Gwen to take oath ahead of schedule

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the rest of the members of One Cebu Party who were victorious in the last May 10 elections will take their oath two days ahead of their original schedule.

One Cebu spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda yesterday announced that the oath taking will be held on June 28 instead of the June 30 still at the Cebu International Convention Center. Sepulveda said it will be President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who will administer the oath taking.

Sepulveda said that the change of schedule was because of the availability of President Arroyo. Sepulveda said they are now closely coordinating with the Presidential Management Staff which is in-charge of the president’s visit.

According to Sepulveda, aside from Governor Garcia, those who are expected to take their oath before President Arroyo are the provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors and municipal councilors.

Sepulveda stressed that the party decision to take their oath before Arroyo is in gratitude for the projects implemented in Cebu during the nine years of the Arroyo administration.

Sepulveda said that under the Arroyo administration several projects were implemented in Cebu. These include the Cansaga Bay North Coastal Road and the tunnel at the Plaza Independencia.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Board has honored seven of its outgoing members during its regular session yesterday.

Provincial board members Juan Bolo, Jose Maria Gastardo, Rosemarie Durano, Victor Maambong and Teresita Celis received a plaque of appreciation and a framed picture of each of them sketched by an artist using charcoal, as souvenirs, from Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez.

The two other honorees, PB members Victoria Corominas and Wenceslao Gakit, who both failed in their reelection bid during the last May elections, were absent in yesterday’s ceremony.

The plaque and the framed picture of Corominas were received by her staff while incoming sixth district provincial board member Thadeo Ouano received on behalf of Gakit.

Celis, president of the Federation of the Association of Barangay Councils in the province, was elected as Mayor of the Municipality of Boljoon.

In his message, Sanchez thanked the outgoing members of the provincial board and acknowledged contribution to the legislative department. According to Sanchez, Maambong and the other members of the provincial board showed their talents and cooperation in serving the Cebuanos.

In response, the controversial board member Bolo said he had been serving the public for more than 33 years with almost half of it he spent as member of the provincial board. According to him, despite the controversies and the shortcomings he have had, he has no regrets for having served the people.

 “I have no regrets in serving the Cebuanos,” he said.

Bolo, who was tagged as the architect of the controversial Balili transaction, lost in his reelection bid. Gastardo, Maambong and Durano are barred from seeking reelection after having completed their three terms.

“Dili gayud ako malimot sa tanan nakong mga kaubanan sa hunta probinsyal nga misabot nako,” Gastardo said.

For Maambong, he served the Cebuanos for more than 38 years, starting from the Kabataang Barangay, now the Sangguniang Kabataan, member of the municipal council of Consolacion, president of the Philippine Councilors League-Cebu province chapter and nine years as member of the provincial board.

“Dili nako makalimtan ang akong kasinatian nga naka silbi sa mga Sugbuanon, uban ni Gobernador Gwen Garcia ug Bise Gobernador Gregorio Sanchez Jr. ilabi na nga nagpabilin ang Cebu nga usa ka premier Province sa tibuok nasud,” Maambong said.

Maambong tried his luck in Consolacion as candidate for mayor but lost in the last elections. (THE FREEMAN)