by: Elvira C. Bongosia
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 22 (PIA)--A meaningful commemorative program marks the province’s celebration today of the 160th anniversary of Bohol’s founding as a province attended by provincial officials and representatives from the various sectors of the community at the Bohol Cultural Center today honoring Boholano heroes who fought for the freedom not only of the province, but also of the country.
Framed paintings of Sikatuna, Tamblot, Salazar, Dagohoy and Garcia were ceremonially installed on their places of honor near the stage this morning.
Bohol’s 1st Congressional District Representative Rene Relampagos delivered a message highlighting the achievements of the Boholano heroes.
President and CEO of PLDT Napoleon Nazareno with provincial and city officials as well as PLDT and SMART executives formally launched Bohol’s Fiber Optic Network connecting the province to PLDT’s domestic fiber optic network.
Nazareno, a Boholano by blood, launched the P700 million fiber optic network in Bohol, a 300 km of fiber optic running from Cebu to Misamis Oriental.
This connects Bohol to the PLDT nationwide digital fiber optic network that will provide more reliable and resilient high speed internet through fiber as a backbone of high speed internet, which literally allows information to travel at a speed of light.
Through this project, Bohol takes a bigger leap in opening its doors to the information and communications technology industry, bringing more progress and development.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto in his message highlighted the Boholano’s resilience amid calamities, emphasizing how the Boholanos positively worked together to recover from the October 15, 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake that rocked Bohol and damaged major infrastructure.
The governor said takeoff of projects such as the New Bohol Airport, New Provincial Capitol, New Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, the Albur Sanitary landfill, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas proved the resiliency of the Boholonos.
Chatto also reported NEDA’s announcement of Bohol as best performing province in poverty reduction. The 2012 NSCB revealed 30.6% poverty incidence, 6% lower since 2009, thus removing Bohol from the list of poorest provinces.
Part of the event is the giving of the Governor’s Award to the oldest living public official Pedro Samuya. Similarly, the “Father of Bohol’s Tourism Development” was awarded to Atty. Anos Fonacier, while the award for Business/Enterprise was given to Richard Uy, Chairman of the First Consolidated Bank (FCB).
Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II was also present and introduced the guest speaker, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Zhao Jianhua.
The ambassador mentioned during his speech that the Chocolate Hills and the Loboc River and of course the province itself, is popular among Chines people.
He also extended his condolence to those who lost friends and relatives during the earthquake last year and congratulated the Boholanos for their resilience after the disaster and the progress so far.
The ambassador is optimistic that more Chinese tourists will visit Bohol in the near future. He also expects that more projects in agriculture will be implemented by China and Bohol.
His Excellency Zhao Jianhua also mentioned that the Chinese government will continue to support the sisterhood relationship between Bohol and a province in China. (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
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