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Bohol’s no-coal ordinance ‘an important victory’ – advocate

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BOHOL, Philippines – The local government of Bohol passed an ordinance against the establishment of coal power plants in the province, as a response to the people’s demand for a coal-free Bohol.

Provincial Ordinance 2018-005, passed on April 6 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), prohibits the building of any coal power plant in Bohol.

“This is an important victory by the people against coal,” said Greenpeace climate and environmental campaigner Khevin Yu.

The ordinance came after mounting public pressure on the SP for including coal-based companies among 52 power applicants vying for a slot in the bidding process.

The no-coal policy sets 4 selection stages, with cost, reliability, and environment as key criteria. This means distribution utilities in Bohol have to factor in the environment in their decisions.  

Experts explained the disadvantages of coal. (READ: Masbate bans coal-fired energy projects )

For one, Yu and members of the Bohol Climate Walkers (BCW) explained that coal is no longer the cheapest energy option.  

On top of this, there was a recent study showing that existing and proposed coal projects in the Philippines will have stranded assets.

Long-term burden

Yu asserted that if Bohol decided to use coal, the island will be locked in a 20-year energy contract, which will create a long-term burden for energy consumers as coal will continue to be more expensive in the future.  

There are also costs not traditionally taken into account, such as subsidies for coal producers and the damaging effects of coal emissions and coal mining to the environment and the people. Based on a 2015 Harvard study, the existing and proposed coal power plants in the country can cause up to 2,410 premature deaths annually.  

This is why pursuing other renewable energy alternatives, such as solar energy, makes sense. “It is not exposed to price increase, financial risk, and environmental risk and, in fact, it is projected to reduce cost even more,” Yu added.

While the ordinance bans the coal power proponents in Bohol, however, it does not provide penalties for violators. “I wish for the ordinance to have more teeth to it… It wouldn’t hurt if there is a penal section in the ordinance,” said another member of BCW who is also a lawyer.

Meanwhile, advocates also criticized the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

While distribution utilities cite EPIRA as a reason to resort to coal energy, the energy deregulation law has not given Filipinos affordable electricity nor has it ensured sustainable power supply in the country.  

Since it was signed in 2001, electricity prices have in fact skyrocketed.  

Yu and BCW members believe this law needs to be repealed. – Rappler.com

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Bohol use coal-fired power triggers high rates despite it’s anti-coal plant

By Ric Obedencio | 10:18 AM February 23, 2023

The province of Bohol thru its distribution utilities (DUs) are procuring and consuming power generated from the coal-fired despite the fact that it is against the putting up of coal plant here.

Bohol Light Company, Inc. (BLCI) is sourcing its six megawatts power supply from coal generated plants of KSPC. Bohol Electric Cooperative I and II are using coal produced by SMEC and GN Power, respectively, according to the public utilities report by Provincial Board Member Aldner Damalerio.

“This is the main reason why the electricity in Bohol is costly because all (except Green Core) power suppliers of our DUs are using coal as their energy source,” Damalerio said.

Earlier, the Sangguiang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance opposing the setting up of a coal plant to augment the power insufficiency here but it did not comment on the use of gasoline and other petroleum products. Both coal and petroleum are said to be products from fossils.

Bohol, however, is not alone in using coal energy but most of the country. “For September 2022 alone, the generation mix of Boheco I is 87.57 coming from coal-generated power plants.”

The committee report signed by Damalerio as chair and BM Dr. Romulo Cepedoza and BM Atty. Tomas D. Abapo, Jr, vice-chair and member, respectively, dealt with Abapo’s concern over the rising cost of power in Bohol.

Damalerio compared the power rates on the following: Southern Leyte @ P19.01/kwh in July 2022; Zambales, P20.48/kwh in August 2022; Biliran, P20.96 in September, 2022; Southern Leyte, P19.76/kwh in October; CBECO in Cebu, P19.81/kwh in November 2022; and VECO, P18.54/kwh in December 2022.

Damalerio said that the so-called “generation charge” got the lion share in electric billings.

Damalerio cited that Boheco I’s generation charge is 67% during December 2022 as an example of big chunk in power bills. While transmission charge is only 3%; distribution (supply metering charge (DSM), 10%; and reinvestment fund for sustainable capital (RFSC) expenditure, 5%.

“Both DSM and RFSC are charges paid to the DUs as regulated and approved by the ERC and National Electrification Administration.”

The charges imposed on the consumers are mainly based on the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), or the Republic Act No. 9136. This made the four sectors — generation, transmission, distribution and supply — of the industry privatized.

“Generation charge is defined as “pass through” cost. This is the cost from generation companies/power suppliers. This is collected by the DUs and remitted to the power suppliers.”

Also, the cause of high cost of electricity is the ongoing war in Ukraine illegally invaded by Russia said to be the leading supplier in Europe. Countries, like Indonesia, which took a stand in reserving its coal for their use, “scrambled in purchasing coal.” This paved the way to coal supply shortage, the report said.

Cost of transportation for raw coal supply from other countries added to the generation cost, the report said. (rvo)

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Legarda lauds Bohol for “no-to-coal” policy

• Policy & Dev't

First District Rep. Edgar Chatto said that Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, a known environment advocate, commended Bohol for its “no-to-coal” policy citing the province as a model for the drive against coal-fired power plants in the country.

According to Chatto, Legarda made the statement during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ special committee on climate change on Wednesday and is set to formally cite Bohol and other anti-coal provinces next week in a privilege speech.

Legarda was part of the Philippine delegation to the 25th Conference of Parties (COP25) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Madrid, Spain and is set to talk about the conference in Congress next week.

“I think one of the highlights ana [privilege speech] na ma-honor tong mga probinsya na nag-adopt og ‘no to coal’ policy,” Chatto said.

Chatto, quoting Legarda who is a congresswoman of Antique, said that the Western Visayas province followed Bohol’s example in adopting an ordinance to keep the locality coal-free.  

