Central Visayas Journal • ISSUE 1 Status of Major Infrastructure1 Projects in CV (As of 4th Quarter 2018) Page 9 The Offi cial Publication of the Regional Development Council Region VII • January-March 2019 • Volume XXIV, No. 1 ‘CV’s biggest gov’t center’ Bohol’s new provincial capitol building, which headed by Gov. Edgar Chatto, is a “colossal” that was spent to build this structure comes was inaugurated in February, is now the accomplishment of the administration. from your taxes.” biggest government building the Department “Allow me to inspire you to use this new of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has Sturdiness, resiliency capitol building to build up more people’s trust constructed in Central Visayas. “It represents not only the sturdiness in the government. How? By supporting the With a classical architectural look of the resolve of the Boholanos in climbing government’s effort for inclusive growth and integrated into its modern design, the greater heights, but also the resiliency and development. And one of that is the ‘Build, new capitol building is powered by solar tenacity in standing up after being beaten Build, Build’ program of the administration,” panels, connected to Wi-Fi, and will be by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013,” Montejo added. environment-friendly as it has its own Montejo told capitol offi cials and employees, Chatto thanked President Rodrigo R. sewage treatment facility. who attended the turnover ceremony held at Duterte and the legislature for providing DPWH 7 Assistant Director Mario the new building’s Ceremonial Hall. funds for the construction of the new Montejo said the four-story reinforced Montejo reminded Boholanos that the building, after the old capitol building was concrete building that the agency turned new capitol building “is a fruit of your own over to the Bohol Provincial Government, sweat because the almost PHP700 million Continued on Page 2 2 Central Visayas Journal • ISSUE 1 destroyed by the 7.2 tremor that struck the province in 2013. In 2014, the Regional Development Council 7 passed Resolution No. 14 endorsing the construction of the building to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for funding support. The old building will be turned over to the National Museum and will be converted as its Bohol branch offi ce. Chatto acknowledged the help of Bohol’s former governor and 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. National Economic and Development Authority 7 Regional Director Efren Carreon urged the offi cials and employees to use the new capitol building to “inspire others to experience good governance.” The new building is a product of a series of consultations with DPWH 7 project engineers and its contractors, Specifi ed Contractors and Development, Inc. and Tacloban-based BM Marketing. (PNA) Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia (center) with Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto (left) and NEDA 7 Regional Director Efren Carreon during a visit to the New Provincial Capitol. 8.1M tourists visit CV in 2018: DOT 7 The Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 has and the other two are from Muan, South three tourist water transport. It has also recorded 8,099,346 tourist arrivals in Korea and Taipei, Taiwan. conducted 47 trainings for 3,543 tourism Central Visayas in 2018, exceeding the Additional trips to Getafe and Talibon, stakeholders. initial 7.4M target. Bohol and Poro, Camotes Island also A total of P3.154 billion pesos was This was disclosed during DOT’s increased inter-island connectivity. allocated to 110 tourism road projects to Tourism Situationer Report for 2018 on Feb. Despite setbacks such as the UK ease travelling to and from seaports and 19, 2019 and as reported to the Economic travel ban to southern Cebu, the region airports. Development Committee of the Regional has a “bright future ahead,” said Carlo For 2019, the tourism plan is geared Development Council 7 last Feb. 20, 2019. Suarez, president of Hotel and Resorts and towards preparing for the 500th year of Of the the 8.1 million arrivals, Cebu Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC). Christianity in 2021. had the highest share of foreign and To ensure that tourists enjoy DOT 7 Regional Director Shalimar domestic tourist arrivals of 2,805,115 and quality services, DOT has accredited 232 Tamano said they will focus more on sports 2,770,781, respectively. accommodations, 154 tour operators, 272 and faith tourism, sustainable tourism as Koreans still top the tourist market with tour guides, 184 tourist land transport, and well as the tightening of security. (PIA) 1,344,154 arrivals, a 50.05 percent increase from last year’s 895,776. The opening of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 and Bohol Panglao International Airport helped boost international flight frequencies to up to 24.5 percent. Ten new international flights were also inaugurated in 2018, of which eight are from China (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Macau, Changsa) Central Visayas Journal • ISSUE 1 3 RDC, RPOC in Region 7 hold joint meeting The Regional Development Council (RDC) growth in visitor arrivals, saying it is an and the Regional Peace and Order Council indicator of the positive peace and order in Central Visayas held a joint meeting last situation in the region. 