TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol June 30 (PIA) — Beginning today onwards, expect government projects and billboards not to bear the faces of politicians, at least in the provincial government level.
Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, in his first address to the Boholanos as their new governor, defined the new administration’s strong anti-epal policy, something that was wantonly disregarded by previous administrations who, in their hunger to get popular, attach their names and faces to government funded projects.
The new capitol policy however may not apply to higher offices, although, the governor may have the power to call-out municipal officials who also disregard the new mandate.
Speaking immediately after he was sworn to office as the top official of the province, Aumentado who claimed the seat as Bohol’s 27th elected governor, also declared: There will be no more Ivans.
The statement was in reference to a guy whom local contractors complain of getting what allegedly is the former governor’s share in quarry resources.
The person called Ivan, one time answered a phone call patched live over local station DyRD, but when he realized he was on air, immediately cut off the line.
This convinced Boholanos that the “Ivan,” whom many initially believed was a figment of imagination, is a real person, and also bolstering the claims of local contractors about kickbacks being claimed even before government projects can be completed.
In his administration, the young Aumentado assured all of Capitol’s transactions would be above board, a hallmark of his clean governance.
Aumentado bared this at a time when most of local businessmen allegedly could not get into government deals because of what most hail as a preference of non Boholano contractors and suppliers.
Boholano businessmen cannot get in, because of the non-Boholanos who are benefitting [from the deals], the son of a former governor claimed.
He however clarified that he is not against foreign or outside investors to come to Bohol.
We need to entice them to plant corporate seeds here, and when these businesses grow lush, he said he wants them to harvest in order to plant some more investments in Bohol.
This way, he said Boholanos will truly benefit from the bounties of Bohol.
He said he is bringing back the Bohol Anti-Poverty Program of his late father, then governor Erico B. Aumentado.
Aumentado recalled that the anti-poverty program his father implemented in 2001, slowly heaved Bohol from the 16th of the poorest provinces and reversed its position by becoming #20 among the top provinces, based on a report he quoted from the United Nations Development Program.
That time in 2010, Bohol was declared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as insurgency-free, but the governor admitted the rebels are back.
He said he will reduce poverty and bring the government close to threatened communities.
“We shall, without fear or fervor, adopt those who can’t afford and those who can’t defend themselves.”
Today, he said pride and honor of Boholanos have returned.
Although admitting he comes with no lofty credentials, unlike those who came before him, Aumentado however promised his blood, toil, tears and sweat, borrowing from Winston Churchill. (rahc/PIA_7/Bohol)
