By ELDIE AGURRIE,
Digos Bureau Chief
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — “Setting aside patronage politics and imposing political will is the key to achieve the goals that we have envisioned for this province, two years ago.”
Governor Claude Bau-tista, speaking before a huge crowd of government officials and employees at the provincial capitol on Thursday during the conferment of the province’s Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government ((DILG).
Bautista said he was not expecting awards for the service he provided for his constituents. “What I did was to convince all local chief executives in the province to work hand in hand for the welfare of the peo-ple regardless of their political affiliations which we proved to be effective in pushing us towards a very potent place for business.”
Davao del Sur vested as the ‘Most Competitive Province in the Philippines’ placing it in the list of big investors and aspiring entrepreneurs in the country and from all over the world.
Bautista said being elected as local chief executive does not meant it become his kingdom. “A governor is duty bound to serve the people with utmost sincerity while he is still in office and look for things that would become target priorities, set aside political differences and work together as one to materialize his vision for his people.”
The governor cited the enhanced operation of its provincial hospital that has become self-sufficient since he devised a method to purchase various medical equipment using its own income.
“At first nobody believed we could pay our debts using its own earnings, and we have proof that we did it,” Bautista said.
The DILG through its provincial director Abito Bernasor handed the plaque to Governor Bautista and Vice-Governor Aileen Al-mendras including a check worth P7 million to finance some local projects.
The town of Sulop in Davao del Sur was also awarded the Seal of Good Governance during the conferment rites. Mayor Jose Jimmy Sagarino also received a check worth P3 million for his priority projects.
Meanwhile, Bautista has announced he would not be seeking reelection by 2016 since he will settle for the same post in the newly created Davao Occidental, a province carved out of Davao del Sur on October 28, 2013 through R.A. 10360.
Bautista is a resident of Malita town, now the capital of Davao Occidental. He is currently holding consultative meeting with public officials in the ten LGUs comprising Davao del Sur to support his anointed successor.
The name of former Digos City Mayor and Vice-Governor Arsenio Latasa is floated to become the successor of Bautista.
Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas is also groomed to become the governor under Bautista.
Bautista is the provincial chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
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