TAGBILARAN CITY, July 8 (PIA)–With P202 million revenues generated from effected reforms in tax campaign, collection and its enterprises in 2014-2015, Tagbilaran City opts to use its extra revenues to bankroll its investments in education in youth and in sports development.
In an unprecedented move by a local government ,Tagbilaran City officials led by Mayor John Geesnel Yap braved and veered away from a path which should have been handing to them an easy reelection courtesy of the taxpayers.
“Simply, this time, ordinary local government units would almost always opt for infrastructure, considering a vertical or horizontal project packs a hefty positive response, for the P202 million , Â would be greatly appreciated by the electorate,” a political observer shared during the State of the City Address at the Bohol Cultural Center (BCC), July 1.
In his SOCA however, Mayor Yap, apparently inspired by Tagbilaran City scholar Ladielyn G. Fuderanan, who emerged one of the country’s top 10 criminology students, announced an increased allocation of P4 million to city scholarship funds in 2015-2016.
The  well-applauded announcement, followed his revelation that the City government has paid for the scholarship of 606 college students and has produced 215 graduates ever since.
The mayor, who took on the podium in a full Sangguniang Panlungsod session also said his administration would increase the city’s Special Education funds for infrastructure to P7.7 million, again to another round of applause from appreciative Tagbilaranons who celebrated their 49th Charter Day on the day of the SOCA.
More than that, the first term mayor who inherited the city form an uncle, also bared that the City Local School Board, through Resolution No. 004 has apportioned the City Public Schools an infrastructure budget of P44,163,963.00.
Hit and crippled by the 2013 earthquake, the city’s appropriated funds go for the construction of 16 new additional classrooms, a school gymnasium, computer and food processing lab, a welding shop, library and sports center lab as well as covered courts equipping the city’s public secondary high schools as it steps into the K12 program.
Over the city’s continuously attracting migrants and their families, the mayor, who understands how crucial an  investment in education  is- have partnered with various Public-Private-Partnership initiatives, and a total of 43 new classrooms all over the city’s districts  stand as proud proofs of collaboration and convergence.
With 2014 Brigada Eskwela, 2ND place regional finish for Booy Elementary School and a national award for Mansasa National High School, the city is now stretching out for more partnerships with education stakeholders to fill in the gaps which the government may not be able to quickly fill in.
Over the years too, the city has provided regular nutritional supplemental feeding in its 34 day care centers, to which the Administration plans to install air-conditioning units.
Having distinguished itself with an over-all champion in Boholympics 2015, the city has also upped its Special Education Fund for Sports and Development to P3.5 M, seeing the good performance of city athletes.
At the Batang Pinoy Qualifying leg in Kalibo Aklan, Tagbilaran City contingent ranked 5th out of the 145 competing LGUs in the entire Visayas Region. At the 2015 CVIRAA, the city athletes also came home with the standing as 6th place in the region reaping 10 golds, 22 silvers, and 25 bronze medals. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)