CEBU CITY, CEBU — In a historic first, the Cebu Provincial Government hosted the joint session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of both Provinces of Cebu and Bohol here at the Capitol Social Hall on November 18, 2024, Monday.
The session was jointly presided by Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III and Bohol Vice Governor Tita Baja; and attended by all sitting Provincial Board Members of the two island provinces.
During the session, the two legislative bodies approved respectively 𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦 a resolution authorizing Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia and Bohol Gov. Erico “Aris” Aumentado to enter into, on behalf of their provinces, a sisterhood pact “to strengthen and foster inter-provinces’ bond of cooperation in relation to tourism, commerce, business and economy, and other shared benefits and growth for Region 7.”
“One of the agreement’s major initiatives is the promotion of the economic cooperation, commerce, investment, poverty alleviation, sectoral and community-based developments, and practices in local governance,” a part of the resolution reads.
The said resolution was co-authored by Cebu sixth district Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco, Cebu fifth district Board Member Mike Villamor, and Bohol second district Board Member Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor.
This historic move came in the wake of the recent reorganization which leaves Central Visayas with just Cebu and Bohol, after the erstwhile member provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental have been separated to form the newly organized Negros Island Region.
In her speech before the joint session, Gov. Gwen affectionately called the two island provinces as “SugBohol” — an amalgamation of Cebu’s vernacular name of “Sugbo” and Bohol, as if to suggest that between the two neighboring islands exists a seemingly seamless relationship at the heart of the Visayas.
“We can share our stories with one goal in mind, to send that signal to the entire country: Watch out! Watch out! What is left of Region 7, you have just given us the opportunity to become the economic powerhouse of the Visayas, and who knows, perhaps even the entire country,” Gov. Gwen said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Central Visayas, with Siquijor and Negros Oriental, had the fastest-growing economy among the country’s 18 regions in 2023, posting an impressive 7.3 percent growth rate during the period. This was estimated at PhP 1.38 trillion, up from PhP 1.29 trillion it posted in 2022.
With the recent development, however, the region is expected to lose P179 billion from its economy, or the estimated 14 percent contributions of Negros Oriental and Siquijor, to the regional gross domestic product.
Despite this, the new Central Visayas still maintains high projections, with an economy still valued at around P1.2 trillion, with Cebu Province as the largest contributor to the region’s income at 30.1 percent, according to previous data. Cebu City is expected to contribute 22.4 percent; Bohol Province 13.3 percent, Lapu-Lapu City 11.8 percent, and Mandaue City 8.5 percent.
“This gathering of legislators from the two provinces is a valuable opportunity to strengthen our unity as one region as we face a myriad of challenges that will shape Bohol and Cebu for years to come. As natural partners for genuine peace and development, collaboration is not just a byword; it is something that we must incorporate into our governance,” Gov. Aumentado said.
“With our shared history and heritage, I believe that Bohol and Cebu have what it takes to reach greater heights and become powerhouses of economic growth, social inclusion, and technological innovation in the entire country,” he added. | JMT
