Sports hostilities will kick-off today after yesterday's formal opening of the 2006 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet at various venues.

The annual regional sportsfest is in search for the region's entries to the Palarong Pambansa.
Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo rallied athletes to put their best efforts as sports is part of the total development of a person. She likewise reminded participating athletes that sportsmanship should prevail over anything, as sports is a competition with an element of fun.

Some 13 groups of delegates were seen in yesterday's colorful parade to the CPG Sports Complex where majority of the games will be played starting today until Sunday.

DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani delivered inspirational message to the athletes and coaches as well.

Participating in this year's regional meet are Cebu City, the defending champion; Bais City, Bayawan City, Cebu province, Danao City, Dumaguete City, Mandaue City, Oriental Negros, Siquijor, Talisay City, Tanjay City, and hosts, Tagbilaran City and Bohol province.

Other events like chess and baseball for elementary and secondary will be held in Dauis and Maribojoc towns, respectively.

The athletes were welcomed yesterday by Gov. Erico Aumentado, City Mayor Dan Lim and DepEd Superintendent Cerina Bolos while OIC division superintendent Eladio Jala of the city DepEd presented the delegates.

Cesar assumes as
City PNP chief
Police Chief Inspector Jacinto A. Cesar assumed yesterday morning as the new acting chief of the city PNP after Chief Inspector Jes Acullador retired from the service as acting police chief.
He will assume as full-pledge city PNP chief after 30 days.
The assumption of Cesar came after he received orders from PNP Provincial Director Arturo Evangelista.
The appointment issued by Evangelista came after City Mayor Dan Lim wrote PNP Regional Director Eduardo Gador requesting that Cesar be named to assume city police chief.
Cesar was one of the five nominees submitted from Camp Dagohoy to the city mayor. He is the only graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) from among the five nominees.
The 42-year-old police officer belongs to PMA Class 1986. He has been holding the post as intelligence and investigation officer at Camp Dagohoy since 1992.
He once served as city PNP chief in Garcia-Hernandez, San Miguel and Carmen towns.
Cesar was also appointed to the operation and plans division of the regional PNP command in 1997.
The other nominees were P/Supt. Clarito Baja, P/Insp. Jeffrey Caballes, P/Insp. Uldarico Palgan and P/Insp. Lorenzo Batuan.

Bohol marks record in Shrimp culture

By ANTONIETO I. PERNIA

"Today is a historic day for Bohol because it has proven to the world that Tiger Shrimps can be cultured in marine waters. No study in any part of the world was done along this line. This is the Philippines' first, Asia's first and most likely the world's first."
This was the proud statement of Malcolm Sarmiento, National Director of the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) during the first harvesting of the Tiger Prawns cultured in marine waters yesterday morning at Panggangan, Calape, Bohol.
Director Sarmiento in his speech said that Tiger Prawns worldwide are cultured in brackish water. Even China, the world's largest Tiger Prawn exporter, culture the same in brackish water.
The BFAR director narrated that the report of a Bulakeño now residing in Dauis town motivated him to pursue a research on Tiger Prawn culture in marine water.
The Boholano resident, Benjie Aniag, cultures lapu-lapu in the Dauis seas. In one harvest, he discovered a full-grown Tiger Prawn among his catch. He immediately informed Director Sarmiento of his discovery which prompted the latter to immediately order a research work in the BFAR hatchery in Panggangan, Calape town on the possibility of Tiger Prawn to beg cultured in marine waters.
Sarmiento said this breakthrough would definitely help improve the lives of the marginalized fisherfolk since the putting up of open pen enclosures in marine waters is very cheap.
The comparative cost and return analysis of Tiger Prawns in ponds and open enclosures conducted showed that only half of the cost is spent when the open pen enclosures are used.
The Tiger Prawns also grow at the same size as those cultured in ponds using the same stocking density.
The campaign of Gov. Erico B. Aumentado to give alternative livelihood to illegal fishers as a means to eradicate illegal fishing is given a shot in the arm with this development.
The affordable means to culture high-value Tiger Prawns is expected to curb poverty among the fisherfolk at the same time increase dollar earnings as Tiger Prawns promise big markets in many parts of the world.
Gov. Aumentado was so enthusiastic upon learning the breakthrough. He hopes to replicate this successful study in many coastal areas of Bohol.

Jagna dads want provl
tax measure amended

RIC V. OBEDENCIO

In a bid to raise more revenues for development, Jagna officials asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to amend Provincial Revenue Code (PRC), particularly the provision that denies them a just share from extraction of earth materials in privately owned lands.
The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) here passed Resolution No. 50-07-2005 earnestly requesting Gov. Erico Aumentado and the SP to amend the PRC and "provide instead just share for the barangay and the municipality."
The move (amendment) arose from clamor from local government units to have a share from the proceeds of quarry extraction in private lands.
Consistent with the mandate of the Local Government Code, considered as LGU's bible, PRC provides no equitable sharing of proceeds from quarry ventures.
LGU can only have an equitable share of the proceeds if the quarry and extraction is made on public lands. Under this condition, a barangay will have the bulk share of extraction tax with 40% if the extraction is located at such barangay. The municipal and provincial governments will each have 30% of the extraction tax.
But the Jagna SB has invoked the Constitution, citing section 2, Article VII: "Our Constitution provides that all our natural resources except agricultural land still not be alienated."
It argued that even if the land is owned privately, the "quarry resource inside private land is not owned by private person." They (private owners) however shall have a preferential right to tap natural resources in their property, it said.
Jagna officials, led by Vice-Mayor Teofisto Pagar Sr., who sponsored the said resolution, also cited as basis of Local Tax Regulation No 475 issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) the tax share from extraction (in private land) "shall be collected as usual for contractors extracting materials within private concession" as long as it provided under its local ordinance.
By not giving what is due the LGUs, such as share from quarry ventures, the said provision of the PRC deprived the barangay and the municipality of the income due them.
Other LGUs in the province in similar situation are also clamoring for a just extraction tax share, reports said.
The Resolution was signed by councilors Bonifacio Virtudes Sr., Jesus Acedillo, Victorino Nayga, Sr., Pacheco Rances, Godofredo Okit, Sr., Alberto Café, Senen Lloren, Alfonso Gales, Sr., Andrew Tadena and Dexter Ranis. None voted in the negative.