TAGBILARAN CITY – Gov. Aris Aumentado has foresight to cushion the impact of a near-total war in the Middle East on Bohol’s economy.
He issued EO No. 07, s. 2026, creating the Provincial Inter-agency Task Force and Economic Energy Resilience (PIATF-EER) is a direct response to provide the necessary framework and defined tasks ahead.
The multi-agency task force is required to monitor the price movement, make assessment on fuel and food supply, including the Boholano overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). It’s also tasked to recommend any regulation to stabilize basic goods prices, among others, and to submit to the governor’s office its report weekly.
The governor’s fiat orders all provincial government offices to implement energy conservation measures, minimize official vehicle’s use, cutting electricity consumption and when possible adopting flexible work arrangements. It was not immediately known if the four-day per week will be considered.
The Provincial Price Coordinating Council (PPCC) has been reactivated in a meeting last week tackling the current prices and monitor them and report them if ever price hikes are being imposed on their products without authorization. Bohol is assured of stable oil supply, it said.
Major suppliers here of prime and basic commodities showed support to the call for price stabilization and that their current inventories are sufficient to last up to three months.
Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, provides for the council mandatory monitoring of prices and supply, especially during emergencies or impending crises, and to establish mechanisms that protect consumers from unreasonable price increases and supply shortages.
For food security, the Provincial Agriculture Office is tasked to intensify production, and other measures like the promotion of backyard gardening and coordination with national agencies on this score.
The order also includes provisions to prepare assistance programs for returning OFWs, should repatriation become necessary, and to prioritize vulnerable sectors in social protection interventions. (Ric Obedencio)
