Six members of the Palawan Provincial Board (PB) bid goodbye during their last session on Tuesday.
The outgoing legislators were board members Roseller Pineda, Sonny Batul, Marivic Roxas, Winston Arzaga, and ex-officio members Dennis Sabando and Joel Lumis.
Pineda said he will focus on his family.
“Gagawin muna natin ang mga bagay na hindi natin nagawa habang nandoon tayo sa trabaho bilang board member. Unang-una ay ang pamilya at ang sarili naman,” he said.
Roxas became emotional during her privilege speech as she thanked the provincial government.
“I am very happy for giving me the chance to have your trust and confidence. In my humble capacity na minsan ay naging acting vice governor din,” Roxas said.
Pineda and Roxas ran the mayoralty races in Taytay and Bataraza respectively, but lost their bids.
Roxas mayor-elect Dennis Sabando also gave his farewell message as an ex-officio board member and president of the Association of Barangay Chairman (ABC).
Aborlan councilor-elect Joel Lumis will also leave his post as the Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) at the provincial board.
The new members of the PB are board members-elect Juan Antonio Alvarez, Ryan Maminta, Maria Angela Sabando, and Cesareo Benedito.
Sabando said her priority will be proposing laws that will improve education in Palawan.
“‘Yong first priority ko, like sa Roxas, ‘yong first priority project ko is education. But if the Provincial Board will give me social services because it’s one of my fortes during my reign as the local chief executive of Roxas, then I’m willing to accept the committee on education, social services, and health,” Sabando said.
Benedito, on the other hand, said he will focus on the development of agriculture in southern Palawan.
“Nakikita natin na kailangan talaga mapalago ang sektor ng agrikultura sa south, kaya ‘yon ang ating dapat tutukan kapag tayo ay opisyal ng naupo,” he said.
Arzaga will be the new provincial information officer
Former provincial board member Winston Arzaga will be appointed as the provincial information officer of the provincial government effective July.
Arzaga said that he was designated as the new information officer replacing Ceasar Sammy Magbanua.
Magbanua was designated as OIC PIO after former information officer Atty. Gil Acosta Jr. filed his certificate of candidacy for 3rd legislative district rep.
Arzaga said that he is only waiting for the appointment paper.
“I will assume as a provincial information officer, effective this July. So, parang kunting bakasyon lang at balik ulit sa trabaho,” he said.
In addition, newly-elected 2nd Legislative District House Rep. Cyrille Abueg will also assume her post in the House of Representative on July 1.
Re-elected officials are Vice Governor Dennis Socrates of Partidong Pagbabago ng Palawan (PPP), Sangguniang Panlalawigan re-elected board members David Ponce de Leon, Onsoy Ola, and Cherry Pie Acosta and incumbent House Rep. Franz Josef “Chicoy” Alvarez of the 1st Legislative District who ran unopposed.
Meanwhile, all newly and re-elected officials for the provincial level, including municipal mayors, are set to take their oath on June 30.
