Isabela execs give Padaca’s Ulat a cold shoulder

ILAGAN, Isabela — Cold shoulders and anemic applause greeted Gov. Grace Padaca’s two-hour Ulat sa Bayan at the tightly secured Capitol amphitheater here the other day.

In her usual straightforward manner, Padaca said in her state of the province address that her first 100 days as governor were devoted to house-cleaning and determining the province’s state of economy, resources and fiscal accountability.

She said her decision to put seven department heads on "floating status" was part of her key reforms to eradicate graft and corruption, red tape and inefficiencies in the provincial bureaucracy.

"My administration will not tolerate any kind of corruption, big or small," said the polio-stricken governor, adding that anomalies involving provincial officials will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

Padaca, however, said it is not her priority to file charges against former governor Faustino Dy Jr. for alleged ghost projects and deliveries, missing properties and financial records and unliquidated advances amounting to millions of pesos.

She revealed that Dy left a total outstanding debt of P700 million with the Philippine National Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines.

"I have been pilloried in the media (and called) all sorts of names by some employees affected by the reforms. Cases have been filed against me in the courts but these will not deter me from pursuing my crusade for good governance," said the broadcast journalist-turned-politician.

Padaca’s two-hour speech, applauded only twice, focused on her executive agenda for the next 995 days, which, a department head who requested anonymity claimed, has been in place even during the Dy administration.

Outlined in her executive agenda are the development of an agri-industrialized program, quality health care services, protection and management of the province’s environment and natural resources, construction of more classrooms, roads, bridges and irrigation and water impounding systems, an efficient bureaucracy, creation of a healthy business environment, and a more aggressive fight against jueteng.

She described her executive agenda as delineating the "beginning points" of her governance.

"The executive agenda or programs my administration will pursue are meant to be relevant, to last, to be viable but more importantly, to benefit the people," said Padaca, the first woman governor of Isabela.

She said her programs are hinged on the principles of sustainability, partnership with beneficiaries leading toward self-reliance, stewardship and empowerment.

Present during Padaca’s Ulat sa Bayan were Reps. Rodito Albano (first district), Edwin Uy (second district) and Anthony Miranda (fourth district), and 10 of the 32 Isabela mayors led by Alicia Mayor Napoleon Dy, president of the provincial mayors’ league.

Dy, a younger brother of the former governor, refused to comment on Padaca’s speech.

Bishop Sergio Utleg, who delivered the opening prayer, said the Padaca administration has seemingly failed to stop jueteng in the province.

Ilagan Mayor Delfinito Albano described Padaca’s executive agenda as "too comprehensive to address the needs of the people of Isabela."

Meanwhile, leaders of people’s organizations, which supported Padaca’s gubernatorial bid, are reportedly planning to deliver their own state of the province address, saying they want to see more pro-people programs in Padaca’s executive agenda.

Condrad de los Reyes, reporter of the Dy-run radio station dwDY, said Padaca’s executive agenda does not include new programs.

"Wala namang bago, matagal nang programa ang mga yan ng provincial government (There’s nothing new. The provincial government has long been implementing those programs)," he said.

For his part, Raffy Jacinto, president of the Isabela Anti-Graft League, appreciated Padaca’s resolve to eradicate graft and corruption, red tape and inefficiencies in the provincial government.