Bohol gets RMB1-M donation, Guv sees tourism, invest boom

BOHOL will soon be P6.5 million to P7 million richer with the RMB 1 million donation of Jiangxi province. Gov. Erico Aumentado has caused the opening of a special trust account with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Tagbilaran Branch for the exclusive use of the donation. In his letters to Jiangxi's No.1 citizen Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Jiangxi and chairman of the Provincial Standing Committee, outgoing Gov. Huang Zhiquan, new Gov. Wu Xinxiong and Director General Cheng Shuifeng of the Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Aumentado thanked the officials and their people for the generous donation for “Bohol's state hospital”. He said the amount will be used exclusively to purchase vital medical equipment for the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital (GMPH) in Talibon town for it “to serve the medical requirements of our people”. “Additionally, the equipments will be housed in the P10-million building which we shall construct for the Jiangxi donation – and additional hospital wards therein,” he said.

“The equipments will be properly marked Donated by the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government, People's Republic of China for identification and to perpetuate your government's benevolence and humanitarian mission,” he stressed. Meng was in the Philippines in September 2005. He paid a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang, accompanied by Special Envoy to China Carlos Chan and Aumentado. He proceeded to Bohol where he and Aumentado signed the prelude to a sisterhood agreement at the MetroCentre Hotel. The agreement itself was signed last May in Nanchang City by Huang and Aumentado.

Strengthening ties

Aside from the bonanza for the GMPH, the Bohol governor expects a boom in tourist arrivals, investments, trade and improved agricultural and environmental practices, among others, with his signing in Nanchang on Oct. 28 the Framework Agreement Further Enhancing the Friendly Exchanges between the two provinces. Aumentado formed part of the delegation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that visited Nanning City in Fujian province and the tourism municipality of Guilin , but included Nanchang in its itinerary as well upon the suggestion of Liwayway Group chairman Chan because Jiangxi and Bohol already have existing sisterhood ties.

President Arroyo named Chan Special Envoy to China in recognition, among others, of his efforts to promote the Philippines , particularly Bohol , in his Oishi advertisements that appear in eight major national television stations plus local stations in China. The President earlier asked Chan to mark “ Philippines ” on his packaging of Oishi products. Chan said he will do better than that – on top of the “ Bohol , Philippines ” marking, he will also launch his TV ads. The rest, as they say, is history. The TV ads feature the Loboc Children's Choir singing the Oishi jingle with the Chocolate Hills as backdrop. This also saw print in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue of the China Business Weekly when Liwayway (China) Co., Ltd. welcomed President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to China. A second version of the TV ad features young ladies enjoying Oishi snacks in a beach in the resort town of Panglao .

Protocols

President Arroyo took center stage in Nanning , signing protocols to improve the Philippines ' trade and investment relations with China . She also had a tete-a-tete with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. It was Aumentado's turn to shine in Nanchang however as he signed six protocols with Gov. Huang Zhiquan – the latter's last official act as his term ended Oct. 31 – witnessed by President Arroyo, Trade and Industry Sec. Peter Favila and Meng. Gov. Wu Xinxiong for whom Aumentado has a standing invitation to visit Bohol replaces Huang. The framework agreement promotes the economic and social development of the two provinces for the benefit of their respective peoples. The protocols where both provinces will encourage and support mutual visits as well as professional and technical exchanges include the areas of:

Agriculture, for relevant agricultural departments, scientific and research institutions and technical personnel – to deepen friendship, promote mutual understanding and explore specific areas in which the two sides can carry out substantive cooperation; Tourism, for the administrative departments, travel agencies and relevant tourism service trades, including the establishment of a “sister-mountain” relationship between the Chocolate Hills and Mt. Lushan of Jiangxi ; Mining, to explore and develop mineral resources, in coordination with the relevant mining and environment agencies of both governments; and Culture, sports and education, where teachers and students exchange, conduct joint research, sports cooperation, exhibitions, personnel training, arts and culture through their respective cultural and educational departments, institutions of higher learning and artistic organizations. The agreement, written in English and Chinese, took effect on the date of signing. It is valid for five years, automatically renewable, unless either side sends a written notice to terminate the agreement not less than six months prior to the date of termination.

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