Chatto hits the ground running

Gov. Edgar Chatto has hit the ground running in the baptismal weeks of his administration, convening various bodies like the Provincial Development Council (PDC) in a show of strong unity and cooperation among Bohol leaders.

After the PDC meeting, the governor formally ordered all provincial department and office heads to stay at capitol on People’s Day every Monday so that they can attend to the needs and concerns of the constituents.

The PDC assembly held on the vesper of Balilihan, his very hometown, proved to be a display of the full force of Bohol governance heeding to the call of the 25th provincial chief executive who is in tandem with Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim.

The gathering was described as a kaleidoscope of political colors harmonized by a common intent of development and prosperity for all Boholanos.

All the three congressmen, Rene Relampagos, Erico Aumentado, who are both former governors, and Arthur Yap of the First, Second and Third Districts, respectively, responded to Chatto’s call and actively joined in the discussion of vital concerns affecting the people.

Aumentado was himself pleased by the presentation of the useful outputs of the three-day provincial executive-legislative strategic planning workshop in Chatto’s first week of office.

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Bohol headed by its president, Loay Mayor Rosemarie Imboy, sounded its strong support to the capitol administration.

Even before his assumption, the governor already “put the house in order,” meeting with the different mandated special bodies, boards and councils as well as various sectors.

In just half a month at the helm of capitol, Chatto already reconstituted different councils, including the PDC itself. He also convened last week the Provincial School Board (PSB), Provincial peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Bohol Rabies Eradication and Prevention Council (BREPC).

The governor earlier separately convened the provincial Management Executive Board (MEB) and the heads of national agencies, including the judges and prosecutors.

The revitalized vision, mission and goals (VMG) of the province were presented and reechoed in the PDC assembly.

The Chatto administration has placed premium on what the governor reiterates as HEAT involving the banner priorities of his first 100 days at capitol---Health, Education, Agriculture, Tourism.

The governor has thus HEAT linked to the Bohol vision, which requires a supreme attention to addressing poverty concerns and alleviating the people’s living condition.

A summit on tourism, an industry regarded as an engine of economic recovery and growth, probably in September was proposed in the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) meeting held before the PDC gathering.

Chatto will also convene the health board and agriculture sector while updating with the power sector, with which he had an initial discussion prior to his assumption, the energy supply situation in the province.

It was repeated in the PDC meeting that Bohol is now more specifically envisioned to become a prime eco-cultural tourism and a strong, balanced agro-industrial province, with a well-educated, God-loving and law-abiding citizenry, proud of their cultural heritage, enjoying a state of well-being and committed to sound environmental management.

The mission is to enrich Bohol’s social, economic, cultural, political and environmental resources through good governance and effective partnerships with stakeholders for increased global competitiveness.

Chatto’s service mission slogan of LIFE HELPS when he was then a congressman was adopted in the provincial planning workshop as a strategy redirecting the Bohol vision, putting the mission to action and achieving the goals.

LIFE HELPS means Livelihood and tourism, Infrastructure, Food, Health, Environment, Leadership development, peace and order, and Sports and youth development.

As a strategy, LIFE intends to generate sustainable livelihood and enterprises, build/upgrade infrastructure, ensure food sufficiency, and promote access to education at all levels that upholds cultural heritage and Boholano values.

HELPS intends to improve access to quality integrated health services and facilities; ensure sound environmental management; promote sufficient, transparent and responsive bureaucracy; maintain peace and order with citizen participation; and integrate sports, youth and vulnerable sectors like the elderly and differently-abled persons in relevant development programs.

Many fresh members, like the new mayors, of the reconstituted PDC themselves got clearer vision for the province as they were also introduced to the goals towards environmental protection and management, social equity, local/regional economic development and strategic wealth generation; upholding cultural heritage and Boholano values; and responsive, transparent and accountable governance.

Meanwhile, the governor spoke in the closing ceremony of the reorientation training for correctional officers at the Bohol District Jail (BDJ), formerly the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center (BDRC).

Chatto encouraged them to make sure that anyone entering the penal institution will go out already reformed and can be good contributor to the mainstream society. (Ven rebo Arigo)