PB Honors Outgoing Colleagues, Welcomes Davide as New Presiding Officer

Outgoing Vice Gov. Agnes A. Magpale presided the session of the 14th Sanguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Monday, June 24, 2019 for the last time.

Magpale and five other outgoing members of the Provincial Board (PB) were honored during the session, as new members, including outgoing Governor and Vice Governor-elect Hilario P. Davide III, were also welcomed for the 15th SP.

Magpale, whose term will end on Sunday, June 30, thanked the PB, Davide and the Cebuanos for the great support given to her during her stint in the Capitol.

Davide, in his speech, assured the members of the 15th PB of his full support and cooperation.

“I won’t be an obstructionist, and I will support the legislative agenda,” said Davide during the recognition and turnover ceremonies.

During the turnover ceremony, Magpale handed over the gavel, the symbol of authority of the presiding officer, to Davide who will be leading the 15th PB. The new set of legislators will have their inaugural session on Monday, July 1.

Magpale, who was with the Cebu Provincial Government for 24 years as a legislator, as an acting governor and a vice governor said that she served the Cebuanos with the best of her ability and she did not have any regret.

“In general the three-year journey of the 14th SP has been cordial, professional, productive and successful,” Magpale said in her farewell speech.

Many times, Magpale said that she and the PB members crossed party lines to let public interest prevail over partisanship.

“Nagkuyog ta bisan di ta kauban (We were together even if we are not partymates),” she said, as she also recognized the help of the PB secretariat and her staff at the Vice Governor’s Office.

Magpale thanked Davide for his generosity.

“You have introduced the culture of generosity, the favours you granted to everyone, allies or non-allies,” Magpale said of Davide in thanking him.

Although they are not allies, Davide reiterated his intention to support the administration of incoming Gov. Gwen Garcia.

“I assure her of my support. Adunay gamay nga kakulian, gamay nga isyu, but Im sure ma-resolve ni,” Davide said. “Gusto ko makig-friends niya, pero og dili siya, di ko mamugos.”

Outgoing PB Members Glenn Bercede, Alex Binghay, Sun Shimura, Jude Thaddeus Durano Sybico, and ex-officio member Earl Tidy Oyas were given due recognition for their exemplary performance as provincial lawmakers.

With Davide leading helm of the 15th Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the rest of the members are Raul Bacaltos and Yolanda Daan (first district), Edsel Galeos and Jose Mari Salvador (second district), Victoria Corominas and John Ismael Borgonia ( third district), Horacio Franco and Kerrie Keane Shimura (fourth district), Miguel Antonio Magpale and Andrei Duterte (fifth district), Thadeo Jovito Ouano and Glenn Soco (sixth district), and Jerome Librando and Christopher Baricuatro (seventh district).

Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu Federation President Celestino Martinez III and Sangguniang Kabataan Cebu Federation President Jerico Rubio will also continue to sit in the PB as ex-officio members.

From 2016 to 2019, the 14th PB has authored a total of 2,588 committee reports, 4,168 resolutions and approved a total of 52 ordinances. (Cebu Provincial Govt.)