NegOr optimistic for a better year
Degamo said it is time to buckle down to work as he hoped for unity between the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government
DUMAGUETE CITY — The provincial government of Negros Oriental is expressing optimism on a better 2023 to follow up on the gains the province has made in the year 2022.
According to Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, his administration has achieved accomplishments and awards in the midst of a controversial electoral row over the governorship of the province.
“I am thankful that I am back in the office now so that I may continue what I have started in 2022 to ensure that the delivery of basic services to the people as well as peace and development projects will not be interrupted,” said the governor in a recent statement.
To recall, Degamo’s rival candidate — Pryde Henry Teves — was declared winner in the 9 May 2022 elections by the Commission on Elections, but a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court later resulted in the Comelec en banc nullifying Teves’ victory after the votes of nuisance candidate Ruel Degamo were counted in Roel Degamo’s favor, making him the duly elected governor of Negros Oriental.
Teves voluntarily stepped down on 11 October last year.
Degamo said it is time to buckle down to work as he hoped for unity between the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government and reiterated that his administration’s priority will be his flagship program HELP — acronym for Health, Education, Livelihood, Programs and Projects for Peace and Development.
He noted that recouping from the pandemic with the province starting to open up borders, ease quarantine restrictions and bouncing back from the economic losses, HELP activities continued last year with a renewed vigor from various government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders collaborating for better outcomes.
These resulted in various recognitions the province received while setting out to take on new endeavors.
The citations gained by Negros Oriental include the 2021 Best Performing Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, High Function Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Functional Peace and Order Council Awards, Top Performing Local Government Unit Award, and the High Five for Inter-Agency Collaboration from the Fred Hollows Foundation.
Degamo expressed gratitude and attributed these accomplishments to the collaboration among all concerned sectors, saying that “Negros Oriental can always reach new heights for as long as everyone is on board towards a common goal.”