On December 14, 2014, the Municipality of Jagna in close coordination with the St. Michael Parish officially launched in a grandly simple ceremony the Light a Tree program with the theme “Ang Pasko sa Pagbati sa mga Jagnaanon” at the Jagna Insular Plaza. It was opened with a unity prayer by the leaders of the different religious institutions in the municipality.
Municipal Councilor Maricris V. Jamora, the overall coordinator, gave the statement of purpose for the event emphasizing the importance of rejoicing for the birth of Jesus amidst the sufferings brought about by calamities. She said that Jagnaanos have a lot to thank for even during hard times .
The Light a Tree, an annual program, of the LGU and the St. Michael Parish was made possible by sponsors who gave their nods to “Adopt-a-Tree”. Coordinated by Mr. Catalino Berro, sponsors of the lighted trees are San Miguel Cable, Du Ek Sam, Cool Blue, Salarda Store, Tadena Commercial (SMC), FICCO, Jagna Pawnshop, Jagna MultiPurpose Cooperative, Fighter Wine, Teodoro B. Galagar District Hospital, Monterey, SkyGo, Palawan Pawnshop (Pagina), MLhuillier (Looc), LM Commercial, Metrobank, Third Millenium Oil Mills Inc. (TMOMI), Caltex, FCB, Lotus Pharmacy, Lim Community Hospital, DORY, BOHECO II and LBC.
The acknowledgement of sponsors was followed by the main event the declaration for the lighting of the christmas tree, belen and the trees with the countdown led by Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla. The lighting of the trees at the plaza is simultaneous with the lighting of the series lights along the Colegio dela Medalla Milagrosa and St.Michael Church lights sponsored by the CMM Alumni. A fireworks display sponsored by Doctors Theodore and Belinda Abrenilla enhancing the grandness of the celebration.
A gift giving and toy offering ceremony followed sponsored by the general public. A call for sharing of toys and clothing was issued by Monsignor Alberto S. Uy and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for those affected by typhoons Queenie and Ruby. This call was answered by the Jagnaanons by offering their bundles for consolidation by the MSWDO.
The program was capped by a message of goodwill by Vice Mayor Bonifacio Virtudes, Jr.
The Municipality of Jagna accepted the call of the Bayani Challenge on May 29, 30 and 31. During the opening program Jagna Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla said that the Bayani Challenge will awaken the spirit of volunteerism inherent in the Filipino. He said that volunteerism is important most especially in times of calamities.
Hometown activities for the Bayani Challenge are launching ceremonies at the Capt. Goyo Hall of the municipal building with invited guests from the Bayani Challenge; simultaneous Manna Pack Feeding in 17 barangays facilitated by the Municipal Nutrition Council, barangay councils, barangay nutrition scholars, barangay health workers and the parents for children and pregnant women were done last May 29.
On May 30 early in the morning conducted the municipal-wide coastal clean-up in celebration of the Month of the Ocean and CIVAC in all of the barangays in Jagna and simultaneous Manna Pack feeding for 16 barangays.
May 31 started out early with ZUMBA at the Jagna Municipal Plaza sponsored by the Jagna women’s group Kahugpongan sa mga Kababayen-an sa Jagna – Local Council of Women, Inc. and pick a trash within the vicinity of the municipal plaza. The Bayani Challenge Unity dance was led by selected members of the Municipal Bayani Challenge Secretariat.
Simultaneous activities done on May 31 were the construction of 2 houses at barangay Buyog under the Balay sa Kabus as well as the Paraisong Pambata. Balay sa Kabus, a group of volunteers led by Monsignor Alberto S. Uy, parish priest, have been constructing houses for the poor people within the town. Workers are volunteers coming from different walks of life. Construction materials are donated by kind-hearted people from everywhere. The Balay sa Kabus have also done voluntary construction of school buildings in the town. They have also been part of the volunteer groups helping people build their homes in areas badly devastated by the October 2013 earthquake in Bohol and of Yolanda in Tacloban. The Balay sa Kabus constructs houses in different barangays every Saturday. Pre-identified beneficiaries are done thru scouts with the assistance of barangay officials.
