Bohol again drew praise on Tuesday from the chief economic planner in Central Visayas as the province’s poverty incidence dropped by 8.9 percent from 2012 to 2015.

Bohol posted the largest poverty reduction rate in three years among provinces in the region including Negros Oriental, said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 7 director Efren Carreon during a special meeting of the Regional Development Council in Cebu City.

According to Carreon, Cebu’s poverty incidence posted a downtick of 1 percent while more households in Siquijor considered themselves “poor” in the same three-year period.

Carreon attributed Bohol’s achievement to the eco-tourism industry in the province as he pointed out the lack of large processing plants, which are considered to be economic drivers, in the province. 

The NEDA official expressed optimism that Bohol’s progress in battling poverty will continue in the forthcoming years as the New Bohol Airport is completed and expected to draw more tourist and generate employment.

For his part, Gov. Edgar Chatto ascribed the development to efforts of other officials in the province and the support of regional government offices.

Chatto particularly cited the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Tourism as those that contributed to the province’s growth. (Rey Tutas)