By Helen Castaño | 04:09 PM June 30, 2022
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado on Thursday has vowed for a speedy recovery and provide stable power and water supply in the province during his administration.
Speaking before 400 people during the inauguration at Bohol Cultural Center, Aumentado stressed the province’s needs for a reliable, secure and affordable power and water.
“And in my encounters with our constituents particularly during the campaign period, we listened to their hopes and dreams, and also to their concerns and worries. Two things stand out as the loudest collective sighs of the Boholanos: power and water,” said Aumentado.
He said the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project – one of the flagship projects of his late father Erico – is bringing electricity to Bohol shores. However, countless times the natural disasters and even a mere repair job plunged the province to darkness.
“We cannot rely only on one source. We have to seek for an alternative. Without the stable spark of electricity, the engines of our economy will sputter and our people’s lives suffer,” he said.
He said he already touched base with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to fast track the completion of the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project. The transmission project meant to avoid overloading the Leyte-Bohol line will bring in 600 megawatts of power. Barring any major hitches, it will be completed next year.
“And so, this administration is serving notice that in our aim to build our own power sources we will be tapping into renewable energy. We will harness the power of the sun, the water and the wind. We will go for solar, wind, hydro and biomass power. We have learned the painful lessons of relying on sources that are hostage to calamities or on fossil fuels that only pollute our airs and drastically change our climate,” he said.
No more “Ivans”
He also resolved to end corruption in the provincial government.
” Corrupt practices that laid to waste our meager resources and deprived hungry mouths of food or ailing bodies with relief are not mine to forgive or forget. It is the entire Boholano people that is wronged; it is they who cry out for redress. Let justice be done though the heavens fall,” he said.
He said there will be no more” Ivans” in the Capitol.
“We are not out witch-hunting; we are on a clean-up drive. There will be no more bypassing of the normal bidding procedures. There will be no more transactions done by or coursed through people who have no official functions in the Capitol. There will be no more “Ivans”, ” he said.
” Ivan” is the alleged “tong” collector at the provincial Capitol.
“We may be able to unmask the face or faces of that notorious “Ivan” or not but we will make sure that our dealings will be transparent and above-board. We owe this to our fellow Boholanos. And I personally owe this to my late father who had served his people with no stain of corruption,” said Aumentado.
He signed four executive ordinances including an office for Governance Accountability and Review. This body shall look into the reported questionable deals of the past administration in the procurement process, in securing contracts and in obtaining loans.
Aumentado said the office will be headed by former Cabinet Secreyary Jun Evasco.
“It is quite lamentable that Boholano businessmen are not able to do business in the Capitol because of heavy obstacles like the reported huge kickbacks. It is non-Boholanos who are benefitting from this rotten system,” he said.
Aumentado became the 27th governor of Bohol.
He took his oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting. Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; Representatives Edgar M. Chatto, Kristine Alexie Tutor and Maria Vanessa Aumentado also took their oaths.
“Today the pride and honor of the Boholanos have been restored. For standing and taking his oath before you is a true Boholano by blood, by heart and by action and who is now tasked to carry the yoke of leading our beloved province of Bohol. With total humility I accept totally the trust you have entrusted me,” Aumentado said.
