Gov. Chatto’s sopa: Bohol’s disaster response model of action, readiness

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Bohol’s own disaster response has been considered by many as a model of quick action, reliability and preparedness, said Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered Friday morning before the Provincial Board in its regular session.

“(The) systematic method of organizing our relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts led many people to make observations on the Boholanos’ resilience and indomitable spirit,” Chatto said in his speech which was aired live over all radio stations in Bohol.

Despite the earthquake and the typhoon that hit Bohol last year, the governor said he considered 2013 as a year for “celebration of human compassion as people from all walks of life gave a piece of themselves in sharing what they had to the victims and survivors of natural calamities.”

Last Oct. 15, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake toppled centuries-old Catholic churches in Bohol, claimed more than 200 lives, injured some 750 persons and destroyed more than 45,000 houses, with more than 300,000 people, or about one-third of Bohol’s population, badly affected, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Three weeks later, typhoon Yolanda devastated hundreds of homes in 27 Bohol islets located across Leyte island.

In his hour-long speech, Chatto thanked many private individuals, officials, institutions, and organizations for helping Bohol rise from the rubbles. “In the wake of the great Bohol earthquake, Boholano faith and resilience became very clear. There are so many people to thank for keeping the Boholano spirit alive during this time,” Chatto said.

Due to the immensity of the damage, Chatto recounted that Vice Governor Concepcion Lim called on the PB members to a special session to declare Bohol under a “state of calamity” merely hours  after the earthquake.

“This led to the immediate and smooth implementation by all component LGUs of appropriate quick-response strategies using their local calamity funds, while the provincial, national and international disaster teams were still on their way,” he said.

He also thanked Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who, together with his cabinet members, arrived in Bohol a day after the quake, and “many others followed – people from all walks of life, agencies and organizations from all sectors, ... from other provinces, a multitude of volunteers of all ages, and many more. To name them all would be impossible. They will remain our faceless heroes.”

Chatto said: “The earthquake, Yolanda, and other challenges took us through our darkest times, but they also brought out the best in us as a people, and showed the rest of the world the strength and character of the Boholanos.

However, Chatto has also admitted that there is still much to be done in the aftermath of the calamities. He cited the provincial government’s rebuilding efforts have been laid out in the “Post-Great Bohol Earthquake Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan,” a strategic roadmap  to restoring Bohol’s glory developed by multi-sectoral groups.

The plan has been transmitted to the national government to facilitate the funding, which would cost P12.314 billion. (FREEMAN)