By Helen Castaño | 02:00 PM June 30, 2025
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL — On his first day in office for his second term, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado signed three executive orders aimed at overhauling agricultural policy, boosting regional sports development, and complying with a long-pending court ruling on public fund reimbursements.
Aumentado announced the measures during his inaugural address on Monday, June 30, as he called for unity and collective action to prepare Bohol for rising threats such as climate change, economic instability, and moral erosion.
“We must be prepared. We must strengthen what we have built so we can endure whatever lies ahead. And we must all do it together,” Aumentado said. “Our plan is simple: Stay rooted in our values, stay connected with one another, and stay focused on the people we serve.”
Executive Orders Signed
The governor issued the following executive orders on Day 1 of his new term:
- Creation of an Executive Planning Committee to review and overhaul the province’s agricultural programs, with the goal of delivering “meaningful and measurable improvements” in the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.
- Formation of a Local Organizing Committee to prepare Bohol’s bid to host the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA) meet in 2028, signaling the province’s intent to strengthen grassroots sports.
- Implementation of a court-mandated reimbursement, directing the Provincial Treasurer’s Office and Bohol Water Utilities to return excess collections made between 1997 and 2000, in compliance with a legal decision.
Call for Vigilance and Unity
Aumentado warned that Bohol is not immune to growing global and domestic challenges—from environmental degradation and climate change to political instability and the weakening of social and moral structures.
“Our natural resources and wildlife—on land and in our seas—are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation driven by greed,” he said. “Global conflicts are shaking economies, and their impact will soon reach us. Even political turmoil at the national level sends shockwaves to the countryside.”
He acknowledged that leadership carries great responsibility, saying his experiences over the past years have deepened his understanding of the weight of public expectation.
“Stay with me,” he told Boholanos. “I have a choice. You have a choice. Together let us make Bohol stronger. So when the storm comes—and it will—we will not falter.”
