DAVAO ORIENTAL – Vice Governor Niño Sotero L. Uy Jr. calls for unity among the “youngest and millennial batch of legislators ever assembled in the province” during his speech at the Inaugural Session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan on July 6, 2022 at SP Session Hall, Government Center, Barangay Dahican, City of Mati.

“I am privileged to offer you the warmest welcome to the 17th SP, this is our hall, our workplace and our home for the next 1,090 days counting today. In this hall, dreams are pursued, impact is created and new ideas are nurtured,” Vice Governor Uy said.

He dubbed the inaugural session as the “beginning of another adventure, a new dedication, a new hope, and a new spirit among us all.”

Now on his third term as vice-governor, Uy still committed himself “to observe the rule of equity, fairness and compassion in his dealings with every member of the Sanggunian.”

“Each shall be my constant main and earnest endeavor to reconcile clashing and deferring opinions to a lay animosities upholding the ideals of transparency and accountability in my administration of the affairs of this honorable institution,” Vice Governor Uy said.

He also devoted himself to a “more decentralize approach which operates in the hierarchy of participation, teamwork and consultation.”

Through the continuation of their legislative on-wheels program and mobile sessions in all towns with the annual Sanggunian Friendship Games and Fellowship, Vice Governor Uy ensures camaraderie and legislative synergism among all Sanggunian in the province.

Eight of the 10 regular members of the Sanggunian are newly elected while two are re-elected. The re-elected regular members are Senior Board Member Hon. Nelson Dayanghirang Jr. and Hon. Nenette Palmera, both from District 1.

Three of the 8 new board members are Hon. Anna Cheryl Nuñez-Castro, Hon. Art Benjie Bulaong and Hon. Andy Monday of district one. Meanwhile, four of the five elected board members of district 2 are neophyte officials. They are are Hon. Shella Marie Go, Hon. Harold Montes, Hon. Rotchie Ravelo, and Hon. Stephen Paul Uy. Hon. Daug Linsag is back as a Board Member after taking respite for two terms.

The four ex-officio members remain instated. They are Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation President Ronald Lara Jr., Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Rustan Castillones, Councilors League of the Philippines Provincial President Atty. Manuel Lepardo, Jr., and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Eleuterio Manaytay.

CALLING FOR UNITY

“There is a lot more that unite us, than divide us,” Vice Governor Uy reminding his colleagues that the responsibilities to safeguard the trust of the people “lie on our shoulders.”

“Whatever political grouping each one of us may belong, we must be conscious of the fact that our people are truly desirous of good governance,” he said.

The Vice Governor challenged the board members to be the agents in championing development through policy legislation that aims at defeating poverty, ensuring food stability, improving health and social services, investing in education, sustaining peace and security, creating more jobs, livelihood and economic opportunities, and addressing other social challenges that “held us back and slowed our development – all of which are thrusts of the local chief executive Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon. 

The last-termer vice governor encouraged the board members to strengthen its programs to the grassroots through installing liaison personnel at the purok, sitio and barangay-levels to make public services accessible to everyone and fortify partnership with national government agencies, provincial offices, local government units and private sector.

According to Vice Governor Uy, committees under the 17th Sanggunian will be finalized next week “as we head towards a proactive work in support to the leadership of Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon.

“Much have been given us and much will rightfully be expected from us,” he said encouraging the board members to “walk steadily forward in the path of duty, indulging the hope that our united efforts for the promotion of welfare of our fellow oriental Dabawenyos.”

Vice Governor Uy is amenable that he cannot do it all by himself and he needs help from his co-public servant.

“Certainly, your strength can make-up for my weakness and your knowledge can help minimize my mistakes. We simply cannot fail and we must not fail,” Vice Governor Uy concluded. By Van Jorain Rufin, Photos by Eden Jha Licayan