EVEN their fellow Bohol leaders took off their hats to the skills and resolve of Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim in handling the grave crisis inflicted by the great earthquake. The global community and national government earlier admired Bohol's emergency response management and calculated, determined recovery effort with the governor in command. In a resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) commended the top two provincial officials “for a job well done in mitigating the sufferings of our people by swift relief and rehabilitation operations in the wake of the calamities.” By “calamities,” the provincial board included the after-quake typhoons that threatened to further destroy the island-province already battered by the strongest tremor to ever hit it.

Monster typhoon Yolanda minimally affected Bohol but it crushed in an epic blow Leyte, Samar and parts of other Visayas provinces. The capitol legislature cited the governor for manning “with untiring resolve the command post of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) since the first aftermath hours of the 7.2 magnitude, intensity 8 earthquake. The most devastating and bloodiest earthquake to shake Bohol island occurred at early past eight in the morning last October 15 or exactly two months ago today. “Despite the dangers of a land still threatened by the real possibilities of strong aftershocks, the governor went around the province to alleviate and mitigate the sufferings of the Boholano people,” the SP said in its resolution. Of the vice governor, the board said she traveled to the towns “regardless of the destruction of our roads and bridges” and coordinated with LGU officials, thereby “effectively uniting the province when unity was needed most.”

The lawmaking chamber praised the lady official's “selfless dedication” in rallying the municipalities into action “amid the turmoil.” By their leadership, commitment and effort, the governor and vice governor have truly lessened the miseries of the people, especially those who have suffered most from the hammering disaster, according to the SP which is the province's highest policy-making body. The board commended the top capitol duo in its session temporarily presided by Floor Leader Cesar Tomas Lopez. The vice governor is the official presiding officer of the board. Board Members Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Elpidio Jala shared a view that the earthquake had not only broken mountains and toppled structures as it also broke political barriers, the latter for the good of the calamity victims and the rebuilding of Bohol in general. They noted that the governor, vice governor and three congressmen---Rene Relampagos, Aris Aumentado and Arthur Yap of the First, Second and Third Districts, respectively---have severally met on a unified Bohol rehabilitation plan. The sinkholes and cracks have failed to swallow the solidarity of our leaders in these trying times, according to Abapo and Jala. (Ven rebo Arigo)