Gov. Arthur Yap visits two (2) islands in the second district of Bohol as he brings projects for the benefit of island residents.
The visit which took place on Thursday, August 6. 2020, is part of the governor’s island-hopping soujourn. The governor visited the islands of Sag and Mahanay, islands that are part of the town of Talibon.
Aside from handing food packs to the residents, the governor also brought to the two (2) islands, projects that will improve the potable water supply.
VISITING SAG ISLAND
Yap’s visit to Sag island is historic as he is the first governor to visit the place. Sag island is located off the mainland of Talibon town, which is part of the second district of Bohol.
“It’s an honor to be the first governor to step on the white sand of Sag Island in Talibon and welcomed just as warm as this,” the governor said on a social media post.
The governor is now visiting the islands in an effort to let the island residents feel that they are not forgotten by the provincial government, especially at this time that the world is facing a pandemic.
Sag is the seventh island barangay in Talibon town that Yap visited as governor.
According to Capitol Media, the island is an awardee in the regional search for Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
In his visit to the island, Yap was joined by the following: Talibon Mayor Janet Garcia, Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD) head Carmelita Tecson, barangay officials, health workers and tanods. All these people converged at a barangay covered court.
The island barangay of Sag is led by barangay captain Raul Polo and kagawads Joseph Warren Abas, Lucia Apara, Florencia Miasco, Jose Sotto, Juan Pañares, Sr., Alfredo Sotto and Cipriano Cabasan.
The governor sent an OPSWD team to the island earlier on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, to hand out food packs each to the 217 households in the island.
While he was in the island, the governor approved the request for P200,000 assistance for the construction of a rain collector facility.
Water has been one of the main projects of Yap especially for the island barangays.
Earlier, a desalination plant was made operational in Pandanon Island to bring potable water supply not only to Pandanon Island but also to the neighboring islands, as well.
VISITING MAHANAY
Yap went on to visit Mahanay Island, too. This barangay is also part of Tallbon town. With his Mahanay Island visit, the governor has landed on all island barangays of Talibon.
Just like in Sag, Yap is the first provincial governor of Bohol to set foot in the island of Mahanay.
According to Capitol Media, the governor checked on how the island residents are coping with the pandemic as he also wants to ensure that no one is left out at these challenging times.
During the governor’s island visit, he was with Talibon mayor Garcia and OPSWD’s Tecson.
About 519 households in the island barangay each received food packs similar to what Sag Island residents got. The Mahanay residents received the food packs on Tuesday.
Mahanay Barangay Captain Romulo Torrefiel conveyed to the governor that the barangay local government unit (LGU) has been very supportive of the programs of the provincial government, including the implementation of the minimum health standards against coronavirus disease (Covid).
While in the island, Yap approved in principle the barangay’s request for a water catchment project which will be provided by the provincial government with an allocation of P200,000. The governor wants the structural study for the project to start the soonest time possible.
Another project eyed in the island is a barangay-managed fish pond, the Capitol Media in a report said.
The governor said that next year, “we will study the feasibility of establishing a fish pond that is operated by the barangay. It would be the first barangay fish pond project, considering that all fish ponds here are owned by private individuals.”
Also, during the visit, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist distributed seedlings to the island barangay residents.