PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's acceptance of the Datu Sikatuna Pasidungog nga Wa'y Makatupong – the award of excellence from the Provincial Government of Bohol was a rare occasion. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) from Malacañang sa Sugbo who arranged the scenario and flow of activities for the Bohol visit said as a policy, the President does not accept awards recognizing her efforts. “That (implementing projects) is my job,” the PMS quoted her as saying.

Gov. Erico Aumentado however pressed for giving the award of excellence during the President's visit July 22 at the Bohol Cultural Center in Tagbilaran City. Implementing infrastructure and other projects is her job, but not all provinces have had the privilege of getting “mega projects” because of her support, he reasoned out. The award recognized the President for being the patroness of Bohol 's unprecedented socio-economic development through her completion of the mega projects – Bohol Circumferential Road (BCR), Bohol Irrigation Project (BHIP) and Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project;

The launching of KALAHI-CIDSS and other initiatives for poverty reduction; the implementation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, thereby developing the Tagbilaran City Tubigon, Ubay and Jagna ports as well as the highways linking them together; The development of Bohol 's Tourism Road Improvement Projects (BTRIP) and strong support for the province's two major economic drivers – agriculture and tourism; providing the province with schools and hospital facilities; and for implementing the Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project and the TRANSCO Bohol Backbone Transmission Project. All these projects, the plaque read, redound to the general welfare and well-being of the Boholano people. In her message, majority spoken in the Cebuano dialect, the President thanked the Boholanos for recognizing her zeal in helping make Bohol one of the most beautiful and progressive provinces in the world. Thanks also to the award listing her mega projects, she continued, she now has a good souvenir of her stint as she provided services to Bohol . The recognition also inspires her to provide more projects to develop the province even more. The award also serves as a chronicle of her eight years as President, she said. She had revived BHIP 2 – a good example of the two million hectares nationwide of new and rehabilitated irrigation systems built during her administration, some of which were built together with the private sector.

“[For] this one [BHiP 2], we borrowed in order to build. But because there were cost overruns, we also had to finance it from our own taxation,” she recalled. On the other hand, the BCR is one example of the infrastructure all over the country that her administration has completed. “It is one example to show that compared to other administrations, we built more infrastructure, including roads and airports of international standards. Preparations have started for the Panglao Airport so that even more tourists will come here. Thanks to complete staff work before I go on provincial sorties, I always have updates to report on big and important projects when I get there,” she said. She relayed Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza's report the previous night that all the lots have been bought, the detailed engineering studies have been completed and will be up for technical evaluation within the week by the National Economic and Development Authority”s (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) to determine the final project cost. It will be up for deliberation by the NEDA Board by the first week of August, but because she will be in the United States for an engagement with President Barack Obama at the White House, Vice President Noli de Castro will preside over the meeting. She said this means even in her absence, the final stage in the pre-bidding preparations for the airport will be approved.

Having witnessed the conferment of citations to the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) partners, among them the military led by Major Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) based in Catbalogan, Samar under the Subcontracting Partners for Innovation Program (SPIN), President Arroyo said “it is a peace and development program for rebel returnees patterned after the peace and development concept of the province of Bohol now spread throughout Region 7 and even in other parts of the country.” President Arroyo also launched the Project Skills Training Advocating Reliance on Self-employment (STARS), opened the One Town One Product (OTOP) Regional Trade Fair at the Island City Mall and inaugurated the Bohol Medical Care Institute, a diagnostic center, both located in Dao District, Tagbilaran City .