Aris: SugBohol as regional showcase

of innovation, resilience, excellence

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—Exactly a year after Negros Oriental and Siquijor became part of the Negros Island Region, Regional Development Council 7 Chair and Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado rallied the dynamic duo of Sugbohol to grow in tandem and demonstrate the power of collaboration grounded in shared values, mutual respect and complementary strengths.

Speaking for his State of the Region Address (SORA) before the members of the RDC in its second quarter Full Council Meeting, Aumentado shared his wish of Sugbohol becoming a national showcase.

Let me say this, let Sugbohol be a platform to demonstrate how two provinces, united in purpose, can become a powerhouse of innovation, economic dynamism and inclusive development,” Aumentado announces.

It was in June 11 of 2024 when the Negros Island Region emerged an administrative region covering both the islands of Negros and Siquijor and is composed of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, which is the country’s 18th region.

This left Cebu and Bohol in Region 7 or Central Visayas.

“2024 was not just a productive year-it was s defining year for Central Visayas,” the Bohol governor and RDC chair pointed out.

The past year had the RDC pursuing strategic policies and transformative projects that laid foundations for a amore resilient, inclusive and future-ready region.

“We began with unwavering resolve-to deliver the priority policies and strategies we committed as a Council with one clear goal in mind: to drive inclusive growth that elevates the lives of every Central Visayan,” the governor reminded members.

Focusing on the fundamentals, the RDC strengthened the region’s economic performance with a Regional Domestic Product surging to P1.276 trillion pushing a strong 7.3 percent growth rate.

The RDC also positively managed the inflation at 3.2 percent which was well within the target range of 2.56 and 3.2 percent in 2024.

In the year, the region also approved P27.96 billion in investments comprising 22 projects with 17 billion from local investors, and improving the regional employment rate to 97.1 percent.

The RDC chair however still acknowledged the 8.6 percent underemployment rate as a remaining challenge.

With these efforts, poverty incidence among families dropped from 22 percent in 2021 to 12.3 percent in 2023-the second biggest reduction nationwide.

“This is not just statistics, this is 138,380 families now living better lives and given renewed hopes,” the RDC7 chair remarked.

In 2025, as Aumentado proposed Sugbohol as a national showcase of collaboration starting with sealing a sisterhood agreement, he urged, “Let us stay united, let us continue to raise the banner of Central Visayas and bring it to the next level of growth and sustainability.” (PIABohol)

NO ONE LEFT BEHIND. RDC Chair and Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado has rallied Region 7, now that Negros Oriental and Siquijor are now to Region 18, to make the run as a dynamic duo forming a national showcase of the Visayas in innovation, resilience and excellence. (PIABohol)