By Gov. Aris Aumentado | 08:01 August 30, 2024
GOV. ERICO ARISTOTLE AUMENTADO | State of the Province Address (SOPA) August 30, 2024, 10:00 a.m. |Bohol Cultural Center
THE GREATER THE OBSTACLE, THE MORE GLORY IN OVERCOMING IT: qPURSUING OUR VISION WITH PASSION AND DEDICATION DESPITE THE CHALLENGES
“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” That is a quote from Molière, a great writer. Every struggle in our lives has shaped us into the persons we are today. Let us be thankful for the hard times, for they can only make us stronger.
Those words best describe our situation today. The last few months have been very challenging. Yet we continue to pursue our vision with passion and dedication. Despite criticisms, despite underhanded moves, we will not back down. We will keep on doing what is right for the good of Bohol, and in due time we will reap the harvest. That is our promise.
My partners in governance:
- the Honorable Vice Governor Tita Baja and Honorable Members of the August Body of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
- our Honorable Congressional Representatives: 1st District Congressman Edgar M. Chatto, 2nd District Congresswoman Maria Vanessa Cadorna-Aumentado, and 3rd District Congresswoman Kristine Alexie Besas-Tutor
- our Honorable Mayors and local government officials led by LMP-Bohol President
Mayor Fernando Estavilla and Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap
- our partner National Government Agencies
- our partner Civil Society Organizations and People’s Organizations
- our partners from the private and business sectors
- our sectoral representatives
- our stakeholders from the academe and religious sectors
- our valued friends from the media
- and our Department Heads, Officials, and colleagues within the Provincial Government of Bohol.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and especially ngadto sa tanan nakong kaigsoonang Bol-anon: Maayong Buntag!
Our Humble Tribute to Vice Governor Victor Balite
I cannot begin without first expressing my deepest gratitude to someone who dedicated his life to public service, and especially the last few months to holding the reins of governance in the Province of Bohol. Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, my very good friend and colleague, thank you for taking over as Acting Governor during that challenging time. You served the Boholanos to the best of your ability, and I have no doubt that you are reaping the rewards in heaven right now. To the family of the late Vice Governor Victor, the entire Balite clan, please stand and accept my most sincere gratitude.
My deep gratitude as well to former Board Member and now Vice Governor Tita Baja and Board Member Benjie Arcamo, for stepping up to accept additional challenges that were placed on your shoulders.
Of course, running the Executive Department is not an easy task. In my absence, Provincial Administrator Aster Caberte, assisted by all the Department Heads, Executive Assistants, Chiefs of Hospitals, Heads of Attached Agencies, and the entire workforce of the Provincial Government did an excellent job of ensuring the continuity of our services and governance.
Please understand that I cannot name all of the officials, departments, agencies, and hospitals one by one. These accomplishments are ours as one big PGBh family, and they are only the highlights of what is a very long and detailed list. However, I would like to acknowledge two department heads who have recently retired, after decades of faithful service: Provincial Accountant Joseth Celocia and Provincial Vet Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz.
Providing a Clear Direction through Our Strategic Governance Roadmap
From the very beginning of this administration, we have pursued a clear direction and focused development agenda: our Strategic Governance Roadmap.
The Roadmap highlights nine Strategic Change Agenda, fully supportive of the
Philippine Development Plan of His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. A big round of applause to Pres. BBM and his administration!
This Roadmap was carefully crafted in partnership with our officials and department heads, after consulting our stakeholders. The process included reference to global, national, and regional goals. Again, let me say it with conviction: our administration’s direction and focus have been very clear from the start! A Positive Outlook for Bohol’s Economy
The outlook for Bohol’s economy is very positive. According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, our Gross Domestic Product grew by 7.1%, or an economic production of P171 Billion worth of goods and services, which is much higher than the 4.2% growth over the previous year. This also means that Bohol was the 3rd largest economy in Region7, in the overall ranking of Provinces and Highly Urbanized Cities. Of course, things will change with the creation of the Negros Island Region, which leaves Bohol, Cebu, and Highly Urbanized Cities in Region 7.
Poverty Reduction has always been a top priority for Bohol, starting with the term of my late father, Governor Erico Boyles Aumentado. The focus has been sustained through multiple governors. Our previous lowest level of poverty incidence among families was in 2018 at 15.1%. Poverty rose after the pandemic to 19.1%. Now, we are very proud to report that the latest PSA data shows that we have succeeded once again in bringing our poverty incidence down to its lowest-ever level, at 14.8%!