The former Bohol governor attributed his province’s strong coal-free drive to the Boholano public who voiced out their stand against coal power plants.

The anti-coal ordinance was approved by the Bohol Provincial Board amid mounting public pressure on the provincial government for including coal-based companies among power applicants vying for a slot in the bidding process in 2018.

In-island source

Provincial Ordinance 2018-005 adopts the “no to coal” policy in the competitive selection process (CSP) of new power suppliers under the One Bohol Power program.

“Ako silang giingnan na didto sa Bohol dili lang kay ang Provincial Board naa miy Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group na maoy strong na naminaw sa mga taw…unya ang mga taw g’yud mismo ang dili gusto na mo sud ang coal,” said Chatto.

The province’s three distribution utilities, the two Bohol Electric Cooperatives (BOHECO I and II) and Bohol Light Company, Inc. (BLCI), under the One Bohol Power have started the CSP for power suppliers after they met the requirements set by the Department of Energy, Energy Regulation Commission and National Electrification Administration.

Chatto said that Governor Arthur Yap who now oversees the Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group and One Bohol Power shares the same stand against coal and is moving “in the same direction.”

Earlier, Yap expressed optimism that the contract for the power generation project will be awarded in May this year.

He said that the project which includes a baseload facility that targets a generation capacity of not less than 50 megawatts is expected to be completed by 2023. (A. Doydora)

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Bohol power station

Bohol power station was a proposed coal-fired power plant in Bohol Province, Philippines.

• 2 Background on Plant
• 3 Opposition
• 4 Project Details
• 5.1 References
• 5.2 Related GEM.wiki articles
• 5.3 External resources
• 5.4 External articles

The map below shows the location of Bohol, the approximate location where the plant would be built.

Background on Plant

In April 2015 Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) announced plans for a coal-fired power station in Bohol province, and another in Leyte , both in the Philippines. The company said it was still determining the capacity of the proposed power stations. The projects would be completed within five years after approval. [1] As of June 2017, there had been no further announcements about this GBPC project.

In September 2017, a goal of building a new plant in Bohol by 2023 was included in an MOA signed by The One Bohol Power (1BP) Long-Term Power Supply Joint Selection Process, which includes the Bohol Electric Cooperative 1 and 2, and the Bohol Light Company Incorporated. The type of plant to be built was not specified. [2]

In February 2018 Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto stated that the competitive bidding process to build the plant had been completed. [3]

In March 2018 the group Bohol Clean Energy Advocates published a manifesto calling on the government to halt the development of any future coal-fired power plants on Bohol. [4] In April 2018 Bohol's local government the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed Provincial Ordinance 2018-005 banning the establishment of coal-fired power plants in the province. [5] The ban effectively cancels Bohol power station.

Project Details

• Sponsor: Global Business Power Corp
• Parent company: Beacon PowerGen Holdings (56%), JG Summit Holdings (30%), MERALCO (14%)
• Location: Bohol province, Central Visayas region, Philippines
• Coordinates: 9.88, 124.22 (approximate)
• Status: Cancelled
• Projected in service:
• Coal Source:
• Source of financing:

Articles and resources

• ↑ Michelle L. Palaubsanon, " Firm eyes power plants in Bohol, Leyte," The Freeman, April 9, 2015
• ↑ Bohol power plant ready by Dec. 2023 , The Bohol Chronicle 18 Sep 2017.
• ↑ Bohol sets 10-point growth plan , Manilla Bulletin, Feb. 7, 2018
• ↑ No to Coal in Bohol , Bataris, Mar. 7, 2018
• ↑ Bohol's no-coal ordinance 'an important victory' , Rappler, May 27, 2018

Related GEM.wiki articles

• Philippines and coal

External resources

External articles.

• Coal Issues
• Proposed coal plants in the Philippines
• Proposed coal plants in Asia
• Philippines

The Bohol Times

Bohol bans coal power plant; allows diesel fueled plant  for backup power supply

WHILE strongly opposed to the use of coal mineral to generate electricity, the province of Bohol is considering using diesel, which is also derived from fossil, apparently to fuel the planned island-based power plant in Imelda, Ubay town, as back-up source in times of calamities.

One Bohol Power spokesman and 1BP Technical Working Group member Engr. Algerico Siga was quoted that Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is to build a power plant in Imelda, Ubay town, to be fueled by diesel once the power supply agreement (PSA) is approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“Matod pa ni Engr. Siga, kung ma-aprobahan na ang PSA, pwede na makasugod dayon ang EDC sa construction sa diesel power plant sa Imelda, Ubay.” (Engr. Siga said that if the PSA is okayed, EDC may come in to construct diesel power plant in said place), according to the facebook post of Gov Art. Yap.

It said that EDC was awarded on October 25, 2021 for aforesaid power project during the meeting of the so-called Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group (BEDAG) last week led by the governor. The target date for project completion would be on December 26, 2023.

The governor’s post continues that “the use of diesel power plant assured that it will not result to high power rates of electricity in the province once this (diesel power plant) operates”.

This is because what was offered (price of kilowatthour) during the bidding under contract is the charge for power used “regardless of what power source supply use by EDC.”

