San Remigio has new councilor

A new councilor has officially joined the town council of San Remigio in northern Cebu yesterday.

Joyce Olivar replaced her late father, Pablito Olivar, who died over a month ago.

Pablito succumbed to cardiac arrest on July 22, several days after his heart surgery.

Prior to his almost nine-year stint as councilor, Pablito served as the town vice mayor.

Following his death, Pablito’s political party, the National Unity Party (NUP), appointed Joyce, one of his four children, as the former’s replacement.

"I'm very happy and grateful of my party, of its unwavering support for my late father and my family especially to our congressman and NUP party for their efforts and choosing me to hold the post as town SB in place of my late father," Joyce told THE FREEMAN.

Joyce took her oath of office before Governor Hilario Davide III at the Capitol yesterday.

Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura were among the witnesses of Joyce’s oathtaking.

Joyce vowed to continue his father’s projects and programs, including the boosting of the town’s agricultural sector.

She will finish the remaining eight-month term of his father.

"Eight months seem quite short to serve as a town councilor but I'm making the most of it to continue my father's work," she said.

Joyce has yet no plans after the term expires next year.

"We don't have plans yet in 2019 but surely it’s up to our party, then we decide," she said.

The midterm elections are set in May 2019.

This is Joyce’s first time to join the political arena.

Joyce, a businesswoman for 21 years, manages one of their family businesses.

San Remigio town is around 110 km north of Cebu City. It’s under the province’s fourth legislative district.