President Duterte commended the way the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), led by Gov. Arthur Yap, is managing the Coronavirus disease (Covid) cases here. This was expressed by the President himself during his speech at the Tagbilaran City Tourism Seaport on Oct. 29, 2021.
As this developed, the governor has issued Executive Order 52-B dated Oct. 30, 2021 mandating the new entry protocol into Bohol. The full text of the said EO is published on page 20 of this paper.
Duterte congratulated Yap for successfully managing Bohol during this time of the pandemic, especially as the infection numbers have stabilized to below 350 cases today from 2,200 cases back in Sept. 2021.
“I would like to commend Gov. Art Yap and the Provincial Government of Bohol for successfully implementing its Covid response, management and plan of action,” the president said in his short speech before the officialdom of the province.
DUTERTE’S VISIT
President Duterte, during his visit to Bohol last Friday, was accompanied by Department of Transportation (DoTR) Secretary Arthur Tugade and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Jay Daniel Santiago, as the President inaugurated projects in 7 Bohol ports.
The DoTR has implemented improvements in the ports of Tagbilaran; Ubay; Tapal, Ubay; Talibon; Loon; Maribojoc and Jagna, according to reports.
Also in attendance during the said event were top local officials led by Gov.Arthur Yap, Bohol’s congressional representatives, Bohol mayors and other government officials.
In his remarks, Yap thanked Duterte, not only for the port investments but also for the P 7.8 billion Bohol Panglao International Airport and the restoration of national historical church properties including the watchtowers that are integral parts of Bohol’s culture and tourism attractions.
Yap said, “Mayor (referring to the president), for all that you have done for us, we know that what you have given us are not just infrastructure projects. You have in fact, handed to us, a brighter and more promising tomorrow for all Bol-anons.”
“Mayor, few presidents in the annals of our history can claim the distinction of supporting Bohol in the way that you have,” Yap added.
The governor further revealed, “In 2018, through your support, Bohol opened a world-class 2 million passenger capacity, international airport costing 7.8 billion pesos which paved the way to make us, one of the country’s premier tourism destinations.”
The governor quipped, “As for the old Tagbilaran airport, just last week, through the CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] board chaired by Sec. Art Tugade, you allowed us to use a section as a temporary step-down facility site and another section as a bagsakan point to help Bohol’s farmers and fisherfolk lessen trading layers increasing their income and lowering prices for consumers.”
Furthermore, Yap said, “Your government also completed the painstaking restoration of national heritage churches, watchtowers and civic properties in Loon, Loboc, Cortes, Dimiao, Alburquerque, Panglao, Tagbilaran City, Balilihan, and Loay, with one last church in Maribojoc set for turnover by year’s end.”
“And to sustain tourism, trade and commerce, you further invested the amount of close to one billion pesos, as we inaugurate this afternoon, seven ports all over Bohol. With additional expansions in Catagbacan, Loon, Getafe, Tubigon and in this port of Tagbilaran City, your government will have invested 3.2 billion pesos in ports in Bohol, from 2016-2022”, Yap revealed.
Duterte, for his part, said that the investments in Bohol were surely go to help increase the volume of business and trade for Bohol in the coming days.
The president said, “The constructions and repairs done in these ports will allow Bohol to accommodate more people and goods from neighboring provinces and contribute much to the province’s recovery from the pandemic.”
Yap assured the president that Bohol is doing its part towards achieving economic recovery and has in fact made its entry policies easier to comply with.
He asserts, “We wish to do our part so our economy can recover, for which reason we are intensifying our vaccinations, we have stopped requiring [real time-polymerase chain reaction] RT-PCR tests for vaccinated entrants to Bohol, and pretty soon when the situation is ripe, all that will be needed to enter Bohol is a vaccination card and an S-Pass certificate.”
DUTERTE IS A BOHOLANO
The president in his brief speech revealed that his ancestors are from Bohol.
In effect, he claims that he too is a Boholano in front of the crowd who gathered at the Tagbilaran City Tourist Seaport.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF VAXCERT
Meanwhile, in a dramatic turn of events, Yap, in consultation with Bohol mayors on Oct. 30, 2021, has released EO 52-B to take effect immediately, where vaccination certificate (VAXCERT) will no longer be required to enter Bohol as long as a local government unit (LGU) vaccination card can be presented with a valid government-issued ID before the purchase of an airline or shipping ticket.
Those without vaccination cards may still enter Bohol upon presentation of a valid negative RT-PCR test result. S-Pass Certificates will still be needed but only for purposes of registration so that the LGU may continue to monitor arrivals of travelers in their respective jurisdictions.
In the EO, LGU and Provincial Government of Bohol endorsements and approvals, have been lifted by Yap’s new EO.