“Dugang gipasabot usab ni Engr. Siga nga ang option sa paggamit sa diesel power plant dili moresulta sa pagtaas sa power rate sama sa usual nga experience tungod kay kon unsa ang presyo per kilowatt per hour nga gi offer panahon sa bidding ug kung unsa ang gipirmahan sa kontrata, mao na ang presyo nga pagagamiton regardless kon unsa ang gamiton nga power source supply sa EDC. Nidugang si Engr. Siga sa pag ingon nga ang maong proyekto suma sa gikaigo-an sa gipirmahang kontrata, pagahumanon sa Dec. 26, 2023.”The governor said that those who attended the said meeting are:  representatives of the DOE, Engr. Kelvin Ed D. Dajao; General Managers of the DUs, Engr. Dino Nicolas T. Roxas of BOHECO 1 & Chair of 1BP; Engr. Eugene Tan of BOHECO 2; Engr. Paulino Almedilla of Bohol Light Company Inc.; Forester Ariel N. Rica – PENRO Bohol; Atty. Lucas Nunag of Provl. Tourism Council; Engr Albert Uy of Bohol Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mr. Aurelio Salgados, Jr of BANGON; Mr. Ribomapic D. Nacorda of Bohol Island State University; Atty John Titus Vistal of the Provincial Planning and Devt. Office; Atty. Abeleon Damalerio, representative of Cong. Edgar M. Chatto; and 1BP Technical Working Group members Engr. Danilo Quidlat, Engr. Algerico Siga, Engr. Joson Castro and Engr. Ariel Torrejos.

The need for the island-based power plant is pushed following the suffering of the entire island-province had experienced when disasters struck the province. It endured months of without power after the earthquake on October 15, 2013 and the devastation caused by super typhoon Odette on December 16, 2021.

Bohol is largely dependent on the Bohol-Leyte Power Interconnection from the geothermal plant of Leyte province that could supply some 100 megawatts via undersea cable.

Bohol now needs some 80-90 MW to power its electricity requirement in peak hours, according to distribution utilities (DUs).

It has three hydro electric plants located in Loboct town (1.2MW), Sevilla town (2-3MW) and the Hanopol, Balilihan town (4-5MW). It also relies much on the standby diesel power barge (25MW) moored in Tapal port, Ubay town and the vintage Bohol Diesel Power Plant (BDPP) (16MW) in barangay Dampas, Tagbiaran City.

But, according to Siga in earlier interview days after the Odette, it may take three years for these hydro plants to operate after being adversely affected by Odette.

COSTLY DIESEL

After typhoon Odette’s devastation, the diesel power barge and the diesel plant in the city operated to provide the electricity need of the province while the temporary and permanent solid structures for Leyte-geothermal power link from island town of President Carlos P. Garcia were to be erected in Ubay town.

The power rates have gone up for the use of diesel as fuel of the power barge and the BDPP.

The DUs announced this (increase of power rates) prior to the operation of the two diesel powered plants.

It will be recalled that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Provincial Ordinance No. 2018-005, “declaring the official stand of the provincial government of Bohol disallowing the building or establishment of any coal power plant in the province of Bohol.”

Section 1 states that the establishment of coal powered electric plant is “contrary to its avowed vision, mission and goals.”

Section 2 of the said Ordinance provides for the conduct of information and education campaign “to let the Boholano people clearly understand that should there be increase in the cost of power after the competitive selection process, this is not solely due to generation cost, but also due to the need to pay for a clean and safe environment.”

FOSSIL FUEL

According to the United States Energy Information Administration (USEIA), “Diesel fuel is the common term for the distillate fuel oil sold for use in motor vehicles that uses the compression ignition engine named for its inventor, German engineer Rudolf Diesel. He patented his original design in 1892. Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and from biomass materials.”

It added that diesel contains “sulfur that produces air pollution emissions that are harmful to human health.”

Coal, on the other hand, is black sedimentary rock composed of carbon and hydrocarbon which contain energy than can be released by combustion, according to the National Geographic.

“Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient organisms. Because coal takes millions of years to develop and there is a limited amount of it, it is a nonrenewable resource.” (rvo)

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Bohol to get a much-needed power boost in 2024

Bohol is home to beautiful beaches, exotic experiences, and world-class destinations. This tourist hotspot is abundant with attractions, yet suffers from a shortage of electric power.

Despite its thriving tourism trade and its lively culture, Bohol has been largely dependent on energy sources in Leyte to meet its daily electrical power requirement.

Because of the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and the 2017 7.2-magnitude earthquake, the electrical transmission lines and the power plant itself in Leyte were damaged, leaving Bohol in the dark.

Following Typhoon Odette, even more electrical lines got damaged, plunging the province once again into indefinite shutdown.

There is, however, some good news. A more efficient and higher-capacity power plant is coming to Bohol this 2024.

No longer does Bohol have to heavily rely on Leyte’s supply for additional power.

New reliable in-island power supply

Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group (BEDAG) was tasked to create plans to address the power situation in Bohol since Yolanda tore through Leyte and Bohol.

BEDAG is a group of LGU representations, NGA agencies, distribution utilities, transmission companies, civil society organizations, and the private sector who successfully created plans for a non-coal power plant in Bohol.

BEDAG has also forecasted that the power demand for Bohol in 2024 could reach 118 to 141 MW, while the power plant is expected to deliver at least 50 MW of power to help sustain the island’s electricity needs.

Operational by June 2024

Among 6 bidders for the project, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) came out on top and was awarded on June 3, 2021.

According to One Bohol Power chairman and Bohol I Electric Cooperative (BOHECO I) manager Dino Roxas, EDC is expected to begin operations of the new plant on December 2023, however, due to delays in the evaluation process EDC was given a 6-month extension.

Roxas also confirmed that the generation rate once operating in 2024 will be ₱4.37 per kWh. Hopefully this becomes true and the availability of another reliable source of power mitigates the rising price of power in Bohol.

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Philippines archdiocese, concerned by coal, joins campaign to 'break free' from fossil fuels

Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa, Philippines, center, joins more than 10,000 marchers May 4 in a Break Free from Fossil Fuels demonstration in Batangas City, in the Batangas province, in the Philippines. (350.org/Veejay Villafranca/Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities)

by Marie Venner

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Catholics around the world are joining with environmentally concerned people worldwide in heeding the call from climate scientists, ecologists and even Pope Francis to “break free” from fossil fuels and shift toward more sustainable, climate-friendly sources of energy.  

