The greatest Boholano the late Pres. Carlos P. Garcia is a constant inspiration driving Bohol leaders after him to a higher pursuit for their province’s fuller good, according to the region’s highest socio-economic planning official.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Efren Carreon said Garcia’s “vision and wisdom have continued to live and inspire the outstanding achievements of Bohol leaders today.”

The chief socio-economic planner in Central Visayas was the guest speaker during the 120^th birth anniversary of Garcia on Friday, November 4, a Bohol holiday also known as the CPG Day.

Garcia’s niece, Marilou Valmoria Fudalan, daughter of Mary Garcia-Valmoria (CPG’s sister) spoke on behalf of the president’s family during the commemorative program at the Bohol Cultural Center.

In his commemorative message, Chatto cited Garcia’s “Filipino First” policy that had “split the colonial mentality.”

Garcia acted on the Bohlen Serrano Agreement which shortened the US bases lease of 99 years to 25 years, renewable after every five years.   In effect, Garcia fathered an earlier independent foreign policy of the country, the governor said.

Chatto extolled Garcia’s modest life and  character, virtues and values (honesty, integrity and credibility) made evident in his acts and programs about austerity, wise spending and trustworthiness.

Carreon must himself  said he “may have some Boholano blood.”

He said the “first 800 families that settled” in his birthplace, Dapitan City in Zamboanga, “came from Bohol and led by Datu Pagbuaya from the Kingdom of Dauis in Panglao island.”

CPG’s RELEVANCE

The ways of Garcia  inspire today’s Bohol leaders, Carreon said, citing how he had himself been  working with Chatto in the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the last three years.

Carreon called Chatto a “model” Boholano leader and official, citing the governor’s “firm grasp of public management and governance and undivided pursuit for the development” of his province.

These are “traits of Boholano leaders which I strongly admire and believe to have transformed Bohol to what it is

BOHOL’S GROWTH:

“ENVY OF MANY”

For Carreon, Bohol’s growth “is an envy of many” and a “product of careful planning, clear visioning and systematic implementation of strategies and programs as embodied in the provincial physical framework plan.”

He said the national NEDA chief is a Boholano himself, Director General Ernesto Pernia,

According to the NEDA official, Bohol performed very well in poverty reduction in the last 10 years.

The poverty incidence among Bohol families had kept decreasing from 41% in 2006 to 38% in 2009, further to 32% in 2012 and 25% in 2015.

The 7.8-point reduction in the last three years, 2012-2015, was “truly amazing,” Carreon said, as it indicated a yearly 2.6% reduction average and “this is again an envy of many regions.”

Bohol’s reduction rate is far, far larger than the region’s 1.8% in the same three-year period.

If sustained, Bohol’s poverty incidence has to be around 15% after the next three years and can be one of the lowest poverty incidences in the country most likely in 2019, the NEDA official was optimistic.

Carreon congratulated the Boholanos for such “a very important accomplishment.”

The commemoration was also attended by Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Reps. Rene Relampagos and Aris Aumentado, former Philippine National Police Prov’l. Dir. Dennis Agustin representing Reg’l. Dir. Noli Taliño, and Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II and Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso.

Rep. Arthur Yap is still in London for a global travel mart.

Relampagos proposed to rename the Bohol circumferential road in memory of Garcia, the eighth Philippine president whose literary and oratorical prowess had earned him the titles “Prince of the Visayan Poets” and “Bard from Bohol.” ( Ven rebo Arigo)