To reduce poverty even further, I have given marching orders for the whole Provincial Government workforce to focus on the first 24 towns with the highest poverty incidence, and to prioritize them for programs and projects!
● On Environmental Sustainability
To uphold our unique status as the First and Only UNESCO Global Geopark in the Philippines, we have created the Bohol Island Geopark Management Council under the Office of the Governor. This initiative links with our Bohol Regenerative Island Project and our Protect Danajon Project.
Despite the recent controversy over certain resorts that were initiated BEFORE our term, we are committed to continue protecting the environment, and to make sure that no such structures are built in the future. Even as we faced complaints over Captain’s Peak Resort – which, again, was initiated before our term, we also gave assistance in the form of cash and food to the displaced workers of the resort. When I resumed my duty, I directed all mayors with protected areas in their jurisdictions to inventory and monitor all structures and establishments in these critical locations, making sure they have ECCs and other permits. I also asked DENR to provide a comprehensive list of those that have been sent notices of violations so that the LGUs can do their part to assist them to become compliant, and to remove the structures which violate the law.
We are also committed to doing our part to address Climate Change, as we pledged during the COP28 Summit last November 2023. During this summit, the critical role of local leaders was recognized in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate risks.
We are very proud to report the success of our Reforms in Sand and Gravel Quarry Fees. Total collections from these fees during our term have reached the highest-ever amount of P78.9 million, marking an 868% increase in collections from 2019 to 2023!. This year, we are projecting to surpass our previous years’ collection. This is because of transparency and integrity in the collection process. As we promised during our Oath Taking, NO MORE IVAN!
Our monitoring of Marine Protected Areas has shown a 34% increase in fish diversity, an 81% increase in fish density, and a 56% increase in hard coral cover from 2022 to 2024. This, together with our efforts under the Agri-Fisheries Sector, will mean more fish at cheaper prices for our beloved Boholanos. We are still battling the obstacles and challenges, and there is NO LETUP in our initiatives to increase marine productivity over the long term!
We are taking good care of our beaches. Starting with Alona Beach in Panglao, we are clearing the shorelines from unsightly structures. We secured P100 million from TIEZA to construct a seawall to save the beachfront from further erosion. LGUPanglao is taking the lead of the Task Force with full support from the Provincial Government.
We plan to hire as Job Order Workers private sector volunteers to continue their advocacy of cleaning up the environment. This is a two-pronged strategy for poverty reduction and garbage elimination.
A major initiative, sponsored by BM Jamie Aumentado-Villamor, is the passage of the Bohol Renewable Energy Code, which provides incentives for renewable energy projects. It also enables consumers to avail of the net metering program of the Department of Energy, which will help them save electricity costs.
As we provide the enabling environment, we also support projects on the ground for renewable energy. The Dagohoy Solar Power Project, now under construction, will be commissioned by the end of this year. This will give us 27 megawatts of renewable solar power!
Another ongoing project is the Ubay Solar Power Plant, which will generate an additional 155 megawatts of renewable solar energy! It is targeted to start construction in the first quarter of 2025.
In the last two years, we have facilitated more than 13,000 emergency responses throughout the province. This was made possible through the 24-hour operation of seven TARSIER Substations, the upgrading of our Emergency response equipment and vehicles, and the establishment of a Unified Command Center. As proof of this, we are proud of our consistent recognition under the National Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence in DRRM, as well as Humanitarian Assistance. We were declared Fully Compliant in 2022, and Beyond Compliant in 2023!
● On Climate-Smart Agriculture
Bohol remains ASF-free! Despite outbreaks in many nearby provinces, we are still proudly ASF-free. We had a few close calls but they were quickly arrested and contained, thus protecting our P6 Billion hog industry. It has been decided that we will set up again strict checkpoints to maintain this status. We continue to do IEC campaigns. We have even devoted a portion of our budget to cash assistance for ASFaffected hog raisers.
We are an award-winning province in the Rice Competitiveness Program of the Department of Agriculture. In partnership with the DA and the Office of the President, we held several fairs that enabled our farmers to earn millions of pesos in income. These are the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Kadiwa sa Kapitolyo, Ubi Festival, and most recently, the Bohol Dairy Festival and Sandugo Agri-Fair.
