Bright future for Bohol: Aquino says local officials are positive, ‘tireless’ workers

President Benigno Aquino III (left on the podium) delivered an inspirational message after the launching and turn-over of the Fabrication Laboratory in Bohol Island State University (BISU). The facility is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the support of the Provincial Government of Bohol and Local government of Tagbilaran. At his left were (L-R) Tagbilaran City mayor John Geesneil L. Yap; a representative of JICA; Cabinet Sec. Rene Almendras; Dr. Elpidio T. Domingo, BISU SUC. president, DTI sec. Gregory L. Domingo, Bohol governor Edgar Chatto and DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

President Benigno Aquino III yesterday praised Bohol officials for bringing the province back on its feet six months after a powerful earthquake destroyed farms, homes, roads and centuries-old churches.

He said the island recovered quickly because its local officials were “positive” and focused on improving the situation instead of complaining and blaming others.

“In terms of diligence, it will be difficult to beat this group. If your leadership is this hardworking, I would not be surprised that a bright future awaits Boholanos,” he said in a visit to the Visayan province to launch the first fabrication laboratory in the country at the Bohol Island State University.

Looking ahead, President Aquino said the government’s priority in Bohol was to complete the Panglao Circumferential Road this year and to bid out the Panglao international airport before the end of this month.

The month of May brings waves of visitors and tourists for summer, and out-of-town Boholanos who come home for reunions and almost daily fiestas.

Gov. Edgar Chatto said tourism has bounced back especially during the Holy Week season when most of Bohol’s resorts reported 100 percent occupancy.

TACLOBAN CONTRAST

President Aquino’s praise for his political allies in Bohol was in sharp contrast to his vocal displeasure with local officials in Tacloban City and their efforts to rehabilitate their typhoon-ravaged city after Yolanda.

Pointing to Bohol officials, the president said, “They are public servants who will not leave you in your hour of need. After the earthquake, our coordination with Gov. Ed Chatto and other members of the local government units continued.

Instead of fretting in media, tossing the blame on others, and making one’s self look good, he laid down a specific plan to meet the problems faced by the province,” said President Aquino in a speech given in Filipino.

A total of 201 people in Bohol died in the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that was also felt in Cebu, the worst in over 30 years. Aftershocks went on for over two months.

Over 344,000 people in Bohol were displaced with 80 percent living in makeshift shelters built in open spaces near their damaged homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs two weeks after the tremors.

The President yesterday spoke glowingly of how quickly Bohol brought back basic services, deployed housing and livelihood programs, and bankrolled the rehabilitation of infrastructure to hasten the flow of commerce and transportation under its “build back better” program.

HEAVY TEXTER

“It would not be farfetched for this to happen because of the passionate and tireless service of Governor Ed Chatto. If he has a project or a problem, he calls or texts me three times a day, which practically uses up my cellphone’s memory. At times when I am out of coverage, he makes sure that I get any document or problem that I have to know,” the President said.

The President added that the Bohol group was so tireless that Chatto’s requests displeased Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos and former lawmaker Robert Cajes to Cabinet members who had key roles in the rehabilitation efforts.

“There are some who choose to dwell on the negative, cast doubts and make the situation more difficult than it is. While others make the most of their skills and knowledge to take advantage of our improving situation. In your view, who will succeed between the two?” said the President.

At a press conference where he gave updates on Bohol’s return to normalcy, the President said that all roads, ports and temporary bridges have been made passable with permanent bridges to be completed by October this year.

The National Housing Authority has given P10,000 cash to 38,800 families for the purchase of construction materials to rebuild their homes.

Work is completed on more than half of the 8,000 destroyed homes. One-fourth of the targeted 50,000 temporary employees under the cash-for-work program has been processed.

The President was at the Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Tagbilaran City for the launch of the Bohol Fabrication Laboratory or FabLab Shared Service Facility.

The project would provide micro, small- and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) with access to cutting-edge technology in 3-D design such as laser cutters, computer numerical controlled milling machines, print and cut machines, 3D printer, and video conferencing facilities.

Governor Chatto said the facility is a place for learning and innovation, a place to play with new ideas and foster creativity. It is also a place to mentor and invent as the FabLab is also a member of the FabLab Asia Network where MSMEs can learn from other FabLabs in the network of 30 countries and 24 timezones.

“This is a significant step not just for the present earthquake recovery but towards building more competitive local MSMEs especially those in the creative industries. Through the facility, MSMEs can think globally with the access to a global network of coaches,” Chatto said.

Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell L. Yap also thanked DTI, DOST, BISU and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for making Bohol a “nucleus of technology development” by choosing the province as the host of the country’s first FabLab.