Daan's first act as acting guv: Signs travel orders

CEBU, Philippines - Signing travel orders for two Capitol department heads yesterday was the first official act of Provincial Board Member Julian “Teban” Daan as acting Governor of Cebu.

Daan signed the travel orders of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Cristina Giango and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy for Manila to attend the declaration of the islands of Camotes and Malapascua as Rabies Free Zone.

Today, Daan will be meeting the officials of Saranggani Province who are having a lakbay-aral in Cebu.

Daan said he has no problem meeting with the officials led by Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez for they are already known to each others.

Daan admitted that he was hesitant until yesterday to act as Governor in the absence of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, who are in South Korea, for lack of the official designation.

Garcia was supposed to issue memorandum to Magpale to assume as acting governor. But because she brought Magpale along, the latter was supposed to issue memorandum to Daan who then supposed to issue the same to Board Member Thaddeus Jude Sybico to be the acting vice governor.

Capitol lawyers however said there is no need for written memorandum. According to them, when the higher officials travel abroad, the next in rank shall automatically assume the responsibility.

Daan said Provincial Secretary Aniceta Pasaylo helped to convince him to automatically assume as acting Governor even without the memorandum.

“Maayo man gud to’ng may memorandum kay mahibawo ta unsay function sa acting governor kay naa mana’y limitation,” Daan said.

One important limitation is that the acting governor cannot hire, suspend, remove or fire employees, he said. Daan sits as speaker Pro Tempore at the Provincial Board.

Daan is supposed to sit as acting vice governor had Magpale stay behind.

Garcia and Magpale are attending 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.

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. — (FREEMAN)