11 March 2019 to identify priority issues RD Carreon also enumerated the and concerns that need to be elevated to issues that the RDC wanted elevated to the Cabinet level, and recommend actions the Cabinet. The RDC seeks improved for their solution. implementation of the school building The joint meeting was presided by and health facilities enhancement RDC Chairperson Kenneth Cobonpue and programs, improved coordination with the RPOC Chairperson and Cebu Gov. Hilario Department of Transportation through a Davide III. new regional offi ce, ease of doing business Regional line agency members of Cobonpue, in his opening message, for MSMEs, funding facility for small-scale the RDC and RPOC were also urged to said that aside from identifying regional tourism properties, and support/incentives embrace the whole-of-nation approach issues, the joint meeting was important as for agricultural education and training. in eradicating peace and security threats it signifi es the collaborative work that both The RPOC meeting proper began with and sustaining gains by responding to the councils are undertaking. the RPOC conferring the nomination of two public services needs of sectoral groups “Development and peace and order private sector representatives—Engr. Albert through their agency programs. should work hand-in-hand so Central M. Uy, president of the Bohol Chamber of DILG Assistant Secretary RJ Echiverri Visayas maintains its position as one of the Commerce and Industry; and Fernando J. made a presentation on how member leading regions in the country in terms of Martinez, action offi cer of the Negros Oriental agencies of both the RDC and the RPOC economic performance,” Cobonpue added. drug abuse council—as RPOC members. can help in strengthening and reorganizing Police Regional Offi ce (PRO) 7 anti-drug abuse councils to ensure the Director Debold Sinas, in his opening as Crime rate drops participation of all local government units RPOC vice chairperson and on behalf Brigadier General Sinas then updated (LGUs). LGUs can handle the demand of Governor Davide, welcomed the RDC and RPOC members of the peace and reduction aspect of the administration’s opportunity to solicit inputs—concerns order situation in the region. Sinas said war on drugs through community-based and best practices—from the different crime situation in the region has dropped in rehabilitation centers, to complement the agencies which he reported during a the fi rst two months of 2019. He also gave supply reduction programs of the police meeting with President Duterte in Davao. a rundown of the PRO 7’s accomplishments and PDEA. in the fi ght against illegal drugs. The RPOC then identifi ed issues Updates Aside from Sinas, other organizations and concerns that it wanted elevated NEDA Regional Offi ce 7 Director Efren and agencies that gave updates during to the Cabinet level. The issues were Carreon presented during the meeting the the joint meetings were the National Task mostly related to the government’s fi ght situation of Central Visayas’s economy for Force to End Local Communist Armed against drugs and how rehabilitation and 2018, naming the sectors in agriculture, Conflict, the AFP on the terrorism and treatment programs can be successfully transportation, construction, and BPM as insurgency situation in the region, and implemented. Both issues and concerns among those that have posted growth last PDEA on the status of barangay drug from the RDC and RPOC were jointly year. RPOC offi cers lauded the 16 percent clearing operations. endorsed for Cabinet consideration. 4 Central Visayas Journal • ISSUE 1 Regions need champions to push STI agenda for FIRe preparedness: Sec. Pernia Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia is urging the different regions in the country to work together in identifying regional champions that can help communities prepare for the challenges and opportunities coming from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe). “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is real and it is here and now. We need to work together to overcome the challenges that this phenomenon will bring and, at the same time, create new opportunities for sustained economic prosperity. The government cannot develop a science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem alone. For this to work, we need a buy-in from local industries and universities,” Pernia added. Pernia was the keynote speaker during the policy forum entitled “Harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe): Creating NEDA Secretary Ernesto M.