The Bohol Island State University (BISU) Tourism and Sports Institute in BISU Balilihan Campus will soon rise.
This as Cong. Edgar Chatto met with Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in the sidelines at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos.
Chatto, who initiated the project, discussed with Pangandaman on the budgetary requirements to establish the institute.
The project will be located in a 6 hectare property with an initial release of P50M for land development. The Institute will serve as Tourism and Sports training facility not only for the province but also of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Included in the project is the Senator Ed Angara Sports Complex that will be ready to accommodate the hosting of big sports events including the Palarong Pambansa which can not be held yet in Bohol due to the lack of standard sports facility.
Chatto worked closely with BISU officials led by university president Dr. Anthony Penaso on the conceptualization of the project.
He followed through on the important education initiative as Marcos highlighted the education sector recovery and reform during his SONA on July 22.
Chatto had expressed satisfaction with the president’s policy statements on education vis-a-vis digitalization and infrastructure.
Marcos, in his SONA, committed to more benefits and support for career progression of teachers. These he said will ensure career growth for teachers along with the recovery of the education sector.
He underscored the need to calibrate the system of education to capacitate learners not only in literacy but also in problem-solving and critical thinking.
The president further pointed out digitalization as integral to education reforms complemented with the building and upgrading of schools.
Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project
Moreover, Chatto lauded Marcos’ SONA that highlighted the mention of the recent energization of the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project (CBIP) implemented by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
The Dumanjug-Corella 230 kV Line 1 and Dumanjug 70 MVAR was energized on a test run on July 16, 2024.
According to NGCP, line 2 already finished erection, stringing and tapping but has not been energized with remaining works at the Corella Substation such as the transformers and related equipment. A final date has yet to be set for its full operation.
The Cebu-Bohol connection is a key development for Bohol with its increased electricity demand. The completion of the project is also expected to resolve congestion in the existing Leyte-Bohol 138 kV interconnection, allow for entry of power investors with the power loop completion and in turn unburden consumers from high electricity prices.
Chatto pushed for the CBIP after establishing the multi-stakeholder Bohol Energy Development and Advisory Group. This was one of the long term solutions for stable, reliable and cost efficient power supply for the province.
The CBIP is also part of a broader strategy to create a more resilient and interconnected national grid in the Philippines.
The 28 kilometer 230kV line, designed to handle 1,200 megawatts of power cost P19billion, is also expected to boost local and regional economic growth.
Climate Change Agenda
According to Chatto, another key takeaway from the SONA was the president’s clear prioritization of the agenda on climate change mitigation.
Marcos urged Congress to pass House Bill 10602 “An Act Granting Juridical Personality and Legal Capacity to the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss & Damage due to Climate Change in the Philippines.”
Chatto, who chairs the House Committee on Climate Change, principally authored this enabling legislation for the Loss and Damage Fund, an international budget for countries affected by climate change.
The Philippines had secured a seat on the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund, the body responsible for managing funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. The country has also been selected as the host for the fund.