By PR | 01:04 PM June 22, 2025
The province of Bohol continues to earn recognition for excellence in local governance, this time in the field of fiscal management.
Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado was conferred the Maharlika Award as Outstanding Public Servant by the Bureau of Local Government Finance Region 7 (BLGF-7) of the Department of Finance (DOF) during the Pasidungog sa Siete 2025 held on June 19 at the Mezzo Hotel, Cebu City.
The award, presented by DOF Regional Director Gerardo Avorque, recognized Aumentado’s strong support for the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) and the Provincial Assessor’s Office (PASSO) in strengthening fiscal management practices within the province.
In addition to the individual award, Bohol ranked third in the Highest Locally Sourced Revenues and placed second in Year-on-Year Growth in Locally Sourced Revenues for Provinces for fiscal year 2024. The province recorded a total of ₱819.69 million in locally sourced revenues, marking a significant 55.16% increase compared to the previous year.
The BLGF attributed these achievements to the effective collaboration between the PTO, headed by Eustaquio Socorin, and PASSO, led by Rene Jayag, in managing Bohol’s financial resources and improving public service delivery.
In a statement on his official social media page, Aumentado expressed gratitude for the recognition, attributing it to the province’s united efforts and commitment to good governance.
“Ang pag-ila sa BLGF sa atong hugot nga suporta ngadto sa Provincial Treasurer’s Office ug Provincial Assessor’s Office, uban sa mga buhatan niini sa tanan natong LGUs, pinasubay sa atong Strategic Change Agenda, pamatuod sa atong nagkahiusang paningkamot alang sa kalamboan,” the governor said.
Since the start of Aumentado’s administration, the Provincial Government of Bohol has posted consistent improvements in tax collection and fiscal performance, which officials credit to strong political will and the implementation of accountability and transparency initiatives. Last February, Aumentado personally led the turnover of 48 motorcycles to all local government units (LGUs) to support tax collection and assessment efficiency in the field.
Meanwhile, the BLGF, in partnership with the Association of Local Treasurers and Assessors in Region 7, also honored retiring treasurers and assessors from the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol during the Midyear Regional Conference. Among those recognized from Bohol were Maria Evelyn Baradas of Trinidad, Norman Visaya of Anda, Cresilda Rulida of Catigbian, and Maria Cleofe Nuera of Bien Unido.
These latest honors reaffirm Bohol’s position as one of the leading provinces in Central Visayas in sound financial management and responsive governance.
