Leyte guv asks local officials to do more for poor communities

PALO, Leyte, June 28 (PNA) –- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla urged new and old local officials in the province to take extra steps to reach out far-flung and poor communities.

In his inaugural speech during the mass oath taking of elected officials from different parts of the province on Sunday, Petilla asked district representatives, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and town councilors to ensure that needs of poor residents are being addressed.

“Perform your duty well and serve your constituency better. Ensure that all efforts are exerted for services of the government to reach even the farthest place in their constituency,” the governor told local officials packed at the Leyte Academic Center Gymnassium.

The re-elected governor was joined by his brother, former Leyte Governor and Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho. Also present was his wife, Sharon, his father, former Leyte Governor Leopoldo and mother, Palo town Mayor Remedios, who also served as governor of Leyte for nine years.

Court of Appeals Associate Justice Edgardo Delos Santos administered the oath of office of Petilla.

Joining in the oath taking ceremony were newly-elected officials from the 40 towns of Leyte and Baybay, a chartered city of Leyte province.

The municipal and city officials took their oath of office to regional trial judges in RTC Branches in Leyte province.

Leyte Vice-Governor Carlo Loreto, along with the newly-elected provincial board members also took their oath administered by An Waray Party-list Representative Victoria Isabel Noel.

While the two newly-elected district representatives - Henry Ong (2nd district) and Vicente Veloso (3rd district) took their oath of office before Petilla.

Under his second term, Petilla promised to continue giving focus on agriculture industry severely hurt by super typhoon Yolanda in November 8, 2013 when he was just five months as governor.

To harness this opportunity, Petilla said that marketing of agriculture products in Leyte will be widened and production and competitiveness will be increased to achieve the target of his administration.

“Even if we will continue to invest in agriculture and infrastructure, we will not take our focus on education, social services and other initiatives to empower our farmers making them true productive and contributors to the continuing cycle of opportunity and progress,” he added. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR