Newly-elected Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Bohol president Jescelo Adiong and other new officials of the organization took their oath before Governor Arthur Yap on Monday morning, three days after their elections.
Adiong, a councilor from Loay who is allied with Yap’s Padayon Bol-anon coalition, won over his lone opponent Baclayon Councilor Jodel Cabahug by a narrow margin as he garnered 241 votes over the latter’s 224 votes during the elections held last Friday at the Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City.
The winning councilors were sworn into their posts by Yap at the Capitol.
Other key officials of PCL-Bohol who took their oath before the governor were the following:
- Vice President – Jonas Cacho of Tagbilaran City
- Vice-President Internal – Vieto Racho of Dauis
- Vice President External – Tiburcio Bullecer Jr. of Loay
- Vice President for 1st Dist. – Atty. Danilo Palgan of Sikatuna
- Secretary-General – Maricris Jamora of Jagna
- Assistant Secretary General – Zeniza Bulalaque of Batuan
- Treasurer – Abel Llorente of Balilihan
- Assistant Treasurer – Paulino Tejano of Loay
- Auditor – Danilo Bandala of Corella
- Assistant Auditor – Pat Fuentes of Tubigon
- Business Manager – Apolinario Artiaga of Talibon
- Assistant Business Manager – Darwin Cuajao of Baclayon
- Public Relations Officer – Ongie Grace Bernales Lim of Mabini
- PRO 2nd Dist. – Gerry Garay of San Miguel
- PRO 3rd Dist. – Roland Pacatang of Sevilla
Those who were not able to take oath before Yap will instead be sworn into their posts by Adiong or other officials of the PCL.
In a short speech, Yap imparted to Adiong, who has been accorded a seat at the Bohol Provincial Board (PB) as ex-officio member, and other officials of the PCL his tourism-centric governance which he has repeatedly highlighted since taking over as governor on June 30.
“I have already simplified ang program of government ng Bohol right now, and it will be tourism. Everything about agriculture is related to tourism, everything about education, healthcare, social amelioration is to be under the umbrella of tourism,” Yap said.
Yap also asked for Adiong’s support to push at the PB one of his priorities in the 2020 budget which is the repair of district hospitals in the province.
According to Yap, he would be proposing a P500-million allocation for the repair of hospitals and the purchase of ambulances and medical equipment.
He said that he will push for the salary increase of doctors and nurses at district hospitals.
“Useless ang hospital ug mga equipment if the nurses and doctors are not well-paid. They will only be pirated,” said Yap.
The governor also bared his plan to allocate a large chunk of the budget on the purchase of more heavy equipment which will be used to improve roads in mountainous areas.
The 2020 budget will be submitted to the PB for approval later this year.
Majority of the PB members, now including Adiong, are allied with the Yap administration. (R. Tutas)