This major road project snakes through Tagbilaran City, Calape, Loon, Maribojoc, Cortes, Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Valencia, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Duero, Guindulman, and Candijay.

Already more than 70 percent complete, the project will have a dramatic impact in the economic upliftment of Bohol, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado said the building of the new road will cut the travel time from Calape through Tagbilaran City to Candijay from three and a half hours to only two hours.

The inauguration was made in the town of Lila with the Ambassador of Korea to the Philippines in attendance. Funded with a loan assistance from Japan, the project is implemented by Hanjin, a major Korean contractor.

The multipurpose center of Lila was jampacked with thousands of people who turned out for the inauguration. There was lusty cheering upon the arrival of the President and during her impromptu speech.

Gov. Aumentado introduced the President as the "Patroness of the development and progress of Bohol." The governor identified at least three major presidential projects that will have tremendous impact on the development of the province. These are the Bohol Circumferential Road, the Bohol Irrigation Project, and the Panglao International Airport.

In her impromptu speech, the President ordered Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Ace Durano to immediately release the R110 million earmarked to purchase the land for the development of the Panglao International Airport.

The President cited the growing role of Bohol in Philippine tourism. Last year, she said, tourist arrivals in the province already reached the half a million mark.

While Bohol used to be one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, the President said that it is now one of the most progressive.

No wonder that the leaders of Bohol, from Gov. Aumentado, Vice Gov. Julius Herrera, Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim to all the congressmen, are among the most avid supporters of the President during her times of crises.

As Rep. Edgar Chato said, no other President in Philippine history has given so much attention to Bohol. And, he added, the Boholanos are a very grateful lot.

We also have to give it to the Boholanos. Unlike politicians in other provinces, Boholano politicians manage to unite and put up a solid front when it comes to provincial development.

Unity and teamwork, as former President Ramos always says, are indeed essential for development and progress.

Boholano leaders seem to have shown us the way.