Break Free from Fossil Fuels is a two-week global initiative (May 3-15) orchestrated by Greenpeace and 350.org with the assistance of a variety of faith, creation care, and social justice groups.

It aims to coordinate a series of peaceful civil disobedience actions on six continents, targeting power plants, pipelines and coal mines in an dual effort to disrupt operations at those locations while also raising the message that to meet the primary goal of the Paris Agreement -- holding average global temperatures “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, and toward 1.5 degrees, to avert the most severe impacts of climate change -- the bulk of coal, oil and gas reserves must remain in the ground.

Among the Break Free actions that have been organized so far are those at Australia’s largest coal port, in Ecuador’s  Yasuni  National Park, in Germany at one of Europe’s biggest open-pit lignite coal mines, at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, in Nigeria’s Niger Delta (a site of numerous oil spills), and at  fracking  and off-shore drilling sites across the United States.

Yeb Sano , a Catholic leader, former Philippine climate negotiator and now the executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, organized the Philippines Break Free actions in conjunction with numerous parishes and dioceses.

In a May 4 press release , Sano described Southeast Asia as “a major battleground” in the fight against fossil fuels. He called Break Free “a breath of hope” for those communities that have stood up against expansion efforts of the fossil fuel industry.

“As our communities rise against the ludicrous anachronism of the ongoing use of coal in Southeast Asia, we are buoyed by this global solidarity,” he said in the statement.

Jennifer Morgan, executive Director of Greenpeace International, added that front-line climate communities “aren’t waiting for governments to act,” noting that the Paris Agreement came about as a result of the efforts of millions of people.

“Now that governments have committed to action, we must make sure they follow the science and deliver on their words. The only way to survive climate change is through a rapid just transition to 100% renewable energy, keeping oil, coal and gas in the ground,” she said.

More: “ After Paris Agreement, climate activists see next step in mobilizing the people ” (Dec. 29, 2015)

In the wee hours of May 4, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of the Lipa, Philippines archdiocese, in the Batangas province, led 10,000 people in a Break Free march to a local sporting complex where they celebrated Mass. Under shade trees and umbrellas, emblazoned with messages of “no coal” and “break free,” they sought relief from the island nation’s recent heat and drought.

Arguelles, accompanied by many priests, women religious and the archdiocesan environmental ministry, called for an end to the use of coal and other dirty and harmful energy.

“We are facing a planetary emergency. Now more than ever, we need leaders who are pro-people and pro-environment, not pro-coal and pro-climate change,” Arguelles said in a statement released by Greenpeace .

Around 10,000 people marched to end the age of coal! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! #BreakFree2016 #PiglasPilipinas pic.twitter.com/Bu8o4nWOvC — angel carballo (@gelcarballo) May 3, 2016

Participants from Cathedral attend the #PiglasBatangas #PiglasPilipinas rally to break free from fossil fuel pic.twitter.com/O9SAHxkHSM — SnSebastianCathedral (@cathedrallipa) May 3, 2016

The anti-coal march was part of a national campaign called “Piglas Batangas! Piglas Pilipinas!” against a 600-megawatt coal plant proposed by business conglomerate JG Summit Holdings, Inc., that would be built in Batangas City, one of the archipelago’s fastest urbanizing areas. The Lipa archdiocese has been among the leading opponents to the project, along with local fishers and other concerned citizens.

“Piglas Batangas, Piglas Pilipinas is our battlecry for a safe, peaceful, and sustainable society,” Sano said. “Batangas and the rest of the Philippines will not bow to those who think of nothing but profit instead of people and plunder instead of protecting the environment.”

Reymond Mendoza, a local 27-year-old fisherman, said further coal plants would just make it harder to breathe and fish; existing JG Summit plants “are already poisoning our air, water and land.”

Beyond the JG Summit plant, the marchers demanded the cancellation of nearly 30 coal plants across the Philippines. In a flyer advertising the Break Free event, the archdiocese stated that in his encyclical, “ Laudato Si’ , on Care for Our Common Home,” Francis “called upon all Catholics to act on climate change and protect the Earth, urging solidarity for the poor and the most vulnerable, for it is they who suffer most severely the effects of global warming.”

In Laudato Si’ paragraph 165, the pope wrote, “We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels -- especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas -- needs to be progressively replaced without delay. Until greater progress is made in developing widely accessible sources of renewable energy, it is legitimate to choose the lesser of two evils or to find short-term solutions.”

More" " Philippine church takes lead on Francis' environmental encyclical " (July 25, 2015)

“Coal plants,” the archdiocese said, “cause extreme harm to local communities and eco-systems, as we in Batangas know only too well,” questioning the proposal of 27 new coal-fired power plants to join 17 already in operation.

Tying the situation to the recent presidential election, held Monday, the archdiocese asked, “Does not our country deserve a government that will do everything to protect our Filipino families from the ravages of dirty energy and climate change?”

“It is immoral to burden future generations -- with pollution and the cost of mistaken energy choices made today. It is time to end the age of coal,” it said in the flyer.

The Lipa archbishop has also noted that the Philippines imports around three-quarters of the coal used, costing the nation precious foreign reserves. The Philippines has the potential for enormous renewable energy resources and is second to the United States in geothermal energy production. In addition, hundreds of renewable energy projects are in the pipeline. 

“Let us have a true and lasting national renewal,” Arguelles said in his Easter message. “May this Easter bring this country and our people a real transfiguration for the better, a total stop to coal mining, and a speedy transition to renewable and clean energy.”

More: " Global Catholic climate network launches ahead of papal visit to Philippines " (Jan. 14, 2015)

According to a UCA News report , Fr. Raul Enriquez of Pagbilao told a multi-faith gathering in April that the advocacy for renewable energy and the clergy's anti-coal stance "is deeply rooted in our yearning for the renewal and transformation of lives and communities." Catholic bishops have led earlier action too; in 2015, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines joined the “One Million Against Coal Campaign” in gathering over 1 million signatures against the construction of further coal-fired plants.

