Obviously, the Chatto-Lim Administration must be doing very well in governance or the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would not have been prompted and greatly honored in extending an invitation to the incumbent Provincial Leadership to undergo training in Japan. In his official invitation addressed to Gov. Edgar M. Chatto dated June 4, 2014, JICA Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa specifically stated in his letter that their agency "is honored to extend an official invitation to the members of the Bohol Project Team under the Sustainable Environmental Protection Project (SEPP) for training." Not one to turn down an excellent opportunity, Gov. Chatto readily grabbed the chance so that he himself and his team would be arriving in Japan early afternoon today.

The training would be such that Bohol's Project Team could deepen its understanding of nature resource conservation of tourism destinations; the importance of the collaboration between government and local society; monitoring, tourism and carrying capacity; and waste management through Japanese experience and endeavor to better serve their beloved Bohol. Focused on the Conservation Measures of Coastal Tourism Resources, they would be sure to acquire the knowledge regarding coastal and marine ecosystem and management measures; collaboration among LGUs, residents and stakeholders; be more efficient in its execution of sustainable eco-tourism; and gain the needed know-how as regards to waste management on a small island. While enjoying their stay in the Land of the Rising Sun, the governor and his team would visit sites where disaster, coral reef and sewage management are being practiced or implemented.

For instance, they are slated to visit Japanese historical sites like the fault of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Kobe, Japan which destroyed 200,000 houses and killed 6,433 people. The Hanshin Earthquake was one of the three major earthquakes that occurred in Japan since the 1900s. There was the 8.3 magnitude Great Kantou on September 1, 1923; the disastrous one on March 11, 2011; and of course, the 7.3 magnitude Hanshin Earthquake on January 17, 1995. Team Bohol would also be treated to a study on the conservation and monitoring of coral reefs and the funding mechanism of nature restoration councils at the International Coral Reef and Monitoring Center; and the awareness-raising and the natural resource conservation against the increase of tourists at the Tourism and Culture Office in Ishigaki City. Sustainable tourism and eco-tourism would be discussed by the Eco-tourism Council of Okinawa at the JICA Okinawa International Center; and the sewage treatment by the Economy and Construction Section at the Awaren Sewage Treatment Plant in the Municipality of Tokashiki. The Akajima Science Laboratory, the Isolated Island Promotion Center in Zamami and the Kaito Yumin Club Office in Toba City would also be great contributions in understanding eco-tourism more. The JICA invitation was originally scheduled to be from July 6-July 19, but due to the team's very hectic timetable here in the province, they would be returning to Bohol much earlier. All travel expenses, which include air fare, ground transportation, board and lodging and other logistics will be borne by the Project for the whole duration of the training. (jlv/EDCom)