Another major strategy for Poverty Reduction is Cooperative Development, through trainings and livelihood grants to cooperatives and community-based groups.
The Philippine Rural Development Project, in partnership with the DA, and funded by the World Bank, has given Bohol many projects over the years: 8 farm-to-market roads with a total road length of 53 kilometers;
16 enterprise projects; 16 small livelihood projects for MPAs; and 5 Potable Water Systems, all totaling to more than P2 Billion for Bohol!
With Pres. BBM having signed a new agreement with the World Bank for the PRDP Scale-Up Project, we are expecting even more funding for Bohol! Coming soon, we have a P625-million road project spanning 12 kilometers with 4 bridges, the CalapeAntequera Farm to Market Road. There are more proposed projects coming at a total estimated cost of P5.4 Billion!
Just recently, Pres. BBM himself came to Bohol to distribute P50 million in grants to Boholano farmers and fisherfolk in response to the severe impact on the agricultural sector caused by El Niño.
Our Cloud Seeding Operations were a vital initiative which saved our farmers from huge agricultural losses. However, there are still towns in Northern Bohol in urgent need of water. With many urgent requests from farmers’ groups and irrigators’ associations, and with scientific basis, our cloud seeding operations have been extended. We thank our cloud seeding task force for doing an excellent job! I ask the Farmers’ Groups, Irrigators’ Associations, and Cloud Seeding Task Force to rise and be acknowledged.
● On Sustainable Tourism
Our outlook for Tourism is even better than we expected! We have not only recovered from the post-pandemic slump, but we have achieved a 463% increase in tourist arrivals from 2021 to 2023! We are on track to greatly exceed the 1 million tourist arrivals of last year!
As an indicator of this increasing tourist traffic, we keep adding to the number of domestic and international flights to Bohol. Right now we have more than 20 flights a day, and just recently, we met with the Japanese Consul to work out on both ends the establishment of direct flights from Panglao to Osaka, Japan.
In March of this year, we joined ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair. We helped our tourism industry players generate P92.5 Million in terms of sales lead. The fair was also a venue for our Loboc Children’s Choir to once again give a standout performance. Allow us to show you a video of the tourism sites that we featured during ITB and other fairs.
This year, we also welcomed the CMV Vasco da Gama Cruise Ship and MV Heritage Adventurer with more than a thousand international passengers.
We continue to foster the Artistic Development of our Boholano artists, through diverse cultural and artistic events. In this administration, it is essential for us to consistently support our local artists in their creative endeavors. Let me recognize Mr. Elvin Perocho Vitor, our pride, the first Boholano recipient of the prestigious Da Vinci Award. We have also facilitated the creation of the Local Culture and Arts Councils in our municipalities. Local traditions are observed/ through such activities as Kasadya, an annual Christmas competition.
Our Boholana beauty queens continue to shine on the national and international stage!
And most recently, our very successful Sandugo Celebration! Sandugo has become not just a one-off event, but a series of high-profile events covering three months of the 2024 calendar. This time, it has become more private sector-led. Allow us to show you some highlights of our Sandugo celebration.
● On MSMEs and Entrepreneurship
Through our Bohol Investments Board, we continue to promote the province as a prime location for investments. The BIB is the clearing house for investments, and to date, there have been a total of 66 proponents, representing total estimated investments of P29 Billion!
Big business locators which we mentioned in last year’s SOPA are starting to physically move in. Puregold in Ubay and SM City in Tagbilaran are opening shop soon, and they have plans to expand to other towns. This is proof that our commitment to clean government has attracted major investors to Bohol!
Our continuing Abante Negosyo Caravans have resulted in more than 8,000 new business registrations, a clear indicator of our thriving economy!
Two large BPO firms are also set to launch their operations: Sagility and Genpact at the Bohol Business Park. Together with ongoing investments in renewable energy, these developments are now employing Boholano workers and will employ thousands more! The old terminal of the Old Tagbilaran Airport is nearing its completion as a swing space for Sagility and Genpact.
Congresswoman Van-van Aumentado is proud to announce that the House Bill for the Northern Bohol Economic Zone was approved on its 3rd Reading! After going through the Senate, we look forward to this new economic zone!
I would like to highlight our Merkado Boholano Showcase Center and Study Hub. It’s a small project, but it shows how a heavily criticized Bagsakan center, started before our term, can be converted into a meaningful and useful facility befitting the honor of President Carlos P. Garcia.
