Vice Gov Magpale takes oath of office today
“We hope that Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr’s unfinished business will be completed by Agnes Magpale.”
These were the words of Busay barangay captain and the late vice governor Sanchez’s nephew, Eleuderio “Yody” Sanchez yesterday.
Magpale will take her oath of office as vice governor at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10 in Danao City.
Judge Maria Josefa Ramos of the Danao’s Municipal Trial Court in Cities will swear in Magpale, with Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III as witness.
Magpale invited other Provincial Board members to attend the oath taking.
Magpale announced last week that an evaluation of all the employees of the vice governor’s office will be conducted on July 1. She earlier said she wants a lean and efficient staff.
“We will see who are needed and who aren’t needed and if they can be transferred,” Magpale said.
Last week, Magpale met with Sanchez’s staff to give them their tasks.
Magpale said the Trans-axial Highway Project, one of Sanchez’s pet projects, has an existing feasibility study.
Yody, the designated spokesman of the family told Cebu Daily News they hope that Magpale would always uphold the power and function of the vice governor in the legislative department.
Civil Service Commission (CSC) Director Azucena Perez-Esleta in her letter to the late vice governor on Feb. 18 said the authority of the vice governor to appoint the officials and employees of the Provincial Board (PB) is anchored on the fact that the salaries of these employees are derived from the appropriation specifically for the said local legislative body.
Accordingly, the appointing power of the vice governor is limited to employees of the PB or Sangguniang Panlalawigan as well as those of the Office of the vice governor, whose salaries are paid out of the funds appropriated for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Esleta also said that even if the salary of the employee or official is taken from the provincial funds and even if this employee or official reports to the vice governor or assigned to his office, the governor still retains the authority to appoint the said employee pursuant to section 465 of Republic Act 716.
Yody said he wishes that this opinion from CSC will be upheld by Magpale and that the budget, the appointing power and the legislative assistance fund (LAF) will be given back to the vice governor.
Three days before his burial on Saturday, the late Cebu Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez’s belongings were already taken from his office by his family, Yody said.
Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG-7) Director Pedro Noval yesterday said Magpale will leave her board member’s post vacant as he earlier said she could with the PB’s consent.
