TACLOBAN CITY – Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla is set to deliver today his first State of the Province Address (SOPA) before members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan building.

Also expect to witness the governor deliver his first SOPA this afternoon are the province’s mayors, department heads and invited guests.

Provincial Administrator Vincent “Vince” Emnas told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the 41-year old governor would outline his vision for the province for the next 365 days in his first SOPA as Leyte’s chief executive.

“Basically, it will be a forward-looking message…as what the people of the province will expect in his administration for the next 365 days,” Emnas, a cousin of the governor, said.

Without giving much detail, the provincial administrator said that the SOPA of the governor would center on three areas: promoting Leyte as an investment haven; assurance of the continued delivery of basic services to the barangay; and as to how he intends to mange the provincial government.

The governor has repeatedly said that among his priorities for the province is to promote and position it as an investor’s haven. However, he has yet to come up with a detail plan as to how we would accomplish.

Promoting Leyte as a tourist destination as well as its potential in the area of agriculture and mariculture are the other areas to be given focus by the governor as he said that the r province is in a position to compete with other provinces in the country in these fields.

Gov. Petilla also said that just what his mother Rep. Remedios “Matin” Petilla did during her nine-year stay as governor of the province, he would also give focus on the needs of the province’s barangays.

Provincial Administrator Emnas told Express that while admitted the financial woes facing the national government have an effect on all local government units, the administration of Gov. Petilla would do its best to fulfill its promise to the people and deliver the needed services.

During his first months in office, among the measures instituted by the governor was to cut cost amid the fiscal crisis facing the national government. The governor had claimed that the cost-cutting measures that he introduced at the provincial capitol proved to be effective.

Petiila said that his decision to strictly monitor the travel of the personnel as well as on gasoline supplies has drastically help the provincial government save its limited finances.

He also introduced a way of making the provincial-run hospitals profitable with the Leyte Western Provincial Hospital; located in Baybay town as an example of this measure. The governor boasted that then hospital is now earning income unlike in previous years .

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