Year 2000
By Manila Bulletin : TAGBILARAN CITY - Bohol, one of nation's poorest provinces, welcomed President Joseph Estrada yesterday who visited the region to continue his mission of building more roads and bridges and launch projects that will alleviate poverty and generate livelihood for the island's less fortunate.

Also accompanying the President were Senators John Osmena and Tessie Oreta, Transportation Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr., Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and National Anti-Poverty Commission Vice Chairman Donna Gasconia, among others.

President Estrada's Bohol visit marked one of the rare occasions that the province was visited by an incumbent president.

Said Bohol Gov. Rene Relampagos at the welcome ceremonies for the President:

"Mr. President, your visit leaves a mark in the history of Bohol and in the lives of our people, a breakthrough in participatory governance that will continue to inspire us to work harder in helping you achieve your goal of raising the status of life among our people."

The President's visit was in keeping with the campaign pledge he made in the 1998 presidential elections that he would return to the impoverished province once elected to listen to the folks' concerns and launch projects that will help uplift the quality of life of its 1 million people.

Bohol's food security problem was acknowledged by farmer Cristino Carnice at a multi-sectoral forum with the Chief Executive.

The President also assured the people of Bohol that the construction of the multi-billion peso Bohol circumferential road linking the province's 47 towns was nearing completion to move quickly people and farm products.

The completion of the Bohol circumferential road, the President said, will go a long way in improving the lives of Bohol's poor.

Also yesterday, the President launched major development projects led by the P67.48-million Tagbilaran City Port Improvement Project scheduled to start late this month and is expected to be completed next year.

The new port will allow more spaces for world class passenger ships and cargo vessels and expand the city's land area through the reclamation of 8,229 square meters from the sea. It will boost Bohol's tourism industry and help spur development of Tagbilaran City and the whole province.

The President also took occasion to call on the communist insurgents to unite with and help accelerate the government's development effort by laying down their arms.

Last month, communist rebels ambushed government troops in Sta. Catalina town, killing four soldiers.

But Estrada said that despite isolated clashes with the rebels, the government will pursue its peace initiatives in Bohol through the setting up of a local peace forum.

He instructed Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim to set up the peace forum immediately as he warned the rebels against committing terroristic acts.

Before going back to Cebu, President Estrada assured the people of Bohol that like in Mindanao and other Central and Eastern Visayas provinces, he will relentlessly pursue his goals at attaining food security to fight poverty.

Today

CEBU CITY - President Estrada will inaugurate the Samboan-Badian Road Project in Southern Cebu this morning, then open the first national games for persons with disabilities and meet with about 1,000 fisherfolk in this city before flying back to Manila this afternooon, the last day in his four-day Visayas sortie that started last Thursday.

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