Capitol lawmakers have expected Gov. Edgar Chatto's State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday to be aggressive and full of hope in this year that he vows to execute a “big leap” agenda. This is because of the massive recovery effort, which is set to full blast, following the great earthquake---plus the aggravating typhoons---that made Boholanos kiss ground zero bloody, even lifeless, according to Provincial Board Members Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Elpidio Jala. They observed the governor to be assertive of his leading role in the crucial phases to actual rehabilitation, notably in securing billions-worth of national aids for the rebuilding of infrastructures, economy, industries, heritage sites, homes and lives. Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Floor Leader Cesar Tomas lopez said the governor will report the gains in 2013 and present the on-going and coming pillar programs, of his administration during his SOPA. The major programs outside the rehabilitation plan include the development of the information technology-driven business process outsourcing industry and construction of the new Bohol airport while the Tagbilaran airport is expanded.

The 2014 infrastructure program for Bohol under Chatto in partnership with the three congressmen---Rene Relampagos, Aris Aumentado and Arthur Yap---amounts to more than P1.272 billion based on the National Expenditures Program (NEP) and ERRATA. The said infrastructure program is funded out of nati9onal government allocations with the following breakdown by district: First District, P790.511 million; Second District, P293.679 million; and Third district, PP188.398 million. Bohol's rehabilitation plan has a separate fund of P5.6 billion which is now ready, said Relampagos, quoting Budget Sec. Butch Abad. Lopez read in the SP session on Friday the governor's brief formal notice of his annual address which Chatto will deliver before the provincial board at the Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. Session Hall at capitol on February 7. Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim required the full attendance of the board members during the governor's most important singular message.

In their session last Friday, Lim led the chamber in further supporting the governor's effort and empowering the province's rehabilitation program thru more legislative initiatives. Thru a Lopez resolution, the board called for the exemption of the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and other devastating calamities from building permit fees and other regulatory expenses in the rebuilding of their shelters. Jala suggested to also spare from similar requirements the reconstruction of other affected structures like tourism and related facilities. He cited the industry's contribution to people's livelihood, which is critical to the rebuilding of the lives of the calamity victims. Jala himself proposed a separate measure integrating disaster preparedness and emergency response in the school curriculum in Bohol. The board member from the Third District cited the significance of the information and education campaign on rabies control and prevention after it has been integrated in the school curriculum provincewide. To enable his idea, Jala proposed a disaster preparedness module in schools which could be materialized once a pertinent ordinance is enacted. For Abapo, Jala's proposal is worth a lot of lives. Abapo and Jala are both prominent figures in the academe, the former being the law school dean of a leading local university until presently while the latter is a former DepEd-Bohol superintendent. One of SP's notable acts last year after the quake was its strong endorsement of the Bohol rehabilitation lan, specifically on the reconstruction of the province-own hospitals, and support in finding both national and international aids, according to SP Secretary Boni Quirog. (Ven Arigo)