In support to the continuity and sustainability of various development programs and projects contributory to Bohol’s economic development and people’s poverty alleviation, Governor Aris Aumentado and his Transition Management Team (TMT) met with the World Bank Team lead by Atty. Lesley Cordero and World Bank’s Senior Procurement Specialist Dominic R. Aumentado. Heads and personnel of the PGBH’s concerned departments namely, the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Bohol Tourism Office (BTO), Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), Provincial Budget Management Office (PBMO) and the Bohol Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (BEDIPO, formerly BIPC) were present as well.

World Bank Team members who are also present are Ms. Madhu Raghunath, Lead Urban Specialist; Ms. Marilyn Martinez, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist; Mr. Rolando Canizal, Tourism Development Consultant; and, Ms. Fiorella Fabella, Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist.

On July 2nd, the World Bank Mission led by its Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Task Team Leader Atty. Lesley Cordero presented to Honorable Governor Aris Aumentado and his Transition Management Team Bohol’s Proposed Sustainable Inclusive and Resilient Tourism (SIRT) Project under the Department of Tourism (DOT) tagged Transforming cOmmUnities towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program. Under the stated program, World Bank (WB) will provide loan assistance for the tourism infrastructure development of Bohol and other identified pilot sites in the region. World Bank’s Senior Procurement Specialist Mr. Dominic Aumentado is also present during the activity. The project will support the new administration’s priorities of eradicating corruption, institutionalizing good governance, and putting the welfare of Boholanos first specifically in the implementation of its tourism projects. Further, the project is expected to significantly contribute to the Bohol tourism industry’s rehabilitation and recovery especially after the COVID19 pandemic and the devastation of Typhoon Odette in the Central Visayas Region.

The World Bank and Provincial Government, to be able to identify what areas and aspects of the proposal needs further push to ensure continuity and support, assess the details of the WB-DOT SIRT Project during the round-table discussion.