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.”
Related: Ping Lacson, Nakuha ang Endorsement ni Bohol Governor Aumentado, Nagmungkahi ng Paraan Para Pagandahin ang Turismo
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.
[https://caap.gov.ph/look-bohol-panglao-international-airport-welcomes-new-international-connections-to-and-from-incheon-south-korea/]
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.
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Ping Lacson, Nakuha ang Endorsement ni Bohol Governor Aumentado, Nagmungkahi ng Paraan Para Pagandahin ang Turismo
PANGLAO, Bohol – Lalong lumakas ang senatorial bid ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson matapos niya makuha ang pag-endorso ni Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado dito noong Lunes ng hapon.
Pinuri ni Gov. Aumentado si Lacson sa pagiging “very qualified” nito at sa pagbigay niya ng boses sa mamamayan bilang senador mula 2001 hanggang 2013, at mula 2016 hanggang 2022.
“Matagal na kaming hindi nakakita ng ganoong klaseng senador,” aniya tungkol kay Lacson. “Lumalaban at saka parang nagdala ng boses sa bayan.”
Iminungkahi naman ni Lacson ang pag-upgrade ng Bohol-Panglao International Airport para makamit ng probinsya ang potensyal nito sa turismo.
Ani Lacson, isang paraan para gawin ito ay ma-incentivize ang local government units (LGUs) para paigtingin ang kanilang tax collection sa pamamagitan ng dagdag na appropriation sa pambansang budget.
“Without (upgrades to) the Panglao International Airport, I cannot see how aabot ng 1 million ang tourism,” aniya sa pagtitipon kay Gov. Aumentado at mga alkalde ng probinsya dito.
Noong 2023, ani Lacson, mga 300,000 dayuhang turista ang dumating sa Panglao. Higit P1 bilyon ang kinita ng Panglao sa turismo noong taong iyon.
Kabilang sa tourist attractions ng Bohol ang Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary, Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, Loboc River Cruise, Bilar Man-Made Forest, Alicia Panoramic Park, at Dolphin and Whale Watching.
[https://caap.gov.ph/look-bohol-panglao-international-airport-welcomes-new-international-connections-to-and-from-incheon-south-korea/]
Kung sakaling manalo siya sa Mayo, itutulak ni Lacson na mabigyan ng kapangyarihan ang mga local government units (LGUs) sa pamamagitan ng pambansang budget – kung saan mabibigyan ang LGUs ng dagdag na appropriations.
Ang dagdag na appropriations ay base sa pagkolekta ng buwis ng LGU, at gagamitin sa infrastructure development at livelihood programs. Dahil dito, mabibigyan ng incentive ang mga LGU para paigtingin ang tax collection.
“Gagamitin lang yan sa development at livelihood. So makikinabang ang mga mayors natin,” ani Lacson, na kumakampeon sa kapakanan ng LGUs.
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