Bohol governor-elect eyes smooth transition

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PNA) – Governor-elect and outgoing first District Rep. Edgar Chatto is calling for the holding of an exit conference with outgoing Governor (now Congressman-elect (2nd District, Bohol) Erico Aumentado, the standard bearer of the grand alliance of political parties which split from the local Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the last elections in Bohol.

“I am requesting the Governor to set up an exit conference where we could discuss the status of the projects that have been started by the administration and the areas where we could fast-track things,” Chatto said.

As incoming governor, Chatto vowed to strengthen the programs established by predecessor even as he promised to introduce new ones to further intensify economic progress in Bohol.

He said he intends to allot enough time to assess the ongoing projects and those for implementation before he officially assumes the Governorship of Bohol.

He also said he will look into the real reason for the gap in the implementation of the Panglao-Bohol International Airport Development Project.

Aside from benchmarking the airport project, he said this will thresh out allegations being made in political critics that he was behind the delay in its implementation.

Chatto said he finds former Governor Rene Relampagos, who is congressman-elect representing the province’s first district, a good partner in his incoming administration’s development efforts, including a reclamation project proposed by the Oasis Leisure Island Development Inc. although he stressed that he will have to make sure that creating artificial islets in the province will not have any negative effects to the environment.

Chatto said he will start by determining what actions the outgoing provincial administration has taken  on the proposal, so that he would have substantial basis to start his assessments.

“I am excited to get down to work as the new governor,” Chatto declared.

The incoming governor also vowed to further boost Bohol as a prime eco-tourism destination in the country and pursue a balance agricultural and industry.

One of the things he’s doing to prepare for his new administration is initiating team-building activities with key persons in the Capitol’s various departments. He indicated that he would want to see a system established that would provide better service and benefits for provincial employees.

He said it is not difficult to build rapport between the legislative and administrative departments “as long as there is common ground to offer the best service that Boholanos deserve.”

Chatto informed that “even before my first day of work, I will meet the team members (at the Capitol), and hold briefings with government employees who hold key positions and who will be our partners in efforts to strengthen existing programs and create new ones for our province.”