Fr. Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action, said the church needed to be at the forefront in the fight against coal in part because the government is pursuing their development.

“In the guise of providing more efficient energy source, higher tax revenues and the so-called greater development, the state and the multi-national coal companies are opening another door for Philippines to becoming the major contributor to climate change,” Gariguez said in a statement .

[Marie Venner is chair of the National Academies’ Transportation Research Board subcommittee on Climate Change, Energy, and Sustainability and former co-chair of the Risk and Resilience Planning and Analysis subcommittee. She is also on the Steering Committee of the Global Catholic Climate Movement.]

Editor's note:   This story is part of a new joint project of two  NCR  blogs, "Eco Catholic" and "The Field Hospital," looking at parish- and grassroots-level efforts by Catholics to live out Pope Francis' encyclical, " Laudato Si' , on Care for Our Common Home." Follow both  The Field Hospital  and  Eco Catholic  for future reports.

Want more stories from Eco Catholic? We can send you an email alert once a week with the latest. Just go to this page and follow directions:  Email alert sign-up .

In This Series

Louisville Catholics declare their parish a 'Sanctuary for All'

Parishioners object to firings of laicized priest and inactive priest

For Ohio priest, bilingual Mass is in English and American Sign Language

Millennials make their voices heard at San Diego Diocese's Young Adult Synod

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How to Write an Article Review: Template & Examples

An article review is an academic assignment that invites you to study a piece of academic research closely. Then, you should present its summary and critically evaluate it using the knowledge you’ve gained in class and during your independent study. If you get such a task at college or university, you shouldn’t confuse it with a response paper, which is a distinct assignment with other purposes (we’ll talk about it in detail below).

In this article, prepared by Custom-Writing experts, you’ll find:

• the intricacies of article review writing;
• the difference between an article review and similar assignments;
• a step-by-step algorithm for review composition;
• a couple of samples to guide you throughout the writing process.

So, if you wish to study our article review example and discover helpful writing tips, keep reading.

❓ What Is an Article Review?

• ✍️ Writing Steps

📑 Article Review Format

🔗 references.

An article review is an academic paper that summarizes and critically evaluates the information presented in your selected article.

The first thing you should note when approaching the task of an article review is that not every article is suitable for this assignment. Let’s have a look at the variety of articles to understand what you can choose from.

Popular Vs. Scholarly Articles

In most cases, you’ll be required to review a scholarly, peer-reviewed article – one composed in compliance with rigorous academic standards. Yet, the Web is also full of popular articles that don’t present original scientific value and shouldn’t be selected for a review.

Not sure how to distinguish these two types? Here is a comparative table to help you out.

Article Review vs. Response Paper

Now, let’s consider the difference between an article review and a response paper:

• If you’re assigned to critique a scholarly article , you will need to compose an article review .
• If your subject of analysis is a popular article , you can respond to it with a well-crafted response paper .

The reason for such distinctions is the quality and structure of these two article types. Peer-reviewed, scholarly articles have clear-cut quality criteria, allowing you to conduct and present a structured assessment of the assigned material. Popular magazines have loose or non-existent quality criteria and don’t offer an opportunity for structured evaluation. So, they are only fit for a subjective response, in which you can summarize your reactions and emotions related to the reading material.

All in all, you can structure your response assignments as outlined in the tips below.

✍️ How to Write an Article Review: Step by Step

Here is a tried and tested algorithm for article review writing from our experts. We’ll consider only the critical review variety of this academic assignment. So, let’s get down to the stages you need to cover to get a stellar review.

Read the Article

As with any reviews, reports, and critiques, you must first familiarize yourself with the assigned material. It’s impossible to review something you haven’t read, so set some time for close, careful reading of the article to identify:

• The author’s main points and message.
• The arguments they use to prove their points.
• The methodology they use to approach the subject.

In terms of research type , your article will usually belong to one of three types explained below.

Summarize the Article

Now that you’ve read the text and have a general impression of the content, it’s time to summarize it for your readers. Look into the article’s text closely to determine:

• The thesis statement , or general message of the author.
• Research question, purpose, and context of research.
• Supporting points for the author’s assumptions and claims.
• Major findings and supporting evidence.

As you study the article thoroughly, make notes on the margins or write these elements out on a sheet of paper. You can also apply a different technique: read the text section by section and formulate its gist in one phrase or sentence. Once you’re done, you’ll have a summary skeleton in front of you.

Evaluate the Article

The next step of review is content evaluation. Keep in mind that various research types will require a different set of review questions. Here is a complete list of evaluation points you can include.

Write the Text

After completing the critical review stage, it’s time to compose your article review.

The format of this assignment is standard – you will have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction should present your article and summarize its content. The body will contain a structured review according to all four dimensions covered in the previous section. The concluding part will typically recap all the main points you’ve identified during your assessment.

It is essential to note that an article review is, first of all, an academic assignment. Therefore, it should follow all rules and conventions of academic composition, such as:

• No contractions . Don’t use short forms, such as “don’t,” “can’t,” “I’ll,” etc. in academic writing. You need to spell out all those words.
• Formal language and style . Avoid conversational phrasing and words that you would naturally use in blog posts or informal communication. For example, don’t use words like “pretty,” “kind of,” and “like.”
• Third-person narrative . Academic reviews should be written from the third-person point of view, avoiding statements like “I think,” “in my opinion,” and so on.
• No conversational forms . You shouldn’t turn to your readers directly in the text by addressing them with the pronoun “you.” It’s vital to keep the narrative neutral and impersonal.
• Proper abbreviation use . Consult the list of correct abbreviations , like “e.g.” or “i.e.,” for use in your academic writing. If you use informal abbreviations like “FYA” or “f.i.,” your professor will reduce the grade.
• Complete sentences . Make sure your sentences contain the subject and the predicate; avoid shortened or sketch-form phrases suitable for a draft only.
• No conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence . Remember the FANBOYS rule – don’t start a sentence with words like “and” or “but.” They often seem the right way to build a coherent narrative, but academic writing rules disfavor such usage.
• No abbreviations or figures at the beginning of a sentence . Never start a sentence with a number — spell it out if you need to use it anyway. Besides, sentences should never begin with abbreviations like “e.g.”

