Icot to focus on IT, tourism, agriculture on his third term

By Provincial Media Relations Center
July 6, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla pledged in his inaugural speech Monday to focus more on information technology, tourism and agriculture that will provide employment for majority of Leyteños.

Gov. Petilla said he will work as centrist and promised to be “least political” that will bring all Leyteños together to achieve social progress and economic development.

Petilla was sworn in for his third term as provincial governor by Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez in front of invited government officials and private guests from all over the province.

“Having been elected as provincial governor, I am grateful to my constituents in giving me another chance to push for our beloved province’s social progress and economic development,” Petilla said.

“I ran without any opponents but it is not by accident… it is because I had the support from each one of you…and without you I will not be in this position. So, I would like to thank all of you,” Petilla added.

Petilla’s political career started in 2004 when he ran and won as governor. He was reelected in 2007 and in the last May 10 elections.

“I have another three years and all of you know in the past six years that I did not sleep on my work. I work very hard for each one of you… Like the plans of the incoming President (Aquino), his focus is on the budget deficit and more importantly on employment. That is also our thrust and we will try to achieve this in so short a time, three years,” the governor said.

The governor added that although Leyte is not an IT destination, he promised to propagate more IT companies in the province and other parts of the region.

“We are also focusing on tourism which is one of the cheaper ways of employing and generating employment. Of course, the most difficult part, while we can focus on ICT and tourism among many other things, the bottom line is, in the province of Leyte majority of our people are still hinged towards agriculture… and that is the biggest challenge that we will have to generate livelihood on the agriculture sector,” the governor said.

He said that with his new mandate, he hopes to forge another fruitful years by working with the people of Leyte.

Aside from Petilla, Vice-Governor Ma. Mimiette S. Bagulaya and the 10 members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also took their oath of office before Court Administrator Marquez.

Meanwhile, city and municipal mayors, vice-mayors and councilors also formally took their oath Monday in sets before Gov. Petilla, Vice-Gov. Bagulaya, An Waray Partylist Representatives Florencio Gabriel M. Noel and Neil Benedict A. Montejo, and outgoing Leyte fifth district Rep. Carmen L. Cari.

Congressman Jose Carlos L. Cari of Leyte’s fifth district was the only congressman present in the inauguration ceremony.

Tacloban City Vice-Mayor Arvin V. Antoni and Councilors Robert T. Andrade and Neil A. Glova also joined in the inaugural ceremony of the province.