The Governor Constancio Chatto Torralba Road, which connects the Bohol-Panglao
International Airport (BPIA) to Barangays Lourdes and Tawala in Panglao, was
marked with a commemorative plaque on November 29, 2023.
The road was named after the late Torralba, a former governor and transportation
undersecretary, who initiated the feasibility study for the airport project in the 1980s.
He was also the founder of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate and the “Father of
Sandugo”.
The plaque was unveiled by Torralba’s family, led by his daughter Dr. Luz Torralba,
and other officials, including Bohol First District Cong. Edgar M. Chatto, who
authored Republic Act 11847 that named the road after Torralba; Panglao Mayor
Boy Arcay; Assistant District Engineer Ruben Delos Reyes of the Department of
Public Works and Highways, Human Resource Chief Anne Mariquit Oppus
representing Gov. Aris Aumentado, former Governor Rene Relampagos and BPIA
manager Anghelo Ybañez.
The event coincided with Torralba’s 95th birth anniversary and the 5th anniversary of
the airport’s opening.
Chatto said that naming the road after Torralba was a fitting tribute to the visionary
leader who planted the seed for the airport’s establishment.
He also described the airport as a “game changer” for Bohol’s development, which
he helped fund and complete when he was governor.
“As I stand here, I can see the entire airport runway. And this really was just a
concept. This was only an idea. This was only a dream,” Chatto said in his speech
during the event.
He recounted the long journey of the airport project, which spanned several
administrations and faced many challenges, such as land acquisition and
environmental compliance.
Chatto mentioned the future plans for the airport, such as expanding the runway and
transferring the management to the private sector.
He acknowledged the contributions of the provincial engineering office, the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Dr. Ernesto Pernia, who was part of
the UP Advisory Council that helped convince the national government to approve
the airport project.
Dr. Luz Torralba thanked Chatto for the initiative and said that the airport was a
testament to her father’s eye for innovation.
She recalled that Torralba was able to tour the airport with Chatto before its official
inauguration in 2018.
Dr. Luz delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of her family, expressing their
gratitude to the people of Bohol for giving Torralba the opportunity to serve them.
“Sa among pamilya we have a saying na kani si Papa master planer gyud kaayo ni
kay karong hapona tan-awa, nag uwan ug maayo. Unya, ang prediction mag uwan
hantud alas 5 pero, tan awa, ning hayag gyud siya pag alas 4 karong hapon,” she
said, noting how her father planned even the weather for the event.
“So my father loved Bohol and its people here and he always envisioned its
development into a major hub of Tourism Global Trade, Commerce and Culture. As
governor my father first imagined an International Airport in our native province of
Bohol in 1989. To have this Airport opened almost 30 years (later) in 2018, is a
testament to his eye for innovation and I cant think of no greater way of celebrating
his vision than by naming this beautiful road leading up to the Airport in his Honor
today, on his 95th birthday,” the daughter of former governor Torralba said.
Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto, who is also a relative of Torralba, posted on her
Facebook page a message of appreciation for the former governor’s legacy.
“And his legacy lives on! Governor Constancio ‘Tio Nonoy’ Chatto Torralba
envisioned and believed that Bohol should have a gateway to the world and that is
an international airport in the Island of Panglao, Bohol. The then Tagbilaran airport
was quite limited with a short and narrow runway that can accommodate just one
aircraft at a time. After decades and several Bohol governors who came after
Governor Torralba: Gov David Tirol, Gov Rene Relampagos, Gov Erico Aumentado
and then Gov Edgar Chatto, the dream finally saw its realization and only after
careful studies on location, it’s impact to the environment and communities. Good
things come to those who passionately work to achieve a most cherished dream for
our province. We got the steadfast support of our country’s chief executives from
Pres Cory Aquino, to Pres Fidel V Ramos to Pres Joseph Estrada to Pres Gloria
Arroyo, to Pres Noynoy Aquino ( who secured the funding for this huge project) to
Pres Digong Duterte when under his administration the Bohol Panglao International
Airport was inaugurated and opened Bohol to the world. To remind every Boholano
and to tell every guest of our island province that this beautiful piece of art, reflecting
the magnificence of Bohol, all started with a simple dream, a thought of a very
humble, unassuming Governor of Bohol, Nonoy Torralba, the road stretching from
Barangay Lourdes to Barangay Tawala where the airport is located is named
Governor Constancio Chatto Torralba Road to honor the visionary Governor of
Bohol,” Mayor Pureza wrote on FB.
Torralba passed away on December 24, 2019. He is survived by his children Fleur
de Liz, Constancio, Jr., Eugenia and other relatives.