Finally, a vital rule for an article review is properly formatting the citations. We’ll discuss the correct use of citation styles in the following section.

When composing an article review, keep these points in mind:

• Start with a full reference to the reviewed article so the reader can locate it quickly.
• Ensure correct formatting of in-text references.
• Provide a complete list of used external sources on the last page of the review – your bibliographical entries .

You’ll need to understand the rules of your chosen citation style to meet all these requirements. Below, we’ll discuss the two most common referencing styles – APA and MLA.

Article Review in APA

When you need to compose an article review in the APA format , here is the general bibliographical entry format you should use for journal articles on your reference page:

• Author’s last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year of Publication). Name of the article. Name of the Journal, volume (number), pp. #-#. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

Horigian, V. E., Schmidt, R. D., & Feaster, D. J. (2021). Loneliness, mental health, and substance use among US young adults during COVID-19. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 53 (1), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1836435

Your in-text citations should follow the author-date format like this:

• If you paraphrase the source and mention the author in the text: According to Horigian et al. (2021), young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic.
• If you paraphrase the source and don’t mention the author in the text: Young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (Horigian et al., 2021).
• If you quote the source: As Horigian et al. (2021) point out, there were “elevated levels of loneliness, depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use among young adults during COVID-19” (p. 6).

Note that your in-text citations should include “et al.,” as in the examples above, if your article has 3 or more authors. If you have one or two authors, your in-text citations would look like this:

• One author: “According to Smith (2020), depression is…” or “Depression is … (Smith, 2020).”
• Two authors: “According to Smith and Brown (2020), anxiety means…” or “Anxiety means (Smith & Brown, 2020).”

Finally, in case you have to review a book or a website article, here are the general formats for citing these source types on your APA reference list.

Article Review in MLA

If your assignment requires MLA-format referencing, here’s the general format you should use for citing journal articles on your Works Cited page:

• Author’s last name, First name. “Title of an Article.” Title of the Journal , vol. #, no. #, year, pp. #-#.

Horigian, Viviana E., et al. “Loneliness, Mental Health, and Substance Use Among US Young Adults During COVID-19.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs , vol. 53, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-9.

In-text citations in the MLA format follow the author-page citation format and look like this:

• According to Horigian et al., young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (6).
• Young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (Horigian et al. 6).

Like in APA, the abbreviation “et al.” is only needed in MLA if your article has 3 or more authors.

If you need to cite a book or a website page, here are the general MLA formats for these types of sources.

✅ Article Review Template

Here is a handy, universal article review template to help you move on with any review assignment. We’ve tried to make it as generic as possible to guide you in the academic process.

📝 Article Review Examples

The theory is good, but practice is even better. Thus, we’ve created three brief examples to show you how to write an article review. You can study the full-text samples by following the links.

📃 Men, Women, & Money  

This article review examines a famous piece, “Men, Women & Money – How the Sexes Differ with Their Finances,” published by Amy Livingston in 2020. The author of this article claims that men generally spend more money than women. She makes this conclusion from a close analysis of gender-specific expenditures across five main categories: food, clothing, cars, entertainment, and general spending patterns. Livingston also looks at men’s approach to saving to argue that counter to the common perception of women’s light-hearted attitude to money, men are those who spend more on average.

📃 When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism

This is a review of Jonathan Heidt’s 2016 article titled “When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism,” written as an advocacy of right-wing populism rising in many Western states. The author illustrates the case with the election of Donald Trump as the US President and the rise of right-wing rhetoric in many Western countries. These examples show how nationalist sentiment represents a reaction to global immigration and a failure of globalization.

📃 Sleep Deprivation  

This is a review of the American Heart Association’s article titled “The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation.” It discusses how the national organization concerned with the American population’s cardiovascular health links the lack of high-quality sleep to far-reaching health consequences. The organization’s experts reveal how a consistent lack of sleep leads to Alzheimer’s disease development, obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.

✏️ Article Review FAQ

A high-quality article review should summarize the assigned article’s content and offer data-backed reactions and evaluations of its quality in terms of the article’s purpose, methodology, and data used to argue the main points. It should be detailed, comprehensive, objective, and evidence-based.

The purpose of writing a review is to allow students to reflect on research quality and showcase their critical thinking and evaluation skills. Students should exhibit their mastery of close reading of research publications and their unbiased assessment.

The content of your article review will be the same in any format, with the only difference in the assignment’s formatting before submission. Ensure you have a separate title page made according to APA standards and cite sources using the parenthetical author-date referencing format.

You need to take a closer look at various dimensions of an assigned article to compose a valuable review. Study the author’s object of analysis, the purpose of their research, the chosen method, data, and findings. Evaluate all these dimensions critically to see whether the author has achieved the initial goals. Finally, offer improvement recommendations to add a critique aspect to your paper.

• Scientific Article Review: Duke University
• Book and Article Reviews: William & Mary, Writing Resources Center
• Sample Format for Reviewing a Journal Article: Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Research Paper Review – Structure and Format Guidelines: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Article Review: University of Waterloo
• Article Review: University of South Australia
• How to Write a Journal Article Review: University of Newcastle Library Guides
• Writing Help: The Article Review: Central Michigan University Libraries
• Write a Critical Review of a Scientific Journal Article: McLaughlin Library
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Bohol still without electricity; many areas still flooded – Robredo

Bohol residents affected by Typhoon Odette get their relief package from the Office of the Vice President on Friday, December 17, 2021. Vice President Leni Robredo flew to the province once cleared to visit the area to personally check the situation on the ground and extend aid. Photo from OVP

MANILA, Philippines — Hours after Typhoon Odette crossed Visayas, the entire province of Bohol was still without electricity as only solar-powered lights were operating Friday night, Vice President Leni Robredo said.