Our high-quality local raffia products were given the national spotlight, as featured in Vogue Philippines, Manila Bulletin, and in high-profile fashion events.
● On Human Capital and Workforce Development
Through our Passporting activities and Job Fairs, in cooperation with agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs and TESDA, we have sent many Boholanos to good jobs abroad, which has changed their lives. In the last two years, more than 6,500 passports were processed. In the same period, more than 3,600 job fair applicants were interviewed. In 2024, 7.5% of these applicants were Hired On The Spot compared to 6% in 2023 and 1.4% in 2022. But how are they doing in their respective jobs? Allow us to show you a few testimonies of our Boholano OFWs.
Of course, we look after our Boholanos in more ways than just getting them jobs. This is why we welcome the opening of satellite offices for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Migrant Workers.
At the grassroots level, we hired 146 Province-paid teachers since November 2023 up to the present, who are now serving in 55 schools across 30 municipalities. As part of our commitment to improving employment conditions, these teachers are now employed through a Contract of Service, ensuring better stability and dignity for their vital work.
We are not just looking after our new graduates in search of jobs. We also aim to develop and encourage academic excellence in all professions. This is why we have awarded 22 Topnotchers this year, in various board exams, with substantial cash incentives!
We also have our continuing CPG Scholarships and Educational Subsidy Programs, as well as scholarships for 33 medical students enrolled in various colleges and universities in the Visayas and Metro Manila. And we are proud to announce that one of our Medical scholars, Dr. Mary Ruth Lagura, passed the most recent physician licensure examination and is now providing medical services at the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital in Talibon.
We recognize our Boholano athletes who excel in regional and national competitions, such as the recent PATAFA National Games, where the Bohol delegation grabbed 1 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals. In the recent Paris Olympics, Bohol was represented by Ms. Vanessa Sarno, a Bohol Olympian. We also recognize our athletes in the Boholympics, Batang Pinoy Competitions, and Palarong Pambansa. To honor the Palarong Pambansa athletes’ dedication, the Provincial Government provided them with allowance support through the Special Education Fund.
Through the Governor’s Cup, we are tapping sports as a developmental platform across the province, providing access to opportunities to basketball athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts to advance their skills, while promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive influence among our youth; one that complements with the broader antidrug and peace campaign initiatives of the Provincial Government.
And to beef up the PGBh workforce, we have appointed and promoted 473 personnel during our term. Deserving personnel, many of whom have been working at the Capitol for years, or even decades, before being promoted. We also make sure that our employees receive gender-sensitive health and wellness services through our GAD Resource Center. I would like to acknowledge some of those new appointees, who represent our hardworking and dedicated PGBh workforce!
We thank His Excellency Pres. BBM for the salary increase for government workers. For our part at the provincial government, we have also increased the minimum rate of Job Order Workers from P340 to a range of P400-470 per day!
● On Governance
We devoted our energy to vital governance reforms. With the guidance of our Local Finance Committee, chaired by PA Aster, we made sure that there would be convergence and collaboration among our departments. Acting on my instructions to PA Aster, the LFC started our budget process with a meeting among OPA, BEDIPO, and PCDO for them to collaborate in their programs, prior to the budget hearing. We are making sure that resources among different departments are maximized, and programs are not duplicated.
We have started reforms in tracking utilization rates together with coordination among departments so that problems are addressed as soon as they are identified. This ties into our initiative of Zero Based-Budgeting to ensure that the use of every peso in the budget is justified.
We have implemented long-awaited Reforms in the Procurement System. This was our promise from the very start: to clean up and eliminate the Shadow Procurement System, and to make sure that every bidding transaction is truly open and transparent. This is a work in progress, but we have a good number of breakthroughs.
We have also greatly increased our Real Property Tax Collection, and as of July this year, we already achieved 89% of the target for the year!
We commend our law enforcers for their excellent job in our fight to combat illegal drugs. This social menace has no room under my watch. To complement this achievement, I have certified as urgent to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the enactment of an ordinance establishing a drug rehab center in Bohol.
And in the area of Peace and Order, Bohol is still a Zero Insurgency Province, as confirmed by the PNP and the Philippine Army! Under this administration, 76 former rebels have surrendered, marking a significant step toward our shared goal of lasting peace. Seven of these individuals availed themselves of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program offered by the national government, while the remaining 69 embraced the Kauban sa Reporma Program, an initiative of the Provincial Government of Bohol.
