Guv back from China

GOV. Erico Aumentado and his 40-strong delegation from Jiangxi , China arrived home yesterday, bringing home the bacon, so to speak. Going straight to a press conference at the Governor's Mansion from the Tagbilaran City Airport, Aumentado presented the physically tired but visibly elated delegates, as well as copies of the agreement he signed with Jiangxi Gov. Huang Zhiquan, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's congratulatory message to both provinces for the agreement, and of the trip sponsor's letter to the President informing her of his promoting Bohol in the television campaign for his products all across China.

The two governors signed the agreement of friendly-province relations in Nanchang City on May 8. Huang is Jiangxi 's No. 2 citizen. Top is Chairman Meng Jian Zhu who signed with Aumentado an agreement of friendly exchange and cooperation on Sept. 6, 2005 that was the underpinning of the current agreement. Now a member of the Central Congress, Meng had to fly home all the way from China 's capital Beijing to attend the signing ceremony.

In accordance with the principle of the diplomatic communiqué established between the two provinces and aimed at promoting the understanding and friendship between the Filipino and the Chinese peoples, Bohol and Jiangxi agreed to actively push forward the conduct of exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, culture, education, sports, public health and others. The agreement stressed equality and mutual benefit, with the end in view of common prosperity and development.

The Office of the Governor of Bohol and the Foreign Affairs and Overseas-Chinese Affairs Office of Jiangxi will serve as the liaison departments of the two sides. The agreement took effect as of its signing, and expires in five years but will be extended if no side asks for its termination. “It was a physically taxing working trip. We had five top-level discussions across Jiangxi , a province of 43 million people. Our solace was in hearing the voices of the Loboc Children's Choir who performed back to back concerts with their counterparts in Nanchang and Jiujiang cities,” Aumentado said.

His talk with Huang centered on implementing tourism- and agriculture-related projects after he told him that these are Bohol 's economic drivers. They agreed to link tour operators of both provinces for easier arrangement of tour packages. Dolphins, whales, beaches and mangrove are novel adventure come-ons for the residents of the land-locked province. Huang also offered technical assistance in the rice production. He expressed elation on knowing that Bohol has been propagating hybrid rice from that province, Aumentado said. Jiangxi is China 's top rice producer.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Wu expressed interest in geo-textiles and the sweet mangoes that Bohol can produce. They use geo-textiles from coconut coir fiber to check the erosion of sloping and steep agricultural land as well as for flood control. They also use the fiber to fill upholstered furniture and car seats. Aumentado also informed Wu that Bohol has manganese, limestone, silica and fossil oil waiting to be mined as soon as changes in the Constitution are implemented to make exploration by foreign investors attractive.

On education, student- and teacher-exchanges are in the offing. Cultural exchanges have started through the LCC. In Jiujiang City , Mayor Chai explored the possibility of a sisterhood pact with Tagbilaran City . “I will write Mayor Dan Lim on Monday to formally start another sisterhood agreement. Kag. [Jose Antonio] Toto Veloso [who was part of the delegation] will fill him in on this,” he said. Bohol has much to learn from the tourism on Mt. Lushan , Jiangxi 's Summer Capital. Villas for Europeans, Australians, Russians and others abound on the peak 1,400 meters above sea level. It has offered retreat to Mao Zedong and Deng Ziao Ping, Aumentado said.

Chan connection

The Bohol governor expressed gratitude to Carlos Chan, chair of the Liwayway ( Philippines ) Marketing Corp. for sponsoring the trip, inviting investors to Bohol and for promoting the province in China to attract tourists. As Aumentado has a dinner meeting with the President in Malacañang tomorrow, he will personally deliver Chan's letter to her. Chan's son Carlson was a participant to a business conference at the Palace where President Arroyo asked him to include the “Wow Philippines ” logo in their products in China for the purpose of promoting tourism. Bohol 's benefactor said he is taking the request a step further in his upcoming Oishi TV campaign.

“Through this audio-visual medium, the beauty of our country will speak for itself. The commercial will showcase such Boholano treasures as the Chocolate Hills, its beaches, its churches, the Loboc River , and of course, the Loboc Children's Choir to hum the Oishi jingle. On the film, written in Chinese, will be ‘ Bohol Province , Philippines ,'” he said. The commercial will be aired nationwide in China on CCTV 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 as well as on local channels. “Rest assured that we will do our best to support your project of promoting Philippine tourism in China ,” he wrote the President.

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