 10.1 kilometers seaward.

He said, fish spawn within the first five kilometers from the coastlines, and within the 10 kilometers, there is a good amount of fish waiting to be harvested.

On this, municipal agricultural and fisheries officers think that the move could all the more deprive marginal fishers of catch, and further deplete maritime resources.

Carlos P. Garcia mayor Fernando Estavilla and Getafe mayor Carry Camacho were also against the move.

Instead, Baclayon mayor and lawyer Alvin Uy, Garcia Hernandez mayor Jess Baja and Jagna mayor Joseph Ranola suggested instead on a scheme to help fishermen get more efficient fishing gear, motivate them with subsidies, strengthen enforcement and fix the municipal boundaries so encroachment issues are easier resolved.

With this, the governor is set to select a core group of experts to help mayors decide, cautiously considering the impacts of the decisions to the environment and the communities living by fishing. (PIABohol)

SHRINKING MUNICIPAL WATERS. From 15 kilometers to the coastline, the Fisheries Code has determined this to be municipal waters dedicated from marginal fishermen but the amended Code presents a leeway, explained Capitol fisheries consultant and former BFAR Regional Director Al Piloton. By legislation, LGUS may allow small commercial fishing vessels to operate in the 10.1 kilometers provided the catch would be landed in the designated port identified by the LGU who has jurisdiction of the municipal waters. (PIAbohol)

Bohol to set mariculture

zones, 5 marine parks

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 17 (PIA) –To drastically increase local fish supply, Bohol is poised to declare five marine culture sites within mari-culture zones in the island’s shallower waters, put in at least 100 fish cages in each of the mariculture sites, shares Capitol consultant on fisheries.

During the recent Agri-Fisheries Consultative meeting with the mayors, municipal agriculture and fisheries officers and stakeholders, Capitol fisheries consultant and former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional director Al Piloton said these fish cages can grow high value fish species, to add to the much-needed supply that can stabilize the price of fish here.

Himself a former regional director in Region 7, Piloton, whose roots are from Candijay, is cognizant of the successes of Bohol in growing pompano, rabbitfish (kitong), sea bass (apahap), emperor fish (katambak), grouper (pugapo), blue and green crabs in cages as well as seaweeds farming, the key legislation could also be a key move to address poverty, secure food, stabilize price and low the foundations for sustained long term growth and fishery sector development.

He also told mayors that the waters from Maribojoc to Candijay can well be the host to the five mari-culture parks while the open and deep waters of Cebu strait to the southern Bohol seas of the Mindanao sea to Anda would be allocated for pelagic fish harvest.

Piloton, who spoke for the governor also talked about intensification of bangus farming in fish cages and engaging in more value-adding activities that make fish attain longer shelf life in its processed form.

The consultant’s thesis was based on the fact that fish harvest that supplies Bohol is only about 10% of the total demand, forcing the price to soar owing to the economics of supply and demand.

The mayors and aggie officials also tackled the proposal to allow more efficient fishing operations in the 10.1 kilometers seaward, operations of which area was then banned by Republic Act 6550.

Presented with the amendment of the Fisheries Code, Capitol intended to get the mayors into deciding whether an ordinance could be passed to allow the entry of small commercial fishers at 10.1 kilometers to operate.

Armed with fish finders and sophisticated technologies, a small commercial fishing operations can dramatically increase fish catch to supply Bohol markets.

The local government not however carries with it provisions and safety nets, according to Piloton.

These include allowing the commercial fishing vessel to drop their nets only in depths beyond 7 fathoms, using only 65 fathom net nets.

The fish caught in this operation would only be unloaded in a port designated by the local government unit exercising jurisdiction of the municipal waters.

Moreover, another safety net is the pre-determination of a competent authority or agency of the carrying capacity of the municipal waters, and that a closed fishing season would be imposed.

The commercial fishing vessel, although belonging to the small commercial fishing category would have also to pay for corresponding fees of every fish aggregating devise established.

The legislated entry of small commercial fishing vessel into some parts of the municipal waters would be accompanied by an assurance of the establishment and reactivation of previously declared marine protected areas and fish sanctuaries as well as the intensification of fishery law enforcement in municipal waters.

As to the Food Security Cluster of the Capitol, in its July 2021 data, at 38.7 kilograms of annual per capita fish consumption, Bohol would need to land 53,900,000 kilograms of fish annually.

