The lack of water at Bohol’s premier gateway facility raises serious questions about governance and accountability.
For an international airport that serves as the province’s window to the world, the current situation is not just an inconvenience – it’s an embarrassment that threatens Bohol’s tourism aspirations.
While fingers point at Richli Corporation, the contracted water service provider, the core issue runs deeper.
The provincial government, particularly the governor’s office, appears to be taking a passive stance on a crisis that demands immediate executive action.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) may have oversight of airport operations, but Bohol leadership cannot simply wash its hands of the problem.
As the province’s chief executive who is currently in Europe, the governor holds both the authority and responsibility to coordinate with national agencies, mobilize resources, and broker solutions.
This water crisis exemplifies a broader challenge in Bohol governance: the gap between authority and action.
The governor’s role as “chief executive” isn’t merely titular – it carries the mandate to plan, implement, and troubleshoot critical infrastructure issues affecting the province.
The current hands-off approach to the airport’s water woes suggests either a misunderstanding of executive function or a troubling reluctance to exercise leadership.
Either way, it’s the traveling public and Bohol’s reputation that suffer.
What’s needed isn’t finger-pointing but decisive action: engaging with DOTr, exploring alternative water sources, and ensuring accountability from service providers.
The province’s development trajectory hinges on functional infrastructure – starting with basics like water at its primary airport.
Without swift intervention, this crisis risks tarnishing Bohol’s image as a premier tourist destination just as the industry rebounds from the pandemic.
The question remains: Will the provincial leadership step up to its executive responsibilities, or will it continue to let this basic service issue flow away?