● On Infrastructure and Utilities
Infrastructure and Utilities require us to work heavily with national government agencies, because most of the funding belongs to them.
In concrete roads, for example, together with the DPWH, as well as convergence projects with the DTI and DOT, Bohol gained a 23% increase in total length of concrete roads!
This is on top of the 48 road projects funded by our own 20% Development Fund, amounting to more than P300 million.
Also, the Provincial Motorpool initiated the rehabilitation of non-operational but still functional heavy equipment. Instead of buying new equipment, we repaired and refurbished old equipment. This ensures major cost savings and uninterrupted services by the office.
For Irrigation, the Mabini-Cayacay SRIP is scheduled to be inaugurated in September of this year. This irrigation project is designed to store 3 million cubic meters of water that will benefit 320 farmers and irrigate 530 hectares of agricultural land.
Our port facilities continue to benefit from massive funding for improvement and extension, / under the Philippine Ports Authority.
To clarify public perception on the transfer of ownership from Salcon to the Razon Group, let me emphasize that the Provincial Government has NOT given up its 30% share in the ownership of Bohol Light. The transfer of ownership was only between
the two groups of private companies. We would have wanted to
re-acquire that 70% private share and make the Provincial Government full owner once again. We considered and evaluated all factors and we found that it was not feasible. It was a hard and painful decision. But again, what followed was a strictly private transaction. At the end of the day, we still own 30% of Bohol Light Company, just as we have for the last 24 years.
On the vital question of Power Supply, the NGCP is expecting that the Interconnection Project between Bohol and Cebu will be energized by the last quarter of 2024. This link will attract more investors to build in-island power plants in Bohol, because it will allow them to transmit power to and from the rest of the Visayas. This will increase available power for Boholanos, and reduce costs all around!
And on the Proposed Cebu-Bohol Bridge, we are in talks with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia for investors to engage with us in our joint planning with the Province of Cebu.
Of course, this will undergo a critical and comprehensive study to ensure that it will not have a negative impact on our environment.
● On Health and Social Services
I have to make an appeal to all our Barangay Captains, as well as all health workers and community workers. We have seen a 315% increase in Dengue cases this year over last year. Other provinces have already declared a State of Calamity because of Dengue outbreaks. Let us not permit the same thing to happen to Bohol. Let us work together to eradicate Dengue from our communities! In response, we have made an emergency procurement of P5.3 million worth of IV fluids and dengue testing kits, which will be stocked in our 10 Province-owned hospitals. We also made a second purchase of IV fluids and NSI testing kits worth P9 million.
This appeal stands even as we continue to improve our hospital services and facilities. The Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital is now upgraded to Level II while the Francisco Dagohoy Memorial Hospital is now a Level I facility. This will mean additional health services to our fellow Boholanos in Talibon and Inabanga and their surrounding communities. Over the past 3 years, we have seen a 97% increase in bed occupancy rate, which reflects the trust of Boholanos in our PGBh hospitals
Also, the Congressman Natalio Castillo Memorial Hospital in Loon has transferred to a new and improved facility! With this development, we are providing more efficient, comfortable health care to Loonanons and nearby residents.
We also go out to reach our communities through our Abante Caravans, which provide a wide range of services: dental and medical checkups, Operation Tuli, eye checkups, medicine dispensing, legal clinics and other vital services.
We have given a total of P241 Million in financial assistance to municipalities and barangays throughout Bohol.
For housing assistance, in partnership with NHA, we have released P468 million to more than 49,000 beneficiaries, with more to come!
For Individuals in Crisis Situations, our AICS Program has been very helpful. On top of the P74 million released by the province, the DSWD has given more than P3.1 billion social welfare assistance. We have also provided food packs and psychological first aid to families in distress and those affected by armed conflicts.
For our Muslim Brothers and Sisters, we have also supported the establishment of a Muslim Public Cemetery in Bilar. In addition to our commitment to preserving
Boholano cultural heritage, we issued Executive Order No. 23, Series of 2024, in alignment with Provincial Ordinance No. 2023-013, sponsored by Board Member Elpidio Bonita, to establish an advisory committee for the preparation of the Eskaya Indigenous People Development Master Plan.
We have more health services forthcoming: the building of Super Health Centers in partnership with the Department of Health. These Super Health Centers will provide much-needed first-level health care for our rural areas.
