July-August 2016 Issue • Vol. 12 No. 3

As your Vice-Governor, I was so delightful and joyous of your attendance today together with your working staff to the Legislative Summit of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao del Norte for Term 2016-2019. For all of you to be apprised, I immediately instructed our Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to cause the immediate or earliest conduct of this very signifiant event of our Department based on our consensus in our recently-held Transition Conference.

As we all know, Legislative Summit is a parliamentary parlance for meeting of minds or convergence of thoughts of the legislative members. This activity of ours will signal the start in fully exercising our legislative, quasi-judicial and oversight functions. Needless to say, our mandate as an independent and separate Department from that of the Executive Department will be placed or put into test on how we are going to handle the draconian or rigorous task of check and balance, policy direction and most of all, the scheme and strategy on how to deliver the people’s expectations for local development.

Nowadays, it can be keenly observed that recent political developments have given our people with fresh hopes, inspirations and solid aspirations. We in the SP should take advantage of said political landscape by combining our public service mindsets and individual agenda towards common goal of building and sustaining a best province. Our goal shall be oriented with the true dynamics of public governance through responsible, accountable and classless local legislation. Let us harmonize our efforts towards a systematic approach that all sectors of the society must be given equal treatment and allocation in local government resources so as not to promote partiality and bias in serving the Dabaonon people. They all deserve to have a quality life under our watch as their chosen leaders.

For this Term 2016-2019 who are composed of experienced incumbent legislators and new members whose background in local legislation is beyond compare for having served in full term their respective city and municipal councils, it has certainty that we can surmount the challenges and obstacles ahead of us. In the discharge of our functions, let us always remember the popular adage or saying, “United we stand, divided we fall”, and let me further add for emphasis based on the New Testament that “If a House be divided against itself, that House cannot stand”. That House in the Bible may be referred to us and we all know that family dwells in the House. Let not our political affiiations, personal differences and individual idealism wreck our Legislative House that shields our peoples’ agenda.

May I be allowed to take the chance of announcing before you my Open-Door-Policy type of governance in a general perspective. This Policy that I am going to impose together with your unwavering support will bring the Legislative Department closer to the people. In this paradigm, all the areas of legislation such as governance, administration, social services, economic development and environmental management will be given complete importance by intensifying legwork through gathering information, research and backstopping. This will enable our constituents to access the available solution or answer to their various concerns and problems. I am also bent in capitalizing the human resources of our Department by providing them trainings, career advancement through the Davao del Norte Learning Institute and alongside with them are high-end technologies that will make their works at par with corporate communities. These will make the legislative services in our Department available always for transacting public 24/7. As to the upgrading of our work stations and facilities, we will exert efforts in sourcing of funds to construct our dream structure – the New Legislative Hall to be situated in a vacant area fronting the Provincial Health Offie Building. Let it be an edifie of legacy for Term 2016-2019 with God’s help and blessings. This precious time that we are going to spend here is the dateline allotted for the successful mobilization of our Department Vision and Mission that will bring forth the good harvest of development for our Province. This legislative summit that we are going to undertake is an initial step of Sangguniang Panlalawigan to reach the peak of progress that our constituents rightfully deserve. Good luck to all of us and let’s buckle up to work. Thank you. ES-LU