Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III on Friday congratulated Gov. Edgar Chatto for Bohol’s achievements in just two and a half years since the 2010 election that gave him the biggest vote lead in the gubernatorial race history of the province. The pride of Mindanao in the country’s highest legislature at the same time committed full support to the defining developments which are sure to occur in the province, notably the new Bohol airport on Panglao island. “Labi na kining pagpadayon sa bag-ong airport sa Panglao because I saw the Tagbilaran airport, gamay kaayo and it really needs to be changed,” asserted the senator who is a son of a former vice president of the country and an ex-president of the senate. Guingona visited Bohol---not as a candidate since he is among the senators whose term is yet to end in 2016---while a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team met with the technical working group here on the details of the preparation for the implementation of the gigantic airport project.

“I can only congratulate the Bohol officials led by our beloved Governor Ed for the achievements that are taking place,” said Guingona who joined Chatto in the weekly media forum Kita ug Ang Gobernador at the Bohol Tourism Center, formerly the Governor’s or People’s Mansion. Guingona said he was so impressed by the many facets of transformation here, a lot of them evident of a flourishing tourism for which Bohol can attain the polished degree of what Chatto calls a Philippine jewel. The senator was stunned upon knowing that another global luxury cruise ship with wealthy foreign tourists aboard just docked in Bohol in the very morning of his and the governor’s interaction with the media. Chatto, in partnership with the Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Tourism and other concerned agencies, built the existing major initial phase of the Catagbacan international cruise ship port in Loon while he was congressman. Three more ships are scheduled to visit and anchor here this year, easily including Bohol in the elite list of international cruise tourism destination in the Philippines. Local people’s livelihood must benefit from cruise ship tourism, or it remains an elite industry, the governor hinted.

Rep. Rene Relampagos is funding the additional components of the project like the access road to the cruise ship port. Chatto thanked Guingona for helping lobby for the inclusion and approval of the items in the national budget in which Bohol development is at stake. The senator and governor are officials of the Liberal Party. Guingona visited Bohol in time for the 6th LP anniversary yesterday, during which Pres. Aquino called for a stronger solidarity in the purest service of the nation. In a tight collaboration with the Bohol solons, Chatto does keep strong link with their development allies in the Senate and House of Representatives as well as the national agencies. The governor gratefully cited no less than Pres. Benigno Aquino III as Bohol development’s “number one ally.” Guingona said the investments gaining here are as impressive as the innovations and ideas that keep Bohol’s promotion more tantalizing. Foods and delicacies themselves make Bohol tourism delicious, admired the senator who loves to eat. Chatto said “we are attracting investors because they find here the potentials they long require,” not to mention the present provincial administration which is known for its credibility and competence. Bohol has excelled in governance under Chatto, the proud place of the Boholanos being honored for already two consecutive years as the best-governed province in the country.

One more impressive about Bohol is the high spirit of its foremost provincial leader, who just underwent a leg surgery following a freak accident on new year’s day. Guingona was himself an eyewitness to how Chatto has gone back to the exercise of his official functions while recovering from his operation. Fellow provincial officials and the employees warmly greeted the governor when he attended the capitol convocation program on Monday or three days after his return from hospitalization in a known Cebu City hospital. Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim and the members of the Sanggunaing Panlalawigan led the convocation, during which Chatto, in a firmer tone, reiterated his administration’s more aggressive sustainable development strategies in 2013. “Nagtan-aw jud natong mga Bol-anon ang Ginoo kay ijang gilikay si gob sa kadaut. Swerteha jud nato nga nakagobernador og sama nija nga makama-o kaajo ug pwerte pa jung kugihana,” one in a group of capitol workers was overheard as saying while the governor, on the same convocation, was thanking for the prayers and well-wishes. The governor is preparing the province, in co-host with the LGU of Loboc, for the first official Bohol visit of the new Chinese ambassador to the Philippines this weekend. (Ven rebo Arigo)