MICHAEL MEDINA
Online news editor
OZAMIZ CITY: GOOD news greets Misamisnons last July 23 when Gov. Loreto Ocampos was elected president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).
With Ocampos are governors L-Ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur elected as chairman and Joel Reyes of Palawan as executive vice president.
The LPP’s immediate past president is Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administered the oath of office of the LPP new set of officers.
In a press statement obtained by Misamis Probe, the LPP said that under the Ocampos-Villafuerte leadership, there will be a continuance of the league’s advocacy toward getting what should be the rightful share of the local government units in terms of resources, local autonomy and the full powers brought about by devolution.
Ocampos, in accepting the presidency of the LPP underlined three goals in what he described as an administration marked by collective leadership.
These are: increasing public service, capacity building of the members of the league and listen to the specific concerns of the governors.
In a separate interview with Ocampos, he stressed that it will be his priority to increase the budgets of cities and municipalities in the provinces.
“Mas daghanon pa nato ang serbisyo atong ihatag kaninyo,” he said.
“Charity begins at home, maningkamot ta nga adunay heavy concentration diri sa ato pero we’ll also work for other provinces,” he added.
“Ang atong trabaho team work ni, murag basketbol. Ako’y mangita sa bola ug ipasa nato sa mga mayor.”
Villafuerte, for his part, rallied his colleagues to not only have “one voice but a resounding voice in fighting for what is due us,” including a higher share in national taxes.
He added that the first agenda of the league would be to work for the release of the P33-billion balance of the LGUs’ share in the 2000 and 2001 internal revenue allotment.
The two governors said that part of the programs of the league would be for the governors to protect each other, crossing party lines and political affiliations.
Toward increasing public service at local governments, Ocampos envisions a peaceful collaboration between the LPP and the different sectors of the national government and Congress.
He added that the leadership of the league would be conducting a survey among all the governors to get their expectations from the league and the issues that they think should be taken up collectively, and use it as inputs for the strategic planning and direction setting of the LPP.
Aside from Ocampos and Villafuerte, the other officers elected by the League include: Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes as executive vice-president; Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano as vice-president for Northern Luzon; Oriental Mindoro Gov. Arnan Panaligan, vice-president for Southern Luzon; Antique Gov. Savacion Zaldivar-Perez, vice president for the Visayas; Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes, vice President for Mindanao and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, secretary-general.
PGMA with the Governors during the Joint LPP-ULAP General Assembly held on November 8-9, 2004 at Century Park HotelFrom left to right (seating): Gov. Fua (Siquijor), Gov. Yap (Tarlac), Gov. Sanchez (Batangas), Gov. Ortega (La Union), Gov. Sato (Occ. Mindoro), Gov. Aumentado (Bohol & LPP-ULAP President), President Arroyo, Gov. Perez (Antique), Gov. Palma Gil (Davao Oriental), Gov. Cerilles (Zamboanga del Sur), Gov. Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte), Gov. Cuaresma (Nueva Vizcaya)From left to right (standing): Gov. Gonzalez (Albay), Gov. Ylagan (Romblon), Gov. Bermejo (Capiz), Gov. Marcos (Ilocos Norte), Gov. Evardone (Eastern Samar), Gov. Verceles (Catanduanes), Gov. Lee (Sorsogon), Gov. Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Gov. Joson (Nueva Ecija), Gov. Magsaysay (Zambales), Gov. Singson (Ilocos Sur), Gov. Valera (Abra), Gov. Lerias (Southern Leyte), Gov. Sahali (Tawi-Tawi), Gov. Loong (Sulu), Gov. Gementiza (Davao del Norte), Gov. Marquez (Aklan), Gov. Ynares (Rizal), Gov. Reyes (Palawan), Gov. Yebes (Zamboanga del Norte) and Gov. Bacani (Quirino)