The Inauguration and Oath-taking of the 26th Governor of Isabela

“We can, and we will build the future that Isabela deserves. Let us rock the boat to make great things happen in Isabela,” was a remarkable statement of faith and resolve of Governor Rodito T. Albano III in front of elected officials and the people of Isabela during his inauguration as the 26th governor of the province, held at the Queen Isabella Park on June 30, 2019. The oath was administered before the people by the outgoing governor, Hon. Faustino Dy III.

The governor administered the oath of the vice governor, elected mayors and board members while the new vice governor administered the oath-taking of vice mayors and town councilor in the province.

The simultaneous oath-taking ceremony was graced by Senator Maria Lourdes “Nancy” S. Binay who returned to his father’s roots and opted to take her oath here. She was sworn into office by Punong Barangay Maricon Padillo of San Pedro, Tumauini and Punong Barangay Ariel Tabangcura of Alibagu, City of Ilagan. The lady senator was accompanied by members of her family including her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay who hails from Cabagan, Isabela. Sen. Binay, in turn, administered the oath for the honorable members of the House of Representatives and the members of the House of Representatives and the members of Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Isabela. “I am proud to be recognized as the Senator from the Province of Isabela during the 18th Congress, and I will continue to cherish the support you gave me,” she said in her speech.

 

In his inaugural speech, the new governor attributed his power and authority from the most important resource, the people. “The spring cannot rise higher than its source. I have always believed that you – kakailian, kaprobisiyaan are the source of everything that we are public servants. We are merely the spring that flows from your well. In our society, all power, all authority emanates from you – the people. We, your elective officials are the only temporary trustees of the power and the authority that rightly belongs to you. We owe you our best service, our talents and labors can muster,” he said.

Gov. Rodito admitted that it is a challenge for him to be the leader of the province. “Indeed, to be governor of this province of 1.6 million people is as much a privilege as it is formidable challenge to even the most capable of leaders,” he said as he vowed to serve the people of Isabela. “That you have deemed me worthy of the job firstly with pride, and I can only pledge with all humility that I will, in God’s guidance and your support stand equal to the task and honor the trust you have so generously given to me with competent, honest, effective service to our people,” he added.

Gov. Rodito laid out his plans and programs for his term, “The agenda for the next three years will be simple – increase income, generate jobs, provide assistance to the poorest of the poor, and ensure public order.”

On health, the governor underscored the wisdom on health promotion and disease prevention. “We will aim to channel our resources and attention to primary health care, maternal and child care, especially breast feeding, and improving communal health services delivery, especially providing protection against communicable and endemic disease,” he said.

The new governor also envisioned the urgent need to scale up efforts and raise the bar on disaster preparedness, “Resilience must also be strengthened in the province and be ready of the impact of natural calamities and other climatic shocks.” The governor said that the provincial government must be proactive by developing the resilience of the people, as the province of Isabela, being the path of many destructive typhoons.

For the youth sector, the governor said that the provincial government will attend to their developing skills and competencies and provide opportunities for their professional development as well as entrepreneurship and income generating activities. “We will also continue improving the arena of education by expanding the school network system so as to reach far-flung barangays and seek more funding resources to strengthen the capabilities of tertiary education capabilities,” he added.

Gov. Rodito recognizes that peace and order remains a continuing concern in the province. He said that efficient law enforcement must be pursued to curb criminality and lawlessness. “We will support the President’s war on drugs within the bounds of the law,” he stressed.

The new governor concluded his inaugural speech with gratitude and prayer, “I pray that God guides us every step of the way and infuses us with deep compassion for the plight of the Isabeleños so we may always put them above our own comforts and self-interest.”