New Bohol provincial administrator assumes post

Amid Bohol’s still patriarchal government—with only 23 women holding mayoral and vice-mayoral seats out of 94 available posts—newly installed Governor Arthur Yap chose two women to hold top positions in his administration.

One of them is Kathyrin Pioquinto, a lawyer, who is now Bohol’s provincial administrator. She is the second female PA next to Tessie Pernia, who served Bohol under former governor Rene Relampagos in the late 90s.

Yap introduced Pioquinto and Giselle Quimpo, his chief of staff, during the Capitol’s first flag-raising ceremony under the new administration on Tuesday.

According to Yap, he first worked with Pioquinto at the Department of Agriculture (DA).

She was a legal consultant at the DA from January, 2007 to June, 2010.

“I’d like to introduce first a lawyer by profession, educated at the University of the Philippines and the San Beda School of Law, my provincial administrator, who I have been with since my days in the Department of Agriculture, way lain kundi sa Atty. Kathyrin Pioquinto,” Yap said, addressing Capitol officials and employees.

Prior to assuming the PA post, Pioquinto was chief political affairs officer for Yap at the House of Representatives.

She earned her law degree at the San Beda College of Law in 2005 and her journalism degree at the University of the Philippines in 2000.

(left to right) Governor Arthur Yap introduces his team, Kathyrin Pioquinto, Giselle Quimpo and Nilo Ahat to provincial government officials and employees during the first flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol under the Yap administration on Tuesday.

Pioquinto replaced Alfonso Damalerio II who served as Bohol’s PA for nine years under former governor Edgar Chatto. Damalerio has reportedly chosen to venture into the private sector.

A PA is widely considered as the alter ego of the governor but by definition under the Local Government Code, the PA develops “plans and strategies upon approval thereof by the governor or mayor.”

These plans and strategies may involve management and administration-related programs and projects which the governor may implement.

Meanwhile, Yap also appointed two other key officials in his administration, Quimpo and Atty. Nilo Ahat as chief legal counsel.

“I met this girl since my days in the National Food Authority. I met her in one of the our warehouses in the provinces, she was doing good work,” said Yap of Quimpo.

Quimpo previously worked with the office of the Presidential Adviser on Job Creation of the Presidential Management Staff.

She obtained a master’s degree in Public Management from the Ateneo de Manila University.