A few months before the start of the Bohol gubernatorial campaign, i met with Governor Edgar Chatto at the lounger of the Shrangila Hotel in Makati for a one meeting. During the one hour meeting, we had a light conversation reviewing the kind of things which would happen in a campaign. During the conversation,, somehow we discussed some things, which ultimately resulted in the breakup of some political factions at the LakasKampi freak coaliation. Anyhow, Chatto too his time to listen to some of my suggestions for use in the campaign. Months ago, I was more than convinced that Chatto, whatever opposition he had encountered in his political quest would win the elections hands down. But for the governor to take his time to listen to a retired journalist and a political observer

is something unexpected but he did.It only showed that deep in his heart he is INDEED A CONSENSUS builder, unlike other politicians,that their belief is "ako, ako at ako". I chanced on him during the induction rites of the Bohol Association of Metro Manila induction rites at the Aberdeen Suites in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. He was not late in coming to the affair. He came in time when the program was to start with his smiling wife Pureza Veloso Chatto. In the course, of his speech he mentioned the fact that as an aftermath of the hostage drama, he tried to estimate the extent of the damage it has incurred on tourism in Bohol.,where we had the bulk of the Chinese tourists coming to see our beautiful tourists spots. In the course, of his assessment, he called up some Boholano workers who are in Hongkong and asked them the after effects of the hostage explosion. The Boholano leaders reported back to him that everyhting is okay although Hongkong tourists would not be coming to Bohol as much as the other tourists.

During his speech, Chatto recalled his life as a student and when he was residing in Bohol. You see, the Chatto family has also a house in Quezon City, and at one time, I visited the house. He said that he expects that during his administration, the Boholano Metro Manila groups would give him some feedbacks and suggestions for the betterment of the province. It means the governor listens and not just his words and beliefs on decision making. For quite sometime now, I have written some suggestions on how Bohol should be run by the present governor.In fact, his wife Pureza mentioned that my writings have been clipped for priorities by the governor himself. It is a right development that the Panglao International Airport has been revived by the Aquino Administration but this time sans the overall financial support of the Aquino administration. The Aquino government does not have the billions to build the airport although the national government has already spent money for land acquisition and therefore this project should not become a white elephant.

The new plan of the Aquino administration is to invite foreign or local investors to develop the airport. This means the project will be put on the auction block, where potential investors would be ask to bid. Quite frankly the rules of the game have been changed. It is no longer easy money to come from the national government. But we must think of interested foreign investors to invest i n the airport. The factor of return of investment is already factored in. And how much time will the investors wait for them to recover their money. The more planes landing in the better investment prospects for moneyed financiers. The question must be asked now, how attractive is Bohol that tourists would suddenly be interested to come to the province. These investors will also assess these factors. This is where the challenge is, for Boholano leaders, to promote tourism in the province. And how do you do that. This is a long range plan. The governor and "his bright boys" the technocrats must come up with solid plans to attract tourists to Bohol. How do you promote tourism in the province.,

Firstly, the priority should be to establish websites. This is very inexpensive but necessary. In fact, urgently needed. The websites must provide information on our tourist spots, facilities and mostly what kind of protection and tender loving care we extend to the tourists when they are in Bohol.

Secondly, we need a tourist assistant center at least in  Tagbilaran. Tourists could go there to get brochures about tourists spots and their questions answered. Also available will be a police desk, in case the tourists are in trouble and clean comfort rooms where there are available tissues.

Thirdly there should be an expanded office of tourism in Bohol. The office will be in charge of tourism promotions. The office should have inexpensive VOIP phones with unlimited hours so that our promoters should be able to contact tourists consolidators to visit Bohol. There is a lot of things that the office can do using the internet and inexpensive VOIP phones. If there are language interpreters so much the better. The promoters can do a long of things to promote tourism

Fourthly, Bohol should organize tourist guides on demand. If tourists come to Bohol and if they need guides they can have tourists on demand and for a fee. This will provide additional income to our local people. But they must also be trained We must have also a tourist reception center at the airport to answer inquiries from tourists. And lastly, we must train our people in the hospitality business on modern ways how to attend to tourists needs. Of course, Boholanols should also be helpful to our tourists and treat them as our brothers and sisters. To us, this is tender loving care