In the world map of tourism, Bohol is a crown jewel. It is a title we have to defend with the passion of a patriot.

We must build from strength to strength, letting the momentum of growth spin on a fast orbit. We cannot rest on our laurels.

After all, when the Philippine Tourism Industry emptied barrels of wine to celebrate the fact that we had a record 3 million tourists in 2006 - let us remember that this number is "peanuts" compared to the numbers shown by neighbors like Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand and Malaysia. We have just scratched surface. But, yes, we have to start somewhere.

Boholanos therefore welcome the determined move of the Arroyo administration to pursue the P4.2-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport.

The warm bodies for tourism are best brought in by large airplanes landing on internationally-accepted airports. The President herself asked the NEDA to expedite the final approval of the project which has scheduled the work to commence this July.

Perhaps it is Bohol's destiny to become the prime tourist destination in the country. But that is no accident.

This came not on a silver platter but with the consistent, diligent and focused promotional efforts of well coordinated private and government sector moves.

First, there is that unity of our local leaders - a major factor why the national leadership trusts that projects in tourism can be delivered in the right prescribed timetable. The President may have seen for herself how the indefatigable Governor Erico Aumentado does his homework in looking after the welfare of Bohol - in the area of tourism.

It is first-class luck for Bohol to have Aumentado as the governor since his performance as an LGU official - in the score card of the President Arroyo - is impressive. It would seem like ages since Bohol was given enough attention by the national governance since the ascendancy of Boholano president Carlos Polistico Garcia in 1957-1961. In a most dramatic way, Bohol has jettisoned into the center of development with Aumentado and his united team.

It certainly helped that Gov. Aumentado, being titular head of all governors, knew which switches to turn and Rep. Edgar Chatto is the chairman of the House committee on tourism, giving him the leverage to swing tourism favors Bohol's way.

This year, the province will have its hands full to host big events like the coming of APEC dignitaries this 3rd week of April, the hosting of delegates to the United Nations World Toursim Organization meeting this October. Both occasions will give Bohol further global mileage in tourism promotion.

In line also are various national conventions which will bring many first timers in Bohol, like the 28th national anniversary of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) during the first weekend of April where some 2,000 delegates are expected to jam our resorts, hotels and pension houses. The word-of-mouth publicity that these 2,000 visitors will spin can do the cross-selling for the province and improve our summer tour sales.

But so much work has yet to be done. The Provincial Tourism Council rightly took steps to address the anticipated continuous boom in tourism. For instance, the much awaited standardization program to accredit qualified hotels, resorts and restaurants will unfold this March. This is necessary considering that Bohol has lately acquired a negative reputation as "quite expensive place to go" in the genuine effort of tourism players to improve and upgrade services and infrastructure. The additional rooms and cuisine services, especially from the international chain of R and R experts will hopefully reverse the trend - before Bohol prices itself "out of the market," as the economists would say.

Along this thought we welcome the newest addition to our tourist options with the establishment of philanthropist-civic leader Hans Schoof's Peacock Garden Resort and Spa.

The irreversibility of the law of economic law of supply and demand is evident in the tourism pricing mechanism. The scarcity of rooms and facilities amid overwhelming demand renders "price" - to give way. It is apropos that we are addressing the "supply side" of the equation.

Secondly, a so-called "mark of excellence" - an industry informal grading system - will be posted in establishments which will qualify for the PTC accreditation. This will hopefully separate the "boys from the men." Thirdly, the assessment of the infrastructure is the improvement of the service and cuisine in tourism establishments here will follow.

These are private sector initiatives that must be lauded for merit. On balance, Government must also be ultra-transparent in the bidding process of the Panglao International Airport, coming as it does from the questioned and questionable economic and financial justification of the humongous dams of the Administration (in Bohol) costing billions of pesos. It must rationalize the entry of the oil mining near our Bohol seawaters (the next two years) - if it is compatible with the tourism road map and the well-being of the individuals and the environment that Mother Nature so graciously showered Bohol.

Lastly, it must help solve the killings of militant leaders in Bohol during the last few years and downplay the apparent "militarization" in certain areas. Without those two, the image of Bohol will be stained by encores of being "under a state of siege" which Bohol definitely is not. So why ruin the image of a peaceful province?

In summary, development must be taken from a larger - not parochial - contextual point. Some form of balance must be struck somewhere. That is good governance.

Once again, the Land Transportation Office, alongside another notorious cousin called the Bureau of Customs, is under fire these days.

Imagine, in one year alone, the independent car dealers in Cebu only reported sales of new cars at over 2,000 vehicles only but the LTO in Cebu "registered over 21,000 new cars. The illegal entry of "hot cars" in the ports of Cebu, Toledo and Mandaue cities in Cebu province - or smuggling, in plain language - could not have happened without the participation of the BOC and the LTO.

Just yesterday, some 16 used luxury cars were embargoed in Cebu. Scores of luxury cars were also raided last week in a Makati auto shop - all alleged hot cars brought from Cebu - four of them owned reportedly by a politician - a congressman (why not indeed?) from Bicol and another P17-million sports car Ferrari owned by actor-host Willy Revillame who claimed he was just "test-driving" the flaming red "beauty" on the streets. "Aw come on" as Marcos would say.

Senator Panfilo Lacson decried that LTO Chief Reynaldo Berroya (ex-colonel), as command responsibility dictates, has an awful lot of explaining to do. In turn, Berroya wanted a "transparent" investigation and replaced Regional LTO Regional Director Alex Leyson with Raul Aguiluz and apparently "demoted" Jose Ruperto Remullo, regional operation division chief in Cebu to Tagbilaran LTO district registrar. He swapped places with current LTO chief here Joel Maloloy-on.

Due to the "magnitude" of the case being investigated in Cebu. Remullo should have been placed in preventive suspension - rather than assigned in Tagbilaran LTO which is an ISO-recognized unit.

If LTO Chief suspects Remullo is "garbage," we do not appreciate his being recycled and dumped in Tagbilaran LTO. Hopefully, he will not extend his suspected mischief here. We have enough trouble with fixers and carnappers of "hot cars," as it is. Ask Regional Napolocom Director Bernie Calibo.

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