Pag-amomasamgamakaluluoy, Pagpanalipudsakinaiyahan, PagpukawsakulturangBol-anon, Pagpalambosaekonomiyapinaagisaturismo. These are the 4Ps of Governor Art Yap. We can describe it with 2Cs: Clear and Concise.
It was during the incumbency of then Governor Rene Lopez Relampagosbetween 1995 to 2001 that the vision, mission and goals of our province were crystallized. Through a process of province-wide multi-sectoral consultations,with the help of GardyLabad’s creativity and this writer’s choice of words, Eco-Cultural Tourism was conceptualized. The Relampagos administration garnered for our provincial government its first GalingPook Award for its Cultural Renaissance Program under the Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD) through the auspices of the Governor’s Office.
In the succeeding administrations, while Governor EricoAumentado had a penchant for his so-called “mega projects” through his “BastaAumentado, dalansementado” slogan, his administration continued to pursue the same vision to make Bohol a top tourism destination. He also had the privilege of finishing Governor Constancio“Nonoy” Torralba’sCircumferential Road Project. Congressman Edgar Chatto later institutionalized the tourism vision through an act of Congress declaring Bohol as an Eco-Cultural Tourism Zone.As Governor, he, too, along with then Congressman Relampagos,had the opportunity of having seen through the realization of the Panglao International Airport which was also originally envisioned by Governor NonoyTorralba.
Under the present administration of Governor Art Yap, his 4Ps capsulizes our felt needs for social services to care for the weakest among us, our concern for the protection of our pristine environment, our dream of upholding our rich Boholano culture and heritage, and developing our economy through eco-cultural tourism. His first few steps toward this end include concrete plans to upgrade the services of the ten province-owned hospitals, planting more trees, minimizing, if not, eradicating the proliferation of single-use plastics, keeping Bohol free from coal powerplants, supporting all efforts to revitalize Boholano culture and the arts, and pump-priming the eco-cultural tourism industry.
We do not exactly know how these would all playout in the next few years. But we could not help but be optimistic. It behooves all of us to do our share in making these goals attainable, and to make sure that whatever growth will ensue must benefit the poorest sectors in our communities. The Governor seems hell-bent in achieving these targets and he continues to make his rounds despite his 90-day suspension. At the end of the day, the “TingogngaBol-anon” and “buhatpasultihon” are what really truly matter. We each must contribute our efforts toward a genuine sustainabledevelopment; but we need a lot of help from Divine Providence.