Eastern Visayas governors unite in addressing issues pertaining Region 8

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 18, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The governors in Eastern Visayas have grouped together as the Eastern Visayas Governors League so that together they will have bigger voice in dealing with issues pertaining the Region.

Reports reaching the Philippine Information Agency stated that Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza has been chosen as the president of the EV Governors League, in a meeting held in Manila in the second week of July.

Present during their meeting held in Manila in the evening of July 8 were Biliran Governor Gerry Boy Espina; Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and Governor Daza.

It was observed that except for Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla who is in his last term and Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado who is in his second term, the four other governors in Eastern Visayas are all in their first term.

The first issue that the Eastern Visayas governors tackled is the chairmanship in the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council.

All the five governors decided to support and endorse Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla to become the next chairman of the Regional Development Council in the Region.

The decision to throw their support to Governor Petilla was reached by the governors considering that Governor Petilla is being the most senior governor of the region and “he is the most familiar among governors on regional issues.”

Governor Petilla earlier revealed that he was being encouraged by mayors and Regional Directors to become the next RDC chairman. Aside from the provincial governors, the RDC voting members are the city mayors, presidents of league of mayors, regional directors of major government agencies and Private Sector Representatives.