MikeLigalig.com

By June S. Blanco

Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado broke ground for the new office of the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Bohol at the New Capitol Site in rites held before sunrise last Monday.

A veteran of countless groundbreaking ceremonies, Aumentado however admitted that it was his first time to officiate or attend such activity scheduled before sunrise.

"I congratulate DepEd for the groundbreaking. The new building augurs well for education in Bohol. It is also the first building to rise in the site, moving the intention to make the area Bohol's new government center one step towards realization," the governor told the audience still wearing jackets or scarves, lit only by the headlights of Aumentado's service vehicle.

The Commission on Audit, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Supreme Court will also build their respective buildings in the area, as well as the Land Administration Management Project 2 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources nearby, he said.

GSIS is moving over after its earlier allocated lot at the satellite city area will be hit by the planned road network that the city government will build.

Bohol Division Superintendent Cerina Bolos explained that she was merely following tradition. In her welcome remarks, she said she was excited over the prospect of finally having a new multi-storey and decent office to replace the half-a-century-old one below the grandstands at the President CPGarcia Sports Complex.

Although some of the wood of the grandstand imported from Surigao have withstood time and are still in tip-top condition, she said she has caused the bracing or replacement of others in order to prevent a collapse.

She thanked Aumentado for the 2,000-square-meter lot on which the building will rise, and the Provincial Engineer's Office under Engr. Edwin Vallejos for preparing the building plan.

Construction will start right away with the initial tranche of P5 million that DepEd Central Office has released, otherwise, the fund will revert to the national treasury, Bolos explained.

Physical Facilities Coordinator Marcelo Vigonte put the plan and other documents into the time capsule that Aumentado, Bolos and other DepEd officials lowered and buried.          

During the event, expert heritage scholars and policy-makers will also tackle law-making practices for heritage preservation.

It has also been designed to provide a venue for provincial stakeholders in culture and tourism to participate in the formulation of the BACH Code.

Main organizers of the event are officers of the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council, Center for Cultural and Arts Development (CCAD) of the Office of the Governor, and the Provincial Board Committee on Arts and Culture chaired by PB Member Amalia Tirol, who also co-chairs the BACH Council. -- www.boholsundaypost.net

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