CEBU CITY – There are no anomalous flood control projects in Bohol province.
Gov. Aris Aumentado assured this during his State-of-the-Province Address on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Aumentado said a corruption-free government has been his main thrust.
“I will not tolerate any form of corruption under my watch,” he said.
“Pope Francis was right. Corruption is paid for by the poor. Mao man gani nga sukad pagsugod sa akong unang termino atong plataporma ang limpyong pangobierno (That’s why from the beginning of my term, our platform has been honest governance),” Aumentado added.
Aumentado said making sure that infrastructure projects are aboveboard is part of the “genuine service” that he offers to the Boholanos.
“The true service, genuine service – which is what we are doing now – is to keep corruption away from flood control projects,” he said.
Aumentado added that through the province’s anti-corruption measures, a total of P128 million in sand and gravel fees were collected in 2022.
“This used to be less than P10 million a year, but it is now a major revenue source for the province. Host barangays and municipalities are now enjoying the benefits of these increased revenues, with P42.7 million in shares given to the barangays and P32 million to the municipalities,” Aumentado said.
Among the achievements that Aumentado highlighted was the province’s growing economy.
The governor said that Bohol has the fastest-growing economy in the region after its Gross Domestic Product increased by 8.82 percent in 2024.
He added that the province’s GDP is now at P198 billion. “Our GDP per capita grew by 7.6 percent, valued at P140,363 per person per year. On the other hand, our inflation continues to stay low, with our lowest this year at only 1.3 percent,” he said.