Once a neglected agenda, tourism, now tops Golden Tagbilaran’s direction toward an elevation to metropolis.

On his first term, City Mayor John Geesnell Yap took over an administration that placed tourism at the bottom of the priority.

On his second term now, Yap declared the pathway to further progress of the city that comes along with development of tourism destination, as a gateway of a province tagged as among the top destinations in the country.

During the celebration of Tagbilaran’s 50th Charter Day, Yap mentioned spruce up of the Bohol Friendship Park in barangay Bool to attract more tourists.

Capsule-laying ceremony for the project was done in March this year.

Then chief operating officer of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Mark Lapid, announced in July last year for the start of the P60-million Friendship park at the Sandugo Shrine in barangay Bool, wherein a giant gallon will be among the spruce up.

During its last session in June this year, the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran tackled the proposed reclamation for a boulevard spanning coastline from a portion of barangay Cogon, to Poblacion 2, and to Poblacion 1.

Last-termer Bebiano Inting pushed for the completion of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the city, that includes the reclamation project.

The reclamation was first proposed during the time of former mayor Jose Torralba.

Yap also declared during the 50th Charter Day celebration, his vision to see Tagbilaran grow into a metropolis.

He said that the next three years will see major developments in the city, including the plan to have its own public school and development of Bohol Friendship Park.

The mayor also reiterated his commitment to bring in more investors to come in in the next three years.

During his first term, a number of hotels had opened in the city that provided employment to graduates of hotel and restaurant management (HRM) and vocational courses, aside from drawing more tourists.

Also, call center companies opened business in the city which gave reason for several Boholanos working as call center agents outside the province to come home and landed a job here.

The City Engineer’s Office is also finishing several road concreting projects at present, along with construction of drainage system.

The city government also intends to allocate half a million pesos for the installation of CCTV cameras in barangays to deter crimes.