TAGBILARAN CITY – Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado orders all local government units (LGUs) to do away with foundation day celebrations and other related non-essential activities considering the fast-approaching May is fiesta month of the province.
This he confirmed in an interview at the start of task force meeting he created to monitor and report the food and fuel prices. In his signed unnumbered Executive Order the governor enjoined all LGUs, barangay and community-based organizations to observe austerity measures in the light of the on-going middle east conflict.
It’s incumbent upon the LGUs to exercise prudence and fiscal discipline of public funds, the EO stressed.
Setting an example, the provincial government will not celebrate its foundation day on July 22, and cancelled the holding of the intertown basketball dubbed Governor’s Cup and other insignificant activities to save. The provincial government is still practicing the 10-hour four-day office-based work from 8-hour of five-day work week.
It also limits the seminars and travel for government employees and officials. But it will not put up “Libreng Sakay” so as not to compete the grieving drivers, provincial administrator Aster Caberte said. But transport pooling may be considered, provincial human resource officer Mariquit O. Derkito said.
In this component capital city, Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap has already ordered the cancellation of some annual activities in its fiesta on May first, in honor of St. Joseph, The Worker, like the holding of Mutya sa Tagbilaran and city-sponsored concerts.
The city and provincial governments settled the holding of livelihood and job generation activities, like the city Food Bazaar and provincial government-sponsored the usual food and products showcase at the old airport in this city. Both said that the local economy must continue despite the challenges especially on the continued rising of petroleum products.
The city had already implemented the “Libreng Sakay” and subsidy for passenger jeepneys and multicabs in this city plus free vouchers to the passengers, the mayor.
Some barangays are reportedly said to abstain fiesta celebration on May to save, according to Bohol Electric Cooperative I spokesman during the task force meeting. BOHECO 1 intends to put more power transformers, but for fiesta celebration cancellations, the income of the cooperative might be adversely affected.
The town of Loboc, where the famous river cruising gains visitors from afar, announced thru its advisory that it won’t initiate fiesta-related activities on May and June this year.
But those privately-sponsored or funded fiesta-related activities may continue. (Ric Obedencio)
