PANGLAO, Bohol – Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson’s senatorial bid got a timely boost on Monday afternoon with an endorsement from Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado during a meeting here.
Governor Aumentado lauded Lacson for being “very qualified” and for giving the people a voice in the Senate during his terms as senator from 2001 to 2013, and 2016 to 2022.
“It has been a long time since we saw a senator like him,” he said of Lacson, in a mix of English, Filipino and Visayan. “He is a fighting senator and gives a voice to the people.”
For his part, Lacson proposed a way to upgrade the Bohol-Panglao International Airport to help the province realize its potential in tourism.
Lacson said one way to do this is to incentivize local government units (LGUs) to improve their tax collection by giving them an additional appropriation in the national budget.
“Without upgrades to the Panglao International Airport, I cannot see how tourism arrivals can hit the one-million mark here,” he said in Filipino, in a meeting with Gov. Aumentado and mayors of the province here.
He noted that in 2023, Panglao earned more than P1 billion from tourism, including from 300,000 foreign tourists.
Among Bohol’s tourist attractions are the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, Loboc River Cruise, Bilar Man-Made Forest, Alicia Panoramic Park, and Dolphin and Whale Watching.
Should he earn a Senate seat this May, Lacson said he will push for empowering the LGUs by way of the national budget, by giving additional appropriations for LGUs in the national budget.
The proposed additional appropriations will be based on the LGU’s tax collections, and shall be used for infrastructure development and livelihood programs – while motivating LGUs to improve their tax collection.
“This will be used for development and livelihood, so the mayors will benefit,” said Lacson, a champion of empowering LGUs.
Meanwhile, last April 29 a Konsultahang Bayan: Turismo at Hanap Buhay sa Probinsya ng Bohol was held at DAO Diamond Hotel, Tagbilaran City with former Senator Ping Lacson where issues and concerns raised by more than 200 attendees representing the various sectors specifically in tourism, transport, farmers, and the business community.
The other panelists during the forum include Jagna Mayor Joseph Rañola, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mr. Steven Lim, Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts & Restaurants (BAHRR) President Doer Escoto, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry Regional Governor Engr. Albert Uy.
Former Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez moderated the forum where social issues and problems of the country pertaining to peace and order, corruption, waste management, food security and agriculture, illegal drugs, transportation and tourism concerns were addressed by Lacson.
