Gov. Edgar Chatto, Tagbilaran City Mayor Baba Yap, Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo and Panglao Mayor Nila Montero signed the Memorandum of Agreement establishing the Panglao Island-Tagbilaran City Executive Council (PITEC) in the presence of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) General Counsel John Simpkins on Tuesday.
The establishment of the PITEC brings together the common goal of inclusive and resilient economic growth under the Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth and Equity (SURGE)Â project of the USAID and the City Government of Tagbilaran.
Tagbilaran City, Dauis, and Panglao are seen as the main economic hub of the province with economic growth expected upon completion of the New Bohol Airport.
Chatto recognized Tagbilaran City’s vital role as economic hub in the growth and sustainable development of the entire province, citing the then established Panglao Island Executive Committee (PIEC), which was primarily created for environment and tourism management, as an integral body in policy decisions, prompting recommendation to include Tagbilaran City for areas of collaboration in the achievement of goals of broad-based, inclusive and resilient economic growth.
The collaboration of the three neighboring local government units seeks to facilitate a united direction in common interests such as urban development, transport and traffic management, social and business development services, promoting green LED tourism, enhancement of agriculture and fisheries and other MSMEs, and information and communications technology.
USAID’s Simpkins for his part re-affirms commitment to strengthen partnership with both Provincial and City Governments and to transform Bohol and Tagbilaran City into the places that people aspire them to be.
During the stakeholders’ forum, provincial and city leadership as well as multi-sector representatives affixed signatures committing to the success of the 5-year SURGE project.
Meanwhile, Yap thanked multi-sector representatives who attended the forum as the city also reinforces its governance through initiatives anchored on multi-sector consultation, complementing enhanced services at the City Hall.
Agreements were also signed for Technical Support to the Provincial Information and Marketing Center as well as a partnership between the Bohol Federation of Agrarian Reform Communities Cooperative and the Bohol Dairy Producers Association, both linkages integral to the objective of fostering the development conditions for broad-based, inclusive, and resilient economic growth of second tier cities.
USAID is the financial and technical assistance arm of the US Government, the largest bilateral donor in the world, and one of Bohol’s consistent partners in development. (Leah/EDCOM)