140 participants from LGUs, private sector, business community, national line agencies and congresspersons convened for the Roads Forum last March 10, 2015 at the JJ’s Seafood Village, Tagbilaran City, organized by the Coordinating Roads and Infrastructure Investments for Development project. The CR+ID project is implemented by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in close collaborration with the Provincial Goverment, supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines through The Asia Foundation (TAF).During the forum, DFAT Lead Governance Specialist, Paul Hutchcroft; TAF Program officer, King Francis de Ocampo; BCCI President, Engr. Albert Uy and VP External Affairs as well as CR+ID Focal Person, Argeo Melisimo symbolically turned over to Gov. Edgar Chatto the map reflecting private, NIA, farm to market, barangay, municipal, city, provincial and national road networks in Bohol. The GPS-based roads database establishment in Bohol is a major accomplishment of the project that made available a comprehensive GIS-based database that will serve as basis for evidence based decision making in local roads planning.
BCCI President Uy welcomed the participants to the forum and emphasized the significance of roads in local economic development. PPDC John Titus Vistal gave the overview of the project while VP Melisimo expound on the rationale of the forum. Provincial Engineer Ben Redulla updated the attendees on the Bohol Strategic Road Links funded and the prioity roads and infrastructures to be lobbied for 2017 budget inclusion. PPDO GIS Unit Head Willy Bueno showcased the province-wide GPS-based roads database and Engr. Noel Mendana, MPDC of LGU Tubigon demonstrated the use of the database at the local level. Gov. Chatto convinced the local chief executives present on the importance of the next phase of the project- the infrastructure and industries mapping. He also explained the National Incentive Program for Local Roads Management. Mr. Paul Hutchroft of DFAT gave his solidarity message. Bohol’s initiatives serve as model to the other implementing provinces of the project in regions 6,7 and 13.