PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo comes to Bohol Monday, June 28, to do two important things: turn over and inaugurate the P364 million Ubay Port expansion project and to administer the oaths of two newly elected congressional representatives here. After inaugurating the port facility, the president is slated to take the oaths of office of Representative-elects Erico Aumentado (Bohol 2) and Arthur C. Yap (Bohol 3). The president is inaugurating the port, which is a vital link in her administration's creation of the Strong Republic Nautical Highways (SRNH).

The SRNH is an integrated link of highway segments and transport ferry routes identified by the government. When linked, the SRNH would form the backbone of an efficient nationwide vehicle accessible transport system. The government under President Arroyo prioritized building the support infrastructure to like these segments, including five other key ports in Bohol. Ubay Port would just be the latest in a Roll-on Roll-Off (RoRo) accessibility program for key Bohol ports. Also built earlier were the Roro ports in Tagbilaran City, Jagna, Tubigon, Talibon, most of which opened gateways of Bohol to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao within the Arroyo Administartion.

Ubay port now serves regular ferry routes to Maasin and Bato in Southern Leyte where passengers and vehicles can then take the Maharlika Highway off to Manila or Mindanao. It also serves regular boat services to Cebu and other destinations in Southern Leyte. In her second and final visit to Bohol this year, the country's top executive is slated to arrive in Ubay Bohol via a chopper, about 11 AM where she would be ushered in to the event venue near the Roll-on-Roll-Off ramps. When she lands, out-going Congressman Roberto Cajes, Ubay Mayor Eutiquio Bernales, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Central Visayas District manager Alex Cruz, PPA Ubay terminal manager Rodrigo Ampo, 802 Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Alan Luga and Bohol Police Chief PSSupt Rodolfo Llorca would be at her party's reception line.

The President arrives when the program at the port shall have been started and upon her arrival, and she immediately unveils the port markers, witnessed by her party, the PPA and local officials. After that, Gov. Erico Aumentado, being the province's top official of the time delivers his welcome message. Out-going Congressman Cajes is also set to deliver a speech for the people and the president he has served. PPA general manager Oscar Sevilla, who was earlier set to brief the president about the project begged off, to deliver his briefing would be Cebu-based PPA district manager Alex Cruz.

The President would then be immediately administering the oath of offices of Congressman Aumentado and Yap. While it was not ascertained if the President would be publicly addressing the Boholanos attending the event, Presidential Management Staff and special operations groups commander Jimmy Ngolaban said her speech is optional. The President is however joining Boholanos for lunch, Ngolaban said. At the venue, the president would be joined by some three thousand well-wishers, local officials and grateful Boholanos who have benefited from her help. The crown may even go bigger, says Mayor Eutiquio Bernales noting that that time, a RoRo-boat would be arriving and another one leaving with buses for Manila. Bernales, who won a re-election had his hands full directing his people and orchestrating with the Office of the President Special Operations Group (OPSOG) the preparations for the president and her accompanying party.

Military and police officials as well as PPA and LGU officials met Saturday to finalize the visit details. The President was earlier invited to officiate another activity, this time for the launching activity of the Kalayaan Resettlement Center Housing for Kauban sa Reporma in Barangay Remedios Danao. Despite giving funds for the project, the President politely begged off for other engagements for the day in Cebu, Manila and in Pampanga. Barely three days before she turns over the command to newly elected president Benigno Aquino III, the President seals her official activities as she witnesses how the SRNH has become functional.(PIA-Bohol)