Cebu Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale officially departs from the PB today when she takes her oath of office as the new vice governor succeeding the late Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. who was buried last Saturday.
According to the Local Government Code, the vice governor shall:
(1) Be the presiding officer of the Provincial Board and sign all warrants drawn on the provincial treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the PB
(2) Subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, appoint all officials and employees of the board, except those whose manner of appointment is specifically provided;
(3) Assume the office of the governor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy
(4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the governor in cases of temporary vacancy; and
(5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.
Magpale succeeds Sanchez by virtue of the same code, which stipulates that a vacant office of vice governor shall be taken over by the board member with the highest number of votes, which Magpale received from constituents in the Cebu’s 5th district.
She comes to an office that Sanchez placed in the spotlight among other reasons because of his frequent disputes with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Magpale at least brings with her a far more peaceable relationship with the province’s chief executive and in this sense could inaugurate a little over a year of service from the Capitol with fewer sparks till the next elections.
Even as acting vice governor, she has stamped with her own style or work ethic the office that Sanchez virtually vacated in his last days. She cracked the whip on staff punctuality and streamlined their functions to ensure that each employee has something to do.
Magpale is also noted for her constant presence during sessions of the PB, making her worthy of the predecessor who clocked up at least 4,000 days of vacation leaves in his long years in government.
What is most important is that she has made repeated assurances that she will protect the independence of the office of the vice governor, even amid what Sanchez saw as its crippled state after Garcia slashed its budget.
The pledge may be tested soon, not by the governor, but by the recount of votes in the May 2010 vice gubernatorial contest stemming from the poll protest filed by losing candidate Glenn Soco, Garcia’s running mate.
The investigation of the Baliligate controversy by the Ombudsman may also affect Magpale’s service as vice governor, since she is among the respondents.
At the very least, she faces the task of making the PB function smoothly before the full force of these potential storms arrive.