LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Newly elected provincial officials led by Governor –elect Crescencio Pacalso took their oath of office and vowed to continue and sustain the projects and programs started by the outgoing administration.
Pacalso was sworn into office by Regional Trial Court Branch 63 Judge Jennifer Humiding and witnessed by his wife Jane Galpo-Pacalso, their two children Kresdale May and CJ Nathaniel and other members of his family.
Outgoing Governor Nestor Fongwan turned-over symbolic materials to Pacalso such as provincial banner, cane as symbol of leadership and vital documents needed by the incoming administration.
In his inaugural speech, Pacalso said with the province leading the way to human development he would like to maintain and sustain such giving priority to health, livelihood and education started by the past administration.
On health, he stressed on the need to upgrade equipment of the five district hospitals in the province namely the Abatan Emergency Hospital, Atok District Hospital, Dennis Molintas Municipal Hospital, Itogon Municipal Hospital, and Kapangan Medicare and Community Hospital.
He sought the cooperation of public servants in pushing for government programs including the private sector to pursue with their corporate social responsibility in improving the lives of the people who will be directly affected. He expressed confidence of the help to be extended by re-electionist Congressman Ronald Cosalan.
With his long experience in public service as once a government employee, three-termer mayor of Itogon and three-termer vice governor of the province, Pacalso sought everybody’s help and cooperation for the next three years of his administration as he assured that he will not leave the ground hanging as what he mentioned in his campaign sorties. He further assured he will render honest, sincere and dedicated service to the province.
Meanwhile, part of the transition report presented during the turn-over rites were the 1,600 provincial personnel, provincial assets worth P2 billion and cash funds amounting to P1.16 billion of which P949 million was appropriated for the 2016 budget.
He also mentioned those procured during his administration such as the five- hectare lot in San Pascual, Tuba under the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian; nine-hectare lot in Bulala, Sablan under the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and 800 square meters located at Diego Silang, Baguio City now registered with the provincial government as devolved property from the Department of Agriculture.
Also turned over were infrastructure facilities such as the Multi-Purpose Gymnasium worth P76 million; Grandstand worth P6 million; Capitol Building II worth P86 million complemented by rewards pooled from various sources such as cash awards, real property tax from Luzon hydro and from the Office of the President; Bahay Pagasa, a halfway center for abused women, children and children in conflict with the law.
Projects which are ongoing include the World Bank funded Philippine Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture with two road improvements for Atok; the KALSADA or the Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran Program under the Department of Interior and Local Government along the Halsema Highway and the Benguet Training Center in Wangal./JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet
