GMA: honored to realize Garcia's dream for Bohol

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) says she feels privileged to have realized the dreams of a Boholano and former President Carlos P. Garcia, this as she inaugurated a section of the 84.24 kilometer Calape – Tagbilaran - Valencia roads, Monday June 5.

The President who was called by the day's ruby wedding jubilarian Governor Erico Aumentado as the patroness of Bohol 's socio-economic development for her crucial support for mega-projects here also enacted House Bill 9345. The law converts Panglao Circumferential Road as part of the national highways is seen as a runway paving the island's tourism take-off.

Former President Garcia, a Talibongnon, whom GMA's father beat in 1961, popularized the Filipino First Policy. Interestingly however, Garcia did not openly lobby for Bohol 's much needed infrastructure support, prompting many political analysts to assume that the Bohol 's most illustrious son valued delicadeza so much.

Speaking fully in Cebuano, GMA told a jam-packed crowd gathered at the newly finished Lila Gymnasium that she's honored that many of (Garcia's) dreams were now realized. Pulling for more tourists for Bohol , the President said she aspired for a new Spain here, a European nation that has earned more income than oil producing countries. This as she shares local leader's visions of catapulting the province out of the Club 20 or the notorious group of 20 poorest provinces in the country.

Bohol has since pitched in for eco-cultural tourism, which successfully shaped Bohol 's chances of making it big economically. With the private sector support, Bohol 's tourism has sparked interest bringing in an estimated 350T and 650T foreign and domestic tourists milling into Cebu-Bohol destinations, the President said.

Aside from building road networks to assure tourist access to destinations and resorts for Bohol , the President touched on the ambitious airport of international capacity right in the heart of Panglao. The airport is included in the Panglao Island Tourism Estate, a showcase contiguous patch of land and prime beaches where a one-stop tourist estate rises. She told Boholanos that the Philippine Tourism Authority has released funds for land acquisition of Panglao Airport , set to taxi off next year.

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