Significant, physical, economic dev’t noted

Gov. Edgar Chatto, fresh from an overwhelming mandate following the May 13 elections, will buckle down to work starting tomorrow as he is ushered in to another three years in office amid Bohol’s “significant physical development and dramatic economic transformation”. The P7.1 billion new Bohol airport on Panglao island tops the flagship infrastructures in the second term of his provincial administration, which is defined as a shared leadership ensuring inclusive growth. Economic gains are projected as Bohol boldly explores the global service cyberspace thru the wealth-creating information technology – business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry. Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim lead the inauguration and oath-taking of reelected and newly-elected provincial and congressional officials in solemn rites graced by Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Sec. Joseph Emilio as honored guest and speaker at the Bohol Cultural Center this morning. A top man of the Aquino cabinet, the number one DOTC official is expected to update the Boholanos of the fasttrack implementation of the modern international airport, in itself a big-time economic infrastructure investment. Also witnessing the ceremonies are Bohol’s adopted son, Amb. Carlos Chan who is the Philippine special envoy to China, other dignitaries, and the University of the Philippines (UP) Advisory Council on Bohol Development, according to Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II.

The important Abaya-headed agency oversees the gigantic air terminal project---apart from sea and land transport development---while linking with the presidential Commission on Information Communications Technology (CICT). The DOTC and CITC support is equally vital to the bid of Bohol and Tagbilaran City to host the revenue- and job-generating IT-BPO firms. A former House of Representatives appropriations committee chairman and currently the acting Liberal Party national president, Abaya is one guy who knows the ins and outs of the national government, especially in the development fund power play. Abaya, also a former LP national secretary-general, presently fills the top post of the ruling party while DILG Sec. Mar Roxas is on party leave. Having Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III and his cabinet represented by the DOTC secretary to Bohol officials’ oath-taking is of great value to the sustainable development and inclusive growth agenda of the province, according to Chatto.

The president himself swore into office the reelected 25th Bohol governor at Malacanang two weeks ago, during which Aquino gave marching order to his department secretaries to fully assist the local government units. Boholano Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals administers Chatto’s symbolic induction this morning. Vice Gov. Lim takes her oath before Judge Jennifer Marcos. The rest who take their office oaths are reelected Board Members Cesar Tomas Lopez, Abeleon Damalerio, Venzencio Arcamo of the First District, Gerardo Garcia of the Second District, Dionisio Balite, Godofreda Tirol and Brigido Imboy of the Third District, newly-elected Board Members Jovanna Jumamoy and Tomas Abapo, Jr. (2nd Dist.) and Elpidio Jala (3rd Dist.), reelected 1st Dist. Rep. Rene Relampagos and 3rd Dist. Rep. Arthur Yap, and 2nd Dist. congressman-elect Erico Aristotle Aumentado. The board members’ administering officers are: Judge Suceso Arcamo, for Lopez, Jumamoy and Garcia; Judge Leo Lison, for Damalerio; Judge Maria Elisa Ochoco, for Arcamo and Imboy; Judge Irma Zita Masamayor, for Abapo; Judge Dionisio Calibo, for Balite; Judge Samuel Biliran, for Jala; and Judge Sisinio Virtudazo, for Tirol. Lison and Arcamo also swear in Relampagos and Aumentado, respectively, while Judge Carlos Fernando inducts Yap. Former Govs. Rolando Butalid, Victor de la Serna, Constancio Torralba and David Tirol are also invited to the event, which gather other leaders and workers of the government and public sector, top honchos of the business community, church officials, representatives of the civil society groups, and many more.

AGENDA MEETING WITH UP EXPERTS

Chatto hit the ground running even before his official assumption at noon today when he presented the province’s overall development plan for the next three years---and beyond---in a meeting with the UP Advisory Council on Bohol Development at the Bohol Tropics yesterday. The all-Boholano expert council is composed of Dr. Caesar Saloma, UP Diliman chancellor, physics professor and UP academician of NAST; Dr. Jose Abueva, former UP president and professor emeritus; Dr. Rene Rollon, director, Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology; Dr. Ramon Clarete, UP School of Economics professor and director for research; Dr. Ernesto Pernia, UP School of Economics professorial lecturer and Asian Development Bank consultant and former lead economist; Dr. Raul Fabella, UP School of Economics professor and former dean, and national scientist, NAST; Dr. Carlo Arcilla, director of the National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP College of Science; Dr. Eduardo Tadem, professor of Asian Studies, UP Asian Center; and Assistant Solicitor General Herman Cimafranca. The presentation highlighted the areas for stronger continuing collaboration and new targets where the development advisory body can most and best technically assist and support.

Chatto underscored the Panglao airport as a banner infrastructure together with the second phase development of the international cruise ship port in Catagbacan Loon, network of better roads, and stable power and water. They reviewed the outputs of the recent three-day executive-legislative agenda (ELA) term evaluation and strategic planning-workshop. The presentation meeting also highlighted the major interventions on health, education, agriculture, tourism and information technology (HEAT IT) as Bohol is on the mark and getting set to go for the BIG LEAP or “Bohol’s Inclusive Growth Leads to Equitable and Accelerated Prosperity.” Bohol will have full fiber optic connectivity this year, a big boost to the emergence of Tagbilaran City---and Metro Bohol--- the country’s “next wave city” for IT-BPO which can directly employ as many as 10,500 Boholanos right at their home province, without having to outmigrate. Peace and order strategies were evaluated as the new Bohol command of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Bohol is set for turnover in mid-July. The UP Advisory Council and Bohol government have tied up for expert technical expertise assistance to the province pursuant to Chatto’s mantra of “shared leadership ensuring growth and development,” which is the very focal theme of the inaugural and oath-taking rites.

DIPLOMACY FOR BOHOL’S GOOD

The Bohol leader values diplomacy as an approach to tighter partnership for Bohol development in the midst of global competitiveness. The presence of diplomatic dignitaries led by Amb. Chan in today’s event can bring the province to closer links with outside or overseas supporters of local advancement, the governor hinted. Chatto fondly regarded Chan as “one of Bohol’s top, credible endorsers.” The Philippine special envoy to China himself has high respect and admiration for Bohol governance under Chatto. Bohol and its wondrous Chocolate Hills have respective sisterhood ties with a China province and its famous mountain, both promising gainful economic and tourism exchanges. The Chinese and Taiwanese ambassadors to the Philippines were among the earliest foreign dignitaries formally congratulating the reelection of Chatto, who posted in the last May 13 polls the biggest vote margin over his closest rival in the history of Bohol’s gubernatorial elections. Chatto and Lim are the first and only elected (2010) and reelected (2013) male-female capitol tandem in Bohol, which will mark its 159th Foundation Day on July 22. Tagbilaran City, meanwhile, will celebrate its 47th Charter Day tomorrow, July 1, which will be highlighted by the oath-taking of the new set of officials led by incoming Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap II at the Bohol Wisdom School gym. Chatto will administer the oath of Tagbilaran’s youngest mayor ever. (Ven rebo Arigo)