CEBU CITY: The provincial governments of Cebu and Bohol entered into a sisterhood agreement on Monday to solidify their position as the two remaining provinces of Central Visayas. In a joint session of the provincial boards at the Cebu capitol in Cebu City, Bohol’s Jiselle Rae Aumentado Villamor and Cebu’s Glenn Anthony Soco co-authored a resolution, adopted en masse, that seeks inter-province cooperation to make the region an ‘economic powerhouse’ in the Visayas.

According to Philippines News Agency, the joint session highlighted a proposal to connect Cebu and Bohol through a bridge from the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. This initiative aligns with the recent legislative efforts, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12000, known as the Negros Island Region (NIR) Act, in June. The NIR Act aims to unify the provinces of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, to promote administration decentralization, strengthen local autonomy, and accelerate economic, cu
ltural, and social development.

Cebu and Bohol collectively have populations of 5.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia emphasized the region’s economic strength, noting, “That is our greatest asset, the people… Central Visayas is the fastest-growing economy in the country. We are the highest in terms of GRDP (Gross Regional Domestic Product), hitting PHP1.2 trillion. Even without Negros Oriental and Siquijor, it comprises 14 percent of PHP1.2 trillion. We will still be at PHP1.1 trillion in 2022 figures.”

She further highlighted that the provinces’ tourism industry is anchored on rich natural resources, providing jobs and livelihood for their communities. Similarly, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado stated that the joint session allowed their respective legislators to confront issues directly, explore future opportunities, and devise plans for developing smart and resilient provinces.