Sen. Joel Villanueva arrived in Bohol on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 for a visit and to attend a series of activities here..
First District Cong. Edgar Chatto welcomed Villanueva in Corella where both led the payout of wages for beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). They were joined in the ceremonial distribution of wages by Corella Mayor Dee Tocmo and a DOLE-Bohol representative.
From there, they proceeded to Balilihan Central Elementary School (BCES) for the blessing and inauguration of the Multi-Purpose Building for which Villanueva also facilitated the funding allocation.
Balilihan mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto joined Cong. Chatto and Villanueva with Schools District Supervisor Sarah Mortejo, School Principal Leoncio Cruspero in doing the honors for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new multi-purpose building to formally open the facility for use in various socio- cultural and sports activities of the school.
Witnessing the event were BCES teachers and staff, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Director Winefredo Salas, TESDA Tubigon chief Levy Yosoya, Board Members Alder Damalerio and Ricky Masamayor, former Board Member Benjie Arcamo, Balilihan Sangguniang Bayan Members Abel Llorente, Jun Baling, Dodong Libatona, Bernie Lansang, Jing Reyes, Nick Ale, Atty. Trisha Chatto, and barangay captain of host barangay of Del Carmen Weste Randy Bayocboc along with barangay captains of Balilihan.
Cong. Chatto recognized Villanueva’s consistent support to Bohol dating back to the time when the former was in his very first term as representative of the first district back in 2001.
Villanueva has visited Bohol before as then Director General of TESDA, bringing livelihood skills training program, which expanded to TUPAD program, direct financial assistance, and infrastructure when he became senator.
Beneficiaries of the TUPAD program, which is facilitated by Chatto in Balilihan, also received their wages during Villanueva’s visit.
Villanueva also joined Chatto in the payout of wages for TUPAD beneficiaries in Tagbilaran City where they were met by City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and Tagbilaran First Lady Jane Yap.
Cong. Chatto and Villanueva then proceeded to the Bohol Island State University (BISU) Main Campus to meet with officials led by BISU president Dr. Regucivilla Pobar for a meeting with the Board of Regents, which Villanueva is a member of together with Third District representative Kristine Alexie Tutor.
Villanueva also met with Gov. Arthur Yap in a press conference on the same day.