TAGBILARAN CITY — Bohol’s new provincial capitol building, which was inaugurated Thursday, is now the biggest government building the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed in Central Visayas.

With a classical architectural look integrated into its modern design, the new capitol building is powered by solar panels, connected to Wi-Fi, and will be environment-friendly as it has its own sewage treatment facility.

DPWH 7 (Central Visayas) Assistant Director Mario Montejo said the four-story reinforced concrete building that the agency turned over to the Bohol provincial government, headed by Governor Edgar Chatto, is a “colossal” accomplishment of the administration.

“Look at this new structure. It represents not only the sturdiness of the resolve of the Boholanos in climbing greater heights, but also the resiliency and tenacity in standing up after being beaten by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013,” Montejo told capitol officials and employees, who attended the turnover ceremony held at the new building’s Ceremonial Hall.

Montejo reminded Boholanos that the new capitol building “is a fruit of your own sweat because the almost PHP700 million that was spent to build this structure comes from your taxes.”

“We can express our admiration in seeing how the local officials and your constituencies take up what we, in DPWH, do for you,” he said. “Your big smile is nevertheless enough for us to do more for the betterment of the greater public.”

“Allow me to inspire you to use this new capitol building to build up more people’s trust in the government. How? By supporting the government’s effort for inclusive growth and development. And one of that is the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the administration,” Montejo added.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and DPWH-7 Director Edgar Tabacon will inspect the new building next week, he said.

Chatto thanked President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the legislature for providing funds for the construction of the new provincial capitol building, after the old capitol building was destroyed by the 7.2 tremor that struck the province in 2013.

The old building will be turned over to the National Museum and will be converted as its Bohol branch office.

He acknowledged the help of Bohol’s former governor, now 1st District Rep. Rene Relampagos, in securing national funds for the new building.

“With this new building, no Boholano, no client should leave the capitol unattended. We are responsible for giving the best service that we can give to the people of Bohol,” said Chatto.

Efren Carreon, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 7, urged the officials and employees to use the new capitol building to “inspire others to experience good governance.”

Bohol provincial administrator Alfonso Damalerio said the new building is a product of a series of consultations with DPWH-7 project engineers and its contractors, Specified Contractors and Development, Inc. (SCDI) and Tacloban-based BM Marketing. (John Rey Saavedra, PNA)