This would redound to a daily demand of 147,671 kilos, of which, only 15,038 kilograms are getting to Bohol markets for local consumption.

Getafe mayor Carry Camacho, representing the sentiment of several mayors of coastal towns, bared that in his municipal waters, marginal fishers harvest thousands of kilos, but these have been committed to fish traders in Cebu City, who lend money to the poor fishermen.

The same issue also got reported in Bien Unido, Ubay, President Carlos P. Garcia, Trinidad, Talibon and Buenavista.

Camacho was asking if there is a way they could force their fishermen to land in Bohol instead, where there is a clear gap in the supply. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

FISHED IN GETAFE, LANDED ELSEWHERE. Getafe mayor asks Bohol officials of any law that he can use to implement measures to make sure that their local resources are consumed by local residents. He noted that daily, thousands of kilos of fish and fishery products are sent to Cebu, despite their being take from their municipal waters. (PIAbohol)

Aris consults mayors on legislating

3 ton boats into municipal waters

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 17 (PIA) –In the spirit of participative governance, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado opened to the mayors of the coastal towns in Bohol a proposal to open some portions of the municipal waters for small commercial fishing operations.

Calling for the first Agri-fishery Consultative Meeting held at the Capitol’s Ceremonial Hall, Aumentado through Capitol Fisheries consultant and former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional director Al Piloton, showed that Republic Act 10654 or the act amending the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, has provided a leeway for LGUS to allow small commercial fishers into the municipal water through an ordinance.

The consultative meeting forms part of the long-term efforts to bring the fish prices down, as the governor harped during the election campaign.

The market price for fish and fishery products soared accordingly due to lack of fish supply, among other challenges.

The lack of fish supply, authorities credited to the devastation caused by typhoon Odette of 2021, and the destruction of most fishing gear and implements including already productive fish cages, fish ponds, fishing boats and implements.

According to Piloton, with 1.4 million Boholanos to feed consuming 38.5 kilograms annually, the province would need 53.9 tons of fish supply, or a whooping 147,671 kilograms per day.

The actual daily harvest, or at least the ones that land in Bohol only amount to 15,038 kilos, based on the Food Security Cluster’s monthly inventory.

Authorities also believe that with fewer surviving fishing boats and fishermen using crude and inefficient fishing methods, allowing small commercial fishers into some parts of the municipal waters by ordinance may help Bohol fill in the supply gap.

Small commercial fishing boats have far more efficient fishing gears which could gather as much compared to the usual 3 to 5 kilos of catch for every marginal fisherman, Piloton illustrated.

It may be recalled that Republic Act 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code designated the first 15 kilometers from the shoreline as municipal waters and the designated fishing grounds for marginal fishers.

Commercial fishers or at least using fishing boats weighing 3.1 to 50 gross tons and medium scale commercial fishers with boats weighing 50.1 to 159 gross tons could only operate outside of the designated 15 kilometers from the coastline seawards.

Piloton, in his presentation however revealed that LGUS are now given a leeway by legislating the entry and operation of small commercial fishing boats from 10.1 kilometers seaward.

He said, fish spawn within the first five kilometers from the coastlines, and within the 10 kilometers, there is a good amount of fish waiting to be harvested.

On this, municipal agricultural and fisheries officers think that the move could all the more deprive marginal fishers of catch, and further deplete maritime resources.

Carlos P. Garcia mayor Fernando Estavilla and Getafe mayor Carry Camacho were also against the move.

Instead, Baclayon mayor and lawyer Alvin Uy, Garcia Hernandez mayor Jess Baja and Jagna mayor Joseph Ranola suggested instead on a scheme to help fishermen get more efficient fishing gear, motivate them with subsidies, strengthen enforcement and fix the municipal boundaries so encroachment issues are easier resolved.

With this, the governor is set to select a core group of experts to help mayors decide, cautiously considering the impacts of the decisions to the environment and the communities living by fishing. (PIABohol)

SHRINKING MUNICIPAL WATERS. From 15 kilometers to the coastline, the Fisheries Code has determined this to be municipal waters dedicated from marginal fishermen but the amended Code presents a leeway, explained Capitol fisheries consultant and former BFAR Regional Director Al Piloton. By legislation, LGUS may allow small commercial fishing vessels to operate in the 10.1 kilometers provided the catch would be landed in the designated port identified by the LGU who has jurisdiction of the municipal waters. (PIAbohol)