Bohol not quite ready to embrace MICE challenge?

MALOU GUANZON APALISOK

As a postscript to a previous article I wrote about the three in one event organized by attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, last October 8-10, I wish to congratulate the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) for the successful 4th National Carabao Conference, 4th Bohol Milk Festival and the 1st Livestock Technology Exposition. As the lead organizer of the multi-level event, the PCC expected some 800 dairy farmers and livestock producers to attend but close to 1,000 registered. The program was well-orchestrated and handled. Kudos to PCC executive director Dr. Arnel del Barrio, deputy executive Director Dr. Caro Salces and their hardworking staff.

For the first time, the important gathering was held outside of the PCC headquarters in Science City, Muñoz in Nueva Ecija in an effort to stress the importance of Bohol in the dairy industry. No less than Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol acknowledges Bohol as the dairy capital of the Philippines.

Bohol hosts the Ubay Stock Farm, a modern facility that promotes the conservation and propagation of the native carabaos as a source of milk and meat for the benefit of Bohol’s farmers and rural communities. The province is oriented towards agriculture in terms of its natural assets. About 45 percent of the land in Bohol is agriculture. This sector is the major economic driver of the province having 1.5 million people.

I’m not sure if government officials led by Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and Vice Governor Dionisio Balite understood the impact of the national dairy and livestock meeting but from where I sit, it looked like a curtain raiser to Bohol becoming the next important MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibition) destination. Because Cebu is plagued by terrible traffic and other infrastructure-related problems not to mention the breakdown of peace and order as manifested by many unsolved killings these recent times, Bohol can overtake Cebu as an important MICE destination.

Bohol has always had a special allure for tourists because of its diverse natural attractions — from natural wonders like the chocolate hills and the nocturnal primate known as tarsier, white-beaches, food, arts to century-old churches – all these while still maintaining its laidback culture make Bohol a unique and interesting destination.

Next month President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set to inaugurate the New Bohol International Airport in Panglao Island. Like the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the P7.4-billion facility is designed as a tropical airport and is expected to draw 2 million tourists a year. That’s a whopping increase of 1.2 million from its current tourist arrivals of 800,000.

However, the way I see it the three-way event last October 8-10 has shown that Tagbilaran City is not quite ready to assume a bigger role in the MICE arena because I heard that many confreres from Mindanao and Luzon had a hard time getting medium-end accommodations.

Tagbilaran City hosts a number of 3-star hotels but many were fully booked during the three-day event. Five star hotels don’t quite suit the budget of the sector so I think it would have been helpful had the city and the province joined forces in providing support for out of town delegates by perhaps transporting them to pension houses in the outskirts and nearby towns. Luckily for me and my technical team who documented the event, we were accommodated by the Bohol Coop Tourist Inn.

I guess local government officials are being distracted by the election season because the 2019 elections is very challenging for many politicians who have managed to stay in power for the longest time. One election they run for governor. The next time when their term is up, they simply trade places with their allies and even with their foes to protect political turf.

But 2019 is a different ballgame. The game changer is none other than President Rodrigo Duterte’s anointed candidate for governor – Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco.

Evasco, who is running in tandem with Board Member Tomas Abapo, will face incumbent House Deputy Speaker and 3rd District Congressman Arthur Yap whose running mate is Rene Relampagos. The district is being eyed by incumbent vice governor Dionisio Balite and by two other wannabes. Governor Chatto is barred from seeking another term and is running for Congress in Bohol’s 1st district.

Evasco does not only enjoy PRRD’s support but he also strikes an emotional chord among Bol-anons who consider Cong. Yap as an outsider. Born in Manila, Yap managed to get himself elected as Bohol congressman. He is married to a Boholana. Prior to his election, he served as Agriculture secretary during the time of President Gloria Arroyo.

To make his presence felt in Bohol, it is said he poured many agricultural projects in the district. He is implicated in the 2003 fertilizer scam, a huge scandal involving the alleged anomalous purchase of 92,158 bags of fertilizer costing P48 million. Incidentally, the case is now lodged with the Sandiganbayan and the lawmaker from Bohol is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday next week, November 05.