Bohol's long-term supply project for bulk water has begun to cascade to fulfillment following yesterday's signing of the conduct of its crucial viability study between the province, its overseas partners and consultant. Known as the Bohol Water and Sanitation Project (BWSP), the major undertaking is essential to the province's bid for enduring development while seriously addressing widespread health concerns. The contract on consulting services for the feasibility study of the BWSP was sealed by Gov. Edgar Chatto for the provincial government, Country Representative Steven Rood of The Asia Foundation (TAF), Chief of Party Enrico Basilio of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Philippine Competitiveness (COMPETE) Project, and Angel Santiago, Jr. who is the president of the Engineering and Development Corporation of the Philippines (EDCOP) as consultant.

The conduct of the feasibility study costs P25.9 million. The USAID-COMPETE, TAF and Bohol government immediately ordered the EDCOP, which ties up with the SCHEMA Konsult, Inc., to proceed with the important feasibility works. A complete technical and financial study is required by the funding agencies and finance institutions which are willing to assist the province. The bulk water supply project is among the Chatto administration's long-term priority investments like the renewable energy program. Other leading Bohol priorities and big-ticket projects have been integrated in the national expenditure program for 2015.

These include hospital modernization which, on the part of the province-run hospitals, is continuing while the national counterpart focuses on the construction of the new Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH). The national appropriations for next year likewise involve allocations for massive school building construction, agricultural interventions that improve production and livelihood, and infrastructure facilities that at the same time accelerates tourism activities. These are all related to Chatto's expanded “HEAT IT Bohol” agenda which engages health, education, agriculture, tourism, and information technology. The Bohol governor was invited by Malacañang and attended what Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III calls “agenda setting with partners” on Friday. The president said wider development starts from a good and able government. (VenreboArigo)