In celebration of Tagbilaran City’s 47th Charter day, Bohol’s First District Representative Cong. Rene L. Relampagos graced the commemoration of the event together with newly elected Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap and other government officials at Bohol Wisdom School gym last July 1. In his speech, Cong. Relampagos challenged the leaders who hold the future of Tagbilaran City in their hands to work hard and professionally together for its progress. He encouraged them that despite differing political parties, all leaders including himself should work harder to address the pressing problems and issues the previous city government left and also to proactively make Tagbilaran City not only a gateway to the beautiful towns in the Province of Bohol but to develop its own tourism industry. In a separate interview, Cong. Relampagos explained further that repairing the bad roads of the city would be a good start to do it for the Yap administration. He added that Tagbilaran City must make a good first impression to tourists through state-of-the-art infrastructures, paved roads and the availability of other needed services.

Cong. Relampagos also said in his speech that he will try his best, according to his duties and responsibilities as the First District Representative with Tagbilaran City under his jurisdiction, to professionally coordinate with the City Government despite that his brother-in-law Atty. Dodong Gonzaga lost the mayoralty seat to City Mayor Baba Yap. Cong. Relampagos emphasized the importance and value of honoring the decisions of the electorates during the last mid-term elections through hard work, dedication and professionalism. He also recalled what the City of Tagbilaran has been through after it was declared a city 47 years ago. Being a public servant in the Province of Bohol for many years, Cong. Relampagos has not only witnessed the rise of the city and how it dealt with struggles and how it celebrated its breakthroughs, he has also contributed much to its development developing infrastructures like the New Capitol Commercial Building Complex, solving the perennial problem of water supply, improving the electric distribution system and improving other government offices. Cong. Relampagos stressed that in order to make Tagbilaran City achieve its goals, its leaders must always believe in its potentials and its crucial role in the progress of the entire Province of Bohol. He added that every decision the leaders make is crucial in shaping the entire history of the city that’s why every leader must render nothing less than hard work for his or her constituents. Cong. Relampagos’ second term as the Representative of the First District of Bohol officially started last June 30. He said his energy level to work during his second term has increased and he looks forward to implementing more projects for the development of the first district of Bohol including the City of Tagbilaran. (by Jill Christianae R. Robinson)