* Message of Hon. Gabrielle Venus Calizo, Vice Governor, Province of Aklan on the occasion of her Oath Taking Ceremony administered by Sen. Manuel B. Villar, Senate President, Republic of the Philippines Park Homes Country Club, Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan, June 15, 2007.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
First and foremost, my profound gratitude to the Aklanon constituency for your mandate of letting me serve you, this time as your Vice Governor. I am confident that I would be comfortable in my new job as Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan given the experience I gained as your Representative at the lower House of Congress in 2001-2004 as well as a member of this Sangguniang Panlalawigan in 1998 – 2001.
As the Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, I shall encourage the setting of an ambiance for collaboration between the legislative and the executive offices to pave for the passage of appropriate and meaningful legislations that would in effect uplift not only the economic but social and moral aspects of every Aklanon’s life. We shall endeavor to realize them simply because Aklan deserves no less than the best.
Foremost of these legislations that need our attention is the much-delayed passage of the Environment Code. Its enactment is vital for the setting up of parameters for the preservation of our environment, now threatened by unwarranted greed and lack of appropriate intervention. As Aklanon, I believe that, it is our individual and collective responsibility of being stewards to our beautiful land. We have to do something before it is too late.
Second, I would like to encourage the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to work on our Investment Incentive Code in such a way that it could entice local entrepreneurs as well as foreign investments without compromising the interests of the Aklanons particularly, its marginalized sector. I will ensure that the Investment Incentive Code will be a product of an exhaustive deliberation of key players in the business and industry sectors of our community together with government agencies concerned and the local government units.
Third, the Province needs a Tourism Code that would be crafted from its master plan vis-à-vis the tourism industry. Along with the Investment Incentive Code, the Tourism Code would set the tone for us to maximize our opportunity in view of the fact that the crown jewel of the Philippine Tourism lies along the sugar fine white beaches of Boracay.
Fourth, the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan under my watch will always conduct its legislative process strictly in accordance with what our internal rules provide. We will not cut corners for reason of expediency particularly, the need for committee and public hearings. Public information dissemination and absolute transparency on the workings of the Sanggunian will be a primary concern.
Fifth, we will be sensitive to the clamors of the people by revisiting current legislations that has elicited so much negative reactions from our constituency for one reason or another. We will exercise our legislative oversight to ensure that ordinances and resolutions are strictly implemented, and those that are no longer relevant or are in conflict with the common good of the people are reviewed to better serve their purpose.
Finally, many of us deems it necessary that all the general enactments made since 1956 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan should be codified for easy reference as well as to avoid duplication or conflict. A systematic filing of those documents would prove beneficial not only for the sake of meaningful legislations but also for the preservation of key enactments which maybe of historical value for our Province.
These are vital pieces of legislations which should have been in place by now but are not and which will form part of our legislative agenda. With the collective efforts and enthusiasm of the newly elected and re-elected members of the Sang-guniang Panlalawigan and a motivated and efficient legislative staff, I am confident that we will accomplish these in this term.
Before I conclude, may I be clear about my view that we as a people could only progress meaningfully into the future if we join hands together, carry our stones in building a better Aklan for all of us to live in peace and prosperity. Towards this end then, I encourage the Governor to propose a balance budget based on the expected realizable income of the Province capable of delivering the services with utmost impact on our constituents.
Thus, we commence rolling our sleeves to build a better Aklan.
Good afternoon./MP
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