In Paraisong Pambata, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, day care workers and Parish Youth Ministry and Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in Jagna assisted the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) Bohol in the distribution of 200 pairs of slippers to selected children in the town. Fun activities were organized with Gawad Kalinga distributing goodies to the children.
Mr. Catalino Berro is the municipal coordinator assisted by Mrs. Efrena Buenafe.
Executive Order No. 13 series 2014 “An Order Reconstituting The Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), Its Composition and Its Function” strengthens the LGU Jagna’s commitment to fight illegal drug abuse in the municipality.
In line with the provincial government’s intensive drug campaign, the municipality deemed it necessary to reconstitute the executive order with the inclusion of personalities that will effectively carry out the executive order. It is stated that the “composition of the said council would help ensure community peace and harmony by addressing problems on illegal drug since its increasing use has significantly contributed to the incidence of heinous crimes”. The EO further identifies the “need to launch intensive information campaign in all schools throughout the municipality so that students and pupils will be informed on the ill-effects of the use of prohibited drugs”.
Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla chairs the council with PNP C/SInsp Albert R Quilitorio as the vice-chairperson.
Mayor Fortunato R. Abrenilla in preparation for this year’s celebration of May as Month of the Ocean signed in April Executive Order No. 12 series 2014 establishing the municipality’s Bantay Dagat Task Force. EO No. 12 “An Order Constituting The Municipal Bantay Dagat Task Force of the Municipality of Jagna, Bohol Establishing Its Composition and Defining Its Functions” reinforces the LGUs commitment to protect its coastal environment and preserve its marine resources for sustainability. The LGU recognizes the fact that what is done today greatly affects the coming generations of Jagnaanons.
This executive order is anchored on Republic Act 7160 “Local Government Code of 1991” mandating LGUs to “take care of the environment and natural resources”; The Bohol Environment Code of 1998 Article VII Section 49 mandating local chief executives to “adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest and other resources.
The municipal officials see the “need to formulate a work plan that provides focus, direction and guidelines to achieve the goals of the coastal resource management by way of collaborating and maximizing the Bantay Dagat Task Force members to conduct seaborne patrol to oversee the protection of municipal water, marine protected areas and marine sanctuaries” as stated in the executive order.
The composition of the Municipal Bantay Dagat Task Force is based on Municipal Ordinance No. 24-10-2005 chaired by the Philippine National Police chief and c-chaired by the SB Committee on Agriculture chairperson. Members include the police environmental officer, fishery technician, MFARMC president, SB Committee on Peace and Order chairperson, Jagna maritime police officer, the punong barangays of all the coastal barangays, an NGO/PO representative and barangay fish wardens.
The functions and duties of the members and officers among others are to enforce fishery laws, local fishery ordinances during day and night patrolling; maintain bantay dagat patrol boat; coordination with PEDO in apprehending illegal fishing activities; IEC activities, etc.
Part of the EO is the determination of funding for the task force, deputation of fish wardens, monitoring and reporting and secretariat and functions.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas in a letter addressed to Jagna mayor Atty. Fortunato R. Abrenilla outlined the projects eligible for funding by the BuB 2014 Program. The Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) is a program that allows the local government units to identify and propose projects that will address the needs of the LGU. The BuB is the government’s strategy towards the attainment of the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing poverty in the Philippines by 2015 from 26.5 percent to 16.6 percent.
In 2013, the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) composed of local government unit officials and personnel, civil society organizations and stakeholders collectively identified projects and programs that will directly address the needs of the poor constituencies and marginalized sectors. The BuB program is worth 15M pesos.
The BuB eligible projects for implementation this year 2014 are fish aggregating device – payao, establishment of tilapia holding pond and hatchery, improvement of Jagna Waterworks System, scholarship program, sustainable agricultural production (community seed banking, cacao, coconut, glutinous rice, banana, ube); carabao/cattle dispersal, livelihood projects (development of 10 existing micro-enterprises), capacity development of POs.
In the letter, the Honorable Secretary Mar Roxas urged the LGUs to coordinate with Local Government Operations Officer for the immediate implementation of the eligible projects.
