The world-renowned
cone-shaped Chocolate Hills is Nature's expression of beauty, mystery and
romance. Spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan,
the Chocolate Hills is the province's signature attraction. It consists
of approximately 1,268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120
meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered
as a National Geologic Movement. During the summers, the dome-shaped
grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown, transforming the area
into seemingly endless rows of chocolate "kisses"
Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with facilities
such as a restaurant, hostel and view deck.
Legend has it that when giants live with mortals, a gentle giant fell in love with a beautiful village girl. Agoro , the giant was handsome and though a favorite among female giants, was also a loner. When everything and everybody sleeps, Arogo would sit by his favorite spot near the river to ponder or just watch the night pass by.
One night while Arogo was by his spot, he noticed a beautiful native girl with hair as black as the night by the river bank. He instantly fell in love with Aluya. After that night. Arogo would always wait by his place to take a glimpse at his beloved Aluya.
A rumor reached Arogo that Aluya would soon marry a man her parents chose for her.
The night before Aluya's wedding, Agoro kidnapped Aluya. Seeing a giant, Aluya screamed, kicked and cried, but to no avail. Arogo was successful in abducting Aluya.
In the giant's cave, Arogo tried to give Aluya food and water but the girl kept on crying. Her sadness reached her heart that she died with tears in her eyes. Arogo buried her and kept his vigil. He cried for days and months. Giant tears fell to the ground. He cried a thousand years for the loss of his love.
After sometime, Arogo's tears hardened and became what we know today as Chocolate hills. The Hills were witnesses of an unrequited love of the years go by.
Chocolate Hills dot the plains of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. There are at least 1,776 uniform hills that leave visitors no wonder how they came to be.
One could view and even count the hills its 210 feet above the ground view deck, Climbing the 214 steps of the view deck to the top is a rewarding exercise.
Chocolate Hills is also cited as a Geological Movement of the country and is also known as the Eight Wonder of the World.
Bohol's Profile
VISION
Bohol is a prime eco-cultural tourism destination and a strong agro-industrial province with an empowered and self-reliant people who are God loving, law-abiding, proud of their cultural heritage and committed to the growth and protection of the environment.
MISSION
To continuously transform its social, economic, political and cultural
life through effective collaboration of people from various sectors of
the province to achieve and sustain its vision.
GOALS
To establish the importance and contribution of Bohol to the nation's
socio-cultural and political growth and economic competitive edge.
To establish sustainable eco-cultural tourism and agro-industrial sites
in the province to encourage investments and employment opportunities.
To ensure sustainable growth in revenues from major industries that adhere to a sustainable framework for developing, utilizing and managing the environment and natural resources of the province.
To enrich and continuously develop the dynamic and creative Boholano culture in all municipalities and in capital city of Bohol.
To develop a well informed citizenry in healthy communities, aware and proud of its competencies that enables them to be much more productive, enterprising and participate in attaining the vision and goals of Bohol.
POWER
The province is fully energized with the National Power Corporation
being the sole supplier. Actual generation capability of 93.5 megawatts
is supported by the following facilities :
Diesel Power 18 MW
Loboc Hydroelectric 1.2
Janopol Hydroelectric 1.8
Power Barge 105 10.5
Power Barge 207 30
Power Barge 101 32
The P 21 billion Leyte-Bohol interconnection will bring geothermal power of higher capacity base at 80-100 megawatts in early 1999. Power rates are then expected to be very competitive.
Industries with power requirements of at least 100 kilowatts can apply for a direct interconnection with NPC.
WATER
Water supply is made available in Tagbilaran City and in the nearby
municipalities on a 24-hour basis with the completion of the Tagbilaran
Water Supply Project. Thirty - two (32) deep wells with submersible pumps
operate at a daily capacity of 19,000 cubic meters.
Several water projects are in the pipeline to respond to water requirements
for both domestic and industrial use. The Central Visayas Water and Sanitation
Project and the construction of Level III water systems have made available
in 16 other municipalities. Likewise, the development of Ubujan Spring
in Cortes with a daily capacity of 3,500 cubic meters and Loboc River which
will generate at least 100,000 cubic meters daily capacity are currently
being pushed.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ECO-TOURISM
Room Accommodation Facilities
Whale Watching
Marine Theme Park
Sea Transport (Cruise Boats, Fast Crafts)
Spelunking
Mountain Resorts
Golf Course
Trail Biking/Trekking
Tarsier Watching Facilities
Restaurants/Food Outlets
AGRI-BUSINESS
Post harvest facilities
High value crop production
Fruit/Meat processing
Feed mill
Aqua culture
LIGHT MANUFACTURING
Precision Assembly
Semi-conductors
Farm implements
Furniture
Garment
COMPETITIVE EDGE
Strategically located at the heart of Central Visayas, closest province
to Cebu City
Positive attitude of Local Government Units to investors
Developing infrastructures
Highly trainable and quality manpower pool
Vast agricultural lands and rich fishing grounds
Competitive manufacturing labor cost lower by 15% compared to metropolitan
areas
Stable peace and order situation, among the lowest crime incidence
in the Visayas by 7.4%
Government/private sector dynamism
Less expensive industrial sites
AGRICULTURE/AQUACULTURE
The province is blessed with fertile soil and bountiful sea making
it the farmland and fish pen of Central Visayas.
Forty-five percent of its land area is devoted to agriculture. Rice
production is applied in 80, 918 hectares yielding on an average of 4.4
metric tons per hectare.
