THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan wanted that a special body be created by the executive to concentrate only on Bohol as new global geopark recently designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This came after the SP session Tuesday presided over by Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite unanimously approved a Resolution urging Gov. Aris Aumentado to create a task force to focus only on the maintenance of the status of as a new Bohol global geopark bestowed by the UNESCO.
The approval of said Resolution was an offshoot of the privilege speech of senior Board Member Tita V. Baja, who suggested the said task force to be formed for the said purpose.
“It is but imperative to sustain and preserve Bohol’s title or designation as Global Geopark by instituting ways and exerting efforts to comply with the criteria and conditions set by UNESCO,” Baja, tourism committee chairperson, said in her speech.
She said that such recognition and designation for Bohol as new Global geopark acknowledges the important and unique geological features and rich cultural heritage of the province for purposes of economic development and sustainability.
Baja said that such task force is very important to prevent the title of Bohol as global geopark from losing from the list of the UNESCO due to failure to follow the conditions or criteria.
She said that now Bohol is designated as global geopark, it is given a four-year period which gains the “green card” status to sustain it.
If ever Bohol fails to follow certain criteria after the lapse of four years, Bohol would be given a “yellow card” under which it’s given another two-year period to correct the lapses.
And if it fails again after two years as grace period, Bohol will be slapped with “red card” status, which means it ultimately loses its designation as global geopark, Baja stressed.
“It is in this context or situation we should move with dispatch. We should act immediately to prevent that a “yellow card” or a “red card” will be slapped on us. We should maintain the “green card” status until the end or even until our terms end and beyond for the sake of the next generations. They’ll soon be prouder for we may be able to leave a legacy that no one could take away,” Baja said.
Meanwhile, the SP also unanimously approved a separate Resolution expressing gratitude to UNESCO for naming Bohol as one of the new Global Geopark and the first in the Philippines. (rvo)
