By Ric Obedencio
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has bared its achievements in legislation and other concerns in 2008, said Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera.
Senior board member Cesar Tomas Lopez reported to the Capitol employees and officials that the SP passed a total of 605 Resolutions and 28 Ordinances of various concerns during the first convocation program of the year on January 5, 2009 sponsored by the SP held at Acacia garden, Capitol in this city.
"All these accomplishments are the fruition of hard work, commitment and cooperation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Team. It is our way of giving back to the Boholano public in return for their trust and confidence," Herrera pointed out during the program.
The vice-governor took the opportunity to expressed gratitude Provincial Board Members and the employees and staff of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat, Provincial Library and the Vice Governor's Office for their continued commitment, hard work and cooperation. "And likewise to all the Provincial Government Offices for without our unified efforts and dedication, all these could not have been possible," he said.
Herrera said that year begins he is filled with optimism and hope for the future of Bohol, saying this will be an opportunity for Boholanos to move forward and continue pursuing poverty reduction by strengthening agriculture, infrastructure and eco-tourism. He also urged the people not lose sight of other priority areas in environment, health, education and youth that hopefully serve as the direction and guiding policy of the legislative agenda of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
His favorite legislative measures, which he personally sponsored gave impetus and attention to development of agriculture sector apparently for food security. These include Resolution No. 2008-272, urging all municipalities and barangays to enact legislative measures implementing the food security program of the government and Resolution No. 2008-524 urging barangay and towns to enact Ordinances establishing or making vegetable gardening compulsory in their respective areas.
To pitch financial support to agriculture, the SP passed Resolution No. 2008-568 that empower the governor to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Agriculture for equity for the procurement of F1 rice seeds under the Bohol Seeds Assistance Program. Also, the SP came in rescue in the rice crisis last year by approving Resolution No. 2008-154, urging the governor to earmark funds of P5 million for the procurement of certified and hybrid rice seeds to the farmers and Resolution No. 2008-313 that allocated P14.5 million as equity counterpart of the province to the DA's Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund program for the acquisition of upland tractors.