The way Bohol is besting Boracay at the finish line today rests on our famous "Bohol Countryside Tour." Bohol is known as Boracay's beaches Plus.

This cutting edge must be preserved, nay enhanced, as Bohol battles for prominence as "primus inter pares." First among equals - translated from Latin to English.

Bohol tour "repeaters" - demanding R and R tourists as they already are - are, however, now looking for new finds outside the Chocolate Hills, Panglao beaches, tarsier and the river boat rides.

Being along the Tourist Highway leading to those Hershey-like delights in Carmen, the prime candidates should be the Rajah Sikatuna National Park sweeping through 29 barangays filled with lush vegetation. It should awe and fascinate both as a tourist haven and an environmental jewel.

The seeming conflict that arose between the current manager (DENR) and the NGO of William Granert tapped by the New Zealand funders to get involved in Project (exposed by the Chronicle two weeks ago) at least led to two conclusions.

One, is that the "environment part" of the Park covering six towns is there to be preserved in its awesome biodiversity. The recurring discoveries of more "fauna and flora" in the forests are proof positive, that part of the environmental goal is well served. Two, the very small park often referred to as the Magsaysay Park was finally identified as the place where tourists should be able to enjoy a cleansing, refreshing stopover is in an apparent state of "neglect."

Lets start with monkey cages, dilapidated office, butterfly "doom" and a wasted swimming pool.

It is a pity because without adding any "bricks and mortars," the Park can become part of the Cutting Edge we are referring to. Bird watching, nature trekking and just plain meditation among vast greeneries could be ours for the asking.

It is timely that Rep. Edgar Chatto (House of Representatives Chairman of Tourism) and newcomer Rep Adam Jala (3rd District) did a marathon audit of the "scene of the crime" last Friday and has conferred with the DENR park managers. The Provincial Tourism Council chairman formed a task force among resorts, hotels and tour operators to find rhyme and reason to the neglected park. Just what activities can tourists enjoy in Magsaysay Park immediately?

The August 15 conference to "Save the National Park" among the various public and private sector stakeholders should be a big step in finally making the Magsaysay Park truly an active tourist attraction and a veritable cog of the much-envied and more-praised "Bohol Countryside Tour."

Cutting edge, remember?

A GROWING FASCIST STATE?

A new Executive Order No 608 almost passed unnoticed except for the watchful wake of business groups and non-government organizations who blew the whistle.

The order can be camouflaged innocently enough as the State trying to keep sensitive information from leaking out. Through EO 698 all heads of government instrumentalities are given a Security Clearance as recommended by the National Security Adviser.

Being such, the Intelligence Coordinating Agency is empowered to conduct background investigation on them.

Specifically, EO 608 states that "any unauthorized disclosure, sharing publication, of classified information shall be considered a grave offense and shall be punishable under civil services rules."

We feel that this is just an extension of the infamous EO 464 issued last year by the President (and branded as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court) disallowing heads of government bodies from testifying in any congressional hearings without the approval of the President.

It is very clear that this EO No 608 prevents government personnel who (may be) driven by conscience and patriotic duty from squealing on anomalous deals and anything that will negatively impact the Government. This is a direct affront to our so-called democracy that demands transparency and good governance from the Government of the people, for the people and by the people.

This is a disservice to people who pay taxes and do their patriotic duty to the flag because they are denied access to information that will tell on how is the usage of government and therefore the nation's assets. Such restriction or non-disclosure, to our mind, should only refer to "information that is crucial to National Security."

Other than that, any attempt to cover up the truth is reminiscent of fascistic times of Hitler and Mussolini. Those guys have been resigned into the dustbin of history - derided for what they truly are: enemies of democracy. Are we becoming a fascist Italy and Germany of World War II? Are we in state of war?

Already they are killing judges - the so-called dispensers of justice - so who will dispense it then? They are killing media men - who will bring the facts, figures and opinions for the public to know and make conclusions? They are killing the militant peasant and student leaders - who are giving voice to the voiceless majority toiling in the poverty and mire of this Third World Nation.

Is it not enough that people are already deprived materially of food and shelter - that their freedom of choice and information is likewise curtailed?

The atrocious record of GMA's administration in its over-850 unexplained extra-judicial killings had shaken Washington. Last August 1, a letter from the United States Congress' 39 representatives to the Philippine government reminded us gently that the USA is providing military aid to the country.

And that it is gravely disturbed that it seems there is culpability of some government agents - or at the very least, the government is inutile to stop the killings. And that the Philippine government should do something about it.

The world's greatest defender of Democracy (the United States of America) had already noticed and spoken with annoyed conviction.

Do we have to wait for the agitated annoyance to change into active resentment?

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com