For three days Daan is governor, Sybico is vice governor

CEBU, Philippines -  Board Member Julian “Teban” Daan has agreed to sit as acting governor for three days starting today while Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale are abroad.

Daan sits as speaker Pro Tempore at the Provincial Board. The one next in line, Board Member Thaddeus Jude Sybico, will assume as acting vice governor.

Magpale will assume as acting governor when she returns on Monday and, by then, Daan will assume as acting vice governor and preside the session of the Provincial Board, also on Monday. This arrangement will continue until Garcia returns from the United States on October 9.

Daan told reporters he was hesitant to accept the designation at first when he was informed about it during the Provincial Board session last Monday. His immediate reaction, he said, was that he could never be governor even in his “wildest dreams.”

This is not the first time that Daan assumed as acting governor. During the term of then governor and current Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, he was also designated as such.

PB Majority Floor Leader Peter John Calderon said “there is no cause for concern because everything is in place and the department heads are ready for any eventuality.” After all, Daan will only hold the position for three short days.

Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda earlier advised Daan to take a leave of absence should he decide not to accept the responsibility so that Sybico could assume the position.

Garcia brought Magpale with her to Jeju, Korea for the formal installation of Cebu Province as member of the Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP) Forum now composed of nine island provinces in East Asia.

Garcia is also invited as speaker to the 15th ITOP forum under the theme of “MICE Industry and Tourism Vision”.

“I would like to start this new membership also with Agnes Magpale who has the background and experience well established in the ITOP,” she said.

Garcia attended the same forum last year in Sanya, Hainan Province, China where she promoted Cebu as a tourism destination.

The members of ITOP are Jeju, Korea; Okinawa, Japan; Southern Province, Sri Lanka; Canary Islands, Spain; Hainan, China; Bali, Indonesia; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Hawaii, USA and Phuket, Thailand.

After the forum, Garcia will proceed to the US to be with her daughter who gave birth to her third grandchild. – (FREEMAN)