Robredo, who earlier flew to Bohol to personally check the situation on the ground, said a lot of roads remain impassable due to scattered debris brought by Odette’s strong winds while many areas, especially the northern and eastern portions of the province, are still flooded.

In fact, the Vice President said they were not cleared to visit an evacuation area in Loay town because roads connecting the towns are still in deep floodwaters.

“Flew to Bohol the moment we were cleared to fly there post-Odette. Updates have been hard to come by over the past 24 hours, kaya hindi rin tayo mapakali (that’s why we were restless). So we went to assess the situation and bring help,” Robredo said in a Facebook post.

“The whole province has no electricity at solar lights lang ang gumagana. Many roads are still unpassable, and many areas in the North and East of the province are still flooded. Hindi na nga kami nakatuloy sa isang evacuation center sa Loay dahil baha pa rin,” she added.

(The whole province has no electricity and solar lights are only functioning.  Many roads are still impassable, and many areas in the North and East of the province are still flooded. We were not allowed to go to one evacuation center in Loay because it is still flooded.)

Robredo said Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap and other officials like Vice Governor Rene Relampagos and Tagbilaran Mayor Baba Yap have been leading clearing operations on the ground.

“Gov. Art Yap has been leading road-clearing ops with their Tarsier 117 team. Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos and Mayor Baba Yap are also on the ground, along with other local officials,” she said.

“Sa ngayon, inaalam pa ang extent ng damage (As of now we’re understanding the extent of the damage), as well as the death toll, because communication lines are mostly down.  We’ll be posting more photos of the damage as documented by the ground team,” she added.

Vice President Leni Robredo visits Typhoon Odetted-battered Bohol on Friday, December 17, 2021. Photo from OVP

Earlier, Robredo announced they are converting their space for campaign volunteers along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, into a relief operations center where concerned citizens can drop their donations.

She said the people can donate the following items:

• hygiene items like shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, at sanitary napkins
• face masks and alcohol
• bottled water
• rice grains
• ready to eat food items like easy to open canned goods, instant noodles, biscuits, powdered drinks like coffee, and cereal drinks

As of Friday evening, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Odette slightly weakened as it started moving over to the West Philippine Sea.

Odette was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 205 kph. It is still moving west-northwestward at 30 kph, according to the state weather service.

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Signal No. 3 up in northern Palawan; Typhoon Odette may exit PH on Saturday Typhoon Odette makes 9th landfall in Roxas municipality in Palawan – Pagasa

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Falling in Love with a Wonderland called Bohol (Philippines)

Lose yourself amidst the bizarre chocolate hills. fall in love with the cuddly tarsiers and make friends with smiling locals. bohol has everything for the perfect getaway.

A few weeks ago, I wasn't even sure, if I should include Bohol in my travel itinerary. Fortunately, I did and it couldn't have been any better!  You've never heard of Bohol? What?? You're probably not Filipino then. Bohol is located in the Visayas, a 2-hour boat ride away from Cebu. It's the 10th largest island in the Philippines. Okay, that might not be interesting enough for you. So let me tell you that its extraordinary attractions make Bohol a major tourist destination. Getting more interested? I'll tell you, Bohol is a fun place that has so much to offer!

Bohol has everything you're dreaming of...

People come here for the white beaches and beautiful nature with its diverse wildlife. The world class diving, waterfalls and hundreds of caves for spelunking. And they come for the incredible history along with its colonial Spanish churches. I'm only scratching the surface.

I mainly came for 3 reasons: The beautiful beaches, the magnificent  Chocolate Hills, and the cute Tarsiers! Of course you'll find plenty of beautiful beaches in the Philippines, so let's focus on the hills and the Tarsiers first!

THE CHOCOLATE HILLS

Let's start with the Chocolate Hills, the greatest pride of Bohol. Basically it's a strange group of oddly shaped hills, a lot of hills. There are more than 1000. It's not easy to describe the place; it's like a piece of art. An unbelievable scenery.  I felt like being on the set of a science fiction movie. They look extremely surreal. It's hard to believe that the Chocolate Hills are not man-made.

They're a natural wonder, and personally, I think they look  like giant boobs.

No offense, I mean that in a good way. However, you probably noticed that the Chocolate Hills are covered with green grass. So, where is the name coming from? Good question. The hills turn brownish during the dry season. That's why they call them the Chocolate Hills because . . . yes . . . chocolate is mostly brown.

Even today, scientists aren't able to figure out how the Chocolate Hills were formed. However it was, this strange earth formation looks truly fascinating, for sure.

Almost as impressive as the Chocolate Hills itself were the people posing and doing performances in front of the hills to get extremely memorable pictures. Very amusing. I should have taken some shots of that.  

Shouldn't forget to mention, there is a bell on top of the highest hill. Ring the bell after making a wish. Let's see if my dream come true.  No I won't tell you here. That's bad luck!

THE PHILIPPINE TARSIER

Let's talk about those cuddly Tarsiers. Sweetest creature ever! Like a mix of a monkey and a rat . . . or bat? Whatever, it's easy to fall in love with them. These tiny Tarsiers are sleeping all day, only getting active at night to find food. Their heads can rotate 180 degrees. The Tarsier is small, like a human fist, but it has extremely huge eyes which make it look like Gizmo from the Gremlins. 

You might wanna pick one from the tree and keep it as a pet because this little furry thing is such a cute creature.

Don't  even think about it. I'm serious, please don't take them home. And don't cuddle with them either!!

