Cong. Rene L. Relampagos announced that an additional P343 million worth of road concreting work will be implemented in Panglao Island. Specifically, he said that this will be used for the widening and concreting of the Panglao Island Circumferential Road. He disclosed that a total of three road sections around Panglao Island Circumferential Road have been bid out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office to determine the best contractor who could undertake the  implementation of the project. The total project cost of the three road section is P343 million which is part of the P700 million that Cong. Relampagos has succeeded in including under the General Appropriations Act of 2013 for road improvement projects in his district under the DPWH budget. The bidding was conducted last March 22 at the DPWH Regional Office. With the bidding of these projects, this would amount to a total of P616 million that have been provided for in the widening and concreting of the Panglao Island Circumferential Road. Earlier, an amount of P163 million was provided under the GAA 2012 and another P110 million from the Department of Tourism and DPWH Tourism Road Convergence Fund. Presently, the implementation of these two projects is on-going from Sitio Union Barangay Poblacion, to Totolan, Songculan, Tabalong, Bingag and Boundary of Tangnan, Panglao. Relampagos added that he looks forward to getting to provide the needed funds to complete the funding requirement for the road improvement work of the Panglao Island Circumferential Road within the next two to three years which still needs another P600 million more or less.

Relampagos emphasized that the improvement of this road will definitely improve a lot the tourism potential of Panglao Island which comprises the municipalities of Dauis and Panglao. This road network is very important because this will serve as an alternate road going to the new airport site which is also being prepared for bidding within the last quarter of this year by the Department of Transportation and Communication to be funded under the JICA ODA Step loan in the total amount of P7.2 billion. To date, Relampagos has successfully secured the amount of P1.9 billion for the improvement of various national roads and bridges and priority local roads in his district. Some are already completed; others are on-going and some are yet to be implemented having been bid out only just recently. Relampagos expressed for and in behalf of the people of the first district their sincere thanks and appreciation to President Benigno S. Aquino III and the DPWH thru Sec. Rogelio Singson for prioritizing and supporting the development initiatives in his district. Relampagos said that as Boholanos, we should show our gratitude and appreciation to the administration by supporting always the program and initiatives of the president. (by Jill Christianae R. Robinson)

Gov. Chatto negative for drugs but where’s Che? Is she a false accuser?

Gov. Edgar Chatto has tested negative for illegal drugs or any dangerous substances in separate credible examinations to which his falsely accusing political opponent did not submit herself. Not even a shadow of gubernatorial contender and Carmen Mayor Conchita De los Reyes did turn up for the twin drug tests at the state hospital and police crime laboratories on Monday. Many thought should she refuse examination for reason she only could tell, her mere presence would have saved her from inexcusable flak for her own dangerous gimmick that the governor is “engaged in illegal drug activities.” Both the laboratory analyses of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Dagohoy proved Chatto to have not indulged in prohibited drugs. As a consequence, the moral authority and ascendancy of the reelectionist governor have attained a far greater degree of consistency, according to observers who include respectable community leaders from various sectors. Whereas, they said, the public has started seeing the feisty lady, who is catching her breath in the race for Bohol’s top elective mandate, advancing her candidacy to the brink of total rejection.

Chatto volunteered for drug examination as a “candidate for public service” and a “person.” While Boholanos agreed that Chatto need not clear himself, his voluntary submission and the negative result---plus De los Reyes’ failure to submit for drug test---rendered totally incredible her allegation that he is behind illegal drug trafficking. Taking hint from crime busters, Chatto supported the theory that drug traffickers do taste their stuff and eventually get hooked to it with slight difference from addicts or habitual drug users. The separate but uniform findings of the hospital and the police show the governor to be negative for methamphetamine, an essential ingredient for shabu, and dangerous drug tetrahydrocannabinol. The Bohol Tri-Media Association (BTMA) led by its president, Fred Araneta of DYRD, covered live the examination process, which was also witnessed by the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Bohol Unit headed by chief agent Ma. Chona Egam, GCGMH chief Dr. Nenita Moraga-Po and laboratory head Dr. Juanita Arcay. Members of the Bohol PNP Crime Laboratory Office themselves came to the GCGMH and conducted their own testing simultaneous with the examination by the hospital laboratory technician-analyst.

GCGMH laboratory analyst Noel Matutes signed the negative finding report, as approved by Arcay, on the drug test done at the hospital. Forensic chemical officer CInsp. Pinky Sayson Acog rendered and signed the PNP Crime Laboratory Office chemistry report of the same finding. Many now doubt if the public can accept the credibility of any “negative” finding which De los Reyes may later be able to present, especially if her examiner is hired and the drug test done privately. The harsh-tongued provincial standard bearer of the widely-ridiculed Bag-ong Bol-anon group has been tight-lipped to the governor’s “invitation” to a joint drug test at the GCGMH. The DYRD Radyo Mercado survey on Saturday, a day after Chatto issued the challenge, generated a deafening public disgust at the lady politician’s attack on the governor, who does not even drink and smoke, and his fellow provincial leaders as illegal drug traffickers. Some survey respondents had to suggest to De Los Reyes to also undergo a “neuro test” or “mental check-up.” They cited her “unbelievably irresponsible” statement as she heightened her political propaganda to pulverize Chatto’s honor obviously by whatever means, including deceit and falsehood to poison the public mind. Chatto urged all other candidates to undergo drug test as he challenged those, not just De los Reyes, who claim to be serious about the anti-drug campaign to do the same.

The governor said “if we are true to our advocacy against illegal drugs, then seriousness must start from among us.” “A person who leads the campaign must be beyond question, whether you are a governor or mayor,” Chatto said. He was stunned in disbelief by the audacity of the accusation against him by his political opponent, especially when his life has been an open book to the Boholanos. The governor’s voluntary drug test makes a lasting statement on the credibility of the leadership in the fight against the most scattered crime and dreaded root of offenses today. “Anybody who leads the campaign against illegal drugs must be above suspicion and free from any doubt,” declared the governor who chairs both the provincial and regional peace and order councils. In intimate defense of her husband, Bohol’s First Lady, Pureza Veloso-Chatto, braver in pain, posted this on her Facebook: “I am proud of my husband, Gov Edgar M. Chatto. He is blessed with genuine peace of mind and happiness and a sincere heart to serve his fellowmen. Not a single grain of drug is ever needed in his system to enjoy these God-given gifts. Only the miserable, desperate and lost soul needs drug to enjoy even an iota of fake happiness, false peace and sheer guts to rule over his fellowmen. I am sorry for the miserable, the desperate and the lost souls. You can never even make a dent on God’s shield over His beloved soldier.” (Ven rebo Arigo)