Gov. Arthur Yap reveals he is open to the idea of creating a “Metro Tagbilaran” entity, but the decision to create the said entity rests among the town mayors who will form the metropolitan area here in Bohol.
The governor made the revelation after The Bohol Tribune asked him about his position on the creation of the metropolitan entity similar to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB). These two (2) entities are tasked to formulate development plans, and to create and implement projects that will address the common concerns of the local government units (LGU) that are included in the metropolitan area.
The concept of a Metro Tagbilaran was floated during the mini press conference on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 after Cortes mayor Lynn Iven Lim mentioned about the metropolitan area concept as he shared his observation that the expansion of national offices and development projects is moving towards his town from the capital city of Tagbilaran.
Last Friday, Mayor Lim attended the groundbreaking rites of the Employees’ Village for Provincial Government workers located at Malayo Sur, Cortes.
The governor said he is open, but the issue should be consulted with the mayors of the concerned LGUs.
“This issue [Metro Tagbilaran] has to be consulted more with the mayors who will comprise Greater Tagbilaran. But at the point of view of a governor, from where I sit, I will encourage it, if you ask me, because it will mean a bigger commercial and residential center for Bohol,” the governor told The Bohol Tribune during the mini press conference at Malayo Sur, Cortes town.
He added that a consolidation of the towns would mean better urban planning.
“Possibly, if we can consolidate a bigger area for the municipalities, we can put in order better urban planning,” the governor quipped.
“From my office, they [the mayors] will not get any objection [regarding the Metro Tagbilaran concept],” the governor mentioned during the mini-press conference.
Moreover, the governor mentioned that Tagbilaran right now has little room for expansion.
However, the governor pointed at a piece of real estate in the city that could be the next area for expansion.
The old Tagbilaran airport is seen as the next growth area in the city.
An example of the re-purposing of the Old Tagbilaran Airport is the staging of the Ube Festival.
Starting tomorrow, Jan. 25, 2021, the provincial government is staging the 2021 Ube Festival at the Old Tagbilaran Airport as the old runway will be used in various activities related to the annual festival dedicated to the beloved root crop of Boholanos.
The festival will stay until February 24, 2021, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
“The truth of the matter is the next phase of development in Tagbilaran is actually the old [Tagbilaran] airport,” the governor explained.
The development of the old Tagbilaran airport will usher in a period of new design, new expansion, new architectural sights for Tagbilaran, Yap revealed in the mini-press conference.
He added that the re-purposing of the old Tagbilaran airport is derailed because of the pandemic.
“Hopefully, very soon we can do something [about the old Tagbilaran airport],” the governor disclosed.
According to the Information Cluster Head of the Capitol Kevin Damalerio, the provincial government owns a portion of the lot where the Old Tagbilaran Airport is located. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the city government of Tagbilaran respectively own portions of the area of old Tagbilaran airport.
The Bohol Tribune reached out to Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II to get his views on the possibility of the creation of Metro Tagbilaran.
The Tagbilaran City mayor said he is open for discussions and his decision to join the metropolitan area entity will depend on the talks about the metropolitan area concept, if ever there will be any.
“Open ta ana. Pero mag depende sa sabot,” the mayor said.
As for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos said he and the board members will support the initiatives of the provincial government.
“Going into this direction, [Metro Tagbilaran] before arriving at any position on the matter, it would be in the best interest of everybody, if we embark on an activity of consultations first with all the stakeholders,” Relampagos said.