DILG: Cebu official can assume as acting vice-guv without oath taking
By Ferliza C. Contratista

Oath taking is not mandatory to appointment by succession

CEBU CITY, Jan 11 (PIA) -- Provincial Board Member Julian Daan can assume as acting vice governor of Cebu without the need of an oath- taking ceremony. 

This was the clarification given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) to one of the issues raised by Cebu acting Governor Agnes Magpale. 

Magpale has sought clarification from DILG-7 on the failure of Daan to take his oath as acting vice governor of Cebu after she vacated the position and assumed as acting governor. 

Ananias Villacorta, DILG-7 regional director, said that it is an automatic duty for Daan to assume as acting vice governor by operation of law, in the same manner that Magpale assumed office as acting governor. 

“The succession being automatic by operation of law, the requirement of an Oath of Office, therefore is not mandatory or even a pre-requisite,” Villacorta said. 

Daan, a political ally of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, was hesitant to take his oath and assume as vice governor. 

DILG wrote a memorandum to Daan on this matter and reminded him that it was not in the nature of his appointment, rather a mere reminder to him of his statutory obligation to assume his office. 

In the same letter, Villacorta said that Daan will now perform the administrative functions in the Office of the Vice Governor with all the powers vested him through Section 466 of the Local Government Code. 

According to said code, Daan, following the rule of succession, will be the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and will exercise administrative functions as head of office of the SP including the office of the vice governor. 

It also means he will have the authority to appoint employees of his office and the Offices of the Provincial Board. 

“So now I can assume as vice governor, I will preside the session, and do whatever necessary things needed as acting vice governor,” Daan said. 

Garcia was served six months suspension for usurpation and grave abuse of authority filed by the late vice governor of Cebu Gregorio Sanchez Jr. in 2010. 

Since the serving of her suspension December 19 last year, Garcia never left her office pending issuance of an applied Temporary Restraining Order. (rmn/FCC-PIA7, Cebu)

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Cebu based NGOs join 1st World Blogathon

By Amorganda A. Saludar

CEBU CITY Jan. 11 (PIA) -- Cebu Bloggers Society (CBS) organized the first World Blogathon wherein participating organizations from Cebu in the offline event include Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Island Rescue Organization (IRO), AIESEC, MIND7, Love Yourself, World Vision, and “Dok Buboy”. 

The said activity held last December intended to promote social advocacies through the digital media as representatives from each organization introduced their respective advocacies. 

RAFI communication specialist for media and public relations Nancy Cudis presented the Foundation's different focus areas and programs, including Mega Cebu Project, where RAFI is the Research, Program, and Organizational Development (RPOD) unit of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) for the said project. 

Mega Cebu Project is a 30-year master plan program and framework for a long term and collaborative planning and action towards a more sustainable city-region. 

IRO, an animal welfare organization, on the other hand called for responsible pet ownership while AISEC is an organization that develops youths through integrated learning experience. 

The National Nutrition and Development 7, together with the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Cebu Chapter and group of media practitioners, battled malnutrition through nutrition advocacy and promotion. 

Love Yourself, a non-government organization promoted their advocacy on awareness, prevention, education, and counseling on STI and HIV while the mission of the International Justice Mission (IJM) is to heighten human trafficking awareness and prevention with both strengthening their respective social advocacies. 

The World Vision, a community-based, Christian organization that works with children, families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice also expressed willingness to intensify their campaign. 

“Dok Buboy”, the last speaker, said that as a microbiologist, blogger, media online auditor and a CBS member, he has promoted his city and his advocacies for public health and social change through his blog. 

Ruben Licera, president of the Cebu Bloggers Society announced that the World Blogathon will be held every quarter of the year and encouraged Cebu bloggers to blog about events and organizations that matters. 

Jaysee John Pingkian, CBS Outreach Committee head, said that CBS now on its third year will focus more on social responsibility adding that CBS will hold on March, this year a National Social Summit that will tap the youth, business sector, and non-government organizations. (FCR/AYS/PIA 7 with RAFI PR)