We also received a Mobile clinic from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. The mobile clinic, equipped with modern diagnostic equipment, including a mobile digital X-ray machine, and an ultrasound machine, brings health services closer to the Boholanos.
Under the World Bank-funded Health System Resiliency Program, we are also set to receive close to P1.2 Billion in health infrastructure, facilities, and vehicles.
- On Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
We continue to work with the DICT in the Free Wifi For All Project.
We collaborate with the private sector in the pursuit of providing vital national fiber optic nodes.
We are also implementing the PGBh-Unified System, which supports our reforms in the Procurement System.
The Future Looks Bright for the Province of Bohol
Yes indeed, the future looks bright for the Province of Bohol! Aside from the major investments by the private sector that I have already mentioned, we are looking forward to the completion of important ongoing and forthcoming projects:
- The Central Philippines Specialty Center in Cortes, Bohol, which is funded by the Department of Health, is now 80% complete. It is built on land owned by the Province. Once operational, this 500-bed facility will be a vital center to address the medical needs of Bohol and even neighboring provinces.
- Completion of the 3rd Bridge between Panglao Island and Mainland Bohol. This was the appeal we made in a special meeting between PBBM and the RDC Chairs of 15 regions.
- Completion of the Talibon-Bien Unido Bridge, targeted in 2025.
- Operation of the 95.2-megawatt In-island Power Plant for One Bohol Power.
- With the completion of our Local Public Transport Route Plan, which has been endorsed to LTFRB, more transport operators are coming to Bohol! In a recent meeting, Grab has committed to a soft opening of 100 units for Panglao, Dauis and Tagbilaran on September 30!
- In the last quarter of this year, the Department of Transportation will start the Bohol Public Transport Pre-Investment Study. This study is the first step in establishing a province-wide public transport system!
- The Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Project is an expanded and repackaged project for bulk water supply and sanitation. This is proposed for funding by the World Bank, to be implemented in partnership with DPWH and DILG. We are now updating the Feasibility Study for submission to the NEDA.
- In addition to the water desalination projects already funded by PRDP in four island barangays, we have allocated almost P30 Million from our 20% Development Fund for additional Water Desalination Plants in three more island barangays, and another one in the Pitogo Hospital. We also welcome more desalination plants funded by DENR. We envision a future where all islands in the Province of Bohol will have their own water supply!
Bohol’s development today can be traced back to the first Bohol Master Plan in 1980, produced with the help of JICA. This was the plan pursued by my late father and succeeding governors in the big-ticket projects for Bohol: circumferential roads, hospital modernization, irrigation, the international airport, seaports, and more!
Now, Bohol is ready to step up to the global stage! Thus, we are pursuing more longterm big-ticket projects, under our New Bohol Master Plan, which we are pushing once again for JICA Technical Assistance.
The State of the Province
My beloved Boholanos, this SOPA is not a comeback. I have never been away. I assure you, you will always have my continued passion and dedication as your Duly Elected Governor. That is the duty that you have imposed upon me, and which no one can take away. Despite underhanded attempts from our critics and opponents, I pledge to give my all for the welfare of my beloved Boholanos.
And as you can see from this SOPA, the Provincial Government has never stopped serving you. There are more detailed reports on our accomplishments, but in the interest of time, we had to give you the broad strokes.
And it is clear that Bohol continues to be on the upswing! We are still a top destination in the country – in fact, THE TOP INVESTMENT DESTINATION according to a recent survey of the Hotel Industry Association conducted by Lee Chu Properties of Singapore.
The Provincial Government continues to hold the trust of the people. And I am humbly grateful for it.
Bohol is a special province. And through all challenges, Bohol continues to be one of the most beautiful provinces in the country, if not the most beautiful. Allow me to quote Dr. Ben Malayang in his loving appreciation of our beloved province:
“We don’t only see Bohol. We feel Bohol, because it is a place with a soul, a soul shaped by the exceptional connectedness of land and people, where the culture and conscience of Boholanos give it a distinctive air and identity different from many other places. More than just a place, Bohol is home.” Boholanos as a people have always been noted to be strong in pride of place!
Mao nga kining paghatag ko kaninyo sa Estado sa Atong Probinsiya karon, mga minahal kong Bol-anon, dako kaayo og kahulugan alang kanako. Daghang salamat ug maayong buntag!
Abante Bohol!
