Gwen vows to ‘restore’ pork, appointing powers

Gov. Gwen Garcia yesterday assured Provincial Board members in a lunch meeting that appointing powers of the vice governor and the pork barrels of each legislator would be restored.

The officials agreed to pass in next week’s session a supplemental budget of at least P100 million that would include personnel services for 11 employees of the board members.

Garcia said “the balances of the legislative assistance fund (LAF) for each PB member will be returned to their offices- to the SP.”

However, she said requests for aid from barangay chiefs will still be “compiled, submitted to the Provincial Planning and Development Office,” before she signs it.

Garcia said the balance of the pork barrel of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. or LAF will be given to Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale while Magpale’s LAF balance as board member will be returned to her on the condition that she will use the money only for the 5th district which she represents.

The transfer of staff salary budgets and control of the pork barrel under the governor’s office in the 2010 budget was a source of grief for the late Sanchez, who died of lung cancer last month.

Magaple yesterday appealed for calm between Compostela Councilor Tessa Cang and Garcia who traded strong words over the unresolved election dispute in the northern Cebu town.

“I’m really for dialogue. They should cool off since they are both upset now,” Magpale said.

Cang’s charge that Governor Garcia paid more attention to the election protetest of her losing running mate Glenn Soco than the Compostela dispute was called “distasteful and uncalled for” by the governor.

Magpale, a member of the Bakud party, said Cang may have issued her statement out of frustration over the year-old poll dispute, which resulted in a tense takeover of the Compostela Municipal Hall by Mayor-elect Joel Quiño and Bakud affiliated councilors including Cang.

Magaple said she agrees with Governor Garcia that the Commission on Elections is at fault.

In her inaugural speech last Monday, where she presided as vice governor, Mapgale said she believes the legislature and the governor’s office can “peacefully coexist.”

“Fiscalizing can be carried out and accomplished in a professional manner where objectivity of issues rises over any hidden personal agenda,” she said.

Magpale asked her colleagues to be on time in the sessions and sponsor “worthwhile resolutions.”

While reiterating her commitment to uphold the PB’s independence, Magpale said she won’t engage in a verbal tussle with Governor Garcia.