‘Behold Bohol’ brand launched

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and some private entities launched this week Bohol’s new branding – “Behold Bohol” – years after the province was hit by calamities.

In October 2013, the province of Bohol was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that damaged several historical churches and major infrastructure.

The province was also greatly affected when Super Typhoon Yolanda – the strongest typhoon ever to hit land – ravaged Central Visayas in November 2013.

Lucas Nunag, chairman of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, said “Behold Bohol” will help strengthen the province’s position as a prime eco-cultural tourist destination globally.

He said that the province’s “game changer” would be the construction of its international airport in Panglao, set to be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

“After the calamities Bohol is experiencing record tourist arrivals and this is a restatement of the resiliency of the destination,” Nunag said.

Christopher Foley, deputy head of program of USAID Philippines, said that Bohol’s new branding will contribute to the nation’s development as “it will attract more attention not only in the region, but globally.”

DOT Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez noted that the calamities that hit Bohol did not affect the resiliency of Boholanos, but became a motivating factor for them to move on.

Jimenez said that tourist arrivals in Bohol have even increased by 55 percent, to more than 800,000 after the earthquake, four times higher than the arrivals before the earthquake stuck.

“Let’s all behold Bohol,” Gov. Edgar Chatto said.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Ernesto Pernia said that some projects intended for Bohol’s development are already in the pipeline as discussed during the Cabinet and investment meeting in Malacañang recently.

He said that the Panglao international airport, which can accommodate about 1.7 million passengers a year, is set to be finished in the first quarter of 2018. A bridge connecting Tagbilaran to Panglao will also be constructed next year, he added.

“In the meantime, we’ll expand the opening of two causeways, so that flow of water will increase, resulting in less damage to marine ecology,” Pernia said.

The NEDA official also said that two inter-provincial bridges that will connect Leyte and Bohol and Cebu and Bohol are set for construction, with the Japanese and Chinese governments expressing interest in the project.