CamSur SP holds maiden session

By GB CLAVERIA

NEW LEADERSHIP - Vice Governor Fortunato “Ato” Peña (left photo) during the maiden session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last July 8. Lower right photo shows Pena with SP members. - ANDUJAR

PILI, Camarines Sur – The newly constituted provincial legislative council of Camarines Sur convened for its  maiden session Thursday, July 8, afternoon,  at the Legislative Building of the Provincial Capitol Complex here with signs of very dramatic changes in the future operations of the Sanggunian Panglalawigan (SP).

This was stressed by Vice Governor Fortunato C. Peña who is very keen on introducing innovations in the SP’s organization and operations along his advocacy to provide quality and effective service through Christian and innovative leadership.

Even as the newly elected vice governor admits that CamSur has indeed gone a long way in the past few years under the stewardship of Gov. LRay Villafuerte, he considers the province’s recent triumphs as a challenge.

“We have achieved much, but we still need to do more.  The governor has done his part, let us also do ours,” declared Peña as he enjoined the board members not to limit themselves to passing resolutions and ordinances but also to attend to other concerns for the benefit of their respective constituents.

Facelifting and reorganization of physical facilities and personnel have started as ordered by the vice governor who has devoted his first few days going around the legislature building consulting with the new members of the board and talking with employees to search for means to implement his advocacy for Christian and innovative leadership.

We are starting with the basics, because if we cannot properly address the small things, how much more with the bigger concerns, Peña said.

An initial modification agreed upon by the board is to change the session schedule to 6:00 p.m. every Monday from the previous 2:00 p.m. every Tuesday.  This will give the board members the whole day to attend to constituents seeking their assistance, instead of board members leaving the session hall in the middle of deliberations just to entertain visitors.

“The new schedule will also allow the board members to concentrate on their legislative functions as the evening will naturally be quieter than the daytime. We must focus on our jobs,” Peña said.

To provide more focus, a member of the board will be regularly designated Officer of the Day to attend to the day-to-day operations of the SP especially if the vice governor is not around.  “Anyway, I am not the boss here, I am only the team leader.  I do not want to be known as a good politician, I want to be remembered as a good leader,” Peña said.

The first Wednesday of each month will be designated “People’s Day” when all members of the board and employees are expected to be at the legislative building to entertain and address requests of constituents.

Peña also directed the creation of a SP website and expects to accomplish the uploading of all resolutions and ordinances of the province within the first 100 days, coupled with their thorough review and evaluation to determine their usefulness, eventual repeal or possible amendment.

During the inaugural session, the new board has temporarily adopted the 2007 Internal Rule and Procedures for conducting official business.