NAUTICAL HIGHWAY. Pres Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (in eyeglasses) cuts the ribbon to signal the inclusion of Bohol in the Strong Republic Nautical highway. With her at the Jagna Port are (l-r) Jagan Mayor Exuperio Lloren, Gov. Erico Aumentado, Vice Pres. Noli de castro. DOTC Sec. Lenadro Mendoza, Rep. Adam Jala, Rep. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Roberto Cajes.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be coming back to the province to officially "switch the green light" for the construction of the Panglao Bohol International Airport. The President was here last Tuesday to personally lead a caravan of her Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) program with Tubigon Port as their port of entry and exited through Jagna Port, both newly expanded sea ports in the province.

The Presidents' next visit is set on May 20, barely less than a month when she launched Bohol as part of the nautical highway.

During an exclusive interview over station dyRD last Tuesday, the President expressed elation for the excellent roads in the province. She, together with Bohol officials and DOTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza boarded the Ceres Liner tourist bus from Tubigon to Jagna.

She announced that her next visit to Bohol will signal the commencement of works of the much delayed Panglao Bohol International Airport.

President Arroyo may not be the guest of honor during the celebration of the 1st Bohol-Jiangxi Friendship Day on May 8.

Her office earlier confirmed her attendance to both activities on May 8 but she called her regrets to Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado shortly after she inaugurated the Cebu-Bohol and Jagna (Bohol)-Camiguin-Cagayan de Oro legs of the SRNH on April 29, saying that equally pressing matters needing her personal attention cropped up.

She will return on May 20 and 21 instead - to participate in a diving activity in Balicasag Island off the resort town of Panglao, to lower into the ground at the terminal site the time capsule for the P4.2 billion Panglao Bohol International Airport, and to view the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town and campaign for more votes for it to earn a berth in the ongoing search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

The Chocolate Hills had climbed to No. 6 when it was de-listed because of the lack of an official support committee (OSC). The lack has since been corrected by Aumentado, with the support of several quarters, Rep. Edgar Chatto of Bohol's 1st District included.

Meanwhile, the subterranean river has climbed to No. 32 from No. 35.

In spite of the postponement of President Arroyo's second visit to Bohol this year, the Bohol-Jiangxi Friendship Day celebration will continue.

Jiangxi also trimmed down its original six-man delegation led by Vice Gov. Xie Ru as she has been tasked to prepare for that province's leg of the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics.

The Jiangxi delegation will be comprised this time of Deputy Director General of the General Office of the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government Ye Lei, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangxi Fu Pengpeng and interpreter Zhu Jincheng, chaperoned by Consul General Emelinda Lee-Pineda.

But giving weight to the celebration will be the presence of a minimum 12-man delegation headed by the Philippines' Special Envoy to China Carlos Chan and his wife.

Chan of Liwayway Marketing (International), Ltd., manufacturers of the Oishi line of products, sits in the Economic Advisory Council of Jiangxi.

Chan had donated P10 million for the construction and equipage of the Loboc Children's Theater where the world-famous Loboc Children's Choir practices and performs.

He has also sponsored the children's trips to Jiangxi, Shanghai and Hongkong to perform back-to-back with their counterparts in festivals. He also brought Chairman Lu Ping, chief negotiator for the return of Hongkong from Great Britain to China, along with Shanghai's Little Companion Art Troupe to Loboc.

Chan also donated the lights now being installed along the Loboc River's banks to allow night cruises. The lighting facilities will be inaugurated this Thursday.

On their arrival in the morning of May 7, Chan, Pineda and the Jiangxi group will call on Aumentado at the Capitol where they will exchange tokens, and on Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim at the City Hall.

Lunch will be sponsored by the local Filipino-Chinese Community headed by Dr. Simplicio Yap Jr. The afternoon is set aside for a tour to the Chocolate Hills, the Bilar Man-made Forest, the tarsier sanctuary and the Blood Compact Site.

The Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will sponsor the welcome reception at the Bohol Beach Club.

The Friendship Day will start with the raising of the Philippines and of the People's Republic of China at the Rizal Park in front of the Capitol, followed by the fiesta parade and street dancing from the plaza to the Bohol Cultural Center for the grand program.

After lunch at the Bohol Beach Club and some time for rest or shopping in the afternoon, the elegation will proceed to Loboc in the evening for the inauguration of the Riverbank Lights Project and dinner sponsored by the Municipality of Loboc under Mayor Leon Calipusan.

The delegation will leave back for Manila and onwards the morning after.