Transition team at work for Capitol turnover next month

A TRANSITION team is already working to ensure a smooth turnover of the administration of the Governor’s Office from suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to Governor-elect Hilario Davide III.

Acting Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale said while Garcia will head the transition process, a team headed by the Provincial Administrator’s Office is preparing the documents for the June 30 turnover.

Garcia’s six-month suspension ends on June 19.

“If and then, Garcia will be the one to turn over to the governor-elect all the requirements, inventories, accounting and finance,” Magpale said.

When Garcia resumes office for 11 days, Magpale said all the documents for the turnover will have signatories.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum reminding Magpale to form a local governance transition team before the last week of May.

The Capitol was also instructed to conduct an inventory of Capitol’s properties, assemble all pertinent documents and records, turn over of accountabilities and organize a turn-over ceremony.

Magpale said she hopes that the Governor’s Office which is still locked up will be opened soon. She said the Capitol has yet to finish the inventory of the items inside the office.

“It has been closed for many months. We don’t know about the status of its water and electrical system. Everything is put on hold,” she said.

Various furniture, paintings and other personal belongings of Garcia are still stored in the east wing office of the Capitol.

Magpale said she will ask a representative from Garcia’s camp for the inventory of the items as soon as possible.

An inventory was made by Garcia’s staff and family last February where in each chair, desk, paintings, and other items were listed, tagged and stored in the office.

Magpale was elected vice governor in the May 13 election. Garcia was elected representative of Cebu’s 3rd district. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos