A LOCAL contractor told me recently “nga mora’g maayo na rong panahona kaysa kadtong miaging administrasyon.”
Why, I asked.
And he answered that “at least karon, makasulod na mi’g mga kontrata, dili parehas sa una nga pulos taga-Cebu lang ang tagaan. Wa gyod intawon mi makuha, unya kon duna man gani, grabe pod ka dako ang pangayoon sa gobernador, maglisod gyod mi og break even.”
So how did you manage, I asked.
Kuan na lang, saboton na lang namo taga DPWH nga paseguan na lang namo ang nahibilin nga budget para sa project. Mao nay rason nga di gyod molungtad ang mga proyekto nga among himoon kay di na man na husto, wa na man na mosunod sa gikasabotan nga standard, he explained.
So that explains why our roads and bridges easily crack, rainwater is collected and later, potholes will develop.
Gi-moryo-moryo na lang kay grabe man ka kurakot ang namunoan kanhi.
If plans do not miscarry, one of the projects on the pipeline is a golf course to be funded by a Chinese group of investors. Gov Aris Aumentado has already identified the proposed site but we will not disclose the location because this might trigger an artificial rise in land cost.
Another project that he wanted is a Mono Rail project, the same non-disclosure on the site, because this will address traffic problem, which is expected to escalate given the ever-increasing number of tourists who come to Bohol.
The other project discussed is a Solar Farm Project somewhere in the 2nd district in order to provide more electrical power to the Boholanos, something that is clean and green.
The Chinese group is willing to provide the financing and we are now trying to schedule an ocular so they can visit the project site.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has a new administrator, replacing former PCA Administrator Benjie Madrigal.
The new PCA Administrator is a good friend to many Boholanos, PCA Administrator Bernie Cruz, who was also a former DAR Secretary prior to his stint in the PCA.
We talked last Thursday and he has agreed to our invite to visit Bohol and Cebu.
I’m sure Admin Bernie Cruz can very well help the coco farmers all over the country because he has the heart for it.
I attended the launching last week at the Cebu Provincial Capitol of the Sugbo Kahanas Season 2, a joint project of the Province of Cebu and TESDA for skills training and livelihood opportunities.
TESDA-7 Regional Director Gamaliel Rivera was on hand to sign the MOA with Gov Gwen Garcia.
The project under Season 1 has already benefited more than 4,000 beneficiaries who are now gainfully employed or are self-entrepreneurs all over the province. The number of productive beneficiaries is expected to increase under Season 2.
Of course, we can duplicate this project in Bohol.
It was also the Awarding Rites of Sugbusog 4th Edition where the Province of Cebu dispensed several million pesos in cash and in kind awards to the winners.
For instance, the winners in the Household Category for the Community Garden Project received P50,000, P75,000 and P150,000 for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st winners, respectively.
Naturally, the prizes for the LGUs were bigger, like P300,000 and so on. In the Eskuylahan and Estasyonan categories, the prizes include Toyota Commuter Vans, Pick-up and Communications Equipment.
One outstanding LGU was Bogo City thru Mayor Carlo Martinez. LGU-Bogo won no less than 2 commuter vans and 1 pick-up truck, aside from the cash prizes.
But the point is not so much on the prizes.
Why?
Because apart from being successful, the program has evolved and is now a fully functioning and very effective multi-pronged program, all intended to do away with the Covid panic, ensure food security and resiliency and make the people more productive.
When I delivered my message, I underscored 3 points.
One, President BBM said agriculture is top priority. This is best illustrated in Cebu Province thru the Sugbusog Program of Governor Gwen Garcia.
Two, while other provinces in the country are still finding ways and means to improve food production, Cebu Province is already doing it thru the Sugbusog Program and like programs.
Three, the success of the Sugbusog Program was made possible because of the active and vibrant partnership between and among the national government (DA, TESDA, PNP and others), the LGU (province and municipalities/cities of Cebu) and the community in general.
Likewise, the Sugbusog Program can be duplicated in Bohol and other provinces.
