Saudi prince to invest in Bohol

By: JUNE S. BLANCO

GOV. Erico Aumentado has been soliciting far and wide for investments that would develop Bohol along the areas of its two economic drivers: tourism and agriculture – according to its vision, mission and goals. His latest endorser turns out to be no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who yesterday announced that as an offshoot to her visit to Saudi Arabia last year, Saudi Prince Al Walid bin Talal is bent on buying Bohol Beach Club property for $150 million on which to build a six-star resort of The Raffles fame with the Ayalas.

The President ad-libbed the announcement during a 30-minute speech interrupted by numerous rounds of applause before a crowd of around 20,000 that included some 15,000 youths at the CPG Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City celebrating Bohol Youth Day. Lawyer Anos Fonacier, Father of Bohol's Tourism who invested in a high-end resort in Bolod, Panglao 20 years before tourism in the province became vogue told the Post he has “some 300 hectares there.” Details still have to be fleshed out however as Aumentado seated Fonacier with the President at lunch at the Grand Sandugo Ballroom of the Bohol Tropics Resort where the two talked for some five minutes only.

Bohol Youth Day

President Arroyo came to Bohol on Aumentado's invitation to be the guest of honor and speaker during the 1st Bohol Youth Day celebration. Aumentado introduced her as the champion of national unity and reconciliation, of the Filipino youth and of Bohol 's unprecedented socio-economic development. She brought along her 12 senatorial bets, who she introduced to the crowd although apart from waving and shaking hands with those nearby, the candidates did not have any part in the program. The bets have scheduled town sorties today.

The President, assisted by Aumentado presented plaques of appreciation to four Boholano youth achievers, namely – Ana Maris Igpit, Bb. Pilipinas-World 2006 who represented the Philippines to the Miss World pageant in Warsaw, Poland; international chess champion Jedara Docena who has stymied counterparts in Singapore, Qatar and Vietnam, among others; and world class boxing champions Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista in the bantamweight and Cesar Amonsot in the lightweight divisions. She also turned over to Aumentado and Frances Bobbith Cajes-Auza, Bohol federated Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president through Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Anselmo Avenido, a check worth P300,000 for an intensified information, education and communications (IEC) campaign against the abuse of drugs under the Barkada Kontra Droga Program. She also handed over to Aumentado and Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio a narra seedling signifying the massive implementation here of a reforestation project under the Green Philippines program. In return, Auza presented her a manifest of support signed by the Boholano youth leaders.

Call to be counted

President Arroyo said the youths' attendance to yesterday's activity signaled their readiness to be counted to take part and resolve critical issues of national concern – despite their tender ages. Speaking in a mix of Cebuano, English and Tagalog, she said “we have earned the world's confidence because of our political and economic reforms” that spell more jobs, affordable prices of commodities, strong peso, more investments, education, health care and housing for the poor, counter-terrorism and the Green Philippines program. With 65 percent of the population under 35 years of age, the Philippines is a young nation. “It is time to be heard, to act and to make your own fortune,“ she told the gathering.

“Today, I urge the young Boholanos to help mold the new vision of a youthful nation. Use the instruments given to you by government, your family and the nation for you to become doctors, lawyers, farmers, health care workers and lead in the high technology and other clean and honorable professions,” she said. She also looks forward to the day when a job abroad is a career choice and not the only option available for a hardworking Filipino.

Call to green

She urged the youth the plant more trees, replace those that are felled or those that did not survive, and protect them. She called on their natural youthful enthusiasm as well as the young once to help clean the environment. She urged them to look for alternative energy sources like the sun, wind and geothermal resources that are “clean” fuel. President Arroyo also wants to turn coral reefs and beaches in the province into national parks and international sanctuaries for eco-tourism and scientific research. She encouraged them to do the greening for the next five years. “In the next 10 years, I am confident that the Philippines can be a model for environmental stewardship,” she said.

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