Bohol on rehab mode after quake

The Bohol provincial government will build temporary shelters to replace tents occupied by families displaced by the Oct. 15 earthquake before the end of the month.

“We’ll start with the rehabilitation of houses. We will build temporary short-term shelters to replace tents so Boholanos can get back their confidence. We also need prayers so that the aftershocks will stop,” Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto said.

Chatto outlined his administration’s plans to Cebu media and bloggers at the Governor’s Mansion in Tagbilaran City last Sunday.

The media group was part of a Skip trip tour to Bohol organized by 2GO Group in partnership with the Travel Village and Tours.

The activity was in response to Chatto’s call to revive the tourism industry following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol.

Chatto also disclosed that:

Rehabilitation of roads and bridges will take a month.

However it will take a longer period for the reconstruction of infrastructure especially those that are considered replacements.

Although he did not elaborate, Chatto said only 3 major bridges are affected.

Alternate roads have been identified to provide access to people but Chatto said this will be temporary until the main roads are repaired.

The national government is prioritizing the rebuilding of hospitals.

While the government wants to restore the damaged churches which are part of Bohol’s heritage, it will take time and will need more funds.

He is upbeat about the province’s tourism industry despite the earthquake. “Bohol’s attractions have not diminished but added,” he said.

Since the ruins of the centuries-old stone churches and the cracked earth have attracted visitors, Chatto said they are even thinking of creating another tourism package in Bohol, the Geo-Science tour of Bohol.

In fact, land rose between Maribojoc and Loon because of the geological disruption, he said.

“Bohol will be a good learning center for culture, arts, heritage, environment and geology,” Chatto said.

As government moves from relief operations to rehabilitation efforts, Chatto said all structural engineers are urged to inspect houses and buildings.

“No problem with people with resources or access to loans. We have to fix infrastructure in the province,” Chatto said.

Since there are still thousands of displaced families, relief operations will continue but this time, hand in hand with rehabilitation efforts.

Based on Oct. 26 data posted at the operations center of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the seven hardest-hit towns are Loon, Maribojoc, Tubigon, San Isidro, Antequera, Sagbayan and Catigbian.

The number of damaged houses was placed at 12,102; partially-damaged houses numbered 55,846. The number of households fully affected were 14,233 while partially affected houses were 38,342. Chatto said the economic impact of the earthquake has never been calculated to reflect quantifiable impact.

Still the governor said the calamity also spurred demand for goods, food and other needs.