Coconut on the other hand, is grown in 63, 502 hectares. Ubi kinampay, a violet yam, is also grown. Mango is an emerging agricultural product with 120,000 fruit bearing trees and 180,000 more by the turn of the century. Mango harvest reached 422 metric tons in 1996 or an average of 1 metric ton per hectare.
Processed prawns are directly exported to Japan. Lobster, seaweeds and milk fish are likewise harvested. Seaweeds of the eucheuma variety are cultured and are marketed to Cebu for the processing into various grades of carageenan.
The northeastern strip of Bohol has been identified as viable areas for development of Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s), as part of the Regional Growth Corridor (RGC). These SEZ’s shall enable the province to gain economic headway as an agro-industrial center in the region. Already, areas suitable for industrial sites have been consolidated to provide easy entry for investors.
Great opportunities exist for complementation between these SEZ’s and those found in the eastern coast of Cebu such as the MEPZ I and II and others.
Tagbilaran City serves as a major service center for various tourism packages in the province. Three (3) major tourism circuits have been identified that offer diverse attraction to tourists and guests.
On top of all these, the Local Government Unit is providing a vibrant atmosphere for investments in Bohol. A Provincial Investment Code is being enacted to spell investment mechanism and incentives which are investor-friendly. Special assistance and services will also be extended in the Ecozones.
The Bohol Investment Promotion Center has been set up to cater to investors’ needs.
MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE
AIRPORT
Development programs at the city airport involve the extension of the
runway length to 2,500 meters, to handle the PAL B-737s that will serve
the direct route to Manila. The small Fokker 50 planes that used to fly
the Manila-Tagbilaran route has been phased out. Improvement of the ramp
area will soon accommodate bigger aircraft and a modern airport building
will also be constructed.
SEAPORT
The Tagbilaran City wharf has fine port facilities such as:
265.8 meters - berth length and 2 dedicated berths for fast boats
2 RORO ramps, 18,200 sq. m. storage area
average cargo handling capacity of 49,000 tons accommodating 10 to
20 footer vans
container traffic of 5, 142 TEUs
A port expansion project in Tagbilaran City costing P 85 Million is
being pursued for the construction of additional berthing space for fast
ferries.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Bohol is wired with the rest of the world through the state-of-the-art
telephone facilities which provide domestic and international linkages.
This is made possible by 3 service providers namely : PLDT, Cruztelco and
Islacom. Cellular phone firms have also established entry in the province.
Access to telecommunications can also be made easily in the towns through the 138 public calling stations. Forty-three (43) pay phone stations are conveniently located in strategic places and major commercial centers in the city.
A project of Islacom involves the installation of a province-wide landline connection increasing the number of lines from 2,000 to 13,000.
Providing equally important role in Bohol’s development is the telegram/telegraph and radio services sector. Presently, the Bohol Law Enforcement Communication System (BLECS), a government operated entity can access any municipality of the province with its 42 ICOM and other radio units anytime, any day. Amateur radio clubs also exist in Bohol with more than 1,000 members that have been tapped during emergencies and calamities. TELOF, RCPI, PT & T also are providing telegraph and telegram as well as long distance services in Bohol with its 14 countries scattered in the city and municipalities.
Other communication facilities of the province include 5 radio stations in the province, all privately owned and operated, 2 of which operate in the FM band. All are located in the Tagbilaran City with a maximum output capacity of 5,000 watts and within a 20-kilometer radius coverage.
Two cable stations are operating in the province. Bohol is likewise kept well informed through various newspapers and magazines available in Bohol including 3 local weeklies with a combined total circulation of 15,000 copies as well as subscriptions to 11 national dailies. Postal and messengerial services such as LBC, DHL, JRS among others, are also operating in Bohol.
ROAD SYSTEM
The road network is well developed facilitating access to all barangays.
The P 1.2 billion Bohol Circumferential Road Project, covering a total
of 262 kilometers along the national highway, will improve the road network.
Phase I of the project, which will link about the half of the province
from Calape to Candijay, is ongoing.
AMENITIES
Bohol has adequate accommodation facilities to offer to tourist and
investors alike. In place are 6 hotels, 34 lodging/pension houses, and
39 beach resorts registered with DTI. There are about 674 rooms of varying
standards.
Other tourist facilities are 9 diving shops, 8 sports centers, 11 high-end
diving centers and 16 centers for shopping and recreation. There are 7
establishments that can cater to conventions.
Likewise, a strong and enthusiastic banking sector has enabled the province to be at par with the rest of the urban centers in the country. There are 45 banking units providing modern banking facilities.
BUSINESS CONTACTS
BOHOL INVESTMENT PROMOTION CENTER (BIPC)
Office of the Governor
Capitol Compound, Tagbilaran City
Tel. Nos. (63-38) 411-4559
Telefax No. (63-38) 501-9676
E-mail : boholipc@mozcom.com
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
2nd floor, FCB Building, CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City
Tel. Nos. (63-38) 411-302, 411-3533
Fax No. (63-38) 411-3236
E-mail : dtibohol@mozcom.com
BOHOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
4th floor, FCB Building, CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City
Telefax No. (63-38) 411-5910
SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SMED)
c/o DTI Office
2nd floor, FCB Building, CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City
Tel. Nos. (63-38) 411-3302,411-3533
Fax No. (63-38) 411-3236
E-mail : maverick@mozcom.com
TAGBILARAN CITY GOVERNMENT
City Hall Compound, Tagbilaran City
Tel. No. (63-38) 411-3130, 411-3715, 411-3720
Fax No. (63-38) 411-4405