They're actually pretty bizarre animals. If they're getting stressed (probably from rude tourists being loud or taking photos of them with flash) they tend to commit suicide. The Tarsier will hit his head against something until it dies. No joke! They are very sensitive to noises and light, so you better be very cautious around them. Here a few more shots . . . aren't they gorgeous?

Click on the photos to enlarge.

BEACHES AND ISLANDS

Bohol is surrounded by more than 50 Islands, including Panglao Island, which is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Philippines. The most popular and developed place in Panglao Island is Alona Beach, a 1.5 kilometer long stretch lined with coconut palm trees. The place is truly beautiful with its white sandy beach and crystal clear water. There is fantastic snorkeling in Panglao and you can find a reef right in front of Alona Beach. 

Bohol and Panglao are connected by two bridges, so it's easy to get there.

With a coastline of more than 250 kilometers you can expect some awesome beaches. One of my highlights was definitely a trip to Virgin Island, a C-shaped Island with a long white powdery sand bar. The pristine Island is 20 minutes away by boat from Panglao.

There is not much to do there; just buy a fresh coconut, try some sea urchins and wander around the long sand bar. Or do sun bathing, relax, get a tan and take photos that will make your friends jealous for sure.

One of my tricycle drivers told me the other day that Bohol exports its sand to other beaches in the world. Apparently, the sand on the Island is of such a high quality that it is some of the best in the world.

Interesting. I'm not sure if he was kidding me, though.

ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES

There are so many adventurous activities in Bohol such as diving, swimming in waterfalls, exploring caves...

I didn't had enough time to try most of them, but at least once I got adventurous! My highlights was hanging on a zipline - that's between us, but I almost peed my pants! It was scary (you can hear my screams in the video below!!). It is definitely not for the faint hearted! 

THE BEST PLACE TO STAY?

Most people prefer to stay in Panglao, which is also one of the top diving locations in the world. It's probably not the cheapest option to stay there, but a great place to meet fellow travelers, find dive schools, shops and good restaurants. It also got a bunch of tour operators, who are more than happy to book a trip for you.

If you're on a tight budget, you will find decent accommodation starting from 600 PHP for a double room along the main road that leads down to Alona Beach. Unfortunately, during peek season it gets really crowded and expensive, so try to avoid that time!

I stayed 3 nights at Hayahay Resort in Panglao and it was really amazing.  The beach-front hotel is perfectly located, right in the center of the gorgeous Alona Beach. My room was very spacious and lovely decorated. The room had A/C, safe, fridge, hot water, shower with dispenser for shampoo and shower gel, plus oil soap. Of course there was also a flat screen TV, which I didn't use. The room was in the back, so it was very quiet.

Unfortunately my room didn't have a sea view, but there was a terrace on the first floor which I used several times. On top of the building is a beautiful roof garden with palm trees, sun beds and a terrific view. It was the perfect place to get a tan, escape the crowds and write for my blog (btw, their Internet Connection was incredibly fast).

The hotel is run by Giso, a nice and friendly German guy. He told me that Hayahay means "comfortable, cozy, fresh air", but could also refer to one's achieved state of tranquility - I think he chose the perfect name for his resort. They also offer tours, transfers, and discounts for divers if you book with their dive school. The restaurant offers fresh seafood, pizza and Thai food. The Green Curry is absolutely delicious! I can highly recommend Hayahay Resort after having such a lovely time there. Thanks to the smiling staff!!

Hayahay Resort

Alona Beach, 6340 Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.hayahay.net

Check   Rates and Availability .

HOW TO GET TO BOHOL?

There are no international flights to Bohol. You have to fly via Manila or Cebu.

From Manila, the fastest way to Bohol is by plane to Tagbilaran, the capital of Bohol. For flights check   Cebu Pacific Air ,   Pal Express , and  Air Asia . Alternatively, check flights to Cebu and connect from there by boat.

From Cebu take a boat to Tagbilaran. The boat takes 2 hours. Price is around 500 PHP one way with  Super Cat .

... TO PANGLAO ISLAND

The taxis at the ferry terminal and also at the Tagbilaran Airport will charge you between 500 - 1000 PHP for the trip to Panglao Island! Haggle as much as you can, they definitely ask for too much sometimes! If you don't mind, take a tricycle; they should do it for half of the price. It will take 20 - 30 minutes to Alona Beach.

Apparently, from Tagbilaran Pier are jeepneys and buses leaving for Alona Beach for only 25 PHP. Unfortunately, I was never lucky enough to get one of those, but that would have saved me a lot. Argh . . . next time!

There are plenty of tourist guides who are more than happy to show you the Island, for a price of course. Compare prices before you finally book a tour. Alternatively, hire a car or a motorbike and do the tour by yourself.

The cheapest option is getting around by bus. Bohol Island is easily accessible and almost every town in Bohol has a bus terminal.

I had such a wonderful time in Bohol, driving around all day by motorbike and enjoying the stunning views of nature. If you can drive, I would suggest that you do the same and hire a motorbike (350 PHP/day).

The streets are in good condition and it's great to stop several times to see some churches, wander through the markets, or just have a coffee.

Don't rush from one attraction to another. Bohol is not only about the sightseeing - it's also the lovely and kind locals that makes the experience of staying in Bohol extremely unforgettable. 

Unfortunately I did not have the time to see and experience everything that Bohol has to offer. I guess I should have spent a few months there! Next time, I'll come back for sure!

PS: For all the attractions that Bohol has to offer, please check  Tripadvisor  or   Lonely Planet !

If you need help in finding accommodation in Bohol, check out  Agoda , I highly recommend them!

Have you been to Bohol or Panglao Island? What did you like the most? Feel free to share your experience in the comments below. 

Thank you for reading.

A big thanks to Hayahay Resort for their generous hospitality. My stay at the Hayahay Resort was complimentary, all opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this article?  Sign up for my Newsletter  or follow me on  Facebook  and get notified about new posts. 

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